B&J_Pgh

Has anyone who initially booked non-refundable early on (July '17) and switched to refundable closer to sail date saved money? We booked 22 months out and as I have never seen a last minute deal have a hard time believing that doing this will yield savings.

Or has anyone who booked non-refundable actually paid the change fees and changed to another sail date and/or aother ship and been able to save money doing so?

On the same sailing. We originally booked in an obstructed balcony. Upgraded to a JS during the end of KSF promotion for 4 of us for $1,500 total. $1,300 seems like a lot, but current "retail" price difference is about $2,500 for 3.

 

Considering there are 20 or so full suites still available for our sailing, I'm hoping I get an upsell call into one of those. Not holding my breath, but I'd probably jump on a fair offer!

I'm trying to familarize myself with the name of all their sales. What is the KSF sale and is the current one called BOGO50? When are the typical sales.

(I do understand how the "sales" work and hoping I can take advantage of one before the Nov 4 final payment date.)

we are in 1854 on independence end of may so will update. When booking it was more expensive than both j4 / gs and os .....we lucked out and got in on a ws guarantee. Will post details of what you get and what you don't on our return .

congratulations!!

thanks! Look forward to hearing about your experience.

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We have 1804 on April 8, 2018 on Liberty and it is still considered a non suite at that time so no extra points for us.

it'll be interesting to see how much the price changes accordingly!

My experience also. We were originally booked in a balcony while on Jan 2017 sailing. We took advantage of a sale and upgraded to a JS and kept the orignal OBC and added $200 from the promotion.

I've not heard of this on RC with US/Canadian bookings. When did this policy start?

Both the Next Cruise Desk on the Adventure on the 17th and then I called when we got home and confirmed it with them TWICE. Also told that since it was a $500 deposit, if we cancelled the booking then the remaining $300 deposit issued as a future cruise credit (FCC) which would need to be booked within a year of cancellation.

When our original Adventure sailing was drydocked essentially RCC paid us $200 for having to redeploy. So it appears someone will have to anty up if a different sailing date or ship is selected.

Yes this is on a refundable deposit cruise for 2020.

As long as it a refundable deposit, you can move as often as you wish

Not true even with the refundable deposit if you change to another sailing or ship you will pay a $100 p/p change fee.

You have to be asked you can't just sign up

My experience this WEEK was when I called to select preferences and asked them to "check off" automatic upgrade she told me instead of the new pilot program of upselling cabins. She also stated that it'll be "a couple of months" till the (snack) preferences and upgrade preferences return to the websit.

It's my opinion that you won't ever see the automatic upgrade return. You can call and see if telling them (C&A) you wish to select the "automatic upgrade" if they ask you instead if you want to wait listed for upgrades.

Is there a way to find your remaining balance on the new website?

upper right hand corner after you've left the blue sign in page.

I am guessing that you have been on the Grandeur before, perhaps more than once. Perhaps often.

 

Then you would know that the Diamond Lounge is quite nice, and certainly not a downgrade from any Concierge Lounge or Suite Lounge.

 

I don't understand how CL vs SL would color your thinking about a Grand Suite.

This will be our third time. It is also our 30th anniversary. We have not sailed on her since we were platinum so I never bothered to explore.

We have a JS now and are not diamond. Use of A! lounge would be the most significant perk. Lesser so the free room service. You are right it doesn't matter to me which it is.

Since the Grandeur doesn't have the reserved pool seating or walk in closets it's the only perk that comes with upgrading. I'm merely trying to identify the value of doing for us.

The room will depend on budget, suites can be expensive. . .

 

Decide if you want to go out of Florida or Galveston ( again a budget concern as Houston airports and getting to the port can be very expensive in Texas that a higher air cost to Florida may be warranted as it is only $20 to get to the port there.)

How much will the taxi from Galeston to the Pier cost?

Does the Grandeur still have a Concierge Lounge?

I'm trying to prepare in case I get an upsell call for a GS on June sailing.. Thank you.

Yes, on all ships, except for Majesty and Empress which do not have Diamond Lounges.

Does the Grandeur still have a Concierge Lounge? I'm asking to see what value I place on a Grand Suite should I get the call for our June sailing.. Thank you.

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't the amount of deposit nore than double between March of '17 and '18. ($500 instead of former $200 for a couple) . Also the the cancel fee is $100 per person and the remaining $300 is a future cruise credit that needs to be booked within a year.

Further in order to get a GS or better you don't have a choice of refundable.

Whatever the sale is. And so far, we are batting 1000 from the old OBC to the new booking.

 

. . .

 

Or we also have seen that the refundable GS's are so cheap that it's worth taking the $100 risk.

You must have booked a long time ago because now you can't book a REFUNDABLE GS. I imagine in the future changing to the nonrefundable before final payment might actually cost you more money instead of save you money because of pre cruise prices being higher closer to sailing. I've heard a lot about deals that can be had when booking late but have never seen that in the 10 years we've been crusing.

