h20luv

Thanks Bob and everyone! Good news to report: in response to the fact based email to the CEO, a refund equaling the average price difference of the two cabins was given along with obc for the inconvenience. I appreciate that RC made right the unlucky situation before sailing. It is a shame that it took so much persistence for the just outcome, but I am certainly relieved and have faith that in the end I wasn't taken advantage of. One last thanks to all of you experienced folks that not only gave good advice but also provided understanding and perspective. So glad to leave this issue on shore and nor have bad feelings board the ship.

Yes, I am on the Feb 25 Oasis sailing. I just left a voicemail for my TA to request an upgrade thanks to your info on availability. Only 5 days from sailing! I need to start getting ready. I can't wait to be with my family...will keep you posted.

OP: I am glad you are doing well, healthwise. That is of course the most important thing. And what a wonderful gift to your Mom.

 

All that said, I agree that RCI should be refunding to you any difference in the cost (at the time you booked) between your D2 and the D4 into which they are moving you. It would seem to me your TA should have access to that pricing information. Also, your TA should be on the phone relentlessly to RCI over this. I don't even understand what requires "escalation" here -- you paid for a higher category cabin, and they are moving you to a less expensive cabin. What does your TA say was the price difference at the time of booking? What does the TA say is the reason RCI is not refunding this?

 

The price monitoring web site that I use (which we are not allowed to name on here) shows for your sailing a D2 price back in July of $1481 pp. For some reason, the D4 prices only go back to January -- $863 pp; D2 then was $1606, so quite a significant difference as of January (and, I suspect, back when you booked as well).

 

You have a TA; get the pricing data from them, and in any event tell them they need to do more to make sure RCI refunds you any difference. (Plus some OBC for the hassle.) They should be telling RCI: my clients paid $XXpp for their D2, and you have moved them into a D4 that was $ZZ at the time of booking. They are entitled to a refund of the difference. I would not give up dealing with RCI directly (it would help to have the pricing difference), but straightening out problems like this is supposedly one of the reasons people use TAs.

 

Good luck, and, no matter what happens, enjoy your cruise!

Will do! I really can't thank you all enough. The experience, quality, creativity and overall value of all this advice and this forum is more than I ever imagined. I am waiting for Mr. Bayley and staff to help, but I will ask my TA to also help. I do feel she has really tried hard, but I will take your advice.

First why knock several times and harass someone...it was Royal's fault, not the new passenger (if there is a new passenger).

 

Second, could there be also an issue of moving 2 people from a 4 people capacity cabin? That has happened to a friend before and they discovered it on embarkation day. They came out very happy. Everything was done on board to make their cruise very memorable. No over and above OBC was given, but the crew on board did everything within their power to make up for it and she was not even complaining!

 

 

OP I wish you the best of luck in resolving the problem.

Thank you for your care and time. I will let you know the outcome.

For whatever it’s worth, I’m on the Oasis now. When we were boarding I noticed several cabins in a row that were being worked on and were missing the balcony railings and the entire glass. I’m pretty sure it was deck 6 as we boarded on deck 5. When I get off the ship I’ll see if they’re working on it if it’s the right side. So you’re probably stuck with that cabin since they seem to be sold out but some nice gifts would be nice for you. Maybe a dinner package? :confused: Or something!

Thank you! Maybe they will be done with the repair by Sunday. That would be really wonderful.

Food for thought: To me, a nightmare would be cruising with your mom in an truly unsafe cabin (imagine living with an active sewage leak; that is a nightmare to me).Next worse might be learning immediately before sailing that your cabin was uninhabitable, and there was no available cabin at all anywhere on the sold-out cruise (suddenly oversold since your cabin was taken out of service).

Perhaps next worse might be same as above, but they manage to find an inside cabin somewhere on ship (possibly by cancellation or by making entertainers share a cabin just so you will have a slot).

