Allure of the Seas ~ Recourse

[teaysvalley]

I was on the Oct 6th sailing which has the port change.  I got my notification email less than 2 days after my booking.  After I saw the thread about the Azipod issue and that it was a known issue prior to my booking, I was ticked.  Long story short I called twice to see if I could change without the change fee due to the inconvenience.  Its like talking to robots....all they quote is the contract, no flexibility for customer service sake.  Even the resolution specialist wouldn't budge even after acknowledging it was a known issue prior to my reservation date.  Finally the RS looked at my reservation and realized I was within the 7 day booking window and told me I could change w/o the fee(I was not aware of this), but was still making sure I understood this was not compensation for the issue...gee wiz, I get it!   As far as I'm concerned this is a bad deal for customers of this particular sailing and poor customer service for not at least offering a token compensation for changing an advertised itinerary. 

[Nashna]

10 minutes ago, brillohead said:

But the cruise isn't cancelled.  The itinerary is altered, but they're still leaving on the same date and they're still returning on the same date.  You're still receiving a 7-day cruise.  

When a flight is delayed but still takes off, there isn't any compensation owed by the airline.   If there is more than a 3 hour delay; the airline is required to provide compensation to the traveler. 

Same with this cruise -- it's still taking off and returning when and where it's supposed to, and that's pretty much all you're "entitled" to receive per the cruise contract.  

Whine and moan all you want, but it is what it is.  That's just cruising.  

2

We are not whining and moaning.  You miss the point.  I have been on many cruises where ports were canceled due to weather or an issue with the port itself.  I did not whine, moan or complain about those changes.  Royal Caribbean has had issues with the propulsion system for years and did not fix the problem.  Royal Caribbean is responsible for this situation.   I am requesting compensation from them for the poor maintenance of their ship.  

[Nashna]

1 hour ago, Tiggercat said:

I had some clients that sailed on Mariner of the Seas in March and they changed their stop from Coco Cay to Grand Bahama Island because of the work that is being done on Coco Cay...something to do with the bridge.  RCCL gave them 1/3 of their money back because of this change...so I am surprised that they are not doing something in this situation.  Maybe because there are so many people on all of these sailings that they cannot afford it???  However, if I were really upset about the changes, I would have to remind them that sometimes they do compensate their passengers. (it was the March 8 sailing...I might even be able to find the email we got if anyone is interested.)  Luckily my husband and I are on the June 9 sailing and our stay in Jamaica was just slightly altered.

It would be great if you could find that e-mail.  Many of us believe that we are due some sort of compensation.

[brillohead]

5 minutes ago, Nashna said:

 If there is more than a 3 hour delay; the airline is required to provide compensation to the traveler. 

You're missing the point -- the cruise isn't being delayed.  

It's leaving on the same day it was scheduled for and returning on the day it was scheduled for.  

 

8 minutes ago, Nashna said:

We are not whining and moaning.  You miss the point.  I have been on many cruises where ports were canceled due to weather or an issue with the port itself.  I did not whine, moan or complain about those changes.  Royal Caribbean has had issues with the propulsion system for years and did not fix the problem.  Royal Caribbean is responsible for this situation.   I am requesting compensation from them for the poor maintenance of their ship.  

Yes, you are whining and moaning.  

You had an itinerary change, which the cruise line is allowed to do.  
You want them to give you something, which the cruise line is not required to do.

Your cruise is still happening.  You're just not happy about it.  

 

[nordica4]

Being on the October effected sailing, I am really disappointed too about St Thomas being substituted with San Juan with an all aboard at 1:30. We are really missing out. I feel at the very least RCCL should allow passengers to change their cruises to another one of THEIR ships without charging a change fee in this circumstance.

[5thgirl]

I appreciate this forum and have received a ton of helpful hints and advice over the years from some great cruisers. It's disappointing when some of us feel negatively impacted by a cruise line's practices and choose to share their situations and then are judged and criticized and made to feel even worse. 

