Deployment 2017/18 - first guesses and implications

[crusinbikers]

Booked Explorer April 22, 2018 Sydney to Seattle at a ridiculously high price for a Grand suite. It's for a special occasion and I wanted a specific cabin. I expect prices to come down at some point (hopefully soon) and I can rebook at a lower price.

 

These prices are insane!!

 

We also just booked this cruise. The fare is now updated with the BoGo price, but alas no "free gratuities" as Royal considers this a repositioning cruise and not eligible. 😞

Agree, even with the adjustment, prices are still insane!

[STEVE-O]

If you look at the rates, for both 9/8/17 and 5/3/18, it is the rate that they charge when they attach the special rates: BOGOHO, 30%, whatever, but with no special rates actually attached. So, they will either fix their pricing downward or re-attach their special pricing. This has happened a lot recently for new releases, and it invariably gets fixed. You monitor the pricing and call for an adjustment.

 

And if not, we will cancel -- but we did book, with the above plan in mind, and got the cabin we wanted. :)

 

Of course......you nailed it!.......Better but still not great prices.

[MuyBueno]

We also just booked this cruise. The fare is now updated with the BoGo price, but alas no "free gratuities" as Royal considers this a repositioning cruise and not eligible. 😞

Agree, even with the adjustment, prices are still insane!

 

I spent over an hour on hold waiting to get the price adjustment. The price is still 20 - 25% more than I thought we'd have to pay. Let's hope a good sale comes up in the next 21 months! :D

 

Free gratuities sure would have been nice on a cruise this long.

[Coralc]

Which is what I've been saying since yesterday. I believe the prices are being adjusted as we speak. :)

 

We booked. Actually we booked last night at the $9,000 price because there was no sale pricing. We had a Sydney to Singapore cruise from onboard February that we moved.

 

I had it re-priced to $7200 this evening, which is still really expensive for a 10 night cruise in a JS/Hawaii. If it doesn't come down somewhat in price in the next 2 years, I'm not sure that we will actually take it. :)

[WaveSplasher]

I spent over an hour on hold waiting to get the price adjustment. The price is still 20 - 25% more than I thought we'd have to pay. Let's hope a good sale comes up in the next 21 months! :D

 

Free gratuities sure would have been nice on a cruise this long.

 

I just checked the Explorer 22 April cruise and there is indeed Free Grats. I wondered as well because Ovation 23rd Nov is also re-positioning cruise and it had free Grats.

[molly361]

Is the Brilliance scheduled for drydock in 2017? I see a 4 day cruise out of Tampa 4/30/17 and then nothing until 12/18/17

[Clarea]

Is the Brilliance scheduled for drydock in 2017? I see a 4 day cruise out of Tampa 4/30/17 and then nothing until 12/18/17

Last dry dock was May 2013, so I would think they could go to 2018.

[molly361]

Last dry dock was May 2013, so I would think they could go to 2018.

 

Thanks- wonder what's up- Maybe all short Caribbean is not out yet. There are no Brilliance. Indy or Navigator short cruises listed for April 2018 yet

[Clarea]

Thanks- wonder what's up- Maybe all short Caribbean is not out yet. There are no Brilliance. Indy or Navigator short cruises listed for April 2018 yet

The deployment schedule still lists "Additional Caribbean" for release in May.

[MuyBueno]

I just checked the Explorer 22 April cruise and there is indeed Free Grats. I wondered as well because Ovation 23rd Nov is also re-positioning cruise and it had free Grats.

 

The infamous IT dept strikes again! The booking page for Explorer transpacific April 22, 2018 shows free grats, but if you proceed further the free grats don't show up in the pricing. I booked by phone because I thought a glitch in the system wasn't giving me the free grats. The rep put me on hold to check and said this sailing doesn't qualify for free grats. If anyone manages to get this perk for this sailing, please let us know.

[flhartley]

The infamous IT dept strikes again! The booking page for Explorer transpacific April 22, 2018 shows free grats, but if you proceed further the free grats don't show up in the pricing. I booked by phone because I thought a glitch in the system wasn't giving me the free grats. The rep put me on hold to check and said this sailing doesn't qualify for free grats. If anyone manages to get this perk for this sailing, please let us know.

 

 

I had the exact same experience you had. No luck. And, I was my most charming self. [emoji56]

[wheretonow?]

Is there a guesstimate date for when the 2018 transatlantic itineraries are going to be released?

 

I really wanted to book our 25th anniversary/50th bday trip....although this pricing might scare me off :eek:

[John&LaLa]

Is there a guesstimate date for when the 2018 transatlantic itineraries are going to be released?

 

I really wanted to book our 25th anniversary/50th bday trip....although this pricing might scare me off :eek:

 

March 15, 2017

[travelgoddess1]

I sure hope your right Karen. Bon Voyage! Have a fantastic cruise.

See you in September.:)

 

Thank you! WE are in Lahaina today, gorgeous weather! Waiting for the tender rush to die down and then we will go have lunch at the Pioneer Inn.

