RESULTS FROM THIS MISSED CRUISE WAS SHOCKING TO ME

[@karenpeacock6780]

Hearing this story makes me me feel like even though it is a heart-wrenching situation, I agree with Don and others that this was poor planning and they should not have gotten their money back. It should be choked up to lesson learned. And by all means, go a day ahead of time!

[@charlesturner1377]

This is a sad situation but I blame the people going on the cruise and the airline. Always fly in the day before your cruise.

[@markbrautigam2502]

Spending that amount of money, time and vacation is incredibly stupid not to invest a day on each end of the vacation . Strikes me as extortion for their stupidity .

[@truejaneysue8269]

And even 2 days before if there's a chance of inclement weather

[@julfeng]

Sometimes that's not possible, we tried on our PR Cruise coming up, but there are no rooms in PR. Unless you're willing to sleep outside.

[@carljohnson6434]

This is all on the cruisers, not the cruise line!

[@JoanBaranek]

they were lucky, they should have NOT GOT THEIR money back

[@shonnie089]

Years ago when the ships left at 5pm I booked a flight that was delayed LAX to MIA. Two hours later they changed the gate and we made it on board. The captain said he would speed up to try and get us there earlier. By the time we landed and gathered our luggage the last shuttle had left. We caught a cab and when we pulled up to the luggage drop off only one porter was there. When we got inside the building most of the employees had left and our family were the only ones there. We walked on the ship at about 3:45. I was sweating bullets the whole time because I made all the reservations and didn't buy insurance. That trip taught me a few lessons. Leave a day ahead, buy insurance and expect the unexpected.

[@anakerose]

I hate it when people whine to the media when they don't get a refund.

[@oceanside88]

🧂

[@dv8mr2]

I live near orlando, the beach line ( road from orlando to port Canaveral), when I cruise my checkin was 1pm, I leave at 9am for a 1 hour drive. Piss poor planning doesn’t create an emergency on my part.

[@Russ_N4RTD]

Take it from someone who worked in the airline industry. I've seen so many people miss cruises trying to fly in the day of. And especially New York where a winter storm may pop up that day. Do yourself a favor, arrive a day early. Book a hotel and worse case scenario someone can roll you into an Uber and get to you the cruise port. Don't risk missing your cruise because you tried to fly on the day of your cruise. Airline schedules are just that, but there are so many issues that can delay your flight.

[@annepetri4571]

Can’t blame the airlines. They can’t predict mechanical or crew issues.

[@sharonsmalls6846]

Yesteryear, I would arrive a day early. Today, I arrive 2-3 days early. Once we embarked from San Juan. We agreed to arrive 2-3 days early.

[@Lynn-kh5rs]

@@annepetri4571 Not necessarily regarding the crew rest. Depends on the airline. I worked as a scheduler. The airline I worked for would book their crews so tight that crews breaking crew rest happened frequently. Airlines cannot control weather, mechanical or events beyond their control but consistent tight crew schedules something going to give.

[@charlesduboise5198]

Cutting it as close as they did, they shouldn't get anything back.

[@mariodopico5581]

And they scheduled a 10 am flight??? That's crazy! Same day cruising at minimal you have to be on the 6 AM outbound.

[@sandrajackson599]

Even if her flight had not been delayed, she was still cutting it too close. Orlando airport is far from the cruise port and sometimes the traffic is bad. She was 💯 at fault for poor planning! We’ve all been there! Once, we drove to the cruise port, got lost and had an accident! It happens to the best of us!

[@randijaffe-7665]

I know people are told to never fly in the same day- especially now! 954 am is already too late- I recall my first cruise in 1992- so many flew in the same day, but times have definitely changed!!

[@jfk609]

Rule 1 fly the day before, rule 2 have insurance that will always help. Never fly the same day you never know what can happen.

