Anyone Else Leaving or Considering Leaving RCL Over Prices?

[orville99]

13 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Don't forget wifi. That is becoming a hefty expense.

~$350 for two people on a 7 night cruise. 

Edited March 1 by orville99

[SUgwoz]

1 hour ago, Beachin2 said:

RC has never really understood that loyalty is a 2-way street.

I think Royal knows that very well, and many have pointed out Royal seems to have the most rewarding perks with free drinks, internet, specialty dining.  However, as demand shows for the new ships they are not making ill advised decisions even if it means loyal customers decide to move on.  Which they would prefer to Celebrity.

[island lady]

24 minutes ago, orville99 said:

The only saving grace for us is that we always book while onboard as soon as the next tranche of itineraries is released (it is the only way we are able to justify always booking GS). Every one of the 21 RCL cruises we have booked through April 2026 have more than doubled in price (and some have tripled) since we booked. If we were to look at booking those same cruises today, we would seriously consider other cruise lines. We just booked a cruise for January 2025 on X in a Retreat suite that is at a lower cost than the current price of any of the RCL grand suites we have booked, and the suite perks on X are much better than the suite perks on RCL.

 

Once we run through our current bookings, we are switching our cruise bookings to Silver Sea, Regent, and Oceania.

 

We also want to try Silver Sea (though still in the RCI family)....and would like to try Oceania.  

[island lady]

21 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

What is wrong with Allure?

 

I hope not too much.  Have never sailed on Allure, and since it is still...for now...home ported at local port for us, I have booked a quickie 4 night.  Would never usually do short cruise, but I wanted to see Allure at least once and definitely want to see Momma Mia.  🙂 

 

 

[Oceansaway17]

2 hours ago, crzndeb said:

I have been cruising for 44 years, and I’m starting to wind down. I’m a solo cruiser, and for me at this point, it’s all about itinerary. I have never been loyal to a cruise line, but I did focus on Royal the last few years to get to the 340 mark, which I did. I  have 3 different cruise lines booked through Spring of 2025. I’m not really sure what the future holds for me. As I’ve gotten older, I do enjoy being a homebody. If the right itinerary comes along, and the price fits in my wheelhouse, I may be enticed. 

I agree with you it is about itinerary.

That is why next year I have booked 2 Princess and 2 NCL in Europe.  Three go out of Southampton and one goes out of Athens (NCL VIVA).   I am doing more UK, Norway, Iceland with stops to see Paris and Brussels.  The Viva has best itinerary for Greece and with those solo rooms and studio lounge too.  The Emerald Princess ship is doing just European Capitols and the NCL Prima goes from UK to Iceland 1 way.

 

And both Princess and NCL only ask for deposits of $100 or $125 and the are REFUNDABLE as well.   So the grass is greener elsewhere.   But as a solo I am doing the ICON in 8 weeks or so just to see the ship and the design.

I too am a homebody in this crazy world and enjoy looking a my years of past vacations.

[SUgwoz]

31 minutes ago, orville99 said:

We have neighbors that cruise MSC frequently, and in their opinion, the only reason why they cruise that line is because of the YC.

I find that to be a common theme in reviews for MSC, along with mentioning that the few times they leave the YC area for other parts of the ship they have an escort.  Makes it sound like the ship outside of YC is not appealing and more chaotic.

[Ocean Boy]

8 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

I hope not too much.  Have never sailed on Allure, and since it is still...for now...home ported at local port for us, I have booked a quickie 4 night.  Would never usually do short cruise, but I wanted to see Allure at least once and definitely want to see Momma Mia.  🙂 

 

 

I was last on Allure before it went to Galveston. I didn't think there was anything wrong with the ship. I also don't go out of my way to look for things. Enjoy Mamma Mia... awesome show!

[orville99]

59 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

What is wrong with Allure?

Nothing. The only "drawback" is for those people who only want to sail on RCL's amusement parks at sea, and Allure thankfully avoided being "amped" because of the pandemic. 😇

[Anton]

Another thing that might be a factor for Royal enthusiasts is the move to more ships doing short cruises.  I think it’s nine ships and counting.  3/4 night and 4/5 night rotations make more money.  More people buy drink packages and everything else in the cruise planner.  Convenient for those in the drive to markets, less so for the fly to market.  Doing a B2B to make a week is not as desirable as it seems.  

[BecciBoo]

We're not "leaving"  just branching out.  First Carni cruise in 15 yrs coming up on Jubilee which is Excell class like Mardi Gras.  Frankly, I'm excited about it.  And our ADA inside cabin was exactly $2017 all in excluding grats which will be done per day.

Edited March 1 by BecciBoo

[steveru621]

Moving on is also easier to forgo Pinnacle benefits if you are booking GS and above on another line.

[kruzerci]

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

What is wrong with Allure?

For us it was mostly the cabin soft goods and carpeting through the ship. So gross and musty. 
 

Love the DL/CL and solarium. 

