Vlad

51 minutes ago, Starrynight0154 said:

Sale started. Just saved $182 by canceling and rebooking cruise planner items. Odyssey Greek Isles cruise had steep discounts on excursions, internet, and drink packages. 

Wonder Caribbean cruise wasn’t as generous overall, Hideaway Beach did drop from $65 to $58, that’s all the savings I could find for what I have booked. I noticed the CocoCay Beach club is 50% off, $123. 

Just wondering, if you canceled before. 

How long usually before refund is back on the credit card? 

14 minutes ago, Starrynight0154 said:

Saved $182 total between 2 cruises. Europe cruise had better sales than the Caribbean cruise. Now I’m hoping the refunds are quick and not 1-3 months like I’ve had happen before.

It's a direct refund 

If system working, it should be back on credit card in like 3 days. 

2 hours ago, michaelp1446 said:

Hoping there is more to come. No Arctic circle cruises, Brilliance was penciled in for Amsterdam. They canceled my Athens to Barcelona cruise this week

on Brilliance and replaced with Enchantment due to new IMO speed/fuel regulations. Now Brilliance is back doing similar cruises in 2025???

Anyone know when Celebrity releases their 2025 schedule...lol

3 hours ago, ScottD said:

It's actually a bigger ship overall, so they may feel it as an upgrade- plus it's a great ship. 

Who told you that? Anthem is about 9% larger in gross tons and about 300 more capacity than Independence. 

I believe the only reserved show in quantum class is the one that's in 270 theater. 

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

Prices did go down. The same cabin that was over 12k yesterday is $3k less today

Maybe because that was more overpriced than others 

When I checked balcony. Same price. 

6 minutes ago, SMOKEY0202 said:

Definitely if what dropped today as rates for Alaska sailings for 2025, i fear Europe and Caribbean rates could be high as well.

Here we go Royal, cut benefits/perks to passengers then slash our wallets with higher rates.....

Alaska for 2025 OVERLY EXPENSIVE just to stay in dark drenches then add airfare and excursions

What is a diva to do.....hustle hustle sell an organ, blood, plasma, pick up a side job or set up a Gofund for my cruise addiction. 

Holidays are coming....Santa just bring a cruise or 2 for 2025 in my stocking.  Doubt normal requests of MANY cruises will appear in my stocking but doesn't hurt to dream.....

Reality is it's happening across the board.  Even Delta restructuring Sky Miles has been brutal to accept so it's time to explore other options and see what's best fit even if it means another brand for what i want in a sailing

 

What about Celebrity? 

Any thoughts? 

Now that Royal prices went up, Celebrity is on park... 

57 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Well we'll have to grovel over prices for another week until the European schedule comes out and we can decide if that's worth groveling over, too.

The real fun comes in two weeks when the Caribbean stuff starts to come out.

Carribean will be released in 2 phases. 1 phase, probably the 2nd one, will be Star of the Seas. 

Once you see pricing on that, you all would think why Alaska so cheap...

Pretty soon enough it would be, sell your car, take a cruise. If it's a good car, maybe even two weeks cruise. 

59 minutes ago, steverk said:

We can continue to grouse about prices if that's what everyone wants to do.  Or we can try to find sailings that are still reasonable and work together to enjoy those. The latter option seems much more productive.

They are all the almost the same pricing. Have you not seen? 

2 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I earned my B2B Alaskan sailing on Quantum through the casino. Quantum had Interior VB, so I didn't upgrade to a balcony I would not be using, so it was only port taxes fees and gratuities. However, I have a larger group going and their rooms were expensive, at least I thought it was before seeing the 2025 prices. They paid $3500 for two people in a balcony. Then $2200 for solo in an Interior. The prices for 2025 are 29-35% higher and this is when they are first released. 

Alaska is a different beast because of the excursions. Just doing one or two excursions can tack on another $1k. It is not like the Caribbean, where the most expensive thing might be a cabana. So, an expensive cabin on top of everything else makes it seem out of reach financially. But there is someone who will pay. 

That's exactly the problem and the reason for this prices. When people pay, outrages prices, like it's the end of civilization and no hope left, Royal Caribbean and any other companies, can ask any price they want, because why not? 

Soon we'll see $10,000 interiors. 

Icon already has $7000 for a standard balcony in 2025 new schedule . I've never thought that not Luxory cruise line could have such outrages prices. 

6 minutes ago, Ryan79 said:

I sailed on Quantum in Alaska this past July with 2 connecting balcony cabins. I just did a mock July 2025 booking and the same exact ship, cabins, and itinerary….$4K increase, which is nearly a 66% increase versus what I booked in early 2022! This is out of control

That's exactly what I was talking about, without going into too much details. 

I was on Ovation, 09/23 $2200,

Same itinerary in 2025, but actually with Glacier viewing, it's cut out from Fall sailing on Quantum class, 

Prices around $3400

1 minute ago, ScottD said:

Pretty sure Phase two is just the Star of the Seas sailings...BUT that has not been confirmed, just what I've seen a few times on various sites. 

