Itinerary Change

[hollins2007]

I literally just booked/put a deposit on our cruise this past weekend.  Today I get an email from Royal that the itinerary has changed.  Instead of Southern Carribean (Aruba/Curacao/Perfect Day), it's Eastern Caribbean (Tortola, St. Kitts, San Juan, and Perfect Day).  Is this normal form them to change schedules?  It's still showing on the website (I was curious if there was another 8-day Aruba/Curacao itinerary next year, out of Orlando).

 

I'm really disappointed, though we probably will continue on because it starts on our anniversary, and ports aren't the only thing, but I was doing a lot of research this week on Aruba and Curacao and was really looking forward to checking out these ports next year... ugh.

[Tulsacoker]

That does suck, if you just booked I think you have some time to cancel and get your deposit back 

Edited October 5, 2022 by Tulsacoker

[hollins2007]

2 minutes ago, Tulsacoker said:

That does suck, if you just booked I think you have some time to cancel and get your deposit back 

 

Yes, the email said we could do that before October 19th.  But I don't want to cancel unless we find an alternative cruise that goes to Aruba/Curacao.

 

I'm more venting, and also wondering if this happens often.

[Tulsacoker]

I feel for you. We just booked an ABC +grand caymen and Columbia cruise and would be not too happy if they change it. 

[OCSC Mike]

3 minutes ago, hollins2007 said:

also wondering if this happens often.

 

Often? No, but it happens for a variety of a reasons.

[ONECRUISER]

46 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

Often? No, but it happens for a variety of a reasons.

Weather, Ship/Mechanical, too many Ships at stops, just because Royal wants to... Yes, and many more. Had dozens of Port and Itinerary Changes. At least 1/3 of them were in last 2yrs. Except for these most time I didn't get choice to change or OBC

[hollins2007]

22 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said:

Weather, Ship/Mechanical, too many Ships at stops, just because Royal wants to... Yes, and many more. Had dozens of Port and Itinerary Changes. At least 1/3 of them were in last 2yrs. Except for these most time I didn't get choice to change or OBC

 

Well, this one wouldn't be weather since it's for June of next year 😂

 

Again, disappointed in the change but as I told my husband, at least we're still going to the Caribbean.  I've been to San Juan (almost 14 years ago) but he hasn't; I've not been to St. Kitts or Tortula (not sure if he has or not).  Trying to see the positives and know I'll feel better tomorrow.  We'll just need to book another cruise in 2024 perhaps, that hits the ABC islands 😇

 

And this being only my fourth cruise, and second with Royal, I don't have enough experience to know how these things go in terms of scheduling changes.

[ONECRUISER]

2 minutes ago, hollins2007 said:

 

Well, this one wouldn't be weather since it's for June of next year 😂

 

Again, disappointed in the change but as I told my husband, at least we're still going to the Caribbean.  I've been to San Juan (almost 14 years ago) but he hasn't; I've not been to St. Kitts or Tortula (not sure if he has or not).  Trying to see the positives and know I'll feel better tomorrow.  We'll just need to book another cruise in 2024 perhaps, that hits the ABC islands 😇

 

And this being only my fourth cruise, and second with Royal, I don't have enough experience to know how these things go in terms of scheduling changes.

Sorry, hope it all works out for you. 

[Jimbo]

Other Fish in the Sea, look at other cruise lines too. Sounds like they will give you a complete refund if you want it.

[irishgal432]

1 hour ago, hollins2007 said:

I literally just booked/put a deposit on our cruise this past weekend.  Today I get an email from Royal that the itinerary has changed.  Instead of Southern Carribean (Aruba/Curacao/Perfect Day), it's Eastern Caribbean (Tortola, St. Kitts, San Juan, and Perfect Day).  Is this normal form them to change schedules?  It's still showing on the website (I was curious if there was another 8-day Aruba/Curacao itinerary next year, out of Orlando).

 

I'm really disappointed, though we probably will continue on because it starts on our anniversary, and ports aren't the only thing, but I was doing a lot of research this week on Aruba and Curacao and was really looking forward to checking out these ports next year... ugh.

What ship and sail date?  Wondering if mine is still the same?

[firefly333]

1 hour ago, hollins2007 said:

I literally just booked/put a deposit on our cruise this past weekend.  Today I get an email from Royal that the itinerary has changed.  Instead of Southern Carribean (Aruba/Curacao/Perfect Day), it's Eastern Caribbean (Tortola, St. Kitts, San Juan, and Perfect Day).  Is this normal form them to change schedules?  It's still showing on the website (I was curious if there was another 8-day Aruba/Curacao itinerary next year, out of Orlando).

 

I'm really disappointed, though we probably will continue on because it starts on our anniversary, and ports aren't the only thing, but I was doing a lot of research this week on Aruba and Curacao and was really looking forward to checking out these ports next year... ugh.

Idk if the recent hurricane could be why. I read the dock at grand Cayman got destroyed as a for instance. They could still be assessing recent storm damages?

[hollins2007]

3 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Other Fish in the Sea, look at other cruise lines too. Sounds like they will give you a complete refund if you want it.

 

Yeah, we only put down the deposit and can cancel before October 19th and get it back.  However, I'm open to these islands so we will still proceed.  Just try the ABCs in 2024 maybe!

 

Now, if they had changed the itinerary to Cozumel, I'd be canceling.  I wasn't impressed with those ports last year and have no desire to go back, personally.

 

2 minutes ago, irishgal432 said:

What ship and sail date?  Wondering if mine is still the same?

 

Mariner of the Seas, June 9th.  I know that itinerary had multiple dates  (starting in May 2023?) so it's possible the other dates are affected too.

[Tolkmit]

The pandemic caused this to happen a lot more often over the last two years, than it did pre-pandemic.

 

Pre-pandemic, it was relatively rare. Not unheard of, but rare. Going forward, I think the expectation is for it to return to being fairly rare; but no one can say for sure. It happening on rare occasion will always just be the unfortunate reality of cruising.

 

 

[LeeW]

Check Celebrity or search for cruises going to Aruba.   Can't remember if Royal  booking engine can do this but many online agencies can give you a list. 

[smokeybandit]

Tortola and St Kitts isn't a terrible replacement, if that's any consolation.

[ARandomTraveler]

Try booking a southern route that leaves from Puerto Rico instead of from

Orlando. 

[Merion_Mom]

9 hours ago, firefly333 said:

Idk if the recent hurricane could be why. I read the dock at grand Cayman got destroyed as a for instance. They could still be assessing recent storm damages?

 

From one of my Roll Calls:  "Friends are in Cayman today and posting photos"

[firefly333]

2 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

From one of my Roll Calls:  "Friends are in Cayman today and posting photos"

Good to hear. I know my liberty will be one of the last from Galveston so easy for rumors to start. Allure coming in and cant tender. No stops there schedules in a long long time once liberty pulls out. I was there week of sept 18. 

[Airbear232]

16 hours ago, hollins2007 said:

I literally just booked/put a deposit on our cruise this past weekend.  Today I get an email from Royal that the itinerary has changed.  Instead of Southern Carribean (Aruba/Curacao/Perfect Day), it's Eastern Caribbean (Tortola, St. Kitts, San Juan, and Perfect Day).  Is this normal form them to change schedules?  It's still showing on the website (I was curious if there was another 8-day Aruba/Curacao itinerary next year, out of Orlando).

 

I'm really disappointed, though we probably will continue on because it starts on our anniversary, and ports aren't the only thing, but I was doing a lot of research this week on Aruba and Curacao and was really looking forward to checking out these ports next year... ugh.

What month is your cruise?  I did a quick search for Royal going to Aruba and most months there are multiple ships visiting.  Exceptions being June and July when it’s only Mariner and August and October, when there are no scheduled stops.  Good luck and happy anniversary!

[hollins2007]

1 hour ago, Airbear232 said:

What month is your cruise?  I did a quick search for Royal going to Aruba and most months there are multiple ships visiting.  Exceptions being June and July when it’s only Mariner and August and October, when there are no scheduled stops.  Good luck and happy anniversary!

 

Thank you!

 

June 2023.  Yeah, after I got the email I searched the website for alternatives and it was still showing our cruise (Mariner) going in June.  It may take some time for RCL to update the itineraries on the website, I'm guessing.

 

8 hours ago, ARandomTraveler said:

Try booking a southern route that leaves from Puerto Rico instead of from

Orlando. 

