New Suite Deposits Effective June 1, 2023

[orville99]

12 hours ago, island lady said:

FYI...We have enjoyed many nice breakfasts on Harmony in Chops.   Where are you getting your information?  😏

From our experience, this may depend on how many Pins are on board a specific cruise. In January on Wonder for example, there were quite a few of us on board and pins not in a suite were limited to Chops for breakfast, had limited access to CK for dinner, and there was a separate Pin happy hour in one of the venues on deck 4. On Wonder in April there were a lot fewer pins on board and everyone had full access to CK/CL for all meals and happy hour.

[Tin can]

7 hours ago, ShazM said:

Reminds me of a Pinnacle on Explorer a few years ago, he was European. Sitting in the suite seats at the pool in his Speedo's and t-shirt with his nametag on it. 

 

I'm not sure if you are saying the badge was on the trunks or the t shirt but I  have actually seen the Pinnacle badge on Speedo's. An American chap with his wife on Adventure out of Cape Liberty

 

I like seeing the badge and if I ever get there I will certainly wear it with pride but does it really need to be a gold beacon drawing you in to someone unmentionables 😀

[Jerseygirl1416]

4 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

I am getting the feeling that no one is aware that people who are Masters level in the casino have free use of the Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen.

 

It's not just Pinnacles that crowd out the Suite passengers.

So idk why RC calls it and advertises it as a suite lounge. If I’m paying over $600pd pp to stay in a suite that included special areas I’m not expecting to be crowded out by at least 50 people who aren’t even staying in suites. RC needs to get their act together if they expect people to be happy with their Suite experience. Loyalty perks shouldn’t cross into the Suite experience IMO.

[AlexandNessa]

48 minutes ago, Jerseygirl1416 said:

So idk why RC calls it and advertises it as a suite lounge. If I’m paying over $600pd pp to stay in a suite that included special areas I’m not expecting to be crowded out by at least 50 people who aren’t even staying in suites. RC needs to get their act together if they expect people to be happy with their Suite experience. Loyalty perks shouldn’t cross into the Suite experience IMO.

 

+1

 

We were experienced suite cruisers when we tried Royal for the first time in a suite. It was worse than abysmal. Lines out the door during happy hour.  No where to sit.  Overflow lounge didn't help. Concierge absolutely overwhelmed to the point they couldn't help everyone. I was left wondering why we paid the premium for the suite, apart from the extra space. I let them know that in the post cruise survey and doesn't come back for 11 years later, when they made some nominal changes. 

 

When you combine loyalty/suite/casinos perks, it just results in watered down perks for everyone. 

[twangster]

Just booked Allure for a shorty in a suite.  Got me thinking.  

 

With Allure and what looks like Utopia going into the short FL market I wonder if this change was done for the short market. 

 

$100 deposits for Utopia when it will see much higher prices compared to Allure (new ship premium).

 

My deposits for Allure would have been more that $100 after June 1st and if Utopia is priced like I think it will be the $100 suite deposit may have been motivation for Royal to make this change before Utopia is opened for booking.

[Ourusualbeach]

5 minutes ago, twangster said:

Just booked Allure for a shorty in a suite.  Got me thinking.  

 

With Allure and what looks like Utopia going into the short FL market I wonder if this change was done for the short market. 

 

$100 deposits for Utopia when it will see much higher prices compared to Allure (new ship premium).

 

My deposits for Allure would have been more that $100 after June 1st and if Utopia is priced like I think it will be the $100 suite deposit may have been motivation for Royal to make this change before Utopia is opened for booking.

I would say just the increase overall in suite prices across the board in the last few years had a lot to do with it.  Look at those $100k suites on Icon that could be held with $500 down and abandoned at final for a $200 penalty

[TexasRon]

9 hours ago, ShazM said:

Reminds me of a Pinnacle on Explorer a few years ago, he was European. Sitting in the suite seats at the pool in his Speedo's and t-shirt with his nametag on it. The only problem I had with him was when myself and the husband unhooked the rope to go in he wanted to see our sea passes and kept saying "Suites and Pinnacles only" so I pulled out my seapass and showed him it was gold and then he shut up. Pain in the butt.🙄

Not a chance that I would have shown him my card unless he produced his ship employee badge.  The little Pinnacle badge grants no powers of policing.  I would not allow myself or my family to be intimidated by someone overly impressed with himself.  I understand not causing a conflict, of course, so I am not saying that you were wrong.

 

There are people like that in every walk of life…it  doesn’t reflect on all Pinnacles.  Just him.

[twangster]

5 minutes ago, TexasRon said:

Not a chance that I would have shown him my card unless he produced his ship employee badge.  The little Pinnacle badge grants no powers of policing.  I would not allow myself or my family to be intimidated by someone overly impressed with himself.  I understand not causing a conflict, of course, so I am not saying that you were wrong.

 

There are people like that in every walk of life…it  doesn’t reflect on all Pinnacles.  Just him.

 

I thought the same thing.   Ignore and use a lounger if you are allowed to.  

[twangster]

25 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

I would say just the increase overall in suite prices across the board in the last few years had a lot to do with it.  Look at those $100k suites on Icon that could be held with $500 down and abandoned at final for a $200 penalty

 

True.   MSC has been screwing me around lately so I'm canceling my interior YC.   I was very tempted to upgrade myself to their top suite and cancel it on day 91.   Petty revenge.  

