Polition67

11 minutes ago, Garyjames220 said:

Any idea if there will be any more ships in Orlando for 7 night cruises in November 2025

 

where is the wonder then 

I suspect no, star and adventure doing 7 nights and utopia doing 3/4 nights it’s rumoured wonder will be going to Miami doing 3/4 nights hopefully the rumour is wrong 😑 

I know its anticipated that star will be announced in the second lot (not confirmed) when would you expect the hype to start? 

8 minutes ago, Jack McGowan said:

Any idea on home ports for the Europe ones?

Think Allure is likely to be Barcelona and independence possibly going to Southampton. Not sure if the rest. 

14 minutes ago, Seamingo said:

Miami and Ft Lauderdale are close together. You might be able to get ships on the same day. An online search shows they are 30 minutes apart so perhaps use that hotel money towards a driver or taxi?

Thanks 😊 We will be doing Orlando for a week first don’t fancy the journey to Miami. 

Looking for some advice, with the deployment schedules being so far apart I’m trying to work out how I would book a side by side 7 night on say star then a 3 or 4 night on say utopia ( all under the assumption Florida is port) does royal do specific sailing days like sat to sat on 7 nights? 

30 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

I'm not giving up hope, lol. Wonder is listed as visiting St. Maarten every other week in June 2025 on the port site. That would indicate it's still doing 7N cruises in June.

 

It disappears from the schedule in July... which jives with my theory that Star may not take over until a bit later in the summer (July). That's my story and I'm sticking to it! 😁

 

https://gls.portstmaarten.sx/sxm/MainMenu.aspx?ShipScheduleType=2

Date	Day	Time	Homeport	CRN	Vessel	Remarks	Pier
02-06	Mon	11:59 - 19:00		SX250307	LIBERTY OF THE SEAS
03-06	Tue	08:00 - 17:00		SX250308	ICON OF THE SEAS
04-06	Wed	08:00 - 18:00		SX250309	OASIS OF THE SEAS
11-06	Wed	08:00 - 18:00		SX250475	CELEBRITY BEYOND
11-06	Wed	08:00 - 18:00		SX250310	RHAPSODY OF THE SEAS
12-06	Thu	08:00 - 17:00		SX250311	WONDER OF THE SEAS
18-06	Wed	08:00 - 18:00		SX250312	RHAPSODY OF THE SEAS
25-06	Wed	08:00 - 17:00		SX250313	RHAPSODY OF THE SEAS
26-06	Thu	08:00 - 18:00		SX250430	CELEBRITY BEYOND
26-06	Thu	08:00 - 17:00		SX250314	WONDER OF THE SEAS

Loving the positivity I’m keeping everything crossed for that! 

Was being nosy looking through the port schedules for 2025, icon of the seas is showing couple of days apart on the St Maarten schedule so I can safely say my hopes for a European summer on Star are dashed 😂

3 minutes ago, strachan01 said:

I am thinking exactly the same.

 

Although I assume Allure will be heading over from her TA straight into her long awaited drydock? 

Yeah pretty sure drydock will be happening.  I’m thinking more the westbound journey. 

Do I book allure transatlantic (if it exists) or wait and see if Star has one ohhhh the  pressure 😂

32 minutes ago, Jumping Cruiser said:

 

They can make more money in many other markets at the minute and that’s what’s most important to them, so China is probably completely off the table. I could see China getting an Oasis Class in a couple of years, which would be shared with Australia, but I think a brand-new Icon Class wouldn’t be worth it.

 

I hoped that Star would do a short summer season in the Med, especially since she is launching in the Summer, before she crossed the Atlantic. However, I now could just see her going straight to PC, as is the case with Utopia. The Caribbean is their money-maker at the minute and I think Royal knows that lots of people will travel to experience Icon Class, regardless of homeport.

I’m hoping for a med summer then a transatlantic but this is maybe wishful thinking 😂

When do we thinking booking will start? 

2 minutes ago, sandebeach said:

I wonder where it will sail from Summer 2025? Perhaps a summer in the Med, then come over to USA but what will be homeport?

Would love this, fingers crossed 🤞 

46 minutes ago, Jumping Cruiser said:

 

St Maarten, Caribbean - Port Schedule (Correct as of 18/08/23)

Several additional bookings made throughout the season for Icon. See updated list below:

 

May 2025:

1st May - Vision OTS
1st May - Wonder OTS

5th May - Symphony OTS

5th May - Liberty OTS

6th May - Icon OTS

7th May - Oasis OTS

14th May - Wonder OTS

20th May - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

27th May - Rhapsody OTS

28th May - Wonder OTS

 

June 2025:

2nd June - Liberty OTS

3rd June - Icon OTS

4th June - Oasis OTS

11th June - Rhapsody OTS

12th June - Wonder OTS

18th June - Rhapsody OTS

25th June - Rhapsody OTS

26th June - Wonder OTS

30th June - Liberty OTS

 

July 2025:

1st July - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

3rd July - Oasis OTS

9th July - Rhapsody OTS

15th July - Icon OTS

16th July - Rhapsody OTS

23rd July - Rhapsody OTS

28th July - Liberty OTS

30th July - Oasis OTS

August 2025:

5th August - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

6th August - Rhapsody OTS

7th August - Harmony OTS

13th August - Rhapsody OTS

20th August - Rhapsody OTS

25th August - Liberty OTS

26th August - Icon OTS

27th August - Oasis OTS

28th August - Harmony OTS

 

September 2025:

3rd September - Rhapsody OTS

6th September - Jewel OTS

10th September - Rhapsody OTS

16th September - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

17th September - Rhapsody OTS

18th September - Harmony OTS

24th September - Oasis OTS

 

October 2025:

1st October - Rhapsody OTS

7th October - Icon OTS

8th October - Rhapsody OTS

9th October - Harmony OTS

15th October - Rhapsody OTS

22nd October - Oasis OTS

28th October - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

29th October - Rhapsody OTS

30th October - Harmony OTS

 

November 2025:

9th November - Odyssey OTS

Wonder seems to fall off in June, where do we things she’s heading 🧐

59 minutes ago, Blue Eyed Belfast Belle said:

If the current prices for Icon of the Seas are anything to go by I wont be able to afford Icon 2 either!! 

Same here, adding on flights from Scotland makes it completely unaffordable for us unfortunately. 

Royal will probably still be deciding where the second icon ship will be sailing considering it will be launched 2025 that may be the decider on where all the other ships go 🤷🏼‍♀️

3 minutes ago, GlasgowCruiser01 said:

Of eight total ships, I'm fine with them having ONE Radiance or Vision in Florida year round (ideally Tampa) to do Caribbean itineraries, but the rest should go on longer/more exciting ones from other parts of the world. Otherwise it's a waste of what those ships can do.

 

All of the East Coast Florida ports really should be for Icon/Oasis Class in summer, with perhaps one or two Freedom/Voyager Class which are left over.

We would have loved an icon ship to do the European season in 2025 however it seems unlikely so we will just need to do a TA over and do icon before flying back hope 3 weeks isn’t too long 😩😂

1 minute ago, cruiseboy89130 said:

Not sure Europeans are that cruise crazy - to pay 🤑for a floating waterpark

I am, take my money royal. No long haul flight!!! I can dream 😂

10 minutes ago, Jumping Cruiser said:

I know it’s not Icon Class, but that’s what I thought would happen with Utopia and it’s ended up going straight to the US, despite having an early Summer delivery. Unless Icon 2 is delivered in March/April, I think the chances are slim. 
 