[island lady]

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

I was last on Allure before it went to Galveston. I didn't think there was anything wrong with the ship. I also don't go out of my way to look for things. Enjoy Mamma Mia... awesome show!

 

We were actually supposed to be on Allure for our B2B and TA (4 weeks) a couple of years ago, then they switched it out for Wonder (score on that part 😉 ).   But will hopefully finally meet her in May, even if for a very short time.  

[BecciBoo]

We had a lovely cruise on her last September and she's still our favorite sister.  Didn't notice anything about the carpet...

[firefly333]

7 minutes ago, BecciBoo said:

We're not "leaving"  just branching out.  First Carni cruise in 15 yrs coming up on Jubilee which is Excell class like Mardi Gras.  Frankly, I'm excited about it.  And our ADA inside cabin was exactly $2017 all in excluding grats which will be done per day.

Choose anytime dining. I think only those with anytime dining can eat once in the semi pay restaurants. After once in chibang etc (I think 3 available), then there is a fee. Only free to those with anytime. Their anytime dining is easier than royals, just push a button on their app, no standing in line.

 

Just this class is doing this.  I priced mardi gras and 2k for a week inside too. With taxes. One 6 day I could book a bit less, but still high to me. 

[Vibe]

1 hour ago, island lady said:

 

I hope not too much.  Have never sailed on Allure, and since it is still...for now...home ported at local port for us, I have booked a quickie 4 night.  Would never usually do short cruise, but I wanted to see Allure at least once and definitely want to see Momma Mia.  🙂 

 

 

I disembarked the Allure this morning. The ship was clean and in decent shape considering it will go to dry dock soon. Mamma Mia and the rest of the entertainment was excellent!  The crew was very friendly.

I see no reason why you wouldn’t enjoy your future cruise on her.😊

Edited March 1 by Vibe

[island lady]

1 hour ago, orville99 said:

Nothing. The only "drawback" is for those people who only want to sail on RCL's amusement parks at sea, and Allure thankfully avoided being "amped" because of the pandemic. 😇

 

I totally forgot the old DL...used to be the original CL...now the "CL" again 😉 is still there on 11.  Nice!  Short walk to the coffee machine for me early morning...versus the "dungeon" on deck 4 where other Oasis class ships have it.  😉    I have a "hump" JS on deck 10.  Booked too late to grab a decent Crown Loft suite on deck 17.  

[island lady]

12 minutes ago, Vibe said:

I disembarked the Allure this morning. The ship was clean and in decent shape considering it will go to dry dock soon. Mamma Mia and the rest of the entertainment was excellent!  The crew was very friendly.

I see no reason why you wouldn’t enjoy your future cruise on her.😊

 

Thanks!  I am indeed looking forward to our short time on board!  Happy I can finally meet her, and most happy (hopefully) to be able to see Mamma Mia.  

[theotherchad]

19 hours ago, crazyfrazee said:

 

I booked Carnival Celebration which is less than 2 years old, 183,000 GT, 7 day cruise in an ocean view suite for only $3100.

Is that for the room, assuming double occupancy, or per person? 

[F27TW]

Trying MSC (Seashore) for the first time this coming September.   (Tried Norwegian Escape just before Covid and loved it). 

 

 We had a great cruise on Mariner last April.  Ship is gorgeous and the staff were all terrific, MDR and WJ food mostly all good ,even ..  but we all found it a bit tough to swallow that the fares and things like the bar package, specialty dining prices and even the shore excursions are SO much higher than just a few years ago.   RC (and, to be fair, probably others too) are gouging people now because they can.   So many people still on the covid rebound and will pay whatever prices they have to ... esp the ones that "must" get on the brand new ships.

 

That .. and the sameness was another factor for us too.   This felt like nearly every other RC ship we've been on.   Same look, same venue names, same cabin decor, same Promenade, same Windjammer, same, same, same  .. everywhere.   We've been on Monarch, Jewel, Liberty, Independence, Explorer, Enchantment .. and they all just feel the same now.    I have zero interest in the hideous floating family monstrosities out now with their slides and rollercoasters and 6,000+ pax  .. so all this, adding to the pricing has us straying away now.  

 

May be back to RC, maybe not .. but paying so much more for the same ole same ole .. that's just not working for us anymore. 

[Anton]

57 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

I totally forgot the old DL...used to be the original CL...now the "CL" again 😉 is still there on 11.  Nice! 

Remember when they had a full hot breakfast menu in there when it was a concierge lounge?  It was great. 

[doghog]

We always shop around. Not loyal to any cruise line. 

[crazyfrazee]

1 hour ago, theotherchad said:

Is that for the room, assuming double occupancy, or per person? 

That total is for 2 people. Carnival Celebration cabin 12315

[George C]

We like rccl we do book full suites which are way cheaper than suites on celebrity, rccl also has the best entertainment, I can get a grand suite with UDP and save big over any celebrity suite. 

[Thisguylikestocruise]

Jason Liberty or any greedy CEO that raises prices so aggressively should have their income tax raised 90%.