Coco Cay Expansion

[vjmatty]

1 hour ago, cured said:

 

That doesn't make logistical sense.  There are plenty of suite guests and pinnacles that sail with children and grandchildren.  It would not be good business sense to grant a new suite/pinnacle perk that excludes many suite and pinnacle guests. It wouldn't be long before the complaints rolled in "I paid for my suite and all the benefits, so I am bringing my children."

 

IF they felt inclined to add a new perk, it would be more likely the beach club where children are allowed. But I don't see that happening either.

 

Aren't they adding a lazy river?  For free access? Me thinks not.

 

 

 

She probably doesn't have kids if she is hoping it is free for pinnacles.  I doubt it will be... if they were going to start giving freebies or discounts for status or suites, it would have already happened with the Beach Club.

[cruisegirl1]

1 minute ago, vjmatty said:

 

She probably doesn't have kids if she is hoping it is free for pinnacles.  I doubt it will be... if they were going to start giving freebies or discounts for status or suites, it would have already happened with the Beach Club.

Now you are on to something.  Create a new adult only area and use the existing Beach Club for Suite/Pinnacle guests, similar to Barefoot Beach on Labadee.  I'm sure that concept will go over big at corporate headquarters!

M

[vjmatty]

1 minute ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Now you are on to something.  Create a new adult only area and use the existing Beach Club for Suite/Pinnacle guests, similar to Barefoot Beach on Labadee.  I'm sure that concept will go over big at corporate headquarters!

M

 

I don't know...  I have been so sticker-shocked at the latest Club prices I doubt they will start offering free membership, even to pinnacles.  In October 2021 when the prices were ranging $160-170pp most of the people on my sailing were really balking at that, so I can't imagine reactions now.  Floater cabanas were 1699 and now they've literally doubled.  It's worse than the housing market in upstate NY.

[RFerrington]

The nice thin is….all of those areas are optional !  No need to pay if you don’t want to.

[vjmatty]

7 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

The nice thin is….all of those areas are optional !  No need to pay if you don’t want to.

 

Yes and the pricing is actually making it easier to save money by walking away

[RFerrington]

14 minutes ago, vjmatty said:

 

Yes and the pricing is actually making it easier to save money by walking away

Slightly off topic, but the same can be said for the drinks packages at these new astronomical prices !

[Sunshine3601]

28 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

Slightly off topic, but the same can be said for the drinks packages at these new astronomical prices !

I can understand drink package increase as there is actual costs involved that have increased (booze, mixers, etc).     Yes, bar drinks are always a huge profit for any restaurant/bar. 

 

There is nothing at the beach club that has gone up to justify the huge price jump other than people continue to book the beach club at the ridiculous high price.    It is a very nice area but there are plenty of nice areas that are free and the lunch is definitely not worth $180 +/- pp.   

[SNJCruisers]

2 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

I don't know what the area will be, or what it won't, except that Royal has announced that it will be adult only.  

 

To me it seems like competition for the existing Beach Club which might be good for the consumer as the beach club is now over $220 PER PERSON for an upcoming June cruise.    Two "exclusive" areas might bring down the price of both. 

 

M

It's entirely up to the infamous dynamic pricing as to what they will charge.   I had the Beach Club reserved last August for a reasonable 65 pp.  RCI cancelled our cruise and started the Oasis ther following week in September.  The cheapest I have seen it for our new sailing next month is around 150 pp.  I will let those with full shallow pockets pay for it. 

[vjmatty]

3 hours ago, RFerrington said:

Slightly off topic, but the same can be said for the drinks packages at these new astronomical prices !

I was thinking of that as well.  Eventually it gets to the point where you can be pretty sure you won’t drink THAT much 

[smplybcause]

7 hours ago, crewsweeper said:

the shuttle will stop there.  But as you take the shuttle around, you'll see the area fenced off and views blocked, but obviously some construction going on.

 

I don't doubt the shuttle will stop there, but it'll take a while plus more to wait if you happen to get off when a lot of other people do. I've given up on the shuttle for the wait. Maybe they'll be adding more shuttles once it opens. 

[A&L_Ont]

19 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Sure, to look at, like the balloon.

 

BA BOOM.  Biker, wins post of the day. 😂

 

 

 

[F27TW]

On 5/8/2022 at 10:57 AM, pinnacle_king2023 said:

i hope pinnacles will have access to hideaway beach

 

 

[F27TW]

On 5/8/2022 at 10:25 AM, publicpersona said:

Sigh. I much preferred CocoCay when it was just, you know, an island with beaches and tropical nature.

 

 

 

Me too -- its gotten to be a ridiculous in-your-face example of just how the cruise lines (this one in particular)  get off on ripping people off now.   Nearly everything extra fee ..I won't be surprised if one day they charge you even to just get off the ship there.    Pretty sad, i think .. no matter now "exclusive" they think theyre making it.   "Perfect Day" ... how about "Extortion Day" instead?

