Deployment schedule: let the guessing begin!

[DaisyL]

RCI has always been more expensive than NCL or Carnival or Celebrity or Princess out of the NY area. This is my home port and although I have wanted to try RCI the cost had kept us from doing so.

 

We finally decided to go with my brother and family (RCI loyal) last year on Explorer of the Seas even though we could have cruised on NCL Breakaway for much cheaper.

 

We had a blast and realized we love RCI so when the rates came out for Quantum we decided to book the 12 day in April 2015 but chose a front facing window cabin to save money and also with the weather that time of year we don't need a balcony when at sea. We are paying $1750 pp and our friends $2400 pp for a balcony =$200 pp/night.

 

Not reasonable for 'off season' for NY cruising. So I'm not surprised at the rates you are quoting for the summer and fall cruises on Liberty or Anthem. They will charge what people are willing to pay and if sales are slow the rates will drop.

 

We are looking forward to our cruise next year on Quantum and feel very fortunate that we had booked already because I don't think we will be able to afford Liberty, Anthem or any other RCI ship out of the NY area afterwards.

[marci22]

I'm guessing that those prices are probably the ones originally assigned to Quantum. Then they switched ships at the last minute, and just left the prices the same.

 

I don't see the value in those summer prices.

[Ken at the beach]

I'm guessing that those prices are probably the ones originally assigned to Quantum. Then they switched ships at the last minute, and just left the prices the same.

 

I don't see the value in those summer prices.

 

It's not just Liberty that is high. Navigator is high as well. Christmas week on the Navigator is more than the same week on Oasis and is more than I paid for the same week on Allure.

[Dave85]

So the prices have already dropped a bit on the two sailings I'm looking at -- the prices I'm seeing now are significantly lower (like $350pp) than what they were earlier in the day. This is a good sign. Still a little high, but headed in the right direction.

Edited April 18, 2014 by Dave85

[CRUISEBOY305]

Here is a list of everything that has been deployed and what is left.

 

We already know what Mariner, Voyager and Explorer will be doing.

 

The big question is Legend.

 

http://www.creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2015_2016/14038333_2015_Deployment_GUIDE.pdf

[icat2000]

Legend to Australia that my guess.

[scubasteve00]

RCCL please send Legend to NOLA!

 

 

 

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[cassamanda]

Legend to Australia that my guess.

 

Ditto that. Legend will nicely replace Rhapsody and cover the more inaccessible ports.

Many posters seem to underestimate the Chinese market - very big spenders and that is where Royal makes its money. Appear to be lousy itineraries but people will in this case go for the ship rather than the itinerary.

 

Explorer, Voyager and Radiance covering the Australian/NZ market with the occasional stint into Asia. Radiance to do Australia/Hawaii repo. Hopefully Legend will join the TP repo in 2016 and maybe cover Hawaii? Great itineraries with reduced profits but good turn over of new cruisers.

[kath00]

So the prices have already dropped a bit on the two sailings I'm looking at -- the prices I'm seeing now are significantly lower (like $350pp) than what they were earlier in the day. This is a good sign. Still a little high, but headed in the right direction.

 

Sadly as far as I know, suite prices NEVER go down and never go on sale. So the insane OS prices quoted above are probably there to stay until the date of sailing. Making Princess look all the better for us Left Coasters...

[mommabean]

Sadly as far as I know, suite prices NEVER go down and never go on sale. So the insane OS prices quoted above are probably there to stay until the date of sailing. Making Princess look all the better for us Left Coasters...

 

 

All cabins have the potential to drop in price depending on availability as the cruise day draws near. Even the royal suite drops in price. Sometimes drops are drastic. Sometimes directed at special groups like residents or seniors. Yes, suites have price drops many times.

[marci22]

July 16 9 night Bermuda and Caribbean Royal Suite

 

$17,279 per person. Plus port fees. And grats.

[Case1096]

Sadly as far as I know, suite prices NEVER go down and never go on sale. So the insane OS prices quoted above are probably there to stay until the date of sailing. Making Princess look all the better for us Left Coasters...

 

Not true. We booked the L2 on the Allure for May 2013 and about a month before final a resident rate came out saving us $1,500!

[shipfriend_max]

Ditto that. Legend will nicely replace Rhapsody and cover the more inaccessible ports.

Many posters seem to underestimate the Chinese market - very big spenders and that is where Royal makes its money. Appear to be lousy itineraries but people will in this case go for the ship rather than the itinerary.

 

 

Yes - Legend should be the replacement for Rhapsody.

With 4 ships (2x Voyager class, 1x Radiance class, 1x Vision class) RCI would have a wide range of different itineraries in Australia - I guess it will be interesting! :)

 

Could well be that the Asian market is growing - but it is a huge pity that such innovative and advanced ships are used just for gamling trips, not for the cruise as such, with discovering different ports of call.

