Question about internet price for Diamond cruiser

[DonnaK]

I always purchase the internet package (2 devices) online before the cruise, because I was under the impression that the pre-cruise discount was greater than the onboard diamond discount. 

 

My last cruise was on Celebrity. I was able to apply the Elite discount over the phone when I made final payment, and it was about $100 less that the pre-cruise discounted price that was showing online.  

 

I just called Royal, and was told that unlike Celebrity, I have to wait until I get on the ship to apply the Diamond discount.  Is that so, and how do I calculate if waiting is a better deal than the pre-cruise discount that is being offered with the online "sale"?  

 

 

[smokeybandit]

Unless you're on a short cruise, it'll always be more expensive on board, even with the discount

[Ourusualbeach]

4 minutes ago, DonnaK said:

I always purchase the internet package (2 devices) online before the cruise, because I was under the impression that the pre-cruise discount was greater than the onboard diamond discount. 

 

My last cruise was on Celebrity. I was able to apply the Elite discount over the phone when I made final payment, and it was about $100 less that the pre-cruise discounted price that was showing online.  

 

I just called Royal, and was told that unlike Celebrity, I have to wait until I get on the ship to apply the Diamond discount.  Is that so, and how do I calculate if waiting is a better deal than the pre-cruise discount that is being offered with the online "sale"?  

 

 

Yes, Celebrity has a completely different policy in applying the discount than Royal.  

 

Purchasing ahead of time is nearly always a better deal.  

[Sunshine3601]

If you do not have to have internet on day 1 with most sailings leaving dock between 3 and 5 pm can you survive internet for the evening and wait until day 2 to use your free diamond day?

 

If yes, it would save you money to wait until onboard vs. buying pre-cruise planner

 

based on a 7 night sailing:

i.e. pre cruise planner selling for $22/day x 7 days = $154

wait to buy until day 3 @ $25/day x 5 days = $125

 

If you happen to be a casino prime member you then get 30% the onboard price too.

[smokeybandit]

$22 per day from the cruise planner is a terrible price though. 

And it's no guarantee the onboard price will be $25. My last cruise (on Adventure, so not a new ship) it was $31.

Edited April 27 by smokeybandit

[Sunshine3601]

56 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

$22 per day from the cruise planner is a terrible price though. 

And it's no guarantee the onboard price will be $25. My last cruise (on Adventure, so not a new ship) it was $31.

It was an example and Yes, I agree $22/day is terrible price but is the current price for one of my upcoming sailings.     

A couple weeks ago on Anthem I paid $24/day as onboard price (before my 30% from casino prime membership).    On day 1 the onboard price was something like $28 / day but it was down to $24/day by the time I bought it.   

[DonnaK]

Our cruise is 9 days,  The 2 device price showing now is $324.  $22/day for the 1st device and $14 for the 2nd device.  

[firefly333]

Dynamic pricing. Our port was cancelled and royal rewarded us with no redund of port fees and upped the daily price to 32.99 a day, seemed everyone wanted online that day. 

 

I've seen times when my discount for d+ -was less than the daily cost, so I wait and next day dropped to 27.99. Least I've seen tbh. I bought a extra day for 19.99 after discount for d+ subtracted, so had a extra about $6 toward a 3rd day. 

[reallyitsmema]

45 minutes ago, DonnaK said:

Our cruise is 9 days,  The 2 device price showing now is $324.  $22/day for the 1st device and $14 for the 2nd device.  

 

I have a 9 day coming up and have a 2 device package.  Lowest I have been able to get is $278.91.  The 1st device has been as low as $19.99 but when it gets to that the second is discounted at 25%.  I had the 1st device at $20.99 and second discounted 30% at one point.  Just Royal Caribbean math.  Onboard pricing is showing as $26.99.

[Smitty815]

Can I just say how ridiculous internet prices are? 

In a day and age where internet is free absolutely everywhere you go, RCCL should be able to provide it for free but if they really want to make some money, just charge a max of $5-10 a day. 

The onboard price when I was on last week was 29.99 a day. 

 

It was actually pretty funny at one point. I went to the childrens make a wish auction on day 4 out of 7 I believe. The cruise director put up for auction internet for the rest of the week valued at $150. People literally laughed at him, and they got no bids. Someone called out that they would give him $50 for it, and the cruise director literally got half upset about it. 

[firefly333]

11 minutes ago, Smitty815 said:

Can I just say how ridiculous internet prices are? 

In a day and age where internet is free absolutely everywhere you go, RCCL should be able to provide it for free but if they really want to make some money, just charge a max of $5-10 a day. 

The onboard price when I was on last week was 29.99 a day. 

 

It was actually pretty funny at one point. I went to the childrens make a wish auction on day 4 out of 7 I believe. The cruise director put up for auction internet for the rest of the week valued at $150. People literally laughed at him, and they got no bids. Someone called out that they would give him $50 for it, and the cruise director literally got half upset about it. 

I agree it's too expensive, but my one thing I love. I hate being cut off hence why I often pay for a extra day plus my free 2 days. Decided to make a run for pinnacle becsuse I want free wifi. I know the cruises cost another 20k I'm guessing I've booked but I'll be there maybe end of next year if they don't change the loyalty program. I have 18 booked from 3 to 13 days to get there. 