 

Prices did get adjusted with the BOGOHO and free gratuities. As in the past, you have to choose between the free gratuities or the C&A balcony discount (if applicable). :)

[tlatrice]

Since this thread is about guess...or, 'cuz I wanna bounce my wishes off you guys so you can tell me whether or not I'm off base...

 

What do some of the resident experts think about RC bringing 2 smaller ships (say, a Radiance Class and a Vision Class) to the Bayport Cruise Terminal in Houston?

 

Carnival currently operates 3 ships out of Galveston. I think the Vision class ships (or even a Sovereign class) could compete with Carnival's 4 and 5 day runs out of Galveston and the Radiance class could do some more exotic sailings like Panama Canal and South America (if they would ever get those 'promised but not delivered port improvements' mentioned earlier).

 

Or RC could offer longer Caribbean sailings out of Houston. Some 9 or 12 day itineraries out of Galveston that include Labadee maybe? :D ('cuz I like Labadee but don't want to go to Florida to get there.)

 

I just hate to see Bayport sitting empty. I went back there to see it on my way to work one morning. It's a really nice looking terminal.

[Cruzin-K]

Since this thread is about guess...or, 'cuz I wanna bounce my wishes off you guys so you can tell me whether or not I'm off base...

 

What do some of the resident experts think about RC bringing 2 smaller ships (say, a Radiance Class and a Vision Class) to the Bayport Cruise Terminal in Houston?

 

Carnival currently operates 3 ships out of Galveston. I think the Vision class ships (or even a Sovereign class) could compete with Carnival's 4 and 5 day runs out of Galveston and the Radiance class could do some more exotic sailings like Panama Canal and South America (if they would ever get those 'promised but not delivered port improvements' mentioned earlier).

 

Or RC could offer longer Caribbean sailings out of Houston. Some 9 or 12 day itineraries out of Galveston that include Labadee maybe? :D ('cuz I like Labadee but don't want to go to Florida to get there.)

 

I just hate to see Bayport sitting empty. I went back there to see it on my way to work one morning. It's a really nice looking terminal.

 

Bayport is a great terminal, but cruise lines are leaving there for a reason. I sailed from there on Princess, and was on one of the cruises that had no major problems that season (2013/2014). We left on time, but came back about 7 hours early to beat the fog. Bars/shops/casino all shut down early - the ship looked a bit like a ghost town after about 10pm on that last night. So many cruises get delayed because of the fog, and it causes missed ports and unhappy customers so I can see why Princess decided to call it quits after just a few years.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

Since this thread is about guess...or, 'cuz I wanna bounce my wishes off you guys so you can tell me whether or not I'm off base...

 

What do some of the resident experts think about RC bringing 2 smaller ships (say, a Radiance Class and a Vision Class) to the Bayport Cruise Terminal in Houston?

 

Carnival currently operates 3 ships out of Galveston. I think the Vision class ships (or even a Sovereign class) could compete with Carnival's 4 and 5 day runs out of Galveston and the Radiance class could do some more exotic sailings like Panama Canal and South America (if they would ever get those 'promised but not delivered port improvements' mentioned earlier).

 

Or RC could offer longer Caribbean sailings out of Houston. Some 9 or 12 day itineraries out of Galveston that include Labadee maybe? :D ('cuz I like Labadee but don't want to go to Florida to get there.)

 

I just hate to see Bayport sitting empty. I went back there to see it on my way to work one morning. It's a really nice looking terminal.

 

I think the chance of Royal sending another ship to Galveston or Houston is.......

 

0%

[joandian]

Do y'all think all the Asian cruises for 2017/2018 have been released? I was looking for something longer than 7 days but there isn't a lot available.

[R & T]

I think the chance of Royal sending another ship to Galveston or Houston is.......

 

0%

 

What about New Orleans? Any hope?

[internetwhiz]

What about New Orleans? Any hope?

 

 

 

Gosh, I hope so.

[tlatrice]

I think the chance of Royal sending another ship to Galveston or Houston is.......

 

0%

 

:( Oh well...

[Clarea]

What about New Orleans? Any hope?

Too many other ports ahead of New Orleans on the profitibility list.

[MindyJohn]

I can't be positive, but I think the total number of available cruises has jumped higher again. Or did I miss something? We're in Lisbon (wonderful) and I haven't been online regularly.

 

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[Pencruise]

The infamous IT dept strikes again! The booking page for Explorer transpacific April 22, 2018 shows free grats, but if you proceed further the free grats don't show up in the pricing. I booked by phone because I thought a glitch in the system wasn't giving me the free grats. The rep put me on hold to check and said this sailing doesn't qualify for free grats. If anyone manages to get this perk for this sailing, please let us know.

 

I had the exact same thing for my Radiance TP booking, clearly states free grats included but my TA is being told that it is not applicable for this sailing, she is going to be arguing with them today, will let you know the outcome.

[FUN33]

I had the exact same thing for my Radiance TP booking, clearly states free grats included but my TA is being told that it is not applicable for this sailing, she is going to be arguing with them today, will let you know the outcome.

 

Don't forget you can take Free Gratuities OR your Crown and Anchor Discount. They will not give you both. In most cases you are better off taking the C&A discount.