The only routes that I think Oasis Class would be capable of from Southampton is the ‘7 Night France & Spain’ itinerary and possibly a new Northern Europe route (e.g Rotterdam, Hamburg, etc.), but I’m not sure how popular that would be in the Summer. Despite not having a great itinerary, I think the ship would act as the destination for many and the ports would just be a ‘bonus’. Plus, if Allure doesn’t end up with a full amp, Royal could charge a slightly lower pppd cost to attract custom. This would definitely be some fierce competition for MSC and NCL. However, I still think it’s unlikely, at least until we have a Icon Class permanently doing a Summer season in the Med. The way it’s looking, we’ll be lucky to have one ship in 2026! 😅

When would royal announce allure is being amp’d? I suspect she is because she’s going in between Feb and April. We are hoping to do the TA Europe to US. 
 

The only thing that would stop me booking Allure would be if icon 2 did the summer and then a TA over to America I have a serious FOMO. When would we expect announcement about the second ship IOS was available for booking more than 2 years out. 

2 hours ago, twangster said:

The expected handover and build cycle of new builds may shed some light on deployment plans.  If a new build Royal mega ship handover will occur at the end of the EU summer season or in the winter it's unlikely they would deploy that ship into the Med. and more likely to send it to America where it can more likely sell out quickly over the winter Caribbean season.

 

How open are UK and EU residents to paying the exorbitant new ship premiums that Royal enjoys?  I haven't tracked other lines new builds in Europe like MSC or AIDA.  Do they charge outrageous new ship premiums for their new builds as well? 

I would happily pay the premium price simply because I will save £3-4k on flights and not have to do a long haul flight. We have only sailed royal however I have seen very reasonable prices for the likes of MSC and P&O for the new ships but I prefer the amenities on royal. 

1 hour ago, Trixie21 said:

I still think Icon 2 could do a med season if she is out in time for 2025 summer?

And maybe Allure goes to Southampton along with Indy? IMHO that would blow all the other competition in Southampton out of the water. Could do a really great set of itineraries between the 3 ships. I know its wishful thinking but not impossible.

A lot of people have been saying they have been told by senior officers on Anthem and other ships that 2 ships are going to Southampton in 2025 - Indy is pretty much a definite and they are saying another larger ship also - that would only leave Odyssey or an Oasis class and odyssey looks quite certain for the Greek Isles again where she is very successful. We shall see.

I’m praying for icon 2 in the med finger’s 🤞 

3 minutes ago, Jumping Cruiser said:

 

Definitely! There is evidence within a few port schedules.

Brilliant thanks for the info, I’m hopeless at searching the ports 😂

10 minutes ago, Jumping Cruiser said:

 

I believe Oasis class will continue to sail from Galveston throughout 2025, but not 100% sure on which one. If I see anything specifically relating to Galveston deployment I will post here.

Do you think it will be allure doing a European season considering she’s going into dry ***** 🤷🏼‍♀️

26 minutes ago, CruisingHogFan said:

We just got off Allure. It was pretty normal for the most part. Encountered a few more entitled guests and back to back cruisesr than a normal cruise.

I talked to a lot of the staff and almost all of them were not looking forward to the President’s cruise. You can tell they were stressing over how the ship will be full of entitled/ demanding guests. If you look on another platform you will see post after post of complaints. I feel sorry for the staff!

We cruise Royal a few times a year but you couldn’t pay me to get on that cruise even with all the benefits! 

I can totally believe how entitled some guests are. We were on independence in feb and one woman was crying and literally stamping her feel because she wanted a specific seat in the theatre to see grease, the staff relented and asked others to move to accommodate her she then proceeded to talk to people around her for the whole show going on and on about her pinnacle status 😑

I assume with it being a president cruise they pull out all the stops? Saw on another board that they noticed some carpets and furniture has been renewed. 
I wasn’t going to ask since reading the half and half frenzy 😂

15 minutes ago, Billy Baltic said:

We’ve looked at this before but wasn’t practical due to school. TA and a week there is the best part of 3 weeks. Do you have that much Autumn hols in Scotland?

They get 10 days never taken them out of school before but it’s the only time we can take off work that year. My backed up annual needs to be used and hubby will be away the only month we have is November 😩 We are also thinking it won’t be practical either unfortunately