Tljcruiser

On 9/13/2020 at 8:56 AM, WeatherFx said:

For those who received their passport back.

How did they arrive, UPS, USPS or FedEx and is a signature required?

USPS no signature with all supporting documents (birth certificate custody papers etc) back in same envelope with new passport and old passport together.  I had signed up for updates which I never received and passport status never changed online from "not found" 

13 minutes ago, BND said:

Geared towards families, yes, but the reality is there are many couples and singles onboard also.  If they really thought they could cruise, they would rework their activities.  Royal will be cancelling til at least Dec soon too.

Exactly.  Just like they have reworked the theme parks to open without meet and greets, parades and fireworks.  

7 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

 

Final payment on 3 & 4 night cruises is due 75 days before sail date.  It's 90 days for 5 days or longer.

Good to know. I don't think we have ever done less than 5 nights so I thought they were all 90 days and this was just shorter because of some Covid policy change.  We have a 4 night scheduled for spring break so I am glad to hear we have a little extra time for final.  I am getting weary of paying and then waiting on refunds 😞

6 hours ago, island lady said:

 

Haven't done a short cruise in years myself...used to do them when I had limited time off.  Indeed it apparently seems the shorter cruises have a more congenial final payoff date that is closer to actual sail date.  

 

With what is going on right now, and all the uncertainty...I sure wish RCI would make all booked cruises as 30 day prior payoff time...would be much less hassle than having to turn around and beg for a refund.  Especially when they seem to follow cancelling cruises just AFTER final payment.  😠

Well that would be an excellent idea!  I wish they would take your suggestion!  We paid our final for Harmony 10/20 only to be cancelled shortly thereafter, didn't have a lot of money tied up in that one though since we used FCC from our cancelled Adventure March sailing for the final.  We booked this November on a whim when the others were cancelled thinking things would be normal by fall, we were a little too optimistic.  I work for the school system and have a daughter in elementary school so for now we are tied to school breaks so the 3 night after Thanksgiving just worked for our schedule.  We have the Mariner booked again for 4 nights over spring break which is short too but my daughter has a dance competition the first weekend of our break so we couldn't leave until Monday.  We have talked several other dance families into going with us so keeping my fingers crossed for that one for sure! I have spent countless hours trying to track down money owed, money returned, just like everyone else.  It would also be nice if they would let you know which reservation the credit is tied to.  The way they return money it is next to impossible to keep it all straight.  We have had 5 cruises cancelled some booked with an agent, some direct with more than 1 cabin booked so I am managing mine, my friends and my mom's and they are all on my credit card.  The agent booked ones Royal will not even tell me if the credit goes with those reservations.  It is just a big hot mess.  At this point I just hope the March trip goes and we won't be booking anything else until ships sail successfully.  We are just going to try for the beach next month for fall break at least we will see water!  

Good luck to you!  I hope you sail soon.

1 hour ago, island lady said:

 

Shorter cruise?  My 7 night 12/6 Harmony was due yesterday.   

 

Assuming shorter cruises have later payment dates.  

Could be, it's a 3 night.  I have never done a cruise that short, so I figured it was a Covid thing??  Who knows!  I just keep hoping they will make the next announcement prior to 9/13 so I don't have to decide to pay final or not! 🙂

1 hour ago, island lady said:

 

If you actually had cruises booked in November...you are already past your final payment dates.  

Not yet!  Final payment for my 11/27 cruise is 9/13.  

Mailed my daughter's renewal the end of April.  It went to the El Paso agency which is actually in Sterling Va.  I got it back today finally!  I never received the email saying it was being mailed and the status never changed online. I just checked it Monday and it still said "not found". The old passport and birth certificate came back in the same envelope as the new one which is not how I have received it in the past.  I have always gotten mine back and her last one back in two different mailings days apart.  I am just glad to have it!!  I was afraid I would never see it or the birth certificate ever again!

1 minute ago, Biker19 said:

You'll have to call to see what they can do, but it seems you should get all your cash back, apply the 3 credits and have a small final payment, which you should not make till next year. @Ourusualbeach can maybe clarify.

Gotcha!  Thanks!

Sorry I am slow tonight......I have gone back to work after a 5 month spring break and trying to figure out how to socially distance 1200 middle schools in a limited space and keeping them masked, while attempting to figure out how to plan to switch everything over to virtual "just in case" has just about drained every ounce of intelligence from my brain!  So we paid a $300 depo, applied 2 $654 FCC's, applied a $495 credit from the travel agency and then paid $768 at final.  Making up the $2871 total.  The invoice Royal sent for the new cruise was $2062.  I'm not really following how that would work?

