Ship to Replace Anthem in Bayonne

[John&LaLa]

20 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

 

Not sure I follow you John.  I was referring to Oasis taking over Anthems 7 day itinerary.

 

All the Oasis class ships have improved their itineraries in the Caribbean greatly over the past couple of years but unfortunately anything sailing south from Bayonne for 7 days is going to be a lousy itinerary. Nothing against PC but not my idea of a great port stop, Nassau speaks for itself.  The only saving grace is CocoCay.

 

I was just saying Anthem's 7 day winter itineraries are pretty crappy already.  

 

No offense taken.  

[HBE4]

41 minutes ago, gaylemh said:

I wish they would do some longer cruises, 12 night, in the spring and fall.

 

100% agree.

 

If there ever was a ship built for longer excursions, it's the Oasis. There is just too much to do on a 7-day. Then again, I guess that's to encourage people tp book another cruise.

 

To me, 10-12 days is the perfect length for a cruise.

[Saab4444]

Maybe too risky to try to fill the big ship on cruises longer than 7 nights as most Americans look for one week only? Buttom line remains boring itineraries on Oasis class, does not matter if in Europe or America as they are simply too big.

[gaylemh]

10 minutes ago, Saab4444 said:

Maybe too risky to try to fill the big ship on cruises longer than 7 nights as most Americans look for one week only? Buttom line remains boring itineraries on Oasis class, does not matter if in Europe or America as they are simply too big.

Every 12 night cruise out of Bayonne for the last couple of years has been sold out.  The prices for my 12 January, February, and March 2019 cruises have more than doubled since I booked when they were first released.  There are only a handful, if any, cabins available.  I love the Southern Caribbean cruises, and I wish they would bring back the Western from Bayonne.

[John&LaLa]

11 minutes ago, gaylemh said:

Every 12 night cruise out of Bayonne for the last couple of years has been sold out.  The prices for my 12 January, February, and March 2019 cruises have more than doubled since I booked when they were first released.  There are only a handful, if any, cabins available.  I love the Southern Caribbean cruises, and I wish they would bring back the Western from Bayonne.

 

Are you talking about 12 night cruises or 7 night cruises? 🤔

[gaylemh]

1 minute ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Are you talking about 12 night cruises or 7 night cruises? 🤔

12 night cruises. I was replying to Saab4444, who said they would have a problem filling longer cruises on a big ship.  Actually just about every Anthem cruise I have been on, (22) has been sold out.

[Wilda]

I just got off the Anthem last Thursday.  During the Captains Corner session, the captain stated that although it wasn't official yet...Oasis was going into dry dock for two months to replace the stack with a retractable stack that could be lowered to accommodate sailing under the bridge.  He stated the Oasis was coming to Bayonne and that the Anthem would also still be sailing out of Bayonne during the winter and summering in Europe.  He did not mention itineraries.

[Clarea]

7 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

I was just saying Anthem's 7 day winter itineraries are pretty crappy already.  

 

No offense taken.  

 

I agree with that.

[A&L_Ont]

7 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Oasis has never been known for great itineraries.  They’ll have her run the 7 day crappy itinerary and will fill the ship.  The more people that don’t get off the ship in the ports the better.

 

I’d only do this route if I used my points for the short haul flight to Newark.  I guess I could visit Bella and John for the day in PC. John, future shore excursion maybe?

 

7 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Oasis itineraries better than the 7 day Anthem. 😉

 

No, but she had two waves and that makes things better. 😀

 

7 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

All the Oasis class ships have improved their itineraries in the Caribbean greatly over the past couple of years but unfortunately anything sailing south from Bayonne for 7 days is going to be a lousy itinerary. Nothing against PC but not my idea of a great port stop, Nassau speaks for itself.  The only saving grace is CocoCay.

 

Most definitely for Coco Cay, where Royal can charge a premium for their water park, drinks, wifi packages, cabanas, maybe even upsold food etc.  I’m sure there are after parks close to NYC that are a lot cheaper without a 7 day cruise. They have to pay for the pier and the park somehow. Pretty ingenious actually. 

 

Even with a hired driver I’m not sure I’d go to Disney for the day at PC, Nassau I’d stay on the ship and I’d have to go to the water park or a cabana at Coco Cay. 

[Ourusualbeach]

9 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

 

I’d only do this route if I used my points for the short haul flight to Newark.  I guess I could visit Bella and John for the day in PC. John, future shore excursion maybe?

 

 

No, but she had two waves and that makes things better. 😀

 

 

Most definitely for Coco Cay, where Royal can charge a premium for their water park, drinks, wifi packages, cabanas, maybe even upsold food etc.  I’m sure there are after parks close to NYC that are a lot cheaper without a 7 day cruise. They have to pay for the pier and the park somehow. Pretty ingenious actually. 

 

Even with a hired driver I’m not sure I’d go to Disney for the day at PC, Nassau I’d stay on the ship and I’d have to go to the water park or a cabana at Coco Cay. 

 

With all the time that you'd spend driving to the airport, checking in, waiting around etc...you could probably give the pony a good workout and make it there in about the same time. 

 

I may be tempted next summer if I can grab a last minute deal.  

[John&LaLa]

7 hours ago, gaylemh said:

12 night cruises. I was replying to Saab4444, who said they would have a problem filling longer cruises on a big ship.  Actually just about every Anthem cruise I have been on, (22) has been sold out.

