agc291 Posted March 27, 2013 #1 Share Posted March 27, 2013 We are looking at Oasis of the Seas in December. We are booking our first balcony and will be traveling with my sister & her BF (both first time cruisers). They want an inside room but the cost is a little over budget for them. My BF & I offered to share an ocean view balcony room with them so they would get the reduced 3rd/ 4th person fare and we would pay the same either way. Question is what happens if there is a price reduction that would allow them to afford the inside room. Can we just switch them into their own room. Would that require us to be moved to a 2 person room? Would we have to pay an additional amount even though booking a 4 person and 2 person balcony costs the same (as of today). Also how would the deposit work with 4 people? Royals site says it is $500 per stateroom but does that change with extra people? I am new to royal and am just getting used to their website etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misstopgun Posted March 27, 2013 #2 Share Posted March 27, 2013 My concern would be that if they couldn't afford an inside room, they might find it difficult to pay for their cruise expenses. It has always been my experience that I spend more for onboard expenses than I do for the cruise itself, or even the flight to the cruise. Maybe I'm unique, but I don't think so. I do have to admit I used to spend less. When I first began cruising I was satisfied with the food venues that were included and was entertained by the on board entertainment. Even then though, shore excursions, alcohol, and casino would still leave me with a hefty onboard bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazypriest Posted March 27, 2013 #3 Share Posted March 27, 2013 Hello... I would share the same concern as written above.... are they able to afford the trip really... even after your most generous offer to have them stay in your cabin... 1. What will the actual cost of drinks be per day? 2. Tips are always a surprise... if it is a 7 night cruise... they also need to budget $82 per person.. 3. What are they expecting to do at ports? What will that cost?? At the same time, my wife and I always got a separate cabin for our two kids.... I really can't imagine having 4 adults in the same cabin.... WAY to little room. Good luck, Ernesto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lalalisa Posted March 27, 2013 #4 Share Posted March 27, 2013 As far as the deposit goes, I think it's $250 per passenger....not 100% sure about it though. It isn't a problem to move passengers 3 & 4 out of your room, as passengers 1 & 2 are already paying full fare. On our upcoming Allure cruise we had initially booked 4 in the room, but 2 have since canceled on us. We were able to keep our room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DM_KidAtHeart Posted March 27, 2013 #5 Share Posted March 27, 2013 The only definite extra expenses IMO are the tips. Drinking and casinos are NOT necessary parts of a vacation for many people. As for shore excursions, it can be done cheaply if you just wander about town or visit a beach. Or with a ship like Oasis or Allure, is there even a need to get off the ship at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denamo Posted March 27, 2013 #6 Share Posted March 27, 2013 We are looking at Oasis of the Seas in December. We are booking our first balcony and will be traveling with my sister & her BF (both first time cruisers). They want an inside room but the cost is a little over budget for them. My BF & I offered to share an ocean view balcony room with them so they would get the reduced 3rd/ 4th person fare and we would pay the same either way. Question is what happens if there is a price reduction that would allow them to afford the inside room. Can we just switch them into their own room. Would that require us to be moved to a 2 person room? Would we have to pay an additional amount even though booking a 4 person and 2 person balcony costs the same (as of today). Also how would the deposit work with 4 people? Royals site says it is $500 per stateroom but does that change with extra people? I am new to royal and am just getting used to their website etc. The balcony cabins would be very tight with four adults. All of you sharing one bathroom would also be tough. I wish I could answer your other questions. It would probably be better if you would call Royal Caribbean directly and ask about two of the four passengers in the same cabin switch to another cabin is there is a penalty. It might be tied to whether or not it is past final payment date. You could also ask about the deposit. You can contact them 24 hours a day. Please share your answers when you know. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iluvcruising2 Posted March 27, 2013 #7 Share Posted March 27, 2013 The only definite extra expenses IMO are the tips. Drinking and casinos are NOT necessary parts of a vacation for many people. As for shore excursions, it can be done cheaply if you just wander about town or visit a beach. Or with a ship like Oasis or Allure, is there even a need to get off the ship at all. Yes. But then again, if it is in your culture to drink, it would be very hard to avoid that expense. We don't drink much in our culture. In many of my earlier cruises, I spent nothing on alcohol. But these days, I drink more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordchaos Posted March 27, 2013 #8 Share Posted March 27, 2013 The balcony cabins would be very tight with four adults. All of you sharing one bathroom would also be tough. I wish I could answer your other questions. It would probably be better if you would call Royal Caribbean directly and ask about two of the four passengers in the same cabin switch to another cabin is there is a penalty. It might be tied to whether or not it is past final payment date. You could also ask about the deposit. You can contact them 24 hours a day. Please share your answers when you know. Thanks. i have to strongly agree here. you are going to be really tight with 4 adults, not to mention the bathroom situation will not be good. gonna be really uncomfortable i would think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esmerelda Posted March 27, 2013 #9 Share Posted March 27, 2013 First off, I'm not sure exactly when in December you are sailing, we sailed on the Oasis 2 December ago (around the 10th). We waited until after final payment date (which is 70 days out from sail date or close to that) and we saved over $800. Basically my teen son sailed for free with us. We had a balcony cabin and I will just say; it was TIGHT! I would probably never do a balcony cabin on the Oasis class with more than 2 people. If you are sailing in the first 2 weeks of December, it might be worth your while (or you relative's while) to wait to book. If they are sailing around Christmas, then that last statement would be a waste of your time. Happy planning.. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach.bum Posted March 27, 2013 #10 Share Posted March 27, 2013 I agree with above posters-4 in a balcony room on Oasis would be very tight. Not something I'd be comfortable doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agc291 Posted March 27, 2013 Author #11 Share Posted March 27, 2013 I appreciate everyones responses. They are aware that tips are extra, this is not my first cruise so I know very well what extra costs can come up on the ship. They would be happy enough to cruise on Carnival and be able to afford a balcony of their own and save a couple hundred $ but I do not want to sail with them again, at least not in the near future. I know it makes some nervous to help them if they "cant afford" it. I am just trying to help them afford a nicer vacation. It would be their first one in years and they work really hard. I sometimes struggle to afford our vacations and try not to spend too much on board. I am a tad bit concerned with the space or lack there of but honestly, we are usually in our room to sleep and change. The bathrooms may be a problem but one that we can easily work out. It wouldn't be the first time I shared a bathroom between 4 people :) My question is really not whether you think it is a good idea, it is what the repercussions would be if they needed to cancel or if they were able to be moved into their own room. I will give Royal a call and see what they have to say. Thanks again for all your honest answers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJcruisenewbie Posted March 27, 2013 #12 Share Posted March 27, 2013 My concern would be that if they couldn't afford an inside room, they might find it difficult to pay for their cruise expenses. It has always been my experience that I spend more for onboard expenses than I do for the cruise itself, or even the flight to the cruise. Maybe I'm unique, but I don't think so. I do have to admit I used to spend less. When I first began cruising I was satisfied with the food venues that were included and was entertained by the on board entertainment. Even then though, shore excursions, alcohol, and casino would still leave me with a hefty onboard bill. Wow, really? We must be real light weights because our tab on our 5 night cruise was about $100. OP, we had a family cruise last summer and moved people around alot as a few couldn't go. We had 5 cabins that could accomodate up to 4 people. 2 of the cabins were originally booked with 4 but in the end only 2 people were in those. We did end up losing the deposit on a few people but there weren't any other penalities. I imagine if they were able to move to an inside before the deadline to get the deposit back on their sharing your cabin you won't be out any $. All that being said there is no way I'd share a cabin or even a hotel room with another couple. That's just way too tight for my comfort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UCF_Knight Posted March 27, 2013 #13 Share Posted March 27, 2013 They would be happy enough to cruise on Carnival and be able to afford a balcony of their own and save a couple hundred $ but I do not want to sail with them again, at least not in the near future. Have you considered anything other than Oasis of the Seas, the most expensive class of Royal Caribbean ship? There are plenty of other cruises in December that might be in your sister's budget and allow them to get their own cabin. I don't know what date in December you are looking for, but they could probably get a cabin of their own on either a 7 night Freedom of the Seas sailing or a 6 night Independence of the Seas sailing for the same or less than the 3rd/4th rate in an Oasis cabin. The Independence 6 night cruises usually have especially attractive rates that time of year. Both ships are Freedom class ships and have tons of stuff to do. I'm sure your sister, and you, would have a great vacation on either ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teajak Posted March 27, 2013 #14 Share Posted March 27, 2013 I really can't imagine 4 adults in a cabin with the closet space, small sitting area and one bathroom.One thing to remember if you do this,the men can go to the spa to shave and shower while the ladies dress in the cabin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agc291 Posted March 28, 2013 Author #15 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Have you considered anything other than Oasis of the Seas, the most expensive class of Royal Caribbean ship? There are plenty of other cruises in December that might be in your sister's budget and allow them to get their own cabin. I don't know what date in December you are looking for, but they could probably get a cabin of their own on either a 7 night Freedom of the Seas sailing or a 6 night Independence of the Seas sailing for the same or less than the 3rd/4th rate in an Oasis cabin. The Independence 6 night cruises usually have especially attractive rates that time of year. Both ships are Freedom class ships and have tons of stuff to do. I'm sure your sister, and you, would have a great vacation on either ship. Thanks for the suggestion but we are looking at just the Oasis or Allure just for the ship. The difference of cost for another ship on Royal really isnt that much so I feel we are getting more bang for our buck so to say. My sister and her BF have decided to get an inside room of their own but again thanks for all of your help! Im sure it would have been tight and by the end of the week we would want to kill each other :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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