Multiple stops at CocoCay

[Matt]

It looks like there's going to be itineraries with more than one stop at CocoCay. Schedule shows it's not overnight in the sense you can get off the ship at night, but I like the idea!

[CGTLH]

The breakdown of the itinerary

[jticarruthers]

11 hours ago, Matt said:

It looks like there's going to be itineraries with more than one stop at CocoCay. Schedule shows it's not overnight in the sense you can get off the ship at night, but I like the idea!

Does this identify the day the official "launch" date ... since day 4 is at "CocoCay, Bahamas" but day 5 is at "Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas" ... or maybe day 4 is just not expected to be Perfect according to the latest weather forecast :)

[bhageerah]

That is good news to me!  We are booked to sail from the same port next March, God how I wish they could change our itinerary to this one!  We always prefer CocoCay over Nassau, and two days there would be absolutely heavenly! Its one of our favorites and we hate leaving at the end of the day.  Now that I see that they will be offering cruises with two days there I can safely say that it won't be the last time we sail out of Cape Liberty!!!  

[twangster]

Interesting they show distinct departure times on day 1, like it will spend the night at sea and dock again in the morning. 

When I've overnight-ed in other ports, no departure time is listed on the 1st day in port.

I guess they don't want guests roaming around in the dark.

[Skid]

9 minutes ago, twangster said:

Interesting they show distinct departure times on day 1, like it will spend the night at sea and dock again in the morning. 

When I've overnight-ed in other ports, no departure time is listed on the 1st day in port.

I guess they don't want guests roaming around in the dark.

Sooooo...just a weird thought I had....Normally, if a passenger doesn't return, the ship leaves without him/her. Now, with the ship either not actually leaving port or coming back anyway, what happens to the passenger who decides to go camping overnight? Ship's jail? 

[CGTLH]

1 hour ago, Skid said:

Sooooo...just a weird thought I had....Normally, if a passenger doesn't return, the ship leaves without him/her. Now, with the ship either not actually leaving port or coming back anyway, what happens to the passenger who decides to go camping overnight? Ship's jail? 

Hunch, they will find them and bring them back. Wonder what is done today on CocoCay and Labadee.

My personal guess... This is one way to force a pay only overnight option. Plus you hit they nail on the head, they don't want people bringing on camping gear for their own overnighter.

[Wilson]

Return to ship at 5PM??? Seems like they could allow you to stay later since the ship is not leaving. 

 

[CGTLH]

Using March 1, sunset would be 6:14 Eastern sunrise at 6:34.

[Matt]

3 hours ago, jticarruthers said:

Does this identify the day the official "launch" date ... since day 4 is at "CocoCay, Bahamas" but day 5 is at "Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas" ... or maybe day 4 is just not expected to be Perfect according to the latest weather forecast

I just assumed the distinction between the day names for the same port was a website glitch.

This is for March 2020, and Perfect Day at CocoCay is scheduled to officially be done by November 2019.

[AGSLC5]

3 hours ago, Wilson said:

Return to ship at 5PM??? Seems like they could allow you to stay later since the ship is not leaving. 

 

I have a feeling this has to do with being able to open up the casino fully. Currently when we are in Coco Cay we are tendered and still in the water so they leave the Casino open. But when we go to Labadee  they only have slots open and not tables so maybe there is some rule against it. I am not sure but just a thought.. 

[monctonguy]

Interesting...although I am not sure the appeal of 2 full days there.....I mean, if your not paying for any extra upgrades its not like there is a lot to do there. Its the same place on one days as it is the next. And I couldn't imagine a family of 4 or 5 having to pay for 2 days worth of activities for their kids there.

And god help me if they start to charge for drinks on the private island as I can see that happening next and a way to drive LOTS more revenue for each cruise if you park the ship there for 2 days.

 

It is pretty rare that Royal has ships dock overnight for 2 full days at one location(outside of Bermuda).......defn be interesting to see what kinda experience/feedback they get from this.

[JLMoran]

2 hours ago, monctonguy said:

And I couldn't imagine a family of 4 or 5 having to pay for 2 days worth of activities for their kids there.

Families of 4 or 5 do multi-day stops at Disney and pay the ticket prices for that. Why wouldn't they do the same here?