 

Ok, got confused when you brought up the 2019 trips. Aren't those 7 nights?

[John&LaLa]

46 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

 

I’d only do this route if I used my points for the short haul flight to Newark.  I guess I could visit Bella and John for the day in PC. John, future shore excursion maybe?

 

Even with a hired driver I’m not sure I’d go to Disney for the day at PC.

 

Love all, Serve all.

 

Space Center is actually a lot of fun.

[RFerrington]

2 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Love all, Serve all.

 

Space Center is actually a lot of fun.

I'd pay a couplea' bucks to meet John and Bella !

[John&LaLa]

3 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

I'd pay a couplea' bucks to meet John and Bella !

 

Taco Tuesday at Sandbar.  

[RFerrington]

Just now, John&LaLa said:

 

Taco Tuesday at Sandbar.  

I tried to edit my original post but didn't work....I wanted to add that I would love to meet Laura as well, but she always seems to be gone on a cruise.  😂

[HBE4]

9 hours ago, gaylemh said:

12 night cruises. I was replying to Saab4444, who said they would have a problem filling longer cruises on a big ship.  Actually just about every Anthem cruise I have been on, (22) has been sold out.

 

I could see Saab4444's point. Most families - especially  those with a few young kids - do probably take vacations in 1 week increments. Plus, even if you get a deal @ $100 pp/pd, tacking on 4 or 5 nights to the cruise may bust the family budget.

 

I'm guessing the reason the few 12 night cruises out of Bayonne were sold out is because they are so few of them?  Did you see many families on the 12 night?

 

 

[bananawindnj]

17 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

I could see Saab4444's point. Most families - especially  those with a few young kids - do probably take vacations in 1 week increments. Plus, even if you get a deal @ $100 pp/pd, tacking on 4 or 5 nights to the cruise may bust the family budget.

 

I'm guessing the reason the few 12 night cruises out of Bayonne were sold out is because they are so few of them?  Did you see many families on the 12 night?

 

That is why we are taking the Jan 12 night Anthem cruise next month. Kids are back to school. AHHHH , peace and quiet.

 

Edited December 10, 2018 by bananawindnj

[Biker19]

10 hours ago, gaylemh said:

 Actually just about every Anthem cruise I have been on, (22) has been sold out.

Virtually all ships sell out, but for RCI, the issue is at what cost? While the 7 day Bahamas cruises are usually the cheapest, the 12 day ones are not much more.

[gaylemh]

43 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Virtually all ships sell out, but for RCI, the issue is at what cost? While the 7 day Bahamas cruises are usually the cheapest, the 12 day ones are not much more.

I have sailed on almost every 12 night cruise out of Cape Liberty.  I watch the prices of the cruise from the time I book, usually the first day they are released.  I book balcony cabins, and on just about all the cruises the balcony cabins are sold out months before the cruise sails. There are a few that may pop up with a cancellation.   The prices of the cabins has never gone down from what I paid within 6 months of the cruise date, when most people book. It has always gone higher.  Sometimes by double. On the 2 of 12 night sailings this coming year on Anthem. Balcony cabins have been sold out months before, prices have doubled and sometimes almost tripled before they were actually gone.  The one 12 night cruise in March that still has some balcony cabins available has balcony cabins for $4000+ for 2.  I have never seen a 7 night Bahamas cruise sell for anywhere near that.

[gaylemh]

1 hour ago, HBE4 said:

 

I could see Saab4444's point. Most families - especially  those with a few young kids - do probably take vacations in 1 week increments. Plus, even if you get a deal @ $100 pp/pd, tacking on 4 or 5 nights to the cruise may bust the family budget.

 

I'm guessing the reason the few 12 night cruises out of Bayonne were sold out is because they are so few of them?  Did you see many families on the 12 night?

 

 

Yes there are always lots of families.  Not as many as during the school breaks, but quite a few.  Most are with young children.  There are also plenty of 60+ passengers on the cruises.  The ones that have time and money to spare. The casino is always packed.

[gaylemh]

4 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Ok, got confused when you brought up the 2019 trips. Aren't those 7 nights?

I have 3 12 night cruises booked for 2019.

[Biker19]

26 minutes ago, gaylemh said:

  I have never seen a 7 night Bahamas cruise sell for anywhere near that.

This is what I see for Dec 2019

 

12/1 7 day Bahamas, inside $75 pppd, balcony $94 pppd

12/8 12 day Southern inside $73 pppd, balcony $95 pppd

 

Yes, there are some variations but from the little I've looked, the pppd rate for the 12 day is probably only about 10-20% higher on comparable sailings.

[boscobeans]

19 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Anthem will be there.

 

Nothing like the Caribbean sailings  (Feb and Mar of 2019)  after January 27th in 2020... Just a few 7 and 8 nights Bahamas then it's off on a transatlantic.

[John&LaLa]

55 minutes ago, gaylemh said:

I have 3 12 night cruises booked for 2019.

 

Great, my confusion had to do with this passage from an earlier post

 

Every 12 night cruise out of Bayonne for the last couple of years has been sold out.  The prices for my 12 January, February, and March 2019 cruises have more than doubled since I booked when they were first released.  There are only a handful, if any, cabins available.

 

I had difficulty in understanding if you had (12) 7 night cruises, or did you omit the word night from your sentence.

 

Carry on. 

[JAMESCC]

I guess no news yet on Anthem ship replacement?