Does it seem like they ask those who have paid the most for their balconies first and then go down the list? Or if you had a really good price for your balcony you would be asked to pay more for an up sell? I’m just tying to figure out how RC does this as we have never been called.

The person I talked to said this is something brand new. Really feels like they are actually acknowledging elimination of the free upgrades in name and not just practice now.

They're rolling out more than just their website. Even though I was told "in a couple of months" the select gift and upgrade preferences would return, I bet that depends on the response to this new idea of pricing ascribes a value and people will want it more philosphy.

It would be more helpful if they would say we have a JS available and how much would you be willing to pay for the upgrade if they actually wanted a successful pilot program. So now I'm asking myself how much I'm willing to pay for upgrades. Otherwise I could fall prey to the auction attitude they are currently using and making regretful decisions.

How about actually learning what the clients want instead of trying to twist our arms with marketing ploys that leave us feeling used.

Yesterday I received an email asking if I wanted to be put in a list for a upgrade. Maybe that’s how they will do it now? *♀️

 

 

 

 

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Yes confirmed yesterday. Although it is first come first serve it's not free. Even though the email you will receive looks a lot like the old one used for free upgrades. Sounds like a lottery or an auction to me. Going forward I will figure out how much an upgrade is worth it to me so I don't get swept away (like ebay) bidding for an item.

I can't help with where to find it, but I have read on here that the upgrades aren't really always an upgrade. It might be a different catagory, but still in the same type of cabin such as a balcony. You could get moved to an ocean view with a larger balcony from the regular sized balcony, but yet it might not really be better. It could have a partially obstructed view or be in a bad location such as under the buffet or the pool deck where you will have noise above. Good chance you will be able to hear the chairs being dragged around. We were below the Windjammer one time and late in the evening and early morning we would hear them dragging the chairs as they were cleaning the floors. I forget which ship, but it was one that had the outside seating and bar just outside the Windjammer.

also told yesterday to be VERY careful when you get an email that looks "very similar" to the ones previously sent notifying of an upgrade. They are starting something new by offering you upgrades at a cost to you. Not a free upgrade. Once preferences are working again they are starting a wait list for these paid upgrades. Also told these paid upgrades typically won't become available till after the final payment. THERE WILL still be the selection of the free upgrade but it does seem to me those days are over.

I reported to her that the boards are reporting that the new nonrefundable deposits were to help deter late cancellations and felt the this new enhancement was actually even more restrictive. How does one figure out how much it's worth to upgrade. I can't imagine how this will affect those booking guaranteed cabins either.

Hi,

 

I keep reading about being able to set upgrade preference to auto. But I look through the entire website just before it changes to the new interface, I can't find where I can set it.

.

With the new interface, is even worse.

 

Is it possible for us to set it now?

 

Thanks

I was told by the C&A person who's working on my account that preferences and upgrade settings are not currently available. They expect they will be restored "in the next couple months". They are able to do that over the phone.

It might take less time for you to just legally change your name. Besides, if RCI says that is your name then who are you to question it?:eek:

too funny.

Does anybody still have incorrect C&A number posted against their name?

I had already posted about me acquiring a middle name which I have never had in my life! Patricia , which is a lovely name but just not mine!

I have beeen demoted to a Gold member and lost 1,000 points :eek:. I guess this is what happens when you defect to another cruise line ;):D.

I did manage to get in the back door and take a screen shot of my correct name, points and C&A number.

At this point I am getting past caring .

SOMETHING WITH THE MIDDLE NAME

both my husband's and my account are recorded as being for a Robert RENEE (my middle name). His backlog is correct but duplicated. I'm told it could take up to 10 business days to correct.

My synopsis is that they didn't consider that some couples use one sign in. By supposedly decreasing the number of accounts they have perpetuated the problem they wished to address.

In other words we were already merged so then they further merged us so that we had a combined name and now one of us must start a new C&A account.

What ship was the Concierge Lounge renamed the Suite Lounge? I’m not aware of any.

 

Pinnacle are welcome in Suite Lounge.

 

 

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Adventure of the Seas

I got the bad request message last night when my friends and I were trying to complete our set sail passes. The workaround that we were able to use was to go to the Royal main page, click 'already booked' and then click on 'online checkin'. That takes you to the old page where you can enter the reservation number, last name and date and ship. Hope that works for you. Are we having fun yet?

was told this also and tried it and it doesn't work. Says, "invalid reservation number" Final payment has been made and they assured me it would work. Otherwise I'm to arrive earlier to allow for time for them to process at the desk!!!

Sorry... one more question.

 

We completed our pre-check in for our June Adventure cruise and saw that the Sea-Pass cards would be waiting at the room instead of being issued upon arrival. Was that how it worked on your cruise? If so, any problems? Any procedure to ensure that cards are issued to the correct person?

 

Thanks again.

That wasn't our experience on March 17 - 24.