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Royal Caribbean raises VOOM packages!!


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On 12/26/2017 at 12:33 PM, KathyC said:

 

We bought a bundle during the Black Friday sale. I have a question (little confused at the wording) - do I have surf or surf & stream?  Adventure is not currently offering Surf only in the Cruise Planner...

"Sip, save and stay connected all cruise long with a bundle of two great favorites. We are bundling our Classic Soda Package with VOOM® high-speed internet, so you can enjoy unlimited soda in your Coca-Cola souvenir cup, while streaming all your favorite music, movies and sharing your unforgettable moments in real time. When you book now, you’ll save over 25% off the onboard price. *All Beverage Packages exclude any beverages served inside licensed Starbucks® stores."

 

So back to my question...I'm not sure if anyone knows the answer or not.  I kindof only bought this  package to get the cheaper internet.  My son is very health-conscious and doesn't drink soda nor does he enjoy any of the sweet artificially colored drinks.  We bought this package so he has options, other than water, and I can scope.  But if it's only Surf, I can't scope and it's worthless to me. 

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8 hours ago, KathyC said:

So back to my question...I'm not sure if anyone knows the answer or not.  I kindof only bought this  package to get the cheaper internet.  My son is very health-conscious and doesn't drink soda nor does he enjoy any of the sweet artificially colored drinks.  We bought this package so he has options, other than water, and I can scope.  But if it's only Surf, I can't scope and it's worthless to me. 

The deluxe bundle has always included Surf and Stream.  I assume the soda bundle does as well.  

Adventure may not have the O3b platform yet.  Surf and Stream will be faster but unsure how periscope will work over the geosync satellites.   

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2 hours ago, twangster said:

The deluxe bundle has always included Surf and Stream.  I assume the soda bundle does as well.  

Adventure may not have the O3b platform yet.  Surf and Stream will be faster but unsure how periscope will work over the geosync satellites.   

Thanks.  I'm wondering if they are working towards whatever this "O3b" thing is, as the Cruise Planner is only offering me Surf & Stream, where my Serenade sailing offers me the option to purchase either.  Adventure has a dry dock coming up so maybe...

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23 minutes ago, KathyC said:

Thanks.  I'm wondering if they are working towards whatever this "O3b" thing is, as the Cruise Planner is only offering me Surf & Stream, where my Serenade sailing offers me the option to purchase either.  Adventure has a dry dock coming up so maybe...

Perhaps the 12% price hike is to fund an O3b upgrade across the fleet.  Internet everywhere has downward trending prices.   One of my clients uses 10G to 100G internet circuits and they are dirt cheap compared to 2 years ago.   

RC is possibly the only 'service provider' increasing internet prices.  

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Price comparison of Voom on four booked cruises:

January Anthem $15.99

February Liberty $15.99

June Explorer $14.39

October Symphony $11.99

I think someone took the pricing tool home for the holidays and let their children play with it.  Or possibly they are increasing prices on certain ships so they can offer cheaper internet on Symphony allowing lots of social media hype during it's inaugural launch year. 

Either way it's getting to be like stock - buy low, hold on high.

Pretty soon in the news... 'Standard and Poor's has rated Libery Voom as hold while Symphony remains a strong buy".

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1 hour ago, twangster said:

Price comparison of Voom on four booked cruises:

January Anthem $15.99

February Liberty $15.99

June Explorer $14.39

October Symphony $11.99

I think someone took the pricing tool home for the holidays and let their children play with it.  Or possibly they are increasing prices on certain ships so they can offer cheaper internet on Symphony allowing lots of social media hype during it's inaugural launch year. 

Either way it's getting to be like stock - buy low, hold on high.

Pretty soon in the news... 'Standard and Poor's has rated Libery Voom as hold while Symphony remains a strong buy".

Luv it !!!! ?

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On 12/28/2017 at 10:07 PM, Sabrinaklai said:

Same here! ?

Maybe Star class regulars like @WAAAYTOOO, @CGTLH will read this and have pity on us...it's on my cruise bucket list lol. I'm seriously taking @tiny260's advice and the next time I have a flexible year for cruising I will go through all the Oasis class itineraries and look for a dip one week in Star class. Hopefully that works.

Hey now, I've only done Star class once. Looking forward to the next chance I can get. Heck, this upcoming cruise I'm going to be a low Sea class cruiser. Boo, no included internet.

Ahh well, grandfathered "Sip and Stream" will solve that issue.

 

As @WAAAYTOOO mentioned. My only Star class adventure was due to the casio rate. Never been offered anything in the way of a big discount since. At the same time I've cut back on the casino since the program changes.

