Deployment 2025-26 booking season begins

[firefly333]

22 minutes ago, kruzerci said:

Likeely won’t see a replacement to Mariner after she drops in January until fall of 2026, which will be released this time next year. 
 

No indication of anything replacing Jewel. Was likely a trial to feel demand and capacity. 

Problem with jewel is except for one itinerary the rest are just going to the same ole, same ole ports, just one extra. I know several doing jewel b2b but ports stink. 

[Ethanol95]

1 hour ago, huntnewt said:

I am slightly intrigued on the Mariner dates released. I see that the last departure date from Galveston is January 29, 2026. I know in these cycles, the dates released are usually May-April. It would be about time for Mariner to go into dry dock considering the last dry dock was in April 2023. Does anyone have any indication as to what will happen to the Galveston 4/5 runs after that date, when we will hear, what ship, etc.?

 

Also, is there any indication that Galveston will get a Long Caribbean ship in 2025-2026, like Jewel is doing in 2024-2025?

Yea.. I was wondering about that too.. Why such a weird deployment schedule.

[ONECRUISER]

8 hours ago, firefly333 said:

Problem with jewel is except for one itinerary the rest are just going to the same ole, same ole ports, just one extra. I know several doing jewel b2b but ports stink. 

Not my Choice Ports that repeat but when Booked Feb-Mar 2025 B3B 10/10/9 niters on Jewel my SOLO Rates are not too bad compared to many others now coming out. 

[twangster]

9 hours ago, huntnewt said:

I am slightly intrigued on the Mariner dates released. I see that the last departure date from Galveston is January 29, 2026. I know in these cycles, the dates released are usually May-April. It would be about time for Mariner to go into dry dock considering the last dry dock was in April 2023. Does anyone have any indication as to what will happen to the Galveston 4/5 runs after that date, when we will hear, what ship, etc.?

 

Also, is there any indication that Galveston will get a Long Caribbean ship in 2025-2026, like Jewel is doing in 2024-2025?

 

Once ships reach 20 years old they dry dock every 2.5 years.  

 

Summer 2018 - Spring 2023 - Winter 2026 fits that timeline. 

[andreasfcb]

22 hours ago, twangster said:

Seriously - they are putting Jewel into Florida doing 3 & 4 which means they must be able to make more money in Florida with this asset than they can in Europe doing cruises that cruisers like me want. 

 

It's not about appeasing frequent cruisers.  They are a business making business decisions to maximize profit.

 

 

Just a little thought from my side:

 

Royal Caribbean has high prices (at least for European bookers) compared to their competition when they are sailing in Europe. I see prices often 1.5x or 2x per night compared to Caribbean cruises. After cruising over 10 times with Royal, we consider 200$ (per person and night in a plain double occupancy balcony cabin) as very cheap! It is normal to pay 250$ per person and night or more. 

 

Jewel was planned for the unicorn cruises (3x Iceland, 2x British Isles, 2x Arctic Circle). The prices are traditionally even higher there and cruisers are forced to book very expensive shore excursion (no other options).

 

I highly, highly doubt that are going to profit more with their mini cruises in the Caribbean.

[firefly333]

7 hours ago, ONECRUISER said:

Not my Choice Ports that repeat but when Booked Feb-Mar 2025 B3B 10/10/9 niters on Jewel my SOLO Rates are not too bad compared to many others now coming out. 

I'm moving to florida (crossing my fingers) in may. I cancelled dec harmony and paid more to book inside on adventure over xmas. But I kept oct 8 day harmony and just added 3 legs to make it worth while to fly back to texas. I was sure surprised how much hotels at hobby have gone up. But I kept my oct booking out of texas. I dont know how well my plan is going to work out to move to a port to save on cruising costs. PC is high. I may not be cruising as much as i planned. Or not on royal. Lol. My plan turns out to be flawed, didnt count on cruise prices going up so fast. How do people book for months onboard. Is there a secret, other than they spend lots of money?

[gumshoe958]

51 minutes ago, andreasfcb said:

 

Just a little thought from my side:

 

Royal Caribbean has high prices (at least for European bookers) compared to their competition when they are sailing in Europe. I see prices often 1.5x or 2x per night compared to Caribbean cruises. After cruising over 10 times with Royal, we consider 200$ (per person and night in a plain double occupancy balcony cabin) as very cheap! It is normal to pay 250$ per person and night or more. 

