On Allure currently. Some issues.

[clskinsfan]

19 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

That is not right to be closing down the solarium and now jack hammering another pool.   I would definitely be complaining.

Is the ship sailing at full capacity this week?

5800 passengers. I am on deck 16 and it's a zoo. With the Solarium and the beach pool both closed to seating there is nowhere to put all of these people. Feeling kinda screwed right now in all honesty. 

[MsPurplePenguin]

3 hours ago, Esmerelda said:

Yes, we are onboard now also. We were never notified about this area being closed either. This was where we would have spent most everyday at. I'm beyond disappointed in RC that they did not notify anyone of this issue beforehand. This was probably planned for a while. This lack of communication left a very bad taste in my mouth. 😕

I'm on the cruise too. It's definitely frustrating. The open pool areas are zoos.

 

[ScubaCat3]

I haven’t heard all of the announcements so I may have missed it but I have heard a few and none of the closures were mentioned at all. Maybe they think the guests won’t notice?

[neverbeenhere]

I hope the Allure doesn’t run out of liquor, because if it does, there will be a mutiny. 

[Luckynana]

1 hour ago, neverbeenhere said:

I hope the Allure doesn’t run out of liquor, because if it does, there will be a mutiny. 

Or if people have too much to drink, there could be a mutiny...

 

So sorry for all that are on this cruise.  This is just awful, and shouldn't be!!!🤔

[Jasukkie]

Absolutely unacceptable. This isn't something like mechanical trouble or shows not running due to covid. This was a choice. I'd be pressing hard for compensation. Take pictures.

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, MsPurplePenguin said:

I'm on the cruise too. 

 

Welcome to CC.

[Jimbo]

Royal will always continue to do what they want, might need to consider other cruise lines sometimes.

 

Keeping Happy Paying Customers or a Trade Show? Which would you ruin?

 

Sad part of all of this it isn't the big wigs at the Corporate Office that have to deal with this all week. It's the crew onboard that has to hear it all week from passengers onboard who's fault this really isn't anything to do with them.

Edited October 30, 2022 by Jimbo

[Jimbo]

35 minutes ago, Jasukkie said:

Absolutely unacceptable. This isn't something like mechanical trouble or shows not running due to covid. This was a choice. I'd be pressing hard for compensation. Take pictures.

I would expect next you will possibly see carpets being ripped up soon to be replaced.

[firefly333]

3 hours ago, Esmerelda said:

One other issue as well…on same sailing.  The beach pool is also closed.  This is a zero entry pool for people with younger kids.  We overheard a set of parents this morning with 2 kids under 5 saying how it would have been nice had they been notified of this closure.  I’m sorry,  RC needs to get their act together.  It’s like they are upgrading the ship for Galveston but In the meantime, we have paid a lot to be on here just as the people in Galveston have.  Not cool RC once again…! 
 

 

I think Galveston and rcl are doing some special big deal for 3 days for special invitees. The rcl big wings will be onboard. 

[tampadee]

Brings back memories of the maiden voyage of Quantum of the Seas in 2014, starting in New Jersey and ending in Shanghai.  The ship was destined to sail out of a port in China so major changes were made while we were onboard.  They remodeled the casino, added really expensive retail shops.  Johnny Rockets was renamed Kung Fu Asian Noodle Shop.  Then we received a letter from the captain which alerted us to the fact that there may be Pirate attacks along the way and we were required to close our drapes after dark every night.  Lights were turned off early in upper decks. 

 

We weren't happy either! 

[HBE4]

11 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Keeping Happy Paying Customers or a Trade Show? Which would you ruin?

 

Depends on the Trade Show. If it's for travel professionals - especially those that specialize in trips out of Galveston - whose glowing recommendations will lead to many tens of thousands of new customers booking, than ruining it for the existing customers makes sense since many will just shrug their shoulders . Maybe a few hundred will press for some FCC and a few dozen may vow to never cruise Royal again.

