miaandmum

Thank you so much for all the comments and advice they are really appreciated and we now have a clearer insight.  

Daughter wanted to do Icon for her 21st - 17 days Eastern and Western Caribbean - sadly not going to happen this year unless there are significant price reductions.

Apologies everyone, yes we are from the UK.   The RC itinerary is:

Fly to Niagara with 2 night stay in a Niagara hotel,

AMTRAK niagara to New York with 2 night stay in New York hotel

Cruise to Orlando, perfect day at Cococay, Nassau

Fly home

Hi, we are looking to book a special cruise for my daughters 21st in October.  Icon is way too expensive right now so looking at Symphony of the Seas and am wondering if anyone here has done the Niagara Falls, AMTRAK to New York etc on Symphony of the Seas.  Would you recommend it?

We were lucky and won bingo on our last cruise and as well as cash we were given a bingo t-shirt!!  Does anyone know if we wear it on our next cruise will we be given a free ticket 😊. 

Quick poll - all opinions welcome.  We don’t use the main dining room, never have in the 13 odd cruises on RCI (daughter has eating issues and prefers anonymity of Sorento’s/Windjammer etc.  We have always pre paid gratuities but am thinking of getting them removed on our next cruise and tip as we go.  Why.. because $5 pp per day goes to the wait staff in the dining room - which remember we never use.  Would prefer to give it directly to staff who make a difference to us personally from now on.  Surely this is a valid reason to remove gratuities and tip as we go? 

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We went on Iona earlier this year.  We couldn't find much we actually wanted to buy and even though the jewellery was nice, even with discount you can buy cheaper off the ship.  I would spend the money on the Retreat and the spa

Sorry, it is a Select fare Im trying to book.  

Hi, Ive just gone into the peninsular club (Pacific Tier 210 peninsular points).  Im trying to make a booking on one of the cruises which is offering 5% discount for peninsular members.  Despite entering my account number, its not giving me a discount.  Can someone advise what Im doing  wrong?  I cant get through to anyone to ask.  Thanks.

I apologise if I offend anyone here who receives “gifted” cruises but in my opinion things needs to be said (and my comments are IN NO WAY aimed at those who work in the travel industry or who are genuine travel vloggers - I genuinely love all their videos and vlogs)

No I am talking  talking about the so called vloggers/influencers (non working) people who are detailing (bragging) about the fabulous cruise they have been “gifted”.  These same  people who vlog about anything and everything:

Primark shopping hauls

their home

their upcoming wedding

their dog

their car

their drive to Costa/Starbucks

their walk to the shops….

These people are not travel vloggers and they dont work in the travel industry.  These are people who dont work but put out any content for views and freebies.  They brag (sorry inform us) about how fabulous the cruise they are on is.  Then they advise that its been “gifted” to them.  To add further insult to the paying guests they thank P&O for the the free suite, free champagne, free excursions, the free speciality dining, the free spa experience, free drinks, free obc … you get where I’m going with this.

That’s okay you may think - a one off cruise is no big deal - its free advertising.  Fair enough, but why are these non travel vloggers being given free cruise after free cruise.  One free cruise in my opinion is one too many but to see these non travel vloggers getting multiple free cruises is taking the mick out of me - a paying guest.

Well P&O, far from encouraging me to cruise, its put me off.   After 10 years of cruising thats it.  Im sick of handing over my hard earned money (and it is hard earned) when there are so many on the same cruise who haven’t paid a penny, yet have ALL the perks that a paying guest pays hundreds if not thousands of pounds extra for.  

Again I am not aiming this at travel vloggers - far from it as I appreciate and enjoy watching those vlogs.

I flew to Alicante this week for a beach holiday - the first non cruise holiday in 10 years.  Had an amazing time, flew with Jet2 - The flights took off on time both ways.  Luggage was on the carousel before we were - it was so quick.   Passport control a breeze and the price was excellent for a 5 star hotel.  

