MindyJohn

12 minutes ago, dsvd79 said:

Any clues as to what ship will sail out of San Juan in 2025?

The test load last week showed Rhapsody from San Juan beginning in summer of 2024 and presumed to be staying through the winter.

17 hours ago, Biker19 said:

but that Navigator will continue West Coast sailings after she returns for some time (bookings to open the week of 2/13).

Has an updated list of release dates been posted?  Thanks

1 hour ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Anyone else notice from the deployment flyers that the Odyssey TA end in New Jersey.  No TA released yet for Anthem.

 

14-Night Spanish Transatlantic

November 3, 2024

 

Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy • Cruising • Palma De Mallorca, Spain • Valencia, Spain • Cruising • Malaga, Spain • Cruising • Madeira (Funchal), Portugal • Cruising (6 days) • Cape Liberty, New Jersey

Any idea when these WB TA's will be released?  Thanks.

55 minutes ago, LindaD22 said:

We were booked for a February 2024 Australia & New Zealand cruise on Enchantment. We got the email of the switch this week and called yesterday to verify our new cabin, since we booked a Jr Suite and really liked the location. The rep didn’t know about the switch, took time to get the information, but unfortunately said the system wasn’t allowing any updates yet. She said we had to wait to be automatically assigned a new cabin and then call if we wanted a change. So much for trying to be proactive!

My situation is same as yours and I'm on b3b for 45 days.  Didn't want to risk getting assigned different cabins for each leg so picked out new cabin on Brilliance and Redeployment Desk confirmed everything yesterday.  Call 1-888-281-9344.

21 hours ago, robbies-tackle said:

I phoned RCI this morning to discuss my options. Due to my husbands work commitments we can’t go on the earlier transatlantic’s and as air fare from Scotland is booked our ideal alternative was Rhapsody on the 29th or Enchantment (if it’s doing a TA as I wasn’t given the option for that ship).

 

There are no balconies left on Rhapsody so I was offered an ocean view gty. That was a big fat no as some of the OV cabins are only 126sq ft and no way was that a like for like as we had a balcony gty booked.

 

It took 55 minutes to get this far as the agent was unaware of the cancellation and had to read the memos. She was not offering any alternatives and it was me who had to make the suggestions. I asked her to check availability on Vision sailing from Ft Lauderdale to Baltimore as I knew there was balconies available on that sailing.

 

I’ve now booked a balcony gty on that cruise but it’s only 10 nights compared to 16 and I need to figure out how to get back to Scotland from Baltimore. Might need to do a wee road trip up the East coast.

 

So, in reflection am I happy with the alternative. Not really as I was so looking forward to a long 16 night TA and we’re already doing a cruise to the Caribbean in a few weeks.  On the plus side hubby retires next April to that’ll be the last holiday we will be restricted date wise. 

Don't know if you have the time to add it prior to going back to Scotland, but the b2b cruise on Vision is a 9 day sailing which includes Bermuda.  

About Brilliance being substituted for Enchantment in 2023.

Dear Guest,

The International Maritime Organization recently shared new speed regulations we must adhere to and as a result, we’ve repositioned some of our ships for our upcoming 2023/2024 season. Our original plan for Enchantment of the Seas was to offer sailings departing from Vancouver, British Columbia on April 3^rd, 2023 and Sydney, Australia on October 23^rd, 2023. Instead, Enchantment of the Seas will now continue offering sailings from Baltimore, Maryland through April 20^th, 2023 and begin a European season with departures from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, Athens (Piraeus), Greece, and Venice (Ravenna), Italy starting May 15^th, 2023, before making its way to Tampa, Florida in November 2023.

Brilliance of the Seas will now take Enchantment’s place in Alaska and Australia and will offer similar itineraries! Starting July 28^th, 2022, we’ll automatically move you to the new Brilliance of the Seas sailing departing on the same day as your original Enchantment of the Seas cruise. You’ll receive like-for-like accommodations onboard Brilliance of the Seas, and your amenities will remain the same.

