TC1957

On 2/18/2022 at 10:52 AM, binro01 said:

Unfortunately, foreign ports of call make the rules for the people entering their country. This testing requirement is not a choice the lines make in a bubble.

They have outside entities that force their hands. It is what it is. No matter our opinions or feelings.

We can advocate for change in our own country at the ballot box, but we have little influence on foreign governments outside of our tourist dollars.

If their testing requirements is seen to be detrimental to the tourist dollars coming in and the risk to their population has waned to a point they are comfortable with, that is when we will see those requirements change, followed by the lines testing requirements, in sync with each other.

While I agree with you...think of the logistics and timing.  We depart on May 15 out of Galveston.  Currently, we have to take a test no more than 2 days prior to boarding (Sunday).  Since we will be driving down to Galveston area on Saturday, we will take our antigen test on Friday.  Monday is a sea day.  So when we hit the first port, our negative test will be 4 days old.  Isn't that outside the time frame of almost every country?  RCI could drop the negative test requirement and have testing (at our expense) at boarding.  That would be inside the window for the first port.

I just looked at the updated guidelines, and testing once on board is not mentioned.  Therefore the test results will be almost a week old for the last port.

See several people bragging about getting a refund in anywhere from 15 to 64 days.  We booked a land vacation costing more than our last two cruises combined (7 day and 9 day cruises...including air and hotel before and after).  It was paid in full when the hotel in the package closed due to COVID-19 (which cancelled the entire trip).  Got the email notice of cancellation in the morning...TA requested a refund that afternoon (we DID NOT pay the TA and let them pay the company)...credit hit our card the next morning.

FYI...a 3 week delay sucks.

It's probably just me, but I wouldn't want to wait for them to cancel my cruise.  Given my experience with them, they will wait until they have your money so they can offer FCC or make you jump through all kinds of hoops to get a refund.  I tend to not let other people use my money for next to nothing unless it is unavoidable.  Seems a better approach would be to assume the cruise isn't happening and get my money back.  If it does happen, I can always purchase at the last minute.

Personally, I would never try to convince someone who is "freaking out" not to cancel.  If they are that concerned (warranted or not), they will not enjoy the trip.  Now, if I had paid for the trip I would be ticked and might consider never doing that again, but the choice to go should be theirs.

Somewhat related, my daughter and her best friend are planning a week long trip to Japan in two months (BF's sister teaches there).  So far, they have only purchased air fare...the sister living in Japan has reserved a hotel but that gets paid at check-out.  They are reaching out to the State Department to see if there are any realistic concerns with travel to Japan related to the virus (web site has no advisories posted).  They have already decided if it appears the zone of concern starts to widen, they will simply not go.

1 hour ago, MisterBill99 said:

 

So now we've returned to the question of whether this is something that an attorney (or consumer affairs department) should be interested in.

It cost nothing to file a complaint with the AG office, and it can be done online. 

It has gotten to the point that when I call a company to place and order (when the online site isn't cooperating) or address an issue I always use the speaker function and record the conversation.  I tell them as soon as they get on the phone that I am recording.  Since real customer service has all but disappeared, I don't trust people as far as I can throw them.

19 hours ago, brillohead said:

Oh for crying out loud.  Shall I go find the tin foil to make you a hat?  

In an ideal world, Royal's IT department would fix the error and this would stop happening automatically.  However, we all know that's unlikely to happen overnight.  

Is this a stupid annoying thing to have happen?  Absolutely.  But calling this a "crime" with a "victim" is just a bit much.  

Sorry...but I have to strongly disagree.  In ANY world, a companies IT department would correct this.  I can think of logical reason to automatically add a travel protection plan.  A change fee...yes, even if there would be significant customer push-back.

We have a company that KNOWS their system is adding unauthorized charges and apparently nobody cares enough to stop inconveniencing their customers?  A senior manager worth his weight in cow dung would DEMAND it be fixed before the IT department left for the day.  You may not want to admit it, but there is obviously a pattern of it happening.  Consistently and knowingly adding unauthorized charges is fraud.

7 hours ago, wendychloecruiser said:

Security doesn’t give a crap whether you have a note, card or X-ray signed by God herself.   Anything can be faked.  Do you really think that someone with unscrupulous intentions would need that?  

 

As for alarms going off for no reason...apparently perspiration can set it off too. 