We are onboard now and this is by far the worst  cruise we’ve ever been on. We’ve sailed with P&O snd royal caribbean before and none have been like this. Staff are miserable, don’t want to engage and like you, I stood at ripples this morning and the person serving walked away from me mid sentence!  Everyone on the cruise seems miserable, rude staff and passengers and no one looks happy. Frankly, can’t wait to get home. There’s something very off about this cruise and can’t put my finger on why. 

We are currently on Iona, along with around 4,500 others (figure quoted to me by staff at the terminal yesterday). While we were waiting for our covid test results to come through, there was a cordoned off section with about 25 people in who had tested positive.

This is the most miserable ship i’ve been on. I’ve not seen any laughter, crew don’t seem to want to engage. We’ve been barged out of the way by people rushing to get into the lift.  Zero social distancing. I could go on but I think you get the idea.  Lovely ship but a lot of rude people. 

Thank you, yes assumed that but just needed another person to confirm.  Trying to get through to P&O for confirmation is worse than getting a dr appointment!.  Had an awful experience last year due to an error by Eurofins so am questioning everything now. 

My 18 year old daughter and I are on Iona to Norway on Saturday - both fully vaccinated.  We are doing the mandatory health declaration -  mine went through fine, my daughter’s says “This declaration needs to be completed by the lead passenger”. What does this mean ? Ive had a confirmation email saying safe to travel.

Thank you for all your replies.  Just watched a youtube walkthrough video on Iona.  Wouldnt be happy to get a promenade cabin at the front!! there seems to be more available than booked (or by the laundry) so have decided to plump for select.  About £200 more but with free parking and £60.00 obs am happy to spend the extra on choosing from what limited cabins are left.  No to the upgrade too.  Thanks everyone 😊

10 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

I think the procedure is they scan your cruise card  and if not select its charged to your account. 

However some port shuttles are free anyway  and many don't require a shuttle, and others the taxi is fairly cheap, so it's not a major cost issue.

Edit...seems I am late with my info as usual!!!!

You can never be too late - I appreciate your reply too!  Thank you 😊

ah thank you both.  Thats really helped me 😊

I am looking to book a cruise on Iona on 23 October this year.  Ive booked select in the past but I am thinking of booking the late saver as its working out quite a bit cheaper, even taking account of the free parking and free spend.  If I were to go ahead and book the late saver it says you dont get complementary shuttle bus.  Is this correct as no one has ever checked me on and off a shuttle bus?

10 hours ago, ententecordiale said:

Miaandmum, I really don't think the information was wrong in your case. It was stated clearly that under 18 would need a PCR test. The error was with Eurofins who told you she didn't. I think that's different to RCI messing up. 

 

I'm very glad that they refunded though as it was totally unreasonable not to when they do in all other circumstances.

Never said that Royal messed up as such as RC gave the contract to Eurofins to provide their tests and it was Eurofins who failed to provide the test.  But, the way we were treated at the port, having the phone put down on me by RC staff when we were stranded, in need of help and in shock was a RC issue.   To be fair, following my email RC agreed that the email received was not clear and could have been open to interpretation.  We love cruising and RCI is our favourite cruise line.  They have restored my faith in them but to be quite honest I will always be a little wary now whenever I book a cruise with any cruise line in future as I know how it feels now to be left high and dry and I wouldn’t ever want to be left in a situation like that again.

5 hours ago, pdawson30 said:

Hadley, I apologize if I upset you, that wasn't the intention. I'm just frustrated at RC. And TBF its not just one area of the website that has conflicting information. If you read the official FAQ's they also have problems there too. Surely you must see it from my point of view. I have read all the official websites and as I pointed out there is conflicting information. Do I think you and Gumshoe958 are correct, yes probably but if I get this wrong we wont be able to sail as per the person in the first post in this thread. My complaint/annoyance is with RC.

Hello.  I am sorry that I cant help but you are right there was (or still is) conflicting information on the website.  I would hate for what happened to us happen to you or anyone else - it was awful AND humiliating.  What I would would say is take screen shots of everything so if there is a problem at the port you at least have evidence to back you up.  Perhaps if I had taken a screenshot which stated my daughter did not need a test they might have acted differently.  Good luck with everything.

