TheMaxRebo

We are two adults and 3 kids (though our oldest is 14 now, so that does help a bit) - we are booked on Icon in one of the new family infinite balcony rooms - they sleep up to 6. Definitely not the cheapest option, just as Icon seems more expensive than older ships, but a bit less than suites on the same ship We also have done an ultra wide ocean view on Symphony of the Seas that also slept upto 6 One nice thing if you can get two connecting rooms is the two full bathrooms If you can't find connecting rooms one other option we have done on a cruise is get rooms that face each other - so we did one balcony room and then an inside stateroom that was directly across the hall

just a reminder that check in for the cruise is tomorrow, January 3rd (or really tonight at midnight) ... good luck everyone!

Thanks for sharing .... I feel like I will be spending a lot of time in the Aquadome area

Also, with the DBP you can add booze to your coffee if they have it at the Cafe Was in Symphony of the Seas and would get a shot of Bailey's or similar in my cappuccino

Think I found the dry slide on Deck 16 in this video someone took earlier this month when it was in dry dock (pretty cool video overall) - it is at the 3:20 mark

That was my understanding as well, limit to one entree at Chops but can do multiple apps and dessert

the percent off is the same but the starting point has come done - at least for my sailing. Thrill Island used to be $219 non-discounted price but that is now $179 This is what it used to be:

noticed in this overhead shot you can see the dry slide that is on Deck 16 - looks like it just also follows a staircase down one flight

Other things seem to have come down in price too - the Thrill Water Park pre-discount price used to be well over $200 for my cruise, but now $173, and then another 20% off that, for example .... maybe finding pricing was too high/not selling enough

yeah, I have cancelled and rebooked 3 times now - at this price saved ~$250 for the two of us vs the first time booked, so will definitely take it!

Heads up - the drink packaged lowered in price again, for the two of us by cancelling and rebooking saved about $250 from the first time booked

Going through the deck plans there is also mention of "dry slide" on deck 16 - so maybe goes from 16 Dow to 8?

One reason I like getting the drink package is that I feel more open to trying different drinks - if I don't like it, jo big deal, just don't finish it and move on to something else. If I was paying by the drink I would feel the need to finish it even if I didn't like it and/or just be very safe/boring with what I picked So some value beyond just the math Will say, even like 4 or 5 drink vouchers would allow for that some anyway (at least to some extent)

hadn't seen that before (though makes sense they would have wagu available if they as well since offering it at Empire Supper Club) - agree with you that they will definitely be an extra charge

Thanks for putting this together - does this include gratuities? Just I know they add 18% in when you buy the package, so should we enter that price? If so, then the average price per drink should also include the 18% added to it, right? Or maybe we take out the gratuities from the initial cost? Just thinking either both or neither should have it

I'd say more like how Matt says Wind-Jah-mehr

There are more included food options though with icon between the aquadome market, basecamp, surfside market, surfside eatery, etc. doesn't mean quality will necessarily be better there but definitely more food options include withe the base fare

I think that is how Royal is positioning/marketing this as ... it isn't just a cruise vs staying somewhere on land, it is like everything you could possibly pay for as part of a land vacation all rolled into one - all the food at tons of places, the pools, the water park, and the entertainment, etc. Doesn't mean it is worth it - but to compare the cost of this to a comparable vacation you have to add in a lot of elements (assuming all those elements appeal to you as you are paying for them whether you use them or not)

definitely how we are looking at it - it will be a date night for us and doing it as part of our 20 year anniversary ... assuming it lives up to the billing a meal like this would cost double or triple this on land (with the wine/cocktails included). Not something we would do every trip, heck, probably only time we will even do Icon class with the way prices are trending, so taking advantage of it

It feels like Icon starting with high pricing but there was so much interest/appetite that it drove those prices up, and now Star is sort of starting at that elevated price Just glad we booked Icon when we did as might be our only time sailing this class of ship lol

I believe there are two TA/media cruises prior to the official one - I think one is 3 nights and one is 2, so I would think they get there at least by the 21st or so

Also feels like what a stereotypical cruise is and perfect for first timers which I think is part of what they are targeting Hopefully once they get all 3 icon class ships at least one goes somewhere else just for variety but I get why they are putting Icon, Star, and Utopias where they are

I think they are pushing to attract new cruisers - so the new hotness, but then shorter cruises as people might be intimidated by 7+ days, so dip their tow in with the shorter cruises

yeah, you are correct - I saw 2024 Fiscal Plan, but you are right it won't go into effect until then. Guess some people with already booked 2025 trips though might need to confirm if have to pay or not

per the article it says they would be collected at the time a reservation is made, so I assume for the cruise we have booked for next February (and is paid in full) that is stopping at both spots we wouldn't be subject to this, correct? As a family of 5, stopping at both places would mean an extra $50 - not a huge amount but not nothing either