NEW Suite Upgrades....

[CaribSailor]

Must have been one heck of a mock booking to top the cost of that trip...

 

 

The trip to ST. Thomas didn't cost as much as you think. I am a member of a jet club which costs me less than 10k a year to fly open legs (great if you can travel within 7-10 days notice) all I pay is TSA fees for anyone aside from myself with is usually 4-20$/pp. hotel was 789/night, food was about 3k for the trip. I know you will say that I paid 10k for the jet membership, I did but myself, wife and son have flown 50 open legs this year. Total trip cost me less than 12k which is less than a few of the mock booking for upper suites in oasis class.

[ltjn]

I would have to agree with earlier bookings usually offer the lower cost in a suite. Our 9 night cruise on the Navigator leaving 6 January 17, in OS 1320 for 3, the cost was $6100, today that cruise cost $1500 more. That increase occurred on 1 August 15. My brother decided to book the cruise that is why I know the price increase went into effect.

 

I know have speculated that all the cruises may increase in cost to cover the new suite program, I believe some cost will be passed on fleet wide.

 

One final note, I know many are happy with Royal Suite Class, I for one am very disappointed. My wife and I have no desire to cruise on the Oasis or Quantum Class. If I wanted to cruise with 5000 to 6000 passengers I would have joined the U S Navy, the Freedom Class is big enough to for us!

 

We always cruise in a suite on Royal. I hate to say it but most of Royal competitors offer substantially more benefits to suites. The Royal Suite Class actually bought Royal in line with others, but only on 2 classes of ships. The remainder of us will have to stay with the status quo.

 

I was trying to compare my Diamond Plus benefits to the benefits I receive for staying in a suite. The only differences I could recall, luggage valet, reserved pool side seating (side comments-the area on the Freedom Class is absolutely terrible), escorted tendering, escort off ship at disembarkment (not ever ship participates) and bigger staterooms (We pay and pay for that). What I can see not much of a cost to Royal, but I do like the suites. Maybe in a few years I will reevaluate. After I complete my 4 remaining cruise.

 

One more, I have sailed a few times in the Grand Suite B750. on the Saphhire Princess. Thier suite benefits put Royal to shame (I still like Royal).

[A&L_Ont]

The trip to ST. Thomas didn't cost as much as you think. I am a member of a jet club which costs me less than 10k a year to fly open legs (great if you can travel within 7-10 days notice) all I pay is TSA fees for anyone aside from myself with is usually 4-20$/pp. hotel was 789/night, food was about 3k for the trip. I know you will say that I paid 10k for the jet membership, I did but myself, wife and son have flown 50 open legs this year. Total trip cost me less than 12k which is less than a few of the mock booking for upper suites in oasis class.

 

What jet club are you a member of? We always fly executive and many times a year. With the prices you are mentioning it might be worth looking into. Thanks for the info.

[Cigar King]

I wondered if the Pillow Top Mattresses in JS and up meant poorer quality mattresses everywhere else.

 

I guess you could look at it that way. I would look at it as upgraded mattresses in the suites. I think this makes sense and expect a nice mattress in a hotel suite. Why not the same for a suite on board?

[CaribSailor]

[emoji3]

Edited August 12, 2015 by CaribSailor

[actuarian]

Just out of curiosity, I decided to count the number of rooms in each category on the Anthem OTS. The Anthem has a total of 2095 rooms. Out of that number, 11 rooms or 0.5% are in Star Class, 28 rooms or 1.3% are in Sky Class and 86 rooms or 4.1% are in Sea Class. So, if you think of the top two classes (Star and Sky) as a "ship within a ship", it is a boutique size ship with 39 rooms, much smaller than any of the true luxury ships such as the Silversea or Seaborne ships. I assume that the actual counts vary from ship to ship but the percentages are relatively constant.

 

I would add that I think they have made Star Class both too rarified and too expensive. Consider that 99 or 7.5% of the 1313 cabins on Cunard's Queen Mary are in Queens Grill class. Can RCCL really claim that Star Class is better than (or even equal to) Queens Grill class? Queens Grill class passengers can order pretty much anything they want at the Grill, regardless of whether or not it is on the menu, as long as the ingredients are available. They can also request real sturgeon caviar from their butlers (although it is no longer Beluga). I do not think Star Class offers than level of luxury but it seems to priced as high as Queens Grill class.

