colesc15

So far the $167 for a 7 nighter on an oasis class seems to be on the low end

What's the lowest unlimited dining price you've seen in the past few months for an oasis class ship for a 7 night cruise? Lowest I've seen is $166.99 a person. 

Those who have a snorkeled at Infinity Bay in the past, how was it? It looks great from the few videos I've found. It looks like you're able to snorkle on your own from the beach. Let me know! 

Called and after she checked with a supervisor, was told since it hadn't been 30 days yet there's nothing they can do and can't apply the balance until a new FCC is issued. Hopefully it comes before final payment is due

Good morning, 

I paid off an upcoming cruise with a FCC on October 22nd. They said allow up to 30 days for the reissued FCC with the remaining balance. A few months prior when I used an FCC I got the updated one with the remaining balance within a few days. November 22nd will be 30 days but I haven't gotten the updated one back yet. I have another cruise I need to pay off soon so I'm starting to get antsy. 

Have they been taking longer to issue the remaining FCC? If I call, am I able to give the original FCC and see if they can see the remaining balance? I just don't want to pay out of pocket soon when I technically have nearly enough to pay off the next balance. 

Magically got a call back almost immediately after sending the email. Nice as can be this time around and gave me her direct extension even though that likely won't matter. Depending on what they offer for our 8 nighter, may or may not move it since it's only 2 months away and wouldn't need any servicing on it. We'll see. 

Just sent another email and sent a message on Facebook.. See if that gets anywhere 

We're at hour 22 of "ill call you within 24 hours". I won't hold my breath I actually get a call. Not like I can call and get someone else, I'll just get their voicemail anyway. Sigh. 

59 minutes ago, coaster said:

I was about to transfer my January Jewel booking to this TA to get some extra perks they have given me in the past. Thanks goodness for the reality check. Not worth it. Keeping my booking with Royal.

Yep don't do it. I have an 8 nighter I was going to transfer to them but keeping it with Royal instead and just suffer through the March and July cruise with them. 

6 minutes ago, Sayuil said:

I noticed the same issue which the same company. They were great before but with covid they must have downsized and now you can never talk to anyone when you call. 
 

Have to leave a voicemail and wait for them to return calls which can take days.

 

I feel bad for the agents, never had issues with any of them, very professional but I don’t like uncertainty and no response

Agreed! When I have enough FCC to pay for multiple upcoming cruises and the chance of it hitting a credit card and the headache to correct it, no thanks. 

28 minutes ago, brillohead said:

Or you can just ask Royal.  If RCI tries to contact the TA and they aren't responsive, Royal will take the booking away from them at your request.  And if the TA does respond when Royal initiates the contact, you get your issue handled that way (and you know to find a better TA in the future!).

 

Prior to covid we never had any issues. They only book cruises and it's a big company. Since covid, it's basically a good luck to get ahold of anyone. My guess is they downsized their staff and can't hire anyone now. I've been trying to pay off my balance for a week now with my FCC and I finally got my agent to email me today telling me she'll contact me "in a couple of business days". Told her if it gets put on my credit card automatically I'm not going to be a happy camper. 

I know there's a way to transfer TO a travel agent if booked direct with Royal. Is there a way to transfer away from a travel agent? We've used the same big, cruise travel agent for years but since covid, they're impossible to get ahold of to help with anything. Looking for any advice. 

I'm assuming Johnny rockets is included anytime its open? 

On Allure in January. We really enjoyed the unlimited dining package on Odyssey last month, so looking at it again. Obviously Allure doesn't have Playmakers, which is a bummer for snacks. 

Am I missing anything for using it on Allure? 

Dinners at Chops, giovanni's, Izumi (with the up charge), 150 central park, the hibachi with an upcharge, sabor, and samba 

Lunches if open on sea days and boarding day at giovanni's, chops

Snacks similar to playmakers at Johnny rockets? Am I missing anything? The 8 nighter so 3 cruising days. Most specialty restaurants were closed on Port days on Odyssey with Playmakers opening at 2 each day. 

1 hour ago, MrMarc said:

This will be my first Diamond cruise, and the 4 free drinks really change the math, I don't drink enough every day.

That's the issue we're running into. Just turned diamond so break even is about 9 drinks in a day. Figured once we factor in bottles of water and iced coffee in the am, we were close to 20 total each day last week. 

$58 was the lowest I saw for Odyssey last week, $58 being down from $67 For allure January 8, and $58 so far for oasis March 6th.

Yeah. We've always purchased but just hit diamond so now needing a lower price for it to make it worth it with the 4 free drinks a day. 

What's the best ultimate drink package price you guys have seen for Caribbean cruises coming up in the next few months? Specifically 7 or 8 night oasis class ships. Best I've seen is $58 per day lately. 

We had it last week on Odyssey and they have you sign a 0 receipt each meal so I generally added $10 tip or $10 cash and wrote "cash" on the slip to not feel silly. It was an added roughly $100 expense with the dinners and lunches and snacks at playmakers but worth it. 

Yeah that's kind of where we are. Last cruise in Odyssey, we weren't diamond yet so had the drink package. We don't drink much at home, but on the cruise we live it up. My day with the least drinks was probably 9 or 10 alcoholic drinks (mixed drinks) and quite a few bottles of water, most in a day was likely 15 plus bottles of water. 

I figure at $60 a day average for drink package, looking at 5-6 drinks a day to break even. Now at diamond, you'd be looking at roughly 10 a day to break even (the normal 6 plus the 4 free). Not factoring in the bottles of water. Could we still break even or come ahead? Yes. But could we get by with the 4 free and maybe an extra 2 each a day and still save a few hundred bucks? Likely. The bottle water piece is tough to give up.

I'm thinking if the package were to drop in the low to mid 50s it'd be maybe worth it but not sure we'll see that low again. I enjoy the never ending gin and tonics in the schooner 😊

We just hit diamond (woohoo). We've always purchased the drink package, but now with the 4 drinks each included, I'm not sure it will be worth it anymore. I feel like a discount would make so much sense for Royal since you're already getting 4 free, but whatever. Diamond and above members, does anyone still purchase the drink package or do you just utilize the 4 free and then buy any above and beyond? From what I can tell, that's the biggest "perk" of hitting diamond. 

I'm guessing we'd lose the OBC and possibly the $300 off casino offer? 

I booked a cruise for January while onboard last week. I had received a $300 off offer from the casino play which is what drove us to book onboard with the next cruise desk. Now that we're home, we're considering changing that cruise to a different one in the same month. If we changed, would we just have to pay the difference in fare for the next cruise since it's slightly more expensive but no fees and wouldn't lose the $300 off? The deposit was non refundable 

On Royals website, this is the itinerary listed for the 8 nighter:

When I login to the website to look at excursions, Dominican Republic isn't listed. I also notice Dominican republic isn't listed when I look at this cruise on other travel agent booking sites. Any thoughts? I know Dominican Republic is a pretty rare port for Royal to stop at which is one of the reasons we booked it. 

Thank you everyone for following along! Our flight is supposed to leave FLL at 4:30 so hopefully we can with the storms coming in