kpgibbs

25 minutes ago, BVILady said:

I am lost here, when you remove the 2nd person, naturally you will need to pay the single-rate. Did you mean you booked at a sales-price and the single-fare is more then what you were paying for 2 persons?

Honestly I'm not sure.  I can tell you that when I booked, it was considerably cheaper then it is now.  

So maybe they will charge me today's rates?  

On 6/3/2022 at 10:31 AM, molly361 said:

Or put a minor in the stateroom with you.  I thought you could remove the second person without repricing the booking  @Ourusualbeach?

On 6/3/2022 at 11:06 AM, Ourusualbeach said:

Correct. 

My TA called RC and they said they would reprice it.  I didn't understand why though.  I may have her call them back.  

Also, I don't have a minor going with me.  

Thank you everyone for all the advice.  I will let you know how I handle it.  

I am booked on the Allure in January of 2023.   I am taking my son and his GF.  I had a friend going with me to share my cabin.  (We have two cabins)  However, my friend has backed out.  I decided to not try to find anyone else to share my cabin.  My TA called RC and was told not to take my friend off and just have her as a no show because it would be cheaper.

Here is my problem.  I want to be a deluxe drink package.  But it is requiring me to buy for both myself and my friend.  I understand I can probably get a refund later.  But I don't have the money to buy both.  What do I do?  This is also an issue with my son and his GF.  My son is not a big drinker but his GF wants the package.  RC requires them to both buy it.  I get it to a certain point.  They don't want people sharing the package.  But at the same time, it would be a waste of money for my son.

Someone please give me some advice.

Thank you!

1 hour ago, SRF said:

If you booked through an agency, they may not participate in the program, and therefore you cannot make a bid.  And, of course, you will not receive an email.

 

And if you go to the link provided, it will tell you are not eligible.

Seriously?  I had no idea.  This RoyalUp stuff is all new to me since I last cruised.  

19 hours ago, Biker19 said:

It might be kinda expensive and maybe not to your tastes but:

 

American Queen Voyages: Lowest Prices and Best Service! (cruiselines.com)

 

They are the only line who opted out of the CDC's new sailing program.

I went on the American Queen last October.  You have to be vaxxed.  

Update:  TA called RC.  She said she was on hold waiting for them to answer for over an hour.

Anyway, we did not get the balcony's.  After taxes and other fees that tack on, it was higher then what I have paid.  My son is disappointed because he has only cruised with a balcony. (spoiled)  I told him to think back and realize how much we used the balcony.  In reality, not that much.  We would eat breakfast out there and then we would sit out there at night some.  The rest of the time we aren't even in the cabin.

I think the only thing that is bothering me about having an inside cabin is no natural light.  My TA said that was tough on her.  You never know what time it is.  You wake up and you have no idea if the sun is up or not.  

Let all hope I come into a windfall of money and I can upgrade.  Haha.  

14 hours ago, BazingAu said:

That's so generous of you to invite your son and his GF. Sorry your cabinmate cancelled on you. Can you cancel (edited since I just saw the cruise is 2023) one of the rooms and upgrade the other to a single balcony room for 3 people? The 3rd person will be priced cheaper than the first 2, so you'd end up paying less overall. You can also use a few magnetic hooks and a lightweight curtain to divide up the room to make 2 separate "rooms" between the bed and sofabed sections. 

 

Here's an example I found online, but I would use a wider curtain to extend it out farther.

 

Great idea.  But I don't think my son would like that much.  I know they want their privacy.  

16 hours ago, seapad said:

Did I get it right that you're booking your inside cabin as 4 people? If this is the case, you fare would be payment for first 2 (at regular price) + 2 additional (each at 2nd and 3rd person price). 
If you're booking through a TA, can you see if your TA can adjust or rebook your cruise for 3 people instead? Your first 2 people price won't change, but at least you will not have to pay for the 4th. This will be a saving for you.

The cruise fare is NOT a fixed rate for a cabin, regardless of # of people in the cabin. That's not how the cruising industry works. 🙂 

No, we have two cabins.  Two in each cabin.  Sorry for the confusion.  

