I cut the cord (Extras)

[BennyandBo]

Well, I did it. I cut the cord so to speak. Royal has made menu cuts, housekeeping cuts, and who knows what's next since I booked my Wonder and Icon sailings. So I canceled all my purchases for my May trip. I'm up almost $2k and Royal is SOL. Lol. No drinks, no beach club, no excursions, no specialty restaurants. Zip. I'm going old school in May on Wonder and going to see if what's included is good enough. The amount I'm getting back is amazing and so far I can't really say I have any regrets. Might make for an interesting report come June on Wonder on the cheap. Time will tell.

[BowTieBrigade]

[AshleyDillo]

While I like to stick it to them by going cheap when I'm paying for the cruise, it's offset by the $$$ shelled out when I tag along with my mom while she spends my inheritance, so...

[Traveling Mike]

I really have mixed feelings.  As a stockholder I want them to make the maximum amount of money per cruise.  As a cruiser I want to cruise as cheep as I can and get as much as I can for free.  I might follow your take a try a few with no extra's and see how it goes.

[Xaa]

Good on you @BennyandBoIt can get so easy to imagine a need for certain things that we don't even attempt to experience it without some of the extras.  Looking back on the cruise, the best memories are usually about things included.

While I don't have your strength at the moment, I may at some point.

[ChessE4]

We did part of that last cruise, obc went to gratuities. We did book excursions, though, due to our guests. Had a great time with shows MDR food, and live music.

[tonyfsu21]

Vacation is what you make of it. Everyone has their own idea about what type of experience they would like to have on a cruise vacation. In my household, we don’t hold back and there is no “cutting the cord” while on vacation. Cabanas, speciality dining, casino and free spending are all fair game. 

[Sweety]

I used the extra money to book more cruises.

[FireFishII]

You should do a live blog so that we can come along and follow your journey.  I too want to do a cruise as cheap as possible just to see how much I would enjoy it.  I bet you will love it.  

[Bowen]

This is how we cruise and we like it a lot. We always purchase internet/soda for the two kids, but we don’t book excursions except in rare cases, same for specialty restaurants, and we only drink on our Diamond vouchers. We always have a great time and we really enjoy getting to know our MDR waiters. I hope you have a great time!

[CrimsonCruiser]

I think you're going to have a pretty good time overall. Food & entertainment wise, I think Royal offers plenty included in the price especially on Wonder.

Excursions may still be subscribe you want to do but fortunately you're not forced to by ship ones and can usually save money by grabbing a local vendor.

 

Definitely second or third the idea of your No Cord Live Blog! I'm highly interested to see what you do and maybe grab some tips for myself

[D Alt]

you can definitely cruise without paying for all the extras but at what point does doing that spoil part of the vacation experience. Almost like cutting off your nose to spite your face. 

I will shave these costs where it makes sense, ie. on smaller ships or itineraries where I've been before, but sometimes I want to enjoy something new. 

[Sweety]

5 hours ago, Sweety said:

I used the extra money to book more cruises.

I only book junior suites. We are D+. I love the WJ and I book five cruises per year.

[BennyandBo]

10 hours ago, CrimsonCruiser said:

I think you're going to have a pretty good time overall. Food & entertainment wise, I think Royal offers plenty included in the price especially on Wonder.

Excursions may still be subscribe you want to do but fortunately you're not forced to by ship ones and can usually save money by grabbing a local vendor.

 

Definitely second or third the idea of your No Cord Live Blog! I'm highly interested to see what you do and maybe grab some tips for myself

Well, the blog won't exactly be "live", No internet remember. LOL. But right after I return on Memorial day. 

[BennyandBo]

10 hours ago, D Alt said:

you can definitely cruise without paying for all the extras but at what point does doing that spoil part of the vacation experience. Almost like cutting off your nose to spite your face. 

I will shave these costs where it makes sense, ie. on smaller ships or itineraries where I've been before, but sometimes I want to enjoy something new. 

I don't think we will be cutting off our nose to spite anything. The fact that Wonder is new to us will play a big factor. We have done tours of St Maarten and St Thomas before, so not too big an issue. I did want to do a beach, as we have only ever done land excursions on both islands. I don't know if doing that on our own, cheap, without Royal would be cheating? Then again pools on board practically to ourselves is very appealing. (Have to say even more so for Icon as there pools look amazing). Same itinerary for that in 2024. We happen to like the WindJammer and looking at all the buffet options up close. (love food porn. Live, Live, Live. Nude Up Close In Person. LOL). Use to like the MDR (Will see how the new changes will effect that). Have about $125 in on board credit. This may go to my favorite charity, The (diet) Coca-Cola company. My Heroin. Lol But enjoying what the ship has to offer is the goal. No specialty restaurants, No drinks package, No internet....not a single luxury...like Robinson Crusoe as primitive as can......Hey Wait!!! That trip didn't work out so well??? But, it was hysterical.