Based on my experience...that is simply not true.  Might be a good idea to avoid making absolute statements...unless of course you are the DHS Secretary.  I have been asked for my Medtronic ID card and when had trouble finding it in my wallet (never had to produce it) was asked if I needed to step aside while I looked.

If you have a concern that security won't believe you, get a note from the doctor.  I have a pacemaker and cannot go through the machines.  I simply tell them and they either pat me down or wand me from the waist down.  Only once have I had anyone in security ask to see me card with the device serial number.  Usually get a quick pat down when returning to the ship.  The up side is, I usually get through security a lot faster than the spousal unit as there isn't a line for a pat down

The spousal unit and I are considering the Canada/New England cruise out of there next summer. I think we have found a decent priced hotel for the pre-cruise one night stay. However, they don't offer transfers to the port. How much should we expect to pay to get from the Newark Airport area to the cruise port? We are comfortable with just about any method (Uber, taxi, limo, etc.)

Similarly, we would be staying for a few days post cruise but will be staying in the vicinity of Time Square/Central Park. How much should we expect to pay to get from there to LGA?

Thanks,

Just saw this on a recent compass. Some crew members will be wearing body cameras for the safety of passengers.

 

I personally think this is a little invasive but if it’s limited to a few security crew members then I suppose it wouldn’t cause too much of a ruckus.

 

What do you think?

 

 

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Ok...I'll bite.

How in the name of horse feathers can you think it is invasive while you are in a public area? Ignoring the fact the US law doesn't apply outside the US, when you are in public you have absolutely no expectation of privacy.

People fall for almost any gimmick.

In Texas, today starts "Sales Tax Holiday" for back to school shopping. Anything someone would need to attend school (supplies, shoes, clothing, etc.) with a price of $100 or less is exempt from sales tax. Last weekend my wife and daughter went clothes shopping (both are well past school age) and found sales in virtually every store ranging from 20-40% off. The stores were almost empty. Those same items will be back up to the "non-sale" price this weekend and the stores will be packed. Why? Because I can save 8%!

More proof of the wisdom of Ron White.

The "plastic straw war" is, in my opinion, all about being politically correct and wanting to look like you are doing something to help the environment and other people. Major cities in California are having huge problems with used plastic syringes (that still have the used needle attached) and humans defecating in the streets...but plastic straws are deemed to the most important thing upon which to focus.

Go figure...

Is there actually a lot of plastic (straws, cups, etc.) getting loose from the trash on ships? Are they going to start searching you for contraband plastic straws, cups and packaging when you re-board during a stop?

Hey guys, I know that these people work really hard and I was wondering if you have ever given your state room attendant a gift. I was thinking like a small international calling card or an iTunes card. I would obviously still tip the regular amount or more, but I was just curious. Do you know of anything they need that they have a hard time getting? Thanks!

Without even reading the thread I can tell you most will say the best gift is cash. My opinion...give them whatever you feel to be a nice gesture and is something they would like/use. Which is the same approach most people take when giving anyone a gift.

Or, you could take the approach that nothing more than the customary assessment levied by the cruise line is necessary. Unless they do something special that I requested, I don't feel anything further has been earned. If I request something extra and get it then a gift of some kind may be warranted. However, if I give a gift and the recipient doesn't like it or want it, then it is up to them to either re-gift or throw the gift in the trash.

The last thing I want to do on a cruise ship is watch a movie. Save that for at home. There are too many other fun things going on around the ship to waste 2 hours watching a movie.

 

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What makes you think even the majority of those who cruise feel exactly like you feel?

Great reply. Aquahound has experience in Maritime and investigations over 18 years. I would listen to this person more than others yapping.

Or so he says...

Whoa! Wait. Where did it say he was raped?

The case involves the sexual assault of a minor. Most people are going to equate "sexual assault" and "rape". I know the two have different legal definitions...just stating what most will do.

Parents cannot watch their own kids 24/7, yet a cruise line is expected to monitor over 1000 camera feeds and some 5000 passengers 24/7?

Last time I was on a cruise ship there were more than two crew members onboard. Maybe the ships you sail on are different.

Do all of you really think it would require one person per monitor? Please tell me you don't think that. Walk into any office building with security and you will see one guard watching a dozen monitors.

They don't. Look at reviews for The Venetian (which I would link to, but I'm unsure what the linking policy is here). One on Trip Advisor specifically complains about the room being broken into and money getting stolen. Security problems happen everywhere.

