USFFrank

Royal Caribbean wants to raise cruise prices even higher | Royal Caribbean Blog

I'm saddened and disappointed with this article. I don't believe it's about the debt anymore. I love cruising, and I currently have 2 cruises that I booked this past February. If I were to book these 2 cruises today 7/27/23 (promenade view cabins), the one in 2024 would be over $400 more and the one in 2025 would be over $1000 more. I know the prices can fluctuate, but I would not book either one of those cruises at today's prices. I would have liked to book an Oasis class ship for later on in 2025 when they become available later on this year, but I also have some land-based vacation ideas on the back burner. After reading this article it looks like those will be moved to the front burner.

The port was recently redone. From the pictures I have seen, it looks so much better than before, and they're not even finished with it. I would give it a quick look around. 

Just remember, although it's unlikely, what the app shows what the MDR is serving today is subject to change come your sailing.

https://www.resortforaday.com/destinations/aruba-day-passes/

Perhaps why they're saying substitutions is in case they don't have that specific brand of beer available on your sailing, something comparable will be used in its place. If it turns out to be something you don't like, then maybe you can bring it to guest services and see if something can be done.

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/cruise-compass

Scroll down to Freedom of the Seas

SPDS. As in same price, different sale for me.

So now it looks like there will be 2 ships at Coco Cay every day now. The days when there was only 1 ship there are few and far between with just Royals ships. And this also means that prices will be at a permanent premium for all of he Coco Cay add-ons, for there will (almost) always be 2 ships worth of passengers wanting to get them.

That site has a link to cruise deck plans. That alone should give you the information you'll need, no reason to pay for the extras.

Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ship Fleet (cruisedeckplans.com)

The newest Royal Caribbean ship I sailed on was Harmony of the Seas in November of 2021 and that was only because of a fire sale Royal had on that particular cruise in April of 2020. I cannot justify the costs for sailing on the new ships, and I don't necessarily need or use all of the bells and whistles they offer. When it comes to cruising I want the most bang for my buck and if I had the choice of 3 days on a new ship or 8 days on an older ship for the same price or cheaper, guess what I'm choosing.

4 hours ago, TKinRock said:

It's a shame it's $79 each way, takes as long as driving, and doesn't include food. We just can't embrace high-speed rail as an auto alternative in this country. 

 True. For $320 + round trip for 2, I'd rather drive down to Ft Lauderdale or Miami from where I live in Orlando next time I'm cruising out of there. I'll just leave a little earlier and take my chances on the Florida Turnpike. 

I for 1 wish the Crown & Anchor discounts (if and when they work) would extend beyond balcony cabins. How about some kind of discount for outside view or inside cabins.

7 hours ago, twangster said:

If you were in charge of Royal how you would maximize the number of guests you could put on CocoCay, which is producing phenomenal revenue right now?

One solution would be to use the ships with the largest capacity to visit CocoCay as often as possible.  

Secondly, how would you convince people to book the newest ship in the fleet at the highest possible price points? 

One solution would be to have that ship do shorter cruises so that people would be willing to pay higher than normal daily rates and since it is only 3 or 4 days the total sticker shock isn't so bad looking.  

Good answer, I know it's business. But IMHO, as hard as it is for me to justify what they are charging nowadays, if I want to cruise, I would rather go the more bang for my buck route. I'll take an 8-day cruise the same price or cheaper on an older ship over a 3- or 4-day cruise on a newer one.

6 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

Utopia (it’s just not official yet).

6 hours ago, Jenalynn33 said:

That’s what I saw too and wouldn’t mind Spectrum coming to Canaveral unless they bring the new Utopia ship to Canaveral but I highly doubt they would do short cruises on it. 

I could possibly believe them bringing Spectrum of the Seas to Port Canaveral for the short cruises seeing that Allure of the Seas is doing them. However, I find it hard believe that Royal would put Utopia of the Seas, their soon to be newest & largest ship on 3 & 4 day cruises. A 3 day cruise during the heart of hurricane season on Utopia is going to cost more than the 8 day cruise on Adventure of the Seas I'm doing in 2025.

I would be curious to know which ship will be doing those sailings. I tried looking it up on Royals site and perhaps I'm doing something wrong but the only ship I don't see sailing is Spectrum of the Seas.

You'll have to call Royal or your travel agent.

I would go for traditional dining. As long as the reservations are linked your group would be seated at the same 2 large tables each evening.

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

The situations seems quite similar to what led RC to hire JVF

And now that he's available............

Wonder if Carnival needs to hire a chief meteorologist now.

SPDS, as in same price, different sale for my next cruise.

Kinda like choosing between the lesser of 2 evils, only this is the reverse of it. The greater of 2 goods.

I've never been on either ship, and both of those itineraries do look good. I would however personally choose the Vision of the Seas cruise perhaps for the main reason being that I've only visited 1 out of the 5 ports she visits. On the Anthem of the Seas cruise, I've visited 3 of those 5 ports.

What I'm most curious about is now that Royal is now hiring for that position again, why was Mr. Van Fleet let go in the first place. We could only speculate. First thought would be if he was up for contract renewal either Royal offered a lower salary and he refused it, or he wanted a higher salary and Royal refused it. 

2 hours ago, Tony222 said:

USFFrank: Three ships in the morning and two in the afternoon.

 In Key West, 5 ships in one day? That doesn't sound right. I stayed in the Keys about 5 years ago and visited Key West on a Friday and there were 2 ships there. I'll never make that mistake again. From looking on Cruise timetables I've only seen 1 ship on the dates I looked at.

2 hours ago, Tony222 said:

Are these the actual 13 stops do you know?

I haven't done the trolley tour in a while, but if those are the stops their website is saying, then that's what it should be.

Haven't been down there in a while. Hopefully yours is the only ship there that day. 

The Best Interactive Key West Map For Planning Your Vacation (trolleytours.com)

I would think if someone booked a suite then later cancelled it, it would be snatched up rather quickly. Anyway as long as they don't do this to the other types of rooms. I used to book non refundable, and I have never canceled a cruise as of yet, but I've now decided to not do that anymore. I try and book as far out as possible. I have one on the books for 2025 that I booked this past February. When you book them that far out the refundable deposit fee is not as much compared to booking closer.