kennc

14 minutes ago, bouhunter said:

785 posts, the vast majority hoping and praying they get to take advantage of a mistake to save a few bucks.  Justifying it by ranting about "PR nightmares", etc.  This entire thread is truly pathetic.

100%

 

RANT COMING, you have been warned.

 

I am humored by the general sense of self importance, power, knowledge and entitlement of the posters complaining the loudest.

 

For the record, I saw the rate and knew that if you see it, book it.  I might not be there in a few seconds.  You can always cancel later.  I did.  I knew and know it can be cancelled pursuant to the agreement I entered into voluntarily with RCCL.  The same type of agreement we ALL enter into with ALL commercial cruise lines.  I am waiting to see if we save a few dollars.  

 

If we do, great, if not, so be it. 

 

41 minutes ago, suesnake2002 said:

I say move call centers back to the usa. Had that been the case I'm sure this would have been shut down sooner. 

Instead you have people reading from a script. 

This is were royal is in deep poop. Their employees told numerous people and TA that the price was correct. 

Had call centers been in usa, anyone with half a brain would have sent up a red flag. 

 

 

39 minutes ago, awestover89 said:

 

They are definitely in damage control. The initial problem was mostly minor; the only caveat was how to handle people who cancelled a previously purchased beverage package to book the new one. Having the phone agents saying it was a legit sale also wasn't great, but not insurmountable.

 

Where the excrement really hit the rapidly spinning cooling device was the lack of an official statement combined with the back and forth in unofficial social media statements. Yes it's a legit sale. No it's not but we'll honor it. We aren't honoring it and we aren't compensating anybody beyond refunds. We aren't honoring it but we'll give you a discount to make up for it. We aren't honoring it and the discount will be based off of on board prices, not the already discounted online prices. We'll let you know what's been decided at 2. At 4. At 6. Tonight. Tomorrow. 

"This is where (sic) royal is in deep poop."  

"Where the excrement really hit the rapidly spinning cooling device"

The legal department is in crisis control (paraphrasing an earlier opinion).

 

Those complaining about a decision that hasn't even been made yet, please do yourself a service and do a google search on this "PR nightmare."  There are exactly two reports, one on Royal Caribbean Blog and one on Cruise Radio (whatever that is).  Both of these reports make this whole affair seem pretty mundane, innocuous and irrelevant, pretty much, "move along, nothing to see here." 

 

This despite that a poster "alerted" CBS News of this "developing story."  Apparently CBS News, nor any other news or internet  entity find this to be particularly newsworthy.

 

Not seeing "deep poop" or stuff hitting the fan in the real world.  

 

As to the "legal department", since Royal is clearly and unambiguously within their right to NOT honor purchases made at this rate, I am sure the "legal department" is business as usual.  Zero legal consequences for RCCL if they cancel every last one of the packages purchased at $18.  You may disagree and you can opt to seek arbitration against them (another term of your contract), but I would put your chance of success below 0%.

 

My guess as to what is really happening;

 

PR department probably monitoring internet and social media to see how wide spread the "outrage" is and any press coverage of it (or more accurately, lack thereof) and reporting back to the money people.

 

Another real word fact on this issue,  tomorrow is the 4th of July.  Likely to see some bad news dumps today as "PR 101" mandates it is best to dump bad news before a Holiday when no one is paying attention.  By next Monday, no one will care what a cruise line did last week.

 

Ultimately, I believe, it is the money people who will guide the final decision. It is the accountants deciding the relative costs of their various options so they can determine the best BUSINESS decision. 

 

Read "BUSINESS decision" to mean dollars (present and future) lost or potentially lost.  It may be honoring the purchases is the best option, and all the loud criers in here will feel that their voice was heard (it will not have been, despite what RCCL's PR department puts out in a statement).  It may be cancelling them all and making a good will gesture is the best option (even if it really isn't much of a gesture  - 30% off).  It may be something different, but it will be a pure business decision.

