dnewscruiser

We flew with my newly 4- and 2-year-old last year to our cruise. Checked my 4-year-old's seat and brought my 2-year-old's on the plane. Bringing it on the plane was the best idea--kids are used to sleeping in those during car rides, so it made her naps easier. We got a rental car (flew down day early; stayed extra day) so needed them there, though some rental car companies have them available for a fee (quality questionable on some; I saw one in the rental car pile that looked like it had been puked on). Stored the seats in our stateroom closet nested together. We never drove anywhere in port so not needed then. But after visiting many Caribbean islands without kids, I would NOT want my kid in a taxi there w/o a seat; roads are often narrow and windy through hills and drivers maneuver them at crazy speeds. I would recommend choosing a bus for transportation.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

What a wonderful review!! You and your wife really know how to roll with the punches and make the most out of a family cruise.

We took our girls (then newly 4 and 2) on Oasis last October, and we are returning for our fifth time on Oasis this October (but our first time in a JS!)--and I'm so excited they can both use Adventure Ocean this year. Your memories with your kids mimic ours so much and reading them got me excited all over again for October. Our girls (even the 2-year-old who we thought would remember nothing) still talk about our cruise ALL the time. Such special memories!!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Cruises 5 nights or less only require a $100pp deposit

Ah. That makes sense.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Grab it before it goes away. About the best price I've seen for 4 pax in a long time. I just missed one for our most recent Oasis cruise by about 5 minutes. Was roughly $3,300 for 4 after port taxes & fees (KSF promo).

UPDATE: We ended up going for it! Called to book Tuesday and then ensued a convoluted process to resolve an issue between the TA and Royal, which wanted to charge us $400 in change fees, even though we are under the 30-day grace period of making changes. FINALLY was resolved w/o change fee about 6 pm today. So we scored a J3 for 4 for about $2,900, which is pretty good considering the same category is now over $5K for 4 for our sailing. [emoji15][emoji15][emoji15]

Moral of the story:

1) Book a good price when you see it.

2) Work with a TA that will strive to rectify problems.

3) Don't book a NRD onboard a year out. [emoji12]

4) Seriously questioning whether to ever use Next Cruise again ...

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Booked while returning from Havana on Empress (10/20) for April 2018. Deposit was $100pp for 2 and received $250 OBC. I had selected the sailing prior to Cuba cruise and had copy of paperwork with me. It was a BOGO so DH was 1/2 price. I can live with my deal.

 

 

 

Hope they do put a Chops on Majesty so I have a way to spend my OBC.

Was it NRD? Wonder why you got reduced deposit? Or is it based on total cruise cost to require the higher deposit? I am not understanding why it is so inconsistent.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We booked 2 cruises on board Navigator in May for 2018. One had a $300 deposit (for 4 people) and one was $150 for 2 people. We received $100pp OBC for big too.

We were told when we booked that one of the perks of booking on board was that we could move the cruise to any date/category as many times as we like before final payment and transfer the deposit to the new booking and keep the OBC. We have actually moved both cruises, retained our deposits and obc and taken advantage of the new offers (we had 30% off on board). The second cruise I actually repriced this week for the second time, keeping all benefits and took advantage of the current uk BOGOHP + free drinks package saving over £1000.

Man, this is SO different from when we booked onboard Oasis two weeks ago for next year. I wonder if things changed since May? We were given only 30 days to make changes under the NRD, after that it is $100/pp change fee every time PLUS you put some of your OBC at risk. We already moved from a 7D that we booked onboard to a J3 when prices dropped once we got home, and we already lost our $125 WOW sale OBC that we got while making the Next Cruise booking. Plus there are other ongoing/unresolved issues with the booking that our TA is currently working on w/Royal.

This has been the most challenging/least beneficial Next Cruise booking by far.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

You must have picked the non refundable rate then?? If you picked refundable you should be able to cancel before final payment date without penalty

Yep, it was NRD. Though neither Next Cruise agent we spoke with told us that's what we were booking at the time and both gave us incorrect information. It used to be you could cancel third and fourth passengers off a room w/o penalty up until a couple weeks before sailing. Not so with NRD anymore, though we were told differently by the Next Cruise staff on Oasis. :/ We would NOT have booked onboard if we had gotten accurate info. We were planning to go regardless; just weren't sure about taking the kids on this next one.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I *think* if you use non-refundable deposit price you get a lower deposit of $100 p/p. I might be wrong there. We booked onboard Enchantment last week and it was $100 p/p.