[vjmatty]

1 hour ago, F27TW said:

 

Me too -- its gotten to be a ridiculous in-your-face example of just how the cruise lines (this one in particular)  get off on ripping people off now.   Nearly everything extra fee ..I won't be surprised if one day they charge you even to just get off the ship there.    Pretty sad, i think .. no matter now "exclusive" they think theyre making it.   "Perfect Day" ... how about "Extortion Day" instead?

 

LOL the word "extortion" crossed my mind as well when I saw the newest prices for the cabanas and the beach club.  It's not like they doubled reasonable or even average prices.... they doubled prices that were already considered too high by a majority of cruisers.  I wonder if RC's bean-counters work on commission based on amenity sales.

[Biker19]

27 minutes ago, vjmatty said:

they doubled prices that were already considered too high by a majority of cruisers.

Switch shoes with RCI for a minute, if your customers are willing to pay those prices, why would you sell it any cheaper?

[vjmatty]

12 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Switch shoes with RCI for a minute, if your customers are willing to pay those prices, why would you sell it any cheaper?

 

Whether they will pay remains to be seen, the doubling has only been in the past month.  As for what I would do,  I ran a small business for 25 years and while I could have bilked my clients for a lot more money I chose not to do so.  Being affordable was part of my success.  

[Biker19]

3 minutes ago, vjmatty said:

I ran a small business for 25 years

RCI is not a small business.

[vjmatty]

11 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

RCI is not a small business.

 

I am not sure what point you are trying to make.  I'm not complaining about the costs, as I don't pay for Cocoa Cay.   Sometimes I express my shock at the LOL prices even though they don't personally affect me.  I don't know why RC apologists need to justify the high costs every time someone comments on the price increases.  Doubling prices is noteworthy....yes we know RC does it because they think people will pay.  My comment about the bean counters was obviously a joke... probably should have added an emoji to clarify that 😉

 

[Biker19]

Just now, vjmatty said:

I am not sure what point you are trying to make.

A big business probably doesn't think like a small business.

 

Biker, who is far from an RCI apologist.

[cruisegirl1]

3 hours ago, F27TW said:

 

Me too -- its gotten to be a ridiculous in-your-face example of just how the cruise lines (this one in particular)  get off on ripping people off now.   Nearly everything extra fee ..I won't be surprised if one day they charge you even to just get off the ship there.    Pretty sad, i think .. no matter now "exclusive" they think theyre making it.   "Perfect Day" ... how about "Extortion Day" instead?

We've enjoyed Chill Beach way before it had a name.  It was complimentary then and it  is complimentary now.  Even better as now I don't have to pay to rent an umbrella, they are complementary . We think the food is better and the crowds are more spread out.     Plus our C&A drink vouchers work there  saving us money and we can get internet if we want. 

 

The "old" coco cay cost us money but now the new version includes everything we used to have to pay for. 

 

A win-win for us. 

m

Edited May 10, 2022 by cruisegirl1

[cruisegirl1]

1 hour ago, pinnacle_king2023 said:

majority of pinnacles are old adults...

Minor children of Pinnacles are now classified as Pinnacle.  There was a recent rent post on another social media page regarding  a 6 month old who is Pinnacle, because his (young)  father is Pinnacle.   Prior to this change there was another post about  a teenager who actually sailed the required 700 nights and was awarded Pinnacle status.  I think  she was about 16.  So when the 16 year old the 6 month old each marry  and have  children, their spouse and children  will be Pinnacle as well.  A new generation of YOUNG pinnacle cruisers.   

 

Yes - in the old days when  baby boomers were still working it took years of cruising to reach Pinnacle  But as many retire early and maybe enjoy life in Florida, jumping on a ship is easy.  Now,  6 points per night for a single in a JS and the numbers  add up fast.   Fairly reliable internet  makes working from a ship  a reality.  Throw in a few complementary casino cruises and there can be relatively  little cash outlay to RCCL.    Take a look at new Pinnacles.  Younger and younger.     

 

M

[Biker19]

2 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

There was a recent rent post on another social media page regarding  a 6 month old who is Pinnacle, because his (young)  father is Pinnacle. 

RCI IT errors do happen (or fake news), but Pinnacle status is only inherited by a significant other from another Pinnacle, not by children.

[SNJCruisers]

2 hours ago, vjmatty said:

 

Whether they will pay remains to be seen, the doubling has only been in the past month. 

It's been far more than a month.  I had the Beach Club reserved on our August 2021 oasis cruise for a reasonable 65 pp.  RCI cancelled our cruise and started the Oasis back the following week in September.  In the meantime, the cheapest I have seen the Club for our sailing next month is 150.00. 

[Crusher78]

Pinnacle king I see your going be on the same ship as us on 5/14

[cruisegirl1]

29 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

RCI IT errors do happen (or fake news), but Pinnacle status is only inherited by a significant other from another Pinnacle, not by children.

My thoughts as well, but apparently that is not the case any more.  It did not appear to be  an error.  The person who reported it is a respected member of a Pinnacle social media group.

 

 Frankly, it likely doesn't happen often.   But if the kid remains P at 18, then that status will hold and be passed to at  least a spouse or significant other.   That is assuming there is a RCCL or a C&A society in 18 years.   Can you imagine having these  same discussions for another 18 years!

M