RCL - Catch 22

[Sunshine3601]

1 hour ago, Empehi said:

My wife and I are vaccinated and do not want to cruise under the new protocols. We booked our next cruise (November, 2022) on board a Feb 2021 cruise and the final payment day is rapidly approaching. Our question .... if we make the final payment and the current protocols are in place, can we cancel and get a cash refund or are we only able to get a FCC?

 

  We never would have put a deposit down to cruise under the current conditions. We are more than willing to make the final payment in hopes the protocols will be changed by November (no mask wearing and vaccination requirements) but we feel playing roulette with our vacation and well as our vacation dollars is something RCL should begin to understand and address. We have a non-refundable deposit (why not it was before COVID).

Impossible to know what the rules will be come oct/Nov when they release the protocols for your sailing.   To get a cash refund you have to wait till tour protocols are released for your specific sailing or if royal cancels your sailing.

 

If you cancel now you will get a fcc fir your deposit monies and you need to book new cruise by April 2022 for a sailing before 9.30.22

Or if there is a sailing for 2022 that you want to book now royal may allow you to simply move your deposit monies over to that sailing now.  I did this option with 2 of my cruises.

 

[Ashland]

4 minutes ago, SilkySal said:

OP meant 2021.

Yes...I know the OP was wrong about which year their sailing but a few other's are questioning 2022 also.

[Mapleleafforever]

1 minute ago, SilkySal said:

Personal choice, I believe. We made our November final payment but we are willing to go with the current protocols in place. To each his/her own, I guess! Good luck! Cheers!

I hear you. My wife, 2 kids, and parents have a cruise booked for Feb 2022 and even with current protocols in place we're pretty sure my parents are still going while we stay home. And that's fine. Mind you that's all contingent on the borders being open and the cruise travel advisory gone so their travel insurance will be valid. To be honest I'm really hoping my parents get to go on that cruise because the JS double points will catch them up to us at diamond. 

 

There's also the fact that both my parents are retired and have the time for a prolonged quarantine situation should it arise. 

[SilkySal]

Hoping it works out for you too Mapleleafforever! We're cruising in November with another couple from our place in Florida but who also own a cabin on a lake in Canada and were unable to get there during this summer due to Covid border restrictions. Felt bad for them! Things sure are getting pretty crazy! We hope and pray for an end to the madness. Stay safe my friend! Cheers!

[nelblu]

1 hour ago, Iamcruzin said:

We live on land everyday without protocols. I don't see how a week on a cruise ship is going to change that. Plus people are getting sick on a cruise even if vaccinated.

And on land too.

[nelblu]

46 minutes ago, Empehi said:

That is the Catch 22. You want to cruise but without the current protocols. Should we make the final payment or not?

Mask or no mask, I'm cruising on Oasis Sept. 5th.  Heck, when I go shopping, church, Casino, or any other venue with many people, I put my mask on and keep some distance.  Even with the protocols in place, as example, the NY Yankees were at 87% vaxxed and had a bunch test positive.  Over the last few days it seems that at least 1 Yankee each day has been tested positive and in quarantine.  The latest Gerrit Cole and Gary Sanchez.

 

I also read that the NIH Director is recommending that even vaxxed should wear masks at home to protect their unvaxxed children.

 

 

[BrianMD]

1 hour ago, msmayor said:

 

Though I cannot answer for sure, common sense would tell me that if you make final payment WITH all of the protocols in place, you are essentially accepting these protocols as a condition of your cruise.  

 

I agree that you deposited with no expectation of the current protocols.  Putting MORE money down, now that the protocols are there, may imply acceptance and limit chance of a cash refund. (at least, that is how I would picture RCL's lawyers looking at it).

 

I have a cruise booked for March 2022 with final payment in December.  I can tell you right now...if anything resembling these protocols are in place, I will not make that final payment.  I want a more stable environment and expectations, not one that is changing weekly.

I was going to respond with the same thoughts. The only way I could see a refund after final payment were if there were additional protocols imposed between now and sailing date.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

1 hour ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

have you heard of the delta variant, by any chance?

Are you trying to claim that vaccinations do absolutely NOTHING against the delta variant?  I hope you have some science to back that up.  By far the majority of breakthrough cases (those who have been vaccinated but still come down with covid) have not required hospitalizations, much less ICU/intubations or death.   

 

If you're saying you are vaccinated and you're still worried about the delta variant (which is fine), you shouldn't be going to grocery stores, restaurants, or office buildings, much less cruises.

 

1 hour ago, orville99 said:

That’s why we are sailing and you are not.

Huh?  Yea, that proves your point   

 

If you feel being in the "controlled environment" of a cruise ship is that much safer than being in public on land, how are you even leaving your house?

[crewsweeper]

1 hour ago, Empehi said:

That is the Catch 22. You want to cruise but without the current protocols. Should we make the final payment or not?

That's your call, not ours.  Vaccines given earlier this year are losing some of their effectiveness (around 6% a month).  Which is one reason for "breakthroughs, albeit the CDC always knew "breakthroughs" would occur. And breakthroughs aren't anywhere near the bulk of the recently infected.  There may well be boosters offered in another month or so. Whether that changes the  need for a pre-cruise test or not is anyone's guess.  

