RD64

5 hours ago, LGinPA said:

 

I used a small fridge magnet that uniquely identified us. We were with a group of 8 cabins across several decks, and I wanted something to help our family to find us. 

 

It only lasted 1 day, it was stolen. 😞  I asked our steward and he did see it up for a day, but knew nothing about what happened to it. 

 

So use something that is not important to lose. 

Or just put nothing up at all.

Can we not just pay for the soda / pop while on board instead of stressing precruise over what (I feel) is a minor issue?

If it is your fault that you fell then expect nothing. Was MSC negligent in some way?

I fell down a mountain in Skagway, AK this past August - dislocated my shoulder - stuff happens - all my fault - do not expect any compensation from Holland America.

4 hours ago, RedIguana said:

 

 

I snagged a 2 bedroom villa at a Sheraton (1000 + sq/ft) in St Lucie for under $180 including taxes for my pre cruise hotel in December. 1 bedroom villas were under $150. I was pleasantly surprised to find something that low that would comfortably sleep a family of four. The Hampton's and Marriot's in the area appeared to have basic rooms under $130.

Vancouver last May/June was $300 per night for a basic room at the Pan Pacific (with a $30 dining credit) pre cruise and the suite at The Moda was about $350 post cruise on a weekend night. Vancouver prices are a buzz kill.

Well good luck with that for 2024 - May 25th - just a random date, cheapest price at the Pan Pacific is $715 CAD plus taxes for one night, the next week it is sold out, and the week after it jumps into the $900’s plus taxes.

The Fairmont which is comparable to the Pan Pacific is showing at $849 plus taxes for that same May date.

I also did a random search for a Friday in March. Cheapest price is $539 plus taxes.

11 hours ago, bretts173 said:Services per day? Full board? Entertainment?  Miami / Lauderdale hotels will not be 

On 11/2/2023 at 6:34 PM, roninman said:

To be fair, something like the aforementioned 5/15 Voyager sailing, at least, apparently changes about 11 days out of 13, so it comes to a little bit more than every last itinerary or port change to bemoan.

 

True - but it gives adequate time to plan and make decisions accordingly. It is literally six months away. Would you prefer six months or six weeks?

4 hours ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

Guess it depends on what you consider "respectable".  I do Hampton's a lot and they are usually under $200.

In a major city or tourist destination?

6 hours ago, chiguy67 said:

Just pack your chips along with your rice cooker, juicer, blender, inflatable bed, pillows and microwave. 😆 

And some ziploc bags to bring things back to your cabin and off ship at ports of call.

Duct tape your initials on both sides.

Ziploc bags? Really? 

1 hour ago, roberts2005 said:

So Oceania misses another port?

Weather related - weather all over Italy has been exceptionally bad this week. 

5 hours ago, Engineroom Snipe said:

@iscruisingdunzo Agreed.

 

So many times you will read in many threads about how RCI has to repay the loans using increased fees and prices as a reason.

 

The CEO says for far too long, in so many words, cruises were being priced much lower than "comparable" vacation experiences.

 

I am "comparing" vacation experiences and cruising is starting to not be very competitive.

 

As I said, I am just going to wait on the sidelines for the dust to settle a bit before I book any more RCI cruises. I have been loyal to Royal since 1988.

Loyal to Royal - that is what RCL wants - those people that will book RCL for whatever perceived benefits they feel they will receive, despite anything to the contrary.

On 11/1/2023 at 6:09 PM, livingonthebeach said:

When you consider a run of the mill hotel room that is not that much larger than a cabin, costs around $200 a night. $100 a night for room and board plus entertainment is a bargain.  Of course if you stay at Motel Six and bring your case of Bud along with Spam for meals, you might be able to keep it at $100 a day. 

 

$200 a night? That is like chasing a unicorn. Try pricing hotel rooms in Vancouver, weekends, in July or August - the sticker shock will astound you. I think $200 is what they were charging back in 1910.

5 hours ago, Doctorpee said:

If I had a land based visit to Israel I would cancel the tour and flight. Oceania refuses to refund or offer Future Cruise Credit. This part of the world is in turmoil and should be avoided; numerous cruise lines think so and have cancelled sailings through the Dead Sea. Countries in the Middle East are lining up on either side of the war; Yemen declared war a few days ago. 

