CruisingHogFan

17 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

TA's use a separate booking engine and can see exactly what they are booking.  You are using Royals website that leaves much to be desired so you really wont get much help as Royal never does tell you the exact category you are booking for guaranteeson their consumer site.  

Thanks for the information!! The website has never been great.
 

I'm not too worried about exact category or location (any D category). But just trying to stay away from the E obstructed and seems like this is a way to do it and save about a $1,000 from picking my own oceanview (D category)

2 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Unless it's a specific category GTY (like 4D) don't pay anything extra for any other balcony GTY. That may even be an IT glitch as Q class don't usually have more than one general balcony GTY.

I’ve looked at more sailings. Most sailings have the cheapest “we pick your room” offer and it says can be anywhere including the lifeboat obstructed.

Some sailings then have Obstructed Balcony Guarantee and a OceanView Balcony Guarantee under “pick you own room”. The Obstructed has the E deck code and is about $100 cheaper per person and the Balcony Guarantee has the D deck code. 
 

I will call when I have time but thought some of the more experienced TA would know.

Trying to understand the cabins on Odyssey. I know many of deck 6/7 have obstructed views. We had an obstructed one on our last cruise but I wouldn’t consider it obstructed at all and planned to book it again till I was on the website.

When you go to book on the website you can select the “we pick your room” which is a GTY that can be anywhere on the ship or “you pick your room” that has a “Ocean View Balcony Guarantee” option for about a $100 more a person over the GTY. Are these guaranteed not to be lifeboat obstructed and will be assigned to any regular balcony or higher? They are still cheaper than choosing your own cabin and in the details is list them as a 1D-5D category which isn’t a deck 6/7 lifeboat as those have their own E category.

Anyone recently been to honeymoon beach on water island? Just curious how the crowds are and if you can still get chairs/umbrella 

1 minute ago, Loracpin2 said:

Another the glass is half full poster!!!! 

 
I’m hardly ever negative on here except for people the remove gratuities then I will call you out.

Have you stayed in one or know how the infinity balconies work? There is a reason they are the last to sell out in the summertime in the Caribbean

3 hours ago, bala1130 said:

Within an hour of posting this, our cabin was assigned Deck 11 near the back elevators.  It is interesting that our friends who also booked GTY (their reservation is  linked to ours) was assigned the cabin next to us!!  Nice job Royal.  We also was given an Infinity Balcony instead of an Oceanview Balcony, so this is somewhat of an upgrade?

i wouldn’t consider it a upgrade. You may enjoy it but a lot of people avoid them at all cost including me. You open the window the a/c shuts off and all the cool air is sucked out of the room in minutes leaving you with a hot/sticky cabin that takes awhile to cool back down.

Maybe in the winter but no way in the summer!

Hopefully soon! I usually book Izumi separate since it always sells out and good times are hard to get with a package. Once onboard just tell them you want to cancel and use it a part of the package and keep the time slot 

On 7/22/2021 at 10:08 AM, CSHS1979 said:

Play 3 card poker and never fold

Definitely do NOT do this!!!

48 minutes ago, handbellplayer said:

 

No, thanks.  We paid <$80/pp for it when it first opened....not worth any more than that IMO.

It’s a little expensive currently but no worse than everything else. About the only way you can get away away from the crowds at the pools or loungers near the beach.
 

Hideaway is great for a party atmosphere but it’s just as packed as the big pool with 2 larger ships in port. I rather pay extra and have a better experience 

Beach Club….

It dropped to $180 this week for our June Icon cruise. We paid $150 in March on Oasis

1 hour ago, LeeW said:

OP - if you are going to cancel then cancel any cruise planner purchases first.  Processing the refund is far faster for this than the processing after you cancel.

I planned on it except for the deluxe drink package for me since everyone has to have it in the room. Figure it would just refund once I no showed. 

18 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Pretty sure they don't have insurance which is why they are asking

What happens to cruise planner purchases if I have a couple that wants to take over the booking? Do the names transfer for the onboard purchases or is everything canceled and must be rebooked?

I have the drink packages and 3 night dining package which is sold out.

57 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Post Covid there are no exceptions.  For the first 15 days you are in the 25% cancellation phase, after that you jump to the 50% phase, sound like you are right on the wire.