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32 minutes ago, CGTLH said:

Hey now, I've only done Star class once. Looking forward to the next chance I can get. Heck, this upcoming cruise I'm going to be a low Sea class cruiser. Boo, no included internet.

Ahh well, grandfathered "Sip and Stream" will solve that issue.

 

As @WAAAYTOOO mentioned. My only Star class adventure was due to the casio rate. Never been offered anything in the way of a big discount since. At the same time I've cut back on the casino since the program changes.

Hmm...so the casino is the secret. Guess I will never know since we don't gamble. Back to checking random price drops for me ?

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4 minutes ago, Sabrinaklai said:

Hmm...so the casino is the secret. Guess I will never know since we don't gamble. Back to checking random price drops for me ?

Was the secret... No sooner than I converted a few bookings the discounts dried up. Never been offered a cruise voucher also never formally invited. Just happened to call and ask if I was eligible for a discount.

Just always kept to the "book early" policy. Then again that too has changed with the non-refundable suite deposit policy. Any GS(+) booking I have is under the old program. What isn't is a JS and hope that GS(+) goes down after final payment.

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8 minutes ago, CGTLH said:

Was the secret... No sooner than I converted a few bookings the discounts dried up. Never been offered a cruise voucher also never formally invited. Just happened to call and ask if I was eligible for a discount.

Just always kept to the "book early" policy. Then again that too has changed with the non-refundable suite deposit policy. Any GS(+) booking I have is under the old program. What isn't is a JS and hope that GS(+) goes down after final payment.

That is exactly my strategy these days. Book a JS and monitor especially around the 45-60 day window for drops to upgrade. Keeping my fingers crossed for a drop soon on Anthem for this March. That nice GLS you had is still available. One can dream...

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1 minute ago, Sabrinaklai said:

That is exactly my strategy these days. Book a JS and monitor especially around the 45-60 day window for drops to upgrade. Keeping my fingers crossed for a drop soon on Anthem for this March. That nice GLS you had is still available. One can dream...

Know dreaming all too well...

The Oasis cruise that leaves this Sunday has  the Grand "Loft" available, only asking $13k a person. Did try my luck booking a JS GTY, wound up with a JS assigned over a month ago.

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21 minutes ago, CGTLH said:

Know dreaming all too well...

The Oasis cruise that leaves this Sunday has  the Grand "Loft" available, only asking $13k a person. Did try my luck booking a JS GTY, wound up with a JS assigned over a month ago.

$13k pp? This is where I don't understand their strategy? Are there people out there who will book that last minute and pay that? If not then why is that still so high?

i should tell hubby...GLS on Anthem for our sailing is sitting at $6k pp Canadian and KSF. Maybe I can tell him that's a steal of a deal ?

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I just booked another cruise in March.  Voom Surf and Stream is $15.99 in the cruise planner.  That makes three ships I've got booked for early 2018 with Voom S&S on 'sale' at $15.99 with 20% off.

On Indy I picked up a Voom brochure.  Like Voom brochures on other ships it was printed on heavier bonded paper, not like the normal copy paper used on board.  This told me it came from corporate rather than the on board printer.  Guess this means the Voom price increase is official :(

Here it is attached:

Voom On Board.PDF

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2 hours ago, Sabrinaklai said:

Cruising master...aka..next Super Mario...or should we start saying "Super Twangster", you must share the secret of your ways...

Easy.  I don't stay in suites that often.  Don't get me wrong, I loved the loft suites I did stay in, but for that kind of money I've cruised all year in anything from inside to balconies.

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1 hour ago, twangster said:

Easy.  I don't stay in suites that often.  Don't get me wrong, I loved the loft suites I did stay in, but for that kind of money I've cruised all year in anything from inside to balconies.

Oh I wasn't even thinking of suites. To be able to cruise so often....I envy you. Have fun!

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4 hours ago, CGTLH said:

Wonder with the onboard price increase if the Diamond discount/free day value will be increased.

Guess I'll find out Sunday on Oasis.

Diamond discount will be $22.99 for your free day. I.E., Surf & Stream pckge, $19.99 X 7 days = $139.93 - $22.99 one day discount = $116.94 Total price for one device. If you are D+, you get double discount. I was on Rhapsody last week and that is what we were explained and what I paid.

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1 hour ago, princevaliantus said:

Diamond discount will be $22.99 for your free day. I.E., Surf & Stream pckge, $19.99 X 7 days = $139.93 - $22.99 one day discount = $116.94 Total price for one device. If you are D+, you get double discount. I was on Rhapsody last week and that is what we were explained and what I paid.

That's what I figured.

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The Diamond discount isn't as attractive as the 20% pre-cruise discount unless you wait until day 2 to buy it.

My new strategy will often be waiting until day 2 to purchase Voom.

