travelinmoma

I should add that on the original reservation I had added the insurance, but hadn't paid for it yet since final payment wasn't due.  I also added it to my new reservation.  Does that help me at all?  If the insurance covers job loss, we might be able to get our money back that way since my husband recently lost his job. 

Sorry.  I don't know why this posted twice.  Please respond on the other post. Thank you!

From what I've read on this board, the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing at Royal.  We had a cruise booked for July 2020.  In mid April, before final payment, we were looking at our options.  I called the 1-800 number and talked to a representative.  She told me I could move my deposit on the July 2020 trip to a July 2021 trip.  I booked the trip.  She told me I would receive and email in 7-10 days with a form with my credit.  I would have to call  by May 31st and tell them to use that credit as my deposit on the July 2021 trip.  We decided to go with this option (as opposed to paying the final payment and hoping they would cancel -which they eventually did) because we really wanted to go on this itinerary, we didn't mind waiting another year, and we weren't out any additional money until final payment.  So, 3 weeks goes by and I still haven't received an email.  I call again.  I'm on hold for over 2 hours.  At the end of it all the rep tells me something was done incorrectly and NOW I'll receive the email in 7-10 days.  Another 2 weeks go by with no email.  So I try calling again.  I'm on hold for over 2hours every day, but can't get ahold of an actual person.  Yesterday, I finally connected with a person.  I was again on hold for over 2 hours while she tried to figure things out.  I then talked to her supervisor.  This is when he tells me that the first person gave me incorrect information and I can't use my deposit on my new cruise.  I will have to give them another deposit and then I can use the $750 credit to bring down the total balance.  If this was the case, why would I have had the May 31st deadline?  Which information is correct?  I'm so upset if the latter is true because we would NOT have committed to another trip in July 2021 if we knew RC would then be holding $1500 of ours.  What recourse do I have if they gave me bad information?  Any other options besides just losing my $750 deposit altogether?   I had a friend booked on another cruise who just lost $100 of her nonrefundable deposit and they gave her the rest of it back as a refund.  I'm so confused.  

From what I've read on this board, the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing at Royal.  We had a cruise booked for July 2020.  In mid April, before final payment, we were looking at our options.  I called the 1-800 number and talked to a representative.  She told me I could move my deposit on the July 2020 trip to a July 2021 trip.  I booked the trip.  She told me I would receive and email in 7-10 days with a form with my credit.  I would have to call  by May 31st and tell them to use that credit as my deposit on the July 2021 trip.  We decided to go with this option (as opposed to paying the final payment and hoping they would cancel -which they eventually did) because we really wanted to go on this itinerary, we didn't mind waiting another year, and we weren't out any additional money until final payment.  So, 3 weeks goes by and I still haven't received an email.  I call again.  I'm on hold for over 2 hours.  At the end of it all the rep tells me something was done incorrectly and NOW I'll receive the email in 7-10 days.  Another 2 weeks go by with no email.  So I try calling again.  I'm on hold for over 2hours every day, but can't get ahold of an actual person.  Yesterday, I finally connected with a person.  I was again on hold for over 2 hours while she tried to figure things out.  I then talked to her supervisor.  This is when he tells me that the first person gave me incorrect information and I can't use my deposit on my new cruise.  I will have to give them another deposit and then I can use the $750 credit to bring down the total balance.  If this was the case, why would I have had the May 31st deadline?  Which information is correct?  I'm so upset if the latter is true because we would NOT have committed to another trip in July 2021 if we knew RC would then be holding $1500 of ours.  What recourse do I have if they gave me bad information?  Any other options besides just losing my $750 deposit altogether?   I had a friend booked on another cruise who just lost $100 of her nonrefundable deposit and they gave her the rest of it back as a refund.  I'm so confused.  

Three questions

Just saw sailings suspended through July 31st when I went to login to my account.  Ugh

I still don't have my FCC which needs to be moved to my 2021 sailing before May 31st.  Anyone have a special number to call?  I've now been on hold for over 2 hours.

Has anyone had success filing a claim with AIG Travel Guard?  We filed one for job loss over a month ago and have received no response.  

I've seen a few pics posted on here. Search Empress 9664 and you'll find the thread.  There's also a video on Youtube.  I'm also staying in 9664 for a July 2021 cruise.  Please let me know what you think after your January sailing!

2 hours ago, DavidinFLL said:

An update:  I have booked the Dec. 6 Western Caribbean cruise aboard the Empress.  This will be my first B2B and I'm really looking forward to it.  I've looked for a thread devoted to B2B cruises, but haven't found one.  These two cruises will cover the Eastern and Western Caribbean for a full 14 nights.  I've been to all the ports before except for Puerto Plata, DR and Tortola, BVI.

 

Any suggestions on excursions in these two parts?

We did the Baths in Tortola.  Absolutely gorgeous! 