Not going to compare the price of theme park tix at Disney to Coco Cay, since per Matt's earlier comment on a different thread, the better comparison would be the water parks at Disney; I don't know the prices for those and have never been to one, but if families spend multiple days at Disney parks / water parks, I think it's totally reasonable to expect that even larger families wouldn't have a problem doing the same at Coco Cay if they thought they were getting a similar experience.

[monctonguy]

yes...but the theme park is the destination or the point of the vacation..this is a cruise vacation which already costs $$..then you add this on for one day.

 

 

Guess just another reason I am glad I don't have kids..I could never afford them in todays society or at least never afford to take them anywhere....

[Lovetocruise2002]

29 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

Families of 4 or 5 do multi-day stops at Disney and pay the ticket prices for that. Why wouldn't they do the same here?

Not going to compare the price of theme park tix at Disney to Coco Cay, since per Matt's earlier comment on a different thread, the better comparison would be the water parks at Disney; I don't know the prices for those and have never been to one, but if families spend multiple days at Disney parks / water parks, I think it's totally reasonable to expect that even larger families wouldn't have a problem doing the same at Coco Cay if they thought they were getting a similar experience.

I really think it comes back to the mindset that cruising is suppose to be for the most part "all inclusive"...although that is proving over time to not be the case anymore.

When a family of 4 or 5 goes to Disney World, you expect to pay everything separate...hotel, food, theme park tickets, etc.  When a family goes on a cruise, they are already forking over a substantial amount on the cruise itself that it's hard to get away from the mindset that now a day at the beach is going to cost an additional couple hundred.  

Is this a complaint....not really.  I totally see the appeal in this for some people.  But I think it's about mindset and until some time passes by for this to be the norm, many will complain, and many will enjoy it.  To each his own right?

Off topic a bit, I had an interesting conversation with friends over the weekend who were trying to decide on a March 2019 cruise for their families of 4.  And these are not people who are loyal to one line in particular.  Trying to convince them to sail RC was most difficult, even with KSF.  Why?  Because, the first questions were, "Are drinks included?", "Gratuities included?", and now tacking on extra for the water park...possibly drinks too like @monctonguy mentioned.  In the end, it made more sense for them to sail another line that included a drink package and gratuities and OBC all for less than RC with KSF!  Now they can justify spending more for excursions.  For some, it's going to be a hard sell for a while.  For others, not so much.

Going to stop now...I think I've gone way off track from original topic of multiple stops.

[monctonguy]

Think of all the changes in the past 5 years with Royal when it comes to cruising. It is such a different experience now than what it was then and what cruising had been for decades  prior to that.

 

When I started cruising, it was comparable to an AI experience..both in cost and amenities. Now, it would cost me much more than an AI to enjoy a cruise and all it offers.

 

And now ask yourself...how many of those changes cost money or cost extra......I would say most of them.

 

Again people may say well choice is good or Royal sells it as a better cruise experience..but bottom line is they are doing it to make more money. if it was truly just better but cost them the same or more, they wouldn't do it.

 

But back to the original topic...I don't know how many people will be thrilled with 2 days camped off coco cay especially now with all the extra costs involved. Like anything, time will tell!

 

 

 

 

[HeWhoWaits]

2 minutes ago, monctonguy said:

...I don't know how many people will be thrilled with 2 days camped off coco cay especially now with all the extra costs involved. Like anything, time will tell!

Those who don't want to spend two days at Coco Cay (myself included) can just avoid the itineraries that include it. Those who want the extra time there will eat up the opportunity.

[Lovetocruise2002]

41 minutes ago, HeWhoWaits said:

Those who don't want to spend two days at Coco Cay (myself included) can just avoid the itineraries that include it. Those who want the extra time there will eat up the opportunity.

Exactly!  And if the ship is your destination (like how it is for some people) and it happens to include Coco Cay, then you're golden, more time on board! 

[Archaegeo]

I just checked and this is no longer the itinerary, kinda sad, 2 days at Cococay was much more appealing to me than a stop at Nassau.