[@debbiec4126]

Amen, Don! I think it was their first cruise and I remember on my first cruise, we almost missed our ship because of a weather delay at the airport. -That being said, when my grandson was diagnosed with brain cancer two or three days before a family cruise...you would not believe the HOOPS they made me jump through AND I didn't get all my money back. -Bad precedent from Royal and Delta.

[@angelasofia7726]

Thank you Don! I have a 2 hr drive to Los Angeles for my cruise, Im staying in a hotel the night before, not worth missing the cruise!

[@johnstoutley7421]

We rarely fly to a cruise port on the same day as the cruise, unless we stay in a hotel the night before and then fly very early on the day of the cruise. Mostly we stay in a hotel the night before the cruise. It does depend on which port we are leaving from, but it is important to fly out early enough that you arrive at the port before midday, at the very latest.. So many things can hold you up from getting to the ship. Good advice, Don.

[@lorettapalecki4552]

I will never, EVER chance it by flying the same day! My anxiety gets high, just thinking about that. I always fly out a day or two early.

[@cynthiareifsnider5794]

It is very nice that the cruiseline refunded them. Same for the airline. I do agree this will open up future issues for both the cruiseline and the airline.

[@deborahbolton3417]

They didn’t know what they were doing! Thanks for your video. It was informative, but we heard this before it’s unbelievable, but they got their money back right they shouldn’t have gotten anything back.❤

[@ih2898]

We now try to go 1-2 days in advance. Once our flight was cancelled due to weather etc. We had to do lots of begging to get on the 6AM flight the next day to make it to the cruise. So now we look at going 2 days ahead (especially in the winter).

[@moniqueince-ransom7221]

As a travel advisor, we always recommend that our clients arrive the day before, but in this case, speaking professionally, the airlines and cruise line did nothing wrong. Let's really look at this. They would have missed their cruise even if the flight was on time. An 8-day cruise, and if this was their first cruise, I can say their was a lot of over packing. Also, you can not tell me all luggage was a carry-on. Just looking at what I mentioned, that alone sounds like a 2-hr plus process just at the airport. I watched the news video and it showed an FCC, not a cash refund. A trip this important required a well seasoned travel advisor, and this is just my opinion.

[@trbstang]

On our first Alaska cruise, we had an evening flight the day before. Well, a bad storm came through. Flights were delayed and the crew was delayed getting there. Once they all arrived, about 3 hours later, they figured out the crew would time out before we got to Seattle! So it was postponed until 6:00 the next morning. We did make it to the port around 11:30! So for our last cruise we scheduled our flight for the first thing the day before!

[@karenross4706]

Thanks Don. Have a great day.

[@carolbrodack3296]

I love the phrase "lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part".

[@cynthiaporitz1459]

Hearing all of these connection problems makes me nervous about even arriving a day early! We are cruising in November out of Fort Lauderdale and coming from the West Coast, leaving at 6:30 AM the day before, and transferring planes in Denver. Not too worried about San Jose, as it is the first flight out in the morning, but Denver???? Hopefully they don't get an early snowstorm! There is no possible way to come from CA to the East Coast on the same day and make the cruise on time, and I even arrived a day early for a cruise out of LA, even though it is only an 1 1/2 hr flight!

[@ginacendejas7255]

We flew from LAX to Fort Lauderdale for our first Disney Cruise. I was still very nervous leaving one day before the cruise. Well, there was a flight delay on the way. Coming back, another flight delay and one of our luggages was on the flight coming in afterwards. Thank goodness it happened after our Cruise. Anything can happen.

[@lauramata4244]

The last time I cruised, the cruise line booked my flights for me. My evening before flight ended up being a mid morning flight because of storm delays. I made the cruise just in time to get to my cabin and do the muster drill. To say i was stressing is an understatement.

[@steve1la]

I drive down to galveston from albuquerque and I always stay overnight no more than 30 minutes from the cruise port

[@RaymondMullen-t9j]

NEVER , NEVER Fly & try to Cruise the same Day ...BBBOO BAD IDEA... Very Lucky with Re-funds !! Very LUCKY ....