[DShock]

I get it if you cruise once a year or not that often, cruises are something really special for these folks and they have a right to be disappointed and mad.  If you have made final payment then, unfortunately you are locked in...so just enjoy all the wonderful things the Allure has to offer, you really won't be disappointed unless you are looking to be.  If you haven't made final payment then you have a choice to make pay or don't pay and you have options, Oasis, Harmony, Symphony, so you can call RCCL today and switch.  Here is the reality, as long as people pay and spend don't look for anything to change, why should they.  Only if bookings drop and stay low maybe things will change...not likely that will ever happen.

 

We are blessed and cruise the Caribbean 6-8 weeks a year, so for us the ports are irrelevant, just love getting away and enjoying these amazing ships.

Edited May 5, 2019 by DShock

[ONECRUISER]

9 hours ago, klfrodo said:

Or,,, you can make some sweet lemonade when handed lemons.

Or,,,, one can cry and raise your blood pressure.

Either way, you control the outcome.

Well said. Over last 30 yrs have had couple dozen ports changes, at least know ahead of time. Best I ever got was Free drinks for 2 hrs on one missed Port, another we got $25 OBC. To OP Azipod issues seam to happen lot across all Cruise Lines. Not sure why, maybe higher wear then older propulsion's. Over the yrs have seen other ships sail months before able to fix them. Still sorry to those effected 

[Palmetto Pilot]

1 hour ago, brillohead said:

When a flight is delayed but still takes off, there isn't any compensation owed by the airline. 

 

 

This is not exactly true. If the delay is because of weather the airline owes the passenger nothing, that is true. But if the delay is because of crew scheduling, crew rest or a mechanical issue the airline is on the hook for compensation.  

[rcclmiami]

17 hours ago, Nashna said:

I truly understand that mechanical issues can occur at any time.  However, the propulsion issues have been a regular occurrence for years on this class of ship.  Royal Caribbean has been less than sympathetic to their passenger's concerns.   

Read your cruise contract. Royal can change itineraries anytime they want at their discretion. Or, they could just cancel your cruise. I would rather go somewhere when I had my vacation scheduled that have to try to reschedule and not have as many choices.

[mugtech]

Gotta wonder if the Allure problems plus the Harmony coming to PE today plus a local boat show have anything to do with Adventure OTS shoving the shove off time back from 5:30 to 9 PM.

 

[Palmetto Pilot]

1 hour ago, brillohead said:

You're missing the point -- the cruise isn't being delayed.  

It's leaving on the same day it was scheduled for and returning on the day it was scheduled for.  

 

Yes, you are whining and moaning.  

You had an itinerary change, which the cruise line is allowed to do.  
You want them to give you something, which the cruise line is not required to do.

Your cruise is still happening.  You're just not happy about it.  

 

You're missing the point entirely. People are frustrated because of a known and on going maintenance issue. It needs to be address and fixed period. 

[linedancer]

The point being made is RCCL knows about this mechanical problem and has know for a long time.  When do they plan to fix it. Next year when it goes into drydock?   They have been selling a product that is not up to parr.     Allure is one of my favorite ships.  Come on guys.  Get it fixed.  

 

[not-enough-cruising]

2 minutes ago, Palmetto Pilot said:

You're missing the point entirely. People are frustrated because of a known and on going maintenance issue. It needs to be address and fixed period. 

“Known and ongoing” 

I find this curious. I know azipods have had issues in the past, but in my research the unit having issues currently just started acting up in early April. 

[FLACRUISER99]

7 minutes ago, Palmetto Pilot said:

You're missing the point entirely. People are frustrated because of a known and on going maintenance issue. It needs to be address and fixed period. 

Every ship afloat has some known and on going maintenance issues.

[griffy116]

1 hour ago, Nashna said:

You have your posts confused.  I didn't post about Dreamworks.   Cruise ships are subject to US Law when they are in US Waters.  They are also subject to US laws regarding sales practices and consumer protection.  

• A country's internal waters -- areas like bays and ports -- are a part of that country. So when a ship is docked at the Port of Miami, all U.S. (and Florida) laws apply to the ship, its passengers and its crew.
• Almost all of a nation's laws also apply in its territorial waters which extend up to 12 miles from its coastline (we'll look at an exception on the next page). A ship departing from a U.S. port cannot open gambling activities until it's 12 miles out, since gambling is illegal in most parts of the United States.

Your cruise contract states they can change the itinerary. It doesn't say "weather related" and it can change it for any reason. The U.S. laws you've listed have nothing to do with their ability to change the itinerary.

[orville99]

25 minutes ago, griffy116 said:

Your cruise contract states they can change the itinerary. It doesn't say "weather related" and it can change it for any reason. The U.S. laws you've listed have nothing to do with their ability to change the itinerary.

True. We once had a 7-day cruise change from an Eastern (to islands that we had never visited before) to a Western (with islands that we had already grown tired of) because of weather, and we didn't find out about the change until we were at the port and going up the escalator to check in. We neither expected, nor received any compensation.

[twangster]

Book refundable cruise fares.  Don't like an October itinerary change?  Cancel it without any fees. 

 

Booking NRDB comes with risk in the name of saving money.  I sometimes book NRDB but I accept that risk.  Sometimes I have walked away from the $100 per person fee to cancel an NRDB but I knew that was a possibility when I booked it as a NRDB.  

 

All cruise lines have cruise contracts written in their favor.  No consumer protection laws have been broken and we all agree to the cruise contract when we book.  

 

Next time purchase CFAR insurance or a policy that covers itinerary changes.  Given the several thousand dollar investment why not buy insurance to protect that investment?  

[DachshundsRule]

So I live in Miami and about 15 minutes ago (noon-ish) the Allure left the Port of Miami without any passengers on it. 

Edited May 5, 2019 by DachshundsRule

[Clarea]

3 minutes ago, DachshundsRule said:

So I live in Miami and about 15 minutes ago (noon-ish) the Allure left the Port of Miami without any passengers on it. 

She is repositioning to Port Everglades.

[DachshundsRule]

And Mariner Of The Seas just went out empty as well, just now at 12:30.  My husband thinks he saw a third ship heading out earlier. It’s unusual to see them going out at this time of day which is why we’ve noticed.

Edited May 5, 2019 by DachshundsRule

[FLACRUISER99]

5 minutes ago, DachshundsRule said:

So I live in Miami and about 15 minutes ago (noon-ish) the Allure left the Port of Miami without any passengers on it. 

 

1 minute ago, DachshundsRule said:

And Mariner Of The Seas just went out empty as well, just now at 12:30.  My husband thinks he saw a third ship heading out earlier as well. It’s unusual to see them going out at this time of day which is why we’ve noticed.

Big repo day Mariner is going to PC

[twangster]

5 minutes ago, DachshundsRule said:

And Mariner Of The Seas just went out empty as well, just now at 12:30.  My husband thinks he saw a third ship heading out earlier as well. It’s unusual to see them going out at this time of day which is why we’ve noticed.

 

Allure and Mariner's schedule were planned this way.  They can't originate in Miami and end the cruise in Port Everglades or Port Canaveral as it violates the PVSA. 

 

Allure unloaded her passengers this morning and will pick up new guests this afternoon with an evening departure from her new home port - Port Everglades.   

 

Navigator will soon assume the 3/4 night Miami Bahama runs that Mariner has been doing.   Navigator gets to move to the new terminal A in the process.  

 

This has been planned for months.

Edited May 5, 2019 by twangster

[Artemus]

I think if this problem just occurred it would be one thing but the fact this is an ongoing problem RCCL Should be held accountable in some way by possibly allowing a refund or some type of credit. I’ve got my fingers crossed that this doesn’t happen with my Harmony cruise because I chose my cruise based on a great itinerary.

[DachshundsRule]

Never mind!