Would you sail on or continue to sail Royal if they went inclusive?

[loman]

Dont drink and dont need wifi , so i would not cruise to subsidize others.

[birdylady]

Personally, I wouldn’t want all inclusive.    We’re not big drinkers and even I hate spending the money for things we wouldn’t take advantage for.   Heck, we didn’t even do the $18 drink error for our 11 nighter.  Just wasn’t worth it.

 

Erika

[nelblu]

I'm not a drinker so I'm not in favor.  Plus it devalues the D+ benefits/perks when it comes to the D lounge, allowance for wi-fi, etc.

Will they also eliminate the C&A balcony discount if it's an all inclusive deal.

[Ashland]

5 minutes ago, birdylady said:

Personally, I wouldn’t want all inclusive.    We’re not big drinkers and even I hate spending the money for things we wouldn’t take advantage for.   Heck, we didn’t even do the $18 drink error for our 11 nighter.  Just wasn’t worth it.

 

Erika

We're not either...but that $18.00 error would have been great !!

[Plum Happy]

1 hour ago, Ashland said:

Are these for those cruises booked after November 17th? I'm booked for July 2021 but my category included 4 perks.

 

I noticed on the Celebrity board they have some FAQs.

 

http://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Celebrity/General_Info/CEL_Always_Inlcuded_FAQs.pdf

Edited November 10, 2020 by Plum Happy

[FionaMG]

Clearly a ploy to ensure a minimum "spend" per passenger. As non-drinkers we would not be happy about this. The problem with one-size-fits-all is that it doesn't. We would much prefer a base non-inclusive fare with the option to add only the specific enhancements that we need. 

[Plum Happy]

1 hour ago, watson50 said:

just another way to 'justify" their price increases, What about people that don't drink? will their fare be reduced? 

It's not just alcoholic, specialty coffee and teas, soda is included.

[deliver42]

I, personally don't see this happening. Royal is primarily  a family cruise line competing with Carnival, NCL, andto a lesser extent, MSC. Royal would price themselves out of that market.

[shipgeeks]

12 minutes ago, Plum Happy said:

It's not just alcoholic, specialty coffee and teas, soda is included.

We wouldn't use any of those, either.

[FionaMG]

25 minutes ago, Plum Happy said:

I noticed on the Celebrity board they have some FAQs.

 

http://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Celebrity/General_Info/CEL_Always_Inlcuded_FAQs.pdf

Well #11 on there simply proves my point that this is to ensure a miminum spend. They estimate the daily retail value of the always included perks as being $89.50 per person. 

We would always pay the tips and we would buy a 2-device wifi package so that would amount to roughly  $30 per person per day. 

Which means the one soda or beer that we drink at dinner would be costing us $59 each!

That's a very costly "convenience". 😞

[Domino D]

I think a lot of people seem to be thinking that this means a significant price increase, and maybe it will going forward.  We booked an Infinite Veranda for 7 nights on the Apex for Thanksgiving week.  We paid $2400 for two people. We got drinks and wifi included.  Like I said, I don't drink but it wasn't like the cost seemed out of line to me.   So I think the question isn't will you pay for all inclusive, it's what is your price point?    

[BirdTravels]

3 hours ago, happy cruiser1234 said:

Love it!  Kinda makes me want to try Celebrity.....I would love if Royal did this!

 

But can you afford it?  Nothing is ever "free" and the cruise line isn't "giving it away. I would rather pay a cheaper cruise fair and add what I want. 

[happy cruiser1234]

5 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

But can you afford it?  Nothing is ever "free" and the cruise line isn't "giving it away. I would rather pay a cheaper cruise fair and add what I want. 

We always purchase the Deluxe Drink Package, The Key w/wifi and always tip above and beyond the prepaid gratuities..... It would depend on what the total cost of the all inclusive cruise is, but I do think there could be value there if someone purchases the drink package anyway.

 

However I agree with Ken that Royal would not do this as they have a different demographic of customer.  

[docruth]

1 hour ago, Domino D said:

I think a lot of people seem to be thinking that this means a significant price increase, and maybe it will going forward.  We booked an Infinite Veranda for 7 nights on the Apex for Thanksgiving week.  We paid $2400 for two people. We got drinks and wifi included.  Like I said, I don't drink but it wasn't like the cost seemed out of line to me.   So I think the question isn't will you pay for all inclusive, it's what is your price point?    

 

10K for 2 in AQ on the Reflection for 28 nts FLL -> AMS B2B British Isles -> AMS. Lots of extras.

[mek]

2 hours ago, Plum Happy said:

It's not just alcoholic, specialty coffee and teas, soda is included.

Understand that would be included- not anything I drink enough of to be worth paying extra.

[firefly333]

The only perk I'd want is the unlimited dining pkg. Lol

 

I do sparkling water at home, not soda, but not picky. But dont drink much or do sodas much.

 

I'm more interested in eating than drinking. I would prefer it to have a choice of perks if dining was one. And even then I cant be on a schedule every night for dinner. I like more spontaneity. I'm more interested in some of the special cruises celebrity does. I did celebrity to hawaii. I'd love to see the Galapagos. 

[John&LaLa]

3 hours ago, loman said:

Dont drink and dont need wifi , so i would not cruise to subsidize others.

 

We already subsidize others😉

 

FlowRider,  iFly, bumper cars, pool slides, CATS, Adventure Ocean, North Star, etc....

 

[PigsCanFly]

We always buy the soda package and take advantage of the casino drinks when it is open.  I also get free wifi with my master tier level.  I can't imagine paying extra for "included extras".  They would also have to discontinue the club Royale tier and Diamond and above benefits to justify making that kind of change.