[@Number1JazzFan]

I work for Delta in reservations. The policy is anything under 4 hours is just apology. I might have given them a $50 E credit but not a 250 that’s way too much that’s an international compensation.. we do make exceptions, but we wouldn’t of refunded the ticket back to the credit card. That would’ve had come through corporate customer care no reservation agent or supervisor could refund that much unless it was a fully refundable ticket.. coming out of New York City anyway there’s always some sort of delays whether it’s weather or pilots crew issues cause there’s three airports there and there’s always trouble. That should’ve been the day before pay for a hotel for 150 bucks would’ve saved it lots of issues and problems.

[@davidmarsden305]

I live 102 miles away from Southampton docks, Rac Route Planner estimates a 2hr drive, rarely happens in that time road works, accidents etc. On one occasion it took forever to get there? Really thought we would miss the ship. We always stay overnight in Southampton now, takes away any stress and your not so tired on the 1st night 😊

[@angelasofia7726]

I'm planning to go to a hotel the night before my cruise. I have a 2 hr drive through Los Angeles, not taking any chances...

[@emiliawalker4346]

Always plan to be at cruise port one day prior to embarkation! Better to be safe than sorry

[@Kattchannel]

Honestly, with our experiences recently, flying in the day before isn't even enough. We are now doing 2 just to be safe.

[@Nana-Lilly]

We always go the day before. Doesn't seem like they ever cruised before. They are very lucky to get their money back. I hope they learn from this.

[@sharonsmalls6846]

Yesteryear, I would arrive a day early. Now, I like to arrive 2-3 days early.

[@montegerman3964]

This is ALL on the family, EVERYONE knows airlines don't always fly on time.

[@tf51d]

My first cruise was a Trans-Canal cruise from San Pedro Ca (LA) on the Island Princess in 81. I flew in from NY same day, but it was not my choice. It was at a time when the Cruise Co offered free airfare from point of origin, but you had to use the flights they booked you on, which for me was an early morning United 747 flight. which except for a short delay at LAX waiting our gate to clear thankfully arrived in plenty of time to make the ships 6 PM departure time. but I was nervous about something going wrong right up to landing in LA!

[@AndrewDewitt-lj7bc]

New to cruising it happened to us we did have travel insurance making refunds no issue. No we are retired and cruise 3-5 times a year. We purchase an annual plan through Allyz that covers all our travel not just cruises. We recently went on Love Boat Cruise. On the drive to Brooklyn I said we will run into a content creator on a cruise. Ilana from Life Well Cruised was on board. Did not approach but if it were you or Tony we would have said hello. First Princess cruise. Love the ship so much we got home booked a trip on her in November of this year.

[@JoanBaranek]

Thanks!

[@drummerscotch2163]

My best friend is a person who has no concept of time and loves planning trips. Every trip must be re-evaluated before doing anything to assure you're not pulling into McDonald's at midnight for dinner.

[@rallegra]

😅

[@kendallbird]

The family was extremely fortunate they could recover their losses. I hope they realize refunds in these cases are not the norm. Even a poorly planned vacation is hard work. Their first mistake was not doing research. If they had used a travel agent's services, this could have been avoided? I watch content like Don's before I cruise. Don's has kept me out of a lot of trouble. However, if I am off to a new type of travel adventure and even researching arrangements are becoming overwhelming, I consult the services of a travel agent. I hope the family gets the vacation of their dreams.

[@edwardjones7065]

Hello Don, what a pity they didn't use the walk feature on google maps. Would have told them to allow 22 hours from landing at Orlando airport to Port Canaveral. Basically the day before. I don't cruise, but love your common sense approach to travel.

[@choco.es.unlimited]

If you fly in early, maybe you'll have a shot. Like arrival at 8 am, and even then, it's crazy. Minimal day before

[@welovegoldens]

I suspect this was their first cruise & had no idea. I wondered too if RC just gave them their money back or they had travel insurance? Hubby & I said, if RC did refund their money, they are setting a bad precedent. I guess RC & the airline didn’t want bad social media publicity.

