I successfully canceled my May cruise - here is advice for all

[reallyitsmema]

27 minutes ago, MichellePerth said:

One thing I’m curious about is why people are letting royal deal with their cruise planner refunds.  A month ago, I moved deposits from my April and May Europe cruises.  Before I called, I went in and cancelled everything.  I don’t have anything booked between now and 31 July, but if I did, I’d cancel it all myself.  It sounds like they are under the pump.  Fewer moving parts.

 

just got an alert. We are now in a global pandemic.  

 

The rep I spoke to cancelled all my cruise planner items and then cancelled my cruise.  It took him all of ten seconds to cancel them, this is how we have cancelled cruises in the past and how we will in the future.  I had an email confirming my cruise planner cancellations before he even finished cancelling the cruise and giving me my cancellation number.

[Oceansaway17]

7 minutes ago, MoniMommy said:

I am not a loyal anything. I just go for the best price. I have yet to see a rewards program that has perks good enough to inspire loyalty. Hope I get my 50% refund as promised when I was on the phone yesterday before 2.

Yes I hear ya and I do go on 5 different lines.  So far my HAL to Norway in June is a go.  Hope so.

 

Still I meant to imply that business is hard on cruise lines and I don't want them to fail too much.  So FCC are what they are doing that is still pretty good.  just look for the sales.

 

And in the meantime.  Watch DVD of Love Boat and dream on.

[MoniMommy]

I don't want the little people to do bad. Those in the call centers, crew, business that serve the cruise lines, etc. I fell for them. The fat cats at the top will always land on their feet. Royal and other lines could go completely bankrupt, we will loose our FCC, workers will loose their jobs but those at the top will leave with a hefty bonus.  Since cruise lines have very low tax liabilities they s should have been able to put enough aside to account for downturns. I mean viruses are not unforeseen.  Cruise ships might get a bailout even though they are not even US companies. Yes, they have a headquarters in Miami but they are Incorporated elsewhere and fly foreign flags. They will get help, but Joe down the street who is now quarantined  he interacted briefly with a friend of a friend who is infected will go bankrupt, be homeless, and get no bailout. But no one said life was fair. 

[diesel1973]

Cancelled yesterday with TA. Got taxes/fees to CC and balance as FCC. No problem.  The way I figure it, the cruise lines are making out better than we think. The room is paid for and they have your money for 1 year+. They can possibly resell your room now for a discount rate, therefore sitting with a bunch of cash. If you don't rebook now, they can possibly raise fares for next year and make more cash when you  rebook. Also by issuing FCC they are filling their ships for next year.Correct me if I'm wrong.

[flyguyjake]

deleted post

Edited March 11, 2020 by flyguyjake

[elephant98]

22 minutes ago, flyguyjake said:

It appears this refund policy changes with the wind so with that said as of today I'm within my 50% cancellation period 66 days out. I will only get a 100% FCC? If I wait and Royal cancels the cruise is it still 100% FCC or would it be a refund to my CC if they cancel?

 

Currently on hold with C&A... 35 min wait so far

 

Assuming your cruise is scheduled to depart by 7/31/2020 and Royal sticks to their newly revised “cruise with confidence” cancellation policy, then you will only get a 100% FCC when you cancel (that is, unless you’d prefer to just cancel under the standard policy and get 50% back and give up the rest as a penalty).

 

As for if Royal cancels the cruise, it depends on the reason why Royal has cancelled your cruise.  I seem to recall reading something in the cruise contract stating that you are not entitled to a refund if the cruise is cancelled because of a government mandate.

 

Edit - found the provision 

Under paragraph 6 of the contract governing “CANCELLATION, DEVIATION or SUBSTITUTION BY CARRIER”, the contract states: “Carrier shall have the right to comply with any orders, recommendations, or directions whatsoever given by any governmental entity or by persons purporting to act with such authority and such compliance shall not be deemed a breach of this Agreement entitling the Passenger to assert any claim for liability, compensation or refund.”

Edited March 11, 2020 by elephant98

[MoniMommy]

Just read that NCL sales rep were told to lie to customers. I know this is the Royal Thread, but this is so interesting and it would not surprise me if other lines were doing the same. 

 

https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-cruise-ship-company-norwegian-misleading-sales-talking-points-report-2020-3

 

Also saw NCL stock is down to $15 a share. Those FCC look less and less attractive by the day. 