 

That being said they have definitely changed the onboard booking perks. If you are ok with sticking to the itinerary you choose you will likely save some money (how much is debatable) but if you are thinking you want to be able to change the reservation I would just stick directly w/ your TA or do your own.

 

FWIW not all next cruise associates are equal. I spent a couple meetings with one on Enchantment and couldn't seem to get anywhere. The last night I sat down with another guy cause she was busy. Not only had her quotes been way off, he was able to find us what we were looking for in what seemed like a fraction of the time.

We did the NRD on board, and it was $250 still deposit a person.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Wow. I'm very sad to hear this. We have always used the $100 next cruise deposit and loved having a deposit "in the bank" so to speak. $300 is one thing, but if they now want us to pay $750 that's ridiculous and I see no benefit to it. How sad. The cruise we are going on next month we would have never even booked if we didn't have that next cruise deposit sitting there. This isn't a change for the better for us!

Yeah, we just put down $1,000 on our next cruise, even when our girls' fares are $0, and they each only have port taxes and fees of $111. And we were told that we would lose their their $250 deposit if we take third and fourth passenger off the reservation in the future (well, $150 of each deposit would go to a FCC in each of their names). Tell me how that makes sense.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We have done two Disney cruises with my two adult children and their spouses and 4 grandchildren. The two oldest this year were 4. Unfortunately the two younger ones could not go to the Kid's Club but the two 4 year olds LOVED the video games! We will be on the Allure July 2018 and now the 3 year old and two 5 year olds can go to Aquanauts. I saw pictures of Aquanauts and looked very "babyish" for 5 year olds. I understand that for video games that you have to go to Arcade and pay $1.25 per game. I a concerned that the 5 year olds will not want to go to Aquanauts. On plus side, I have heard that the activities in Aquanauts is more structured than Disney. Does anyone have any experience comparing Disney to Aquanauts.

 

Thanks

My 4-year-old LOVED Aquanauts on Oasis two weeks ago. They had quite a variety of activities, from group games, crafts/projects, storytime, songs, dances, free play, movies, performances that they put on, etc. Every time I "peeked" in, she and the other kids were having tons of fun, and she would've gone more than we put her in if left up to her. She is very social though, and loves preschool and playing with other kids, so I'm sure it depends somewhat on the personality of the child. It seems like the staff really try to engage all the kids though and give special attention to those who may need it (like I saw one staff member holding a tired child and providing some comfort/snuggles while the kids were watching Sing! in the kids' theater one evening.)

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I'm reading the posts and am surprised... I have ALWAYS booked onboard (after that first one) and have yet to find a lower price when booking off the ship - even today, with the current "sale" - the price I received onboard is still $30 less (in total) than booking off the ship... and yes, we got a little bit of onboard credit, but nothing big. When you book onboard, you are also given the price guarantee - so if you do find your cruise less expensive online - then the lowest price gets honored. I have yet to use that, because I have never found it less expensive.

 

So, go figure.... I'm happy booking onboard.

In the past, I've always had good experiences using the next cruise office. Which we have used since our very first cruise in 2007. However, this most recent time two weeks ago on Oasis, was my worst experience to date. Two different next cruise staff members gave me completely inaccurate information about questions I asked regarding the nonrefundable deposit. I am still trying to work out some kinks with my travel agent currently. Unfortunately, I filled out my post cruise survey before I realized all the problems I was going to have with my next cruise booking, or I would've rated them much lower. It is hard to imagine that I will do next cruise again. They have taken away many of the perks of booking onboard that existed in the past.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Aha thanks for the info. So the only benefit to booking at the Next Cruise desk is getting some on board credit it appears. Is the deposit required the same as if I booked off ship?