19 hours ago, firefly333 said:

Here we are having trouble getting workers to come back to work. If you can make $600 a week staying home, even if a employer matches it, it's easier to stay home. I hear 500k jobs in texas, even amazon is trying to hire, cant find applicants. Unemployment is too lucrative.

Too lucrative?  The maximum unemployment amount in our state is $6400 per year. I would hardly call that a lucrative salary. It's less than what my husband made in one month at his old job (which he held for 18 years with a college degree, special certifications, several promotions and excellent reviews). The media spins this the wrong way.  They say things like "extended to 52 weeks" and "unemployment covers 50% of a person's salary".  In reality, it's 52 weeks OR 6400 whichever comes first.  And for most people who worked full time, $6400 is not even close to 50% of their annual salary. A maximum weekly benefit of $320 no matter how much money you made previously (yes the extra 600 makes it livable for now, but that runs out in 2 months and there will still be MILLIONS unemployed in 2 months).  My husband's unemployment for the entire month doesn't even cover what our monthly Cobra costs are! I should also mention that it's been weeks, and we haven't even received one check yet. If you still have a job, be happy. Maybe this extra $600 is a "windfall" for a few college aged kids or minimum wage workers who have struggled their whole lives, but for the majority of the 33 million Americans currently out of work, this is a horrible situation.  They would happily go back to work (and have healthcare coverage again) in a heartbeat. 

They could take off from the Port of Catoosa in Oklahoma.  😆

On 4/13/2020 at 11:27 PM, ARandomTraveler said:

Good call. Those flight vouchers may end up with extended expirations dates and hopefully the American flight will cancel. Since you have another cruise booked for 2021, you can use the FCC from the deposit on the cruise you just cancelled, so you’ll likely have no loss in the long run. 
 

No matter what happens, at least this way you know the outcome and were in control of it. 

You were right!  I got an email from American today that vouchers will be extended through Dec. 2021, so I can use them for my cruise next July.  I was able to use the FCC for the deposit on the new cruise, so I feel like I've been made whole.  🙂  I did lose the money I had paid for insurance, but I'm ok with that.  I still have to figure out what I want to do with my Southwest vouchers and my other set of American vouchers. 

Well, we decided to cancel.  I'm still stuck with a lot of flight vouchers, and there's still the possibility that I will lose all my money for the American flight.  However, the good news is I was able to easily rebook the cruise for July 2021, and I got one of the awesome larger ocean view cabins with two windows!

1 minute ago, Ourusualbeach said:

You have to call. It will probably take about 30 days for the FCC to come in. Deposit would be due by May 31 if the FCC hasn’t been applied.  When you apply the FCC you will have to pay the port fees and taxes. 

Thanks! Is it just the regular reservation phone number?

On 4/11/2020 at 3:02 PM, Ourusualbeach said:

 

 

I do agree that they need  to make it clearer that you need to book a cruise before calling to apply the FCC.  BTW, you can book a cruise right now and not pay a deposit.  When you apply the FCC then you need to pay the taxes and fees.

So if I canceled mine yesterday, but I haven't received an email yet about FCC, I can go ahead and book my new cruise, pay nothing and apply the FCC later?  Can I do this online or do I have to call?

I'm just hoping to get some advice from those of you who have more experience cruising than we do.  First I'll lay out the background info.  Back in December I booked a trip for our family of 3 on Empress for a NE/Canada cruise in late July/early Aug.  I originally bought a flight on SW into NY, but after checking this board, it sounded like it was going to be a huge hassle.  So, I didn't cancel the SW flight, but I booked another flight on American into Newark.  At the time, we had enough money I wasn't too worried about it, and thought we could use the SW vouchers for a family wedding in September. So as of now, I have two flights to the NY/NJ area.  Fast forward to today.  We are approaching final payment date (late April).  I booked with a non refundable deposit, but I did buy Royal Caribbean's insurance.  The current price is still more expensive than what we paid.  We got a good deal.  If I cancel the cruise, it would cost me more money to stay in NY for a week (plus I don't even want to do that).  I don't think I can get anything back for my flight to NJ on American.  Even if I was able to get a voucher, that would give me three vouchers each -9 total ( because I also had a Vegas trip this month that we canceled) that I have to use by December 2020.  I'm a teacher, so I can only travel at limited times AND we are hosting a foreign exchange student next school year, so if we used the vouchers, we would have to add in the cost of buying tickets for him.  Then to top it all off, my husband has been furloughed from his job.  So, would you pay the final payment and wait to see if Royal cancels and maybe the airline would work with me or better yet, we actually get to go on the cruise? Or would you pay final payment, hope for the best and just lose the money for the flight (possibly donate it?) if they cancel the cruise?   Or would you cancel the cruise and eat all the costs that have been paid so far (air tickets and deposit), but save the money that would have been spent on final payment?  Thank you for taking the time to respond.  I want to make an informed decision.  

10 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

Why would they go to a school to pick up lunch? Isn't that just increasing the exposure risk?

It's a drive up, grab and go lunch.

On 4/2/2020 at 4:37 PM, ONECRUISER said:

Helping the Grand Daughter with Online/Home schooling that started this week. Nothing new, was single father raised 3 kids on my own, Home schooled the oldest. Sat out on balcony, though view isnt same as Cruise was supposed be on. Did actually watch my ship on Port Cam pull out hr ago... Just did my daily check on future bookings, have received  $3000+ in reductions last 4 weeks.  One Cruise has changed my 12-1 liter Evian available to the 12-Dansi 16oz metal bottles. Ounce for Ounce about same, though can get 24 Dansi for $28.99. Even in usual plastic Bottles Dasani has metal taste to me, like each has a nickle in it....

I totally agree!  I thought I was crazy, but I told my husband it has a metal taste to it!

Woke up early. Funny how when I was working, the alarm always woke me up.  Now I'm up by 5:45 every morning with no alarm.  Started sending out emails and updating the Facebook page for my school.  Read a little of Fahrenheit 451.  Sent DH to pick up my online grocery order, and he also brought me a Sonic drink (it's the little things right now).  I took my mom's share of the groceries to her house.  She lives right behind us.  I worry about being around her, but since no one in our house is working outside the home, I think we are relatively safe.  She is very recently widowed, and I think being totally alone would be too much for her right now. We visited and watched People's Court together.  I told the DS to get going on his homework while I was gone. Later they sent out an email saying no one would get a semester grade lower than what they had as of the March 18th grade check, so there went his motivation. HA!   DS & DH also ran up to the school to pick up a lunch for him. Got back home to find out that we now had a stay at home order, so I had to cancel the teacher parade.  😞 Then we all watched Outward on Disney +.  I made homemade Alfredo sauce and pasta for dinner and taught DS how to make it.  It was delicious.  I'm trying to take this opportunity to teach him how to cook a few things!  Now we've all retired to do our own stuff for the rest of the evening.  

And if my July cruise gets canceled, I'll have 3 flight vouchers to use before December. ugh

1 minute ago, ARandomTraveler said:

Vegas might be shut down but I don’t think flights to Vegas are cancelled, or are they?

Correct.  They are still flying there. However they have changed our flight so many times, I've lost track!  We wouldn't have anything to do when we're there.  Plus we really don't want to put ourselves at risk.  On top of that my husband has been furloughed from his job, so a vacation is not what we need right now.  I bought the package through Expedia and bought their insurance, but it only gives you a flight voucher, not a refund.  I should have read the fine print. 

On 3/31/2020 at 4:23 PM, NancyIL said:

 

That’s a lot better than using credits on American. You have to begin travel no later than one year from when the original ticket (not the credit) was issued, or Dec. 31, 2020 - whichever is earlier. 🙁 We booked our Europe flights last Dec. 6. 

This is my issue as well.  I'm happy to get a credit, but I think the time should be extended.  I was booked to Vegas in about a week.  All of Vegas is shut down.  Obviously we are canceling, but it would be nice to have a year to use that credit instead of just a few months. 😞  I also have another flight on SW.  I'm holding off canceling it in hopes that they extend the time I can use the credit.  Otherwise I will have two flight credits that have to be used by December. I'm a teacher.  If I can't use them this summer, I won't be able to use them at all. 😞 

Have you ever heard of cough variant asthma?  My son has this and he used to get  the dry lingering cough every winter.  He sounded awful, but wasn't "sick".  We finally had a doc who prescribed an inhaler.    If he's consistent with his inhaler,  it goes away within a few days now.  I swear the difference has been amazing!

I haven't done this before, but we are considering going to the Mills at Jersey Gardens.  We will take an Uber there, and then it looks like they have a shuttle from the mall to the airport.  We don't have as much time as you do, but they have a movie theater which could kill some time and is good for all ages.  

We are traveling light, so will probably just keep our bags with us.  However, they might have lockers of some sort at the mall.  

Maybe a crazy question, but is there a beach that might be good for swimming/sunbathing in late July? 

On 2/11/2020 at 7:32 PM, New Cruiser Girl 2 said:

We discovered an Electric Bike Rental in Bar Harbor but just a little bit too late to actually go . Its $50 / 4 hours rental .   The one way park loop is 2 hours without stopping but of course you'll want to stop .   Next trip booked in 2021 , this is our top priority ~

How old do you have to be to use one of these?  We'll have our 14 year old son with us. 

I typically check once a week to see if the price has gone down at all.  This past week, every time I check, it says there are no cabins available for 3 people.  I have a hard time believing this is accurate.  The cruise is still 6 months away.  Anyway, I guess I can't price check any longer.