Via iStockphoto / @rcreviewsandtravel TikTok
Usually, if there’s a sudden change to your vacation plans, it’s bad news.
Whether bad weather means your flight’s been canceled, or you’re advised not to travel to your destination unless you want to be part of a news story, any updates in the days leading up to your trip typically spell disaster.
However, there can be some changes that not only make your trip better but wish that they could happen every time. One cruise passenger experienced such a change after booking a trip with Royal Caribbean.
In a video with over 5,000 views, TikTok user @rcreviewsandtravel says that, before a trip on Royal Caribbean, he got a strange phone call.
“So we flew into Fort Lauderdale, my wife and I, on February 27th, because we were leaving on the Allure of the Seas [on] February 28th,” the TikToker starts. “And Royal Caribbean calls us a day before, when we’re already in Florida, and says they overbooked the Allure.”
In most cases, this would be bad news. However, the TikToker says Royal Caribbean was quick to come up with a solution.
“They had an offer for us if we would be willing to change up a couple little things,” he continues.
Suspicious, the TikToker believed it was a scam phone call and hung up. He later called the company back, only to discover their offer was real.
That offer? “They asked us if we wanted to go on the Icon of the Seas out of Miami.”
“We were instantly like, ‘Yeah! We’ll go on the Icon over the Allure. It’s just a 30-minute Uber ride,’” the TikToker says.
Not only that, but the TikToker says their room was upgraded, and their trip was refunded. All they had to pay for the entire trip was port fees, which amounted to around $400.
“It [was]—absolute, no-brainer—easiest decision I’ve ever made in my life,” the TikToker shares.
While not particularly common, stories like these aren’t unheard of in the cruise community.
As noted by The Points Guy, these situations are rare enough that there isn’t really a set playbook about how cruise companies are supposed to handle them. Generally speaking, however, the offers provided by these cruise companies in these situations are pretty generous.
The Points Guy notes that some potential options include upgraded cabins on alternative lines (like what the TikToker experienced), credit for future travel, or being rebooked to a longer cruise at the same rate.
To offer specific examples, Cruise Critic shares stories from several travelers in this situation. One said they were moved to a different ship but upgraded to the penthouse suite. In a post on the site’s forums, another user said they were offered either a full refund with additional credit and a booking on another line or a full refund with a 100% bonus credit.
In the comments section, many users said that, while this is rare, it does occasionally happen. When it does, travelers can get significant bonuses.
“Yes, we booked spring break week and they offered all our money back, upgraded to a suite because we had a balcony and a drink package if we sailed another time of our choosing! We took it!” wrote a user.
“That’s a wonderful offer! My husband and I have been on 82 cruises and never got a move over offer but we would grab one if we did!” added another. “congrats! Icon was an awesome cruise for us!”
“Yep! Husband is booked solo transatlantic in April, was offered full refund plus 100% credit, and all airfare hotel costs refunded,” offered a third. “He hit that survey button so fast!!!”
Cruise ship question. Loyal to Royal #cruise #iconoftheseas #royalcarribean #travelreviews @Royal Caribbean
♬ original sound – R&C reviews and travel hacks
BroBible reached out to @rcreviewsandtravel via TikTok direct message and comment and Royal Caribbean via email.