OK, but that's what the mediocre Chinese's want... shame for the ships!!!

 

Let's hope that no Radiance ship will enter the Asian market!

[big al]

It is not the fact that it is especially Quantum. In general it is the fact that such an advanced and huge ship will be sent to Asia!

If it were Liberty, Freedom, Navigator, whatever, I also would be somewhat angry, because the short Asia itineraries are not appealing, and you could deploy such ships more senseful!

 

I think even Liberty would be "enough" to beat NCL Breakaway out of NYC - I think even Explorer had good chances agains Breakaway.

Breakaway just has too many passengers for its size... and Liberty offers a good mixture between an original "ship" and a resort.

Breakaway is just a floating resort, with few maritime flair...

 

My friend was on the Breakaway last June and LOVED her...he said food & entertainment were the BEST he's ever seen on his 16 cruises (he's Platinum.. 8 on RCI)..conversely, he just got off the AOS in Feb, and said both food in the MDR ( Portifinos he said was great..) and shows were terrible..he said he would sail NCL Breakaway or Getaway again in a heartbeat....so be careful what you say,FYI...

 

Big Al

 

P.S.- I have just sent an e-mail off to Chris Allen, VP of Itineraries at RCI ( I know him..), stating how upset & surprised people here on CC are at the recent deployment news..I will share if I hear from him...

[shipfriend_max]

P.S.- I have just sent an e-mail off to Chris Allen, VP of Itineraries at RCI ( I know him..), stating how upset & surprised people here on CC are at the recent deployment news..I will share if I hear from him...

 

Oh thank you. :D

 

To talk from MYself, I am just "upset" that Quantum goes to China - the fact that Liberty goes to Cape Liberty is good for me, and Navigator on the 6/8-night Caribbean cruises also.

 

Apart from Asia, I really like the 2015 deployment of RCI - especially in Northern Europe and Mediterranean.

 

Sorry, but there is also a lot of different feedback. There are several people who said food, entertainment and service on Breakaway were very disappointing and the RCI Voyager class is not disadvantaged, compared to Breakaway - food, service etc. were good ,they told me.

Everyone has a different opinion and different experiences. :)

Edited April 18, 2014 by celebrity_fan

[geoff2802]

Any thoughts on Quantum destinations during the northern winter? The press release only mentions cruises to Korea and Japan, but both are very cold in winter. Maybe some cruises to Vietnam and Singapore? Or doesn't the weather matter when everyone is in the casino anyway?

 

 

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[Dave85]

Oh thank you. :D

 

Sorry, but there is also a lot of different feedback. There are several people who said food, entertainment and service on Breakaway were very disappointing and the RCI Voyager class is not disadvantaged, compared to Breakaway - food, service etc. were good ,they told me.

Everyone has a different opinion and different experiences. :)

 

My friend was on the Breakaway last June and LOVED her...he said food & entertainment were the BEST he's ever seen on his 16 cruises (he's Platinum.. 8 on RCI)..conversely, he just got off the AOS in Feb, and said both food in the MDR ( Portifinos he said was great..) and shows were terrible..he said he would sail NCL Breakaway or Getaway again in a heartbeat....so be careful what you say,FYI...

 

Big Al

 

I'm trying Breakaway in November (my first NCL experience) and definitely plan to write a comparative review.

[yj2cute]

I'm trying Breakaway in November (my first NCL experience) and definitely plan to write a comparative review.

 

I'll be on in October and am looking forward to seeing how its changed since my last NCL cruise a decade ago. I haven't written a review in a long time but I will try to post at least a mini review comparing Breakaway to Royal's mega ships.

 

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Edited April 18, 2014 by yj2cute

[CRUISEBOY305]

Here's some info on the liberty repo cruise in November 2015

 

 

 

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[Paulette3028]

Article in Sun-Sentinel, newspaper here in S. Florida says Anthem will go to Liberty, NJ (Bayonne), in November 2015, where it will replace Quantum (which will go to China). At that time, November 2015, Navigator will come to Port Everglades for Caribbean sailings.

 

I hope the link I provide below works:

 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-royal-caribbean-quantum-update-20140417,0,4082933.story

[Tall-Cruiser]

From Seatrade Insider

 

http://www.seatrade-insider.com/news/news-headlines/bold-quantum-move-has-strategic-sizzle-in-china-sparks-doubts-in-us.html

 

China's emerging cruise market has been energized by the Quantum of the Seas news, but in the US Royal Caribbean officials were put on the defensive by media who questioned if the line is turning away from its base and sacrificing yields. Some see South Florida, New York and even California as losing out.

 

'The world is changing. Our sourcing is changing,' responded Royal Caribbean International's Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, evp operations, during a US media briefing Thursday. 'We are trying to take a balanced view of deployment.' As for yields, 'Sometimes our decisions are strategic, not financial in nature.'

