gsarnow

Beware of Victor Bodden and his lack of integrity! If you have a problem with one of his preferred tour operators, he will take no responsibility for it. Our tour guide encouraged us to take a snorkel tour instead of snorkeling on the beach. She said that we would have a guided tour in the water. She took us to a vendor that they regularly used and trusted, and, I stupidly paid cash since Bodden scares you into thinking the bank charges you a 19% surcharge for credit cards. This is the case if you pay him with a credit card with him. The resorts all took credit cards without extra fees. The amount that we were charged was twice the amount posted on Bodden’s website. Our tour guide claimed that she wasn’t aware of what was on his website and that they took us to a different location. In any case, not only did we not have a guide in the water but the boat driver did not even stay near the snorkelers. As the tide got stronger, we drifted very far from the boat. If any snorkeler was in distress, there was no way that the driver would have known. I asked my son in law who is a strong swimmer, to please swim to the boat and ask the driver to pick us up as there was no way that I could swim against the tide that far. The driver also made no attempt to help me on or off the boat. I asked Victor for a refund and he said that he went “all the way to the beach” to get the owner’s information for me to contact for a refund. I told him that since they took me to that company that they should get the refund and send it to me. The owner of the company has no interest in returning my money or my e mails. He would not even talk to us after the trip to explain the situation. Victor has refused to do anything for us.I am a travel agent and feel that people should be told our story and to be careful. I could kick myself for giving the guide a tip!

This is on Liberty of the Seas..

For our next cruise, you have to make a reservation on your royal app for the ice skating show and bring your cell phone to the show to get in…is that true? On other ships, it was loaded on our sea passes. What if everyone doesn’t have a cell phone or want to carry it around the ship? We have several kids sailing with us.

I am stressed about the unvaccinated kids…has anyone had experience with the testing at the port.? I don’t even want to think about the possibility that one of the kids had a negative pcr test and then tested positive at the port!

Does the diamond lounge still have the coffee machine in it and can you access it all day?