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TropicalIslandGirl1981

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Posts posted by TropicalIslandGirl1981

    Royal cancels 1/18/15 sailing

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    We had four rooms booked on the 1/18/2015 Freedom of the Seas that got the boot. Everyone we talked with at RCCL assured us FoS was going into dry dock. We were very disappointed we had to change dates and/or ship. We couldn't understand how they would schedule a dry dock and still be selling the Irish Stars cruise. With all the unanswered questions, I e-mailed Adam Goldstein yesterday regarding this matter and received a call today from someone in his office. She said according to all her information that FoS was going into dry dock and was cancelling the 1/11/2015 and 1/18/2015 cruises. Andy Cooney's group has now stopped taking reservations for this date according to her. We only had 4 rooms booked which took much time and many phone calls to rearrange our cruise. Imagine how difficult it's going to be rearranging for a big group. I'll take RCCL at their word on this. Dry dock it is. Looking forward to our next cruise on the newly updated FoS along with Rocky and the Rollers.

     

    Executive office told me the same last week.

     

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    Royal cancels 1/18/15 sailing

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    I called the travel agent booking this Irish Singers cruise and asked what was going on.

     

    1) This is NOT an entire ship charter. They are planning on somewhere from 900-1200 people.

     

    2) They too are worried about the ship going into dry dock. According to the lady I spoke with, RCI has not yet told them what is going to happen.

     

    3) The travel company is under the impression that IF Freedom is not available, then RCI will simply pull another ship out of service and they will use that ship on the same dates. (Not sure how that would happen! It's not like RCI have an extra ship just sitting around empty!)

     

    Interesting to know what happens

     

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    Royal cancels 1/18/15 sailing

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Tropical,

     

    Just out of curiosity I googled this cruise for 1/18/15 on the Freedom. This is what I found. This IS or Was to be a "Cruise of the Irish Stars" with Andy Cooney.

     

    Wonder if this cruise turned out to be a charter rather than dry dock? If so, why didn't they tell you?

     

    Nancy

     

    Good question.

    In spoke to a supervisor, a manager and the executive office and all three told me dry docking.

    Even though that article is posted online.

     

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    Royal cancels 1/18/15 sailing

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    I was just reading another thread on a different cruise line board that had people saying they were not coming back because of some changed breakfast options! It was important to more people than you would have thought.

     

    I feel for you OP, and I think it is a good idea to come on here and see what other people have experienced before you start negotiating with your TA about a change like this. It helps to know that when you are told something that you are not being had. I don't think the average TA expects a new cruiser to know much about their rights. I am glad you ended up being happy with your new arrangement. :)

     

    Thanks so much! Now with the upgraded room we now have room for four people. So we now have a 4th person :-)

     

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    Royal cancels 1/18/15 sailing

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    All cruiselines behave in the same way if a sailing has to be cancelled. They offer what they will offer and that's it. It's not RCI specific.

     

    And I'm with the rest saying that the TA isn't telling you the true story. (for me that would be a deal-breaker for the future, as I don't like being lied to when it's SO easy to figure out that TAs can't fund that sort of thing and can't discount a cruise like that) Doesn't matter to you now, of course.

     

     

     

    OBC can be used for anything that you can charge to your room account. (which is why, I think, booking a future cruise can't, because that has to go straight to your credit card)

     

    Thank you for the information.

     

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    Royal cancels 1/18/15 sailing

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Basically, OBC can be used for anything that you normally buy with your SeaPass card.

     

    The only thing that comes to mind that you cannot use OBC for is booking another cruise.

     

    Even Ben and Jerry's ice cream?!?!?!

    Chocolate covered strawberries with champagne delivered to my room?

    ohhhh the thoughts running through my head!!!! Hahaha

     

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    Royal cancels 1/18/15 sailing

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Can OBC be used for shore excursions too? That would be awesome if it did.

    My TA gave me almost matching obc when I originally had booked and was using hers for the drink package.

    Can I use royals for something like excursions?

    Lol I need a book about everything there is to know about cruising Haha. ;-)

     

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    Royal cancels 1/18/15 sailing

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    That may in fact be how it was conveyed to you but I assure you the concession was with RCI. TA's work exclusively on commission - typically 10 - 15% of the base stateroom rate only. And - with the exception of large block reservations which will yield a small discount - the rate with the most mass market cruise lines is exactly the same from the cruise line and the TA.

     

    Do the math on your base stateroom rate less taxes and port fees and you will see what the TA earned for booking. No way they could - or would - absorb the additional amount as that would come directly out of their pocket, and no TA is going to pay for your cruise! The additional $150 OBC - yes - but believe me, the rest came from directly RCI.

     

    Good for the TA to assist with RCI in facilitating that for you.

     

    Hmm great to know! Either way I'm just happy it all worked out

     

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    Royal cancels 1/18/15 sailing

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Actually the Pullman beds are deigned to accommodate adults. I have slept in them on more than one occasion. As you indicate, the couch bed will also be fine for the one passenger. (BTW RCI will provide an additional foam top if desired).

     

    Can't argue with your view on the cancellation but it seems as though RCI through your TA ended up doing the right thing for you. I think the initial offer of the OBC was a fair gesture for the basic inconvenience.

     

    The process for making the change may have been frustrating, but the re-booking may have started just with a front line reservations agent simply looking at the itinerary options and providing the existing pricing for each - basic SOP. They are limited in their authority as to what they can do to modify that for a given circumstance.

     

    That - as it apparently did - would have to come further up the ladder resulting from the conversation through your TA. Not diminishing the hassle, but in the end it seems like you actually came out ahead. The extra OBC from them was a nice way to sweeten the pot!