 

Adding:  My feeling is that we're never ever going to get to a situation where we have zero-COVID.  We still have the bubonic plague around.  And polio.  And Chickenpox, and measles.  Only smallpox has been completely eradicated and that took decades and 100% cooperation by every country in the world.

Edited August 6, 2021 by crewsweeper

[orville99]

1 minute ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

If you feel being in the "controlled environment" of a cruise ship is that much safer than being in public on land, how are you even leaving your house?

Little need to venture out anywhere - but haven't had that need in years anyway. Hot tub, greenhouse, and daybed on the deck, BBQ grill in the courtyard, always a nice breeze, lots of shade trees, and it rarely if ever gets cold here. Local markets are excellent at curbside delivery, and we both love to cook - so very happy living essentially the same laid back lifestyle that we enjoyed pre-covid.

[FRANKM]

2 hours ago, Empehi said:

My wife and I are vaccinated and do not want to cruise under the new protocols. We booked our next cruise (November, 2022) on board a Feb 2021 cruise and the final payment day is rapidly approaching. Our question .... if we make the final payment and the current protocols are in place, can we cancel and get a cash refund or are we only able to get a FCC?

 

  We never would have put a deposit down to cruise under the current conditions. We are more than willing to make the final payment in hopes the protocols will be changed by November (no mask wearing and vaccination requirements) but we feel playing roulette with our vacation and well as our vacation dollars is something RCL should begin to understand and address. We have a non-refundable deposit (why not it was before COVID).

Had the same thing.  Final payment for my Nov 2021 cruise was due this coming Monday.  We decided to put it off until May 2022.  Simply called Royal and told them to reschedule the cruise under the CWC program.

Had a NRD which they moved to the new cruise with no penalty.

Got a new invoice in a few minutes.  Does take some time on hold to speak with a rep though.

Maybe things will be better next year.  Who knows?

 

[rtazz17]

1 hour ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

have you heard of the delta variant, by any chance?

 

I don't know about you, but we have protocols. We are required to wear masks when we are in the office/at customer sites by our global employer, and also adhere to strict Covid prevention protocols. Children in our school district are required to wear masks and adhere to strict Covid-mitigating protocols. Thank goodness for that, because our state is seeing a 400% increase in infection rates, and it keeps growing, thanks to delta, while no remote school options are being offered. So, yes, we do live on land with protocols.

Ok,so 400%increase in infections and you are wearing masks? Seems masks dont work right? They dont. Not in the environment we wear them in. We are running around with masks half on and half off,dirty,fabric etc. We are not in a medically controlled environment. We have to wear them on medical calls at the firehouse but other then that im never wearing one because they are not doing anything. If you point me to multiple studies that determined they work let me know. There arent any because they dont. Thats a fact. Make you feel better wearing one? Thats psychological nothing more.I wear one when I am required to play the game. Thats all.

[zanydoc]

1 hour ago, nyllrap said:

I just cancelled my cruise that was fully paid and is to sail Aug. 22. Too difficult to get the required test 3 days prior to the cruise, plus I don't want to spend a lot of money and then have to wear a mask indoors. Would rather stay home. Anyway, they are refunding my money, although it will take up to 45 days.

 

 

Royal says it can take up to 45 days, but I thought this was ridiculous, so I disputed the charge with my cc company and got refunded within 5 days. 

[xpcdoojk]

2 hours ago, Empehi said:

My wife and I are vaccinated and do not want to cruise under the new protocols. We booked our next cruise (November, 2022) on board a Feb 2021 cruise and the final payment day is rapidly approaching. Our question .... if we make the final payment and the current protocols are in place, can we cancel and get a cash refund or are we only able to get a FCC?

 

  We never would have put a deposit down to cruise under the current conditions. We are more than willing to make the final payment in hopes the protocols will be changed by November (no mask wearing and vaccination requirements) but we feel playing roulette with our vacation and well as our vacation dollars is something RCL should begin to understand and address. We have a non-refundable deposit (why not it was before COVID).

Your dates don’t make sense to me.  On board a Feb 2021 cruise, and final payment on a November 2022.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

32 minutes ago, rtazz17 said:

Ok,so 400%increase in infections and you are wearing masks? Seems masks dont work right?

the increase is because NO ONE here is wearing masks, thanks to our governor, and less than half of the population is fully vaccinated.

Masks will be required in schools starting on Monday in some counties.

Masks work. Vaccinations work. But it appears that you are an anti-masker who is lucky enough to live in a state with lower infection and higher vaccination rates. Yay for you. I don't want to die like my cousins who didn't use masks or vaccinate. I have worn masks since the beginning and got vaccinated asap, and I continue to wear a mask because of the delta variant. But you do you.

Edited August 6, 2021 by Itchy&Scratchy

[Lionesss]

Concerned yes.

Vaccinated yes

Wear a mask, if they require, yes.

Land vacation first part next week three short days big city, Columbus.

Farther land vacation starting end of next week 10 days Disney.

Read about their rules, ok, If I want to go gotta follow them, whether I am happy or not.

But, so do others have to follow the established rules.  ( I am not talking about vaccine here).

 

Since I cannot fathom what the future will hold on any upcoming changes I must deal with today, and hope for the best, and see what tomorrow brings, and adapt.

 

Stay healthy

 

 

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, xpcdoojk said:

Your dates don’t make sense to me

Pervious posts I think clarified that the you need to subtract a year from those dates.