Celebrity PERFECT DAY at COCO CAY

[F6969]

Heads up now that Celebrity will start sailing to this same private island that Royal Caribbean(same company).

The prices that Celebrity is charging for the same amenities is double what RCCL is charging. Even though Celebrity says it’s giving you 15%

off by pre-booking, it is still higher than RCCL pricing without their discounts. Example: Beach Club for 2 on Celebrity with 15% discount is $597.  Beach club on RCCL for family of 4 is the same price and in fact RCCL is running a sale now on the amenities. It’s the same food, drinks, umbrellas, chairs, sand etc, however Celebrity is charging more when they start. When speaking to Celebrity about this they just apologize for now. So beware, things might change as sailing to PERFECT DAY for Celebrity hasn’t started yet, but their gimmicks continue along with other onboard cutbacks that everyone has mentioned. 
it might be better to sail on RCCL should you want to experience a PERFECT DAY.

[jean87510]

On 1/31/2024 at 12:09 PM, F6969 said:

Heads up now that Celebrity will start sailing to this same private island that Royal Caribbean(same company).

The prices that Celebrity is charging for the same amenities is double what RCCL is charging. Even though Celebrity says it’s giving you 15%

off by pre-booking, it is still higher than RCCL pricing without their discounts. Example: Beach Club for 2 on Celebrity with 15% discount is $597.  Beach club on RCCL for family of 4 is the same price and in fact RCCL is running a sale now on the amenities. It’s the same food, drinks, umbrellas, chairs, sand etc, however Celebrity is charging more when they start. When speaking to Celebrity about this they just apologize for now. So beware, things might change as sailing to PERFECT DAY for Celebrity hasn’t started yet, but their gimmicks continue along with other onboard cutbacks that everyone has mentioned. 
it might be better to sail on RCCL should you want to experience a PERFECT DAY.

We are unfortunately stuck with CocoCay with Celebrity in May.  Long story of why.  I actually avoid cruises going forward that stop here as we are not the type of cruisers that CocoCay is marketing to.  Regardless of my feelings, I can verify that yes, the prices are ridiculous that Celebrity is charging.  But of course one can go there for "free" all day.

[OCSC Mike]

Or you could just enjoy CocoCay for free. We love it there and don't spend a penny except to tip on our Diamond (free loyalty) drinks.

[At Sea At Peace]

YIKES!

 

No half-day option in Excursions.

 

Now, for the us (we're just observing, except for required rides that we can do) and two grandkids 10 and 12, @ $188.99 each = $755.96 Plus $75.56 in taxes ($831.52)  ~

 

[EatonDoolittle]

On 2/24/2024 at 1:58 PM, OCSC Mike said:

Or you could just enjoy CocoCay for free. We love it there and don't spend a penny except to tip on our Diamond (free loyalty) drinks.

 

This.

Celebrity cruisers (and I am one) just need to calm down. 

No need to spend a penny, and the island is beautifully developed.  Equal to, and in some areas nicer,  than HAL's Half Moon Cay and Princess Cay.

Much better food options than the fly specked open air  buffets offered elsewhere. 

 

@At Sea At Peace, if you really wanted to take the grands to a water park, wouldn't it be less hassle to  just stay in Orlando for a few days?  Cheaper, for certain. 

 

Celebrity will charge what they can get away with.

But regarding the lower end sister ships, I have also read that the same excursions / experiences on Half Moon Cay cost less when visiting on a Carnival ship than when visiting on a Holland America ship. So there is precedence for X to charge more than RCCL. 

 

 

 

 

[At Sea At Peace]

2 hours ago, EatonDoolittle said:

 

This.

Celebrity cruisers (and I am one) just need to calm down. 

No need to spend a penny, and the island is beautifully developed.  Equal to, and in some areas nicer,  than HAL's Half Moon Cay and Princess Cay.

Much better food options than the fly specked open air  buffets offered elsewhere. 

 

@At Sea At Peace, if you really wanted to take the grands to a water park, wouldn't it be less hassle to  just stay in Orlando for a few days?  Cheaper, for certain. 

 

Celebrity will charge what they can get away with.

But regarding the lower end sister ships, I have also read that the same excursions / experiences on Half Moon Cay cost less when visiting on a Carnival ship than when visiting on a Holland America ship. So there is precedence for X to charge more than RCCL. 

 

 

 

 

 

@EatonDoolittle, we've taken these kids to water parks in Orlando, while at WDW Grand Floridian; Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach repeatedly. They've been to the biggest water parks in an around Austin TX.  So, we don't book a cruise for a couple of hours at a water park at one of the ports, and we're not tripping up to Orlando (car, Brightline or air) with a hotel overnight, etc. to add a waterpark.

 

We wanted to take the kids on a cruise ship for the first time, we're 1 mile from Port Everglades right on the beach and we have them for 3 weeks from May to June.  THEY wanted to go on a cruise ship.

 

Granted, Celebrity (owned by Royal) is not the best option for kids for onboard activities, we believe Royals ships are, but they were not available here in FLL for the open dates we have and out of Miami the ICON was 3-4X.  Maybe next time.

