Jolly Ogre

Not bad but not that good either.
My banner said up to 55% off, but when I go to the things that I want to book it is 30%-35% off. Still saved $256.
 
This is for my 2024 sailing... there were no savings for my 2023 cruise better than I got last year.

Not bad but not that good either.
My banner said up to 55% off, but when I go to the things that I want to book it is 30%-35% off. Still saved $256.
 
This is for my 2024 sailing... there were no savings for my 2023 cruise better than I got last year.

Yes. This is what we do and have never had a problem.
I do not use the app and will not. I lock the phones in the safe and don't take them out until disembarkation day.
I am a Luddite, it is against my religion to use technology while on vacation.

Always use MyTime Dining.  Set our dining time as 7:15 each night when we booked.  Day 1 on the cruise we just finished we asked for a specific table as we were walking to another.  No problem.  Upon exit, we asked them to reserve that same table for us every night of the cruise. Again, no issues.
Showed up every evening around 7:05-7:10 and never waited more than a minute or 2 to be seated.

Aww... I a already bought the 3 day at much lower than it is now. So if I want to reserve the times I will pay a lot more. Sail away is in 31 days.

Cruise docs and luggage tags now available and printed!!

Yes it is right off the interstate and getting there and back with the shuttle is easy peasy. It takes about 15 min... they wait a bit to fill the shuttle, but on cruise day it fills fast.
On the return they drop you off right at your car.

This sounds like the way to go for cost and convenience.

I always get an ice bucket for things I want colder like beer, Champaign and the like.

Yeah I think I have used a lounger maybe 2-3 hrs per cruise. Less if my wife wakes me up because I am snoring to loud.

30 days now!!!  Tick Tock !!!

Putting the ice bucket into the cooler works pretty well, as long as you rearrange the shelving so you can close the door all of the way. Using that method got our water bottles fairly cold after putting them in at room temp.

Aww... I a already bought the 3 day at much lower than it is now. So if I want to reserve the times I will pay a lot more. Sail away is in 31 days.

Yeah I think I have used a lounger maybe 2-3 hrs per cruise. Less if my wife wakes me up because I am snoring to loud.

Thank you for reserving a chair for me to use in your absence. I had a wonderful time and did not have to search for a lounger as this was well displayed for me to use.

Yeah I think I have used a lounger maybe 2-3 hrs per cruise. Less if my wife wakes me up because I am snoring to loud.

I may have to make up some little slips with that sentiment to leave on such chairs on future trips, even though I rarely use deck chairs (I'm fairly certain that I've used a deck chair for less than 8 total hours on 87 cruise nights with the longest single use easily less than 30 minutes).

Thank you for reserving a chair for me to use in your absence. I had a wonderful time and did not have to search for a lounger as this was well displayed for me to use.

Thank you for reserving a chair for me to use in your absence. I had a wonderful time and did not have to search for a lounger as this was well displayed for me to use.

Thank you for reserving a chair for me to use in your absence. I had a wonderful time and did not have to search for a lounger as this was well displayed for me to use.

Entertainment now open and booked. w00t!!

My opinion…
Royal panicked (understandably so) when the unprecedented shutdown occurred.
The entire business was rocked with huge losses that had to be balanced with enormous, expensive debt in the form of long term loans with very unattractive interest rates. There was no bailout, no subsidies, no government assistance of any kind…to my knowledge. They were left adrift on their own without a paddle. Some say they had significant profits stored away for emergencies, but I don’t think anyone could have ever imagined or prepared for such a long period of zero income. They realized their industry was being demonized with everything from ‘Petri Dish Cruising’ to ‘Covid Cruises’. Public perception was at it’s worse.
So they relied on their loyal cruisers when the restart occurred. Nobody knew how many would just stay away. So they offered incentives…double points, lower pricing, cheaper extras. Anything that would help bring back the regulars and help attract new customers. We were the priming for the pump.
But I don’t think they were expecting such a huge response. For whatever reason…cruise bookings have exploded. Ships are sailing at over one hundred percent capacity. Cruise Planner purchases are at an all-time high. Onboard spending is better than ever. Loyalty levels are saturated with new upper level members.
So they do what any other business would do…they start raising prices and see if demand continues. It did. So they raise prices even more. And people are paying more. Demand keeps rising so prices keep rising. I really think they are flabbergasted (and I don’t use that word lightly) that passengers are really paying such ridiculous prices for things that were so less expensive such a short time ago.
Just as an example, CocoCay Beach Club was $88. Now…some sailings are over $300. Overwater cabanas have risen to a price where instead of renting it for a few hours, it’s more like taking out a mortgage. Yet people are paying. The demand is there.
I don’t blame the company for acting like a for-profit business. But I think they should be able to figure out better ways they can reward their most loyal cruisers who helped ‘prime the pump’. At least come up with some way to improve the perception that we are as important to them now as we were at the beginning of the restart.
For me…I really appreciate what I get with my loyalty status. I know any of the perks can be removed or changed at any time. I really don’t care about the lounge access…it’s not important to me. But, it is important to so many others. I love the new MDR menus and don’t eat in CK…even when I’m in a suite. I appreciate the drinks and…especially…the WiFi.
I don’t know what can be done…but it’s fairly apparent that reading blogs and posts show there are many who feel under appreciated. This period of huge profits may eventually slow…or even reverse. And they will once again rely on the ‘Loyal to Royals’ to prime their pumps once again. 

Or, judging by the amazing comeback, maybe they realize they don’t have to anymore…
Just my opinion.

On Symphony on Dec 2 trying for the same.

On Symphony on Dec 2 trying for the same.

Entertainment now open and booked. w00t!!