A New Upgrade- Royal Genie without a suite?

[dougalsgirl]

Perusing the CP and a new option showing as a VIP experience in the same place where The Key is showing. 
 

Genies for all! With a price tag of course!
 

We do not have a suite booked, just a standard ocean view room. 
 

This is showing for Independence in June. 

 

[tjcruisers]

Wow, that one seems like a weird one. Not really sure if there will be any takers. Figure anybody who would be willing to fork over that much are already in a star suite. 

[smokeybandit]

So offering Genie services outside Star class and not even on a ship that has star class?

 

That description suggests the UDP and DBP are included.

Kind of reminds me of that one package RC newly offered a few years ago, only to later say "oops, we didn't mean for that to be available" and canceled it for everyone.

[dougalsgirl]

It also includes Voom and Starbucks (not available on Indy)

 

They will stock your fridge with coke products and upgrade your toiletries. 
 

Perhaps testing to see who wants to drop that kind of cash on…. Things you can buy for cheaper already? 

[Cakemeister]

That looks like about $300 pppd. I assume it would include everything, if it is indeed the ultimate upgrade. Access to the suite areas, all the booze you can drink, unlimited dining, maybe they can throw in all the Key benefits, like Internet and so on. 

EDIT: Someone said this package diminishes the Pinnacle cruise experience because they would get crowded out of the suite areas. I agree with that. I did a quick comparison with Princess Premier ($90 pppd) and MSC Yacht Club (maybe $160 pppd, not 100% sure), and this Genie upgrade seems much more expensive. 

But I think a lot of people will purchase this package at $300 pppd. More beans to count.

[dougalsgirl]

Yes, access to suite area also included. 
 

Dedicated time on the flow rider, skating and climbing wall. 
 

I assume that some interest must exist or they wouldn’t be trying it out, however, it’s not something I would personally consider for my family. 

[smokeybandit]

So about $8000 for 3, on top of even the cheapest room.

Suite lounge access is kind of a wash since you'd have the beverage package.

For that price, might as well just book actual  Star Class on a ship.

Another thought, where are they pulling Genies from to staff it?

[AshleyDillo]

I have it on my 2 Indy sailings in June as well.  It's tempting to try it on my 3-nighter, especially since I'm solo so the price isn't as outrageous.

I mean I'm down to be a guinea pig for the 3 nights if @Matt wants to pay for it 

[dougalsgirl]

If it helps, I’d watch that video!

[Matt]

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2025/04/24/royal-caribbean-adds-genie-service

[Matt]

58 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

I have it on my 2 Indy sailings in June as well.  It's tempting to try it on my 3-nighter, especially since I'm solo so the price isn't as outrageous.

I mean I'm down to be a guinea pig for the 3 nights if @Matt wants to pay for it 

[tjcruisers]

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

So offering Genie services outside Star class and not even on a ship that has star class?

 

That description suggests the UDP and DBP are included.

Kind of reminds me of that one package RC newly offered a few years ago, only to later say "oops, we didn't mean for that to be available" and canceled it for everyone.

Seems like they might be trying to offer a "star class" on ships that don't have the concept. Wondering if they were targetting it to those in the royal suite or owners suite, but messed up and made it available ship wide by mistake

[smokeybandit]

42 minutes ago, tjcruisers said:

Seems like they might be trying to offer a "star class" on ships that don't have the concept. Wondering if they were targetting it to those in the royal suite or owners suite, but messed up and made it available ship wide by mistake

That makes sense in theory, but only if the prices were lower. Otherwise you're already paying that much or more for the suite, then paying it again to get a Genie.

[Ampurp85]

This is just my opinion.........

This is a cash grab and while I don't knock Royal from a business standpoint, it only makes me believe that even the included things will begin to suffer.......as they already have. But I am side eyeing anyone who would pay for this on non-oasis class ships, there is just no value to me imho. None of the entertainment on smaller ships require that level of planning. $1200pp is a lot on top of the cruise fare already paid. But I can guarantee that there will be enough "YOLO" folks to make it a thing. 

[smokeybandit]

It remains to be seen how real this is. Is this some mistake like we've seen RC make before? Or, is it just a test ride on Indy and they'll see how it goes before adding it elsewhere?

 

[WAAAYTOOO]

I agree with @Ampurp85.  It's all about the money BUT I also think this is a way to begin to nudge the interloper Pinnacles out of the Suites Lounge, permanently.  First they started with the Sky Junior Suites and now this.  They are slowly increasing the number of suites and/or those with suites privileges.  They are going to claim, "there are too many suite passengers" and will begin to reduce the number of Pinnacles allowed in the SL until they are -poof- gone.  

