shadesofgrey

1 hour ago, fredmdcruisers said:

What date please. I would take a free cruise any day! On a cot in guest services would be fine.

Fill out survey by 5/22 should hear by 5/23

Good to know.  The one time I booked a GTY, I didn't know where I was until I got to the port.  The email does have dates, apply by the 22nd/hear by the 23rd.  I was hoping there'd have been a common experience (for example, getting a response within 48 hours).

50 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

See other threads with "overbooked" or "oversold" titles.

I did. The question was asked a few times in a few of the threads, but there were no answers.  

Long story short, got an offer about my May 27th cruise.  Option 1:  Full refund and we still said in an Ocean View room instead of a balcony.  Not for me.  I suffer from motion sickness and have to be able to get out.  Option 2:  Full refund, 50% FCC, and refund for nonrefundable travel expenses like airfare.  I followed the link, and indicated I'd take Option 2.  The response after submitting was that this was first come first served and I'd get an email.  Any experience from people who've done this?  How long before you knew?  I'd like to plan other travel if I could for the same period, and the more lead time the better!  

My survey said the offer was first come, first served.  Wonder how quickly we'll hear back.  

3 hours ago, sbjnyc said:

I'm on the May 27 sailing of Liberty of the seas and received a similar email. I booked a "spacious ocean view balcony" and received an offer with 2 options.

 

1 - Receive a 100% refund and move to an "oceanview stateroom".

 

or 

 

2 - Cancel and receive a 100% refund plus a 50% future cruise credit. This included a refund of non-refundable pre-purchased travel expenses (eg flights) but i only booked the RC shuttle from EWR.

 

This is my first ever cruise so quite the way to start out. I really don't know how much I'd miss the balcony (I was advised to book a balcony on any cruise). Is the 100% refund on my entire bill or just the cruise portion of it? Is there any room for hagging the terms (ie adding on board credit etc). I know this was possible with the airlines depending how desperate they were.

I'm on that sailing.  I said I'd take option 2.  I have a cruise from Hawaii to Vancouver next April, so could use the credit then.  My plane tickets for this trip were frighteningly expensive.  I just hope to hear soon so I can plan a last minute trip somewhere else!

I got $18 a day last may.  $20/day for my upcoming May cruise. Both were Black Friday deals, and I never saw it drop that low any other time.  

Same.  Took screenshots of the order history.  All orders place 11/24.  Have receipts/charges for 4 drink packages. Two drink packages and none of the shore excursions showing up on my cc as purchases.  

Thanks for the input.  I got an awesome upgrade on a guarantee once, but yeah, with 3 cabins and wanting to be close to each other, I'll pick my own!

I see letting RC pick my cabin is cheaper than picking my own, but I need 3, and we'd like to be close to each other.  Worth the savings or will we wind up spread out all over the ship?

Just back. Took sky train to the airport. It was so quick and easy, I can't believe everyone didn't use it. On Friday morning, the cost was $4 a person, and the ticket vending took credit cards. The train to the airport comes every 6-8 minutes. We had 5 bags between the two of us, and it was no problem at all.

Thanks for the reassurances. TA called Celebrity, and it is unlikely there will be an assignment before online check-in closes. So, we're going in blind, as some might say.

has there been a luggage problem? Do you just write the number on the tag with Sharpie or something at the pier? I will admit, that I am always the lucky member of my party whose luggage gets lost/misplaced/delayed. And yet, I hate lugging it around with me if I can help it. My sail date is less than a week away, so I am just planning on not getting the assignment until I get to the pier.

Well, damsondebbie, any news? (I'm still waiting).

Also sailing May 21, but on another ship. Still waiting for an assignment. My celebrity and luggage tags say "GTY"

So, my PC has started showing me the new website. I check in daily to see if I've been assigned a cabin (have a guarantee). On the old site, which my iPad still takes me to, I can see my shore excursions, drink packages, calendar, etc. in the manage reservations section. In the new one... nothing. Anybody else seeing this?