Day 1 at port I have cell phone coverage and can tether a PC if needed.  If we leave port ~ 4pm then it's just 8 hours until midnight. Dinner and the Welcome Aboard show consume much of those 8 hours so waiting to purchase until day 2 has negligible effect. 

7 Nights

On board - 7 * $19.99 = $139.93 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $116.94

Pre-cruise - 7 * $15.99 = $111.93

Best buy - On board Day 2 -  6 * $19.99 = $119.94 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $96.95

9 Nights

On board - 9 * $19.99 = $179.91 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $156.92

Pre-cruise - 9 * $15.99 = $143.91

Best buy - On board Day 2 -  8 * $19.99 = $159.92 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $136.93

12 Nights

On board - 12 * $19.99 = $239.88 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $216.89

On board Day 2 -  11 * $19.99 = $219.89 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $196.90

Best buy - Pre-cruise - 12 * $15.99 = $191.88

 

Diamond discount is effectively between 9.6% and 28.8% based on cruise length.  Longer cruise yield less effective discount.

For Platinum and Emerald with 15% off on board prices the result is pretty close to the same - best buy is to wait until day 2. 

For anything longer than 7 nights the Platinum and Emerald discount is better than the Diamond discount.  For 12 night cruises the Gold discount is better than Diamond discount.  

Waiting to day 3 will yield even higher savings.

Length of Cruise       Effective Diamond Voom Discount

            4                                         28.8%

            5                                          23%

            6                                         19.2%

            7                                         16.4%

            8                                         14.4%

            9                                         12.8%

           10                                        11.5%

           11                                        10.5%

           12                                         9.6%

Gold on board Voom discount 10%

Platinum/Emerald on board Voom discount 15%

Typical cruise planner advance purchase discount 20%

 

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Guest toodle68
On 1/2/2018 at 8:49 PM, Sabrinaklai said:

$13k pp? This is where I don't understand their strategy? Are there people out there who will book that last minute and pay that? If not then why is that still so high?

I have never understood this..   For example, you would think that any empty seats on an international flight would either remain at the same price, or maybe a little discount.. but those seats are normally 5-10 times more expensive.  I know one day soon I need to do an urgent flight home for my parents, but 5k for a next day economy that is normally $700 is ridiculous. 

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On ‎1‎/‎2‎/‎2018 at 8:49 PM, Sabrinaklai said:

$13k pp? This is where I don't understand their strategy? Are there people out there who will book that last minute and pay that? If not then why is that still so high?

i should tell hubby...GLS on Anthem for our sailing is sitting at $6k pp Canadian and KSF. Maybe I can tell him that's a steal of a deal ?

What's surprising to me is that there are so FEW of these very expensive suites available at the last minute.  That means that people are swooping them up early even though they must be purchased on a non-refundable deposit basis.  If Royal can keep these $10 - $15K PP suites sold on all of these ships then more power to 'em.  It shows that the top end price point has not yet been reached.  If it had, there would be more of these high end suites available.  These prices just keep climbing and climbing.  The 2 BR ATS are now more than double what we paid for our first one back in Feb. 2016.

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With today's sale some of my cruise Voom pricing has dropped and it's all over the place.  

All prices below are in the cruise planner for Surf & Stream per day.  None have the discount banner graphic so you don't know what percentage off the new pricing is based on.  

Anthem January $15.99

Liberty February $13.99

Serenade March $15.99

Explorer June $12.59

Symphony October $11.99

Someone in IT in Miramar must have brought a bottle of Bailey's to work today for the coffee.

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3 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

What's surprising to me is that there are so FEW of these very expensive suites available at the last minute.  That means that people are swooping them up early even though they must be purchased on a non-refundable deposit basis.  If Royal can keep these $10 - $15K PP suites sold on all of these ships then more power to 'em.  It shows that the top end price point has not yet been reached.  If it had, there would be more of these high end suites available.  These prices just keep climbing and climbing.  The 2 BR ATS are now more than double what we paid for our first one back in Feb. 2016.

Realistically for us I think it's going to have to be one of those years where we don't cruise much and then we can dump a bit more to try Star class....

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5 hours ago, Sabrinaklai said:

Realistically for us I think it's going to have to be one of those years where we don't cruise much and then we can dump a bit more to try Star class....

I have never published this before, but this is what I got my Star Loft Suite (TL code) on Allure, January 13, 2019 - $4900/PP = $9800 total, found this deal Late May of this year.

Go the week before, 12/30/2018 and it is $12K/PP, week's after, 1/27/2019 and 2/10/2019 and they are $10K/pp

So @Sabrinaklai , I either just got extremely lucky and got the cheap price or RCCL screwed up, I wasn't looking for this but just shopping around and stumbled over, figured I couldn't pass it up. So moral is to continue to watch pricing as you say you plan on doing.