 

So, we picked an itinerary that would have active ports for them, Cococay (the entire island, various activities (they have their own, best snorkel gear) and 'some time' at the Thrill water park), Cayman (Stingray City and more snorkeling) and to a lesser extent Bimini (still unplanned).  A 6N cruise.

 

The purpose of the cruise was not just the Thrill Waterpark at Cococay for the whole day and nothing else.  It's just a segment piece of one day.  We'll be all over the island with other activities throughout the day.  There are no longer 1/2 day passes and the Thrill park cost has grown from $79 for kids and $129 for adults to the same $189 for both kids and adults; apparently different than even Royal charges and much more than the past 9 months.

 

So, it was just a surprise to just find out now on this booking.

 

Take care, we're fine.  If the weather doesn't look good prior to the full refund date we'll just cancel if there isn't a better offer or promo in the meantime.

[jean87510]

On 2/28/2024 at 1:23 PM, At Sea At Peace said:

 

@EatonDoolittle, we've taken these kids to water parks in Orlando, while at WDW Grand Floridian; Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach repeatedly. They've been to the biggest water parks in an around Austin TX.  So, we don't book a cruise for a couple of hours at a water park at one of the ports, and we're not tripping up to Orlando (car, Brightline or air) with a hotel overnight, etc. to add a waterpark.

 

We wanted to take the kids on a cruise ship for the first time, we're 1 mile from Port Everglades right on the beach and we have them for 3 weeks from May to June.  THEY wanted to go on a cruise ship.

 

Granted, Celebrity (owned by Royal) is not the best option for kids for onboard activities, we believe Royals ships are, but they were not available here in FLL for the open dates we have and out of Miami the ICON was 3-4X.  Maybe next time.

 

So, we picked an itinerary that would have active ports for them, Cococay (the entire island, various activities (they have their own, best snorkel gear) and 'some time' at the Thrill water park), Cayman (Stingray City and more snorkeling) and to a lesser extent Bimini (still unplanned).  A 6N cruise.

 

The purpose of the cruise was not just the Thrill Waterpark at Cococay for the whole day and nothing else.  It's just a segment piece of one day.  We'll be all over the island with other activities throughout the day.  There are no longer 1/2 day passes and the Thrill park cost has grown from $79 for kids and $129 for adults to the same $189 for both kids and adults; apparently different than even Royal charges and much more than the past 9 months.

 

So, it was just a surprise to just find out now on this booking.

 

Take care, we're fine.  If the weather doesn't look good prior to the full refund date we'll just cancel if there isn't a better offer or promo in the meantime.

Shame you guys didn't leave out of Port Canaveral on the Adventure as there was a sailing that had Aruba and Curacao as well as CocoCay.  I agree the prices for the Celebrity excursions on CocoCay are insane.

[Bosjoe]

On 2/28/2024 at 10:19 AM, At Sea At Peace said:

YIKES!

 

No half-day option in Excursions.

 

Now, for the us (we're just observing, except for required rides that we can do) and two grandkids 10 and 12, @ $188.99 each = $755.96 Plus $75.56 in taxes ($831.52)  ~

 

Prices vary by date here is May 26 Beyond 

[At Sea At Peace]

On 4/25/2024 at 12:15 AM, Bosjoe said:

Prices vary by date here is May 26 Beyond 

 

 

Nice.  Appears more reasonable. Interesting also as the Ascent was just days different.

 

We likely wouldn't have "cancelled" if such was the case as we wanted the grandkids to enjoy the thrill park, zip line and then the rest of the island, and couldn't believe we had to also pay just to watch.  😲  😉 

[Bosjoe]

1 hour ago, At Sea At Peace said:

 

Nice.  Appears more reasonable. Interesting also as the Ascent was just days different.

 

We likely wouldn't have "cancelled" if such was the case as we wanted the grandkids to enjoy the thrill park, zip line and then the rest of the island, and couldn't believe we had to also pay just to watch.  😲  😉 

Not sure when you are going, have you checked prices lately. They are having a flash sale yesterday and today. 

[At Sea At Peace]

14 hours ago, Bosjoe said:

Not sure when you are going, have you checked prices lately. They are having a flash sale yesterday and today. 

 

Thanks for looking.  We had called and asked if there were any promotions expected before we cancelled and the CC contact was unable to report on such.

 

We were booked for 5/26-6/1/2024 on Beyond out of FLL.  We ate $957 in cancellation fees and booked a replacement trip up to Universal Studios on a FL Resident sale at a luxury on-site resort for one less day, but 2-rooms with water view, 4 day Park to Park Tickets, Express Passes for 5 people and the FLL-Orlando Brightline new fast rail for less than the original Beyond cruise cost, fees and gratuities, PDACC thrill park and zip line tickets for 4 (2 for us just to watch) and planned excursions for the Stingrays at the Grand Cayman.

[Bosjoe]

Sorry to hear that. I am booked on that cruise. Well the kids will enjoy Universal. Enjoy your vacation.