We learn by doing. Ask some friends for a recommendation for a cruise line and then just start checking prices. If you stick with a major line, I don't think you'll get ripped off, especially since most cruise lines will allow you to cancel and rebook if the price drops and you are still outside the due date for final payment. FWIW, unless a sailing just isn't selling, prices tend to rise, not drop, as sail date nears. Also, as with any vacation, the "teaser rate" may be for something you just don't want. I have motion sickness and claustrophobia. Can't do an inside cabin, no matter how nice. Wish I could, but alas... Anyway, I pay a lot more for my balcony room than that advertised "starting at" rate. Not getting ripped off, but I am paying more. For my first cruise, there are some money saving things that I just wasn't ready to do, like book a guarantee. It saves money, but right now I'm about 2 weeks from sailing and still no cabin assignment. That would've made me nervous as a first-timer. So, for your first cruise, decide where you want to go, set a budget, and then pick something that meets your parameters. I've found cruising to be a good deal compared to other vacations by the time I add up all the lodging, food, and travel they require!

Well, opened my edocs. Cabin still listed as "GTY" category "X." No room assignment on the luggage tag portion, so the wait continues... Oh well, any of the rooms will be fine, and it really makes no difference if I don't get an assignment until I get to the pier. On the bright side, the classic beverage package is now showing up in my order history!

I sail June 11 and luggage tags are not yet available. What is your sailing date?

 

Laura

May 21. Short Alaska cruise

The message previously was the luggage tags were not available. Just want to ask if 1. its typical to print a luggage tag without a room assignment and 2. if I should just wait to print until a room assignment does appear.

I booked a guarantee cabin. We sail in a few weeks.

Last cruise, I traveled with one 24" suitcase. No carry ons, but a small purse for ID and a kindle. Going to Alaska, the same number of nights worth of clothes takes up a lot more space ("layers" vs. swimsuit/cover up/slides). So, do you bring shorts/sandals just in case? I definitely would in late June or July, but in May? Just wondering what you've encountered. FWIW, I am used to cold weather and don't freeze wearing shorts when it's 60F, but I also don't regularly encounter any cool ocean air currents.

I am going to Alaska for the first time, and took it upon myself to follow a lot of the advice you have been given, esp. the don't skip something over a few hundred $. Balcony? Well, I have claustrophobia and motion sickness, a lovely combination, but I need to be able to get outside and put my eyes on the horizon, sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night. So, yeah, I'd stay home rather than travel in an inside cabin. My oldest has motion sickness worse than mine. She'd never cruise without the balcony. My h and my youngest child? Put 'em in a closet. They'd be thrilled just be going somewhere! We're all different.

I am claustrophobic. Book a balcony cabin so I can get outside. But I do not panic. And while You can get outside, If that's not enough, you can't get off the ship. Don't cruise under those circumstances.

I have motion sickness. Kept me from considering cruises for a long time. See doctor for Scop patches before flying or cruising. Great stuff. Much better than any OTC remedy. If you've tried these and they don't work, you're in trouble.

I'm sure there are sick people on a ship, but no sicker than the college students I work with every day (dormitories are far more germ-laden than ships, I suspect). Wash your hands. Use the sanitizer the ships have everywhere. But, I have no medical issues, or at least nothing that others can contribute to. This might be a deal breaker.

If you decide to do this, I"d suggest starting with the shortest cruise you can book.

This topic has me stymied as well. The "average" high will be in the 50s. Well, I live in the northern plains. It's always windy, but if the temps get to the 50s in Feb, I will throw on sandals and go coatless. Most of us do. If the daytime highs were to dip to the 50s in late May or June, we'd all put on coats. I'll be the hot mess, inappropriately dressed for whatever the weather will be...

My first cruise, I gained 5 lbs in 5 days (Good heavens!). Last one? No gain, but certainly no loss. I really think the difference was the active excursions (SUP and snorkeling) and no drink package. You can drink a lot of calories on a cruise.