[CaribSailor]

What jet club are you a member of? We always fly executive and many times a year. With the prices you are mentioning it might be worth looking into. Thanks for the info.

 

 

Jetsmarter.

[orville99]

I'm a bit confused:what: even though I have been following this thread since it began. Are many of you stating that the prices in the Star (and possibly Sky) categories have already increased for May 2016 and later since the info was released? And is it your booked cruises or mock bookings too? The July 2016 GS Allure sailings I am looking at are still holding in price, but I can possibly attribute it to high season. I find that the GS category doesn't seem to budge in price much. I'd also like to see the prices without BOGOHO to see if it is a deal:rolleyes:

 

We only have one suite booked, so my numbers are limited. We booked on 4/2/14 before the first (5/1/14) BOGO sale. The current price (latest BOGO - all in) is 48% higher after all of the "discounts" than what we originally booked.

[A&L_Ont]

I was trying to compare my Diamond Plus benefits to the benefits I receive for staying in a suite. The only differences I could recall, luggage valet, reserved pool side seating (side comments-the area on the Freedom Class is absolutely terrible), escorted tendering, escort off ship at disembarkment (not ever ship participates) and bigger staterooms (We pay and pay for that). What I can see not much of a cost to Royal, but I do like the suites. Maybe in a few years I will reevaluate. After I complete my 4 remaining cruise.

 

One more, I have sailed a few times in the Grand Suite B750. on the Saphhire Princess. Thier suite benefits put Royal to shame (I still like Royal).

 

I think if they were smart they would make the suite perks as uniform as possible for the non Oasis and Quantum class. As it stands today there are some ships in the same RC classes that don't offer the same levels of perks. I still don't know why they can add some of the new perks to these other ship classes in May 2016. Free internet might not really be a perk as it is not zoom, but some items are easier to do. The problem is we all know how consistant Royal is. ;)

 

As for the Princess suite perks they are really good. We have sailed in PHS on the CB, Crown, Emerald and Island. The rooms were not as nice as Royals for layout and size however their price was better. They were offering items 4-8 years ago that RC is just rolling out now such as free laundry, a one time stocked mini bar, speciality restaurant for breakfast and free wifi. They have taken away the free wifi in the resent past.

[setsail]

Does anyone know if we are in a grand suite on one of these ships in the royal suite class, do we still get the one night of free pressing before the first formal night? Also has there been any mention if we still get 2 crown and anchor points for each night we cruise?

 

This is about suite benefits ,not c&a. Two different things.

 

Have not seen any thing about new changes to c&a

Edited August 12, 2015 by setsail

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

This is about suite benefits ,not c&a. Two different things.

 

Have not seen any thing about new changes to c&a

 

I don't think so. I think the complimentary pressing on the first formal night is a suite perk.

 

EDIT: Yes, it definitely is a suite perk. Here is a quote from the current suite perks (Not the Royal Suite Class)... "Complimentary pressing service on formal night"

 

EDIT #2: Oh wait, were you referring to the question about double C&A points?

Edited August 12, 2015 by OfTheSeasCruiser

[Don Pedro]

Just out of curiosity, I decided to count the number of rooms in each category on the Anthem OTS. The Anthem has a total of 2095 rooms. Out of that number, 11 rooms or 0.5% are in Star Class, 28 rooms or 1.3% are in Sky Class and 86 rooms or 4.1% are in Sea Class. So, if you think of the top two classes (Star and Sky) as a "ship within a ship", it is a boutique size ship with 39 rooms, much smaller than any of the true luxury ships such as the Silversea or Seaborne ships. I assume that the actual counts vary from ship to ship but the percentages are relatively constant.

 

If your numbers are correct that is quite interesting. Considering that the suite benefits for the Sky and Sea Class have not substantially changed only about 11 cabins per ship affected will get the touted suite upgrades that we have been hearing about for the last year. Unless something else is on the horizon it is truly amazing how they could take so long to do so little.