 

Jewel was planned for the unicorn cruises (3x Iceland, 2x British Isles, 2x Arctic Circle). The prices are traditionally even higher there and cruisers are forced to book very expensive shore excursion (no other options).

 

I highly, highly doubt that are going to profit more with their mini cruises in the Caribbean.

Fares are only part of the story. The real profits come from ancillary onboard sales - drinks, specialty dining, spa, casino, photos etc. 

 

Experienced cruisers on long itineraries tend to spend far less on board. Not so newbies on the 3/4 night Caribbeans.

 

Edited February 29 by gumshoe958

[andreasfcb]

1 hour ago, gumshoe958 said:

Fares are only part of the story. The real profits come from ancillary onboard sales - drinks, specialty dining, spa, casino, photos etc. 

 

Experienced cruisers on long itineraries tend to spend far less on board. Not so newbies on the 3/4 night Caribbeans.

 

 

On the long Northern Europe itinaries you do not really have an other option than consuming on the ship. But you are probably right that the party people spend even more money.

[ONECRUISER]

2 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I'm moving to florida (crossing my fingers) in may. I cancelled dec harmony and paid more to book inside on adventure over xmas. But I kept oct 8 day harmony and just added 3 legs to make it worth while to fly back to texas. I was sure surprised how much hotels at hobby have gone up. But I kept my oct booking out of texas. I dont know how well my plan is going to work out to move to a port to save on cruising costs. PC is high. I may not be cruising as much as i planned. Or not on royal. Lol. My plan turns out to be flawed, didnt count on cruise prices going up so fast. How do people book for months onboard. Is there a secret, other than they spend lots of money?

Been lucky find some the cheaper Cruises in multiples with good SOLO 340+  and at times Military Discounts. Without the Discounts I wouldn't be taking these Cruises. Retired Military, Single, Kids Grown, Car is paid for. Stay in an In law Suite at my Daughter/SIL/Grand Daughter home, so no real expenses...except Cruises

[twangster]

4 hours ago, andreasfcb said:

 

Just a little thought from my side:

 

Royal Caribbean has high prices (at least for European bookers) compared to their competition when they are sailing in Europe. I see prices often 1.5x or 2x per night compared to Caribbean cruises. After cruising over 10 times with Royal, we consider 200$ (per person and night in a plain double occupancy balcony cabin) as very cheap! It is normal to pay 250$ per person and night or more. 

 

Jewel was planned for the unicorn cruises (3x Iceland, 2x British Isles, 2x Arctic Circle). The prices are traditionally even higher there and cruisers are forced to book very expensive shore excursion (no other options).

 

I highly, highly doubt that are going to profit more with their mini cruises in the Caribbean.

 

I am booked on Jewel's "unicorn" B2B cruises as you call them for 2024, Iceland and Arctic Circle.  I am paying $216 USD per night and $217 per night for balcony cabins as a Florida based Pinnacle.  Those are prevailing rates as of this week.  

 

Contrast that that two Allure 3 night short Florida cruises off season at $240 per night and $241per night for interior cabins.  These were "cheap" short Florida getaway cruises which Is why I booked them, cheapest I could find all season.

 

Jewel's has an off season "cheap" cruise for 3 night on Oct. 3, 2025.  It is currently $275 per night for an interior and $336 per night for a balcony as a Florida based Pinnacle.  

 

The cheapest short Florida Jewel 2025 cruises are well above the rates for Iceland and Norway on Jewel in 2024.   

 

I can see why they are moving Jewel to Florida, assuming these rates hold fast.  They make more money in Florida.

[toad455]

Noticed there's a lack of longer Caribbean cruises in January 2026. Outside of the Odyssey out of Bayonne and the lone 12-day out of Baltimore on the Vision. Have they not been released yet?

[cruiseboy89130]

3 minutes ago, toad455 said:

Noticed there's a lack of longer Caribbean cruises in January 2026. Outside of the Odyssey out of Bayonne and the lone 12-day out of Baltimore on the Vision. Have they not been released yet?

No more long cruises!

[firefly333]

1 minute ago, toad455 said:

Noticed there's a lack of longer Caribbean cruises in January 2026. Outside of the Odyssey out of Bayonne and the lone 12-day out of Baltimore on the Vision. Have they not been released yet?

