Sky vs. Star Class "Savings"

So, just for giggles (and to talk myself into upgrading from a Sky to a Star class suite) -- I ran the numbers on the freebies included above-and-beyond the Sky class perks. Numbers below assume a 7 day cruise. It looks like the "added value" is just under $1400. Am I missing any other hard ($) discounts?

One time charges:

Ultimate Dining Package $168.00

Chef's Table $95.00

Thermal Suite Access $99.00

Prohibition Event $35.00

Ship Tour $199.00

Per Day Charges:

VROOM $16.00/day $112.00

Deluxe Beverage Package $48.00/day $336.00

Gratuities $18.00/day $126.00

Per Use Charges:

Laundry Service $52.00/use 3x $156.00 1 bag, same day 50% surcharge

Dry Cleaning $23.00/use 2x $46.00 1 suit or dress, same day 50% surcharge

I think that you get vroom in sky class

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I think that you get vroom in sky class

 

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Ahhh... correct. That drops the "savings" to ~$1300. Thanks!

I think you have to add service charge to beverage package. Its 48 a day plus tips.

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Personally, I would not consider it "savings" unless I would have been purchasing that particular addon already.

I think you have to add service charge to beverage package. Its 48 a day plus tips.

 

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18% service charge is factored into the $48/day package.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/beverage-package-gratuities-policy

18% service charge is factored into the $48/day package.

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/beverage-package-gratuities-policy

The $48 is the price of the package. When you add package to your cart, it adds 18% for gratuities to that $48. So if you get the package at $48, that final cost with gratuities is $56.64.

The $48 is the price of the package. When you add package to your cart, it adds 18% for gratuities to that $48. So if you get the package at $48, that final cost with gratuities is $56.64.

Ah. Sneaky :-). I'll update my speadsheet -- thanks!

You’ll also be adding a hefty tip for the genie. But, you certainly have my blessings to upgrade. Go for it.

So, just for giggles (and to talk myself into upgrading from a Sky to a Star class suite) -- I ran the numbers on the freebies included above-and-beyond the Sky class perks. Numbers below assume a 7 day cruise. It looks like the "added value" is just under $1400. Am I missing any other hard ($) discounts?

 

One time charges:

 

Ultimate Dining Package $168.00

Chef's Table $95.00

Thermal Suite Access $99.00

Prohibition Event $35.00

Ship Tour $199.00

 

Per Day Charges:

 

VROOM $16.00/day $112.00

Deluxe Beverage Package $48.00/day $336.00

Gratuities $18.00/day $126.00

 

Per Use Charges:

 

Laundry Service $52.00/use 3x $156.00 1 bag, same day 50% surcharge

Dry Cleaning $23.00/use 2x $46.00 1 suit or dress, same day 50% surcharge

I don’t think thermal spa is included with star class anymore. Laundry is unlimited I think so hard to quantify that but many won’t use it much. I don’t think they include prohibition party either. I’d say you really have to price it more than the ultimate dining package since it is for all restaurants lunch and dinner when star class.

Hard to put a price on front row reseved seats and only need to show up 5 minutes early. Tons of value in that. Same goes for priority line for sports deck activities. When you just want to do a quick ride on the flowrider no need to wait 40 minutes in line. That is huge! Also hard to put a price on have beer and wine delivered to your whenever you want it. You will not run out of drinks when watching the aqua show from your balcony.

I think boardwalk popcorn and Starbucks drinks are free for star class so maybe add $2 for popcorn and $30-40 for Starbucks.

Having the genie does make it a zero stress trip. Magic happens when you have a genie and that is worth some $ to many people. Plus the star class cabins are all fantastic (in different ways) so that often adds a lot value to a star class upgrade.

You’ll also be adding a hefty tip for the genie. But, you certainly have my blessings to upgrade. Go for it.

Many people report $100-150 per person for the week. So call it $300 for a couple.

I do not remember the pricing, but the seafood tower and any other add-ons in Chops and everything in Izumi is included as well.

So, just for giggles (and to talk myself into upgrading from a Sky to a Star class suite) -- I ran the numbers on the freebies included above-and-beyond the Sky class perks. Numbers below assume a 7 day cruise. It looks like the "added value" is just under $1400. Am I missing any other hard ($) discounts?

 

One time charges:

 

Ultimate Dining Package $168.00

Chef's Table $95.00

Thermal Suite Access $99.00

Prohibition Event $35.00

Ship Tour $199.00

 

Per Day Charges:

 

VROOM $16.00/day $112.00

Deluxe Beverage Package $48.00/day $336.00

Gratuities $18.00/day $126.00

 

Per Use Charges:

 

Laundry Service $52.00/use 3x $156.00 1 bag, same day 50% surcharge

Dry Cleaning $23.00/use 2x $46.00 1 suit or dress, same day 50% surcharge

I went through this booking a few months ago. It was $3k more from a CL to a 2bd aqua suite (for two of us). It was a cheap week for th ATS. We splurged for the ATS. Figured we will get about 1.5k in extra value with star class and the cabin balcony is about as good as it gets with an ATS. So we figured the other 1.5k got us the balcony and all the awesome star class perks. The perks do save a lot of time you would’ve been waiting for things like shows and activities and I put a big price on time. It was a rare splurge and sky class would end been just fine. Heck, almost any cabin is fine with me.

I don’t think thermal spa is included with star class anymore.

