Mikey2611

Hi there. My name is Mike and I'm a mid 70's retired single gay male. Now travelling alone on the above mentioned cruise. 

I am Elite on Celebrity and Diamond Plus on RCL.....done many transatlantic and always enjoy the days at seas as much as those on land.

Hope to meet other GBLT on board, either in the Elite lounge or Friends of Dorothy meetings - yes Im still thinking the old ways lol.

Love to hear from anyone else on this cruise.

Previously if you booked and RCL cruise and pid the deposit of (say $480) if you had to cancel before final payment you were refunded the amount of the deposit.

It is therefore extremely disappointing in a time when COVID requirements seem to change day to day that RCL will now only provide a Cruise Credit and then only after deducting $100USD supposedly for administration costs. 

Every travel company and airline is providing more and more flexibility knowing that clients on many occasions have to cancel through no fault of their own. Yet RCL decide to keep your money.

Well, I for one will only book a cruise "last minute". Frankly given that their rules prevent Canadians from sailing as RCL will not accept their vaccine certificates as proof they are fully vaccinated and Europeans and British cannot presently enter the USA - there will be plenty of last minute cabins available. In fact just about 2/3rd of RCL normal passengers are no longer considered to be acceptable one way or another.....There are other cruise lines too.

If you read the Royal Caribbean covid restrictions they effectively prevent Most Canadians from taking a RCL cruise. 
 

a valid vaccination is required and according to the CDC that has to be 2 shots of the same vaccine in which the second shot is given between 21 and 42 days of the first. 
 

RCL seem prepared to accept 2 shots of different vaccines ( Pfizer and moderna) but the requirement of the second dose being taken between 21 and 42 days simply cannot be met by the majority of vaccinated Canadians. This is because it was government policy to delay the second shot to at least 90 days. 
 

Additionally it was previous RCL policy to refund the $480 per person deposit up to the date of final payment. Now they will only give you a future cruise voucher after deducting $100US  four what they term “ administrative costs).  
with all the uncertainty rather than giving more flexibility they are gouging prospective cruisers who through no fault of their own but due to changing covid restrictions may have to cancel before final payment date. 
 

my advise - don’t book in advance just take your chances on last minute booking and avoid being caught with costs over which you can have no control. 

I have over the required number of points ( well over) to be afforded the 150% of double reduced fare for single travellers. I have booked using that on a number of occasions but on trying to book a cruise in the last few days by agent told me that RCL had told them that it was only available tor Balcony or above bookings.  It certainly has not been the case and there is no caveat to that affect on the listing of benefits.  Has anyone else discovered this arbitrary change in policy - if indeed it is a change of policy and if so why no notice to members. ??? I paid full price on many cruises in order to benefit from this perk snd now it seems it’s not available any more. 
comments? 

Hi everyone.  

I'm Mike retired single traveller from Toronto, Canada. I wonder is anyone else is going to be cruising on Radiance of the Seas - September 10th Vancouver to Hawaii or the following cruise September 20th Hawaii to Sydney, Australia.

This will be my third cruise to Sydney from Vancouver - can't wait. I am Diamond Plus on RCL having done over 30 cruises with RCL and many with Celebrity. I actually prefer RCL.

Hi there. Just wondered is there are any GBLT people on board this cruise or the previous cruise Vancouver to Hawaii.

Hello, anyone on either Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas September 10th Vancouver Hawaii or September 20th Hawaii to Sydney?

hehe  Sorry its a long story. The simple answer is that I am on the Radiance on September 10th Vancouver to Hawaii, then I take the cruise from Hawaii to Sydney on the 20th...

I originally booked the Ovation and sailed on the ship recently. I decided I preferred a small ship and there are a number of things that I like about the Radiance Class so I switched. Hence the mix up on the sailing date.

Hi everyone. I am a single gay man traveling alone on the above cruise and doing a B2B also on the cruise from  Hawaii to Sydney Australia.

I would love to hear from any other GBLT on the same cruise (s)...

Any other GBLT member on this cruise or the following cruise from Hawaii to Sydney.

Im Mike from Toronto Canada traveling alone on both these cruises. Love to hear from others.

Welcome to the Cruise. There are probably quite a few LBGT members on the cruise even though not many on Cruise Critic. Transatlantic are popular.

Im Diamond Plus and look forward ro saying hi in the lounge in the evening. Check out the notice board lets hope the meeting is shown and in a place thats suitable and at a suitable time. They often post a meeting which falls during a time when either early or late dining can't make it - we can change that lol

Hi guys...

I am Mike retired and traveling single on this transatlantic. It will be my first time in Amsterdam also, I am arriving 29th August and staying at The Student Hotel Amsterdam City ( no its not for students lol) . I booked the hop on hop off bus its always a good way to see the sights and a dinner cruise.

I will check the Notice Board for GBLT meetings although often they chose the wrong time and the wrong place. It won't be the first time some of us have changed the venue and time. Im Diamond Plus ( not bragging - saying just in case any of you will be using the Diamond Lounge). Hope to see you on board.

Hi there. Good to know that there will be other Gay men on the cruise. Im Mike from Canada retired single traveling alone. Hopefully the LBGT meetings are at a time and place that makes sense. Usually not! But we can always change that on the notice board if its a stupid place at an inconvenient time.

Hi there.

Are any other "family" members going on this cruise?

Do you know the best way to get into Tokyo from the port. It seems many people suggest the train but lugging a large suitcase and a carryon on the train is not very enticing. It seems that taxi and limo types are exorbitant. I am hoping that I can share a ride with someone (small mini van costs around $350 so 4/5 people at $70/80 apiece is reasonable and more convenient than the train). Maybe I can post a notice onboard.

I had forgot I get 90 minutes free internet. I can make that do - specially at over $300 for wifi for entire cruise. I think you will agree they are grossly overpricing a lot of add in's.

Are you guys staying in Tokyo after the cruise and if so how are you intending to get from the Port to Tokyo? The only thing listed on the Celebrity site is a 1/2 day tour with drop off at Narita - not much good if you are going downtown.

Hi there .....Thanks for the reply to my posting. I am sure there will be more "family" on board - hopefully will see you on board. Maybe check the notice Board for the GLBT ( Friends of Dorothy) meetings. They are usually at a stupid time in a totally silly bar - but we can change that....lol

I will be in the Captains Club Lounge most nights at 5pm.

Just a question: Do you guys buy an internet package? mikescruising@yahoo.com

Just wondered if there are any gay men on the above cruise. Retired professional here single and travel alone on this cruise. Love to meet others.

I think it depends on the cruise line, the cruise destination and length of the cruise. Our 15 day Celebrity Hawaii last year I only saw a couple of teenagers, but otherwise it was mainly an older crowd. Our San Francisco to Sydney in September I'd be surprised if we see any kids at all. On the other hand a short Caribbean cruise, or for us in Australia a South Pacific round trip, I'd expect a load of kids on board particularly over summer school holidays.

Hi there. My name is Mike I am a single gay male 68 and will be on the Celebrity Cruise from San Fran to Sydney. I was wondering if any other gay men were on board and I saw your post. It would be great to meet for a drink and say hi...Im not the "clinging"type so don't worry hehe but it will be nice to see friendly faces.