Your vacation is important to us. While we’re confident you’ll have an amazing time onboard Brilliance and enjoy many of the same features as Enchantment, we still want you to have the flexibility to make the best decision for you and those in your party. Below, we’ve outlined your options along with a few additional details.

Option 1: Stay onboard the new Brilliance of the Seas cruise.

• We’ll automatically move you to the Brilliance of the Seas sailing departing on the same day as your original cruise. So, there’s nothing for you to do!
• Your new sailing will still offer the same beautiful ports as your original cruise, and it’ll depart from the same destination.
• We’ll move you to a like-for-like stateroom and your original stateroom category price will either be protected at your original cruise fare rate or reduced to the current cruise fare rate (whichever is lower). This excludes taxes, fees, gratuities, and other non-cruise fare items.
  • If your booking was already paid in full and your cruise fare rate decreases, we’ll provide you with a refund for the difference. You can expect to receive your refund to your original form of payment within 14 business days after we move you. Kindly note, refund times may vary depending on your financial institution.

Option 2: Re-book any other Royal Caribbean International sailing.

• If you prefer to re-book another sailing, we’ll waive any non-refundable deposit change fees.
• Please know, you’ll be responsible for any difference in pricing for your cruise fare, taxes, fees, gratuities, and other non-cruise fare items.
  • If your booking was already paid in full and your cruise fare rate decreases, we’ll provide you with a refund for the difference. You can expect to receive your refund to your original form of payment within 14 business days after we move you. Kindly note, refund times may vary depending on your financial institution.

Option 3: If you can’t find a new itinerary that works for you and choose to cancel, we’ll be sad to see you go. You’ll receive:

• A full refund of any paid portion of your cruise fare (including non-refundable deposits) and any pre-paid amenities to the original form of payment within 14 business days – some international banking and financial institutions may have a processing time of approximately 30 business days.
  • If you used a Future Cruise Credit on this sailing, and you request a refund instead, we’ll refund any NEW funds paid above the certificate amount, and we’ll reinstate your original certificate.  
• If you booked your airfare through Royal Caribbean International, it will be automatically refunded to you. However, if you booked on your own, please contact the service provider directly for your options with them.
• Please know, if you choose this option, we will not provide additional compensation.

On 5/22/2022 at 11:23 AM, Babr said:

IMG LX covers $250 per person per day with a cap of $2,500 per person. 
 

Trawick offers options to upgrade trip delay for an additional premium, but note that the provision also covers return transportation as opposed to other policies that cover transportation under trip interruption. What looks like more coverage with Trawick may not prove to be so. Do some hypothetical math.

 

Also look for a policy that extends coverage so that it does not end if you are delayed by a positive test at disembarkation and thereby prevented from returning home by your scheduled date.

I had a bad experience with Trawick a few years ago and won't use them again.  It took 6 months of back and forth for them to pay a routine claim when my husband got sick on a cruise and we had to come home early.  A less persistent person would've been out of luck.

Of the current fleet, the only ships I see unassigned for the first part of 2024 are Navigator, Explorer and Spectrum.  Unless something changes, it looks like San Juan may be limited to half of Jewel.  I wish it weren't so. 

Thanks, I've been waiting for San Juan 2024.  Wondering if Jewel interported will be the sole offering.  Reducing capacity from Voyager class to a portion of Radiance class is a significant reduction.

2 hours ago, island lady said:

 

LOL!!  It's a date!!  🙂  

 

Man...having Next Cruise just a couple of decks down from us is dangerous! 😮  Booked another Wonder B2B on first day, the Jewel B2B yesterday....now have decided to re-join Serenade on World Cruise, booking the last (4th) leg.  Puts us on first and last legs of that.  Gives us a break inbetween.  😉 

Good for you!  Sorry about the Radiance cancellations.  Maybe 2025 for Australia????