[letscruise]

Sounds like you and a few other posters have been on multiple cruises previously and have "been there done that", so deciding not to eat at a specialty restaurant or do an excursion doesn't really have quite the impact as it would to a newer cruiser who decides to not do anything beyond what's already paid for (I would say they would be really be missing out!).  I'm not being discouraging and I think its a great idea to be able to divert that money into a future cruise or other expenses, I'm only saying it's easier to cut the cord when you've already experienced something or done it enough times to decide you won't miss it.  I don't think those who take a cruise as their annual vacation are all that interested in stripping out the extras like excursions, specialty dining, and a drink package.  Like others, I'd enjoy hearing how your next, trimmed back cruise goes--my bet is you will have an awesome time!  

What I'm currently debating cutting out on our Wonder cruise is the casita I was able to book, but it's on a port day and I would only get use out of it in the morning hours.  Not sure what to do, because in the spirit of this thread, it's an extra $200 that I've spent that I could easily get back, but since I've never rented one before, it would be a new experience that I'm sure I would like.  Decisions, decisions!  

[Sweety]

22 minutes ago, letscruise said:

Sounds like you and a few other posters have been on multiple cruises previously and have "been there done that", so deciding not to eat at a specialty restaurant or do an excursion doesn't really have quite the impact as it would to a newer cruiser who decides to not do anything beyond what's already paid for (I would say they would be really be missing out!).  I'm not being discouraging and I think its a great idea to be able to divert that money into a future cruise or other expenses, I'm only saying it's easier to cut the cord when you've already experienced something or done it enough times to decide you won't miss it.  I don't think those who take a cruise as their annual vacation are all that interested in stripping out the extras like excursions, specialty dining, and a drink package.  Like others, I'd enjoy hearing how your next, trimmed back cruise goes--my bet is you will have an awesome time!  

What I'm currently debating cutting out on our Wonder cruise is the casita I was able to book, but it's on a port day and I would only get use out of it in the morning hours.  Not sure what to do, because in the spirit of this thread, it's an extra $200 that I've spent that I could easily get back, but since I've never rented one before, it would be a new experience that I'm sure I would like.  Decisions, decisions!  

Cruising is a personal decision. I respect everyone else’s opinions and choices. I have been teaching for 32 years and have 300 hundred sick days. I value my downtime and love cruising with my grandkids. Now I cruise through their eyes.

[cruisellama]

There is an old saying, "familiarity breeds contempt" - as you partake in any regular experience (vacation or otherwise), you can loose the "specialness"  and it might even seem mundane, and you need a reset.   Sounds like a good way to re-calibrate.  Interesting that both the RCL and Carnival CEOs are prepping the public (in the financial reports)  for increased rates as its understood cruising is  "too good a deal" compared to land based vacations.

[WannaCruise]

We don't do a lot of extras.

We stick to MDR as we like the experience and same waiter, same table each night.

We don't get internet as we like to disconnect.

If DBP is cheap enough, then we will get it, but I think those days are long past.  Last time we got a coffee card which worked well for us so will purchase for our next cruise (2 cards).  Otherwise, we purchase drinks a la carte.

We don't purchase many excursions.  The exception is the Thrillpark at CoCo Cay if it's within our budget (it wasn't initially but we went ahead thanks to Black Friday).  We booked one additional one for our cruise in March but that's it.

We also tend to book basic rooms...2 connecting rooms when with our kids if it works.  But with the new ships, even then we stick to lower category stateroom or even all of us in one room again for one of them.

Between airline and the cruise itself (and cruising 2x a year), it's pricey but we still get basics to enjoy....and we still have an amazing time!

 

[luv2sail]

8 hours ago, BennyandBo said:

 I did want to do a beach, as we have only ever done land excursions on both islands. I don't know if doing that on our own, cheap, without Royal would be cheating? 

No, this would absolutely not be cheating. 

