3/23 Navigator Cruise Cancelled

[reallyitsmema]

Guess what!!! We are cruising tomorrow after all!!!! Woo-hoo!!!! Still 100% refund and 25% FCC!!! RCCL is taking care of us!!!

 

 

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Excellent! Have a great cruise!

[LMaxwell]

Why are they waiting until tomorrow when 3 other ships left today?

Where are they gonna go?

 

Some people may be off the ship for the afternoon or evening and they have to make a reasonable time extension to allow everyone back on board. <?>

[nealstuber]

Guess what!!! We are cruising tomorrow after all!!!! Woo-hoo!!!! Still 100% refund and 25% FCC!!! RCCL is taking care of us!!!

 

 

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To quote the advertisement....."WOW"

[readytolose]

Just read this announcement on RCCL homepage: Full refund and they still get to cruise! Those that left the ship can even come back!

 

 

 

Important Update

 

 

 

Navigator of the Seas – March 25rd Sailing

 

March 25, 2014

6:00 p.m. E.D.T.

 

Royal Caribbean International has received word from the U.S. Coast Guard that Navigator of the Seas will be able to depart Galveston early tomorrow morning. We are excited about being able to provide our guests with a portion of their cruise, with a port call to Cozumel, Mexico, on Friday, March 28. Guests that would like to sail and need to check in again, would need to be at the terminal between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning, with the same government issued ID they used on Sunday, as well as their seapass card (if they still have it on hand). All guests will still receive a full refund whether they decide to sail or not

[Cindy]

I can understand if you are from out of town and are stuck, but I would have no desire to sit on a ship docked in Galveston for 6 days.

Everything I cruise for is gone: Sailing, hot weather & sun, Caribbean island & beaches, scuba, Gambling, etc.

Nothing but a static ship, and cruddy weather, limited alcohol.

Myself, since I live 70 miles away, I would take the loss drive home and get stuff done around the house..

They should have done a 5 day cruise like the other cruise lines.

I bet the passengers this week would also....

 

If you would rather be home in Spring than on a ship in Galveston, then that would be your choice. Me, I'd take a day on a ship in port over a day in Houston anytime, and I'd consider myself fortunate to be doing it on RCI's dime.

 

 

Guess what!!! We are cruising tomorrow after all!!!! Woo-hoo!!!! Still 100% refund and 25% FCC!!! RCCL is taking care of us!!!

 

 

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Good things come to those who wait!:D Have a blast!

[hardquart]

Does anyone have any experience on taking a motorcycle on a repositioning cruise across the Atlantic?

 

 

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[Girr]

Why are they waiting until tomorrow when 3 other ships left today?

Where are they gonna go?

 

They're giving people who left the opportunity to come back, besides those who are out doing a tour today - I tell you RCI is really working to keep people happy.

 

Per the message I received even if you disembarked today, you have until tomorrow morning to return. The message reads:

 

We recently received word from the U.S. Coast Guard that we will be able to depart Galveston early tomorrow morning. We are excited about being able to provide our guests with a portion of their cruise, with a port call to Cozumel, Mexico, on Friday, March 29. Guests that would like to sail and need to check in again, would need to be at the terminal between 7:00 am and 8:00 am tomorrow morning with the same government issued ID they used on Sunday, as well as the their sea pass card, if you still have it on hand. All guest will still receive a full refund whether they decide to sail or not

[luv2travel06]

If you changed flights to leave a day earlier because cruise was cancelled now they are sailing, you either have to change flights again if you can or get off and pay for hotel until you fly out with the new flight arrangements you had made.

 

 

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Edited March 26, 2014 by luv2travel06

[JimAOk1945]

They're giving people who left the opportunity to come back, besides those who are out doing a tour today - I tell you RCI is really working to keep people happy.