Perhaps next worse, they manage to find a balcony cabin, but it is way at end of hall and 7 decks away from your family.

 

 

I am truly sorry that your carefully laid plans have been disrupted and that you have spent time and energy trying to get it sorted out. I would feel the same in your shoes. Even so, please try remember a balcony cabin down the hall is not bad at all; as nightmares go, it could have been oh so much worse.

 

 

Have a wonderful time and give your mom an extra kiss.

Those are indeed simply awful nightmares! I can't even imagine. Thank you very much for your kind post.

No one knows what the price diff is - it could be less than the $200 OBC they already got.

First why knock several times and harass someone...it was Royal's fault, not the new passenger (if there is a new passenger).

 

Second, could there be also an issue of moving 2 people from a 4 people capacity cabin? That has happened to a friend before and they discovered it on embarkation day. They came out very happy. Everything was done on board to make their cruise very memorable. No over and above OBC was given, but the crew on board did everything within their power to make up for it and she was not even complaining!

 

 

OP I wish you the best of luck in resolving the problem.

Thank you so much.

No, it's not normal, but, in looking at a more realistic comparison, the 2/24/19 sailing of Oasis has only about $90pp diff between a 2C and a 4D cabin. It could be that at the time of booking the diff was similar and the $200 OBC you got is the best you'll get. You would have to somehow find what the D4 cabin was going for at the time you booked to see what you are really owed.

Thank you for trying to help, but on xxxxxx.com the cabin on 2/24/19 is $2726 and the cabin I was downgraded to costs 2225.90. Where did you find the $180 difference?

Tell me this what deck is the rest of the family on( how many cabins) and what deck did they move you and your mother to?

 

Jimbo:)

Mom and I were in a large balcony D2 on hump 6592 and Aunt & Uncle 3 cabins down. Other Aunt and Uncle higher up on 11. We are downgraded to a D4 across from Johnny Rockets. At least its on the same side and floor as family. 3 sailings Oct-January 2019 show a 550-628 price difference in cabin category. I am easy to move on and get over things quickly, but I just don't understand how not refunding the difference is acceptable business practice. Is this normal? My only other cruise was on Independence of the Sea in the Mediterranean. We had such a fabulous experience. Does this happen a lot?

Then it's going to be really tough, since that sailing is sold out...........can you switch sailing dates ? make sure you check flight prices though before suggesting this.........Not sure if you are driving or flying to the port. If Southwest Flights.....you can change the date of your flights for free, just pay the additional as to what the new flight costs, no $ 100 chnage fees like most airlines.

 

situation is already flagged and escalated.....just means they are trying to help you and have you on their radar......but nothing they can really do at this point as far as moving inless someone cancels or doesn't show up to board.......might even mean, not changing your cabin until the second day of the cruise when things become clearer once everyone has boarded, but thats a hassle too changing cabins and moving all your stuff.

I'll let you know what happens. We can't switch sailings. We are coming in from Iowa and Texas meeting up with 5 family members in Florida. Thank you again for sharing what you know.

Would you be willing to have your mom change cabins too so that you could be closer together? Maybe they could upgrade someone else to move your mom next to you. The problem is that the ship looks to be sold out, which means they can’t give you a cabin they don’t have without moving someone else. It’s just an unfortunate luck of the draw I’m afraid. They do need to refund you that price difference though.

I'm actually treating my mom and we are in the same cabin. We will be separated from her brother and sister-in-law. Her brothers and their wives love to go on cruises, and they are so happy that their sister is finally joining them. I have no anger and look forward to being with my mom and my aunts and uncles, but I am really very sad and disappointed that this is how the week before the cruise is being spent.

The the OP are you on the March 4th sailing?

 

If so tell them you want to be moved to Category D5 Cabin 12172. It's a larger cabin and larger balcony then you had.......plus tell them you still want want to keep the $ 200 OBC for the problem by not being next to the rest of your family.

