A $2,600 perfect day?

[lenquixote66]

Way beyond any budget I ever had

[HappyTexan44]

People can spend their money however they want.  But, if they have that kind of fritter money,   I have to wonder why they aren't on another cruise line and not, well, on the same one as me.   

[SUgwoz]

27 minutes ago, HappyTexan44 said:

People can spend their money however they want.  But, if they have that kind of fritter money,   I have to wonder why they aren't on another cruise line and not, well, on the same one as me.   

There is certainly higher end cruise lines for adults, and a more expensive cruise line geared towards kids and fans of Disney.  Is there a higher end cruise line that caters both to adults (ie. casino) and kids like Royal does?

[Twenty2020]

6 hours ago, BecciBoo said:

I haven't found much comparable this morning, I've been looking for hours now.  Couldn't save much and our ships are much more stylish and has features I like.  Stickin.

 

Not sure what exactly you are looking for, but I've been finding Celebrity offerings for less than RC. Don't recall seeing that too often in the past. 

[BND]

I remember when Labadee was first improved and you could get a cabana for $150.  Those were the days.  We booked one 3 different times.  Just like CC, you can't touch one for anything that's the least bit reasonable anymore.  The fact that some people spend more on one day on a cabana than they do for their entire cruise just baffles me.  

[irun5k]

5 hours ago, HappyTexan44 said:

People can spend their money however they want.  But, if they have that kind of fritter money,   I have to wonder why they aren't on another cruise line and not, well, on the same one as me.   

Haha, thank you- you got it,  this was essentially my point that was buried in dry sarcasm.  It is like pulling up to your room at the Hampton Inn in your Honda and there are a good number of Bugattis in the parking lot.  You start looking around wondering if the parking lot is shared with a Ritz Carlton or something!

 

Personally I always take advantage of the free Hampton Inn breakfast- at the one we stay at in Orlando, you can even make your own Mickey Mouse head shaped waffle. 

 

 

 

 

[irun5k]

10 hours ago, BecciBoo said:

I went and watched Youtube on Breeze....nah, just can't do the pool decks, why would you continue to put in the teensy ugly pools on newer ships.  No comparison with RCCL's artwork and expansive well decorated pool decks...i.e. Solarium.  

Check out the Celebration, it is quite different from any other Carnival ship I've ever been on and hopefully it is the beginning of a trend.  It might be my favorite ship of any I've been on.

 

I will say I'm not a great judge of pool decks so I really can't say who has the best one.  In my opinion the main pool decks are all overcrowded and I can't handle that number of people jammed into a tiny body of water and  deck area. That being said, the Celebration has great water slides (one traditional, one drop slide and one sled side) that are positioned away from the main pool deck and thus never got obnoxiously crowded.  They also have an aft pool behind the BBQ joint that was not busy later in the day after sail aways, and was a great place to sit in a ledge lounger and watch the island shrink away into the horizon.

[irun5k]

27 minutes ago, BND said:

I remember when Labadee was first improved and you could get a cabana for $150.  Those were the days.  We booked one 3 different times.  Just like CC, you can't touch one for anything that's the least bit reasonable anymore.  The fact that some people spend more on one day on a cabana than they do for their entire cruise just baffles me.  

Yes, Labadee back in the day was so chill.  It still has a lot of that vibe for the most part, but I hope they don't theme park it.  If they do that they'll want to get more and more ships in there concurrently and it won't be a recognizable experience.  

 

I haven't been to Coco Cay on the other hand since the late 90's- it was not anything more than a beach and a few huts back then.  I'm sure I won't recognize it.

[bgoff60]

Don't do it!!!  Thee is so MANY...MANY thing on that island that are free and will not interfere with you vacation enjoyment.  Don't Do It...................

Edited December 13, 2023 by bgoff60

[brillohead]

5 hours ago, irun5k said:

Yes, Labadee back in the day was so chill.  It still has a lot of that vibe for the most part, but I hope they don't theme park it.  If they do that they'll want to get more and more ships in there concurrently and it won't be a recognizable experience.  

 

I don't see Royal ever sinking Big Money into Labadee like they did Coco Cay.... the government in Haiti is just too corrupt and unpredictable to make an investment there like Royal did in the Bahamas.  

[Cruise a holic]

While some people might have the money to spend on those elaborate shore X's and floating cabanas- let's not forget that if the weather isn't good- you paid for perhaps a half day.  We went to Coco Cay and few months ago- but early afternoon it started to pour-  we went back to the ship earlier then anticipated- I heard that those who remained, were okay after about 45 minutes-   Didn't have a cabana.  I assume if a storm comes early, you get your money back.    But who knows.

[TeeRick]

On 12/12/2023 at 5:56 AM, Mick B said:

When I last check for my April 2024 cruise on the Jewel it had 2 different options and one was about £1600 for up to 8 people for a Cabana and other things.

However, even at this price it says that it does not include drinks (other than bottled water) unless you have a drinks package. WOW!

I suppose if you are Diamond or above then you can use your drinks vouchers at this location.

If you have the money and want to enjoy this then fair play to you.

My wife would rather me use the money to pay for another cruise and that is what I have done for 2025 - booked 12 nights on the Indy from Southampton to the Canneries.

 

BTW does anyone know if the 8 people have to be from the same family or group?

I also see that it said that it is £50 per person for each person (may involve other fees) if more than 8 turn up and I think it said a maximum of 2 extra. Simple maths means 10 people at £1700 makes it £170 per person.