[ash2bear]

2 hours ago, diesel1973 said:

Cancelled yesterday with TA. Got taxes/fees to CC and balance as FCC. No problem.  The way I figure it, the cruise lines are making out better than we think. The room is paid for and they have your money for 1 year+. They can possibly resell your room now for a discount rate, therefore sitting with a bunch of cash. If you don't rebook now, they can possibly raise fares for next year and make more cash when you  rebook. Also by issuing FCC they are filling their ships for next year.Correct me if I'm wrong.

Possibly raise fares next year? Have you priced a cruise for next summer yet?  If I cancel my June cruise, and reschedule for next June, it will cost me an extra $4000 (I have 2 rooms booked).  Crazy!

[Oceansaway17]

Soooooo now the 24 hr phone stops at 11 pm.

Was nice while it latest.

If they could just let us do it on line.

 

Perhaps some of the agents are getting laid off. Hope not.

 

[DISFANS3]

Good info..

[Dalebobw]

I cancelled today for a sailing on 3/28.  I waited on the standard 800 number, then they transferred me to the casino reservations because I had made the reservation through them. 

 

All told the call was an hour long, but I had a lot of questions and wanted to make sure the numbers were right.  Probably 20 minutes of that was waiting for them to pick up the first time.

 

I had made my reservations through Air2Sea and was pleasantly surprised to find that the airfare was refunded 100%.

[GetToLivin]

1 hour ago, Dalebobw said:

All told the call was an hour long, but I had a lot of questions and wanted to make sure the numbers were right.  Probably 20 minutes of that was waiting for them to pick up the first time.

 

Can you elaborate on this? Wouldn't your FCC just be the total cruise fare minus taxes + port fees (which I heard were put back on original form of payment). I'm asking because I've never done this before and I wasn't sure if there was something I needed to double check before I call...

[Oceansaway17]

4 hours ago, GetToLivin said:

 

Can you elaborate on this? Wouldn't your FCC just be the total cruise fare minus taxes + port fees (which I heard were put back on original form of payment). I'm asking because I've never done this before and I wasn't sure if there was something I needed to double check before I call...

It means and it is what I said when I started this thread is, look over your invoice, check penalty schedule.

Ya know to work with your Original BASE fare before deposit. Work with that number and your FCC is based on that amount and where you are in penalty phase.

 

In the end your Base fare prior to deposit plus taxes, tips, transfers had better equal your FCC plus credit to your card. NOTE: any cruise planner credits will be done not by the agent but by the system a few days letter with an email to you. And as a reminder again, GET THE VERBAL CANCEL number as the agent has it on the screen.

 

I hope this rehash helps. Do the math first.

 

[GetToLivin]

Thank you, I hadn't re-read the thread but picked up from where I left off so I'm sorry you had to re-explain, but I sincerely appreciate you taking the time 😊

[Oceansaway17]

well darn. Looks like RCI phones shut down sooner in the day.  Tried 9:30 pm EST and all shut down.

Now we know where the lay offs were.

 

I mean in the past I could talk to them up until 11 pm.  oh well

 

If their IT dept would just setup the web to do the cancel and provide choices and the math it would be great.  But that is hoping too much.

 

I guess I have another day to decide on April 25th Symphony as to whether I am going.  If not then down 2 cruises this year.

 

Stay healthy everyone and watch Love Boat DVD and dream on

[reallyitsmema]

3 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

well darn. Looks like RCI phones shut down sooner in the day.  Tried 9:30 pm EST and all shut down.

Now we know where the lay offs were.

 

I mean in the past I could talk to them up until 11 pm.  oh well

 

If their IT dept would just setup the web to do the cancel and provide choices and the math it would be great.  But that is hoping too much.

 

I guess I have another day to decide on April 25th Symphony as to whether I am going.  If not then down 2 cruises this year.

 

Stay healthy everyone and watch Love Boat DVD and dream on

 

Crown and Anchor closes at 8pm on weekends.  Regular number is open 24/7.

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/resources/contact-us

[Oceansaway17]

Just now, reallyitsmema said:

 

Crown and Anchor closes at 8pm on weekends.  Regular number is open 24/7.

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/resources/contact-us

I called the regular number 1866-562-7625.   Unless they are saying they are closed if I select the "Not sailing soon" option or my current on line booking.  I mean I tried two numbers including the one on my first page..  oh well.  Perhaps pause for me then and wait.