 

Prior to Final Payment Due Date No Charge (except for Non-Refundable Deposit amounts)

89 to 75 Days Prior to Sailing...25 % per Guest

74 to 61 Days Prior to Sailing...50 % per Guest

60 to 31 Days Prior to Sailing...75 % per Guest

30 to 0 Days Prior to Sailing...  100 % per Guest

Thanks!! This is what I expected.

I don't mind the cancellation fee. It will be less than 1k as of now. It’s just losing the great price we have and I’ve been looking a replacement dates.  Every sailing on Icon for the next year is at least double what we paid. Plus I have the deluxe package at $70 and refreshment at $23.
 

Guess I can see if some TAs have any blocked off rooms left as I usually book on my own

47 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Pretty sure they don't have insurance which is why they are asking

We always buy insurance just not the xtra for cancel for any reason. If we end up canceling I’m still coming out ahead over the years buy not getting it as this is the first time I’ve had a issue

8 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

After final I'm not aware of any good options to cancel. The sooner the less you lose. 

 

I lost a cruise last year, my TA didnt know of any way to get a refund even back then other than a positive covid test which I doubt works now. Call and ask to move it and see if they will mlve it is all I can suggest. .. try..

Yes, that’s my understanding as well but thought I would ask on here.

We have a room for 3 and could “sell” our cruise to friends but I rather not go through that.

We have Icon booked in June (great price the day it went on sale) and we just passed final payment date a couple weeks ago. We found this week that summer school is that week so we may have to change our plans.

Anyone had any luck moving dates past final payment date (not looking for money back)? I know we could have moved for a $100 per person penalty before final payment but I think that doesn’t apply now. We could cancel pay the current penalties as a last resort.
 

Just curious of real life experiences with Royal.

We just got off Oasis last week and was the first ship to be canceled for Labadee. There is way more to it then “passenger safety” for the cancellation. It’s not even the main reason.

We also booked a driver in Falmouth that took us into Ocho Rios so we could explore on our own for the day. Never felt unsafe. Did the same in Nassau…

For the people that are so scared of these ports why even cruise/spend money in the first place??

Ours (exactly the same) was taken last week also on Oasis along with many other passengers. I asked when I picked it up and they have changed the rules. Anything with multiple outlets are not allowed. It doesn’t matter if it has surge protection or not, corded or no cord. Not allowed anymore.

I’m sure some are still getting past security. 

1 hour ago, KroozNut said:

Meh... We paid $60 for DBP on Explorer for our sailing in April.

Maybe so, but those prices aren’t happening on the new ships….

4 hours ago, SNOWEY said:

Our 13 day TA in Nov is showing Deluxe Drink pkg for $55.99 a day.

We are Diamond, do we get a discount on top of that (wishful thinking I am sure).

 

Thanks!

 

Claudia

We call and buy one deluxe package and one refreshment then I give my vouchers to her since she only has 7-8 drinks a day. 
 

Makes for a pretty good discount!!!

53 minutes ago, CruisingFromLA said:

 

The best prices I have seen are during Black Friday sales. Since RC had a Black Friday month sale (or at least this is what they did in 2023), hoping the prices decrease right before our cruise on the 15th. 

Black Friday sales haven’t been great the last 3 years for the Deluxe package. Usually find the best price at a random time 

Many sailings are having the best sale in a really long time at 35% off including Icon at $70.99 

1 hour ago, E23NK1 said:

Our port stops are Aruba and Curacao...anyone find any nice bourbons at liquor stores near the docks?

If you have time go to the Senior and Co and get some Curaçao (original as there are lots of replicas) the blue makes a great margarita but the secret is the Chukulati.
Makes a perfect chocolate old fashion 

5 hours ago, alfaeric said:

Tangent... it pays to look when out and about.  We were at a KOA store just outside of Devils Tower last summer where we found a bottle for $65.  

 
$65 is currently MSRP and I’ll sometimes buy it at that price if I need a xtra or two. Anything more is too much for such an average bottle. Blanton’s makes a great gift to impress for people that don’t know bourbon.
 

Now the SFTB is a different story but I’ve never seen it on the ships.