cakerbaker

Has anyone in NZ/Aus managed to get the expiry date of RCI FCCs extended?

Back story (common I expect!).  Transpacific April 2020 cancelled.  Got FCC.  Rebooked twice (both times April 2021/2022).  I've just cancelled as cruise was in Europe and its just too far to travel with still high risk of covid/positive test/boarding denied.

I'd now love a refund, but know that RCI are dead against this.  Currently AUD FCC has expiry date of April 2023 and with other commitments, that's just not enough time for me to be able to use the FCC.  I know I only need to book by April next year but I'm still not in a position to know if this would work and there's a fair bit of money tied up in this.  In hindsight, should have got a refund, but that ship has sailed (or not, haha).

So, how flexible are the expiry dates - anyone have experience with this?

Thanks - great to know it's worth pushing, I shall continue 😄  Also good info re expiring - didn't know that, so hard to get proper info sometimes!

Hi there,

I'm wondering if anyone has had any luck booking B2B cruises with FCC?  I'm being told that I have to book one cruise and actually wait to complete this cruise (who knows when that will be!) before I can use the remainder of the FCC.  Because the FCC is for a cancelled 18-night TP I have a fair bit of credit to use, and it will probably expire before I get to use the remainder.  Because of interrupted plans I'll be in different parts of the world and booking another TP/TA is just not going to work.

I'm trying to escalate it, but would be great to know if anyone has achieved this?

Thanks! 🙂 

3 hours ago, Kerry's Girls said:

Non-custodial kidnapping is a horrific possibility for a lot of families.  I have been asked many, many times to prove I'm the parent and I'm allowed to travel with my own children, and I never mind.   Having a "chain of title" to prove the children are mine and that I am the sole or custodial parent (or have notarized permission from the shared parent) is common when crossing borders.  If there are two parents on the birth certificate and only one is travelling, proof of permission is necessary whether it's the father or mother.   It doesn't happen most of the time, but it should.  I don't find it offensive that immigration needs to see marriage/divorce/custodial paperwork to make sure who is travelling and that a non-custodial parent isn't taking off with the kids - there's no way they can know if they don't check. What would be antiquated would be assuming that because the mother is on the birth certificate, she is allowed to leave the country with her kids.  

   

It's interesting though isn't it?  The assumption that a mother with a different surname to her child is seen as a possible risk? Does a father, with the same name as his children, who is travelling alone with them need to provide some kind of permission from the mother? Are they a risk for parental kidnapping? Does a mother, with the same name as her children also need to provide this? What is the difference between different surnames or whether it's the mother or father?  Different rules for all? Why?

What about situations where there is actual risk to safety - where one parent is at physical/psychological risk from the other parent, do they need to get permission to take their child on holiday? Clearly this is not ok or possible.  The cruise line has no authority to know about these situations. 

So long as the cruise line is checking passport/birth certificate (for both parents, not just mums!) that's all they can do.  Surely, it's outside their jurisdiction to actually police this.  All they can do is the surface-level checking.  They have no business finding out about various individual situations.  Some situations mean that 'parent permission slips' from the other parent simply are not possible, and people in these situations are already vulnerable, why make them even more so?

My daughter and I have different last names, we look different too.  I took her birth certificate which denotes both names I have used, previous married name and my now maiden name.  At check in I was asked to show her birth certificate which I had, I had to go to another line & there were discussions/scrutinising - it was a little stressful!  But all was fine.  I had divorce decree but didn't need to produce it.  Since your daughter is now remarried, if she has changed her name, I'd recommend taking children's birth certificates + recent marriage certificate, just in case.  Photocopies were fine.

I did this with my then 8yr old daughter and we loved it.  I can't remember exactly the rolls, pretty standard ones e.g., californian, but it was a good variety (e.g., some with seaweed, some with egg, the 'cone' one etc). We could take the instructions/recipes away with us & she got a certificate.

A tip is that when we bought it, I just paid for my daughter to do it.  I was there, and stood behind her (still aproned/gloved) and was able to listen & help her if she needed it.  There were other mum/daughter combos who had both paid for a space, and I think it looked a bit stressful, as the mum was trying to do hers, listen and help the child at the same time.  Just pay for the child and be there as support - cheaper and way more effective 🙂  There was HEAPS of sushi, enough for her & myself and she kept some to give to her favourite waiter, bless.

Do it, it's fun! We made it here at home afterwards, so was totally worthwhile.

Good to know, I'll get right on it, well after payday anyway lol!  Yes, large ship small place will be crazy, I know I avoid our  hotspot tourist areas when a large ship is in, so I dread to think how it will be for the locals.  Hopefully they make plenty of $$.  I'll also pack some dog biscuit packets for the doggies 🙂 

Thanks so much Petoonya.

Yes, we're looking at Ovation OTS which is massive, 1000s of people, hence why I was thinking about whether it would work.  

I just looked up Tohora Bora Bora and it looks incredible, thanks for the recommendation - I'll contact him 🙂   It all looks so amazing, it's hard to wait till next year, but I'm sure it will be worth it!

Hi there,

We're looking at a cruise next year through French Polynesia, I'm just looking at a lagoon tour in Bora Bora.  The pick up is from the wharf at 8.30am.  How realistic is it to book this given I'm guessing we'll need to tender from the ship? We can be up early, but I know that ship excursions will get first tenders.  Does anyone know what time the tenders usually start going?  The ship we're looking at is supposed to arrive at 8am, but I know this is a guide and ships can arrive a fair bit before this.

Thanks!