[@boniw698]

Don. They were clueless. But oh no. It’s not their fault. 😵‍💫🥺🤭

[@ann-mariemeyers9978]

We always get to our departure port a day ahead of our cruise departure date. A nice, relaxing night in a hotel is a small price to pay for the assurance of making the departure time.

[@cydneystephen2814]

November 2023, we were flying to Ft. Lauderdale instead of Miami re:cheaper the day before 6am flight. On the plane and off re:electrical issues. We were delayed and arrived and got our luggage By 2:20. Had we left the same day we would’ve missed the ship as we still had to drive to the Miami cruise terminal. Luckily this was the day before.

[@jeffreyclinard2002]

That is some of the worst planning I've ever heard of. I used Princess Air for my trip to Australia, and when the layover time in San Francisco dropped to under an hour, I changed to a four hour one at LAX. For fun, I looked up my original flight to San Francisco. It was delayed. I just got back from an Alaskan cruise. They moved my return flight up to a point where I was uncomfortable with it. I had late dining (and thus late breakfast times) on Disney Wonder, and even with the skytrain in Vancouver, I was uncomfortable about getting there inside their check-in window. I switched to a late afternoon flight and booked a third party shore excursions after the cruise. In the last ten years, I've chanced same day flights three times. One was Las Vegas to southern California (I went for Long Beach); one was Las Vegas to San Francisco, and one was Las Vegas to Seattle. The first two are heavily traveled routes, and I booked early enough flights to account for any delays. I booked the first flight of the day. Flight delays or cancellations would be scary, but not an immediate "You're Screwed". Unless insurance was covering this and not mentioned, I don't think the airline or cruise line should have refunded.

[@kristenkroes9649]

That’s really a sad situation and bad timing.

[@Girasole5849]

Oh this was a bad planning nightmare. Always fly in a day or a two before embarkation day.

[@douggabrielson9734]

We don’t even leave at 9:00 if we drive to the port thats an hour away. We have taken a red eye nonstop from LAX to Miami to catch our ship but we have almost 12 hours cushion, but that makes us nervous. Some folks shouldn’t be left alone.

[@garymackenzie9125]

That is a large family. Mom, Dad, Son and two twins, which equals 7 people

[@DRMTTJ]

While is was "nice" of RCCL and the airline to give the money back to them....oh my goodness, what a precedent they have set!!! As you said...TRAVEL INSURACE and FLY IN THE DAY BEFORE!!!!! I know of more than one situation where people had to wave goodbye to the ship and one who was the last to board. Yes, it was nice to get your money back but what about the thousands of others who DIDN'T get their money back. Royal was regret this decision.

[@kristindennison6588]

I feel so bad! First time cruisers are learning as they go. My first cruise boy did we make mistakes and learned a lot along the way. I hope they get another opportunity to cruise and have a fun family trip that will keep them cruising.

[@LovemyCatsa]

research would have prevented that, even, just ask a friend who has cruised before.

[@judymay2536]

Our first cruise, we flew to Florida, the same day as the cruise. There was a mechanical problem with the plane. The rest of the day, was running to catch the connecting flight, finding a taxi to the ship and "just", making the ship. Never, never again! Now we book a hotel a day or two ahead and relax.

[@cydneystephen2814]

This past July only 1 direct flight to Seattle at 6:28pm everyday. Said to my husband let’s go 2 evenings before just in case. The plane left 6:28 pm on the dot. Sat 3 hrs on the runway re:rerouting planes re:weather. Had to go back to the gate and get off to refuel. Then they needed a new crew. At midnight we’re told flight cancelled and will get an email with new flights. The flights were 1-stop from 2 other airports. By the time we picked one like 5 minutes all were gone. We had to cancel and refund and scramble looking at other airlines. Got the last 2 middle seats in the last 2 rows on Alaska Airlines for triple the price 11am. We slept in the airport and arrived to the hotel 4:30 the next day. Even with this, leaving the day before we still would have missed the ship. The hotel was nice and held our 2 night reservation now a one night as I kept them informed every step of the way.

