Pre-cruise experience with Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas

 Heres an article by Cruise Critic on what you should do before you cruise

11 Things to Do the Week Before You Cruise (cruisecritic.com)

These are mostly common sense - but I agree - check and re-check requirements for documentation and vaccines for the countries you are going to, the cruise line, the airline and especially the re-entry rules for Canada.

Now for my pre-cruise experience with Royal Caribbean Cruises.  I will give you the good and the Bad

The Bad

1. If the cruise goes I will have lived thru 3 cruise cancellations - The Oasis of the Seas for which I got the FCC for this cruise. The two Baltic cruises (RCL's lift and shift campaign was a disaster - as I lost money on flights and hotels) and likely due to currency conversion money on the cruises.

2. Trying to get refunds for the booked shore excursions took over six months and several calls and emails to RCL.  But I finally got the credits on my card

3. Shore excursions on the current cruise were cancelled due to itinerary changes(I am still waiting for my credit card to be credited). Then the ones that I kept went down in price so after waiting over an hour on the phone with RCL I had to cancel them and re-book to get a lower price. 

4. Contacting RCCL is painful - long waits on the phone - lack of help once you get someone. I will need a PCR test on board in order to get back into Canada.  The first rep said I was on a "list" and then the supervisor said "what list" and to go the first day to Guest Relations and make myself known as they have no information on what to do once on board.  Given the COVID times you would think they would have info.

5. Their "toted" app for your phone is useless.  There have been itinerary changes and the app is not updated - its still showing shore excursions on sea days and not the new ones I booked

6. You can not pre-book entertainment or activities on board - only the extra restaurants. Why - who knows but given the recent reviews it appears entertainment on board is iffy with many entertainment venues shut down.

The Good 

1.  As of 23 days to go - they say the ship is still sailing.

Hope this helps 

Marcia