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A bit of a weird question about crowds...

dreday3

By dreday3,
in Royal Caribbean International

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dreday3

dreday3

Posted
Posted

First, hi!

 

We are planning our first cruise, originally looked at Celebrity, but have found through more research Royal Caribbean would probably be a better fit for us.

 

So there are two of us (42 at time of travel.) We are a couple with no kids.

Looking at 11/29/15 sailing - Freedom of The Seas, Eastern Caribbean.

 

Question - my boyfriend is concerned that because this trip seems to be lower in price than the other weeks, that the ship will feel empty??

I told him no way, will still have a lot of people. But seeing I've never cruised before either, he wants me to ask here. :D

 

Do you think the first week of December is a good time to go? Still a good amount of people? Weather?

 

We are very excited. :p

 

thanks in advance!

Andrea

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Vitamin_Sea

Vitamin_Sea

Posted
Posted
First, hi!

 

We are planning our first cruise, originally looked at Celebrity, but have found through more research Royal Caribbean would probably be a better fit for us.

 

So there are two of us (42 at time of travel.) We are a couple with no kids.

Looking at 11/29/15 sailing - Freedom of The Seas, Eastern Caribbean.

 

Question - my boyfriend is concerned that because this trip seems to be lower in price than the other weeks, that the ship will feel empty??

I told him no way, will still have a lot of people. But seeing I've never cruised before either, he wants me to ask here. :D

 

Do you think the first week of December is a good time to go? Still a good amount of people? Weather?

 

We are very excited. :p

 

thanks in advance!

Andrea

 

I would wait.. Your a year out..The prices will come down that time of year.

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Clarea

Clarea

Posted
Posted (edited)

The ships always sail full. Some times are more popular than others, and the price is higher for those popular sailings. For example, a New Year's Eve sailing will probably be about double what the next week costs.

 

The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas have usually been less expensive for us, and fewer children on board too.

Edited by clarea
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Silvery Seas Cruiser

Silvery Seas Cruiser

Posted
Posted

In our experience early December is a great time to cruise. The weather is fabulous. Only one of those December cruises has been chilly and then only near Miami leaving and returning.

 

As for crowds, the only time a ship has felt empty for us is when it is in port. Most folks leave the ship for excursions. Much of the day they are off the ship. It can seem empty then, but you will probably be off the ship too. The casino and shops will be closed. Some of the restaurants are closed too.

 

Port calls are also when the ship's crew run on board safety drills.

 

I believe you will be surprised how much there will be to do on your cruise.

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OCruisers

OCruisers

Posted
Posted
I figured, thanks!:p

 

It's a pretty good bit cheaper than the other two weeks we were looking at - especially for a balcony. Leaves the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

 

Seems like it will be a go, thanks!

 

This is always a good time to cruise for those who can get away that time of year.

Look forward to having a wonderful cruise! :)

LuLu

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dreday3

dreday3

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Posted

Thanks everyone!!

 

Booking - the sooner the better? I was probably going to book (want a balcony room, ocean view) the third week of this December. Is that too late? Too early?

 

Sorry, I know these are probably common questions, we just want to do this the best way.

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Clarea

Clarea

Posted
Posted (edited)
Thanks everyone!!

 

Booking - the sooner the better? I was probably going to book (want a balcony room, ocean view) the third week of this December. Is that too late? Too early?

 

Sorry, I know these are probably common questions, we just want to do this the best way.

There's no way to predict the perfect time to book. The earlier you book, the better choice of stateroom you will have. If the price drops before final payment date, Royal will usually grant you the lower price.

Edited by clarea
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dreday3

dreday3

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Great, thanks!

 

One more question (sorry): do you buy insurance through Royal Caribbean, or somewhere else?

 

I'm not really interested in medical, we have a good plan through work. I'm more nervous about having to cancel due to illness of family member, or if there is a weather issue in Chicago when we are due to leave that makes us miss the cruise.

Are there plans that cover those types of issues? I know probably not a full refund, but possibly a partial?

 

thanks again everyone. :)

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setsail

setsail

Posted
Posted
Great, thanks!

 

One more question (sorry): do you buy insurance through Royal Caribbean, or somewhere else?

