Deployment 2019-20 booking season begins

[Hippo 360]

Hi Woodyren, did you book through a US travel agency.? Can not find

Itineraries on Aust web site. Would like some clarification re food as this

ship is China bound will the repositioning cruises be predominantly Asian

food & the language mainly Mandarin? Just a bit worried re entertainment,one of the reasons we love to cruise, know the Chinese are

not that interested. Wondering if it is not on Aust web site because of

the Explorer repositioning at the same time. Don’t think this ship will

come down to Aust .

[Biker19]

Don’t think this ship will

come down to Aust .

 

 

Quantum never did so unlikely Spectrum will either.

[Beachammo]

Lucky you getting it booked.

 

My point is that I am paying £1450 on Jewel for the same trip Solo Occupancy and if I were to do it on Spectrum it would be £2800...no new ship is worth double the price!

I'd rather be on Jewel....no matter the price.

 

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[Clarea]

I'd rather be on Jewel....no matter the price.

I don't understand why you're not on the Fall TA!

[Beachammo]

I don't understand why you're not on the Fall TA!

Doing two Fall TA's this year.....

 

Brilliance and Vision.

 

Jewel was just too late in the Season. Leslie doesn't like to be away from the house November/December.

 

 

 

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[rimmit]

Hi Woodyren, did you book through a US travel agency.? Can not find

Itineraries on Aust web site. Would like some clarification re food as this

ship is China bound will the repositioning cruises be predominantly Asian

food & the language mainly Mandarin? Just a bit worried re entertainment,one of the reasons we love to cruise, know the Chinese are

not that interested. Wondering if it is not on Aust web site because of

the Explorer repositioning at the same time. Don’t think this ship will

come down to Aust .

My family did the repo on the Ovation. The ship slowly shifted toward more and more Chinese crew and food and entertainment as the repo went on. We were on the first leg which was primarily western entertainment and Foos, but keeping in contact with friends as it slowly reached shanghai, the crew became more and more Chinese as the cruise went on. The first leg felt like any other cruise with maybe a slightly more predominant Chinese crew. I will say that guest relations was a bit difficult as the staff was not so good with English. I had to draw things on a paper at time to get them to understand.

[Blue Eyed Belfast Belle]

I'd rather be on Jewel....no matter the price.

 

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Good to know. I do love the Radiance Class ;)

[MCEaton]

Does anyone have any idea when Hawaii will be out for 2020, hoping to book it for a B2B with the

2020 TP?

[Clarea]

Does anyone have any idea when Hawaii will be out for 2020, hoping to book it for a B2B with the

2020 TP?

Most likely Spring 2019.

[MCEaton]

Most likely Spring 2019.

 

Thank you

[FunCruiser56]

We are waiting for this one too :) hoping to get the same cabin for both sailings

Does anyone have any idea when Hawaii will be out for 2020, hoping to book it for a B2B with the

2020 TP?

 

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[springaussie]

Most likely Spring 2019.

 

 

It will be interesting to see if Royal releases more areas for sale late this year as happened late 2017.

 

 

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[Blue Eyed Belfast Belle]

I know this is wishful thinking but what are the chances that RCI will ever return to the US West Coast. Now that Explorer will no longer do the Alaskan route the couple of sailings have gone too.

 

The reason I ask is that I have just read that Princess Cruises are sending Star, Golden and Royal Princess to the West Coast for 2019/20!

 

"Today, the cruise line announced a return to the region in 2019-2020 with itineraries visiting top destinations including Monterey, San Francisco, Santa Barbara and San Diego.

Highlights for the 2019-2020 season include the introduction of one of the line’s newest ships to the California Coast, Royal Princess, for her first full season based in Los Angeles. Royal Princess will offer nine coastal departures including the Classic California Coast itinerary.

As the only cruise line to sail year-round out of San Francisco, Princess offers Grand Princess sailing along the west coast once again in 2019. San Francisco departures for the season include a new five-day West Coast Getaway itinerary featuring a late night departure in San Diego, and a call to Ensenada, Mexico. The ship will also offer two variations of coastal sailings including the Classic California Coast itinerary.

Star Princess will make her return to the west coast in 2019 featuring departures from Seattle and Vancouver. Itineraries include a seven-day Northern California Coast sailing from Seattle with late night calls in San Francisco and Victoria, Canada and a 10-day Coastal sailing from Vancouver with a late night call in Los Angeles and overnight stay in San Francisco."

[Biker19]

I know this is wishful thinking but what are the chances that RCI will ever return to the US West Coast. Now that Explorer will no longer do the Alaskan route the couple of sailings have gone too.

Very low chance, though, without any ship retirements and two more new ships coming by 2020, there would be capacity available.

[ONECRUISER]

I know this is wishful thinking but what are the chances that RCI will ever return to the US West Coast. Now that Explorer will no longer do the Alaskan route the couple of sailings have gone too.

 

The reason I ask is that I have just read that Princess Cruises are sending Star, Golden and Royal Princess to the West Coast for 2019/20!

 

"Today, the cruise line announced a return to the region in 2019-2020 with itineraries visiting top destinations including Monterey, San Francisco, Santa Barbara and San Diego.

Highlights for the 2019-2020 season include the introduction of one of the line’s newest ships to the California Coast, Royal Princess, for her first full season based in Los Angeles. Royal Princess will offer nine coastal departures including the Classic California Coast itinerary.

As the only cruise line to sail year-round out of San Francisco, Princess offers Grand Princess sailing along the west coast once again in 2019. San Francisco departures for the season include a new five-day West Coast Getaway itinerary featuring a late night departure in San Diego, and a call to Ensenada, Mexico. The ship will also offer two variations of coastal sailings including the Classic California Coast itinerary.

Star Princess will make her return to the west coast in 2019 featuring departures from Seattle and Vancouver. Itineraries include a seven-day Northern California Coast sailing from Seattle with late night calls in San Francisco and Victoria, Canada and a 10-day Coastal sailing from Vancouver with a late night call in Los Angeles and overnight stay in San Francisco."

Slim to none...

[Ashland]

Sadly RCI cares nothing about us west coasters...they know those of us that are loyal will fly to get to one of their ships. I've tried PCL and just got off a Celebrity ship...even more loyal than I was...sad I didn't care for the X product but loved the itinerary and yes I had to fly all the way to Dublin to give it a try.

[suzyluvs2cruise]

Sadly RCI cares nothing about us west coasters...they know those of us that are loyal will fly to get to one of their ships. I've tried PCL and just got off a Celebrity ship...even more loyal than I was...sad I didn't care for the X product but loved the itinerary and yes I had to fly all the way to Dublin to give it a try.

Agree....and they also don't seem to be offering new itineraries. While we've cruised with RCI since 1987 we feel that RCI is targeting a different market...and it's not us. It's more families and Amusement Park experiences. For us it's about where we go so we've booked on other cruise lines.

 

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[travelgoddess1]

Agree....and they also don't seem to be offering new itineraries. While we've cruised with RCI since 1987 we feel that RCI is targeting a different market...and it's not us. It's more families and Amusement Park experiences. For us it's about where we go so we've booked on other cruise lines.

 

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I agree with you 100%. RCI dismisses any discussion of moving a ship permanently to the West Coast, citing a variety of reasons (depending on which one serves their purpose at that moment).

 

If you want to sail from the West Coast, Carnival and Princess are your options, other than the occasional repositioning cruise on other lines.

[Sunny AZ Girl]

I agree with you 100%. RCI dismisses any discussion of moving a ship permanently to the West Coast, citing a variety of reasons (depending on which one serves their purpose at that moment).

 

If you want to sail from the West Coast, Carnival and Princess are your options, other than the occasional repositioning cruise on other lines.

I also wish that there were more West Coast offerings on RCI. We would be more likely to book a few extra cruises if that were so. We keep saying that we will book other lines, but in the end, we keep staying loyal. Itinerary remains my first consideration now days. But if it comes down to a choice between RCI and another line with a similar itinerary and a reasonable price, I will choose RCI. I just booked the Ovation's 11 night itinerary in Alaska. I was looking at Princess and NCL for the Glacier Bay itinerary, but in the end I found I could book 11 nights on a new class of ship for us that I wanted to try with a couple of new ports for us (Sitka and Icy Point Strait) for about the same amount of $$$ as I could book a 7 night on the others. So, we stayed with RCI once again. Plus, this cruise will be our D+ cruise, not that it means too much anymore.

 

That saying, we are seriously considering booking Celebrity in fall 2020 with a group of friends once the itineraries are released.

[rimmit]

Agree....and they also don't seem to be offering new itineraries. While we've cruised with RCI since 1987 we feel that RCI is targeting a different market...and it's not us. It's more families and Amusement Park experiences. For us it's about where we go so we've booked on other cruise lines.

 

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RCI's itineraries are tired and uninspired. What I don't understand is clearly unique itineraries command a higher premium. Just look at the northbound transatlantic that goes through Greenland! The prices are obscene. The profit they will turn on a cruise with those prices is huge, as the demand is high, as there are so many loyal Royals, that stick to Royal, but don't want to pay a premium for itineraries that they have done 10-20 times.

 

I'm sure the bean counters have some logic, but with the largest cruise fleet in the industry, they should be able to offer more unique itineraries. I understand everyone says, that's what HA, PCL, and Celebrity are for, but IMO they are leaving money on the table, and ignoring a sizable market.

[Oceansaway17]

Well I guess their name Royal CARIBBEAN explains why so many ships end up in FLA. I mean 5 Oasis class ships. Yet they keep sending the new Quantum to Asia.

 

RCI needs to do more to the Canaries as well as Iceland. Those are two areas that are trending upwards if one studies the industry.

I think RCI is trying to be about floating hotels now instead of Cruising ship to various ports. They want folks to drink themselves silly on the ship and lose money in their casinos. oh well. Fast forward 10 years and see what is going on. Time will tell.

 

I am glad to see them upgrade the Mariner though

[Blizzard54]

RCI's itineraries are tired and uninspired. What I don't understand is clearly unique itineraries command a higher premium. Just look at the northbound transatlantic that goes through Greenland! The prices are obscene. The profit they will turn on a cruise with those prices is huge, as the demand is high, as there are so many loyal Royals, that stick to Royal, but don't want to pay a premium for itineraries that they have done 10-20 times.

 

I'm sure the bean counters have some logic, but with the largest cruise fleet in the industry, they should be able to offer more unique itineraries. I understand everyone says, that's what HA, PCL, and Celebrity are for, but IMO they are leaving money on the table, and ignoring a sizable market.

 

I will give them credit for reinstating some Panama Canal cruises. There are 8 of them in the next 18 months. They could branch out a little from that and offer some R/T trips to Hawaii form either San Pedro or San Diego. I do not expect we will ever get a ship doing 7 night Mexican Rivera again but just like most of the Caribbean that gets rather repetitive.

[harz99]

Reinstating PC does nothing for me. How about South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar and that area. Or around Japan without including China or South Korea. Or a segmented circling of the Americas ala the Australian circumnavigation. There are many more potential places, not just same old same old itineraries we get foisted on us.

 

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[Sunny AZ Girl]

Most of the cruising public can't afford the longer, more exotic itineraries. Even if they have the money, most people won't invest that kind of time on a cruise vacation. We are a small group. Even on Cruise Critic we are a tiny part of the community as a whole. Royal knows that. They are a mass market cruise line. They know their niche, that is why they are successful.

 

I have still been able to find new and exciting itineraries for us. But even though many of our friends think we are cruise crazy we are way down the line from so many of you! We won't be D+ until after our Alaska cruise next year - that is another 33 days at sea. LOL! Maybe I will say ho-hum over Europe, Alaska and the Northeast, but not for a long time yet. There is much I haven't seen. I even would love to do a repeat of the Southern Caribbean, and even though I agree the Oasis Class itineraries are the same old same old, I am still looking at a cruise on that class again as they are a great multi-generational experience, IMHO. I recommend those for family reunion cruises all the time.

 

I do think they could fill their niche offering cruises from the West Coast,, though. Mexican Riviera is just one. I know, I am tired of that one,too - but many people are not. I have friends and co-workers here in Arizona seeking out Carnival who would prefer RCI just because they want the MR. I just set up a group of co-workers with a TA for a MR cruise on Carnival. Then there is the Sea of Cortez - an up and coming market. Also, the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii R/T. I would do the last three in a heartbeat.:hearteyes:

[suzyluvs2cruise]

 

I do think they could fill their niche offering cruises from the West Coast,, though. Mexican Riviera is just one. I know, I am tired of that one,too - but many people are not. I have friends and co-workers here in Arizona seeking out Carnival who would prefer RCI just because they want the MR. I just set up a group of co-workers with a TA for a MR cruise on Carnival. Then there is the Sea of Cortez - an up and coming market. Also, the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii R/T. I would do the last three in a heartbeat.:hearteyes:

 

Agree.....I think RCI would have success with alternating West Coast/Pacific Coastal itineraries and an occasional RT Hawaii.