Yes, at least for us, 2 weeks ago on Allure, the Thermal spa was still included. Officially I think it is just a single visit but our Genie told us that we could go as much as we wanted and he would remove any additional charges. We just went the 1 time though.

I agree with everyone's comments. The unlimited meals is worth way more than just the cost of the ultimate dining package. You can get room service from any specialty restaurant not just from the room service or main dining room menu. While officially you should be charged for any drink that is over the beverage package threshold, we have never ever been charged anything addition for any drink we have ever ordered and we have been Star Class 4 times.

Unlimited laundry, if you want that. Unlimited food, unlimited drinks, personalized service for just about anything that you can imagine.

Another perk that is almost unquantifiable is the ability of the Genie to arrange and execute a party in your suite for as many people as you can invite. The only charge you will incur is for liquor and/or wine and a server, if you want one. All other beverages and food from ANY specialty restaurant (only limitation here is that the event must occur during normal operating hours of the specialty restaurant you want to order from) in any quantity. Housekeeping comes and sets up the room with dishes, napkins, silverware and stemware. Then they come and clean it all up for you.

IMO Star Class is well worth the price but others don't think so. If you don't need all of these special services then it might not be worth it to you.

Don't forget the escort off the ship at the end of the trip. We were given many nasty looks but our Genie told us to stay close to her and ignore any comments. This was off of Oasis on 4/1. The line to get off was the longest we have ever seen. Well worth it!

Don't forget the escort off the ship at the end of the trip. We were given many nasty looks but our Genie told us to stay close to her and ignore any comments. This was off of Oasis on 4/1. The line to get off was the longest we have ever seen. Well worth it!

Yuppers. For this exercise, I'm just trying to put an approximate dollar value on the things that are easily quantifiable and priced. There's some wiggle-room in the numbers. How many times do you do laundry or dry cleaning? Do you want to use the Thermal Suite or do some of the onboard tours/activities other Star guests have reported being reliably comped on? Still, I think the numbers are pretty close to putting a dollar value on them. Folks can tweak those to fit their cruise style to figure out if they're of less or more value to them.

The more esoteric and nebulous things (priority embark/debark, reserved seats at shows, front-of-line perk, Genie expertise and handling, etc.) I kinda leave up to everyone to assign their own value to that. The way I think of those perks... they're "paid" for with the extra gratuity I'd be leaving with my Genie. I figure I'm probably going to tip $100/day since I'm very low-maintenance and solo. I'll call that $700 a wash and figure out if it feels right after trying out the Star class service.

There was a post here not long ago from Flannbarr who tried to do the exact thing you did to see if it was worth it. I will try to find it and link it here. He went and drew some conclusions after.

Here is the original thread:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2596539

Here is his post cruise write up. Very well thought out.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2623284

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There was a post here not long ago from Flannbarr who tried to do the exact thing you did to see if it was worth it. I will try to find it and link it here. He went and drew some conclusions after.

 

Here is the original thread:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2596539

 

Here is his post cruise write up. Very well thought out.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2623284

 

 

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Thanks! The tough part is definitely putting a (specific) value to things that aren't an absolute one-time-charge per person. In my case, I do enjoy the specialty restaurants -- but seldom do more than 3 on a 7 day cruise. I just can't eat that much rich food, and I'd rather have a shorter dinner and then scoot off to the casino to hemorrhage money. I've never bothered with the Ultimate Dining Package. The Deluxe Beverage Package though? Yeah -- I'll take them to the bank on that one. :-) *hic*

Also add in free ships tours - had a Bridge Tour, Galley Tour and a Behind the Scenes Tour (theater). On our last cruise my son ordered room service at least 3x/day. We also had a stocked chest full of beer, water & soda. Also loved the daily cocktail service cart.

Thanks! The tough part is definitely putting a (specific) value to things that aren't an absolute one-time-charge per person. In my case, I do enjoy the specialty restaurants -- but seldom do more than 3 on a 7 day cruise. I just can't eat that much rich food, and I'd rather have a shorter dinner and then scoot off to the casino to hemorrhage money. I've never bothered with the Ultimate Dining Package. The Deluxe Beverage Package though? Yeah -- I'll take them to the bank on that one. :-) *hic*

I gave up trying to assign a value to it. We just went with the YOLO mentality and booked it.

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Don't forget the escort off the ship at the end of the trip. We were given many nasty looks but our Genie told us to stay close to her and ignore any comments. This was off of Oasis on 4/1. The line to get off was the longest we have ever seen. Well worth it!

That’s the key non-financial value.

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If anyone want to grab the spreadsheet, I think sharing it through Google Docs will allow you to get it and modify it to suit your planning. Plug in your own numbers or play with as you wish.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1q_2MesAvict5fDa0FSwHyvt56urjLuVW6X4KbZKBzI8/edit?usp=sharing

Also add in free ships tours - had a Bridge Tour, Galley Tour and a Behind the Scenes Tour (theater). On our last cruise my son ordered room service at least 3x/day. We also had a stocked chest full of beer, water & soda. Also loved the daily cocktail service cart.

Behind the Scenes tour is not part of Star Class any longer. Galley and Bridge tours are included.

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What ship is this for?

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I just did Star Class 3 weeks ago on Harmony. I did the same analysis as you did and you typically won’t be able to justify Star Class just based on cost unless you got a great deal on your suite. For us, it was so much more about the suite and balcony in our ATS 2 compared to the Star Class and genie perks.

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