[OCSC Mike]

6 minutes ago, TexasRon said:

Not a chance that I would have shown him my card unless he produced his ship employee badge.  The little Pinnacle badge grants no powers of policing.  I would not allow myself or my family to be intimidated by someone overly impressed with himself.  I understand not causing a conflict, of course, so I am not saying that you were wrong.

 

There are people like that in every walk of life…it  doesn’t reflect on all Pinnacles.  Just him.

 

We actually had a younger kid do something similar in the DL on Indy last summer, lol. Apparently he takes a lot of weekend cruises and had anointed himself assistant concierge or something. I was so taken aback by the absurdity that I think I laughed and walked right past him. It was embarkation day and we were just killing time in between lunch and rooms being ready too. I guess he was very protective of the empty room and coffee machine. 🤷‍♀️

[molly361]

46 minutes ago, twangster said:

Just booked Allure for a shorty in a suite.  Got me thinking.  

 

With Allure and what looks like Utopia going into the short FL market I wonder if this change was done for the short market. 

 

$100 deposits for Utopia when it will see much higher prices compared to Allure (new ship premium).

 

My deposits for Allure would have been more that $100 after June 1st and if Utopia is priced like I think it will be the $100 suite deposit may have been motivation for Royal to make this change before Utopia is opened for booking.

I'm feeling the urge to book one as well not sure why.  I do have a GS booked for a 4 night on the Allure for next April and one for my sister in January 2024 with me in the connecting balcony room at what now seems like pretty good prices.  I have tracked the Allure suite prices for a while hoping for another good price but they have only gone up up up

[OCSC Mike]

4 minutes ago, molly361 said:

I have tracked the Allure suite prices for a while hoping for another good price but they have only gone up up up

 

When you see prices for just about anything going down at PC, let me know.

[twangster]

2 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

When you see prices for just about anything going down at PC, let me know.

 

Waiting...

 

 

 

[orville99]

13 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

When you see prices for just about anything going down at PC, let me know.

Text Mr Peabody and see if you can use his wayback machine😉

 

[OCSC Mike]

2 minutes ago, orville99 said:

Text Mr Peabody and see if you can use his wayback machine

 

I'm saving it for Utopia to be released and then I'll figure out how to get the $129 GGG price from Indy's 4-nighters last fall applied. 😁

[orville99]

8 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

I'm saving it for Utopia to be released and then I'll figure out how to get the $129 GGG price from Indy's 4-nighters last fall applied. 😁

They will have no problem applying that $129. It will drop your Utopia price all the down from $5,000 all to $4,871 before they add the $500/pp change fee.😇

[molly361]

I would like to go on the inaugural Utopia sailing (balcony not suite) but we will see if my cheapness wins out.😇  I won't be able to get the single supplement either

Edited May 24, 2023 by molly361

[Cigar King]

7 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

I am getting the feeling that no one is aware that people who are Masters level in the casino have free use of the Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen.

I think we're aware.  They just don't stand out.  Perhaps if they were wearing a special hat or something.

 

Actually, they're probably in the casino...

[Cigar King]

2 hours ago, Jerseygirl1416 said:

RC needs to get their act together if they expect people to be happy with their Suite experience. Loyalty perks shouldn’t cross into the Suite experience IMO.

I agree with you.  Completely.  OTOH though if you've reached Pinnacle status, it makes less sense to, financially, book a suite.  IMO, you get better perks for being Pinnacle than you do for staying in a suite.

[orville99]

5 minutes ago, Cigar King said:

IMO, you get better perks for being Pinnacle than you do for staying in a suite.

Absolutely true on non-CK ships. Perks tilt in favor of suites on CK ships.

[OCSC Mike]

13 minutes ago, molly361 said:

I would like to go on the inaugural Utopia sailing (balcony not suite) but we will see if my cheapness wins out.😇  I won't be able to get the single supplement either

 

I'd like to as well by I'm pretty confident my frugality (no need to use the c-word, lol) will definitely win out, and I'd only be booking an interior.

 

I'm also pretty confident that Utopia will be released sometime in the June 4-11 range while I'm on Wonder and not sitting here paying attention like most days.

[crusinthrough]

On 5/22/2023 at 7:42 AM, Jerseygirl1416 said:

Personally I think it’s a good change. It will stop those that book the suites as soon as the itinerary comes out hoping the price will go down and when it doesn’t cancel before final payment. This drives up the price for the remaining suites as the inventory is low. Hopefully this deters some of that.

With non refundable suite depositsI I doubt this happens often.  For the most part the deposit isn't going to increase much, if you book early when prices are low.  If you are willing to lose a $500 deposit hoping the price goes down, you will probably be willing to lose $200 or $300 dollars more. 

[Anton]

1 hour ago, TexasRon said:

Not a chance that I would have shown him my card unless he produced his ship employee badge.  The little Pinnacle badge grants no powers of policing.  I would not allow myself or my family to be intimidated by someone overly impressed with himself.  I understand not causing a conflict, of course, so I am not saying that you were wrong.

 

There are people like that in every walk of life…it  doesn’t reflect on all Pinnacles.  Just him.

 He needed a bigger badge.

[twangster]

1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

I'm saving it for Utopia to be released and then I'll figure out how to get the $129 GGG price from Indy's 4-nighters last fall applied. 😁

 

$129 is the fee to watch Utopia sail past from Jetty Park.  

 

EDIT - Plus 18% gratuity.

 

Edited May 24, 2023 by twangster

[twangster]

41 minutes ago, Anton said:

 He needed a bigger badge.

 

Stealing this.