[sauvichick]

Thanks all for your info! It seems to be Royal random pricing. I recently started booking 10+ months in advance just to get the perfect location. For my last 2 GS cruises the price has held firmly the entire time and eventually they sold out. Surprisingly the Allure GS for July 2016 is approximately $400 less expensive than July 2016. I'm not ready to book though because life is up in the air.

[setsail]

 

EDIT #2: Oh wait, were you referring to the question about double C&A points?

 

Yes

[actuarian]

I think if they were smart they would make the suite perks as uniform as possible for the non Oasis and Quantum class. As it stands today there are some ships in the same RC classes that don't offer the same levels of perks. I still don't know why they can add some of the new perks to these other ship classes in May 2016. Free internet might not really be a perk as it is not zoom, but some items are easier to do. The problem is we all know how consistant Royal is. ;)

 

As for the Princess suite perks they are really good. We have sailed in PHS on the CB, Crown, Emerald and Island. The rooms were not as nice as Royals for layout and size however their price was better. They were offering items 4-8 years ago that RC is just rolling out now such as free laundry, a one time stocked mini bar, speciality restaurant for breakfast and free wifi. They have taken away the free wifi in the resent past.

 

I was in an S5 Suite on the Coral Princess (the highest grade they have on that ship) just two weeks ago. They did have the perks listed above but they lack some other perks that RCCL offers. Their "Elite Lounge" was just a roped off part of the Explorers Lounge and there was no concierge there and only their selected "drink of the day" was complementary. All other drinks were full price there. There was a one time stocked mini bar with a good selection of spirits but very few mixers. For example, no Vermouth to make martinis and no Bloody Mary mix. There was no reserved seating anywhere and no priority departure from the ship. The best perks were the breakfast at Sabatini's and the free laundry. All in all, I prefer the gold card perks on RCCL even as they are now. That is especially true of the Oasis Class ships where a gold card already gets you into shows without reservations, special seating at shows, priority departure, the Suite Lounge and, of course, Coastal Kitchen.

[A&L_Ont]

I was in an S5 Suite on the Coral Princess (the highest grade they have on that ship) just two weeks ago. They did have the perks listed above but they lack some other perks that RCCL offers. Their "Elite Lounge" was just a roped off part of the Explorers Lounge and there was no concierge there and only their selected "drink of the day" was complementary. All other drinks were full price there. There was a one time stocked mini bar with a good selection of spirits but very few mixers. For example, no Vermouth to make martinis and no Bloody Mary mix. There was no reserved seating anywhere and no priority departure from the ship. The best perks were the breakfast at Sabatini's and the free laundry. All in all, I prefer the gold card perks on RCCL even as they are now. That is especially true of the Oasis Class ships where a gold card already gets you into shows without reservations, special seating at shows, priority departure, the Suite Lounge and, of course, Coastal Kitchen.

 

Very valid points. We have not sailed on Princess since January of 2012, and many of the points you made I have forgotten about.

 

Once we sailed on Oasis there was no turning back for us. Princess offers a really nice product and on a side note have pizza is that is to die for. RC on the other hand has pizza that could kill you.;)

 

We love the activity that is found on RC over Princess. We are a family of 3 aged 43, 39 and 8. At our point in life we love people watching and want to "get out there" and RC does the job for us. We don't spend much if any time in the CL but maybe we should. That is where we have on occassion have had to listen to the odd "measurers". You know the guy who wants to to let every one know their net worth, criuise totals and the cost of their purebred dogs collar.:rolleyes: Maybe in 10-15 years Royal won't be for us, but I doubt it.

 

EDIT: A great suite perk would be Princess pizza delivered to your cabin.:D

[Yorkvillain]

Princess offers a really nice product and on a side note have pizza is that is to die for. RC on the other hand has pizza that could kill you.

 

Haha! Well done Andrew.

Edited August 12, 2015 by Yorkvillain

[actuarian]

Very valid points. We have not sailed on Princess since January of 2012, and many of the points you made I have forgotten about.

