Ken076

Possibly a Housekeeping Supervisor/Inspector and the workers who haul the towels and linens have access to the cabins while they're open and being cleaned. ken

Thanks. Truthfully I'd like him to be able to transfer but the most important thing to me is that he will be able to add things like My time dining and be able to book things online through the RCL website like I can.

 

 

I looked at his booking right before he booked it though and at the time this agency had 2 rooms available. One interior and one central park balcony. Neither said anything about being accessible unless you looked at the deck plan and saw that it was. I can't remember the number of the cabin right now to look at that up.

 

Can he get kicked out of this booking or this room once arriving if it is accessible? That would seem odd and unfair to me.

 

Thanks,

Debbie

The TA he booked with should be able to make the dining arrangements, assuming they're available - otherwise he can visit the Maitre-d at the Dining Room on boarding. Otherwise, booked with TA, he can book excursions and showtimes via his account on the RCI site.

You should be able to determine which cabins are accessible cabins via the RCI site.

In the event that he would be moved, I don't believe it would be at the very last minute, it should be to equivalent or better cabin, and he would not have to pay any increase.

ken

Your bigger problem will probably be that the travel agency he booked with would have to agree to release the booking and give-up their commission - not very likely.

You should be able to look-up which cabins are accessible on the RCI website.

I believe accessible cabins are eventually released for non-accessible booking as you get closer to sailaway. At the worst, I believe he'd be moved to an equivalent or "better" cabin.

ken

This is pretty standard for most of the competing cruiselines. As you note, they DO generally offer to upgrade you if sa higher category drops to waht you paid. Carnival offers an EARLY SAVER booking that gives price breaks pretty much up to saling, but in return your cancellation options are severely limited. ken

If you don't use hotel parking, book Park-N-Go on-line in advance,- excellent service. ken

There are several designated smoking areas - you might check this board for Allure Compass postings/downloads to verify these locations. ken

NO, no one 10 and under has to pay tips ......

That's not true with Royal Caribbean. It's something like 6 months and under. ken

It's "OK" - you might actually like cooked to order breakfast at the Wipeout better.

ken

That's my understanding - whoever of the three that cancels, cancels at the 3rd person rate.

How are you, Bill of the Carnival board?

ken

I believe you cannot change out ALL the names in a Cabin - one of the original occupants has to remain.

As you have school kids, next time maybe look at one of the Policies that includes "Cancellation for School Schedule Change" making sure you fully understand what it covers and doesn't cover, and/or get "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage optional extra cost in most 3rd party policies and included (albeit a 75% future Cruise CREDIT) in the CruiseLine policy. ken

I didn't cancel my cruise, I have three in our room and my daughter can't go w/ me. We sail May 24th, so two weeks away. We have insurance w/ TA, I called them and she emailed me and said taxes only, hummmmm. My daughter's summer class got changed.

IMO, none of this adds-up!

1. I interpret that you already cancelled your daughter?

If you cancelled her 28-15 days before sailaway, RCI keeps 75% of her 3rd PAX cruisefare (you get 25% of her cruisefare refunded and you get her Taxes & Fees refunded). The TA’s Cancellation Fee (usually $50) would be subtracted from the refund. You need to determine from your TA paperwork the TA’s Cancellation fee (how much is it?).

If you cancelled her 14 or less days before sailaway, RCI keeps 100% of her 3rd PAX Cruisefare (you get Zero % of her cruisefare refunded and you get her Taxes & Fees refunded). The TA’s Cancellation Fee (usually $50) would be subtracted from the refund. You need to determine from your TA paperwork the TA’s Cancellation fee (how much is it).

It looks that you maybe cancelled very close to 15 days before sailaway – is there a chance the TA delayed your cancellation until 14 or less days before sailaway? Do you have documentation documenting/proving when you contacted the TA to cancel? This could explain why you’re getting so little back.

2. Having said all of the above, the Cruise Contract surprisingly indicates that there may be reduced cancellation penalties for 3rd/4th PAX cancellations. There have been recent discussions on this board where 3rd/4th PAX have cancelled within the 60 or so day Penalty Period with either no or reduced cancellation penalty. You need to investigate this with RCI and probably with a Supervisor or the Resolutions department; this will take some work and persistence, but may be worthwhile.

3. It looks that you purchased so-called third-party Travel Insurance via the TA; specifically what Insurer and what Policy did you purchase?

Did you purchase optional “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage – if so you should be able to recover 50% to 90% (depending on which policy) of the money that RCI kept. Did you purchase “Cancel for Any Reason” optional, extra cost coverage?

Otherwise, some Policies include “Cancellation for School Schedule Change” that you might be able to take advantage of; this will require scrupulous reading of the Policy's cancellation coverages/reasons.