That sounds logical and it's time to open Star of the seas sales. 

But I would think Star of the Seas should be in phase 1... 

Not after the rest of fleet already on sale for like 3 weeks 

6 minutes ago, Rackham said:

Comparing the pricing on a similar 7-night AK itinerary (in the same interior  cabin category) to the one I did summer 2023, rates increased by only 14%. Gut feeling is so many people preach, or require, a balcony or suite that Royal is increasing balconies and up by what they predict the market will bear. With how crazy current booking rates are, I wouldn't bet against this strategy. 

Sound like maybe you've paid too much for it. 

Can you share more info, date, ship, price, etc? 

17 minutes ago, steverk said:

I had a Caribbean cruise out of San Juan get a price adjustment just last week. They mat be rare but they do still happen. 

Out of San Juan, not popular destination. 

And if I would tell you prices I paid for cruises of royal caribbean, purchased last year, you would most likely think I'm lying or insane... Or both...

1 minute ago, Yo2slick said:

They have added 34 more cruises since I looked at 2am this morning.   I agree the prices are crazy.  

Yes, probably all cruises are now for sale 

1 minute ago, smokeybandit said:

In June 2022 I had a GS for 3 on Serenade that I booked for 7800 that eventually dropped to 4400. The last cruise that I've had a price drop on.

I was just going to point that out. 

Haven't had any price adjustments for like a year. Before it's always was up and down. Like in a store/business. Now, prices only going up. 

Afraid to see what Caribean 25-26 would be like. 

2 minutes ago, barbeyg said:

$4600 for a balcony on Radiance in AK.   I would personally rather visit AK for a land vacation, with excursions out to the glaciers.  It would be cheaper, and the accommodations better.   Knew the pricing would be up there, but this is over the top.

Sailed myself this September 2023, Ovation, balcony, Deck 12 $2200. Booked early... 

2 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

The only "discount" for the new ones is the 30%. No instant sales kicker or whatever the 3rd discount usually is that appears.

Maybe, hopefully, they're not applying those right away in order to take advantage of us folks who like to book the day schedules come out, then prices will drop.

New policy, prices never go down... Only up... Been like this for months. 

And 30% is a standard for Royal, which is pure BS. Since they raise starting point so much, that even after 30% off you're paying extra 30,50,70% from last year prices. 

1 minute ago, Jenn Greene said:

I would disagree, I have seen many group rates today that are lower by $400-$500 per person. 

Yes, that may be true. 

But the starting price point been raised by what? 

50-70%...

Just now, Jenn Greene said:

We have access to Alaska 2025 with group pricing on many  

Already seen... 

Group pricing 2025 is a joke, it's lower than regular, but only by a very small margin. 

Not even close to what it was for 2024 cruises and before. 

For the previous price of balcony, can only get inside cabin. Sometimes even guaranteed inside. 

Pure insanity...

4 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I was looking at doing Alaska and I am glad I booked one for 2024. Those 2025 prices are insane. 

Yes, exactly... 

If the other destinations will be on the same price level. 

Good bye to Royal Caribbean. Been loyal for like 20 yrs. 

But it's just not possible to pay double the previous year prices. 

Those numbers are just made up !!! 

2 minutes ago, Cactus527 said:

I just saw $6K+ for 2 connecting interior rooms on Quantum in May 2025. Um...

...and $2600 for a solo cruiser in an ocean view room in September 2025!

Definitely going to wait for the Caribbean itineraries to come out before deciding.

So you're saying interior for like 3K?

Thats almost double from what I've sailed this year. 

This is just INSANE !!! 

Caribbean should be released in two phases, whatever that means. 

Looks like not everything been finalized. 

Travel agents don't have Alaska in the system yet, so no group rates or anything... 

But for the cruise that's almost 1.5 - 2 yrs from now, the prices are way too far. 

On 10/28/2023 at 9:00 PM, OCSC Mike said:

No. Pretty sure all invoices just show “GTY” no matter what category you booked.

Nope, you're completely wrong with that assumption. Royal Carribean do sell different guaranteed at different prices. 

When I've bought, it was selling a couple of balcony types/locations 

And my invoice specifically says D4-GTY. 

On 10/21/2023 at 9:48 AM, Balcony4U said:

I am on Wonder this coming April. The App has the orange banner, "Sorry, we hit a snag...."

Everyone in my family is having the same issue. Anyone else run into this problem?

It shows the cruise, but will not let me do anything on the App.

Sailing about a month after you. 

Had this problem with only Wonder reservation for months. No one knows how to fix it so far. My agent told me that's it's on Royal Caribbean side. But there's no ETA and Royal hardly admits to it. 

So no app version or reinstall will fix anything... 

I hate going through the website. And even on the website, the calendar is blank. So planning is very hard. 

Hopefully, it will get fixed before the cruise. Since it's literally impossible being on the ship like that without the app and not able to check, change or reserve anything...