33tekfan

I know I could probably find this out if I had time to search but I need the answer rather quickly so thanks in advance for help!

We have a friend who wants to travel with us in 2016. He also wants to take advantage of the current BOGOHO. However...he is not exactly sure he will be bringing the person he would currently add to the booking right now. *ahem*

If he books himself and his girlfriend right now, what are his options if she doesn't end up going with us? (Not that anyone else would be going, he likely would end up traveling solo)

No. That person has not earned the benefit and is not entitled to it. For those who will suggest that you ask because it might be allowed on your particular cruise, PLEASE don't put the staff in that position. That is not fair to them. Follow the rules -- you have read them and know what they are. Only Diamond and above are permitted in the lounge.

 

Ok, cc member, have it -- tell them all reasons that it is okay to break the rules as is typical of these postings.

Well stated.

I've never been "on hold" for more than a min.....if you are, hang up and try again in a minute or two! Tell them to send you an e-mail reciept.

This is generally true in my experience as well....BUT...with this current sale, there have been astronomical wait times. Our vacation planner's ougoing voice mail message, this past Friday, actually said since the phones were so busy he couldn't return any calls and we should just call back and wait our turn on hold :(

We are planning to buy the Select Drink Package ($40/day beer/wine/nonalcoholic cocktails/soda).

That being said, will we be able to get one of those soft sided coolers filled with 6 or so beers using the package? We'd like that option to take back to our cabin and enjoy on the balcony.

Don't forget the honey stung chicken is available all the time via room service. Have a blast, miss that ship!!!

On Explorer a couple of weeks ago, the "Honey Stung" chicken from Room Service was not the same as what I had on embarkation day in the Windjammer on Freedom and Oasis. It was just plain chicken tenders with some dipping sauce :confused:

I have never been asked for documentation, but I always have it with me (I take everything that RCI recommends on their website) because it is a small amount of time to prepare all of it ahead of time to prevent anything at check in or at customs. Better safe than sorry!

Thanks all! I don't like to feel like I'm being dishonest, I'm a rule follower...lol! It seemed like it would be ok, but I wanted to see what experiences others had. I'm glad to see it can be done without issue!

Next up...figuring out how to get drinks out of the CL for our friends. I kid, I kid! :p

We'll be traveling in a GS, but the couple we are traveling with will be in a balcony room. I understand they don't qualify for the same perks. However, what if we wanted to order room service dinner one night and eat on the balcony? Could we order enough for them to join us or is that frowned upon?

I'm with the deck 8 fans :) Love being able to walk through Central Park to get to the other end of the ship.

I didn't read through all the responses here - but I am interested to know if the OP was able to book a suite during the current 50% sale? I know, I know...some of the prices are inflated so it may not really be a good deal for some folks but I'm not here to debate that. What I can tell you, though, is DH and I booked a GS on Oasis for April 2016 for just a few hundred more than we paid for a plain old balcony cabin on Oasis last year (same time frame, April). Worth looking into, OP...and if you book far enough out (like we did) you have plenty of time to save up before final payment is due! ;)

If you booked after final payment they will not ask... that cabin was released to the general pool after the final payment date. If you booked before final payment and do not fill out the proper paperwork, stating your needs, then there is a good chance that you will be bumped from the cabin.

 

Accessible cabins do have some additional space... but closet space is extremely limited and not really user friendly because of the additional features for those who can not stand. The bathrooms are larger, but when you use the shower the entire floor gets wet because they are 'roll-in' showers for those who need to use them in a wheel chair.

 

There is a right and a wrong here... if you have booked the cabin for additional space and do not have a need for the accessible features, then you will have to live with the knowledge that you have probably made it impossible for someone with needs to enjoy this cruise. No matter what your TA does... or what RCI does or does not do... I'm hoping you are someone who will do the right thing in this situation.

 

Whatever you choose to do, I hope you enjoy your cruise.

Well said.

Ugh...inconsistencies annoy me to no end!

I have traveled on RCI with my children - who have a different last name than I, twice, and have never been asked for documentation - although I had everything in order, including a notarized letter from their father.

The last cruise, we brought a friend who is 18 - a legal adult and THAT'S who the agent at check-in questioned! Never said a peep about my kids though.

Everything the agent told the OP they needed (letter, birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.) is true. They need to make the legal connection between names. Have it all ready, just to be safe and to know you will all be allowed to board. Have original, certified copies (not Xerox copies).

Whether they ask for it or not is a whole different story but I believe better to be safe than sorry!

Didn't you get onboard credit?

We did, $100. I should have mentioned that in my original post.

On Oasis last year, we booked our cruise for this year (2014) and then did an open booking for a future cruise. We like the reduced deposit and the OBC we get.

When the sale broke yesterday, we decided to splurge and book a GS on Oasis for 2016. The price was too good to pass up. As you all probably know, this can't be done online, we have to call to book with the Open Booking Certificate.

Only my husband's name was on the certificate so according to the rep, I only had to give another $100 deposit to add my name to the booking. When we received our emailed documents, I noticed it stated we needed to deposit another $500 (total) by 5/8/14 because we booked a suite. I called back to ask and had to leave a message. When our vacation specialist called us back, he said the original rep who did the booking made a mistake and we did indeed owe a $500 deposit EACH. The only plus was that the $200 we already deposited was included and we "only" had to deposit another $800.

My husband went on RCI and read about why they require larger deposits for suites. I understand their reasoning (although I may not necessarily agree with it) and it's a matter of paying now or paying later and we did end up paying the additional deposit because we want to take this cruise in the GS.

The question (after that long back story...lol!) is what is the benefit of using an open booking certificate if you are going to book anything above a JS?

What are some of the perks of being in a Grand Suite?

My 13 year old son did the adult class - but he is an experienced baker :D If your son has some experience with decorating, the two of you would probably do just fine together in the adult class. If he's comfortable going by himself to the children's class, maybe you could pick another activity to do with him? Ice skating? Maybe just have lunch by yourselves one day? It's so hard to balance time with each of your children, isn't it? No matter, you are all on vacation together and they will have nothing but good memories, I'm sure! Enjoy!

We are sailing FOS 2/19/12. If I understand the rotations correctly, we will have Capt. Rob Hempstead? Thanks in advance!