 

Have your agent call ASAP

 

 

Jimbo

You are so kind! I am actually on this Sunday's sailing 2-25, and the ship I think is sold out. My TA said she will try calling every day but that my situation is already flagged and escalated. Do you know what that means?

Good idea about the JS but not sure where you got the idea that they knew the cabin needed to be fixed 7 months ago. That’s when the OP booked. They were just informed 10 days ago that the cabin was out of service. Timeline seems reasonable to me.

Yes, I learned Wednesday about the repair. I don't know the nature of repair, but was thinking if it was a small repair perhaps it could be done by Sunday if another guest isn't in the cabin now.

Common sense says to me that If you was downgraded in Category, they must give back the difference in price at the time of your booking. If they refuse to grant you a refund, you must go to the consumer protection authorities.

Thank you. It just doesn't make any sense to me, and I hope this will get fixed before sailing. More than the money, this seems to be really unjust business practice and general unfair treatment. Thank you for your advice.

As others have said have a great trip. Try to get out of the mindset that this is a "nightmare". Most people would be thrilled if their worst nightmare was cruising in a balcony cabin.....

 

And good luck, they should be offering more than they are.

Thank you. I just am really disappointed and stressed not having a lot of time left to prepare. I have not even told my mom of the situation and am not looking forward to seeing her disappointment being separated from her family. I do really appreciate the ability to come here for advice, and your encouragement. I know how to pull out of nightmares having gone through this year of brain tumor surgeries and complications.

When you email it would be helpful to your case if you gave specific categories. Example I was moved from a D2 to a D5. Also you should take 4 or 5 sailings that are from around the same time period next year and take the differences in the costs of those 2 cabins to use in justifying your request for additional OBC. Keep it based on facts and not emotions or personal reasons.

 

Royal should be able to go back and see the actual difference between the 2 categories when you purchased your cruise.

Thanks Ken! Yikes, I just sent off the email. It was factual, but I did include that I was treating my mom and that we are traveling with family after my surgery success. I respectfully requested either a price adjustment based on the average difference in cabin cost, or that the repair be made before Sunday's sailing and we be placed in the original cabin or that we receive a similar large balcony cabin or upgrade. I also requested if those solutions don't seem reasonable to please provide the reasoning.

I appreciate you all taking the time to help me.

Isn‘t the size of the cabin except the balcony the same?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Yes the inside cabin size is the same but the real estate upcharge is in the larger balcony size and location. I was downgraded cabin type. I will take Bob's advice and email the top.

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

Thank you for your welcome, Bob!

:)

Hello,

I am hoping to get advice from you experienced folks. Only 10 days from sailing on the Oasis I was informed that our cabin with large balcony on bump booked near family 7 months ago was needing a repair and we were involuntary downgraded placed far from family in a small balcony cabin.

Even though the large balcony cabin costed us hundreds more per person than the smaller one, RC only put $100pp ($200) obc on the account. The downgraded cabin price difference is clear online for future bookings as well. I don't understand how Royal Caribbean can charge for a higher priced product/ cabin type, replace it with a lesser price product but not reimburse the difference.

The TA made many calls through escalated channels (which I don't know what escalated means because there was no help). I messaged through Facebook and received the same response that it was escalated to corporate but 200 obc was it for the inconvenience of the move to "keep us safe".

I was told I could try standing in line in customer service once on the ship, but after reading forum posts on the customer service lines on Oasis, I think it would be a nightmare to spend vacation this way. I feel really taken advantage of and all of my cruise prep time and joy is gone.

The cruise is a gift to my mom for helping me so much this year after my brain tumor surgery..this is her very first cruise and only my second. I really want this problem to be fixed before Sunday's sailing so we can enjoy our time together. This has turned into a disappointing nightmare. Does anyone know what escalated really means and why wouldn't a price adjustment plus significant obc be given? Thank you to anyone who can help or who has had a similar experience.