20 minutes ago, etingel said:

You can always hope that your rooms get used for COVID quarantine, which typically results in an upgrade to balcony. But for that to happen, you'd have to hope for a COVID resurgence and you also typically need your existing room to be in the lowest passenger deck.

I would prefer to not have a COVID resurgence.  BUT I did notice Royal is having a flash sale today.  Inside balcony is cheaper then my inside cabin.  My TA is looking into it now.  Fingers crossed.  

Sorry everyone.  I am too late to edit my post.  Cruise is January 2023 not 2022.  Not enough coffee!

17 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Royal Up killed the upgrade fairy.

Well that stinks!

Thank you for your crappy input.  JK  

8 minutes ago, MacanAle said:

 

I'm more worried that you missed the cruise 😮 jk

 

Would son and GF have any interest in pitching in to cover the difference of upgrading to balconies?

LOL, I need to edit my post.  I can't get my years straight.

My son and his GF are on a very limited budget.  All I am paying is the cabin.  They are responsible for everything else.  Tips, drinks or drink package, excursions and so on.  They are both in school and it's going to take them a while just to save what they need to save.  

6 minutes ago, MellowMel said:

I'm sorry your friend backed out! Is your mom able to travel with you? I'd invite her if she can.

 

RoyalUp is a bidding process so not a free upgrade. I have never tried to do it because I normally travel with others and we normally get out cabins next to each other so I didn't want to get moved somewhere else in case my bid was selected. 

 

Have an awesome cruise on Allure!

My mom is 85 and has mobility issues.  The Allure is just too big for her.  And she refuses to get a scooter.  Which I know will make everyone else on the cruise happy that there is one less scooter.  😁

14 hours ago, soremekun said:

Yes, I fill out the special needs form to have adult diapers delivered to my stateroom.

Thanks!  I just spit my coffee all over my monitor!  🤣

5 minutes ago, killsport said:

When you do one of these tests, you use their app. It uses your device's (phone, tablet, computer) camera and they watch you perform the test. They then verify the result of test (using the same camera). See 

 

Thank you!  I did watch a YouTube yesterday where they guy was saying he thought the EMED was the way to go.  

A little backstory first.  I have cruised many times.  But it's always been with my mom.  She has always been very generous and footed the bill.  We never booked anything less then a balcony or mini suite.  

For the first time in my life, I am able to afford to take my 25 year old son and his GF on a cruise.  I also invited a friend to go to share my cabin.  BUT, I can only afford inside cabins for us.  Not real excited about that but hey, it's a cruise!  My friend and I went to my travel agent and booked this several months ago.  We are cruising in January of 2022 on the Allure.  Long story short, my friend backed out last week.  I have tried to find someone else.  But they are either married and their husband won't let them go or they refuse to be vaccinated.  I talked to my son, and we have decided it will be just the 3 of us.  Probably best.  Plus it's not a huge amount of money that I am having to pay for the friend that backed out.  The lesson I have learned is not to rely on a friend to go with you.  Especially one that has not traveled much. 

Now for my question.  Does the upgrade fairy still come or is it strictly the RoyalUp thing?  I have not cruised with Royal in a while and the Royal up thing is totally new to me.

Thank in advance for any help you can offer.  

3 hours ago, killsport said:

See https://www.emed.com for more info. I believe these are the same as NAAT tests. The difference is someone monitors and certifies the result. 

Are you saying someone monitors the EMED test?  Forgive me, but I am just now learning about the EMED test. My cruise isn't until January of 2022.

9 hours ago, pcur said:

Interesting discussion ................

 

I just got off a b2b on the Vision.  The passengers on board no longer wore "vaccination wristbands", and masking was voluntary for VACCINATED passengers. All children under 5 were wearing masks.  There were a few venues that were for vaccinated only passengers.  