Another vote for Wanted on Anthem.  Loved them and they were all very kind to my then 9 year old.  I think they appreciated the fact that a kid knew all the Bon Jovi lyrics!  Raising her right  🤣     

Sorry if this has been previously addressed but I did not see an answer.  If a shifted cruise has a price drop making it lower than the lifted cruise does Royal offer a price adjustment?  Original cruise was Harmony 10/20 it was paid in full using a combo of FCC from a cruise cancelled in March and cash.  We moved to Symphony 10/21.  The new invoice I received from Royal is about $800 less for the Symphony than the original Harmony.  I have priced it out as a new trip as well and at this point it is about $300 cheaper.  Am I entitled to a price reduction?  If yes in what form?  FCC, OBC, or credit refund. 

Second issue, my child was listed in my friend's cabin so that my friend could take advantage of our discount.  She had paid her cabin in full well before final payment, well before this Covid mess all started (payment was made on my credit card).  I was told if I applied my daughter's FCC to this reservation that it would automatically generate a refund due to "overpayment" and that refund would go back on the card used to pay (mine).  I have not seen any refunds at this point, and now I am worried that I will see neither the refund or the FCC again.  I want one or the other!  Preferably the refund!  It has only been about a month though so it may just be to soon.  I just want some reassurance that I was given the correct information regarding the refund being automatically generated when applied the FCC.  

Thank you!

I let a lady get in front of me in the bingo line to purchase cards.  Paper card....she won the free cruise.  That is typically my luck! 😇  At least I did a good deed.  I have gotten several of those t shirts they give away when your free spin at the slot machine doesn't win enough to get any money 😂  

1 hour ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

Did you book directly or through a TA?  The TA may have the confirmation.

Yes I did so she probably has it thanks!  It actually showed up in my planner about 20 minutes after I posted! 😀  this lift and shift thing was way easier than the fcc and refunds!! Still waiting on money from May cancellations.  Now if Covid will just go away so we can actually go somewhere..... 

I did a lift and shift yesterday online for one of the new October cancellations that were just announced and I haven't even received an email conformation 🙄  I am worried now that it didn't work!  I did get a successful submission screen at the end. 

1 minute ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Yes you can shift that cruise. You can either do it by Sept 30th or if Royal cancels the cruise then you generally have two weeks after the date the cruise is cancelled to shift it. 

Great!  Thank you Ken you are always a wealth of knowledge.  I'll be ready as soon as they cancel.  We all know its coming 😞

Is it possible to Lift and Shift a fully paid cruise that Royal has cancelled or are you stuck with refund or FCC at that point? Thinking about lifting and shifting from Harmony (fully paid) 10/20 to Symphony 10/21.  I know Harmony will not sail in October but I just can't seem to accept that and bite the bullet to change the reservation.  If/When Royals cancels in the next few days are we still eligible to do this or do we need to do it prior to the cancelation?  It is my understanding that current lift and shift promo ends 8/5 so there is that to consider as well.  I am hoping that date will be extended. TIA for any answers and speculations!

3 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

There has not been mixed results.

 

You cannot transfer cruise planner items.  Those are cancelled and refunded and you must repurchase at current rates on the new ship.  There have been a very few exceptions where at the  beginning of this a rep gave out wrong information and they honoured it.

 

Promotions, including OBC will carry through to the new reservation.  OBC from a TA is up to the TA to decide if it will carry through.  

Thank you!  I read that they wouldn't on the RCCL blog but had read somewhere (can't remember where) people saying that they were able to transfer planner items.  At least the OBC will transfer.  Maybe the cabanas  will go on sale again...if not I just won't be having one!  Thanks for your quick reply.  

I apologize in advance if this has already been answered but I did not see it when I searched.  Will cruise planner purchases lift and shift with moved reservations or be lost?  I have read conflicting information regarding this and can't seem to find an answer on Royal's site.  My travel agent stated OBC issued from Royal from onboard booking would transfer to new ship if the reservation was shifted, but I forgot to ask about planner purchases.  Hoping to cruise on Harmony in October but I am very doubtful that it will happen.  I am trying to get my alternative plan in place for when they cancel.  I was able to get a good deal on a cabana at Coco Cay during last year's black Friday sale and would like to be able to move that too if we have to lift and shift.  We booked this particular trip pretty far out so have great rates and 2021 rates are already priced out higher.  I have used a FCC to pay balance on this trip so getting a refund is not an option. Looks like best bet is to lift and shift to Symphony for next year in the event that Harmony does not sail.  Thanks in advance to anyone who has experience in this!  