 

[Matt]

Thanks for following up

[RestingBird]

On 6/4/2018 at 11:20 AM, monctonguy said:

yes...but the theme park is the destination or the point of the vacation..this is a cruise vacation which already costs $$..then you add this on for one day.

 

 

Guess just another reason I am glad I don't have kids..I could never afford them in todays society or at least never afford to take them anywhere....

Yeah...I'm having to rethink my cruise life now with kids in the picture.  I want them to have a good time on vacation, but the costs add up quick for sure.

[Cathy Rosetti]

Yes we would love to spend 2 days at perfect day I really enjoy the island. I hope in the future they will do this and I will be ready to book?

[ChrisK2793]

On 6/4/2018 at 8:31 AM, monctonguy said:

 And I couldn't imagine a family of 4 or 5 having to pay for 2 days worth of activities for their kids there.

 

On our June 2020 Navigator cruise, which is at Cococay on days 2 & 4 ..... I was able to book a 2 day Waterpark pass for Cococay for $79.99 total per person

That’s the same price they were charging for just Day 1 and they were charging $89.99 for just day 2 if you didn’t do the 2 day pass.  

[KellyCruises]

When we booked this cruise it included one day at sea, one day in Nassau, and one day at Coco Cay. We booked this cruise because of the day at sea. I have to admit, I am really disappointed because I love the sea days! I know I am blessed to be able to go on this cruise regardless of the itinerary, I’m just saying I’m disappointed because of the change. 

[PG Cruiser]

24 minutes ago, KellyCruises said:

When we booked this cruise it included one day at sea, one day in Nassau, and one day at Coco Cay. We booked this cruise because of the day at sea. I have to admit, I am really disappointed because I love the sea days! I know I am blessed to be able to go on this cruise regardless of the itinerary, I’m just saying I’m disappointed because of the change. 

They still offer sailings with a day at sea on this itinerary.  Couldn't you switch to one of those sailings, schedule permitting?

[StayFrosty]

8 hours ago, KellyCruises said:

I am really disappointed because I love the sea days!

Out of curiosity, what about sea days do you like that would be unavailable while parked at CocoCay?

[KellyCruises]

19 hours ago, PG Cruiser said:

They still offer sailings with a day at sea on this itinerary.  Couldn't you switch to one of those sailings, schedule permitting?

That is a nice thought, PG Cruiser, but unfortunately our schedule is not flexible. It’s not the end of the world, I’m just disappointed. We’ve been on multiple cruises that have had itinerary changes, things happen (weather related), and we still have a great time. I believe this change was about RCCL making more money, that’s the irritating part. We will still have a good time, you get out of cruises what you put into them.

[KellyCruises]

11 hours ago, StayFrosty said:

Out of curiosity, what about sea days do you like that would be unavailable while parked at CocoCay?

Thank you for asking, StayFrosty. I suppose the answer would be, not much, as far as doing anything. What I love about sea days is the actual sailing; watching the wake of the ship, the warm wind blowing, the relaxing feeling, the sounds of the water or the steel drums playing in the background, being able to just look out at the ocean and clear my mind and relax, that sort of thing. It’s more about feeling than doing. I hope that makes sense. 

[PG Cruiser]

4 minutes ago, KellyCruises said:

Thank you for asking, StayFrosty. I suppose the answer would be, not much, as far as doing anything. What I love about sea days is the actual sailing; watching the wake of the ship, the warm wind blowing, the relaxing feeling, the sounds of the water or the steel drums playing in the background, being able to just look out at the ocean and clear my mind and relax, that sort of thing. It’s more about feeling than doing. I hope that makes sense. 

If I may add... we often hear the expression “the ship IS the destination”.  On port days, the ship is not much of a destination because onboard activity is limited. Except for the pool deck, the ship feels like a ghost town on port days.

[KellyCruises]

On 9/26/2019 at 8:38 AM, PG Cruiser said:

If I may add... we often hear the expression “the ship IS the destination”.  On port days, the ship is not much of a destination because onboard activity is limited. Except for the pool deck, the ship feels like a ghost town on port days.

You are correct, most everyone is off the ship. At least three separate occasions, that I can think of, we have had to remain onboard at a port. We made the most of it and had wonderful days. Like I said, you get out of cruises what you put into them.