Ken

This February on al;lure they cancelled the Aqua Show and had outdoor showing and party in the Aqua theater and had an indoor showing and party in Studio B (Ice rink).

ken

I believe there are 3 US type sockets on the desk now. However, they are closely spaced, so you might have a problem plugging in 3 of those plugs with the integrated transformers on the end.

Additionally there's an outlet behind the bed (you have to raise the mattress to see it). ken

There's something vague in the Cruise contract - Cancellations section that suggests different rules for 3rd and 4th. ken

I would not even consider a cruise immediately prior to dry dock: preparation may start early, crew loses interest and starts to wind down, supplies may be low, etc., etc. Similarly, I wouldn't consider a cruise as ship emerges from dry-dock, or even one or two cruises thereafter.

ken

Link to images of Allure room Service Menus: https://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AhWA1SjxiRmI_9cjxC4Dj0KbvZx4?fr=yfp-t-901-s&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&p=allure%20of%20the%20seas%20room%20service%20menu

ken

We have few questions, going next week on the Allure and we curious if anybody can help us out here thank you!

 

1- What would the best place for breakfast be for me, I can't have dairy and gluten but can have fried/hard boiled eggs, potatoes, ham, bacon, fruit, salad, and cold cut meats? I can't have pancakes, bagels, rolls, muffins, pastries, french toast, oatmeal and cereal. I'd do MDR first choice (you can order and/or a buffet) and WindJammer second choice (cold cuts, fruits, pre-fried eggs).

 

2- We have a balcony cabin is there a mini refrigerator in the stateroom so I can have a glass of something cold in there for the middle of the night as I need to take medication?

Yes. We condensed the contents. If you take items out, the beverage team inventories, refills and charges every day or so.

3- For lunch, what would my best place to eat be, again, I have to only have meat carvings, meat dishes with no gravy/sauces, salads, plain vegetables, rice and potatoes? . You might look at the Solarium Cafe at Lunchtime, else the windjammer.

 

4- The day you disembark from the ship, what time is breakfast served until in the Windjammer? Not very late - maybe 6:00AM to 8:30AM - See Debarkation Day Link below. They suggest certain meeting/assembly areas for the various zones - and have pastries and beverages.

 

5- What is the latest we can get off the ship, we not in a rush as our flight is at 1pm? Generally They like you out of your cabvin at 8:30AM or so and off the ship by 9:30 or 10:00AM.

 

6- We have specialty dining reservations for 5 evenings, I was told there are outdoor tables do I need to specify we don't want to sit outdoors, or do they only give outdoor tables to those who request them? Outdoor tables at Chops and Giovanis (150 is inside) -- we didn't discuss in/out when we made reservations - I suspect you're safe specifying this when you arrive - or they are available for Reservations/changes when you board if you want to specify inside.

 

7- My daughter and her bf play tennis, I assume there are no tennis court on this ship am I correct? How about miniature golf and basketball??

 

8- If I want a hot breakfast in our stateroom (never ordered breakfast in the room before) and the signage that you place outside the door the night before, can I order scrambled eggs, ham, bacon and potatoes or do they not offer this? I don't have the menus - I'll bet Gambee's Allure Review (albeit Western Itinerary) has copiers of the room Service Menus.

 

9- Does anybody have the copy of room service menu and the breakfast menu that you place outside your door at night time?

Embarkation materials at the below link (sorry about the quality!):

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jq6tkmfkygc5dmt/wDgtsTfTyj

Debarkation (and dining Times): https://www.dropbox.com/s/lfczq1bykfsha8r/Departure.pdf

Post if you need other materials including link to Eastern compass. You will LOVE the Allure. What are you doing in the Ports?

Ken

I just cancelled our DD about 10-15 days ago who was the 3rd in our cabin. Got the 100% refund, as Joe posted. Yes, as long as it is more than 14 days there is no penatity with X. One would think it would be the same with RCCL.

Thanks very much for your replies. I emailed my TA and he has said its by final payment date but I will ask him to check with RCL again nearer then ... I really hope they will change to Xs rules on this

Looks like there's some hope/precedent - the RCI Cruise Contract (vaguely) indicates "The cancellation charge policies set forth above vary for single occupancy or for the third, fourth or higher occupants in a stateroom or for groups. Consult your travel agency or call Royal Caribbean for further details.".

Ken

For a "far-out" booking [August 2015 Grandeur 6-Day Bermuda], the base Cruisefare stayed the same as before the sale from which they deducted 50% for PAX 2; when I subsequently logged-in and went thru the booking sequence they additionally deducted for a Past Guest discount. Be aware that the fares they initially display are the averaged fare. ken

As long as you are not booking within the 60 day look back period for pre-existing conditions.

