colesc15

Was shocked to see Icon on the instant reward certificate from my most recent sailing. Called as soon as we got off, and booked it. $321 total for the two of us for a week with $500 free play, and the cruise I got the certificate on, I finished slightly ahead money wise. CAN'T WAIT! Sorry, not another "Icon is too expensive" thread. Lol.

I'm the complete opposite. Hideaway with the dj is one of the things I'm most excited for on icon. We spend all day at oasis lagoon on Coco cay so I expect hideaway to be very similar. Can't wait!

I doubt it. Why would Royal pay for cover bands that people clearly enjoyed when they can use their craptastic house band all over the ship playing the same type music all 7 days, just in different venues, for a much lower cost. Lol. I miss the coverbands..

There's definitely some decent TA group rates still out there! I booked Icon about 2 weeks ago via a TA group rate for later on this year in 2024, 2 of us in an oceanview balcony, with $350 obc for about $2700 including taxes and fees.

It seems within reason of royal caribbeans package. On Royal, we get 5 free drinks a day for being diamond plus and free drinks in the casino whenever it's open, so we haven't purchased a package in a while but obviously don't get the free drinks on carnival and casino drinks are set up a little different with carnival. From my understanding there's a daily cap on the drink package with carnival as well, although not really applicable since we aren't looking to get tanked.

Does Carnival have a bidding system of some sort to bid on upgrading cabins as it gets closer to sail date? Also, is there an average price of a drink package?

Thank you! Would you agree it makes most sense to try Mardi Gras/celebration / jubilee as our first carnival cruise since the cost is the same for us regardless if it's the new class or one of the oldest?

Is the Havana area anything special or not worth giving up the oceanview window?

Hi all. My wife and I have been loyal to Royal for a handful of years, but recently got a casino offer to try Carnival. I think I've narrowed it down to Mardi Gras since the date works for us. One of their newest ships seems like the best option to use a casino offer. 8 nighter to grand turk, amber cove, etc. With my offer, I'm able to get an oceanview cabin OR a Havana interior for the exact same price. Is the Havana area worth giving up the oceanview window? I can upgrade to a cove balcony for about $200 a person but I'm not thinking we're going to do that. Thanks in advance!

Super excited!

Was definitely surprised when I got the confirmation invoice!

I know right? I just happened to think about looking at some group rates from an old TA I used years ago and was shocked.

You sold me on it lol. I completely forgot about the group rates being set back then. $2900 roughly out the door for an oceanview balcony with $350 obc when the same room is going for almost $8,000 direct with Royal. Insane.

With the crazy high prices of Icon, which people continue to pay, at this point, what's a reasonable rate for a oceanview balcony that if you come across it, you have to consider it? Specifically 2024 dates. I came across a group rate for an oceanview balcony of $1329 per person with a $350 onboard credit that has me very tempted since rates are so high and not seeing them drop anytime in the near future. Is that rate a pretty solid deal at this point?

Sailing on Jewel Saturday (maybe.. Midwest storm). Sail away is 8pm. What's the latest we could board the ship? 6ish?

Do they require you to eat in the restaurant or anything for them to store your bags?

I really want to do Spencer's boat to sugar beach, but the time is 8:30-3:30 and the ship is in Port from 7-4 so 3:30 feels like it's cutting it pretty close, no?

Perfect thanks. Utopia, so will be similar to Wonder. Flight options are limited so going to risk it with an early flight and hope for the best. Hoping we can be in an uber by 7:30.

Haven't sailed out of Port Canaveral in quite some time. Assuming no delays clearing anything, what's the earliest people have been in a taxi/Uber after getting off a ship, more specific an oasis class? If you carry your own luggage off of course.

Been on many cruises since the restart. If you don't take a test, no covid. Simple.

I completely forgot about the additional items for turning Diamond plus. I had a hard time understanding the lady, but basically in addition to the water, as diamond plus, we get one additional thing to the cabin each sailing that includes wine or? I could only understand her saying wine. I'm guessing there's other options?

So nice of royal caribbean to allow us to choose digital and it cost them 0 compared to the 50 cent cost printed version 😂

Crazy how high the prices are day 1 compared to Icon when Icon was the new class. Hard pass until prices come down.

Awesome! Thanks!

Good point. It'd be interesting to see how easy or difficult it is to find information related to it for each port.