 

Once we sailed on Oasis there was no turning back for us. Princess offers a really nice product and on a side note have pizza is that is to die for. RC on the other hand has pizza that could kill you.;)

 

We love the activity that is found on RC over Princess. We are a family of 3 aged 43, 39 and 8. At our point in life we love people watching and want to "get out there" and RC does the job for us. We don't spend much if any time in the CL but maybe we should. That is where we have on occassion have had to listen to the odd "measurers". You know the guy who wants to to let every one know their net worth, criuise totals and the cost of their purebred dogs collar.:rolleyes: Maybe in 10-15 years Royal won't be for us, but I doubt it.

 

EDIT: A great suite perk would be Princess pizza delivered to your cabin.:D

 

Agree about the pizza. Also, some Princess ships (although not the one we were on recently) have no-veranda S7 class "Window Suites". Those suites offer all of the perks of full suites but at a mini-suite price. That is a great deal if you like perks but don't spend a whole lot of time on a veranda. However, the modest price of those suites puts a limit on how much Princess can spend on suite perks.

[The Sunset Glow]

Prices have always gone up, to blame the new program seems rather unfair. Every cruise I've ever booked cost more the week before embarkation than the day I booked it. For example my October Indy sailing is in an OS. I booked it for $4,500 Canadian for two people almost two years prior to embarkation. The last price on the fish lists it for $6,800 Canadian for double occupancy. Those numbers are without 13% tax being added on as well. There are no OS remaining but a GS today costs more than my OS when I booked it almost 2 years ago.

 

This ship will not have the new suite perks, this is prior to May 2016 pricing and the prices still went up. Price increases for suites are normal. I am half waiting for this new program to get blamed for the big increase at Christmas and New Years as well.

 

There might be drops in prices for suites occasionally, but you have to be watching to catch one. This is the pricing for my Indy October OS. You can see how it has steadily increased but there were also a few price drops as well. I think they key as to book early and watch the prices. If they drop, take the credit, if not just remember the earliest price is almost always the best.

 

What 13% tax?

 

I agree with you - the prices go up anyways as the cabins are booked. It has nothing to do with the suite program.

[A&L_Ont]

What 13% tax?

 

I agree with you - the prices go up anyways as the cabins are booked. It has nothing to do with the suite program.

 

Sunset Glow this is for your portion in red about 13% tax. Living in Alberta you only have the GST of 5%. We in Ontario and have an HST tax of 13%. It is harmonized provincial tax of 8% + 5% federal GST. It really isn't music to my ears.:eek:

[tcieyes]

Several posted previously the ludicrous pricing for so little change or no change if one is not on a "golden" ship. You can go to Tahiti land based for some of these prices. Thus :This morning called MSC Cruises. They are only to happy to get loyal frequent cruisers. They of course will transfer my diamond status, soon to be diamond plus, as have a few older cruises still booked from prior on Royal. Priced 7 days on MSC Davina from Miami in a yacht club penthouse or there abouts, with all inclusive dining, bells whistles, drinks, special pool and decks suite area and all suite restaurants! $2500.00 per person for 2 in prime time March Caribbean sailing. Since I don't care about the flow rider or the butler, Royal just lost our $5000.00 plus and MSC got it. And... booked only 6 months out not two years out. I am a teacher in a University. I don't even have a schedule for when spring break is two years out. I can also get two bedroom suite easily and am not barred because I only have 3 people going in that. That solves another problem for us, as we travel with a friend at some points that needs her own bedroom and bath. I don't know what they are thinking, but I hope it works out for them. I know it has for me. I have rarely ever cruised on any thing other than Royal since 2009, now that will all change. Our 5 cruises a year will be done elsewhere. When they get a coherent customer service attitude back, then maybe we will return. Creating a stratified suites program is just plain foolish and will probably not last. Someone in corporate is not thinking long term. We live in Florida and have so many cruise options it will make your head spin. Royal is not in a vacuum, they are in a market with lots of big new ships coming online that all have to be filled from every cruise line. They need to show me why I need to cruise with Royal and not Seabourn, Crystal, Silver Sea, MSC, Carnival Dream even looks interesting, as does NCL's new ship coming out with an ice room where it snows. You get the drift. They are not showing me.

:D

[MADflyer]

I think RCI are being very clear how they are positioning their new suite class.