 

We would rather not fly to the departure port at this point, and Orlando is within driving distance (7-8 hours).  But I was looking up cruises with other lines in 2024, there are some out of Ft. Lauderdale which adds a couple of hours but may be doable.  But we've decided to keep this cruise, and just consider the ABC islands the following year.

 

Edited October 6, 2022 by hollins2007

[hollins2007]

I've been checking the website.  Earlier today, our departure date (June 9th) was missing from the "Southern Caribbean" listing but there were 4 other dates listed between May and July.  But now it only has June 23rd left.  But I don't see the new 8 Day Eastern Caribbean showing yet.  Interesting how they're doing this...

 

Anyway, again, as stated before, we're keeping this cruise, and I'm feeling better about it today.  Just means we will need to book a cruise for 2024.  We were saving to buy a house this year, which we closed on in June, so now we will have more bandwidth to save for traveling 😎

[Jimbo]

47 minutes ago, hollins2007 said:

I've been checking the website.  Earlier today, our departure date (June 9th) was missing from the "Southern Caribbean" listing but there were 4 other dates listed between May and July.  But now it only has June 23rd left.  But I don't see the new 8 Day Eastern Caribbean showing yet.  Interesting how they're doing this...

 

Anyway, again, as stated before, we're keeping this cruise, and I'm feeling better about it today.  Just means we will need to book a cruise for 2024.  We were saving to buy a house this year, which we closed on in June, so now we will have more bandwidth to save for traveling 😎

Congrats on the new home, curious what town in SC you settled in? We bought in VA but were looking in the Greenville area at one time. It was amazing how much that area is growing. Traffic around there is terrible.

[hollins2007]

3 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Congrats on the new home, curious what town in SC you settled in? We bought in VA but were looking in the Greenville area at one time. It was amazing how much that area is growing. Traffic around there is terrible.

 

In the Columbia area, not far from Lake Murray!  We've done a couple of days trips to Greenville and would like to explore more, but I think we picked the right place.  Two hours from the mountains, two hours from the beach!

 

It's funny, we moved to the area two years ago from VA.  We came from the DC area (talk about traffic 😵) and wanted to escape the hustle-bustle, the expense, and the snow.  But before the DC area, I lived in the Roanoke area for many years.  I do miss the mountains sometimes!  But I don't miss shoveling snow 😂

 

Now I'm curious, where in SW VA are you?

Edited October 6, 2022 by hollins2007

[Jimbo]

4 minutes ago, hollins2007 said:

 

In the Columbia area, not far from Lake Murray!  We've done a couple of days trips to Greenville and would like to explore more, but I think we picked the right place.  Two hours from the mountains, two hours from the beach!

 

It's funny, we moved to the area two years ago from VA.  We came from the DC area (talk about traffic 😵) and wanted to escape the hustle-bustle, the expense, and the snow.  But before the DC area, I lived in the Roanoke area for many years.  I do miss the mountains sometimes!  But I don't miss shoveling snow 😂

 

Now I'm curious, where in SW VA are you?

We are in Draper, Va...............it's between Dublin and Wytheville.  We are about 1 hour south of Roanoke not far from I-81.

 

Yes, since you were coming from the DC area, the Greenville area seems like nothing to you.

 

We have been here almost 2 years now after living all our life in NJ. ( South Jersey)

Edited October 6, 2022 by Jimbo

[hollins2007]

2 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

We are in Draper, Va...............it's between Dublin and Wytheville.  We are about 1 hour south of Roanoke not far from I-81.

 

Yes, since you were coming from the DC area, the Greenville area seems like nothing to you.

 

We have been here almost 2 years now after living all our life in NJ. ( South Jersey)

 

Ah, I had to google it because I didn't remember exactly where it was, but I must've passed it several times!  My now-husband, then-boyfriend worked in SW Virginia for one of the political parties in 2016.  His jurisdiction went from Radford all the way down to the tip of the state, which he drove all over for meetings, events, etc.  He lived in Abingdon so I'd drive down to see him, or we'd meet halfway in Wytheville for dinner.

 

It's a beautiful area down there!  I hope you're enjoying it!  If you haven't had a chance yet, seeing a play at the Barter Theater is pretty cool, or going for a walk on the Virginia Creeper Trail.  That's probably only an hour or so from you.