littlemidge

Cannot wait, we are boarding on December 9th going to NZ. It's going to be amazing!

Does anyone know how many people can sail in Room 8000 on Legend of the Seas? It is a Family Junior Suite. In different places I am seeing up to 4 and in other up to 6.

I rang RCI yesterday and was told the room wasn't even being used anymore and wasn't available and yet tonight I was able to place a hold online for that room on the sailing we want. I will call them in the morning obviously but just wondering if anyone here knew the answer.

Sailing is in December 2015 if that makes a difference (re-fit etc).

Thanks

Kirsten

I just saw that! So excited, hope they have some good destinations.

I didn't think Junior Suites got double C&A points. Has this changed?

Thanks

Kirsten

Royal's US site now showing May 2 2015 Hawaii as N/A.

 

Have added April 17 Sydney to Singapore, 16nt,

Ports of Call:

Sydney, Australia; Brisbane, Australia; Airlie Beach, Australia; Cairns, Australia; Darwin, Australia; Benoa (Bali), Indonesia; Singapore

 

and May 3 2015 Singapore to Dubai, 14nt,

Singapore; Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Malaysia; Phuket, Thailand; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Cochin, India; New Mangalore, India; Goa (Mormugao), India; Bombay (Mumbai), India; Dubai, United Arab Emirates

 

then May 17 2015, Dubai to Istanbul, 15nt,

Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Muscat, Oman; Salalah, Oman; Suez Canal (Passage); Ashdod, Israel; Haifa, Israel; Limassol, Cyprus; Rhodes, Greece; Istanbul, Turkey

 

Nothing yet posted for June.

Not holding our breath but we have asked to transfer to

May 3 2015 Singapore to Dubai, 14nt,

Singapore; Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Malaysia; Phuket, Thailand; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Cochin, India; New Mangalore, India; Goa (Mormugao), India; Bombay (Mumbai), India; Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Neither of the other options interested us, we have done Hawaii to Sydney on the Radiance and the ports don't change and we have a cruise booked already for next year that does Brisbane, Airlie Beach and Cairns and we've been to Bali.

Hopefully they come to the party the next leg looks much more interesting to us anyway.

Kirsten

And the definite answer is yes.:mad: I was able to rebook us on the Sydney-Singapore sailing, but our corner aft was gone, so we took the other one. Somebody else is likely to be unhappy about that.

 

It took over an hour to get it done - the D+ hadn't been advised of the cancellation, the redeployment desk is busy with the cancelled Allure cruise in February and then I had to argue for the compensation. Just another day at RCI...

Spent 35 mins on hold, then finally answered and told they would put me straight through to someone to handle the changes and yep you guessed it back on hold.

The service just gets better and better. Will try again today.

Kirsten

Wow, so the offer is either change to the Sydney to Singapore on Rhapsody, which we have little interest in or change to the Radiance which we have just done.

Not really sure what way to go now. What is everyone else doing?

Kirsten

I'm hoping to get some advice. My family and I are cruising in early February (Radiance of the Seas departing from Sydney) with my 6 year old son who has autism. I'm wondering who I should be contacting at Royal Caribbean about this? I don't really want any big fuss made, I'd feel uncomfortable getting lots of "special" treatment. He's quite high functioning, and loves new and exciting things, but I'd prefer if the staff of the kids club at least knew, and may need a bit of extra patience with a child who isn't as good at following directions, etc.

 

Does anyone have any tips or advice on cruising with a child with special needs?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

Hi, we just got off the Radiance last month and there were some special needs kids on the boat and they attended the kids club regularly. They had a great time, the staff were fantastic and the other kids were great as well. Actually bought a tear to the eyes of many to see them so involved in the talent show performance.

I worked for many years with special needs kids and their families. Do you planning and have your strategies in place but please do trust that the staff on this boat are fantastic and will do everything they can to make it a great holiday for everyone in your family.

Kirsten

An interesting read.....;) Bill hope you don't mind me posting a link to your post on the May 2 2015 Honolulu - Vancouver roll call here

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=40579129&postcount=390

At least it looks like we might know something by early December.

Kirsten

Somehow, I don't think holding on to deposits factors into their thinking at all.

Yeah, am certainly getting the feeling that the people already booked on the cruise factor quite low into this process. Ours was $4500, I guess they are sitting on a lot of money. Just annoying cause it doesn't look like this will come off or what will be substituted will suit our family unfortunately.

Can't remember where I read it, but I read that the May 2015 cruises won't be released until April 2014, I just hope that doesn't mean that they will leave us in limbo til then.

Kirsten

Got that :) but others were saying staff on board and others in the know said... upgrades?

Stranger and Stranger, I just want to know how much longer they are going to hold onto deposits before telling us anything, it's obviously not going to Hawaii!!

Kirsten

Bit weird considering she had a full refurb in March/April 2012

Not so much another refurb, I think they just want to send her in another direction not to Hawaii.

Kirsten

HI Sue

Iis this cruise for 2015? If so I too have booked this cruise - through a travel agent two weeks ago however as yet I still have not received the confirmation from RCL..............

The cruises that are MIA are the Sydney to Hawaii and then Hawaii to Vancouver. Everything before 17/04/15 seems to be as normal.

