Vision of the Seas sailing from Bermuda starting June 2021

[billslowsky]

8 hours ago, Biker19 said:

They kinda do by way of Wamos Air.

If people want to travel to Bermuda via Spain, that will be helpful.

[billslowsky]

7 hours ago, dswallow said:

 

As of 2019 there was an estimated 64,000 residents of Bermuda. Not the biggest population from which to draw cruise clients. 🙂

Especially for a trip to Coco Cay.

[Charles4515]

16 minutes ago, billslowsky said:

Especially for a trip to Coco Cay.

 

Don't know why anyone would want to cruise from Bermuda to Coco Cay. Americans or Bermudians.

 

This cruise, the cruise from Nassau, and the Celebrity cruise from St Martin, at half capacity can't be making much if any profit. I believe they are part of a public relations campaign against the CDC. 

[Tapi]

On 3/27/2021 at 10:04 AM, Charles4515 said:

 

Don't know why anyone would want to cruise from Bermuda to Coco Cay. Americans or Bermudians.

When this itinerary was announced, I had the same question. It personally didn’t appeal to me. Then the more I thought about it, the more I warmed up to the idea of taking this cruise. 
 

- I enjoy sea days tremendously, so the 4 sea days in this itinerary are actually attractive to me. 
 

- Since the ship overnights in Bermuda, it gives me extra time to explore this island without having to spend money on a hotel. That’s definitely a plus. 
 

- I’ve not been to Coco Cay yet, so the stop there is an added bonus. 
 

- There are nonstop flights from where I live to Bermuda. I checked this morning and airfare is currently at $370 roundtrip. Not much more than what I’d pay to fly to Florida. 
 

Granted, it’s not the most amazing itinerary on the most amazing ship, but if my cruise withdrawal gets bad enough, I could see myself booking this itinerary. 

 

[Charles4515]

2 hours ago, Tapi said:

 

- I enjoy sea days tremendously, so the 4 sea days in this itinerary are actually attractive to me. 
 

 

I like sea days but the 4 sea days are in the Bermuda Triangle. That is an area of the Atlantic known for storms and rough seas. I don't find that attractive. 

[dswallow]

26 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

 

I like sea days but the 4 sea days are in the Bermuda Triangle. That is an area of the Atlantic known for storms and rough seas. I don't find that attractive. 

 

[Ocean Boy]

It sure looks those who have been saying that RCI won't be able to get its crews vaccinated are wrong. The writeup clearly states that they will be.

[Another_Critic]

Cruises are now available to book.

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruises/itinerary/7-night-bermuda-perfect-day-from-royal-naval-dockyard-on-vision/VI07KWB-1786081207?sail-date=2021-08-28&currency=USD&country=USA&dates_maxDate=10%2F31%2F2021&dates_minDate=06%2F01%2F2021

 

LEAVING FROM

Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda

ONBOARD

Vision of the Seas

DAY	PORT
1	Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda Departs at 5:00 PM
2	Cruising Day at sea
3 - 4	Cruising From Day 3, 5:00 PM - Day 4, 2:00 AM
4	Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas From 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
5 - 6	Cruising Day at sea
7 - 8	Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda From Day 7, 8:00 AM - Day 8,
	*Port sequence may vary by sailing date.

[Tapi]

I don’t know how well these Bermuda cruises are selling, but airfare from ATL (where I live) to BDA for the sailing date I had looked at jumped from $371 round trip yesterday to $846 today! 😱

[dswallow]

Just now, Tapi said:

I don’t know how well these Bermuda cruises are selling, but airfare from ATL (where I live) to BDA for the sailing date I had looked at jumped from $371 round trip yesterday to $846 today! 😱

 

Did you notice this in the email announcement about flights?

 

[Tapi]

4 minutes ago, dswallow said:

 

Did you notice this in the email announcement about flights?

 

Did not. Thanks for pointing that out. I’m guessing that Royal blocked a bunch of seats, creating the significant price difference in airfare between yesterday and today. 

[DallasGuy75219]

RC's casino is now giving away rooms on these sailings.  Speaks to the demand from people willing to fly to Bermuda for a 7-day cruise on a smaller older ship to only to go to CocoCay and back, when RC can't fill that small ship with paid passengers even at partial occupancy.

 

Either RC miscalculated demand, is trying to demonstrate to the CDC that sailings of (primarily) vaccinated travelers are safe, or is trying to pressure more US states and ports to advocate for reopening the US by implicitly threatening to move ships to non-US ports. Or some combination of the three.

[CruiserRob]

1 hour ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

Either RC miscalculated demand, is trying to demonstrate to the CDC that sailings of (primarily) vaccinated travelers are safe, or is trying to pressure more US states and ports to advocate for reopening the US by implicitly threatening to move ships to non-US ports. Or some combination of the three

I think the cruise lines are just trying to stave off bankruptcy until the U.S. ports reopen.  According to CCL ships only have to be 30-50% full to break even so if they manage that the ships are not draining the corporate treasury.

 

[broberts]

3 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

RC's casino is now giving away rooms on these sailings.  Speaks to the demand from people willing to fly to Bermuda for a 7-day cruise on a smaller older ship to only to go to CocoCay and back, when RC can't fill that small ship with paid passengers even at partial occupancy.

 

Either RC miscalculated demand, is trying to demonstrate to the CDC that sailings of (primarily) vaccinated travelers are safe, or is trying to pressure more US states and ports to advocate for reopening the US by implicitly threatening to move ships to non-US ports. Or some combination of the three.

