Deceased spouse - "no show"

[DandDM]

I've seen a number of threads related to this in the past, but haven't really paid that much attention...so I hope I'll be forgiven for starting a new thread!

 

My wife passed away and we had two cruises booked (actually three, but went on the first earlier this month with my brother).  The next cruise is in October and I want to try it solo, however, if I do a mock booking today, the same cabin type is $3k more than I'm paying (also have some healthy OBC and booked under double points promo). From what I have read, understand that I could technically keep the same reservation with my wife as a 'no show'.  However, because she is deceased, I'm having some ethical concerns, plus not sure I want to go through the process of doing her online check in.

 

Here are my questions:

1) Is there any chance that if I call and get a sympathetic agent, they would remove my wife from the reservation without repricing; or would I be limiting my future options once they know the facts?

2) If I do proceed with the reservation for both of us, would I have to go through the on line check in for her?

3) Reading some other posts I found through a search, seems like an option could be to swap my brother's name into the reservation, then have him be the no-show.  Any benefits to that?

4) Finally, the other cruised booked is a TA next April.  With a 'no show' in October, would that cause an issue for the April cruise?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Dustin

[FionaMG]

I can't offer any advice but just wanted to sympathise for the loss of your wife. 

[Tree_skier]

3 minutes ago, DandDM said:

I've seen a number of threads related to this in the past, but haven't really paid that much attention...so I hope I'll be forgiven for starting a new thread!

 

My wife passed away and we had two cruises booked (actually three, but went on the first earlier this month with my brother).  The next cruise is in October and I want to try it solo, however, if I do a mock booking today, the same cabin type is $3k more than I'm paying (also have some healthy OBC and booked under double points promo). From what I have read, understand that I could technically keep the same reservation with my wife as a 'no show'.  However, because she is deceased, I'm having some ethical concerns, plus not sure I want to go through the process of doing her online check in.

 

Here are my questions:

1) Is there any chance that if I call and get a sympathetic agent, they would remove my wife from the reservation without repricing; or would I be limiting my future options once they know the facts?

2) If I do proceed with the reservation for both of us, would I have to go through the on line check in for her?

3) Reading some other posts I found through a search, seems like an option could be to swap my brother's name into the reservation, then have him be the no-show.  Any benefits to that?

4) Finally, the other cruised booked is a TA next April.  With a 'no show' in October, would that cause an issue for the April cruise?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Dustin

1. I think finding a sympathetic agent is unlikely.  Not that they wouldn't be sympathetic but that they are simply incapable doing anything the outside of the script they are given from Miami.

 

2. I had one cruise where we had a no show but it was granddaughter and she was a third person and I had checked her in when I did ours at 45 days so I have no knowledge on how to proceed with that.

 

3. If your brother was willing to let you use if info as a place holder I'd say go ahead with that.  I understand your unwillingness to do it with your wife's info.

 

4. I can't imagine a no show now will have any impact on a cruise next April.

 

 

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[joeyancho]

Deepest sympathy on the passing of your wife.  

[molly361]

Sorry for your loss. I lost my husband 6 months ago tomorrow.  I'm still a work in progress on sailing solo.  I would just let her be a no show  You don't have to check her in  Like Treeskier said if you are not comfortable leaving her on you can change the name to someone or anyone else

Edited May 25, 2022 by molly361

[neverbeenhere]

Deepest sympathy on the passing of your wife.

 

But, that is one hell of a title for a thread.

[nelblu]

I'm so sad for your loss.  I know the aches and pains of losing a spouse.  I lost my beloved spouse in mid 2020.   I had to cancel our family Easter cruise which later was cancelled by Royal due to the pandemic.  

 

Since the opening of cruising, I've taken 4 cruises with 3 being solo.  in the beginning I had fear & trepidation as how I would handle sailing solo.   I've come to feel comfortable (even though she always on my mind) cruising and going to the AC casinos.

 

Stay strong and safe,

[DandDM]

2 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

1. I think finding a sympathetic agent is unlikely.  Not that they wouldn't be sympathetic but that they are simply incapable doing anything the outside of the script they are given from Miami.

 

2. I had one cruise where we had a no show but it was granddaughter and she was a third person and I had checked her in when I did ours at 45 days so I have no knowledge on how to proceed with that.

 

3. If your brother was willing to let you use if info as a place holder I'd say go ahead with that.  I understand your unwillingness to do it with your wife's info.

 

4. I can't imagine a no show now will have any impact on a cruise next April.

 

 

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Thanks; this is very helpful!

[DandDM]

2 hours ago, FionaMG said:

I can't offer any advice but just wanted to sympathise for the loss of your wife. 

 

2 hours ago, joeyancho said:

Deepest sympathy on the passing of your wife.  

 

1 hour ago, neverbeenhere said:

Deepest sympathy on the passing of your wife.

 

Thank you; much appreciated!

[brillohead]

You don't have to check her in at all.  Just do your part of the online check-in, and that's it.  

It won't affect your boarding at all, other than there will be an extra key for her on the door when you get to the room.  

I also think you can remove her from the booking without repricing it, and keep all your current benefits (double points, OBC, etc.).  @Ourusualbeach would be able to confirm it. but I see no reason why removing her would change your pricing, b/c you're still going on the same cruise in the same room.

[DandDM]

1 hour ago, molly361 said:

Sorry for your loss. I lost my husband 6 months ago tomorrow.  I'm still a work in progress on sailing solo.  I would just let her be a no show  You don't have to check her in  Like Treeskier said if you are not comfortable leaving her on you can change the name to someone or anyone else

 

1 hour ago, nelblu said:

I'm so sad for your loss.  I know the aches and pains of losing a spouse.  I lost my beloved spouse in mid 2020.   I had to cancel our family Easter cruise which later was cancelled by Royal due to the pandemic.  

 

Since the opening of cruising, I've taken 4 cruises with 3 being solo.  in the beginning I had fear & trepidation as how I would handle sailing solo.   I've come to feel comfortable (even though she always on my mind) cruising and going to the AC casinos.

 

Stay strong and safe,

Appreciate the advice and thoughts on solo cruising. More than once I had decided to cancel this cruise, but people said not to make any big decisions so I put it off.  Glad I did because now I can see the cruise happening, but also have a lot of emotion about it.  Reading other threads about sailing solo and building confidence!  

 

thanks,

[pcur]

2 hours ago, molly361 said:

Sorry for your loss. I lost my husband 6 months ago tomorrow.  I'm still a work in progress on sailing solo.  I would just let her be a no show  You don't have to check her in  Like Treeskier said if you are not comfortable leaving her on you can change the name to someone or anyone else

Really, really, really hard isn't it?  The love of my life passed in March 2021.  

 

I encourage you to sail solo.  I deliberately booked cruises this year for Feb (his birthday), and March (my birthday, our anniversary, his death) to be busy and having a good time during the "bad time of year".  I knew I would have my books to read, and things to do.  What I was surprised about was the amazing people I met.  

 

I never intrude on other people's conversations:  all the great people I met started talking to me.  Dining room at my table for two next to them, Diamond Lounge.  I met a group of older Cubans who immigrated to the US from Cuba between 1959 and 1967.  Fascinating stories.

 

I met my new Travel Agent.  I met people who invited me to go on cruises they already have booked.

 

We have to establish a "new life", a "different life", and embed happy memories of things we did without our love, who is gone.  Bit by bit stitch our lives back together with our own experiences.

 

Courage and look forward.  Good thoughts for you.

[pcur]

2 hours ago, DandDM said:

I've seen a number of threads related to this in the past, but haven't really paid that much attention...so I hope I'll be forgiven for starting a new thread!

 

My wife passed away and we had two cruises booked (actually three, but went on the first earlier this month with my brother).  The next cruise is in October and I want to try it solo.

 

Dustin

My previous post is for you, also.  Heartfelt and good wishes to you while you move on without her.  Keep on keeping on.  

 

When my husband passed I contacted Special Needs by email, explained my situation, attached his DC, and asked for refunds.  Then, I booked when I was ready.  

 

If you have over 340 C&A points, you are entitled to the DP340 discount for solos.  So, if you change the booking, it might not be much more than you paid for 2 people.

[Sunshine3601]

25 minutes ago, brillohead said:

You don't have to check her in at all.  Just do your part of the online check-in, and that's it.  

It won't affect your boarding at all, other than there will be an extra key for her on the door when you get to the room.  

I also think you can remove her from the booking without repricing it, and keep all your current benefits (double points, OBC, etc.).  @Ourusualbeach would be able to confirm it. but I see no reason why removing her would change your pricing, b/c you're still going on the same cruise in the same room.

I am 99.99% sure that if the OP cancels her from the booking it will then become a solo cruise and would get a reprice and as said the current fare for same cabin is $3K higher.    This is the reason a lot of people do the "no show" option.    

[deliver42]

I understand you ethical question, but would Royal be as ethical given the circumstance? I doubt it, so just use the no show.

[Rolla4fun]

Hello,

 

I booked my adult son and his girlfriend on a cruise and "gave" it to them at Christmas a few years ago. A few months before the cruise his girlfriend could not go on the cruise. I checked the price of the cruise and it had gone up a lot in price. I contacted Royal Caribbean to let them know that the second passenger would not be going on the cruise however I was not willing to pay more to remove a person from the reservation. They were able to keep the price of the stateroom that I originally paid however they did refund the port charges for 1 person since she was not going. So I actually paid a little less. My son ending up staying in the stateroom by himself and loved it!

 

So sorry for your loss. I'm happy to hear that you can find peace in cruising solo. 

[Ourusualbeach]

25 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

I am 99.99% sure that if the OP cancels her from the booking it will then become a solo cruise and would get a reprice and as said the current fare for same cabin is $3K higher.    This is the reason a lot of people do the "no show" option.    

Nope.  the .001% is correct.

 

They would not be repriced.  Only if you change cabin categories would you be repriced.

Edited May 25, 2022 by Ourusualbeach

[Ourusualbeach]

55 minutes ago, brillohead said:

I also think you can remove her from the booking without repricing it, and keep all your current benefits (double points, OBC, etc.).  @Ourusualbeach would be able to confirm it. but I see no reason why removing her would change your pricing, b/c you're still going on the same cruise in the same room.

You are correct.

[DandDM]

29 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Nope.  the .001% is correct.

 

They would not be repriced.  Only if you change cabin categories would you be repriced.

Thanks for the info, Ken.  I always thought the opposite was true!

 

Will call tomorrow - now thinking that I will inquire as to what would happen if I removed her from the booking first and see what they say.

[John&LaLa]

No show is the easiest course of action.

[John&LaLa]

4 hours ago, molly361 said:

Sorry for your loss. I lost my husband 6 months ago tomorrow.  I'm still a work in progress on sailing solo.  I would just let her be a no show  You don't have to check her in  Like Treeskier said if you are not comfortable leaving her on you can change the name to someone or anyone else

 

I need to check and see if your port taxes ever got credited back from Harmony 

[Jasukkie]

I'm so sorry. I would just change it to your brother and have him no show. They really don't care and it won't affect your future bookings. People miss flights, get sick, or have business to attend to all the time and have to miss their cruises.

[Sunshine3601]

1 hour ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Nope.  the .001% is correct.

 

They would not be repriced.  Only if you change cabin categories would you be repriced.

Good to know.    Curious, Then why do people do no shows instead of just cancelling the 2nd passenger from the sailing?

[shippmates]

So sorry for the loss of your wife.  I lost my beloved husband in December and will be doing my first solo cruise next month.  I removed my husband on an August cruise and the cruise was repriced for a solo cruise.  Please check you travel insurance as my policy will reimburse the solo fee I had to pay.  You just need to have the option for the single supplement.

 

[Ourusualbeach]

1 hour ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Good to know.    Curious, Then why do people do no shows instead of just cancelling the 2nd passenger from the sailing?

A couple that come to mind are.

Not having to call, wait on hold to have some undertrained employee screw it up.

The second guest had an FCC applied that would be lost if they were removed.

 

Edited May 26, 2022 by Ourusualbeach