This will probably be the one and only time I get this, but having the Butler was on my Wife's bucket list...

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23 minutes ago, twangster said:

Don't cruise as much?!?

I almost choked on my drink when I read this...

Ha! This coming from the guy who cruises at least once a month!

Honestly, this is a big cruise year for us. From August 2017-July 2018 we have/had 4 cruises booked and the one we just took in December we paid for my parents too so that's actually 5. We planned this a long time in advance and there's no way I can do this if I did not have this year off from teaching. That being said, there's no way Star class is doable this year but now that I know from @tiny260's suggestion I will have a different game plan for my next year off teaching. Hopefully Star class doesn't go through the roof by then. 

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2 hours ago, tiny260 said:

I have never published this before, but this is what I got my Star Loft Suite (TL code) on Allure, January 13, 2019 - $4900/PP = $9800 total, found this deal Late May of this year.

That's how I've managed Sky Class three times - lucking into a deal off peak.  I think the L1 loft suite on Allure this past May was around $5k total when other times it's nearly that per person.  

Unfortunately with @Sabrinaklai being a teacher it forces them to cruise in peak times.   

The mid to late January time frame has often had good deals year after year.  Much like early December and parts of May.

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2 hours ago, tiny260 said:

I have never published this before, but this is what I got my Star Loft Suite (TL code) on Allure, January 13, 2019 - $4900/PP = $9800 total, found this deal Late May of this year.

Go the week before, 12/30/2018 and it is $12K/PP, week's after, 1/27/2019 and 2/10/2019 and they are $10K/pp

So @Sabrinaklai , I either just got extremely lucky and got the cheap price or RCCL screwed up, I wasn't looking for this but just shopping around and stumbled over, figured I couldn't pass it up. So moral is to continue to watch pricing as you say you plan on doing.

This will probably be the one and only time I get this, but having the Butler was on my Wife's bucket list...

Tell your wife she is lucky! It's on my bucket list too lol amongst many others.

Interestingly enough, for our cruise on Anthem in March the GLS is also sitting around that price $4851pp. And it has been for a while. And to add to what @WAAAYTOOO was saying, a few days ago the RLS just popped up from nowhere for $7000 something pp. So someone must have had that and let it go even with the NRD. I've been looking just for "research" and there are certain dips in price in Star class on Oasis class and Anthem. Generally Anthem Star class is cheaper than Oasis class but that is probably expected. But like I mentioned to @twangster in the other post, this year is totally not doable for us, unless the upgrade fairy comes along. But since I have yet to even win anything from Starbucks for Life, I am not holding my breath. But my research, and your tips, lead me to believe there is still hope ?

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10 minutes ago, twangster said:

Changing topics for a moment, with 4 cruises in 12 months have you considered an annual travel insurance plan?  The one I just bought isn't calendar year (Jan - Jan) but from the month coverage begins and for 12 months after.  Sure beats buying insurance each time.    

While shopping the other day I came across a Canadian version.  If you purchase with coverage starting in Aug. '17 you would be covered through Aug. '18.

Hmm...good point. I will have to look into it the next big vacation year. Thanks!

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3 hours ago, tiny260 said:

I have never published this before, but this is what I got my Star Loft Suite (TL code) on Allure, January 13, 2019 - $4900/PP = $9800 total, found this deal Late May of this year.

Go the week before, 12/30/2018 and it is $12K/PP, week's after, 1/27/2019 and 2/10/2019 and they are $10K/pp

Just curious....how does your wife make this happen when she works in a school?  Is January a break where you are?

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9 hours ago, Sabrinaklai said:

Just curious....how does your wife make this happen when she works in a school?  Is January a break where you are?

For this one in January I told her she was going to have to request the time off, since we were over a year out, it wasn't a problem.

She is one of those that is never sick, never takes off when she is not supposed to, works on days when it is not mandatory, etc..

Plus we are in a medium sized school district, they are not as strict as some larger districts.

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1 hour ago, tiny260 said:

For this one in January I told her she was going to have to request the time off, since we were over a year out, it wasn't a problem.

She is one of those that is never sick, never takes off when she is not supposed to, works on days when it is not mandatory, etc..

Plus we are in a medium sized school district, they are not as strict as some larger districts.

That's wonderful that she has that option.  We use to have that option here too in Ontario but they got rid of it a few years back.

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34 minutes ago, KathyC said:

I hate the thought of paying for Voom, especially with the prices going up, and not have it work well enough for my needs.  Our needs are me to periscope. and my kids to watch YouTube videos.  Not a lot to ask...

@KLAconQueso has promised us a live blog from Adventure in February.  I'm sure she will scope as well, if Voom is up for it.    

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