Yes. That used to be not the case (used to be $100/person for open next cruise), but sadly deposit on board is now $250/person. Even "free" children. [emoji848]

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

For the self appointed moderators, I am intentionally digging up this old thread, though I wanted to dig up an older one. Anyway, on the subject of 10's on survey and how the crew is beaten for anything under a 10 ;) I wanted to revisit the topic. I believe Royal, as much as I love her(it) is inconsistent. Inconsistent from year to year, or ship to ship at any given time. 2016 Oasis was the first time I felt pressure to give 10s. But on that cruise I pretty much wanted to do that anyway. 2017 on Adventure we were told that survey's were in our email in box when we departed the ship. But our waiter made a point to say even if you think the service was great, dinging the food at a lower score hurt them. This was the first time I felt manipulation, but I was honest with the survey. This time coming of Adventure I would have given a lot of 10s and some other scores, but no survey! I did go to Crown and Anchor's site and give my comments which were well received. I was told they would pass on my complements to the dining team I had, but only acknowledged my remark about inconsistencies in the Viking Crown Lounge - Diamond Happy hour.

I also just had this experience for the first time on Oasis. My husband and I agreed the entrees in the MDR were the worst we've experienced in all our cruises (not horrible, but we've had many excellent entrees, and many this time were fatty or overcooked). Our server, who was EXCELLENT and deserved her 10s, said rating MDR food quality as anything less than a 10 affects HER (she said she'd have to receive additional training; she was an Oasis vet, on board her for 6 years). This makes NO sense to me and is truly unfair. So because I did not want her to be affected, I gave 10s across the board for MDR, then detailed in my comments how I thought food quality should be in a separate section and how wrong it was to affect the servers for an area they have NO impact on.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We just went on Oasis (obviously very similar to Allure) this month with our girls, who are 4 and 2. They LOVED it! We hit the splash pad/kid pool area almost every morning (both my girls are potty-trained so wasn't an issue). Disney's pool area seems very small compared to Oasis class. Just to note, there is a small splash pad on Oasis (guessing it's the same on Allure?) where swim-diapered kids can go. In fact, they wouldn't let my potty-trained 2-year-old in it; kids had to be in a swim diaper to use.

Every night after dinner, we'd hit the carousel, which was the highlight of my girls' day. We'd ride at least two times in a row. They also loved the food, shows, and ice skating. We didn't even do any character activities! We were too busy.

Other note: my 4-year-old LOVED Adventure Ocean and would've spent way more time there than she did. They also have a large family play area for kids 5 and under not in camp/nursery, and my 2-year-old loved that. Adventure Ocean also puts on family activities every day, where you can do things with your kids.

Oh, and how could I forget the boat, bus, car, and ship on the Boardwalk! My girls LOVED climbing and playing on those every single day.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

So an extra $1,000 (or the entire drink package and internet costs). I probably still wouldn't spend the $1k and it's well within my budget. Have you sailed JS before? Some people surely find it worth the upgrade and love it. We didn't think the extra 3 ft of cabin space made any measurable difference and was essentially pointless.

We haven't had a JS before but this past time was our first with our 2 young kids in the room (D4), and it was a little ... snug (which we expected). We also would make Emerald sailing in a JS next time (not a big deal over all, but getting us closer more quickly to Diamond, especially since we can only cruise about once every year or two currently).

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I swore I'd never waste money on a JS again, but at that price, not bad at all. What is the price for a regular ocean view balcony?

Our current 7D for 4 is about $2K.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Best price I've seen was around $1150 a person, for 2 people.

On Oasis class? Nice! Right now, a J4 on the hump for 2 on our next Oasis sailing is $2,500 total (w/port taxes and fees), but we may have to take our kiddos ... and the J3s are a bit more expensive plus the additional port taxes/fees for 2 more people.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Curious: what is the best price you've ever snagged on an Oasis class ship for a JS? Currently eyeing a JS for under $3K for 4 people (2 adults/2 young kids) ...

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

If the kids are a no show you would get back the port taxes and fees. It will be credited back to the credit card you used to pay for the cruise.

Is this policy in writing anywhere?

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

No they refund nothing of the cruise fare and have to refund the port fees and taxes. You have it backwards. Them not showing up at the pier only works on the kids sail free promo(since the kids are sailing free except for port fees and taxes). If you actually paid a cruise fare for the kids, then it doesn't work.

Ahh. Ok. I've got it now. Thank you! So keeping the kids ON the booking makes the MOST sense.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

They can't not refund the port fees and taxes and they aren't cancelling the cruise, so they can't withhold the $100 pp. They are just not showing up for a cruise they paid for.

Wait, so if we just do a "no show" on the kids (again, if we decide not to take them), they WILL refund port taxes and fees? Is that in writing anywhere?

Sidenote: I asked for where in writing what the agents were telling me was available, and they said nowhere publicly, only in their policy manuals they were reading from. Argh.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

So how does the "no show" work? They refund EVERYTHING minus port taxes and fees if we just tell them at the port that they aren't there? How does that make sense, in light of all I was told today?

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Good to know, thanks for posting.

 

 

 

I'm still confused about this and the KSF promo though. While on paper it may seem like they have made a deposit in reality after final payment the total price is what you have paid and the kids are actually free. I can see them withholding the $100pp out if the taxes and issuing the balance ($11) as a FCC but it's not like they can ask you for more money.

 

 

 

As someone else suggested they could also be a no show at the pier which would result in a worst case scenario of not having the port fees and taxes refunded.

Admittedly, I am still confused too. I even said to the agent, so if I dropped my kids off the reservation after the grace period, and would "lose" each of their $250 deposits for that cruise (which their deposits alone under this rate for KSF is new; for our 10/15 Oasis, also booked under KSF earlier this year, they did not charge us ANY deposit for the kids), then I would be out MORE than their actual cost ($111 each) for the cruise--how does that make sense? He said it would probably be more beneficial for me to drop them now under the grace period, if we are uncertain about them joining us, then add them later in a future KSF if we do indeed decide to take them.

So so confusing.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

So, I called C&A twice, speaking to two different agents, and here is the scoop:

LISTEN UP, BECAUSE THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE on canceling 3rd and 4th passenger from the past:

If we were to cancel the kids (3rd and 4th passenger) under our NRD rate, they would hold our $250 deposit on each child (so $500) toward a future cruise credit, minus a $100 pp change fee (so $300 in FCC that is non-transferable if this scenario were to happen). Even though I am booking under KSF and their total "cost" is $111 in port fees and taxes. (The first agent admitted that it doesn't really make sense, but said that was the policy.)

However, because we booked onboard, we have a 30-day grace period to make changes to 3rd and 4th passengers w/o penalty.

Both Next Cruise staff members I spoke to on Oasis gave me WRONG information on this, and I expressed my disappointment with that in my calls to C&A.

So parents (or others with 3rd/4th passengers in the room), please be aware of this change in past policy when booking the NRD rate. You can NO LONGER cancel 3rd/4th up to two weeks before sailing w/o penalty if booking under this rate.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

It's important to note that as a ship fills, there is a specific number of spaces in the lifeboat/muster station. In each station, they are made up of both double, triple and quad occupancy cabins. If a specific station gets to a certain point, the cruiseline can limit the number of additional passengers booking into that area, which means that even if you have a quad occupancy cabin with 2 individuals booked, and your cabin can hold 2 more, you wouldn't be able to book them, since the line was limiting all new bookings to only double occupancy.

 

So, usually if you think you're going to book your kids (or 2 others in a quad cabin), it's been best to book them in, and then cancel them later, since there has not been any penalty to cancel third/fourth individuals off a booking up until 2 weeks before sailing.

 

Many have booked larger than double cabins, and then when they went to add the third or fourth person, found that the muster station was at maximum and no additional passengers could be booked into their cabin.

 

I hope that this makes sense.

 

ETA: Of course Bob got there first!!!

But the canceling the kids w/o penalty is the issue in question right now under the new NRD rates, since I received conflicting info from different Next Cruise staff members. The first said the $100 pp change fee applied; the second (who we booked with) said no, that was wrong, no change fee on 3rd and 4th if we drop them later HOWEVER it *could* affect our OBC by removing them later.

I will be calling later today.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums