twangster

The NV rates for the same time that QN operates from San Pedro don't look at all appealing to me. Are you seeing cheaper rates for west coast residents?

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.

Once ships reach 20 years old they dry dock every 2.5 years. Summer 2018 - Spring 2023 - Winter 2026 fits that timeline.

How many consecutive cruisers in LA are typical?

That's proven to be a winning strategy so far. Yet they also bring the old and tired ships here too, and they fill them too. Their cup runneth over (in Florida at least). 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.

Looking at CAS numbers on a typical cruise the number of frequent repeat cruisers is relatively small, even in Florida. B2B guest counts are typically in the double digits. Sometimes an Oasis class consecutive cruiser count will break into trip digits but for smaller ships it's often low double digits. You can't sustain a ship in any home port with a relatively small percentage of the total guest count cruising consecutively. The bread and butter is new to cruise, or new to Royal, which often accounts for >50% of guest count. This is followed by Gold CAS with a solid #2 of guest counts. That is who they need booking a ship, anywhere. In Florida there is an abundance of new to Royal guests booking ships and that is where they make bank. The consecutive cruiser isn't where the high margin profit comes from.

Yep. That's California cruising for you. It's hard to make anything out of LA exciting.

What transatlantics? There is one August 2024 when she comes to the US from Europe. The transatlantic ends in Boston. She stays in Boston until October 2024. Then she moves to Galveston, Texas through April 2025. Then she moves to Fort Lauderdale though November 2025. Then she moves to San Juan, Puerto Rico through April 2026. No other transatlantics are planned for Jewel right now. She doesn't go back to Europe in the future that is known through 2026.

Most of her trips from Port Canaveral aren't that exciting either. Yet it's a great ship to spend a few days on.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/oasis-of-the-seas/things-to-do/coastal-kitchen Officially it's "Smart Casual" which leaves it open for interpretation. CK does not follow the daily ship dress suggestions i.e. - Dress Your Best or "formal" nights. It's always smart casual. CRAVINGS FROM THE COAST Exclusively for suite guests, Coastal Kitchen fuses Mediterranean influences with farm-fresh flavors from California. Filled with Pacific Coast favorites and Med-inspired entrees, the menu here rotates to spotlight delicious, seasonal ingredients. And you can pair every bite with a glass or bottle of wine off a list that includes vintages from the sun-kissed valleys of Napa to the golden-green hills of Tuscany. ATTIRE Smart Casual RESTRICTIONS Access to Coastal Kitchen is reserved exclusively for guests staying in qualifying Suites. Pinnacle Club members may enjoy meals in Coastal Kitchen, subject to availability. NOTE Reservation Recommended MENU HIGHLIGHTS Start your day with one of the delicious offerings from Coastal Kitchen’s breakfast menu — like a filling frittata with feta cheese and spinach, decadent French toast with syrup and caramelized bananas, or a light Mediterranean plate of pan tomàquet, hummus, prosciutto and Manchego cheese. During lunch, try the signature Margherita flatbread, heaped with Buffalo mozzarella, vine-ripe tomato and fresh basil, or a tender herb-crusted chicken breast paired with roasted squash, Provencal tomatoes and tangy lemon essence. And at dinnertime, start with an order of Escargots a la bourguignonne in simmering butter with garlic and parsley. Then try the Roasted veal tenderloin, served in a vin jaune sauce with green pea puree, sweet caramelize onions, and fava beans. End your meal on a sweet note with fresh hand-cut seasonal fruit or an airy rosewater Panna cotta with kiwi coulis and almond tuile. PRO TIP The menu at Coastal Kitchen rotates frequently; allowing you to try different delights throughout your cruise.

Sorry to see Mariner my backyard. Enjoy her Texas, she is a great ship.

https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2025_2026/Short_Caribbean/JW_2025-2026_Short_Caribbean_Deployment

That was long before Liberty. On ships without the Royal Suite program those white 340 tubes have been around for a long time.

Quantum and Navigator from LA also available in the TA portal now.

Apparently Wonder, Utopia, Liberty, Mariner, Jewel and Freedom are available to book in the TA portal. Not yet on the public website.

I suspect they may have modified plans for Wonder, at least once she switches to 3/4. It looks like Utopia stays in PCN doing 3/4 on Mondays and Fridays which will occupy terminal one. I don't see Wonder doing the same Mondays and Fridays from PCN beyond August especially with evidence that Utopia will be. Looks like Wonder goes to Miami in September of 2025. But it's all speculation and subject to change.

Keep in mind that all shipping is under global pressure to slow down. The days of high speeds legs reach a far flung port are being reduced in name of reduced emissions. Not all forms of shipping are playing ball but there is mounting pressure to do so and cruise lines are under more pressure due to the social media focus on cruise ships while most other forms of shipping sail well outside the limelight. This is playing a factor in route planning.

Looks like at the moment she stays in PCN until the end of August. She is staying on 7 night, finishing with a 6 night to land near the end of August, then has a one night deadhead repo before starting with a 5 night to get her lined up for a Friday-Monday-Friday 3/4 schedule. Subject to change.

It may depend on your Sat phone provider but when I Iast used one it was sensitive to having a clear sky visible in all directions. From the side of a ship while on the balcony you have limited line of sight toward the sky losing 180° "behind" you.. Standing on the top deck would yield a better outcome. I had GlobalStar service using a GSP-1600 handset and it was very particular about line of sight to the sky. So much so I would need to go clear into the middle of my backyard to get reliable service. Standing on my patio next to my house would yield poor results. Standing near a tree would at times reduce operational service. Given the use of Starlink internet now on ships if my GSP-1600 experience is similar to what you experience I'd much rather just go with Starlink and buy a Voom plan using Wi-Fi calling on my cell phone.

Looks like it's been closed for new bookings or changes. Too early to know what that means. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

If you are hoping for something longer than 3 & 4 on Freedom beyond April 2025 you may be disappointed.

The new cruise terminal in Tokyo could enter the fray for a ship in 2025. https://uniquevenues-en.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/venues/metropolitan/12004/ I envision officials in Tokyo saying Kon'nichiwa and giving a standing Ovation to Royal in the Northern hemisphere's summer of 2025.

Royal has made a point of publicly putting down wearable technology. They made a point of saying the app is where it’s at. To do a 180 and embrace a medallion type wearable technology probably isn’t gonna happen and would require a massive investment in technology that isn’t present today.

No idea. There are a lot of moving pieces and the situation impacting the Suez Canal could cause them to wait more if they are even thinking about not sending Anthem to the Pacific. Even if that is a remote possibility they may delay decisions until they are more certain. Time will tell.

Anything is possible until (and after) they make it available to book.