Yes, I truly believe this part of the world is best avoided at this time, and Oceania should allow rebooking or cancellation. Their "compromise" itinerary is a joke; 9 days and nights at sea instead of all the best ports of call. They simply want us to pay the bill for getting the ship to  Dubai. This is an expensive cruise and is a write off for us, and most who are posting here. 

And if you did not have a REFUNDABLE airfare booked, would Air Canada ( or whoever) be refunding your flights? AC will be resuming flights to Israel shortly I believe so your refund would be doubtful.

6 hours ago, Doctorpee said:

We are booked on the Riviera from Barcelona to Dubai and furious that Oceania has cancelled all ports of call between Turkey and Dubai, is wasting time in the COLD Greek islands and then we are stuck on the ship for 9 days and nights until Dubai. This cruise should be cancelled like many other lines have done for passenger safety. Oceania refuses to even discuss future cruise credit or refund, threatening 100% loss  for cancellation. The Holy Land and Arab countries are the only reason we booked this cruise and it has been ruined by Oceania. WE DO NOT WANT TO GO ON THIS CRUISE! Oceania  is not listening. We must sail through the Red Sea past US warships where cruise missiles have been shot down in recent days. Oceania  is only interested in having us pay their bills to get the ship to 
Dubai. I ( and everyone else who has posted here ) will scream loudly and frequently on all social media programs about the terrible treatment by Oceania. I hope fewer people are  victims of their greed in future.

As I am sure you have been told - never book a cruise because there is one must see port that you have to go to, and the rest of the cruise is irrelevant. 

3 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

I have one RCCL cruise booked and have the gratuity included in my Star Class fare.  But, I'm thinking of, in future non-Star Class bookings, not pre-paying or paying per day on the ship.  I used to hate that idea but I'm reaching the point that enough is enough of the increase upon increase (not just gratuities, either) in costs and decrease after decrease of services.  So, I'll just tip my face-to-face service providers as they earn it.  I feel sorry for the crew being caught in the middle but something has to be done.  It's too bad that the newbies don't know the history of cruise fares and services.  They book and don't realize what is happening.  

Agreed - I think with this new increase (and the boastful billion dollar profit announcement) that a tipping point has been reached.

Why does there seem to be an exponential amount of these one person can’t travel posts lately?

So the OP is upset because they were told Hamburg and not Hamburghafen? 
 

From prior experience (with other cruise lines) it is your cruise docs that will specify the actual part of the port / pier for embarkation / debarkation. 
 

To the OP do you actually expect a customer service agent who is working from home somewhere in middle America, or somewhere in another hemisphere to have access to that information?

2 hours ago, Harry Lake said:

It would sure be a nightmare for us. And I would raise holy hell!

Or you could just cancel and avoid the nightmare since it is so horrific for you.

Did it this summer on HAL, totally enjoyed it, and hope to repeat in 2024.

A poster on the RCL boards has said that Israeli ports are cancelled for their September 2024 cruise. 

On the RCL board, a poster has received itinerary change info for September 2024 with Israel cancelled.

The NCL group is being proactive in announcing these changes six months (or so) in advance. This gives the cruise lines ample time to develop alternate itineraries, and sell these alternate itineraries at a reasonable price. This gives passengers ample time to decide if they want to go or not, and not bemoan every last itinerary / port change made at a short notice.

Just now, tottenhamfc said:

You dont call this thread pushback? It’s changing my mind for sure. My next cruises are on Celebrity and I am seriously considering pulling and paying as I see fit. 

This particular thread yes - but on NCL it seems to be a non issue.

40 minutes ago, tottenhamfc said:

Auto grats have been around as long as I can remember. Why dont you ask guest services? Oh maybe they will say its none of your business.

Maybe not forever… NCL started it all with their “Freestyle Cruising” back in 2000-2001. All of the other cruise lines - seeing how beneficial this could be - eventually followed suit. I think that come January other cruise lines will follow suit to bring their grats in line with RCL. NCL is already at the $20 daily mark, and there does not appear to be any pushback.