 

They say it's not worth chasing pts .. but here I'm doing it again. I chased pts to hit 340,for solo discount too.

Edited April 28 by firefly333

[jean87510]

4 hours ago, DonnaK said:

I always purchase the internet package (2 devices) online before the cruise, because I was under the impression that the pre-cruise discount was greater than the onboard diamond discount. 

 

My last cruise was on Celebrity. I was able to apply the Elite discount over the phone when I made final payment, and it was about $100 less that the pre-cruise discounted price that was showing online.  

 

I just called Royal, and was told that unlike Celebrity, I have to wait until I get on the ship to apply the Diamond discount.  Is that so, and how do I calculate if waiting is a better deal than the pre-cruise discount that is being offered with the online "sale"?  

 

 

It isn't cheaper.

 

I always check when onboard and it's always cheaper pre cruise.  Yes, Celebrity is good for the honoring of the discount pre cruise.  I do wish Royal would do the same.  

 

You can always monitor the price and cancel then rebuy if it goes down.

 

Also, you may save much more if you use a router for 1 device.  Just a suggestion.  I believe I may have heard somewhere that this is more economical and works well.

Edited April 28 by jean87510

[Hogbay]

2 hours ago, Smitty815 said:

Can I just say how ridiculous internet prices are? 

In a day and age where internet is free absolutely everywhere you go, RCCL should be able to provide it for free but if they really want to make some money, just charge a max of $5-10 a day. 

The onboard price when I was on last week was 29.99 a day. 

 

It was actually pretty funny at one point. I went to the childrens make a wish auction on day 4 out of 7 I believe. The cruise director put up for auction internet for the rest of the week valued at $150. People literally laughed at him, and they got no bids. Someone called out that they would give him $50 for it, and the cruise director literally got half upset about it. 

Well it's not free , on land it is via optical fibre , mobile cell service etc at sea it has to come via satellite which is much more costly and add free. Just saying .

[Smitty815]

7 minutes ago, Hogbay said:

Well it's not free , on land it is via optical fibre , mobile cell service etc at sea it has to come via satellite which is much more costly and add free. Just saying .

I meant free to the customer. Every business pays for internet and just lets their customers use it for free. I understand that satellite internet costs more than fiberop, however, it's a pretty minimal cost. Like I said, I don't even care if they charged something like $5-10 a day, but it's being done as a huge money maker because they know a lot of people need the internet these days. 

There are other lines that offer free wifi. All I'm asking is that they not price gouge. $29.99 would still be a HUGE markup if that was the total price for 7 nights. 

 

Edit: Not to mention, VOOM is horrible. I paid for the surf and stream last week and it was about the same quality that you would have for internet about 10 years ago. 

Edited April 28 by Smitty815

[Hogbay]

3 minutes ago, Smitty815 said:

I meant free to the customer. Every business pays for internet and just lets their customers use it for free. I understand that satellite internet costs more than fiberop, however, it's a pretty minimal cost. Like I said, I don't even care if they charged something like $5-10 a day, but it's being done as a huge money maker because they know a lot of people need the internet these days. 

There are other lines that offer free wifi. All I'm asking is that they not price gouge. $29.99 would still be a HUGE markup if that was the total price for 7 nights. 

But most want to cruise on the latest ship  ,that cost over a  billion , and if you cruise enough with Royal it's " Free " too. 

[OCSC Mike]

7 hours ago, Smitty815 said:

Not to mention, VOOM is horrible.

 

This varies by ship, location, and even location within the ship.  It has been very good on my last few cruises (Wonder twice, Allure once). Adding a WAP to cabins on newer ships like Wonder and Icon has helped tremendously with reception in them.

[PhillyFan33579]

12 hours ago, Smitty815 said:

Edit: Not to mention, VOOM is horrible. I paid for the surf and stream last week and it was about the same quality that you would have for internet about 10 years ago. 

What ship were you on? In the last six months I have been on Adventure, Liberty, Independence, Freedom, Explorer, Allure, Symphony and Icon. The WiFi/Internet was excellent on every one of these cruises. I am currently on Celebrity Apex and the WiFi/Internet is working extremely well. 

[Smitty815]

7 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

What ship were you on? In the last six months I have been on Adventure, Liberty, Independence, Freedom, Explorer, Allure, Symphony and Icon. The WiFi/Internet was excellent on every one of these cruises. I am currently on Celebrity Apex and the WiFi/Internet is working extremely well. 

The Oasis April 14-21st 

The other couple I was with has even more connectivity issues than I did. 
it became a running joke on the ship it seems as I overheard a lot of people talking about it and then a load of people literally laughed at the cruise director at the auction when he was talking about it being good internet. You could tell it was a sensitive issue for the cruise director so they must have gotten a lot of complaints 

[DonnaK]

OP here - thanks for all the advice and interesting conversation.

 

I ended up purchasing the internet package at the current "sale" price, and will monitor the price in case it decreases.   It seems strong majority felt the online price was better than waiting until onboard for the diamond discounted price.