 

We did stop in St. Lucia, which is strict about it's COVID protocols.  Shore excursions were only allowed through the cruise ships, and I took one to see the whole island.  I noticed as we came back to the ship there were a lot of passengers walking around the local area near the dock.  So, I don't think everyone took the "stay inside the terminal / port shopping area, please" very seriously.  However, at all our ports passengers were wearing masks where required:  in the terminal, on the dock, and in virtually all indoor businesses in port.

 

Social distancing was not done by most passengers, and elevators were sometimes packed.

 

So, things were pretty relaxed on both cruises.

 

The crew wore masks if they were in work areas around a lot of passengers. Most food in the Windjammer was plated for you by the crew.

 

The interesting part was I wore a mask everywhere unless I was eating or dinking.  This is to keep my exposure minimal for my family, 4 yo grandson, and a friend with an immune-compromised son. Lots of passengers noticed my masks, but no one said anything.  

 

I tested negative yesterday, 2 days after getting home.

 

To summarize:  people are pretty relaxed around the ship, and unless RCCL makes a point of identifying a non-vaccinated passenger, it would be hard to notice.  BUT, I think this is because we all knew the ship was 95% + vaccinated.

OK, so I'm confused.  I thought ALL cruise lines and ALL ports were requiring vaccinations.  Maybe I'm wrong?  Or am I just assuming this?  You all know what assuming does!

7 hours ago, brillohead said:

I don't think of it as "paying double" -- think of it as not having an extra person with whom to split the price of the room.

When you go to a hotel, if the room is $100/night, you pay the $100/night whether there's one or two people in the room.  If you have someone else with you in the room, you're paying $50 each, but if you're solo, you're paying $100.  

I guess that is one way to look at it.  For the first time in my life, I have booked an inside cabin.  I just can't afford a balcony since I am paying for my son and his GF.  With that said, I think being by myself in an inside cabin will be the best.  And to be fair, it's not like it's a huge amount of money that I am having to pay since my friend backed out.  

23 minutes ago, crzndeb said:

Personally, as a solo traveler, it’s the only way to go….😂

I won't actually be solo.  I will have my 25 year old son and his girlfriend.  But it will be just me in the cabin.  Which I am OK with.  Just don't like having to pay double.  

Eager to see the OP's response.   I have a cruise booked in January.  My cabin mate backed out.  Asked my niece to go.  She refuses to get vaxed.  So I guess I will be solo.

After reading this entire thread, I want to make some comments.

The entire USA is refusing to work.  Where I live, all restaurants are understaffed.  Some have even had to close.  Cruise lines are not exempt from this.  So to be fair, the staffing issue isn't really the cruise lines fault.  I'm sure they are doing the best they can.

Equipment issues happen on every cruise.  Some may be bothersome and other you may not even know about.   It does suck that they have closed some of the areas and I do hate to hear that.  But, again, I'm sure they are doing the best they can.

Some one said they were not notified until 4 days later about a Covid outbreak.  My question is, if they had notified you they day of, what would you have done differently?  Would you have left the boat?

The point is, we are in a pandemic.  We all knew that when we booked our cruises.  If anyone expected a perfect cruise during a pandemic, then I'm sorry you thought that.  We all knew you could still get Covid even though you are vaccinated.  I understand these cruises are expensive.  And yes, they probably should have lowered the prices.  But they didn't.  

I will be sailing soon.  I for one, am going to make the best of it.  Because guess what?  I am away from home and on vacation.  I will get to enjoy my family as we cruise the Mississippi.  As long as my belly is full of and I am away from home, I'm good.

Please remember, so many of the things that people are complaining about, are not the fault of the cruise line.  

On 8/20/2021 at 5:48 PM, wandb said:

i grew up midway between Houston and San Antonio, so we are like another state from you!  My DH's college roommate was from Amarillo, and he never could get used to all the trees in central and south TX!

I go to East Texas some.  I love to see the trees.  Something we are lacking.  But one thing about living in Amarillo, if your dog runs away, you can watch him for at least two miles.  

On 8/12/2021 at 3:18 PM, wandb said:

What area of TX are you from?  I'm from TX and even though I moved away many years ago---I'm still from TX!!!  Once a Texan, always a Texan!

I am from Amarillo.