 

 

Even in super-max prisons where they control literally everything prisoners do 24/7 and have cameras and trained prison guards who would like nothing better than to catch rulebreakers constantly monitoring what the prisoners do, the prisoners still get away with an astonishing amount of crimes including murder. It's impossible to catch 100% of the rule breakers 100% of the time.

I never said you can catch 100% of the rule breakers 100% of the time (and I would hope there are no cameras inside the rooms of the customer). Only an idiot would think that is possible. But you can do better than 2%.

Keep in mind, at that time of the morning you wouldn't need to be monitoring EVERY camera. For over a decade there have been motion activated cameras. If there is no activity in an area at 2:00 am (say inside a venue that has been closed for hours) the camera would turn off. It's pretty easy to monitor a screen that is off.

I'm not saying it would be easy. And I am certainly not saying it would have stopped this crime. Those two things being true doesn't mean you simply don't try.

It is very unreasonable to assume that.

Really? How do places like MGM, The Venetian, etc. pull it off 24-7.

I didn't see many details in the article and some of this may have been in the original report/story.

You might want to back off the "where were the parents" escape door for RCI. On our first cruise our two kids were in a room next to ours...one was in college, the other in junior high (about the age of the victim here). We saw them go into there room every night. As far as we knew, they were safely in their room. Nothing stopped them (other than the way we raised them) from opening the door and wandering the ship AFTER we "tucked them in". You cannot watch your child every second of every day....and anyone who says otherwise is, in my opinion, either a fool or childless.

It is not unreasonable to assume that security is monitoring the cameras 24-7. Do you really think if someone was attempting to get into the jewelry store on the ship at 2:00 am security wouldn't be there in a flash? Of if someone was beating the hell out of a crew member right after they closed the bar? You can also, in my opinion, can the concern that requiring monitoring of cameras will reduce security because cameras will be removed. If they aren't being monitored they are not providing security...just possibly gathering evidence, and even that is not a given.

This legal action should be allowed to continue. The judge was correct in making this ruling.

Who do you call?

GHOSTBUSTERS!

Sorry...couldn't resist...been that type of day.

Was very necessary to save millions of jobs. The auto dealers as well as the banks all paid the money back

Please tell me you aren't one of those people that think every job is lost when a company goes through a chapter 11 bankruptcy?

I think the interest in going to Cuba is that we weren't "allowed" to visit Cuba for so many years.

 

For regular US citizens travel to Cuba is still prohibited according to the US Department of State - Bureau or Consular Affairs.

If memory serves me correctly travel and economic restrictions were put into place by Congress so they are the only ones who can lift them.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Cuba.html

TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:

Tourist travel to Cuba remains prohibited. You must obtain a license from the Department of Treasury or your travel must fall into one of 12 categories of authorized travel.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

Travel to Cuba is regulated by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Anyone located in the United States, regardless of citizenship and nationality, must comply with these regulations. Individuals seeking to travel to Cuba are not required to obtain licenses from OFAC if their travel is covered by a general license. If travel is not covered by a general license, you must seek OFAC authorization in the form of a specific license. Travelers who fail to comply with regulations may face penalties and criminal prosecution. See the Department of Treasury webpage. (emphasis mine)

I would think it has a lot to do with the ease of getting to the port and the cost of air and hotel in the port cities. Many have said Galveston is not an easy port for those that must fly. People who do not live in Texas and bordering states tend to forget that Galveston was (and is) a tourist destination for non-cruisers and is a very small island. Accordingly hotels on the island are difficult to book, can be expensive and often require a two night stay. However, since you have to fly into Houston staying off the island (in a place like Texas City) can save a lot on the hotel, even when you add the cost of a cab/Uber/Lyft to the port).

Flying into other cities (and hotels) can be expensive. For example flights from DFW to NYC and Miami can be really high.

It makes sense that expensive/difficult cities would have a higher concentration of locals on those cruises. It is probably because I am a native Texan, but there are many things worse than being on a cruise dominated by Texans. Remember, there are only two types of people...those lucky enough to be born in Texas and those who come here as fast as possible. :D :halo:

Agree. Chops was lot better when first came on Royal ship's 20 years ago. Now it's still good, better then I eat at home, but not as great...

If I'm paying for something and isn't too my liking will send it back. Most of time what they bring me back is something better...

Based on our experience I can honestly say I am truly sorry. That means...in my opinion...you don't know how to cook a steak (if you mean when you eat at home) or the restaurants in your area suck (if you mean when you eat out).