William W

I was just checking prices for September and October, and I haven't seen prices so low for the Getaway and the Escape for September and October.

All to say, I think the numbers for the next quarter is going to get even uglier as it looks like NCL is going back to the strategy of heavy discounting for unsold cabins.

What month?

December 2016. If parents were to travel with their children and combined this with the Kids Sail Free promo, Anthem is even cheaper than NCL Breakaway for this sailing.

Right now, the best rates for the Anthem works out to $85/day for inside, $86/day for outside and $87/day for Balcony. And add approximately $21/day for taxes and port charges.

WRONG!

 

Compared to the RC of even a few years ago, each year prices go up and quality goes down.

 

You have BLINDERS on if you refuse to admit that.

Couldn't agree more. Taste is subjective but I don't think there will be any dispute on the cheapening of the food ingredients used in dishes.

Though, having stayed away from Royal on my last 4 cruises, it looks like I will be coming back and trying out the Anthem because of their Kids Sail Free promo. I will have low expectation, and if they can't even meet them, I think it will be a few years until I will contemplating going on them again, or until they come out with another class of ships that I have not sailed on. :D

Thanks everyone. I will check to see when dining will be open up for booking.

Hello everyone, I just booked a cruise on the Anthem for the December 7, 2016 sailing a couple of days ago.

When I booked, I was told Dynamic Classic is closed for booking and only Dynamic Choice is available. Does that mean they are looking to change the Dynamic concept again, or it just meant that the space allotted to that program is full.

I read that if one were to opt for Dynamic Choice, the earliest available reservation is at 6pm, is that true, or earlier seating at 5pm or 5:30pm are available?

There will be one coming up for Royal, promo starts June 7th.

http://loyaltoyoualways.com/service/12free/

Terms and condition:

*Cruise must be booked June 7-July 6, 2016 (the “Offer Period”). Offer applies to cruises that depart on or after July 8, 2016. Offer excludes China departures. “Free night(s) issued only in the form of a savings applied to the total stateroom cruise fare. Savings based on number of cruise nights: 1 night free for 3-5N cruises, 2 nights free for 6-8N cruises, 3 nights free for 9-11N cruises, 4 nights free for 12-14N cruises, 5 nights free for 15-17N cruises, 6 nights free for 18-20N cruises, 7 nights free for 21-23N cruises, and 8 nights free for 24N cruises. The savings amount for each free night is calculated by dividing the total stateroom cruise fare by the number of cruise nights. Savings is deducted from cruise fare at time of booking.

Additionally for new bookings made June 7-20, 2016, offer provides for free cruise fare of third and higher guests who are 12 years or younger as of cruise departure date, booked in the same stateroom as the first two Offer qualifying guests in a triple or quad occupancy stateroom on a 5 nights or longer Caribbean, Bermuda, Dubai, and Europe sailing that departs Sept. 6, 2016-Mar. 9, 2017. Kids Offer excludes sailings departing between 11/17/16-11/24/16, 12/15/16-1/05/17, 2/16/17-2/23/17 and Harmony of the Seas. All other charges for all Offer components, including, but not limited to, taxes, fees and port expenses, are additional and apply to all guests. 1-2-Free Offer is combinable with Crown & Anchor discounts and rates, Next Cruise offers, and Shareholders benefits. Any dollar-off discounts or promotions, such as Crown & Anchor discounts, are applied first, followed by 1-2-Free Offer, which is applied to final balance. Offer is not combinable with restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military) or any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, prior promotions, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, weekly Sales Events, Net Rates. After the Offer Period, the Offer will be removed from the booking if the guest cancels and reinstates the booking, applies a fare change, or changes the ship or sail date of the booking; certain other changes to the booking may also result in removal of the Offer. Offer applies to new, individual and named group bookings confirmed at prevailing rates. Individual reservations can be transferred into an existing group, assuming required criteria are met. Offer available to residents of the United States and Canada. Prices and Offer are subject to availability and may change without notice, are capacity controlled, and may be withdrawn at any time. Refer to royalcaribbean.com for complete terms and conditions. Royal Caribbean International reserves the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions and to change or update fares, fees and surcharges at any time without prior notice. © 2016 Royal Caribbean. Ships registry: Bahamas.

We have plenty of Italians here in Rhode Island as well champagne. Nothing would make me happier than to see MSC home port a ship in NY!!:D

I wonder if we can sign a petition or somehow make MSC executive aware that there is a huge demand for their product in the NE. I will definitely be booking the Divina right away if they move her to NYC after the arrival of the Seaside.

