Matt Posted January 24, 2017 Report Share Posted January 24, 2017 http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2017/01/24/royal-caribbean-announces-2018-2019-deployment-opening-schedule-dates DaveWithHat, Katelynnhab and DocLC 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweety Posted January 24, 2017 Report Share Posted January 24, 2017 http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2017/01/24/royal-caribbean-announces-2018-2019-deployment-opening-schedule-dates Thank you very much!!!! Let the planning begin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestingBird Posted January 26, 2017 Report Share Posted January 26, 2017 Yays! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest toodle68 Posted January 26, 2017 Report Share Posted January 26, 2017 In your all's experience, are the best prices when the cruises are released? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted January 26, 2017 Report Share Posted January 26, 2017 In your all's experience, are the best prices when the cruises are released? Generally speaking, yes, and that's why I've been booking my cruises way out. As an example, I booked the Allure almost two years before sailing. Not once did the price ever drop below what I paid and continually went up. Some of the higher categories dropped in price, but not enough to entice me to upgrade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jticarruthers Posted January 26, 2017 Report Share Posted January 26, 2017 Going to echo doc, I got in the habit of booking as soon as the schedule came out about 3-4 years ago (for the cruises that I have fixed windows on like Thanksgiving, Springbreak for example). Haven't seen a price drop on a cruise I booked opening week since the "sale" started in May of 2014 .... used to check them all daily, dropped to about weekly now but draw your own conclusion ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UkuleleCruiser Posted January 26, 2017 Report Share Posted January 26, 2017 I generally book out as far as I can so I can pay for the cruise over time. My next cruise is only $58 a paycheck. Very affordable. Plus, every time they deposit a check, I get a little email reminding me of the fun to come. RestingBird 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PocketsRN Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Was hoping northeast would open up in time for me to book onboard in March, maybe get a little OBC, and sure enough, they got it scheduled for the very first day after I get off! Oh karma, thou art a heartless - nevermind, new dates! Woo! RestingBird 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest toodle68 Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Another question.. will the schedule for the whole of 2019 open up? I see the schedule is done until May 2018.. so will it be 18 months they add on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLA Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Another question.. will the schedule for the whole of 2019 open up? I see the schedule is done until May 2018.. so will it be 18 months they add on? No - this will be late 2018 through early 2019 (like through maybe party of May) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneyraven Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Generally speaking, yes, and that's why I've been booking my cruises way out. As an example, I booked the Allure almost two years before sailing. Not once did the price ever drop below what I paid and continually went up. Some of the higher categories dropped in price, but not enough to entice me to upgrade. Doc is spot on ..... we booked our Rhapsody cruise (Spring of '18) last September ..... I keep watching ..... it NEVER gets lower than what we booked it for.... DocLC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Doc is spot on ..... we booked our Rhapsody cruise (Spring of '18) last September ..... I keep watching ..... it NEVER gets lower than what we booked it for.... Of course, that's not to say other cruise lines won't lower their prices. We booked the Vision over a year ago, but Princess is offering nearly the same itinerary on one of their bigger ships or of London instead of Amsterdam. With a lower price, onboard credit, and lower airfare, it's tempting to jump ship (pun intended). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 I don't want to hijack this thread or turn it into "look at the great deals on other lines" but I will just say that I booked the Transatlantic "maiden voyage" (I'm sure it's not really the maiden voyage) of the new MSC Seaside out of Venice to Miami (21 days) in one of their Aurea Suites for $177 PP/PD. I couldn't believe the price ! It is not as all-inclusive as the RCI Star Class but it's almost as good. Their all-inclusive package does not include all specialty restaurants or internet but it does include all beverages and their top drinks are $8 vs $15 on RCI....plus it includes 3 shore excursions. So I'm willing to try them out ! They also status matched our RCI D+ so we are [Voyager Club] Black level, which is their top loyalty level even though we have never set foot on an MSC ship before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted January 27, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 MSC is definitely aggressive in their pricing, but FWIW, I have heard from other RC fans who tried MSC that it's a different kind of experience. No question that deal you found Raye is super-duper cheap, just sharing what I've heard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLMoran Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Here's what my TA, Heather from MEI, had to say about MSC when I asked her after booking with RC: "I think you made the perfect choice for your family. MSC is a nice line, however, they are very much a European line. That means their service, food and ships are VERY different than what we ware accustomed to here in the US. Hence the complaints [on cruisecritic.com] you have seen. If you can keep an open mind to that, then it's definitely worth a try. Though, I would wait until it's just you and your wife - they are not a line that has much to do for children. Most of the passengers are adults. They are trying to attract more families with their new ships, but it remains to be seen how many families actually go, so I would hold off." Basically, they're more "old school / old world" in their cruising style. Reviews I read indicate the shows are more cabaret than Broadway, food is definitely European, and those who buy a Yacht Club level suite (in their ship-within-a-ship design) get significantly better service than the commoners in regular rooms. Bearing in mind the earlier discussion on another thread about how reviews from CruiseCritic.com have to be taken with a healthy shaker of salt, there's definitely something to be said when even the TA is saying, "This would be a significantly different experience from what you get used to as an American cruiser." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 I have heard the same....so it will be an interesting chance to contrast. I just hope it's not horrible, as I will be on there for 21 days ! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLMoran Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 And DocLC is doing that ship's second Caribbean sailing in December of this year, so we'll have two reports to look forward to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted January 27, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 I have heard the same....so it will be an interesting chance to contrast. I just hope it's not horrible, as I will be on there for 21 days ! LOL I don't think it will be horrible. Just different. I admit the Divina and now Seaside intrigue me, mostly because these are brand new ships that have a lot going on and are very inexpensive. That being said, you can probably say the same about NCL and I have no desire to try them again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotleyCruiser Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Looks like we will be visiting the Next Cruise office on our Harmony adventure on April 1st to book our Alaska or Norway Fjords Cruise for 2018!!! RestingBird and DocLC 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
castle25 Posted March 22, 2017 Report Share Posted March 22, 2017 Are there no boats going to the Eastern Med( Greece, Croatia, Turkey) in Summer 2018? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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