5 hours ago, bigrednole said:

I too have been looking at options if our Nov cruise gets canceled. I saw some of the longer southern Caribbean itineraries and they look great. However, things to do on the ship are severely limited. We watched several videos of the smaller ships from different lines and they are all pretty much the same thing...older people and very few kids. Don't get me wrong, there may be some. But all of the videos we have seen turn us off from the idea and the things there for kids to do is very minimal. We are looking at Oasis class, Carnival Mardi Gras, and NCL Joy. Those ships have a ton of things for the kids.

It has been my experience that if you are traveling in summer, or any school break no matter what size ship there will be lots of kids.  We have not been on a cruise longer than 9 nights though.    Freedom, Voyager, Oasis or Quantum classes all have tons of things to do for kids and tons of kids doing those things!!  Ironically almost every cruise we have been on my daughter has either run into a friend from school, or met kids from our area who know kids at her school.  Kind of strange since we live no where near any cruise port! Last summer on our Alaska cruise we crossed paths on boarding day with one of her school friends who ended up being in her class this past year.  We had no idea they were cruising they had no idea we were.  Made for even more fun for the girls. It was a Radiance class ship and had tons of kids on board.  I expected Alaska cruise would be mostly older people with no kids but I was wrong!  

As others have stated it truly depends on the kid! My daughter much prefers a larger ship for not just the slides, flow rider and laser tag but also for the shows and entertainment.  So given the choice she will pick a large one.  If the option is cruise on small ship or stay home.....she's all for the small ship.  If they think all cruises are going to be like Harmony I would make sure to have discussions prior to going and show plenty of pictures so that they are not disappointed.  There will be things to do, it just will not be like the things to do on the Harmony.  Right now we have had cruises on Adventure, Navigator, and Symphony cancelled as well as a Disney trip and a trip to Williamsburg, so she would be happy on the SS Minnow I think!  We have Harmony booked for October (slim to none chance of sailing) and Brilliance southern for next June.  I think if they are prepared for what to expect with the Brilliance they will be fine.  We both think Radiance class ships are some of the best for pretty water views and my daughter always enjoys the outside and semi-outside dining areas around the Windjammer.  Either way you are on a cruise!! 

4 hours ago, lulabelle said:

Cancelled my  family’s five July cruises in March which had non refundable deposits. When should we expect our FCCs.Thanks

I just got a July FCC deposit that I cancelled March 11 last week.  Still waiting on refunds for 2 May cruises that Royal cancelled.  

On 6/16/2020 at 3:23 PM, Jeff13 said:

Our submission was April 20.  No check cashed yet.  That makes me nervous!  I'd almost wish they had cashed it so I know someone has at least received it!

My daughter's was sent in 4/29, checked cashed 5/6.  I would be nervous too! 😞

2 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/state-department-resume-passport-services-coronavirus?did=534034-20200615&utm_campaign=just-in_newsletter&utm_source=travelandleisure.com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=061520&cid=534034&mid=35458986916

Thanks for posting!  My daughter's went out for renewal/new (since under age) on 4/26 and I have been trying to keep up with updates.  Still showing the generic message when I track it, so this gives me hope.  I was beginning to wonder if I would ever see the old one again.  Fingers crossed it will be processed within the next month.  I'll flip a coin to see which I receive first, her passport or my cruise refunds 😂  

On 6/14/2020 at 4:47 PM, APDMOM said:

Our local post office helps with renewals - they take passport pictures for a fee and will make sure you have the right paperwork (free service), then you walk over to the counter and mail it in yourself.  🙂 

 

Ours too!  Ours even handles the mailing.  They looked over all the paperwork, made sure it was all there and then dded the picture they took.   I left everything with them.  They mailed it as part of the processing fee.  I know it made it because state department cashed the check ☺️    Now just hoping to get it back!

Waiting on a deposit refund for a July cruise that I cancelled March 11.  Have received all credits/refunds for March cruise that I cancelled March 11.  Still waiting on refunds for 2 May cruises that Royal cancelled. I received an email today with FCC's that do not match up to anything that I am waiting on 🤔