Will this new program be successful ?  Probably, at first.  There are people who will pay unreasonable amounts of money for the services of a Genie and the UDP, DBP.  It will certainly dilute the ACTUAL Star Class experience, though, if they offer this pseudo-SC on the O, I and Q class ships where there is a REAL Star Class.  Somehow I don't see that happening,

[Smokey79]

10 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I agree with @Ampurp85.  It's all about the money BUT I also think this is a way to begin to nudge the interloper Pinnacles out of the Suites Lounge, permanently.  First they started with the Sky Junior Suites and now this.  They are slowly increasing the number of suites and/or those with suites privileges.  They are going to claim, "there are too many suite passengers" and will begin to reduce the number of Pinnacles allowed in the SL until they are -poof- gone.  

Will this new program be successful ?  Probably, at first.  There are people who will pay unreasonable amounts of money for the services of a Genie and the UDP, DBP.  It will certainly dilute the ACTUAL Star Class experience, though, if they offer this pseudo-SC on the O, I and Q class ships where there is a REAL Star Class.  Somehow I don't see that happening,

So far, it’s not an option on my Wonder or Legend bookings. I would be tempted to at least consider it on the 3 day Legend trip. 
 

My thoughts are that it might be a decent proposition when combined with a casino comp for someone who already intended to get the drink and dining packages. 

[SplashOfWater]

I see it as an option on my Freedom bookings, but not any of my other bookings. 

[Smokey79]

I’m curious if they have the manpower available to handle this if they do get decent demand. I wouldn’t think that Genies are that abundant or easily trained without diluting the level of service overall. I guess you could add a couple of suite concierges and call them Genies but it wouldn’t quite be the same thing. 

[HeWhoWaits]

Not available on Brilliance in September (not that we would consider this a value-add if it were).

[WAAAYTOOO]

I checked all 18 of my future bookings and don't see it offered on any of them. I'm guessing it is just a trial on Indy for now ??

[smokeybandit]

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I agree with @Ampurp85.  It's all about the money BUT I also think this is a way to begin to nudge the interloper Pinnacles out of the Suites Lounge, permanently.  First they started with the Sky Junior Suites and now this.  They are slowly increasing the number of suites and/or those with suites privileges.  They are going to claim, "there are too many suite passengers" and will begin to reduce the number of Pinnacles allowed in the SL until they are -poof- gone.  

Will this new program be successful ?  Probably, at first.  There are people who will pay unreasonable amounts of money for the services of a Genie and the UDP, DBP.  It will certainly dilute the ACTUAL Star Class experience, though, if they offer this pseudo-SC on the O, I and Q class ships where there is a REAL Star Class.  Somehow I don't see that happening,

I agree in part, but with the beverage package included, how many would even go to the suite lounge?

In my own observation, very few suite guests ever take advantage of the lounge as it is.

[SplashOfWater]

10 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I checked all 18 of my future bookings and don't see it offered on any of them. I'm guessing it is just a trial on Indy for now ??

It's not on your Freedom booking? I'm seeing it offered on both my Freedom cruises in September.

[AshleyDillo]

49 minutes ago, SplashOfWater said:

I see it as an option on my Freedom bookings, but not any of my other bookings. 

It is rumored to be on Freedom class only for now but I haven't seen anyone from Liberty post that it's available.

[WAAAYTOOO]

4 minutes ago, SplashOfWater said:

It's not on your Freedom booking? I'm seeing it offered on both my Freedom cruises in September.

Nope.  Maybe b/c it's only 2 days away....

[Vancity Cruiser]

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I also think this is a way to begin to nudge the interloper Pinnacles out of the Suites Lounge

100% agree that this will affect Pinnacles

[twangster]

Unless they drop the price this will have minimal impact to anyone.  

$600 per day for a couple?

$1,200 per day for a family of four?

(Free for guests under 6 in the same cabin.)  

In many cases that's the cruise fare.  

I don't see a lot of people buy it, unless they drop the price.

On a sailing I checked the DX, UDP and Voom added up to $137 per day including the 18% service charge.

$163 pppd for a Genie?  On Freedom class? Nope.  

"Hi I'm your Genie, let me escort you to your interior cabin on deck 2".   

[smokeybandit]

And if you paid a couple grand to have a genie, but aren't in a suite, you're much less likely to tip the expected rate either.

Not sure what Genie would want that gig.

[smokeybandit]

$300 per day.

Getting internet, DBP and UDP separately is what, $150 max? That's still a ton of money left on the table for someone to walk you to your cabin and get you into a show that no one needs reservations for anyway.

[Smokey79]

It would make more sense to just add an additional charge for an “all-inclusive” package like Celebrity and forego the actual Genie. 

[smokeybandit]

The "Genie" add in make it feel more luxurious and exclusive I guess.