[twangster]

32 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

We already subsidize others😉

 

FlowRider,  iFly, bumper cars, pool slides, CATS, Adventure Ocean, North Star, etc....

 

 

At least those things draw kids away from the Solarium they aren't supposed to be in.   There is value in that for everyone.  Maybe not CATS so much.  

 

I've probed a couple FBMs who reported DX penetration is in the low 20 percentage range typically.  Imagine the drunkenness if every adult over 21 had it.  It would address the Diamond Lounge overcrowding complaint.  

 

There is science behind the current approach.  Their weird and wonderful cruise planner variable "sales" all squeeze out every bit of revenue they think they can.  All inclusive flies in the face of those  data analytics.

 

Human nature plays a role in package sales now.  Hook them on the cruise then as the months go by approaching sail date squeeze more money out of them as less frequent cruisers buy things to AMP their special vacation.  That's the whole mentality that drives The Key sales.  Same with dining packages and drink packages and Voom packages.     All inclusive kills that effect and eventually they'll water down drinks like all inclusive land resorts do as a means to increase margins. 

 

Then there are the short cruises that would become even more of a party ship increasing fares on longer sailings to make up for the higher binging consumption on short cruises.

 

No thanks, I'm fine the way it is.

[Milwaukee Eight]

Hum. What a neat idea. Having others Supplement my drinking. How can you object to this???  😇

[docruth]

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

I'm more interested in eating than drinking. I would prefer it to have a choice of perks if dining was one. And even then I cant be on a schedule every night for dinner. I like more spontaneity. I'm more interested in some of the special cruises celebrity does. I did celebrity to hawaii. I'd love to see the Galapagos. 

 

Firefly,

 

Sorry OT. Well, it’s a little more than a year.

 

Galapagos is AWESOME! Sorry for being loud, but it really is ... can’t say enough. Stuck a pix of the Museum of the Equator below. Can’t get to others.

 

Did it on the Xperience, she had some charm. Crew, especially naturalists, were super-duper. I really like the older ships, many will be missed for the food.

Chef and his associates were incredible, I can still see him smiling at the bar-b-que on the back deck grilling fishes and meats. All of them, including our barista/bartender, produced inspired Ecuadorian/Peruvian cuisine and drinks, changing constantly. IDK how they do it?

 

We took X’s land pre/post tours. They literally held our hands throughout. We had eight on the post-cruise trip. Nice size for archeological sites & markets.

 

The real foodie adventure was Peru to Machu Picchu. From the markets in Lima, the restaurants everywhere, especially the haciendas, and the Orient Express style train dining, all were fantastic. It was on my bucket list. Checked.

 

Highly Recommended,

 

Doc Ruth

 

Edited November 11, 2020 by docruth

[yogimax]

This policy which would raise prices dramatically will simply lead people away from Celebrity and toward Viking, Avalon and the River Cruise companies.

[firefly333]

18 minutes ago, docruth said:

 

Firefly,

 

Sorry OT. Well, it’s a little more than a year.

 

Galapagos is AWESOME! Sorry for being loud, but it really is ... can’t say enough. Stuck a pix of the Museum of the Equator below. Can’t get to others.

 

Did it on the Xperience, she had some charm. Crew, especially naturalists, were super-duper. I really like the older ships, many will be missed for the food.

Chef and his associates were incredible, I can still see him smiling at the bar-b-que on the back deck grilling fishes and meats. All of them, including our barista/bartender, produced inspired Ecuadorian/Peruvian cuisine and drinks, changing constantly. IDK how they do it?

 

We took X’s land pre/post tours. They literally held our hands throughout. We had eight on the post-cruise trip. Nice size for archeological sites & markets.

 

The real foodie adventure was Peru to Machu Picchu. From the markets in Lima, the restaurants everywhere, especially the haciendas, and the Orient Express style train dining, all were fantastic. It was on my bucket list. Checked.

 

Highly Recommended,

 

Doc Ruth

 

Sounds awesome, it's on my list and I really wanted to book panana partial in 2021. Any cruise where I see animals and wild life is high up there.

 

I just couldn't convince myself now is the time to book these cruises. But yes I priced out 14 days to Galapagos... lol if I'm going that far, 7 days seems like a waste. I was elite on celebrity to hawaii, but I dont guess it matters much if they are all inclusive. But I'd do celebrity just because I'm already elite if I went.

[Biker19]

19 minutes ago, yogimax said:

This policy which would raise prices dramatically will simply lead people away from Celebrity and toward Viking, Avalon and the River Cruise companies.

Or maybe Virgin, who started the line with most of these perks and tips included.

[docruth]

3 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Sounds awesome, it's on my list and I really wanted to book panana partial in 2021. Any cruise where I see animals and wild life is high up there.

 

I just couldn't convince myself now is the time to book these cruises. But yes I priced out 14 days to Galapagos... lol if I'm going that far, 7 days seems like a waste. I was elite on celebrity to hawaii, but I dont guess it matters much if they are all inclusive. But I'd do celebrity just because I'm already elite if I went.

 

I’m E+, and this was our first time as senior cruisers aboard.

 

They pulled out all the stops, private bridge tour with the master, lunch with the hotel director, it just kept going and going. Private, up-front audience with a sealion pup (pulled off my scuba mask), lecture on getting too close from mama sealion, a picture by the naturalist while this was happening, no seriously though X only arranged the last part.

 

Have to wait now for the world to heal now, glad we did it back then! Next Angor Wat!