 

Per the message I received even if you disembarked today, you have until tomorrow morning to return. The message reads:

 

We recently received word from the U.S. Coast Guard that we will be able to depart Galveston early tomorrow morning. We are excited about being able to provide our guests with a portion of their cruise, with a port call to Cozumel, Mexico, on Friday, March 29. Guests that would like to sail and need to check in again, would need to be at the terminal between 7:00 am and 8:00 am tomorrow morning with the same government issued ID they used on Sunday, as well as the their sea pass card, if you still have it on hand. All guest will still receive a full refund whether they decide to sail or not

 

Royal Caribbean really delivers the "WOW" in cruising! This is one reason we enjoy sailing with them. They are really a class act! Hopefully, a lot of people will be able to return.

Edited March 26, 2014 by JimAOk1945

[SadieN]

Nvm

Edited March 26, 2014 by SadieN

[JimAOk1945]

Does anyone have any experience on taking a motorcycle on a repositioning cruise across the Atlantic?

 

 

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You may have accidentally posted this question on the wrong thread. Are you on the 3/23 Navigator of the Seas cruise ship?

[TBone2K]

Now the cruise is back on.

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=5798

 

We may have criticized RC for their handling of other issues, but they have really done well on this one.

[Kcruiser2014]

It was a wonderful short cruise!! RC did all they could for us and overall, comments from other passengers all echo the same thought.. RC is doing right by us and we feel great with the refund and FCC. The only fault we all felt was the communication could have been more frequent and timely. Overall though, we were all pleased.

 

 

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[lovin life 916]

We were set to cruise on Royal Caribbean out of Galveston on March 23rd for our 25th wedding anniversary. The ship encountered a delay due to fog first and then later an oil spill. During these delays we received NO notification of the delays by RC. Our hotel told us not to go to the ship, we called RC to check and were kept on hold for 2 hours 20 min. the young lady that answered the phone said " I think I heard something about an oil spill but I'm not sure." I asked her if RC had our correct email and phone number and they did. I told her we have not received a notice about the fog delay or the oil spill. I asked to talk to a supervisor and was kept on hold for another 30 min. I then told the RC employee on the line with me that after almost 3 hours on hold I was just ready to hang up but I asked her to make sure we got all future updates on the ship sent to our phone or email and she assured me we would. At around 11 pm the hotel front desk called us and told us to go down to the ship. I told them I hadn't heard anything from RC and asked if they were sure. The hotel said, "yes" and we went down. Sure enough they were boarding. We boarded the ship that night. The next day they came on an announced we would be skipping Roatan due to the delay. We spent the evening on the ship and the next day they came on and announced that the cruise had been cancelled. They said everyone could stay on board for the remainder of the week for free. My husband and I chose not to do this because the pools and spas had closed, the casino was closed, all the shops were closed and it was cold in Galveston and we had packed all warm weather clothes. There wasn't much to do with the ship going nowhere. We got a flight home and left. We left with plenty of time because we wanted to beat the Huston traffic to the airport and stop for a nice dinner on the way home. We took a late flight out. During this time RC decided to sail. Evidently they notified passengers by email and text that they could return to the ship and re-board. Again, we never received a notification. We would have been thrilled to return for what turned out to be a 4 day cruise to Cozumel that they did not charge passengers for. When we returned home and found out on the internet that the cruise had sailed without us were were heart broken and angry. We have made 3 attempts with RC to make it right with us that we did not receive a notification that the ship was going to sail and that we could return. Other passengers received notice but again, we did not. They did not charge passengers for this cruise that ended up being a 4 day to Mexico and gave a 25% off a future cruise. However we did not get the opportunity to take the 4 day cruise to Mexico and we spent 2,300 in travel expenses, making it financially tough to turn around and book another cruise. Also to re-book this cruise for May the price had doubled making the 25% discount worthless. We have asked RC to refund our 2,300 in expenses or in lieu of that give us a free future cruise so that we take another cruise for our anniversary. We have gone through 3 levels of customer service to the top, Beth Icenogle, supervisor in guest relations. They have denied us any compensation for our 2,300 loss. No one at Royal seemed to care one bit that we lost out on the opportunity to go to Mexico and celebrate our anniversary. Beth seemed to be irritated at us and apathetic toward out situation. We have never received such HORRIBLE customer service from any company in the last 25 years.

