PropsR4boats

7 minutes ago, 3kidsncats said:

I think it’s questionable, but if unvaccinated people catch Covid from each other, it’s on them.  At a stadium or any other land based, single day event, no one is going to be quarantined or prevented from going home when they expect to.  The stadium won’t be diverted, or denied port.  So don’t see how your question is relevant.

Brought to you from the same people parroting, "follow the science."

at least up until it doesn't match their narrative or feelings.

COVID cases continue to decline drastically every single day.... You people are ridiculous.

9 hours ago, Pandamonia said:

 

I cannot believe some people on here would tolerate these terrible rules which are more like prison than a holiday. How desperate must someone be to pay money to experience this. Maybe use some imagination and try a different type of holiday. If nobody buys the cruise with these rules the rules will have to change. 

 

Right now there are some over paid directors sitting on zoom calls asking each other how many idiots are there out there willing to give them some money for this ridiculous experience. Luckily for them there is 1 born every minute.

No kidding! I get free cruises from the casino, and I wouldn't subject myself to such overreaching control and nonsense. I think anyone at this point who goes on a cruise is well aware of the risks. Treating us like children is frustrating and insulting.

Just saying... Day 3 and our beautiful views are ruined by this.... Embarkation day and today were beautiful weather and no cleaning was done! The whole ship is kind of dirty...

Just absolutely horrendous. I need to get to the details of one of my upcoming cruises and cannot see diddly-squat.

Hitting the anchor just takes me to the home page.

Done 3 crises the last year, Ovation, Brilliance and just on Explorer now.... I've noticed a huge increase in the taste and quality of the food in the Windjammer. Thoughts?

Ok, we are thinking about booking a cruise for the Celebrity Equinox on the Empress of the Seas and I know you probably can't get the bonus OBC with the interline (if you don't know what it is, it's an airline employee rate), but has anyone tried booking interline onboard? Or can I just book it and then transfer it to my TA to adjust to interline. I just really want the reduced deposit because I don't want to put down $900 if I don't have to. I know I'm booking Celebrity on the Empress OTS, but just wondering if anyone has booked interline onboard Royal.

I've tried, with no luck. Same with my club royale. They've claimed I could do it and call in later to get my rates applied, but still no luck.

Hey everyone!

Just arrived home safe and sound. Appreciate all the comments here!

I learned that there was in fact 3 other Americans on board who also did not have Chinese visas. The one couple I met had said they contacted a visa agency and were told they were okay under a 24 hour exemption!

Upon further research, I cannot believe how many topics on cruise critic there are over the confusion with Chinese visas! I know RCCL doesn't want to burden themselves with the responsibility, BUT HERES THE SILLINESS IN THAT: RCCL employees at the pier knew of the visa requirements, so there's no good reason RCCL employees cannot know in their call centers.

I can only hope this thread serves as future warning to cruisers who may come across this in their search results of this forum.

Oh that said it was a good cruise. Maybe not perfect, but still enjoyable.

So happy for you......at least you got on. We did a cruise around the horn visiting Brazil, and 400 people were denied boarding because of no Visa. They could NOT even stay on the ship during those ports.

 

Go with the flow and have a nice cruise!:)

Crazy!

Def will, rough start but it's all fun and relaxation from here! Thanks!

Well they're letting me on with the exception of not being able to get off in Xiamen. Super pissed. I was not told when I booked over the phone, and I specifically called and asked. At least I'm not being denied boarding anymore....

No cell service and booked thru Royal directly... Just the port wifi.

I still cannot get through to them even after showing where their own website says no visa!

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/en_US/pdf/Passport_and_Visa_Requirements.pdf

I'm in Hong Kong right now trying to board Ovation. It makes one stop in Xiamen.

I called specifically and asked if I needed a Visa for this cruise. The agent said NO and even referred me to their visa website, which also said no. Also every other website says cruise travelers with US citizenship qualify for a 72 hour visa exemption.

Yet here I sit in the cruise terminal awaiting to hear if I can even board the ship at all. Let alone get off the ship in Xiamen assuming I get on.

Can anyone help?

Can you explain the whole story a little bit to us. Was your card compromised or were there 4 $500 preauthorizations by Royal Caribbean. The story got a little confusing.

 

Glad you came back to the thread though.:)

Sure thing!

Royal had 3 authorizations total.

I had 4 unauthorized $500 (even) charges made.

The difference between Royal's authorizations and my seapass acct was a little over $1000.

Hey all,

I appreciate all the responses.

First off, the whole entire reason I started this thread was to find out if Royal would really call the police over this. Obviously, being hauled off to jail over a situation that I felt I had little control over, is not good for one's personal life or career.

I had a lot of anxiety and that is why I quit posting since the 28th.

So, here's what transpired:

On the 29th, I was able to scrounge up some money to pay most of the remaining balance. It wasn't all of it, but it made what was left over so small, I figured I stood a better chance of making it off without issues. I went to guest services and the rep who helped me said, "I don't understand, it shows you're fully paid." He then printed a receipt showing a full charge to my debit paid in full. The final charge has yet to hit my account, but I accepted the receipt as proof of payment and felt confident that would hold up if something happened overnight. Nothing happened, though. I disembarked without issue. And here we are, a day later and the only thing that has changed is I am at home.

It is a little strange someone would think I was making this up. Not sure where the benefit to that would be. Oh well, it was an anti-climatic ending, which is what I was hoping for.

First post it was $1000 now it's $5000.

 

I know for a fact that if you have your card details they will manually enter it, the card does not need to be swiped.

 

It's a bit different going into a shop with just the numbers but in these circumstances they would do it.