 

The tag line "Luxury That's Anything But Boring" will really hit home with a certain segment of the luxury market.

 

While the traditional Seabourn and Silversea market used to be just the top 3% as far as income, over the years this potential market has spread to the top 8%.

 

Royal is targeting the, maybe, top 15% with Sky and Star Class and maybe the top 25% with Sea Class.

 

Many of these are active lifestyle couples in their 30s and 40s and others are multi-generational families traveling together. This can include families where the grandparents might have wealth and could easily choose the top luxury products, the parents are affluent and could easily sail with Crystal or Azamara. But the fact that they are traveling with children and grandchildren make RCI a very good choice to satisfy the entire family.

 

The 'luxury' products do not appeal to this market. They want the activity level of a RCI ship, while still having an upscale cruise experience with a variety of dining choices.

[MADflyer]

Thus :This morning called MSC Cruises. They are only to happy to get loyal frequent cruisers. They of course will transfer my diamond status, soon to be diamond plus, as have a few older cruises still booked from prior on Royal. .

:D

 

The MSC Yacht club is a very good product in it's own right. I have sailed in the Yacht Club on several occasions.

 

While it is true that you get most of the Star level amenities for the entire Yacht Club, they do not offer directly the same product as RCI.

 

The Yacht Club mini-bar is filled only once a day and you can not just ask for refills.

 

The included beverages can only be consumed in the Yacht Club lounge or Yacht Club Pool Bar and you do not interact with the rest of the passengers on the ship. I was often alone at the pool bar on Fantasia and Splendida.

 

The suite restaurant is excellent, but it is very formal and has a very limited menu and was nothing like Coastal Kitchen on RCI.

 

I think MSC have started selling day passes to the Yacht Club Pool on their new ships where any passenger can pay to join you in this area.

 

The butlers and bar staff rotate around the ship and work very long hours, but there is always one butler on duty at least in the Yacht Club area.

 

While I like the 'Ship within a ship' concept, what happens is that it becomes very boring and the same people are at the lounge every day.

 

The suites are mostly like glorified Jr. Suites for the most part and not larger suites with large decks as you can find on RCI.

 

I think these are both going to develop to be good products and I will continue to sail with both RCI and MSC, but my preference will most likely stay with RCI if I am happy with the value.

[Bdchili]

Not sure why all the anxiety. Most people up to this point did not sail on RCCL for all the perks that came with the suites in comparison to other lines of equal or higher level. I for one sailed because I enjoy the ships and all the unique things RCCL constantly adds to them.

Prices always fluctuate they have for the past 10 years and will for the next 10 unless we blow ourselves up.

With the suite program I can't see where anybody lost any existing perk, actually they only gained. Supply and demand drives life and if RCCL determines the price is too high they will adjust. I am willing to gamble that there is a large number of people that have been waiting for perks like these at the Star level and are willing to pay a bit more for these suites.

Sure you can sail on other lines and sure you can find suite with similar perks cheaper, but RCCL has a unique product when it comes to their ships and now that they offer a option to those that are willing to pay. Good on them.

Bottom line people will complain if they don't offer programs like these and people will complain when they do. These things cost money and they are a business if they don't make money they not existing and nobody wants that.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

Not sure why all the anxiety. Most people up to this point did not sail on RCCL for all the perks that came with the suites in comparison to other lines of equal or higher level. I for one sailed because I enjoy the ships and all the unique things RCCL constantly adds to them.

Prices always fluctuate they have for the past 10 years and will for the next 10 unless we blow ourselves up.

With the suite program I can't see where anybody lost any existing perk, actually they only gained. Supply and demand drives life and if RCCL determines the price is too high they will adjust. I am willing to gamble that there is a large number of people that have been waiting for perks like these at the Star level and are willing to pay a bit more for these suites.

Sure you can sail on other lines and sure you can find suite with similar perks cheaper, but RCCL has a unique product when it comes to their ships and now that they offer a option to those that are willing to pay. Good on them.

Bottom line people will complain if they don't offer programs like these and people will complain when they do. These things cost money and they are a business if they don't make money they not existing and nobody wants that.

 

Well said. I don't really understand why people are upset?