 

Having said all that, I'd be pissed if I was on that sailing. If only 85% ship is available to me, I'd expect to only pay 85% of the going rate. And since they have the materials and workers already on board, this was schedule in advance, not some emergency repair.  Ive had hotel resorts notify me via email when the hotel pool is closed for maintenance or if there are hotel renovations in progress. Some will even offer a free meal(s). Not sure why Royal can't do the same since they are in essence a floating hotel.

[mconthehighseas]

When a major venue shuts down, they need to either provide an alternative or a price reduction.
In this case, they should have made some other venue all -adult, even if it couldn't be a pool.

If you have access to a concierge, I recommend insisting on a partial refund or some other compensation. If you don't have a concierge,  call or visit the front desk when they are not busy.  If they tell you they aren't allowed to handle this kind of request, tell them you will be happy to have someone who can handle it reach you. And don't be afraid to get others to join you. 

[Sunshine3601]

I would be taking photos of the mess and posting on Fb as well as emailing those photos to Mr baley and demand some compensation.   

Edited October 30, 2022 by Sunshine3601

[HBE4]

Not to go to far off-topic but I read on another website whose name I can't mention (Not Matt's) that Royal is going to resume their Amplification program with the Allure scheduled for first half of 2023. The article was dated Aug 2022 so it's fairly recent.

 

Checking the Allure's schedule for 2023, I didn't see any large gaps that would permit such major work.  Are they going to try to partially AMP her by doing lots of little mini-updates here and there?  Maybe not the purple slide but swap out restaurants and renovate one pool at a time?

[Jimbo]

27 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

Depends on the Trade Show. If it's for travel professionals - especially those that specialize in trips out of Galveston - whose glowing recommendations will lead to many tens of thousands of new customers booking, than ruining it for the existing customers makes sense since many will just shrug their shoulders . Maybe a few hundred will press for some FCC and a few dozen may vow to never cruise Royal again.

 

Having said all that, I'd be pissed if I was on that sailing. If only 85% ship is available to me, I'd expect to only pay 85% of the going rate. And since they have the materials and workers already on board, this was schedule in advance, not some emergency repair.  Ive had hotel resorts notify me via email when the hotel pool is closed for maintenance or if there are hotel renovations in progress. Some will even offer a free meal(s). Not sure why Royal can't do the same since they are in essence a floating hotel.

That's what my post was referring too, Customers onboard mean nothing to Royal compared to what image they impress the Free Loading Trade Show people due to come  onboard.

 

Look forward to seeing some pictures posted.

[John Reid]

6 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

It happens. When major stuff needs fixed, they fix it.

As is often the case, you are way off on your arm-chair analysis. These aren't repairs; they are drydock-type rebuilds sand refits. Nothing was broken to repair. RCI (and other lines) keep passengers from making proper decisions by avoiding disclosure. It was always known by experienced cruisers not to go on a cruise just before dry-dock and just after drydock. But this is a new low. Closing the Solarium to retile is a drydock issue, not an in-cruise task. These passengers are not getting what they paid for and it is not a necessary repair. 

I'd contact my credit card company and withhold payment just to make RCI jump through hoops to get it.

 

A little song by the great Steve Goodman you might like:

 

That's 'cause it ain't hard

To get along with somebody else's troubles,

And they don't make you lose any sleep at night.

Just as long as fate is there bustin' somebody else's bubbles,

Everything's gonna be all right.

[John Reid]

4 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

 

But other than drydock, there's never a time, save for 1 hour on turnaround day, that there are no passengers on board.

Thus, drydock.

[Jimbo]

27 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

I would be taking photos of the mess and posting on Fb as well as emailing those photos to Mr baley and demand some compensation.   

Maybe they could take videos and post on all the local Tv channels right after all those new ICON commercials I'm seeing all ready with a ship that doesn't sail for another 2 years.......

