Question on Room availability?

[CTCruiser76]

We have a Balcony Stateroom booked for our next cruise on the FOS and we are traveling with friends who have booked an inside stateroom. When we booked, we tried to get the rooms on the same side of the ship and close to each other, but their room is on port side and the only balcony rooms that were available at that time, was on the starboard side. Seeing as we were booking far in advance, we figured just book this room and we could always change rooms as RCCL releases them.

 

Well now when I search for rooms, it shows that all balcony rooms are sold out !! What.....really - this early. BUT if I add a 3rd person(child) whalla - all kind of balcony rooms show as being available, rooms that are right across from our friends, in the same class that we currently have.

 

Why would royal do this? Is it because these room show to have a pull out sofa as available - they are saving them for people the may put 3 in these rooms ??

 

We called to try and switch, but the RCCL TA said that there are no rooms available.......ummm....yeah there are?:confused:

 

So from previous experiences....will RCCL open these rooms up to people with 'only' 2 people as some point ?

 

Thoughts ?

[Clarea]

They may or may not change the minimum guest requirement, all depends on supply and demand.

[MaritimeR&R]

Other websites besides RC are also showing TBA balcony cabin assignments for your particular sailing. It may be that RC is holding off on allowing the booking of a 3 person cabin for 2 in light of the Allure 1/21/18 sailing cancellation. I would say that if and that is only IF there are cabins available they will likely not be put into the system until after August 30th as that is the date, (I believe) that people have to reschedule their Allure sailing. Most will opt, if possible to reschedule during the window for the most compensation and price protection, but some may not and RC has a responsibility to accommodate those people.

[Esilef]

We had the same issue with a cruise we have booked next April. Booked early to get 2 balcony cabins side by side but they only had "1" balcony left. Booked that plus an inside. Kept checking and notice a hump cabin available. Changed the inside to that. Then an aft became available. Changed the original balcony to that. Then another aft 1 room from the other aft became available. Now we have 2 aft balcony cabins right near each other. Moral of the story is just to keep watching availability and call royal when you see cabins being released.

[papaflamingo]

I know that this is an inconvenience to people. But consider this, all the balconies with pullout sofas are taken by parties of 2, and you want to book with your kid, and there is no cabins available that you can get more than 2 people into. There's always another view point. Like Esilef said, keep watching. Those cabins will be released for parties of 2. We shift cabins frequently as the cruise approaches.

[MikeBTN]

Depending on how far out you are from sailing, yes, they will restrict staterooms that hold 3+ passengers to parties of 3 or more. This is to ensure they can book as much revenue as possible. As you get closer to sailing, they will open those staterooms up to 1-2 passengers.

[NatsFanOnBoard]

Has anyone been successful in booking a phantom no-show cruiser as the third occupant? Depending on the pricing in effect for that 3rd passenger, it might not be too costly.

[MikeBTN]

Has anyone been successful in booking a phantom no-show cruiser as the third occupant? Depending on the pricing in effect for that 3rd passenger, it might not be too costly.

 

Yes, people do this. Sometimes on purpose, sometimes life happens. Often the 3+ pax staterooms are more expensive, even for 2 pax, so likely the fare would be a tad higher. Depending on when they're going, right now KSF promo is going on, so that would eliminate the cost of the 3rd if they stick a child in there. Port fees for the no-show would be refunded.

[Clarea]

Has anyone been successful in booking a phantom no-show cruiser as the third occupant? Depending on the pricing in effect for that 3rd passenger, it might not be too costly.

As long as you are willing to pay for the third person, it will work fine.

[spookwife]

yes they will prevent parties of 2 from booking those cabins that hold three at least at first.. and possibly past final payment date.

[CTCruiser76]

Thanks for the replies.

 

I totally understand leaving the +sofa's open, as its all about the mighty $$$$.

 

I guess we will continue to watch for openings for 2 adults.

 

But with that said, here is another question, we booked before this whole No Refund vs Refund selections came along, if we switch rooms if one comes available, will they change our No refund vs Refund booking?

[Clarea]

... here is another question, we booked before this whole No Refund vs Refund selections came along, if we switch rooms if one comes available, will they change our No refund vs Refund booking?

You will have your choice of a refundable deposit price or a non-refundable deposit price.

[CTCruiser76]

Thanks - That's what I thought.

[Ocean Dancer]

If kids sail free ( KSF) as another poster said, why not book a kid? The kid can be a no show and you will get back your taxes and port fees for the "kid":cool: