Hoopster95

Got it. I'm booked this May Bar-Athens. To say the prices are stupid is an understatement! Only two reasons why I booked: 1) group rate + 2) VY debarks in Athens on May 27, whereby I would walk over to Serenade for an 11 WC day mini-segment (which is now cancelled). Anyways the group rate for an OV gty was $1350pp taxes incl, current "retail" price OV gty is $2800pp taxes incl ... over 100% more! Also this is a perfect example where booking after final would not have worked.

Did you google?

Are you on Voyager in May? I also scored a Vision corner-aft JS about 30 days after final a few years ago. Booking after final payment is not the easiest and sometimes you lose the game (twice this past year paid more but wanted that specific sailing, c'est la vie)... you have to watch and learn the trends. It doesn't work for all ships or all sailings.

Just a follow up to this thread.... It's now 68 days before sailing/22 days after final payment, prices have been reduced again. Check the balcony GTY cabins. I just upgraded my interior for only $200 to an aft balcony 😃 which for some reason came available.

TA = Transatlantic sailings in my posts. Sorry for the confusion TP = Transpacific sailings

I've booked 15 cruises 2023 to present (4 coming). I just counted... 9 of them booked after final payment 7 of those were less $$ than everyone else who paid on the very first day up to final payment date. I see TAs' and TP's offered cheaper as a last minute sailing. Most recent example is the upcoming TP on April 28 ... 8 day Brilliance Hawaii-Vancouver. Price went down overnight on day 90 (the final payment day) by $300 per person. The price is less than anyone paid from first deployment day to final payment date.

100% disagree. Especially with TA's that normally have a ton of inventory after final payment date.

I posted this last night to give a shout out to island lady, then deleted it. I figured it wasn't my place. I should've left the post there as is just as a general comment like you did here. The way the global economy is (possibly) heading, I did not find this overly shocking news.

deleted

I really like those Central Park Interior view rooms. They are conveniently located and larger than normal, and where a balcony usually is, there is a cushioned loveseat/bay window whereby you get plenty of natural light and a decent view of Central Park. In my humble opinion, you will barely look out the window no matter whatever oceanview cabin you're in... you'll be all over the ship and not in your cabin. What is the bid price for the ultra spacious ocean view? Personally, I would remove that bid, and only keep the balcony request alive.

I have not understood this thread since the beginning..... You simply have not yet been cancelled. One of the itinerary options that will be voted on gets the ship to Istanbul June 7 on time for you to get on your cruise as planned. You will get your notification after the vote and official new itinerary announcement.

Just so that any new cruiser doesn’t get confused reading through this thread, Boleros no longer exists on Voyager. It’s now “The Tavern”… a venue not found on the other ships.

Jim, you're absolutely right. My bad. Option #1 is the amazing cruise... "Immersive Africa"

Options #2 is an amazing one-of-a-kind journey! What an awesome cruise. I cannot see how anyone would even consider option #1 in comparison. Thank you again for this Suzy

Suzy or someone... could you please repost this image. It us very low quality and cannot be zoomed in. It's not readable like the larger image. Thank you so much

Thank you very much for this Suzy I was wrong in assuming they'd follow Princess and VV's plans.

March 27 - May 9 3 new segments Scroll down a little to see the itineraries https://vvinsider.com/virgin-voyages-reroutes-resilient-lady-due-to-red-sea-tensions/

Oceana, especially on one of their larger ships (Riviera, Marina or Vista)

I know a very successful TA. She has been telling me since last August that demand was down and getting lower. Regarding cruising/RC I have recently booked Brilliance AT LESS than any price available from day 1 deployed to final payment date. Other cruise lines like NCL have give away pricing on several ships and itineraries. I am looking at Barcelona flights Toronto-Barcelona in May $475 Canadian one-way. There are a ton of deals out there for next year as it seems every airline and every tour company (Gate1, Trafalgar, etc) have great sales right now and into 2025. And we'll all see how the recession affects travel by end of 2024.

In my zero facts, highly biased (because I'm on the Athens sailing as well and I'm being positive!!), but humble opinion.... I think Princess and Virgin has spoken to what Royal might do. It's all about the $$$$, and Royal out of all the cruise lines are so focused on the bottom line. Money will rule their decision 100% in my imo. I checked all segments from Brisbane, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore... lot's of cabins available, Serenade is definitely not even close to capacity. Europe starting with the Athens-Istanbul segment is very full. And looking further into the other Europe itineraries pretty much sold out. This was also suggested with Princess and Virgin, whereby their ships were not at capacity in Asia, but very much in capacity in Europe. Which cruises are easiest to cancel? The full Europe sailings or the emptier Asia sailings? So to me it makes sense getting the ship to Europe on time, and hopefully that means Athens. I foresee Royal going south around Oz just like Virgin and Princess.... less fuel, shorter distance, less time to travel, less cancellations, less refunds to cruisers, just way easier to manage vs. going all the way to Dubai and then screwing up the first few Europe sailings. This is Virgin's new sailing route vs. heading north from Sydney

I've done Chaccoben... it's an underwhelming. Kohunlich & Dzibanche are so much better. I feel that Chichen Itza is a horrid waste of so much time from Cozumel.

Kohunlich & Dzibanche Ruins... totally awesome! A very long full day from the ship, long bus ride to and from, however an amazing day. https://www.thenativechoice.com/tours/kohunlich-dzibanche-tour Cozumel snorkelling is great at Chankanaab National Park... really short taxi from the peir, plus has tons of other things to do (zip line, beach time, dolphins, etc.... great for the kids)

Older ships are 100% profitable... they have zero debt. I asked Capt Mathias about this last year on Rhapsody. I also asked this question on 3 separate Capt Corners a few months ago (during "Discovery Project" discussion) with regard to capital cost depreciation of the newer ships vs. older ships which have already been fully depreciated. The older ships are "paid off". Their problem is their life span and cost of operating... like an old car with 250,000 miles, if the engine blows up, do you replace a $5000 engine into a car that's worth only $1000? Same with a older ship. At some point keeping that ship healthy, running and especially modernized & up to current clientele standards won't make sense. For now, keep changing the oil and cross fingers (& toes)

"Trundle bed". The couch pulls out into a two bed set up.... one higher than the other There are a ton of photos on line. Simply google trundle bed Royal Caribbean

You may find you will not want to go back to bigger ships 😉👍