Latest news with #cruisecommunity
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's when Royal Caribbean can cancel your cruise vacation
It's easy to make a few mistakes when planning a cruise, especially your first one. But costly errors that first-time cruisers often make like not booking cruise extras in advance or failing to budget for gratuities or other onboard expenses aren't the most significant ones you could biggest cruise mistakes you can make are serious slip-ups that can get your cruise canceled. One of these mistakes is a major oversight that can easily happen to anyone, like one first-time cruiser who frantically turned to the Royal Caribbean community on Reddit for advice after making it. After planning an upcoming anniversary celebration cruise a year in advance, the first-time cruiser missed the final payment deadline for their cruise. For most Royal Caribbean cruises, passengers must make the final payment of their balance at least 70 days prior to the sailing date.'I forgot to pay my final balance on my Royal Caribbean [cruise],' Norie08 wrote in the Reddit community. 'Finally, I remembered it... but now I have received notice of cancellation of my cruise. Can I still beg them I'm going to pay? I keep calling them, but nobody answers. I'm so sad!' Luckily, the cruise community responded with some promising information. 'I worked for Royal. They will reinstate within 49 hours. Keep calling. We had people working around the clock. You have to wait your turn for you mess up though,' barefootincozumel replied. Later, Norie08 reported back that they did, in fact, get their reservation reinstated once they reached the cruise line and made the payment. However, they lost some of their cruise perks because of their cruisers shared similar experiences, and some even reported having to pay more or book a different stateroom category. In some cases, a canceled reservation can't be reinstated, which means you lose your deposit and have to rebook, often at a higher cruise fare. 'I did the exact same thing and just called them and had them uncancel it. I ended up paying more but I see it as a natural consequence of my own forgetfulness,' Mathematician_Soggy explained. Your forgetfulness may also mean dealing with the hassle of rebooking any cruise extras you added, too. 'Same thing happened to me and it took 2 hours on phone to fix it. I was sick to my stomach. Remember that everything you added (drink package, specialty dining, excursions) have to be rebooked too,' jayaybee21 pointed the Reddit thread, a few passengers also shared tips to help cruisers avoid missing the final cruise payment deadline. Most cruise lines offer some sort of flexible payment option that allows you to schedule payments in installments to pay for your cruise over time. For Royal Caribbean cruises specifically, some passengers have discovered that using this tool even to schedule one small payment will make sure that your final payment is automatically drafted on the due date. 'Pro tip: schedule payments. Just schedule a payment of like $1 or whatever and the payment scheduler will automatically put the remaining balance as a payment on the last day, then you won't have to worry if you forget,' insidmal passengers pointed out how using a good travel agent to book your cruise can provide extra peace of mind as your final payment deadline nears. 'This is a tough lesson to learn. I highly suggest using a really good travel agent for future sailings. A good travel agent is paid directly by the cruise line and often will save you money on your sailing by getting you both group rates and additional onboard credit. My agent emails, calls, and texts prior to final payment date to ensure everything is settled up,' GermantownTiger wrote. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cruisers share opinions on Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day Mexico
Building upon the success of its private island in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean has big plans for its next Perfect Day destination in Mexico. Billed as a 'game-changing destination for thrill and chill,' Perfect Day Mexico is a more than 200-acre destination adjacent to Mexico's Costa Maya cruise port in Mahahual, Quintana Roo. It's slated to open in fall huge new cruise destination will feature seven locally inspired neighborhoods that promise never-before-seen thrills and record-breaking experiences like the tallest waterslides in the Americas and the first sombrero slide. Perfect Day Mexico will also debut the world's longest lazy river — an hour-long float with float-up bars and an optional crazy section with rapids. Although many "loyal to Royal' cruisers are stoked about Perfect Day Mexico and all the thrills and chills it will offer, others worry about what this and the growing focus on resort-like port experiences means for the future of cruising. Reddit discussions show that some Royal Caribbean passengers are concerned that the cruise line is leaning too much into manufactured travel experiences in cruise ports and away from authentic destinations.'This might be an unpopular opinion but I'm not a fan of the private islands. I'd rather take a cruise to a port with access to cool excursions or the ability to wander off on your own for the day. Going to a private island is too much of a manufactured experience, and if I wanted that, I would just stay at an all-inclusive resort,' Fatty_Boombalattie wrote in a thread discussing Perfect Day Mexico in the Royal Caribbean community on Reddit. A number of cruisers agreed with the sentiment. Others noted that it's a valid opinion, even though it's not the popular one among Royal Caribbean cruisers. 'It's unpopular, but it's a 100% valid way to feel. The original purpose of cruising was to experience new places,' brokentr0jan pointed out. 'With that being said, I think Royal is catering to people who want these all-inclusive feeling beach resort experiences and obviously it is working because it has been incredibly popular.'Perfect Day Mexico isn't the only resort-like experience Royal Caribbean has in the works, either. The cruise line is also adding exclusive beach clubs in The Bahamas and Cozumel, Mexico, as well as an exclusive island cruise destination in the South Pacific — Lelepa in Vanuatu. 'Honestly, this is the opposite of what I want to see. They are moving towards having every stop be a company-owned spot just like CocoCay,' Joe4mofo added in the thread. 'If this is the direction things are headed, I will end up passing on cruising when it gets there in the future.'To be fair, Royal Caribbean doesn't plan to completely transform these beach destinations entirely into Royal Caribbean-branded resorts and waterparks. Much like Labadee, its exclusive destination on Haiti's lush northern coast, Lelepa will offer a locally inspired experience highlighting the natural beauty of the destination with beaches, nature trails, and water activities. 'Why does Lelepa look the best? Probably because it looks more authentic, relaxed and less of a theme park! Take me there please,' ArissP added in the Reddit Perfect Day Mexico is heavy on attractions like CocoCay, Royal Caribbean is partnering with the local community to infuse authenticity into the destination and celebrate Mexican culture throughout. The brightly colored Costa Maya getaway spot will offer regionally inspired dining, showcase local artisans, and employ local workers. Royal Caribbean is collaborating with Mexico's state of Quintana Roo to develop the destination sustainably and is investing in local infrastructure projects as well. The Costa Maya cruise port will remain open — and open to all cruise lines — during all phases of the Perfect Day project and beyond. Royal Caribbean is building a new cruise port welcome center to familiarize passengers from all cruise lines with landmark attractions in the Mahahual area and provide transportation throughout the region. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