[BennyandBo]

3 hours ago, letscruise said:

Sounds like you and a few other posters have been on multiple cruises previously and have "been there done that", so deciding not to eat at a specialty restaurant or do an excursion doesn't really have quite the impact as it would to a newer cruiser who decides to not do anything beyond what's already paid for (I would say they would be really be missing out!).  I'm not being discouraging and I think its a great idea to be able to divert that money into a future cruise or other expenses, I'm only saying it's easier to cut the cord when you've already experienced something or done it enough times to decide you won't miss it.  I don't think those who take a cruise as their annual vacation are all that interested in stripping out the extras like excursions, specialty dining, and a drink package.  Like others, I'd enjoy hearing how your next, trimmed back cruise goes--my bet is you will have an awesome time!  

What I'm currently debating cutting out on our Wonder cruise is the casita I was able to book, but it's on a port day and I would only get use out of it in the morning hours.  Not sure what to do, because in the spirit of this thread, it's an extra $200 that I've spent that I could easily get back, but since I've never rented one before, it would be a new experience that I'm sure I would like.  Decisions, decisions!  

Well, the last time we did St Thomas and St Maarten was 2007. That was Disney. Our last Royal was 2006 I think??? So not so much a been there done that as you might think. I don't even think Royal had specialty restaurants back then. And yes we have done a lot of Disney between 2006 and 2014, but that's been awhile now too. And some Carnival long weekends from NYC to Canada because we could literally walk to the ship from home. But nothing the past few years. So Royals specialty restaurants are a new thing to us. But I have to say now that it's not an option anymore, I'm actually feeling free. No expense, no reservation time stress, no feeling like there's so much food, yet here I am paying for more guilt. It's kinda nice feeling. 

As far as your dilemma. I was so stressed that I couldn't get a casita on a sea day. I laugh now. But I never would have paid for a port day. We always stay on board in Nassau and have pools and chairs practically to ourselves. There is so many spots in shade, in sun, by music, away from music, etc available on a port day why spend a ton and limit yourself to one spot. 

[Dan Curtis]

First off, I don't blame Royal or any cruise line making money, but threw the years even before covid, they started cutting little things, used to get a couple of chocolates on the bed, ball caps, etc. I still think cruising is less expensive than a normal vacation because off food, entertainment included.  We have never ate at special dining, we enjoy main dining room, we met people from other states, countries, now have friends from California, who we now visit each other, KY to California, the 4 drink a day for diamond is fine with us, we use royal credit points for on board credit and use toward excursions, we do an excursion at ever port, mostly to get off ship and see other parts of the world, it is always up to the individual as to how to spend their own money, we fill blessed to be able to cruiuse, I'm sure you will have an outstanding cruise.

[Jill]

5 hours ago, letscruise said:

Sounds like you and a few other posters have been on multiple cruises previously and have "been there done that", so deciding not to eat at a specialty restaurant or do an excursion doesn't really have quite the impact as it would to a newer cruiser who decides to not do anything beyond what's already paid for (I would say they would be really be missing out!).  I'm not being discouraging and I think its a great idea to be able to divert that money into a future cruise or other expenses, I'm only saying it's easier to cut the cord when you've already experienced something or done it enough times to decide you won't miss it.  I don't think those who take a cruise as their annual vacation are all that interested in stripping out the extras like excursions, specialty dining, and a drink package.  Like others, I'd enjoy hearing how your next, trimmed back cruise goes--my bet is you will have an awesome time!  

What I'm currently debating cutting out on our Wonder cruise is the casita I was able to book, but it's on a port day and I would only get use out of it in the morning hours.  Not sure what to do, because in the spirit of this thread, it's an extra $200 that I've spent that I could easily get back, but since I've never rented one before, it would be a new experience that I'm sure I would like.  Decisions, decisions!  

If you’re renting it for shade, there should be plenty of chairs available on the upper pool deck near where the big Royal crown and anchor are. We sat there many days as it’s partially shaded. 

[Safemike1]

On my last two cruises, I did only that which came with the cruise fare. No extras such as restaurants, or excursions. And my girl and I had a very good time without any of that. In the ports, we shopped and sought out restaurants for lunch. No need for all the extras.

[mac66]

We took care of some bucket list cruises last year on X that were carried over from the covid years. Food and service wasn't very good compared to 2019. I think we're done with X for awhile.

But other than those we pretty much do bare bones/cheap cruises, just to get out of the cold weather.

We did an 8 nighter the end of Nov/early Dec on RCI (food & service was very good). The only one booked this year is a 7 nighter in early Feb on RCI.  

No new/big ships. Mostly inside cabins, no suites, no drink packages, no dining packages, no internet, no gambling, no spas, no extras   Excursions? I started scuba diving at the age of 65 in 2019 so I'm diving at most of the places we've been to numerous times but never dived before.  My wife hardly ever gets off the boat anymore. We enjoy not cooking or cleaning. We enjoy the no extra cost activities (MDR, buffet, trivia, shows, etc, etc) on board.  We enjoy just chillin' out in the warm sunshine.