Nice if you meet old friends on board who have this booked and have space to invite you.

Nice too if you have a drinks package or better - you are Diamond or above as you can freely give away your drinks to your old friends if they don't have a drinks package or are not Diamond etc.

Fun times to be had by all!

 

We, however will probably be on the beach somehwere getting some rays and having a few Kraken-colada's using our Diamond Plus drinks.

 

Mick.

 

 

@Mick B  We just booked the 2025 Canary Islands cruise on INDY May 12 2025.  Is this the one you booked too?

[BecciBoo]

17 hours ago, HappyTexan44 said:

People can spend their money however they want.  But, if they have that kind of fritter money,   I have to wonder why they aren't on another cruise line and not, well, on the same one as me.   

I;ve spent the last 2 days looking at all the other lines, MSC, even Costa Diadema!.  I watched that one last night on Mighty Cruise Ships.  They are all so similar it's really not worth my time to try them.  I am perfectly happy with RCCL and I just won't change for a couple hundred bucks.  I might not do those cabanas and expensive stuff like $90 for the Crown Edge but hey, no sweat, there are plenty of other fun things to do, great food (still better than home) and beautiful new ships for us.  Until they can save us an appreciable amount ugh ugh.

[BecciBoo]

13 hours ago, Twenty2020 said:

 

Not sure what exactly you are looking for, but I've been finding Celebrity offerings for less than RC. Don't recall seeing that too often in the past. 

We have Asent in April 2025.  We love them and if I find a deal we book them, but we are saving around $1000 lately on most RCCL cruises I price.

[time4u2go]

17 hours ago, HappyTexan44 said:

People can spend their money however they want.  But, if they have that kind of fritter money,   I have to wonder why they aren't on another cruise line and not, well, on the same one as me.   

I'm thinking the same thing.  I'd rather spend that kind of money on a higher-end cruise line instead of a mass market line like RC.

 

Edited December 13, 2023 by time4u2go

[BecciBoo]

11 hours ago, irun5k said:

Check out the Celebration

That's funny, that was the one I had quoted...same teensy overcrowded pool deck with nothing pretty and two metal palm trees and the fake thatched hut?....and they're really shabby looking too.  Nah....not enticed.  But different strokes for different folks.  We'll stay with RCCL product, Celebrity and RCCL for now.  I even priced Silver Seas which is RCCL the cheapest I found there is $19,000 for 2.

Edited December 13, 2023 by BecciBoo

[HappyTexan44]

17 hours ago, SUgwoz said:

There is certainly higher end cruise lines for adults, and a more expensive cruise line geared towards kids and fans of Disney.  Is there a higher end cruise line that caters both to adults (ie. casino) and kids like Royal does?

 

Maybe that is it.  I guess there are people booking those three-level family suites (or whatever they are called)   

 

[Mum2Mercury]

22 hours ago, nelblu said:

By the way you can have a great time and not spend a darn dime. Complaints, complaints.

True!  Aside from a drink or two, we don't spend anything on Coco Cay, and we really do consider it a "perfect day".  

22 hours ago, klfrodo said:

Hey, if you are in a financial situation where you can and want to spend $2600 for a cabana, then you go for it. Don't worry about what these budget bunnies say. It's your money you're spending not theirs. Enjoy it while you can.

It's not about whether you CAN spend that much; it's about whether it's a good value.  I COULD easily spend that much, but I don't see it as a good value for a day's seating.  

21 hours ago, travelberlin said:

Is this a serious question? I would use the US 2600 to book a cruise 😂😂😂. I mean do you really expect a serious answer?

Yeah, you're right.  My husband and I have taken whole cruises for less.  

19 hours ago, robmtx said:

Don't forget - Bahamas tax on that too 🙂

Oh, yes.  If you buy a drink (assuming you don't have the package) on Coco Cay it'll cost about $1 more than if you buy it on the ship.  Something about VAT.  

Edited December 13, 2023 by Mum2Mercury

[BND]

58 minutes ago, HappyTexan44 said:

 

Maybe that is it.  I guess there are people booking those three-level family suites (or whatever they are called)   

 

Those people I don't get either.  They could charter a boat/yacht for a week with more personalized service for just a bit more than those family suites cost and go to a lot more ports based on size alone.  

[SUgwoz]

1 hour ago, HappyTexan44 said:

 

Maybe that is it.  I guess there are people booking those three-level family suites (or whatever they are called)   

 

There is that, although that is 1 cabin on a handful of ships.  There is though a lot of multi-generational families that book cruises as family vacations that can't take kids on premium adult lines or want more activities than what Celebrity offers. 

[vjmatty]

On 12/12/2023 at 10:21 AM, Mum2Mercury said:

  Just to be clear:  The seven other people are invited by the cabana's renter.  Seven strangers (even if they paid) can't join.  

The only time I ever saw somebody get a good deal on their cabana was when a couple sold the 6 unused Beach Club passes at a discount to strangers on the same cruise. Between the money they made from the passes and the large amount of OBC they had, they ended up paying very little for the cabana. I do think the cabana was “only” in the $1800 range back then. I can’t imagine that would work out mathematically today. 

[Mick B]

Hi,

We have booked a cruise in 2025 for roughly the same amount as a day in CocoCay and that's on the Indy for 12 nights from the UK.

 

Again, it up to the individual if he has the money and wants to spend it on extra little things during the cruise, then fine!

 

These days we are just happy to get to the port without any hassle and find that the ship is there and get on it and then chill and take each day as we find it.

 

Mick.