 

I'm not really interested in medical, we have a good plan through work. I'm more nervous about having to cancel due to illness of family member, or if there is a weather issue in Chicago when we are due to leave that makes us miss the cruise.

Are there plans that cover those types of issues? I know probably not a full refund, but possibly a partial?

 

thanks again everyone. :)

 

Insure my trip a.com

 

Make sure your medical covers you out of the country

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Clarea

Clarea

Posted
Posted
Great, thanks!

 

One more question (sorry): do you buy insurance through Royal Caribbean, or somewhere else?

 

I'm not really interested in medical, we have a good plan through work. I'm more nervous about having to cancel due to illness of family member, or if there is a weather issue in Chicago when we are due to leave that makes us miss the cruise.

Are there plans that cover those types of issues? I know probably not a full refund, but possibly a partial?

 

thanks again everyone. :)

You should confirm if your medical plan at work will cover expenses that occur out of the country, and also cover medical evacuation.

 

Royal's insurance will refund your cruise cost if you cancel for a covered reason, and will also give you a 75% credit on a future cruise if you cancel for a non-covered reason. However, it will not cover your airfare.

 

Check this website for other insurance options:

 

http://www.insuremytrip.com

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dreday3

dreday3

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Posted (edited)

You guys are really helpful, thanks!

 

I will check my medical for out of country.

 

Okay, I think that answers my starter questions. :D

 

Now to think about dining...(thinking we will do the my time dining...although the idea of sitting with the same people sounds kind of fun)

 

And no clue where to start with excursions, but I know we have time.

Happy to join this community. :)

Edited by dreday3
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VillaHappy

VillaHappy

Posted
Posted
You guys are really helpful, thanks!

 

I will check my medical for out of country.

 

Okay, I think that answers my starter questions. :D

 

Now to think about dining...(thinking we will do the my time dining...although the idea of sitting with the same people sounds kind of fun)

 

And no clue where to start with excursions, but I know we have time.

Happy to join this community. :)

 

Welcome to the wonderful world of cruising! :cool:

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zeridan

zeridan

Posted
Posted (edited)
You should confirm if your medical plan at work will cover expenses that occur out of the country, and also cover medical evacuation.

 

Royal's insurance will refund your cruise cost if you cancel for a covered reason, and will also give you a 75% credit on a future cruise if you cancel for a non-covered reason. However, it will not cover your airfare.

 

Check this website for other insurance options:

 

http://www.insuremytrip.com

 

Welcome OP!

 

Great advice to check if your plan through work covers you on a cruise vacation. Mine doesn't (though it covers me on other foreign travel).

 

Royal's insurance will not cover 3rd party airfare but it WILL cover air booked through their ChoiceAir program, ad no additional charge.

Edited by zeridan
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orville99 "Live from...." Rare

orville99

Posted
Posted
I would wait.. Your a year out..The prices will come down that time of year.

 

 

True, except if the price comes down over the next nine months then the OP will be able to get the reduction. Much more likely that the price would go up, not down. I'd lock in the cruise and cabin I wanted now, and then watch the pricing up until final payment date.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

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Badgertr

Badgertr

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Posted
You guys are really helpful, thanks!

 

I will check my medical for out of country.

 

Okay, I think that answers my starter questions. :D

 

Now to think about dining...(thinking we will do the my time dining...although the idea of sitting with the same people sounds kind of fun)

 

And no clue where to start with excursions, but I know we have time.

Happy to join this community. :)

 

 

Check the ports of call boards for ideas of excursions and departure ports boards for pre/post cruise ideas. We always fly in the day before in case of weather delays.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

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dreday3

dreday3

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Posted (edited)

again, thanks. :)

 

I think we will fly in the day before, save me some worry!! I'll research a good place to stay for the night.

 

We actually plan to go to Universal/IOA for two nights after the cruise to see The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

We love theme parks, just got back from 9 nights at WDW (love going there, ever since I was a child) - awesome, but exhausting and we don't want to head back there for a few years. Hoping the cruise will be a bit more relaxing, it is definitely a better price! :D

 

So I think we will book next month (fingers crossed we will still get a balcony room), $500 down, and then not pay final payment until it's due just in case the price drops. It's my understanding that we pay for excursions when we book, correct?

Edited by dreday3
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