Let's dream....Where else you you would love to see Divina? For me

1. Alaska

2.Hawaii

3. Panama canal from Florida(yes, I know, too big but we are dreaming):p:p

Out to the North East, sailing out of NYC or Boston to Bermuda and Ocean Cay. After all, NCL and RCCL is able to charge a higher per diem out of the NE, so I would think it would be logical to move Divina there.

I was very torn between booking new MSC Seaside for 2018 or RCI for 2018. Went with RCI for itinerary, at a significantly higher cost, but have to admit I am nervous about what will change between today and then in terms of service and amenities I get for my money.

I had to make the same decision for March break 2018, but I end up choosing Seaside. After all, Seaside is less money, a brand new ship, and they haven't even reveal all the features that will be on the ship. And I figure by 2018, base on current trends, the gap between Royal and MSC would have narrow to approximately the same. Royal's services and included experience will go down while MSC will stay the same or goes up for their North American product.

We were on the April 9 cruise and I was also interested in the above packages. I was told they no longer existed and all they offered were the very expensive wifi packages.

Interesting, as they can still be added online. In case they decide to modify the plan and to "price protected" myself, I just added it for my Seaside booking.

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Already-Booked/Cruise-Upgrade/Internet-Packages.aspx

While we are on the topic, not sure if other noticed but Kevin Sheehan received $13.4M in his exit package. Of which, $8.2 million was due to the acceleration of the equity-based awards.

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/13985-kevin-sheehan-exit-package-13-4-million.html

Taking a look at some pricing, can do Eastern Caribbean, on brand new ship coming out late 2017, which includes an ALL day (until midnight) stay at their new Ocean Cay private island (with dock) being built in 2017; 3 people, upgrade to Fantastica level experience, get 2 adult beverage packages, 1 kids package, have all of their black card perks from status match....and the grand total with taxes and fees is under $1700.

 

That's value.

OTOH, NCL were offering similar value up until approximately 10-12 months ago, as I recall I was able to book the Escape for approximately $1900 for a family of 4 on an outside cabin with one of the perks being offered, be it UDP or UBP. Unfortunately, I think those days are behind us.

MSC is definitely offering one of the better value proposition in cruising. In addition to the Seaside, I'm also booked on the Splendida for a week in the Meds, granted it is an inside and the ship is the same age as the Epic, but for 4 people, I'm only paying $931 tax and port fees included and that's before the $100 OBC they are throwing in. At that price, I am going in with very low expectation, and I'm sure it would be very tough for me not to get what I paid for.

Maybe I should add them on as pre-paid.

Were you able to get the beverage package added on as a free promo?

Yes, the beverage package came as a free promo, though, I called a MSC agent to make the reservation rather than doing it online.

We booked today! We're doing the Seaside in a balcony cabin on 1/20/18. LONG time from now, but..... I didn't get 10% off. Only 5% discount for us.

 

I can't find what their gratuities are per day. Do you know?

 

Jennifer

I was charged $77/week for adults and $38.50/week for kids as prepaid.

While I still feel like I got a good deal with the bookings I had or have on NCL, their view of customers, poor communications, and drastic increases in pricing with no value returned to the guest has lead me on to Princess in November, Carnival in December, booking MSC for April, and likely to book a second MSC soon for their new Seaside ship. $589 pp with drinks package for a brand new ship. Waiting to find out if Kids Sail Free on that one.

 

So back to my original answer to the OP:

 

"No".

I have also strayed from NCL as like you, I thought they have increased in priced without providing any additional value.

When I called to book the Seaside yesterday, they have the Kids Sail Free Promo going, even during the week of March 10, which I believe will be the March Break sailing for 2018. FWIW, the MSC agent I talked to mentioned that they will be changing the promo. 1st 2 passenger get the alcohol beverage package and the kids sailing in the same cabin get the a non-alcohol beverage package. Once the new promo is annouced, the system will update all the existing booking to the new promo.

We actually don't know if recent changes were in the works prior to Mr. Del Rio or not, but it seems like if one perceives the change as negative it was Mr. Del Rio, but if it is perceived as positive it was Mr. Sheehan.....pretty funny!

Since customers are not privy to decisions processes, and it is not really the customers business anyways. Therefore, we can only go with the public perception of the two individual.

I think the epsiode of "Undercover Boss" featuring Mr. Sheehan shows he is a caring person, he cares for his staff well being as well as the quality of his company's product. Whereas with Mr. Del Rio, whenever he mention his customers, he calls them captive audience and he is trying to squeeze more money once they get on board any of his ships.