No, it's a $1000 that I owe, they already have $2000 in holds on a $3000 total tab.

They insist it cannot be done. I have a feeling they'll sing a different tune tomorrow when I offer the number.

Besides that, I took out an online payday loan for the 1000 last night. A $45 dollar cell phone call later and I should have that money direct deposit in my account tomorrow. Fingers crossed that works, but my debit card is now shut off because of the fraud, so who knows what will happen.

 

I dont see how you can run up a bill of $1000 that was not in your account. They would never let that happen.

 

 

also - the ship would never tell you they would call the police. they would make you sign a promissory note.

Well, they did allow that to happen. I have $2000 in holds and $3000 in charges.

Also, the gal did tell me that. Not making that up at all.

I appreciate everyone's advice. I understand the skepticism, but what would I have to gain by making this up? This cruise will make 47 total nights on RCCL. I love Royal, but I am just perplexed by the lack of understanding on the ship.

I was trying to help and read older threads...

 

if you really owe that money and are onboard here is what one person mentioned

You do have to call the Gifts and Gear department to add OBC. I dont think it can be purchased online

 

The phone number is (800) 722-5443 and the code # you give them is #651 for onboard credit purchase.

 

use your amex card (this is the phone so all you need to do is give them the number, expiration and code.)

Thanks, I am working on this avenue, but it sounds like its a dead-end. Rep I spoke to said it had to be done 1 day before the sailing but sent a follow up and I will get called tomorrow to see if it can be done.

Pardon my ignorance here, not intended as an attack on the OP. If the OP's Setpass account is on hold, how are they able to access the internet? Is it from the mobile phone?

 

How easy is it for the OP to make contact with a relative / friend at home and ask them to temporarily transfer some $'s to the OP's account and settle the bill at the end?

I bought the internet package. Still getting its use.

Is it possible to buy something from one of the shops that costs around $1000? Just a curious enquiry.

Yep, lots of jewelry...

I'm sorry. In you original post you said "I don't do credit cards," yet it seems you have a credit card????????

 

This will be my final post on this thread. Something is wrong here.

I don't. I don't carry credit cards and I don't ever charge on one. I do keep an Amex at home for vet emergencies. I have 4 cats and anyone who owns a pet can attest that vet bills of several thousand can occur at any time.

It's irrelevant though because they refuse to take the number and photo of the card sent from home.

so why was your bank account cleaned out? Shouldn't you be contacting the bank to see if it was their error.

 

....

 

 

4) you sign a Promissory Note (I think it gives you 30 days to pay). Then she shrugged her shoulders and said, there's pretty much nothing they can do to get money on your account. So Guest Services is trying to scare you, let them call the police...call their bluff...all they'll say is there's nothing they can do if you've signed the Promissory Note. Sounds like the ship doesn't want you to know they have Promissory Notes for you to sign

4 separate $500 charges to a "KSDDF". USBank won't refund or credit until I come in and sign an affidavit because I called and told them not to freeze my card because I would be traveling international. They did say they'd take a fax, but that's 3-5 business days.

I agree, I think "#4" will happen. They've tried 1,2,and 3.

So you do have a credit card. I'd call American Express and explain that you left your card at home and need a way to pay you balance. Let them help you. I'm sure there is something AMEX can do. Good luck.

The problem unfortunately lies with RCCL's unwillingness to take anything other than a card from me that is in my physical possession. Still, I agree that's worth a try. Amex does have pretty good customer benefits, which is why I hold on to the card.

So I talked with guest services and they said they'd call the police in Ft Lauderdale if I couldn't settle it by the end of the cruise.

I have an emergency American Express at home that I left specifically for my friend. He is pet sitting my cats and it is there in case they needed to go to the vet. I turned my phone on and had my friend send a picture of the card. They won't take a number of a card, they said the only way is to swipe it.

I can't have a friend or family member deposit that much money. I am sick and this is ruining my trip real quick.

Hey guys,

So I had my bank account cleaned out and my seapass is now frozen. That's fine, I only have 2 days left and don't need to charge anything. But I have about $1000 owed to Royal and won't be able to sort this out until I get home and I don't get paid until after the cruise. I don't do credit cards, so what's the deal? Anyone been in this situation? Will they let me off the boat?

Thanks for the replies!

Yes, the GTY booking was done because the $$ savings was too good. I have never been too concerned with location, but I would hope it is not unreasonable to expect a quiet room even with a GTY.

Ship shows sold out except for a balcony room that would be very expensive to upgrade into.

With the weather on the east coast and airlines canceling like crazy, I'd bet a handful of rooms are going to open up.... I'll just check on the ship about possibly moving or upgrading.

Just curious. Got assigned 3180 on the Oasis, it is an ocean view, which is an upgrade from our inside guarantee. Reading reviews and NO ONE has anything good to say about it because of the disco above it.

Personally, if I fall asleep before the noise or have enough alcohol, a freight train could drive thru the room and I wouldn't know. However, my friend may not feel the same way.

Any advice? Is it really that bad being below the disco? (I am surprised on such a new and advanced ship this would ever be an issue...)

Hello,

I booked a 3 night out of Sao Paulo (Santos) Brazil. I know that Royal touts this as "culturally enriching" which sounds like it could be fun and a new experience. However, I am having trouble finding relevant, up to date information about this cruise. There are no reviews and ones I can find are from the Splendour a couple years ago, and they're not great.

I got a great cabin on the back of the ship, dead center, 8102. For the amount of time we have available, this also works well. However, it sounds like getting down there will be a lot of hassle and it won't be worth it if we won't enjoy it. I just want to be sure I've done my research. So if anyone has anything they can add about this sailing, I would greatly appreciate it.