We usually do two, sometimes three cruises a year. Did 3 last year as makeups/carryovers from 2020 & '21, plus one cheap one the end of the year.  Basically cost, food, service and itineraries are determining factors for us not frills or extras. We like to go places we've not been before sometimes but If the cruise lines continue to raise costs while lowering food quality and service we will look elsewhere to chill out.

[BennyandBo]

I just have to say I only posted this matter-of-factly. I never expected such interest and such incredibly kind well wishes. I will be sure to do a report upon my return after Memorial Day. And am seriously considering my very first travel vlog now on YouTube. (From behind the camera only) Can't stand to look at myself on camera/in pictures. LOL. But Thank You All For The Positive Feedback.

[Pooch]

If you are looking for a beach day in St Maarten, Great Bay Beach is walking distance from the ship.  We rented 4 loungers, 2 umbrellas, lunch brought to us & 10 waters/sodas with tip for $130, 4 adults.

[letscruise]

5 hours ago, Jill said:

If you’re renting it for shade, there should be plenty of chairs available on the upper pool deck near where the big Royal crown and anchor are. We sat there many days as it’s partially shaded. 

Thanks!  I think I know what to do, which is cancel.  There was "only 1 left!" when I was shopping the Black Friday sale, so it was an impulsive buy.  I do wish I was early enough to purchase it for the sea day, but I made myself a note for the future.  I appreciate your input, thank you.    

[BennyandBo]

On 1/8/2023 at 5:31 PM, Pooch said:

If you are looking for a beach day in St Maarten, Great Bay Beach is walking distance from the ship.  We rented 4 loungers, 2 umbrellas, lunch brought to us & 10 waters/sodas with tip for $130, 4 adults.

Thanks!!!

Because of this I am now welcoming any and all DIY beach day advice for both St Thomas and St Maarten. As well as any cost cutting advice/suggestions. This no additional expenses/purchases (Cut The Cord) with Royal thing has really taken off. I think it will make for an interesting blog/vlog. A challenge/hobby has been born. LOL.

[PhillyLady]

I cannot say that I can cut the cord because I never plugged in the cord in the first place!!  In my almost five decades of cruising I have NEVER:  purchased Internet service, bought a drink package, paid for beach clubs, or used specialty restaurants. Yes, I am old school--I remember cruises before we had televisions in the room.  Everybody would go down to the theater and watch the movie! 

I do admit excursions are one of our highlights, but my husband will also scuba dive independently in the Caribbean, and I often book Resort for a Day beach time instead of taking a cruise beach trip.  I just like being on the water and seeing new places--I do not need all those other extras to have a fantastic cruise!

[Temeculaguy]

I understand it might feel like RCL and other mainstream cruise lines are trying to squeeze more money out of you but I see it differently. I see it as they are trying to stay flexible by offering different things to different travelers at different price points. We have plugged in the cord as a way of avoiding moving up to the premium and upscale cruise lines. RCL has an a la carte model, allowing us to pay for what we want rather than moving up to a more inclusive or more premium line. We are on the cusp of a move as we are no longer fans of the WJ or MDR, but by moving up to a quantum class Grand Suite we can get the coastal kitchen, add the UDP for $250 a person and still be at $6K.  Viking, Oceania, the haven on NCL and the retreat on Celebrity for a comparable suite is in the 10K+ range. So even with the plug firmly placed for some cruisers it's still a value proposition.

[BennyandBo]

2 hours ago, Temeculaguy said:

I understand it might feel like RCL and other mainstream cruise lines are trying to squeeze more money out of you but I see it differently. I see it as they are trying to stay flexible by offering different things to different travelers at different price points. We have plugged in the cord as a way of avoiding moving up to the premium and upscale cruise lines. RCL has an a la carte model, allowing us to pay for what we want rather than moving up to a more inclusive or more premium line. We are on the cusp of a move as we are no longer fans of the WJ or MDR, but by moving up to a quantum class Grand Suite we can get the coastal kitchen, add the UDP for $250 a person and still be at $6K.  Viking, Oceania, the haven on NCL and the retreat on Celebrity for a comparable suite is in the 10K+ range. So even with the plug firmly placed for some cruisers it's still a value proposition.

One size doesn't fit all. Everyone should always do what works best for them. The "value" is such a personal thing and should not be compared against someone else take on it.