 

I guess we better getting used  to seeing those ads on Tv for ICON for a longgggggggggggggggg time.

[KansasK]

If they are jackhammering the pool in the Solarium, are they taking it out to make the Allure like the newer Oasis class ships?  What a shame if that is the case.  

 

Royal Carribean lost money during shutdown and when it was sailing with small numbers of passengers instead of a full ship.  They probably won't put ships in drydock unless they have to. 

[ONECRUISER]

14 minutes ago, John Reid said:

As is often the case, you are way off on your arm-chair analysis. These aren't repairs; they are drydock-type rebuilds sand refits. Nothing was broken to repair. RCI (and other lines) keep passengers from making proper decisions by avoiding disclosure. It was always known by experienced cruisers not to go on a cruise just before dry-dock and just after drydock. But this is a new low. Closing the Solarium to retile is a drydock issue, not an in-cruise task. These passengers are not getting what they paid for and it is not a necessary repair. 

I'd contact my credit card company and withhold payment just to make RCI jump through hoops to get it.

 

A little song by the great Steve Goodman you might like:

 

That's 'cause it ain't hard

To get along with somebody else's troubles,

And they don't make you lose any sleep at night.

Just as long as fate is there bustin' somebody else's bubbles,

Everything's gonna be all right.

Though it's nothing new. Been on multiple Ships where for weeks AFTER a Marine Side Dry Dock is when most repairs/Maintenance is done. This included re-painting everything White, remove-sand-replace all railings. One week your cabins railings are gone, next they are back. This goes on for over a Month. One Ship included replacing Balcony Deck Chairs another Mattresses, this done on turnover days one floor each week. This happens. That said unless this was things listed by OP I'd not be a Happy Camper either

Edited October 30, 2022 by ONECRUISER

[clskinsfan]

39 minutes ago, mconthehighseas said:

When a major venue shuts down, they need to either provide an alternative or a price reduction.
In this case, they should have made some other venue all -adult, even if it couldn't be a pool.

If you have access to a concierge, I recommend insisting on a partial refund or some other compensation. If you don't have a concierge,  call or visit the front desk when they are not busy.  If they tell you they aren't allowed to handle this kind of request, tell them you will be happy to have someone who can handle it reach you. And don't be afraid to get others to join you. 

Haha. Guest services has been slammed the entire time. I wonder why? 😀 it is what it is. We are still sailing and drinking A LOT. Life could be much worse. 

[JupiterTwo]

53 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

Depends on the Trade Show. If it's for travel professionals - especially those that specialize in trips out of Galveston - whose glowing recommendations will lead to many tens of thousands of new customers booking, than ruining it for the existing customers makes sense since many will just shrug their shoulders . Maybe a few hundred will press for some FCC and a few dozen may vow to never cruise Royal again.

 

I think that's exactly what it is. My TA who booked my April cruise on Allure is on this cruise, so it must be for Houston-area travel agents to get them familiar with the ship and get them to book customers as much as possible on it.

[JMukamuk]

37 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

Not to go to far off-topic but I read on another website whose name I can't mention (Not Matt's) that Royal is going to resume their Amplification program with the Allure scheduled for first half of 2023. The article was dated Aug 2022 so it's fairly recent.

 

Checking the Allure's schedule for 2023, I didn't see any large gaps that would permit such major work.  Are they going to try to partially AMP her by doing lots of little mini-updates here and there?  Maybe not the purple slide but swap out restaurants and renovate one pool at a time?

I’m booked to sail on Allure the end of March. As soon as they announced the Presidents Cruise to be on Allure next summer, I started worrying they might cancel some cruises in order to squeeze in at least a mini Amplification before the Presidents Cruise. 

[Russ Lomas]

4 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

My bad, just assumed it ended on Sunday.  Gets them an extra day.  I am assuming that they will want everything open and shiny for the Trade Event sailing

That plus the President's cruise next year