[Rackham]

Kinda surprised they're going to full Star benefits instead of a premium tier of The Key. Skip the Genie, update The Key to include the DBP and UDP, charge $199/day without discounts, and collect the Bennies without adding labor costs. Call it The Royal Key or something.

[Mike6453]

53 minutes ago, Smokey79 said:

It would make more sense to just add an additional charge for an “all-inclusive” package like Celebrity and forego the actual Genie. 

i do agree but RC has state so many times they want to give people options to pick what they want, not that  i beleive that, they could have also added suite class in some form to the non oasis,quantum and icon classes as cheaper suites have basically just been a larger room. this also seems to not be on every itenerary either. it can also be for anyone even an inside room. i was looking at a bermuda cruise on Indy prior to this and it was 1500 pp for an inside room so asusming two people i might pay 7200 all in to have a genie and all the packages. 

From what ive read this wont be on star class ships. and also there no mention of how many geneis there would be so i would think it could be like cabanas on coccay...first first serve and then it sells out. 

[Smokey79]

2 minutes ago, Mike6453 said:

i do agree but RC has state so many times they want to give people options to pick what they want, not that  i beleive that, they could have also added suite class in some form to the non oasis,quantum and icon classes as cheaper suites have basically just been a larger room. this also seems to not be on every itenerary either. it can also be for anyone even an inside room. i was looking at a bermuda cruise on Indy prior to this and it was 1500 pp for an inside room so asusming two people i might pay 7200 all in to have a genie and all the packages. 

From what ive read this wont be on star class ships. and also there no mention of how many geneis there would be so i would think it could be like cabanas on coccay...first first serve and then it sells out. 

Oh yay lol

if it’s first come first serve, just wait until the pricing algorithm gets ahold of it. 

[Ampurp85]

Celebrity offers the premier access (no dining package but close to everything else at about $100/day), which was the premier pass shenanigans previously spoken of. But not with the genie.

As I stated this is nothing more than a cash grab, to boost revenue on ships that aren't Icon/Oasis/Quantum. It gives people the illusion of luxury and classism. I am assuming they will train a couple of crew members and only allow a certain number of pax to partake. However, I really feel for not just the pinnacles who will lose out on bennies but the crew members who have to be genies. 

[FOB]

I have 4 sailings back to back on Indy starting with the transatlantic back to the US in October

i do not have this offered on any of my sailings. 
not sure if this is because 

a) we have internal cabin bookings so we are “too low level”

b) the trial is only for sailings there and back again to Southampton (so the geenies are not available to the US)

c) we will be diamond plus so are not in the group they are looking for

but anyways the hubby just did a “they want how much ??” so even if it was offered I don’t think we would use it

[dodgestang]

Looks like a typical A/B test for a new service.  Make it available on a small number of sailings/ships.  Remember they need to source/assign a 'genie' so they are either adding crew or reassigning crew and then they can analyze if it is positive or negative cash flow.  Reminds me of when Casino Royale floated out a program where you could pre-buy 2k worth of chips in the casino and get like 250 or 500 extra chips with the only caveat behind you had to gamble them all...aka make $2500 worth of bets with them.

 

It went down in the flames on the execution side because people like me, would place their bet.....$100 of the free play chip and win....and then the dealer, the pit boss and the casino rep would all say "you only get 'real' chips for what you won while all the players were like...NO....we bet $100...that $100 is now also real money because our bet won and it is not the original $100 of 'pre bought' chips.  So in reality you had to make bets with the pre-bought chips until you essentially LOST $2500 in bets....not just place $2500 in bets.

[RCIfan1912]

Not available on any of my 3 Liberty cruises booked or Oasis next May either. I have below zero interest and at those prices negative 50 below zero interest.

[Babsy47]

I have sailed in Star class cabins several times.  I want the large (and gorgeous) cabin for my larger family.  Without the cabin, I would never pay extra for just the genie.  For just my spouse, me, and one child, I might chose a suite but never Star class.  You can always add the UDP and DBP.  The access to shows, etc. is just not worth all that much and they already took away the front of the line benefit.  

[WAAAYTOOO]

9 hours ago, Babsy47 said:

I have sailed in Star class cabins several times.  I want the large (and gorgeous) cabin for my larger family.  Without the cabin, I would never pay extra for just the genie.  For just my spouse, me, and one child, I might chose a suite but never Star class.  You can always add the UDP and DBP.  The access to shows, etc. is just not worth all that much and they already took away the front of the line benefit.  

I totally agree with this.  Can you imagine trying to have in-room dining in an inside cabin ?  Where would you even put the plates ?  In-room parties ?  Uh.  No,  The room was the major draw for us and the other "perks" were secondary...with the Genie being the least important, IMO.