monctonguy

Ok..interesting..thanks for the info... Next cruise I am going to try one of those sites to do my actual booking and see what happens. Seems with all my bookings, I have gotten no deals, paid top dollar when all around me everyone else seems to be getting much better deals and pricing!!

Hmm...2 very different answers. I have done mock bookings..well as far as I can go online anyways...and the savings appear to be there. Cruisecon always has lots of promotions(drink packages, OBC, etc) constantly it seems with every cruise line out there. Vacationstogo has some good deals as well(seems to be cheaper pricing, not so much extra incentives), but again I have not used either to book as of yet.

Is there real savings to be had by using travel websites over RCI's site?! I don't mean having your own personal travel agent, but just using 3rd party sites to book?? All these"promo's" that RCI has, and my pricing keeps going up and up, while so many others are saying there's is going down. I have checked out cruisecon and vacationstogo sites, and some of their prices are HALF what RCI show's on their own website. Have I been missing out and paying way more because of this?!

Yes, I had the package before and after the changes..only once did I have to pay any difference and that was based on the old system and pricing. You will be fine!

I have not seen any savings yet. My cruise is up almost 20% from when I booked it!! The only savings I can see possible is if you had a suite and getting that 30% savings. Seems that some have saved on bookings on ships that were not supposed to be included in this promo......if that tells you anything about RCI's pricing games. Mostly smoke and mirrors when it comes to these RCI promo;s. Don't forget gratuities have gone up now as well on top of that, along with the increase in the drink packages and automatic tips all within the past 6 months.

Wow.never heard of this before. Not sure what the point of that would be, if she has never done anything for you nor booked a cruise for you?? I have never used a TA to book a cruise yet. I have found the deals on my own, and monitor the pricing on my own. But I would be upset as well, if shes getting paid for doing nothing for you AND your missing out on extra perks somehow?! I guess before you book your next cruise, you'll be making sure her name is not attached to your booking!

5K to 15k...if someone is stupid enough to spend $15k for a larger but basically same room, then more power to them. No wonder RCI can keep cutting back on service, perks and discounts and increasing pricing.....some people are willing to pay I guess.

What am I missing here?? You have booked 5 years in a row and somehow her name is automatically attached to your bookings by Royal Caribbean? Or you booked with her 5 years ago for this trip and now want her off the booking? Neither seems to make sense here and I can't understand what you are asking or saying...

I have never seen that option for suites? I have seen it for inside and ocean view, don't even think I have seen it for balcony or a suite! Is it just in the normal booking flow, under the suite option drop down menu for options? A suite would be better I would think from the room to the perks to the extra points!

Wouldn't surprise me if they are scaling back on options and perks and incentives for long term loyal customers. Seems that they know they can get enough newbies and unfamiliar people to pay the prices and be happy with less service, less options and more cost!

Ok...might be missing something here... Not sure what the above poster is referring to? Something for free, or a more expensive drink on someone elses card. Or had no package and got his wife a drink on his card who had the package? But then an extra tip porb made up for the cost of it...lol And you don't need your cup to get a drink at the bar, but you defn need your seapass so. Not very clear or helpful really.

She indicated she did NOT want to go through RCCI. So this will all have to be on her own. The ship is not going to help out unless she is booking through them etc.

I can see some problems with this, depending on how low key and flexible you are of course. Not sure where you could get 40 people together for a ceremony without taking over a venue on the ship...which may or may not be a problem. I cant see having some take your photo's around the boat an issue at all. The reception you are planning...defn some problems there. First off, unless you have everyone in your party book way ahead, it probably will all ready be booked with other guests. Second of all, the other guests eating there, do not want to be a part of your reception. So unless you are just ok with sitting there and eating a meal, it's not a great or practical idea. And this has nothing to do with RCCI. This is my opinion no matter what ship or cruiseline you would be on.

Agreed. Not young enough to want to take part or hang with the younger kids....and not old enough to drink or be out late with the 21 yr crowd. Only hope is that they find a cpl other ppl on the cruise in the same situation. Otherwise they are pretty much stuck with mom and dad for the cruise.

I have never booked with them..but when I looked into it a cpl times, they were NOT cheaper. I have also heard about ppl that have booked with them, and had issues when flights cancelled etc....not sure how anxious I would be to use them. Anyone here used them, saved money and saw some advantage to using them?

Doesnt matter what things cost 20 years ago. It's what is current and what remember from past more recent experiences. My parents telling me what a car cost in 1990 has no bearing on what I think about buying or pricing a car today. BUT, what I paid for my most recent car or what my friends and family paid for thier most recent car when I go car shopping defn is in the back of my mind. The problem people are having with RC now is cost cutting, while increasing cost to us. Can't have it both ways and expect people not to complain. I don't care if they want to charge a little extra for all the extra's, but make it option. I don't care about fancy meals, and flo-riders etc. I am happy to just relax, drink and eat at the buffet everyday. If they make that unaffordable, then I will either swtich cruise lines or go back to AI's.

Seems like alot of this is happening with Royal Caribbean. I don't know how they think they can keep up when these things bring such negative and bad press. My first year crusing with them, there was no bad news really. People vented about some bad food and minor things. But for the past year, almsot all the news and changes have been negative. Usually higher prices, and less service and options. I know they have to please their shareholders. BUT, if you lose all your customers, your shareholders will have nothing so they need to find a balance here.

Oasis of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas it looks like. No more Enchantment.

Lots of private car companies out there, just need to google this.(Not sure if I can post links to things here or not) Will be cheaper probably than paying for each person to use RC shuttle services or even the hotel service. And don't have to wait for anyone else, direct drive, will often stop along the way if you need to etc. I only use private car's now when in Orlando..no more shared shuttles for me.

I would guess its just a matter of time till the package prices go up. Just went up on Celebrity I have heard. If you only need 4 drinks a day to break even on average, they wont make as much money. First the tips go up, then the single drinks go up, next the package's go up. Just wait.....

Carnival charges for that? Wow. I would be one who would not think that was worth $50. Besides getting your room an hour early or so(depending on what time you board), you can get all the other perks for free with Royal, or at least I do. But to each their own. I don't need/want my room or luggage a hour or two earlier than everyone else. I would spend that $49 for the drink package for my first day and drink for free all day.

I always purchase my drinks ahead of time, after my first cruise. Always been just a sticker on my card, and NEVER a coke symbol. So I am not sure what that is about, nor what I am missing. Not sure what a "lower folio upon disembarking" means either or what/how/why that is an advantage to buying your drink package prior to boarding. Seems I have mised out alot on my first 6 cruises....

If he books his own room, he will pay double the base cost. So i am sure thats much more expensive than adding a 3rd to your room. Wouldn't qualify for any other perks in your room either like the BOGO deals for drinks etc.

No difference in getting it ahead or on the boat. Unless you have some OBC that you wanted to use to cover the package. If you wait till on the boat, there will be some line-ups for the drink packages for the first few hours based on my experiences. Normally you can only get a drink for yourself as you have to swipe your seapass. But I know in the past, one the bartender gets to know you and your travel partner, often they will let you bring both cards to get 2 drinks or just put them both on one card if the packages are the same...but they don't have to. But then again, i have only purchased alcohol drinks, maybe coffee's would be different?!

I am sure they are going to try this for awhile and see what happens. If people are willing to pay that for single drinks, it won't change. As long as I still feel I am getting my money's worth with the drink package I am fine. What really hurts me now is the exchange rate(not RCI"s fault) so that on top of the price increases they have brought in, i now need to add close to 30% exchange...which means pretty soon the drink package will be costing closer to $100/day for me!