     

    IMO with situations that have occurred in the past with cancelled or interrupted itineraries, RCI has done a good job on behalf of the customer - and I hope they were able to do that in your perspective with your situation.

     

    Enjoy your cruise!

     

    It was my TA that came down on their price not RCCL. They wanted to charge an extra $1300. They wouldn't back down. That's why I'm very happy to have a TA. If it wasn't for her I'd be looking to spend an extra $1300 more. All in all because of her it worked out best.

    I just look at the overall situation, is if royal cancels then I think its only fair they keep the purchased price for the same itinerary and ship level. My TA didnt want to lose 3 customers so she did what she could to same our trip and bless her heart for that.

     

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    Royal cancels 1/18/15 sailing

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Understand the original desire for that stateroom, but IMO deck 10 is a better location in terms of aft ship structure and - although all on 10 are quite good - if you are in 1700 or 1400 very nice balconies as well. Overall I don't think you will be disappointed in the location at all.

     

    Awesome to hear! I like the upgrade from my T.A that was very nice of her. So now we have a bigger room, a pull out couch for a third bed instead of one coming out of the ceiling. Was a little worried about weight limit for those, although my friend weighs 90lbs, I'm sure she would have been just fine.

    The more and more I read think the situation, I'm very displeased with how Royal handles cancellations. Its either their way or the highway. I just don't think its morally right. I honestly think if "they" cancel then the guests should be able to pick any ship within that same class with the desired itinerary without having to pay $$$$$. In my case $,1300 more. Ouch. If my TA hadn't gone above and beyond I would have canceled and gone elsewhere with my $.

     

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    Royal cancels 1/18/15 sailing

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Well....it looks like you were able to get a decent alternate to what you wanted....perfect? Not necessarily...but you'll still have a wonderful time.....and it's great that the TA was able to work with you and Royal....

     

    Sure a cancelled cruise stinks, and they probably could have been a little more flexible .....but sounds like you're happy......

     

    BTW aft cabins have benefits, but to me...they're a LOONNNGGGGGG walk from the elevator!!! lol

     

    Hahaha well I originally wanted aft and I'm still aft just on deck 10 (only worry is will I hear the windjammer cafe' ?) I look at the long walk as a way to burn off some calories from all the eating I plan on doing :-)

    I had my eye set on a corner aft because I hear they're awesome views and bigger balcony. However the bigger room with a pullout couch versus a bed coming from the ceiling is A ok with me :-).

     

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    Royal cancels 1/18/15 sailing

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Wow you guys are all so awesome! Thanks for sticking up for me. :-)

    Ok so I know everyone's anticipating my response.

    Mind you today is END OF MONTH for the company and we're all on tight ropes crunching numbers..... eeekkk. That's enough stress for me for the day, then getting the confirmed email first thing this morning about my non existent trip I have spent like 5 months planning (only half way don't Haha) I'm a worrier I can't help it, just the nature of the beast. I haven't vacationed in nearly 11 years (12 when I cruise) so I'm super over due. Anywhoo, so I'm emailing back and forth about 50 emails to my TA (and trying to focus as work teehee)

    They offered us 4 cruise dates on their terms with $200 OBC. ok great, half way there.......

    However the dated they had just were not working for all of us and other situation was, it was none of the islands we had in mind or had our hearts set on. Yeah I know, may seem picky to some, but when your heart is set on a certain destination, that's all I wanted to do.

    So more back and forth emails and asked, well hey I see the almost same itinerary ( difference between Haiti and coco cay Bahamas ( excuse my spelling) which is no big deal anyhow. So I said how about we just book 12 days later, TA comes back and said Royal is NOT offering a price hold for those dates. $1,300 MORE for 12 days later. I almost puked. No way was I going to pay $1,300 more for their cancellation. Just Didnt see that being fare. So now I'm really upset, can't concentrate at work and just didn't know what to do. I can't afford to pay an extra $1,300. For a sailing 12 days later and Royal refused to do anything about it.

    So more back and forth emails with the TA and advised I just can't afford the money and was going to just either cancel my trip with Royal and book with another line or just find an all inclusive resort

    So my TA gets back so me and says for all of the trouble I'm dealing with lately (had a horrible TA before I found her, this whole things been kind of messy)

    She not only have me the same exact price for my original sailing date, upgraded me from an E2 category to a D1 and with her OBC and royal still compensating with the $200. I now have $350 OBC.

    I thank my lucky stars for my TA going above and beyond for me when royal wanted me to pay and extra $1300 more.

    Although I planned on booking my airfare Friday at the $282 price, air is now at $364. So we're out $252. (TA OBC was $150). So I'm very happy, I did however lose my room I worked so hard to get. (Aft corner). Oh well I'm still ok with having an upgrade and still aft! Wahoo!! :-)

    Thanks for everyone's well wishes and good lucks. They seemed to have done the trick. So thanks to all of you!

    And yes according to Royal from my TA freedom is being dry docked. Or maybe its being chartered and they just told her its dry docked IDK.

    Thanks again for all the "good lucks" greatly appreciated.

    So my new date is 2-1-15

     

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    Royal cancels 1/18/15 sailing

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Something doesn't seem right. they're still advertising Andy Cooney’s CRUISE OF IRISH STARS 2015from 01/18 - 01/25. Keep us informed of the outcome.

     

    See that's what I'm thinking too. When I get a chance to talk to her tonight I'll have a direct answer. But that is what she told me when she was on the phone with them this morning

     

     

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    Royal cancels 1/18/15 sailing

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    You're TA said it was for dry dock? I thought in a previous post that it looked like it might be a charter. Just hang on RCI should come through with some sort of compensation for you. :)

     

    She said it was dry docked from January 11th through my sailing date is what in was told. I wont know till tonight of what's exactly going on.

     

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