Kirsten

I wish we had Long Service Leave. :D I don't know what it is...but it sounds wonderful. I have been at my job for a really long time. :)

3 months paid leave after 10 years of service. It is indeed a wonderful thing! We were going to use the time off to kick off this trip and then stay on in Hawaii for a while. Kids are still young so we figured they would get a lot educationally out of the trip while not being "at school".

Oh well, best laid plans and all that!

Kirsten

Kirsten, if you cancel, do you get your deposit back in Australia?

 

We are just going to wait, and see what Royal Caribbean proposes to do with already booked passengers. :)

This length of time out we would get it all back. We were going to wait and see what was happening but I just wonder how long they are going to take. We were booked in the Royal Family Suite for the Sydney to Hawaii - obviously Rhapsody is not going in that direction. We have already done this trip on the Radiance so wouldn't want to do that again, and the room we want isn't available anyway and the ports are the same as we have just done.

We were tying the trip into Long Service Leave thus the April start however we want to head to Hawaii not Asia. Also the 10 hour flight back with kids is about our limit (we only just survived going over this time to meet the Radiance to come home)!

I guess there is no harm in waiting just annoying if others can work out where the boat is going why can't the staff!

Kirsten

Badgerbill great work.

 

Darwin 1300 25 April 15 - 1700 26 April 2015.

Rhapsody arrives (100th) Anzac Day 2015. I assume the 1300 arrival is due to restrictions imposed by the Australian Government for our bloodiest day in war. No entertainment, pubs, entertainment etc to open before 1300.

I assume most passengers will spend the night at Kakadu National Park 3 hours drive from Darwin.

It appears Cairns will be 22 April and Bali 28 April 2015.

 

http://www.darwinport.nt.gov.au/cruise-shipping/cruise-ship-schedule

Well unfortunately that will not suit us at all. Wonder when they will come clean or whether we should just call and cancel to get our deposit back, not real keen on letting them hold onto $900 per person if we are not going anywhere.

Kirsten

If they are going to cancel the Sydney to Hawaii cruise I wonder when they are going to let people know? Really disappointed that this seems likely, I wouldn't rebook on the Radiance. We just did this trip and while we loved the Radiance and crew we wouldn't want to do the same ports again.

Also will they refund deposits or will they push to put them towards a new booking?

Kirsten

We're also booked on the May 2, 2015 cruise. I'm wondering why Royal doesn't arrange chartered cruises before the cruise is posted and people have reserved their cruise. Personally, if our booking is cancelled, I won't be happy.

I will be a little annoyed as well, with 5 in our family and young kids we need to book this far out to get the room we want. If they don't make up their minds soon we might miss out on other options.

Kirsten

The Rhapsody has been chartered for the Anzac Commemoration cruise from 18 April 2015 for 17 nights.

 

Cheers

Di

Do you think people already booked on this cruise will have the option of staying on? We actually thought twice about this cruise in the first place because we would miss the ANZAC events happening in our area (extended train trip across Qld especially for ANZAC celebrations). We would be more than happy with the new trip.

Kirsten

No news yet especially from those already booked on the cruise? We're still waiting - we wanted to book, even had our cabin picked, then the cruise disappeared... I have contacted Celebrity, but no answer as yet.

We are booked on the Sydney to Hawaii and have not heard anything.

Kirsten

Kirsten, I've never been on a chartered cruise...but from what I have read, you have to book through the charter company, and it might not be a group that we wish to sail with.

 

A charter would not be my first guess for these 2 cruises. My guess would be a possible redeployment. Rhapsody may be moving somewhere else. If that is the case, our cruises will be cancelled, and we might be offered something different.

 

But I have no information about the future, and we should just hold onto our reservations, keep our fingers crossed, and wait and see. :)

Interesting I hope it's not cancelled, given there are only four 2 bedroom suites they are hard to come by, I know ours was the only one booked as we got to pick from all of them. That is why we have to book so far out.

Anyway what will be will be. At least if it goes ahead we are already locked in!

All the best

Kirsten

We sailed Sydney to Honolulu in 2012...what a great cruise! And we really enjoyed our time in Sydney. I have no idea what is going on with these cruises. But if it is a charter...we will probably pass. :)

Does a charter change much on board? We are happy as long a kids club runs and we get the room we picked! Though we do have friends that were booking the same trip next week so I guess they are locked out now til we find out what is happening.

Kirsten

Bummer! Thank you Kirsten. :) I guess we will have to wait and see what happens with them.

We just did the reverse Hawaii to Sydney and booked this on board so whatever the issue is it has just happened. I just hope if it's a new ship it has the 2 bedroom suites as that is what we need (too many kids). And if it's a charter I vote a Country Music Cruise!

Kirsten

Kristen ..is your cruise still showing up on the Australian (Royal Caribbean) website?

 

~Patti :)

No just showing the one before it, 6th April going to North Qld, that is 11 nights. The Sydney to Hawaii is missing and nothing for May at all on the Australia site.

Kirsten

Oh well will wait and see then, we are booked on the Sydney to Hawaii in April 2015 - hope she is going somewhere!!

Kirsten