 

*Please note the following restrictions:

Royal Caribbean International will not waive their cancellation penalty and provide

a cash refund, should you cancel or interrupt your cruise vacation for any of the

following reasons:

• a condition that first presents, worsens, becomes acute or has symptoms

causing a person to seek diagnosis, care or treatment, or prompts a change

in medication, during the 60 days before you purchased this waiver; mental,

nervous or psychological disorders, or normal pregnancy, unless hospitalized;

elective abortion; drugs or intoxicants, unless prescribed by a Physician;

 

http://media.royalcaribbean.com/content/en_US/pdf/RCICruiseCare.pdf

I think ednjy is just pointing out that you don't need Cancellation Insurance prior to Final Payment Deadline, as you can cancel for absolutely any reason, and get 100% refund; even if you had Trip Insurance and cancelled before Final Payment deadline, the Insurance would not cover the cancellation as the cancellation is fully refundable charge at that time.

My only point was that "selecting" Cruisecare at Deposit, but not paying for it then, is meaningless as you have zero insurance coverage until you actually pay-up - all that "selection" does is remind them to keep the CruiseCare Premium in the Balance due at Final Payment (which you can still choose not to buy at that point).

You're right, paying for CruiseCare at Final Payment shifts the LookBack Window - there are scenarios where this could be to your advantage, or to your disadvantage. I've also read a number of posts where cruiser's got confused between "selecting" and "paying for" the cruisecare.

ken

One thing about pre-existing cons. is that if you take any meds, that will be

used as a p.c. for the reason you take the med. For instance, many people take

blood pressure lowering drugs---the insurance company looks at that (high blood pressure) as a p.c.

 

We always get insurance the day our cruise agent puts deposit down for the

cruise.

Actually...if you have a condition that's being treated (even with meds) and under control with no change of meds, change of treatment, no hospitalization, it's not a Pre-Existing condition. If you had High Blood Pressure and were taking meds, and they had to change the Rx or you had to go to the hospital,then it becomes a Pre-Existing Condition.

ken

Loving this review. We are not sailing on the allure until february 2016 but I like to plan ahead and pick premium cabins while they are still available.

 

Maybe some of you or Bugsy can help with our cabin location. We are interested in either the Central Park or boardwalk view with balcony.

 

At first I was thinking Central Park would be quieter but then seeing one of Bugsy's photos of the boardwalk area cabins I thought those would be great as you could see the ocean from some of them.

 

Does anyone know how late the carousel goes and also how late the aqua theatre has shows. We are not stay up late people so like a room that is relatively quiet after 10pm or so.

 

Can't wait for more pictures. They have been great.

Central Park is pretty quiet and peaceful and park-scenic. You CAN look straight across the park into the opposite Balconies/Cabins.

Boardwalk: Carousel & Johhny rockets are open to 11:00PM . Aqua show runs 10:45 to 11:30 or so. The boardwalk balconies toward the AFT end on the decks with access to the so-called Secret Balconies on the AFT end (to watch the Aqua show) would be pretty nice. Similarly, you CAN look across the Boarwalk into the Balconies/Cabins.

ken

Another consideration is that with the RCL insurance, you can select it when you book the cruise. But, you do not pay the premium until the final payment date.

That really doesn't buy you anything, as you're not covered by it until you've actually paid for it.

IMO The "cons" against the Cruiseline Policy are that there's no "waiver of pre-existing conditions" and the Medical/EVAC coverages are VERY low.

ken

Morning Karen ~ indeed I was proud and thankful to PTZtv webcam gentlemen Lou and David for giving Pink Boa Cruisers some good cam time.

 

Well next up will be a large pink boa sail away on Vision of the Seas to Bermuda in June. We get to wave twice once as she leaves Port Everglades and once when she arrives/leaves on the Port Bermuda webcam

 

It was a fun sail away to watch...lots of big smiles

Emmy - Hopefully you'll return from Bermuda with a Review - we're vacillating between driving from Tampa to FLL for a longer cruise and see Charleston by an Excursion there, or drive from Tampa up I-95 with a few pre-days at the Baltimore Inner Harbor and a few post days in Charleston. Ken

Chris - Thanks for taking the time to bring us along. I had never seen photos of the Nassau Fish Fry before - looks like it would be neat to try.

If uploading becomes too time-consuming: if you have a photo program on your laptop you could "resize" your (upload photos) to something like 1232 x 816 (4MP) (saving the re-sized image under a different name like IMG 8765 WEB) and upload that image which is more than adequate for our viewing. If your photo program supports "save for web" you could additionally do this for even faster upload.

Another less desirable option is to go into the Nikon set-up and reduce the shooting resolution from the 16 MP you're probably shooting at - but then you'd come home with lower resolution images.

Thanks, Ken