On 8/24/2021 at 10:57 PM, Sunshine3601 said:

Wow!   I, too, would be very upset.

If she tested negative at the port, makes no sense whatsoever they wouldn't allow your family to board. 

and to say, no refund - that is unacceptable!

 

Did they give you a copy of her negative test result from the port?    I would take whatever documents you have and write up to Mr. Bayley and cc Mr. Fain and other corp. executives on the letter/email.   

Thank you SO much Sunshine3601 for replying to my thread.  If you had not I would never have thought to email Mr Bayley.  Well I did email and I have since had an apology and a full refund, something I would never have received without your reply to my thread.   So, once again a massive thank you x

27 minutes ago, Sam Ting said:

Was she unvaccinated?

No not fully vaccinated.  Here in the UK vaccines have only recently been approved for 16 and 17 year olds (about 3 weeks ago) and thats when she had her first vaccine, along with all the others of that age in the UK who had been waiting for the government to allow them the choice.

5 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Wow!   I, too, would be very upset.

If she tested negative at the port, makes no sense whatsoever they wouldn't allow your family to board. 

and to say, no refund - that is unacceptable!

 

Did they give you a copy of her negative test result from the port?    I would take whatever documents you have and write up to Mr. Bayley and cc Mr. Fain and other corp. executives on the letter/email.   

Thank you so much for your advice I will email Mr Bayley.  We have the negative result from the port.

PCR TESTING. I will share what happened to us yesterday.  Please dont judge, as we followed the emails.  

We were denied boarding yesterday.  

It was heartbreaking, upsetting, we were given our suitcases escorted out of the departure lounge  - no discussion, nothing.  We were left stranded without easy access our car and shocked.  No one wanted to help us we were ushered out like criminals.  The reason - my 17 year old daughter had not provided a 72 hour PCR test!!  Before anyone judges this is what happened.  

We booked last minute on 13 August.  On 14 August we received our emails saying all guests between 2 and 17 needed a PCR test asking us to book via the link provided to eurofins.  I followed the link and booked my test.  i followed the link to book my daughters test and it said she needed to have her test at the port.  I ‘assumed’ this was correct and didnt think to question it, as there was no problem when we cruised with them in July.

I went along to have my test - my daughter even came with me!  It makes no sense whatsoever for me to book mine and not book my daughter’s.  Why would I do that - no one would.

I received nothing to say I had not registered my daughters test.  I had an email thanking me for booking my test.
 

On 17 August I received 2 emails -  one for me, one for my daughter.  Both saying Your Healthy Cruise Update. It says the following

Testing 
Vaccinated guests must bring the negative result of an rt-PCR test taken within 72 hours of sailing. We will email instructions on how to register for your complimentary test approximately 14-18 days before your cruise.

Unvaccinated guests, 2-17 years old, must take a complimentary rapid antigen test at the terminal and receive a negative result in order to sail. We will email instructions on how to register in advance approximately 14-18 days before your cruise.

Nothing on that email said about unvaccinated guests needing a PCR test.  Again this misled me into believing all was good and that my daughter, as stated when we clicked the link to Eurofins, just needed to go to the port.

We have been told we are not entitled to a refund as it clearly stated all guest 2 - 17 required a negative PCR test 72 hours prior to boarding.  There is no discussion, nothing.  We are wrong and did not comply.  Yes, it did state that all guests needed a PCR test on 14 August email BUT Eurofins allowed us to believe it was not needed.   It did not state the same on our last email (extract above) dated 17 August, (not one mention of a PCR test for unvaccinated guests) which led us to believe all was ok. 

We were never advised that they had not received a PCR  booking for my daughter,, or that any alternative arrangements been logged.  They would not believe there was ever a problem with the link provided by eurofins, despite protesting it makes no sense for me to book just my test and not my daughters.  

Please beware and dont let what happened to us happen to you.  Check, check and recheck again.  Take screen shots of everything as once a link is clicked you cant go back to prove what came up.  Royal Caribbean are not interested, they will treat you like a leper, and will not engage in any form of discussion.  Appalling.  

Oh and my daughters test at the port was negative!!