Based on this, it is very difficult for people not to form perceptions of these two individuals. It is fairly natural for people to associate customer oriented policies with Mr. Sheenhan and money generating or shareholders oriented policies with Mr. Del Rio.

Just got off the phone with the MSC agent after booking my Seaside cruise for March Break 2018.

The agent said she has been told they are in the process of updating the promo. Currently, only the first 2 passengers in the cabin will be getting the promo, however in the near future the 3rd and 4th passenger in the cabin will also be getting the drink promo for free. At that time, the system will be updated for everyone who have booked already.

Best part is unlike NCL, there is no additional service charge for their drink package. And looking at their drink packages, it seems they include more selection than NCL's UBP.

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Already-Booked/Cruise-Upgrade/All-Inclusive-Packages.aspx

And if one were willing to try out MSC, their prices are even better than NCL.

For example, a family of 4 with 2 children can sail on the MSC Splendida in an inside cabin for 7 nights round trip in the Meds for approximately $930 tax and port charge included plus another $100 OBC.

Yes, one can argue MSC offers a different product than NCL. But with recent changes made by NCL, such as going a la carte in their premium restaurants, I can see they are more similar than different.

We are flying from the USA and sailing on Divina out of Barcelona in 3 days and indeed our travel documents indicate we will receive free water in the dining room.

I just made a reservation for a Med cruise via their North American office. And free water was not mentioned in my reservation documents. Would you mind letting me know if the travel documents that you are referring to is the online check in documents or it is the reservation documents.

I'm curious if they have changed the policy again. Many Thanks!

$971 for 4 people for a week :eek:

Do you think that kind of pricing is sustainable :what:

Yes, it is a 7 day cruise.

Though, port charges was only $33.70 per person for the Med cruise instead of $108.98 for E. Caribbean. So for 4 people, you're talking about approximately $290 worth of difference already.

I suppose MSC is generating enough from their cargo business to "buy" market share for their passenger business.

Nevertheless, it is nice for the cruise lines to come out and say they will not discount their product. But the reality is pricing is dependent on supplies and demands. With Harmony, NCL Escape, MSC Seaside coming online and Epic going back to Florida Will demand for cruise matches the increase in supplies by 2017? We will just have to watch and see.

Fain can posture all he likes. CCL and NCL will gladly fill their cabins with the folks that would've otherwise been on a ship "of the Seas". Empty cabins don't make money. Even if the company only breaks even on the fare by dropping prices to fill the ship, many of those last minute guests would have likely gambled, bought bar drinks, ate at Chops or taken excursions.

 

I think they'll continue puffing their chests, and displaying their plumage like proud peacocks for a while. After saving some face, the notion will eventually fade away.

As they continue to nickle and dime their customers, and raising their price, RCI and possibly NCL and Carnival should look out for MSC, the new kid on the block.

I just booked a Med Cruise with them. $971 tax in for an inside cabin for 4. And they are also throwing in another $100 OBC. Depending on the result of their Loyalty Match program, I may qualify for another 5% off plus an additional $50 OBC.

When MSC launch the MSC Seaside in 2017, and if it keeps the same pricing model as how they price the Divina, I can see it could give the existing players a really good run for their money.

With Cuba opening up for cruising in the near future, I would assume NCL will retain its smaller trio, the Sky, Spirit and Sun until Cuba upgrades its infrastructure to handle the larger ships.

Some of the inside room only has one bunk bed that folds down from the side of the wall. So what happen is the room attendant would bring in a rollaway as the 4th bed every evening.

I recall there was a thread about this earlier. The OP was shock when he found out about one of the people in his party will be sleeping in a rollaway.

As of right now here is what you should get. You say a few months ago you booked so I am going to guess you are in the pool that got UDP for all in the room. This is as of today, there is no telling what changes might come in the future.

 

- You received the UDP for all people booked in the room.

- Gratuity was included with that package so you will not have to pay any additional gratuity.

- The Illusionarium is not "included" in your package but with the recent changes can be booked with an additional fee per person (I believe $10 for basic seating and $15 for better seating)

- You can now dine at the Sushi bar for $7 per person (the assumption at this point is it is AYCE but that is not confirmed as of yet)

- You can eat at Ocean Blue for an upcharge of $15 per person.

- You can eat at all the other usual specialties all week with no cost

 

This should clear up your confusion.

 

6&8

What about the upcharge add-ons in Le Bistro such as Fruit de Mer, Lobster and Cote De Boeuf anyone knows if they would be included in the new plan?