CruisingWalter

Based on previous folks who posted about running cabling in the hallways, that might have been the start of new Internet infrastructure. With miles and miles of cables to run, and repeaters to install, that may be something that's going to be rolled out over the next few months. Especially if they're working around passengers on revenue sailings.

According to the Royal Caribbean FAQ, you can only purchase the drinks package up to 72 hours in advance of your cruise or on the first day of your cruise. Sounds like after Day One, no more offers for the drinks package. https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/beverage-package-cancellation-policy

That depends on whether the category is officially Closed by Royal Caribbean or Waitlisted. If the category is closed, there won't be any additional fare reductions. If it is Waitlisted, we've never see the cruise fare reduce. The Waitlist price is usually significantly higher than anyone who has already booked. If you're working with a TA, it's super easy for them to price check your stateroom and if there is a price reduction, they can re-fare you cabin without the need to call Royal Caribbean (or Celebrity).

Travel Agencies may also be holding blocks of cabins, those won't be released until they are either released by the travel agencies or final payment date. All cruise lines will hold back at least a few categories, especially for cruises that are on sale a year or more out. As categories start to fill in, more will open up.

Junior Suites are part of the Sea Class of Royal Suites. Dinner at Coastal Kitchen, based upon availability*. All Day Access** to Silver Dining for guests onboard Spectrum of the Seas® Royal Caribbean Plush Bathrobes for Use Onboard Luxury Pillow Top Mattress Luxury Bathroom Amenities Lavazza Espresso Coffee Machine *Reservations are required for dinner at Coastal Kitchen (upon availability). Beverages are not included. **Silver Dining has specific opening hours for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Reservations are not required. -Complimentary gratuities are not included for Sea guests The list of benefits for each class of Royal Suite is here https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-royal-suite-class

The endless parade of 'flash sales' is confusing in themselves. VV is kind of becoming MSC in that regard, MSC runs a flash sale about every other week. It is interesting that VV tightened the Status Match options when they re-released the program. You cannot match from most every cruise line like you could before.

Everyone at VV is very tight lipped on this one. The deployment grid we have shows Brilliant Lady in Q4 2025 with "Coming Soon." No specific dates or locations. May 1, 12 noon ET we find out together.

That's why I'm most interested in the Seattle sailings. Will they do something other than the expected Alaska itineraries. Seattle to Hawaii would be cool. Seattle to Mexico would be interesting.

It IS awesome. We did the partial transit on Princess but then took an excursion boat all the way through to the Pacific. I think everyone should do a transit that way as well. With such a small boat, 250 pax, we were coming in to the very bottom of the locks with the walls about 15 feet or so over our heads. When you're on a cruise ship, you're basically on a skyscraper going through. It's still amazing, but experiencing it from the waterline is pretty dang cool too.

Yep, get ready West Coast. My guess is she comes across the pond to NYC. Does a few sailings there. Comes down to Miami, does a few sailings there. Then Panama Canal Crossing to LA. And then Seattle for some Alaska itineraries? That'll be interesting. I'm really hoping Hawaii is at least one of the itineraries.

After working in marketing for 2 years for one of the largest casinos in the world I learned that the house always wins. There's no such thing as a free cruise or a free suite in a casino. The vast majority of 'casino comp' guests pay far more than the average guest who is simply paid for their cruise or resort stay. It's brilliant marketing and I was a big part of that to make sure you felt like you were getting something for free and the company was really glad to have you there. The numbers don't like and those numbers were honestly staggering so I see why the cruise lines keep offering "casino comps" to keep folks coming back. It's the same with the loyalty programs that reward repeat cruisers "free perks" such as WiFi or maybe a few drinks when you hit a certain level. WiFi might cost $200 per cruise but you paid well north of $200k to keep sailing that same cruise line over and over and over and over to get that 'free perk.' Brilliant marketing all around. 🙂

It's easier with a TA, but you just have to call Sailor Services to have it transferred. Keep in mind you are only allowed one transfer. If that person decides they cannot go on the cruise and has to cancel, the benefits of the MNVV are lost, it cannot be transferred to anyone else.

@cantgetin we have a bunch of guests onboard your sailing! If you meet Bethany, Bill & Jill and Barbara and Don, say hello for us! Also Paul Thornton from Joy of Cruising Podcast is on your sailing too. He's a super cool guy, I was a featured guest on the podcast last month. Have an amazing voyage!

No official word from Virgin Voyages on Brilliant Lady. On the Deployment Grid she is shown in Q4 2025 with "Coming Soon." We are expecting some new announcements from VV in May. I would say stay tuned for that release.

I don't know how they do it, but they find THE BEST musicians and acts for all of their venues, especially On The Rocks. Probably the only way to find out who will be onboard is to ask Jeremy Larochelle on LinkedIn. He's the head of Music Strategy for Virgin Voyages and hopefully will be coming on my YouTube live show one Thursday evening to specifically talk acts on VV. He posts a LOT of stuff about VV music on the platform and you can probably drop him a DM. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremylarochelle/