frankc98376 Posted July 16, 2018 #26 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Just got off phone with my TA about this possibility. She called HAL - HAL says they see NOTHING about Explore4. How can that be? Promo is supposed to start Wednesday. Likely the in house HAL people can see it earlier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KroozNut Posted July 16, 2018 #27 Share Posted July 16, 2018 If there are no "free promos", why do so many ask when the new promo with the 'free drinks' will be released? Because they don't understand the X4 promo, are misinformed, or both. SBP (included with X4) drinks are not 'free', the costs for these beverages are 'pre-paid' in the form of a higher cruise fare as opposed to what the cruise fare is without the promo. Again, it's always a matter of each individual 'doing the math' and making the determination whether the promo adds value for them. For us it does.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare *Miss G* Posted July 16, 2018 #28 Share Posted July 16, 2018 When we asked about this year we were told that sometimes the promos are combinable (as they were last year)- we'd need to wait until Explore 4 came out to see, I'm guessing it depends on the fares and how high they are. Thank you so much! My regular PCC left the company suddenly, and I now have a new PCC who isn't as responsive. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlorenceItaly Posted July 18, 2018 #29 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Not on the website yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skurvish Posted July 18, 2018 #30 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Not on the website yet. received an email from one of the online agencies that it is now on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickey_mouse Posted July 18, 2018 #31 Share Posted July 18, 2018 I am a travel agent and saw the "Explore 4" option appear as early as this past weekend, but it could not yet be applied. As of last night, it was open for business. For my upcoming cruise, the Explore 4 price adds $330 per passenger. Not sure that's worth it for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tampa Girl Posted July 18, 2018 #32 Share Posted July 18, 2018 I just checked the January 2020 Zaandam Antarctica price, and it has jumped about $550 pp. However, that is for 22 days, which is about about $400 pp less than simply buying the package at $45?/day pp., pre-cruise price. For us, it would probably be worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamac56 Posted July 18, 2018 #33 Share Posted July 18, 2018 I just checked our 10 day in March to Panama canal and it has jumped 600.00 per person for the two of us no way explore 4 is worth it for us. however I still don't see it on their website for a deal or my cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pictonite Posted July 18, 2018 #34 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Just checked prices for our 30 day Far East Discovery cruise in January 2020. No mention of Explore 4, but did offer $200 on board spending. The price increase showing is $2700 for the two of us. No deal there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alwaysfrantic Posted July 18, 2018 #35 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Last Explore 4 definitely had pre-paid gratuities and the drink package. I was hoping it might this year as well. I never drank enough to make it worth paying for but I really did like the mental freedom to let myself put one down if I didn't like it and get something else. We have the gratuities and a lot of OBC from other promotions. We will keep what we have Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alwaysfrantic Posted July 18, 2018 #36 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Because they don't understand the X4 promo, are misinformed, or both. SBP (included with X4) drinks are not 'free', the costs for these beverages are 'pre-paid' in the form of a higher cruise fare as opposed to what the cruise fare is without the promo. Again, it's always a matter of each individual 'doing the math' and making the determination whether the promo adds value for them. For us it does.. Not always true.....Both times I've had it applied it worked in my favor. First time the cruise price stayed exactly the same. Second time there was very little change in price for the additions. So sometimes, the additions are free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankc98376 Posted July 18, 2018 #37 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Our next cruise is up $200 pp so will likely go for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fouremco Posted July 18, 2018 #38 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Our late April booking for June 2019 has already gone up $1600 CAD without the Explore 4 offers, which are still not showing on the website. I can't imagine how much higher again the price will be once that "sale" begins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare foodsvcmgr Posted July 18, 2018 #39 Share Posted July 18, 2018 My KONINGSDAM cruise for February that I booked with gratuity included is up today $410 pp. No mention of Explore 4 but assume this increase reflects the new promo is imminent. For me likely losing the included grats and paying the increase only for booze not really worth it. Interestingly just added a beverage package to a Princess cruise when their new promo came out and there was zero increase in fare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wishing on a star Posted July 18, 2018 #40 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Our total cruise fare is up $560. That is $280. pp. for drink package, Pinnacle Grill, and reduced deposit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickey_mouse Posted July 18, 2018 #41 Share Posted July 18, 2018 I suppose that it just comes down to how many beverages you like to enjoy on a cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joken35 Posted July 18, 2018 #42 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Took a Chance and booked a Refundable deposit in hopes of the xplore4.Our cruise in Februarynos not included Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted July 18, 2018 #43 Share Posted July 18, 2018 My 24 day is up $1250, the 31 day around $1187 - that's per person so $2500 total on the one and nearly $2300 on the other total. I declined. I'll do the math, but I already know ;) By the way when I called I was told the Signature Beverage Package was 11 drinks per day as opposed to the 15 that it used to be. No biggie - we don't come near either of those, but thought I should mention it in case it helps someone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fouremco Posted July 18, 2018 #44 Share Posted July 18, 2018 By the way when I called I was told the Signature Beverage Package was 11 drinks per day as opposed to the 15 that it used to be. No biggie - we don't come near either of those, but thought I should mention it in case it helps someone else. Not that we plan on buying the package, but did they indicate whether this was a general reduction for the SBP or only for ones acquired under Explore 4? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare *Miss G* Posted July 18, 2018 #45 Share Posted July 18, 2018 My next two bookings (September and December) don't have the Explore4 notation but the sailing in May 2019 does. The variance is steep: an additional $400/pp plus the loss of pre-paid gratuities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted July 18, 2018 #46 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Not that we plan on buying the package, but did they indicate whether this was a general reduction for the SBP or only for ones acquired under Explore 4? Not verbatim but the essence of the conversation was this includes the SBP which includes 11 drinks per day at a cost not to exceed $9 per drink. I'm not sure sorry. I was making an Explore4 inquiry. I'm always congizant that onboard charges are in US $ versus my Cdn $ booking price ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fouremco Posted July 18, 2018 #47 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Not verbatim but the essence of the conversation was this includes the SBP which includes 11 drinks per day at a cost not to exceed $9 per drink. I'm not sure sorry. I was making an Explore4 inquiry. I'm always congizant that onboard charges are in US $ versus my Cdn $ booking price ;) Thanks. If it will apply to regular beverage packages in future, that's almost a 1/3 reduction in what is offered for (presumably) the same price. I can see a thread or two emerging. :D Yes, bearing in mind USD vs CAD is something one mustn't forget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatcat04 Posted July 18, 2018 #48 Share Posted July 18, 2018 My 24 day is up $1250, the 31 day around $1187 - that's per person so $2500 total on the one and nearly $2300 on the other total. I declined. I'll do the math, but I already know ;) By the way when I called I was told the Signature Beverage Package was 11 drinks per day as opposed to the 15 that it used to be. No biggie - we don't come near either of those, but thought I should mention it in case it helps someone else. Wow. A 27% reduction in benefit for the package is a pretty steep reduction. :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickey_mouse Posted July 18, 2018 #49 Share Posted July 18, 2018 By the way when I called I was told the Signature Beverage Package was 11 drinks per day as opposed to the 15 that it used to be. No biggie - we don't come near either of those, but thought I should mention it in case it helps someone else.For what it's worth, on the Travel Agent booking site, when you choose the Explore 4 fare, it prompts a disclaimer that you MUST click/acknowledge before proceeding, and it says: "Signature Beverage Package: Has a daily limit of 15 beverages - Excludes beverages priced over $9.00, and purchases made in Signature shops, In Room Dining, or beverages on Half Moon Cay. Is not transferable or refundable." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatcat04 Posted July 18, 2018 #50 Share Posted July 18, 2018 I checked our present booking's "Beverages" options for pre-purchase and it still says 15 beverage maximum for both Signature and Elite. Not that I could ever drink 15 alcoholic beverages in a day but the combo of non and alcoholic could get close with specialty coffees, mocktails, and water. Now if they made non-alcoholic unlimited and only limited the alcoholic beverages that would be different. The Explore4 was $440 more per person for us so not worth it on the present booking. No biggie. But good to check. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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