 

North America, she added, is 'always at the forefront of everything we do.'

 

According to Lutoff-Perlo, Quantum's deployment has sparked 'tremendous energy and excitement' in Asia. The Shanghai announcement drew scores of reporters when Royal Caribbean regional vp Zinan Liu broke the news, accompanied by Dominic Paul, vp international.

 

Back in the US, media asked why China, a market that has been slow to develop a taste for cruising, is getting the company's most innovative ship. For those who have never cruised, wouldn't an older vessel impress just as well?

 

In a note, UBS Investment Research expressed surprise about Royal Caribbean's decision. 'Given that the China sourcing market is still emerging, cruise operators will not typically send their latest, greatest ship to a market that has not developed a strong year-round base of demand,' analyst Robin Farley wrote.

 

'We have great confidence in the market in China,' said Chris Allen, associate vp global deployment and itinerary planning, who noted demand there has been accelerating. Not long ago only a Vision-class ship served the market; now that is up to a pair of Voyager-class vessels. Their strong acceptance led to the Quantum move.

 

The resulting deployment reshuffle, that pulled Quantum sister Anthem of the Seas from its Port Everglades schedule in winter 2015—was that really due to to weaker Caribbean pricing for South Florida cruises? a Miami Herald reporter asked.

 

South Florida has the premium-priced Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, Vicki Freed, svp sales, trade support and service, pointed out. Instead of Anthem, the newly revitalized Navigator of the Seas will be moved into South Florida from Galveston.

 

Allen noted Royal Caribbean will have record capacity in Florida this coming year, and 'a whole plethora of itineraries' from Miami, Port Everglades, Tampa and Port Canaveral.

 

And Freed maintained travel agents in the Greater New York area are enthusiastic about the succession of three new Royal Caribbean ships they'll be getting.

 

Quantum of the Seas debuts at Bayonne, N.J.'s Cape Liberty in November. When the ship moves to China next May, the Freedom-class Liberty of the Seas takes over in Bayonne for Bermuda, Caribbean and Canada/New England cruises in the summer and autumn. Then, following its Southampton inaugural season next summer, Anthem of the Seas replaces Liberty for Bahamas and Caribbean cruises in winter 2015/16.

 

(Liberty will go to Galveston, replacing Navigator.)

 

New York-area agents 'feel like they're getting a trifecta—three of the best ships,' Freed said. She insisted the Northeast US feedback has been 'very positive.'

 

California hasn't had a Royal Caribbean ship in several years. Is Asia a more desirable source market for the brand than California? a Southwest US reporter asked.

 

China's huge population base can't be ignored, Freed said, and Royal Caribbean hopes to be back in California some day, however itinerary options from there are 'somewhat limited.' Allen assured the West Coast US is a market Royal Caribbean continues to review.

 

To align Quantum of the Seas for Asians, the company will make minor modifications during the ship's 15-night repositioning cruise to Shanghai next spring. These include changes to retail, gaming and, in order to slightly modify menus, the galleys.

 

In light of China's potential, might an Oasis ship be in the cards?

 

With the trio of Quantum-class newbuilds and Oasis 3 in the orderbook, 'we had always planned to send one of these new ships to Asia,' Lutoff-Perlo disclosed, adding that plans were accelerated with Quantum of the Seas.

 

'We will always keep a very balanced view for all our markets,' she reiterated. 'While I could never say never [about Oasis], it's too soon to tell.'

[yj_eugene]

But anyway, I'm getting the impression from your latest comments (bolded) that you're just one of those random posters from elsewhere in the country who harbors some sort of strange animosity against New York. Got it. Moving on...

 

Sorry, can't let the last word be your stating of an untruth. I have no animosity toward NY, lived there myself for over a decade.

 

Now we can move on. Enjoy whatever trip(s) you end up taking on the Quantum/Liberty/Anthem.

[shipfriend_max]

Hello Tall-Cruiser,

 

Thanks for the information. :)

Let's hope that RCI will keep enough ships for the US and for the European waters.

I would be bothered if half of the fleet switched to Asia!!! :mad:

 

 

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[joandian]

Sadly as far as I know, suite prices NEVER go down and never go on sale. So the insane OS prices quoted above are probably there to stay until the date of sailing. Making Princess look all the better for us Left Coasters...

 

Not true. We have scored some good deals on JS and GS when prices dropped lower than we originally booked E and D cabins.

 

I'll bring Celebrity into the mix here too - on our upcoming cruise the Sky suite price dropped far below what we paid for balcony but we would lose our 123 package if we upgraded. Since we already had somewhere to sleep, we kept the drinks ;)

 

Jo

[Aggies9698]

Here's some info on the liberty repo cruise in November 2015

 

[ATTACH]309884[/ATTACH]

 

 

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What happens with liberty between arriving in Galveston on Nov 12, 2015 and the first cruise listed on RC website on Nov 22, 2015?