 

RCCL is filling their ships and ordering more, their stock is up tremendously, their profits are outstanding.  That is what a business is supposed to do, even if it sometimes seems like they are neglecting, hurting, offending, minimizing customers.  Whatever the outcome of "Beverage PackageGATE," it will not have a significant effect on RCCL's business.

 

I have had plenty of disputes with RCCL over the experiences of me and my family.  I do not post about it, I take it up directly with them and am satisfied with the outcomes.  For now, we will continue to sail with them.

 

As a customer, I put on my big boy pants and make decisions that work for me and my family, understanding how the real world works, like it or not.

 

But, you do you. 

 

I hope all of us that purchased it, get the package at $18. 

 

Happy sailing.

 

 

We were on her in April 2018. She was wonderful. We are booked again for the Aug 12 sailing. Very much looking forward to it.

 

There is someone live blogging right now a different rccl blog site. They seem to be having a wonderful time.

 

My belief is if you go on a cruise expecting a good time, you will find it. Glass half full.

 

If you go looking for issues to nitpick, you will find them. Glass half empty.

 

Pick the type of cruiser you are. Also try to spend your time around the same type of cruisers. You will have a better time.

 

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Can you point out where it says based on availability? Really just curious.

 

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On the RCCL website, in the FAQ document regarding the Royal Suite Class, it says reservation required for Sea Class for dinner at Coastal Kitchen.

 

I guess if you can't get a ressie because there is no availability, you would be out of luck.

 

In reality, I would guess it is like most requests made by client's or customer's to any service provider. You act respectful and reasonable and they try to accomodate.

 

You demand and act entitled, you will likely be pointed to the MDR.

 

(Pro tip, the underpaid and overworked staff on the cruise ship dont really care "how much you paid" for your perceived right to badger and belittle them).

 

I have seen both kinds on cruises (and in everyday life). I try to be, and try to teach my boys to be the former.

 

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Yeah, flowrider and rock wall are hard. We had a boardwalk balcony room and they offer a perk of a wall climbing session. We had some issues getting that scheduled but ended up having about 15 minutes of wall time just for our family. No waiting. No lines. Another 15 minutes would have been perfect, but we were glad to get what we did.

 

As for the flowrider, the easiest way to get time is to buy it. I did the same $79 lesson on a previous cruise and was similarly disappointed. For $345 you can rent it for an hour. You get no instruction from staff. For instruction the price is $552 for an hour.

 

Once my boys are tall enough, they will get a present from Santa for one hour of flowrider time.

 

One last tip on the flowrider, and this is only for standup riding, not boogie board, but they have "advanced surfing " every morning for an hour. No instruction, no help. You need to be able to start on your own and at least be able to ride a little. It is a stretch if I say I am an intermediate rider, but I was out there most mornings usually with only 2 to 3 others (I am sure this varies by cruise). The last morning I went out, there was only 2 of us and he left after 30 minutes. I had the flowrider to myself for 30 minutes (enough time for about 20 wipeouts). I think that was Cozumel day.

 

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Me, my wife, father and two boys (9 and 7) were on this sailing as well.

 

We had a great time and am enjoying reliving it with your posts.

 

About the lines, we were very fortunate and did not encounter as many line issues as you. Different circumstances account for that, but as a general strategy we will try to zig while the masses zag.

 

For instance, my wife and dad (75 years young) rode the zip line 8 times in a row. It was the afternoon of Falmouth probably around 4:00. We also enjoyed chairs near the pool. Of course, we sacrificed a Jamaica excursion, but it was a great day.

 

I am glad your family enjoyed it. Looking forward to more posts. Happy Cruising.

 

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Let's get this straight, you pay several thousand for the cruise, including air, but you balk at a $25, each way, luggage fee?

1. Yep

2. Have you seen the thread on the $7.95 room service charge? Over 1000 posts.

 

 

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Does anyone know where or when you get your internet password if you pre-purchase the zoom package? On the Oasis it was at check-in, but with Anthem's express check-in, I am not sure.

 

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