arxcards

I think it would have been $85 per day. We booked our next cruise in June last year, and it was $85 per day then. The current price is $95 per day, so upgrading is $10pp per day.

If you are going to get plus anyway, the delivery charge is waived with the current package - whether you use the app or not.

Sort of. I think it is only for order/delivery via your phone app. You can still use the other features (reservations, menus etc) without incurring a charge.

I thought it was a leper colony, but apparently it is a one-of-a-kind private island for cruising. It must be nothing like Conflict Islands if it is the only one of its' kind in the southern hemisphere. I hear that they only have perfect days there. Perfect Day at Lelepa | Royal Caribbean Cruises

Yes, you can use your OBC in the casino. Where they are being strict now is preventing you from taking non-refundable OBC and turning it into cash in the casino with none or little game play. The ship currency on Splendor is $AU. I doubt they will have $US in the casino, but they may have some for conversion at customer services. I believe the crew are still paid in $US, so they may have some currency aboard. As mentioned, the Shylock conversion at the ferry wharf is an easy option off the ship. Not fantastic conversion rates, but neither is the ship.

+ International Cafe, on deck pizza/burgers/soft serve ice cream, and breakfast room service via door cards.

Yes, the current version of Premier ($95 - 2023) is unlimited "casual dining". Premier booked last year for $85 (or less) doesn't include "casual dining".

Yep, we have a premier package for Majestic in November, but as it was booked last year, we will be charged if we want to eat at Alfredo's and also score the Ocean Now activation charge. People with a current Plus package of $65 per day will have that included, while my $85 per day for last years' Premier will not have them included. Surely, they will have to moderate or transition the changes amid a lot of backlash from otherwise loyal customers. I could pay the extra $10ea per diem to upgrade and get Alfedo's and the service charge included as well as the sugar intense desserts, fitness classes & reserved seats, but I won't be. I bought a drink package, so they can keep all the other crud and not charge me for what was included at the time I booked.

Maybe. The OP was about stuff years beyond the horizon, much like Lelepa and Oasis class in Oz. My response was made in that context.

Sorry, I was typing as if that had already happened. Then no more. Not even a distant port entry.

No doubt, there is still a thought bubble for Lelepa. and another for an Oasis class ship being based in Sydney

Do you score the Mickey costume? 🤣 Sorry, just thought I would get the "silly" comment out of the way.

Just curious Graham. Do you know who is doing the Virgin turnarounds? Your mob, the other mob, or do they wrangle their terminal staff from Kingsford Smith?

Hype can drive demand with the aim that it drives prices up. The demand part of the equation is the tough part for them atm, as the RBA has taken care of a fair chunk of it. Generally, you would wait till after final payment to see what cheap prices are around, but Virgin are a little different in the way they do things. Hard to know if they will handle it any differently.

I hope I am not talking out of school, but am guessing it could be this one??

We did have a cruise on Edge booked when it was first announced, but cancelled it a couple of months ago for personal reasons. Edge holds much more appeal for us than Virgin for which I would only pay half the fare in comparison. Not sure if prices will come down for Virgin, at least not until September. They have just rolled Branson out again, and hinted he might be coming down here to cruise on Resilient Lady this summer, so it looks like they are going to try to hype it till the 11th hour.

It should also be grandfathered for standard bookings. For Plus & Premier, the changes affect anyone that booked that way prior to the price increase in December. For anyone booking standard, it affects everyone, including those that booked last week.

Thanks Jenny, I just try not to forget what I learn along the way. There was a lot of this sort of discussion when Coral was on her way down here last year. Yes, 2025 WC, well only the 2nd half for us. Sounds like a plan, as we also have lots to learn about many of the ports, and are yet to scratch the surface for what we are planning for each of those days. Most of the planning to date has been for our pre-cruise stuff in the UK.

Hi Jenny, You will need to do it from the app, as there is nothing on the personaliser for booking them any more. I think to pre-book requires a suite/premier voucher or to be charged to your credit card. Unless it has changed recently, I don't think you can pre-book restaurants with OBC, and you will need to wait till after boarding. You should have no problem getting your bookings when you want them on a 12 nighter.

You could have until the ship arrives in late 2024, but I would also expect another price rise between now and then. If you have the spare dollars. I would consider it a good investment.

And a heads-up, the same glitch is current for Catch by Rudy, the new specialty restaurant on Majestic. Currently at $AU39, and meant to be $53

What ship? Royal, Diamond & Crown will adjust to the correct price when they arrive here. This is a glitch as it would seem that those ships haven't had to set-up a $AU pricelist. If you prebook now you will get them at the discounted price. Once the ship arrives, the correct current Aussie pricing is $47 for Sabatini's & $53 for Crown Grill.

Any of the pre $65 plus and pre $95 premier would appear to be in the same boat as a standard booking.

When booking, we scored 3 vouchers for 3 nights, as there is 2 from the premier package as well. Our bistro booking was cancelled for night two, which leaves bookings in place for night one & three, and the call centre bunny saying we are only entitled to the two premier ones anyway. With the 3rd voucher removed from the system, I don't expect to see 3 vouchers in cabin, and I will settle for the other night in the dining room. Yes, I hope that is just a voucher blip in the system, and the short cruises still get the existing benefits.

On face value, you will get the Plus package as it was ($30/40/50 version. No idea on the room service charge except: If you order your coffee/tea on the card for breakfast and hang it on your doorknob the night before, there is no charge, - If you order it via the medallion app, there will be a service charge. If that is something you will do often, it would be much cheaper to pay for a one-off delivery activation charge than it would be to pay the extra $35 per night. I think the $US charge will translate to around $AU22, but I would be one of many lined up at the desk to try to get it reversed. As it is, I have the semi-old $85 premier package for our next cruise, and am in a suite, but it looks like if we want cabin delivery through the app that we will be facing an additional charge. Our 1/2 world cruise in 2025 got a bit better, and the $65 plus will give us some extra that we weren't expecting, that is as long as the Prix Fixe menu is worth dining-out for.