[@angie-whateverfloatsyourboat]

We always drive to the ports and get there a day early. You never know what might happen. Our car broke down on the way to Miami and we had to find a repair shop and then get a rental car to finish the drive.

[@sherylvaillancourt446]

Getting all money back is unbelievable.

[@alpomey225]

Don, you should check deeper on this. There's got to be more to this story.

[@MaxGrey03]

if the reporting of their arrival time in Orlando was not a typo it may have been due to congestion on the runway/taxiways in NYC. I have been on flights that left the gate on time in LaGuradia and then waited over an hour before takeoff. This time must have been factored in by the airline as we arrived at our destination at the scheduled time.

[@janicewestcott9844]

Always, always, always fly in the day before.

[@DanKelly-l1t]

Sets a bad precedent for future cruisers who don't plan well enough ahead.

[@nancysauer2470]

You have given the BEST COVERING of what needs to be considered to this situation where this family has gotten pay back that is UNFAIR. It’s wrong, and they are soo entitled . I’m sick of people thinking “ oh you poor thing “. Other cruisers pay for a room for day before. Must be nice to whine before media…. What a my life matters more than anyone else’s life joke this is.

[@BirdsNNVA]

No one has ever extended this kind of grace to me.

[@dougsalyers3498]

1 ) Book to arrive at least one day early. But, maybe they booked their flights through Royal Caribbean Air2Sea? Royal would then have some responsibility for the unlikely scheduling.

[@rallegra]

Time to go to Disney World! Even if they were new cruisers, the cruise lines usually give advice to arrive the day before, etc. Lesson learned I hope.

[@richardracette-w6w]

They should have a better plan. Always travel 1-2 days before 😮

[@sarahj.5970]

Wow...I suppose they are a timely keep pushing group,,,,but some of these things need to be on top page of conformation and checked as "read" I guess, all these expenses do pass down...

[@Jammeraz1955]

Some people try to cut their expenses by doing that and it bites them in the butt and they miss their cruise for it. Remember the lady that missed her cruise from Flagstaff? She was only 30 mins late

[@alicemilne5384]

Two years ago, we also planned a family cruise for all 15 of us. 8 of them had to connect through Toronto. That day flight crew problems delayed the flight till the next day. Then a blizzard hit and none of them made our family cruise. Very sad!

[@sharonsmalls6846]

My first cruise was in 1992. It was the Big Red One. I spent 3 days at Disney World. I had tickets to attractions. I forego all the attractions. I drove to the ship. That was my priority. I have never regretted my choices.

[@TWSmith42]

I feel badly for the people who missed their cruise. However, airlines are not reliable; they seem canceled or delayed more than they are on time. And, trip insurance is a must. In the end, it seems they lucked out.

[@carmelaesposito4761]

Sorry for the family,.....however, poor planning on your part, does NOT cause an emergency on my part. Everything and I mean everything you read regarding going on a cruise tells you to go a day ahead of time to avoid incidents like this.

[@kevinp1904]

Some people don’t plan for what if.

[@pattappurple]

I don’t understand them getting any money back from the cruise line unless the arrangements were all made through them.

[@pattyolson3842]

I don't think they should have gotten all of their $$$ back, unless they had travel insurance. Which is not known. They didn't plan properly. If they scheduled to fly in the day before, it would have worked out.

[@susanburkettrn2042]

Obviously, they didn’t know to go down the day before. But , they got their money back , so good

[@michaelbertolone5758]

Lucky family because if that was me and my family, we’d be out all of it and then some😮

[@jimneufeld1073]

I'm begging my friends to fly into Rome the day before, but they feel confident flying from MCO to FCO via RKV arriving at 14:00 to board by 16:00. Bought thru the cruise line but I could not take that stress. Princess transfer booked, but still ....