[TBone2K]

... We have never received such HORRIBLE customer service from any company in the last 25 years.

 

I have some advice that will help you, but since this is your first post, please reply so we know you are still there and not a "one post wonder".

[LMaxwell]

I would file claims for the travel expenses with the travel insurance company or check with my credit card to see if any portion of the trip were covered under their own travel protection policies.

[lovin life 916]

Thank you, I did not think of appealing to the credit card company for some possible travel insurance.

[lovin life 916]

Any ideas are welcome. I did send a letter to the President of Royal Caribbean. Hopefully I will get a response.

[LMaxwell]

Any ideas are welcome. I did send a letter to the President of Royal Caribbean. Hopefully I will get a response.

 

I would not expect a refund from RC; that is why insurance policies are sold. Hopefully your credit card offers some protections so you are not eating the whole loss. This is not endemic of poor customer service by RC but just the way travel works with versus without insurance, the cruise was canceled/delayed due to issues beyond RC's control and out of the three cruises out of Texas that week that were altered/delayed by the oil spill I think RC issued the best deal (compared to Carnival and Princess).

 

I'm having a hard time figuring out what your loss was though; they refunded the cruise and issued a future cruise credit. Where does the $2300 loss come in?

[TBone2K]

So what was the $2300 in travel expenses? Money you would have spent anyway had the cruise gone on schedule, or you spent $2300 getting back due to rescheduling flights?

 

I think it would have cost you less to buy some appropriate clothes and get a hotel for a couple of days. Either way, I wouldn't be expecting much out of RC, but it doesn't hurt to ask. They already went above and beyond with what they offered for a situation that was beyond their control.

[Goodtime Cruizin]

While I am glad they have taken care of the passengers in the best way possible, I am wondering how this effects the crew.

 

RCI has gratuity based and incentive based contracts with most of their crew and I wonder if they are charging the $12 a day gratuities while passengers stay onboard at least. I would guess not.

 

Maybe someone who was on the sailing could confirm how they handled that issue.

 

I don't know if someone has responded to your question, but here goes...

 

Gratuities were not refunded. Although port taxes were for two of the three ports.

[LMaxwell]

I don't know if someone has responded to your question, but here goes...

 

Gratuities were not refunded. Although port taxes were for two of the three ports.

 

Is that only if you stayed onboard? If you debarked why would they still charge gratuities?

[Goodtime Cruizin]

Is that only if you stayed onboard? If you debarked why would they still charge gratuities?

 

I'm not quite sure. I can only speak to our party. Both couples folio showed port charges refunded for two ports and gratuities charged for the full 7 day cruise.

 

It was an unfortunate sail for everybody involved. RCCL, the staff and also the passengers on the ship. Everyone has different arrangements to/from the ports we disembark from and not everyone can make the same choices. Disappointment was in play throughout this entire Cruise from the get go. But it wasn't disappointment w/ RCCL. It was just a circumstance that was beyond anyone's control, and it placed an undue of amount of "this sucks" on most. Some got over it and some didn't. As far as why the other ships left before the Navigator, this was due to the inspection(s) needed and required by the Coast Guard. While stting on the balcony on early Tuesday morning, we saw a Coast Guard cutter up against the ship slowly inspecting the oil on the ship. Please keep in mind the the Navigator was the first ship (out of 100's) to be authorized to dock on that Sunday afternoon. It clearly created a pathway through the oil slicks for the other Cruise Ships to follow. I'm sure the hulls were severely covered with oil. We could visibly see the slick(s) creep by off of our balcony. There was clean up detail and inspection needed to set sail. Once given the greenlight to sail by the Coast guard, it was announced that we'd be sailing. It caught everyone off base. I'm sure for RCCL as well.

 

It was a difficult week for many, moreso for others than some. But all in all, RCCL did the best they could under the circumstances. We rolled with it and enjoyed the cruise the best we could. It paid off for us. I wish it did for everyone. We also rolled the refund right back into another sailing while taking advantage of the future 25% discount and OBC for using the Next Cruise desk. We're looking forward to the Mediterrean via the Liberty!