Not just jan 2026. Late 2025 also lack of longer cruises. Used to be some 11 days out of tampa or Panama.. .no more iceland. Rcl seems to have switched to mini cruises. 

[toad455]

Damn. Was hoping for a nice 9-day to the ABC islands. Celebrity has them (8-day), so might switch to the Silhouette for 2026.

[firefly333]

20 minutes ago, toad455 said:

Damn. Was hoping for a nice 9-day to the ABC islands. Celebrity has them (8-day), so might switch to the Silhouette for 2026.

Adventure is doing 8 days to ABCs. 3 more dates came up. I'm booked april 2025, but seems more in late 2025. I didnt look for more. Out of PC. 

 

[FionaMG]

1 hour ago, toad455 said:

Damn. Was hoping for a nice 9-day to the ABC islands. Celebrity has them (8-day), so might switch to the Silhouette for 2026.

I was hoping for something similar. 

I notice that Serenade and Radiance have not yet been released for that timeframe. Would expect at least one of them to do an EB Panama Canal cruise back from Alaska, so maybe there is still a sliver of hope.

We did an amazing 11 night Southern Caribbean on Serenade back in 2017.

🤞

[toad455]

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

Adventure is doing 8 days to ABCs. 3 more dates came up. I'm booked april 2025, but seems more in late 2025. I didnt look for more. Out of PC. 

 

 

Not in January though. I love that class of ships, too. The Odyssey Jan 2026 cruises are way overpriced an we really prefer a longer cruise. Guess it'll have to be an 8-day with possible two days at a hotel prior. The Celebrity Silhouette has the ABC itinerary in January though.

[kruzerci]

11 minutes ago, toad455 said:

 

Not in January though. I love that class of ships, too. The Odyssey Jan 2026 cruises are way overpriced an we really prefer a longer cruise. Guess it'll have to be an 8-day with possible two days at a hotel prior. The Celebrity Silhouette has the ABC itinerary in January though.

The Silhouette is a tremendously better experience, too. A bit higher price, but a nice experience and refurbished ship. 

[firefly333]

15 minutes ago, toad455 said:

 

Not in January though. I love that class of ships, too. The Odyssey Jan 2026 cruises are way overpriced an we really prefer a longer cruise. Guess it'll have to be an 8-day with possible two days at a hotel prior. The Celebrity Silhouette has the ABC itinerary in January though.

Explorer does a 9 day ending on jan 5. But over new years eve. You must be looking for very specific dates. ABC plus Jamaica. 

 

[toad455]

14 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Explorer does a 9 day ending on jan 5. But over new years eve. You must be looking for very specific dates. ABC plus Jamaica. 

 

 Definitely don't want to cruise New Year's week. Prefer mid to late January.

[FionaMG]

31 minutes ago, toad455 said:

 

Not in January though. I love that class of ships, too. The Odyssey Jan 2026 cruises are way overpriced an we really prefer a longer cruise. Guess it'll have to be an 8-day with possible two days at a hotel prior. The Celebrity Silhouette has the ABC itinerary in January though.

 

Would San Juan work for you as a departure port? And could you do beginning of February? If so, take a look at the Brilliance sailing on 1st of February 2026. 10 nights, ABC + 3.

[mets123]

4 hours ago, toad455 said:

Noticed there's a lack of lfyionger Caribbean cruises in January 2026. Outside of the Odyssey out of Bayonne and the lone 12-day out of Baltimore on the Vision. Have they not been released yet?

Fyi.   There is a 11 day southern Caribbean on Odyssey in Nov 2025 from Cape Liberty.

[toad455]

1 hour ago, mets123 said:

Fyi.   There is a 11 day southern Caribbean on Odyssey in Nov 2025 from Cape Liberty.

 

November doesn't work for me. Not in 2025 due to a prior commitment.  And myself & me family prefer January cruises to get out of the cold.

[cruiseboy89130]

Actually I'm not that sure the short cruise strategy will pay off....I think the added WAY too much capacity in the short cruise market....we will see if they can fill it!

[pyrateslife4me84]

7 hours ago, cruiseboy89130 said:

Actually I'm not that sure the short cruise strategy will pay off....I think the added WAY too much capacity in the short cruise market....we will see if they can fill it!

I imagine they know more about their business model than you. Despite our complaints, they are doing quite well financially and will pivot in the future if necessary. That’s the beauty of boats. They can go somewhere else.