[@jimtaylor3497]

Fortunate for them for such a disastrous plan.

[@LauraPerry63]

As you say Travel insurance and always fly in a day or two before cruise

[@peterneal7160]

They should have done the Lottery they would have won that too!

[@samokeefe8050]

Treat everyone one the same so Royal just messed up and from now on should you miss a cruise Royal Caribbean should I fact have to refund everyone money

[@Matt18001]

I used to travel for work, I had to use a very not good travel agent because the company I worked for had the same parent company as said travel agency. They would book me impossible connections in my trips all the time. Worst one was scheduling a 14 minute layover on mid afternoon flights. Completely avoidable with some actual thought.

[@cocah3]

First mistake they made was flying in the day of the cruise. Fortunately, they had insurance and got a Full refund. A win is a win!!!

[@MaxGrey03]

This was exactly the thought that I had when I heard about this story. First the scheduling and timing issue and then that RCL refunded their cruise fare. (and Delta refunded their money even thought they actually took the flight and only arrived an hour or two late).

[@joelroach416]

Almost anyone who has every cruised will quickly tell you to fly in the night before.

[@jeffdinter600]

And yes we were flying to Seattle Washington the same day as our cruise. But we have no other option unless I can find an Uber in that city that is handicapped accessible to be able to transport my wife's power scooter hoveround

[@cameraboy1087]

They should have taken a cruise right from New York.

[@mylesflaig148]

😺Yes, these people were not wise in planning, but so many stories now of unreliable airlines cancelling flights is ridiculous! So stressful for people needing to get to a cruise 🚢 departure.Even a one day buffer is maybe no longer enough.

[@BirdsNNVA]

Exactly - and it doesn’t even have to be due to potential weather delays! I have lost a lot of money because a flight from Bozeman to DFW was delayed over two hours because of “air congestion” around DFW. That made me miss my connection in DFW and there were no more flights to RIC that day. I lost the $200 for hotel in RIC because this situation happened less than 24 hours before checkin, and i had to shell out $100 for hotel in Fort Worth. My travel industry would not cover this, and American Airlines took no responsibility (of course.)

[@markbrautigam2502]

The cruise line needs to grow a set, publicly respond , call out the stupidly in a nice manner . Call out the press as extortion, as it is .

[@tedn6855]

No precedent set Don. This is ridiculous if you cant figure out why they got their money back.

[@nicolemiller4688]

Our ctv have a similar segment on the evening news.

[@veronicashine1812]

Hi Don, Did you know if they booked their air through the Royal site? I have often seen cruise lines book air for their passengers on the same-day flight, especially from NY. As a rule, if the cruise company books the flight, it is ultimately responsible for seeing that the passengers reach the cruise. That may be why they reimbursed them. On my first cruise back in 1979, Carnival booked our flights from NY to Miami for the same day. Unfortunately, our flight was delayed due to a bomb, and we arrived in Miami 10 hours late. Luckily, the first port of call was the next day, and Carnival placed us in a hotel at the airport and flew us to Nassau the next morning to pick up the ship there. Ever since that experience and 30+ cruises, we always fly in one or two days early.

[@jackmortimer329]

Did they book the flights through Royal Caribbean? That would be an interesting part of this story and would make the refund more understandable.

[@cruisecrazy7066]

Don....If you took an Uber, you don't have to park your car. LOL

[@jeffdinter600]

Well this past summer we missed our cruise and got back some of the money from the cruise line but not the airfare that was also booked through the cruise line

[@DarleneAmiel]

Did the cruise company book the flights for them? When we went NCL I had to rebook and pay for my “free flights” because they had us booked too short of time., and they wouldn’t change it.

[@QueenKayKay47]

Only FOOLS risk going in the same day!

[@LeonardBridges-g7v]

On same day flights I arrive at 9:00 a.m.

[@pamelarobertson2043]

I would never travel on the day of the cruise. Be there the day or two before so you will be on time.