 

Another possibility is casino operations have a much higher return. Especially with 3 sea days.

[Iamcruzin]

I want to sail to Bermuda not from Bermuda. Neither the Nassau or Bermuda itinerary appeal to me considering the effort and  added expense it will take to get there and back home.

[Sunshine3601]

6 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

RC's casino is now giving away rooms on these sailings.  Speaks to the demand from people willing to fly to Bermuda for a 7-day cruise on a smaller older ship to only to go to CocoCay and back, when RC can't fill that small ship with paid passengers even at partial occupancy.

 

Either RC miscalculated demand, is trying to demonstrate to the CDC that sailings of (primarily) vaccinated travelers are safe, or is trying to pressure more US states and ports to advocate for reopening the US by implicitly threatening to move ships to non-US ports. Or some combination of the three.

Yes, we both received our offers the other day for free OV cabins thru the casino.     The other week we received our offers for free cabins on the Adventure sailings out of Nassau too. 

Right now we have 4 or 5 free cruise offers for various ships sailing this summer up thru April 2022.    Including free sailings for Odyssey, the new ship.     

 

Of course they want casino players back on board the ships!!!

 

Last night I was looking at one of the Aug sailings out Bermuda as I suspect our b2b we have booked on Freedom to Bermuda will be cancelled for this August.    Airfare from PHL to BDA (Bermuda Hamilton Airport) is only $349 RT thru air2sea on AA.    that same flight is over $700 if I booked directly with AA.    

 

They have worked out some fantastic rates with the airlines.     

 

[firefly333]

The port taxes and fees at $175 pp are higher than usual out of Bermuda. Also they seem to not want solo bookings as there is a big jump from gty bookings to choose your own cabin I'm not willing to pay. When  prices for solo are way over 200% the starting fare, they dont want me as a solo. 

 

I'll keep watching.

[Sunshine3601]

45 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

The port taxes and fees at $175 pp are higher than usual out of Bermuda. Also they seem to not want solo bookings as there is a big jump from gty bookings to choose your own cabin I'm not willing to pay. When  prices for solo are way over 200% the starting fare, they dont want me as a solo. 

 

I'll keep watching.

Port fees/taxes are exactly the same price for the bermuda sailing we booked last summer for this coming August.   Bermuda port fees usually are higher per cruise than others.

That stinks the solo rate is that much higher.   

Edited April 17, 2021 by Sunshine3601

[firefly333]

3 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Port fees/taxes are exactly the same price for the bermuda sailing we booked last summer for this coming August.   Bermuda port fees usually are higher per cruise than others.

That stinks the solo rate is that much higher.   

I think it's unfair that only rcl doesnt allow solo to book gty rate. Every other cruiseline I've booked allows it. Why shouldn't solo be allowed, there is no logical reason. Yes, I know I can book a fake pax, but i shouldn't have to. I refuse to pay more than 200% because of this rcl unfair rule. 

[Ocean Boy]

4 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I think it's unfair that only rcl doesnt allow solo to book gty rate. Every other cruiseline I've booked allows it. Why shouldn't solo be allowed, there is no logical reason. Yes, I know I can book a fake pax, but i shouldn't have to. I refuse to pay more than 200% because of this rcl unfair rule. 

However, you are paying over 200% of a gty to choose your cabin. You are not paying over 200% compared to anyone else also choosing their cabin. But I do agree, I don't see why a solo should not be able to book gty.

[firefly333]

9 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

However, you are paying over 200% of a gty to choose your cabin. You are not paying over 200% compared to anyone else also choosing their cabin. But I do agree, I don't see why a solo should not be able to book gty.

Rcl must have heard me or people grabbed those cheap $392 pp gty that I cant book without  fake pax. I just checked and gone and prices jumped considerably. Now it's over $100 pp more to book bermuda ..was pretty cheap this morning, even without a casino rate.

 

I love gty, it's like xmas the surprise, denied me on rcl. I rarely have strong feelings where my cabin will be. 

[broberts]

55 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I think it's unfair that only rcl doesnt allow solo to book gty rate. Every other cruiseline I've booked allows it. Why shouldn't solo be allowed, there is no logical reason. Yes, I know I can book a fake pax, but i shouldn't have to. I refuse to pay more than 200% because of this rcl unfair rule. 

 

Since when is the pursuit of profit fair? Apparently RCL does not want your custom. I'm sure there are several other lines who would appreciate the business.

[Charles4515]

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

I think it's unfair that only rcl doesnt allow solo to book gty rate. Every other cruiseline I've booked allows it. Why shouldn't solo be allowed, there is no logical reason. Yes, I know I can book a fake pax, but i shouldn't have to. I refuse to pay more than 200% because of this rcl unfair rule. 

 

I have booked a gty rate with RCL as a solo. You have to use a travel agent and that travel agent has to be one that will call and try hard. I won't say that will always work but it usually has worked for me. 

[Sunshine3601]

Air2sea is offering dirt cheap flights to bermuda.  Anyone that already booked may want to do a reprice.  2 weeks ago the flight cost $349 pp RT from phl 

It is now $149 pp.   Go to choiceair.com to check.

 

[Charles4515]

1 hour ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Air2sea is offering dirt cheap flights to bermuda.  Anyone that already booked may want to do a reprice.  2 weeks ago the flight cost $349 pp RT from phl 

It is now $149 pp.   Go to choiceair.com to check.

 

 

Hmm. Maybe the cruise is not selling well.