19 minutes ago, twinmommy08 said:

There are Bonaire ports but none for November 2023 which is what I am looking for. 

They've probably not shown up yet.  Patterns usually repeat so watch for whichever ships replace the three doing Bonaire in Nov 2022 - 8 day choices from Miami and PC plus 7 day itin from San Juan.

28 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Either on board or maybe one of the ports.

Yes they've had covid onboard as reported by friends sailing in recent weeks.  It's especially complicated as Barbados will not allow anyone with a positive result to disembark.  There've been examples where a negative wife had to disembark and positive husband had to remain onboard to complete quarantine.

Great couples shots @island lady and @John&LaLa

1 hour ago, joekatie said:

Is there a phone number for royal up?  Other on our cruise can bid now but we can’t.  We leave in like 5 days. 

Go to https://www.royalcaribbean.com/sgp/en/booked/cruise-room-upgrade?country=SGP and put your name and confirmation #.  It'll tell you if you're eligible.

12 minutes ago, brillohead said:

I'm assuming you didn't use a travel agent.  If you booked direct*, then call Royal and ask them to "reissue your e-docs".  That will trigger new luggage tags as well, and possibly give the system the nudge it needs to show your room number in other places as well.

*If you booked with a travel agent, have them make the call to reissue your docs.

I'll give that a try.  The system definitely needs a nudge!

49 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

I hear ya'.   That program drove me nuts the last couple of weeks. 

 

For me it ended up being "If you want something done right...do it yourself".  😉  Was actually happy I did, results were great and half the price of my bid.  😄 

I'm happy you were able to grab a great deal on your own!  I had a similar situation on Ovation in September.  Prices dropped and I was able to upgrade to my chosen cabin for less than minimum RU bid.  

1 hour ago, island lady said:

 

Maybe they like to wait to surprise you with that Royal Suite.  😉 

Haha!  I'll just be happy if they finally give me my balcony.  No news yet.  Frustrated with all the time I've spent on this over the last 2 weeks.  

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.  I've tried all of them and still no change anywhere from my original cabin even though my credit card was charged two weeks ago.  I just tried emailing Royalup again and if I still get no help, I'll rely on the porters to find my new cabin number at the pier. 

19 minutes ago, Starry Eyes said:

What cabin number comes up when you check the app or website…original or new?  If still the original, have you checked your credit card to see if the upgrade charge was processed?

Everything shows my original cabin and yes, my credit card was charged at the time they sent me my acceptance email.  When I've called about it they just say I'll get my new cabin when I check in, but that doesn't help my bag get delivered to the right cabin. 

6 minutes ago, Ashland said:

I just received my UpBid accepted and there was a link that gave me my new cabin number and was able to print out a new SetSail Pass & luggage tags.

Also they sent me an email to print out new docs.

Thanks, but I have no such link.  The acceptance email came 12/30 for my 1/16 sailing.  There's a link telling me to go to "manage my cruise" to reprint my bag tag, but everything under "manage my cruse" still shows my original cabin.  When I called about it, they explained upgrades are handled by a third party and gave me an email address to inquire.  No response from that.

26 minutes ago, rockmom said:

I just tried and it brings up sailings on Wonder, Allure, Harmony and Mariner all through summer of '23.  All 7 or 8 nights.  I put in 'sailing to the Caribbean and chose May through Sept 2023.  

I see the ones you mention.  I had filtered Ft. Lauderdale, so that threw it off.  Still, I'm surprised there's nothing later than Oct 2023.

Who else has received notice of their bid being accepted but not received new cabin number?  I'm wondering what to do about my bag tag.  Thank you!

It baffles me when the chart shows 7 night Caribbean Summer 2023-Winter 2024 as "Now Open for Sale".  A search on the website shows April 2023 as the latest date for 6-8 day Caribbean.

This is from @Richard/Traci - the letter he received from RCCL as posted on Grandeur's Jan9 Rollcall. 

This is where I read about rules for disembarking from Explorer.  See post #5.