Friends spending extra for RCCL

[Lakesilly605er]

We booked a cruise recently on the Valor. Our friends, who book primarily with RCCL booked a cruise for the same week we are going except that they did so on a RCCL cruise. I looked to see what it would cost us to go on the Allure that same weekend, and for the cheapest inside room, it would cost us 1700 dollars more. I just cannot justify that sort of price differential. We love to cruise and take vacations, but we have to watch what we spend. Anyone had anything similar happen to them? They are our friends, but unless they want to pay the difference, we will just have to compare vacations when they are over.

[buddyjo143]

DH and I have cruised on RCCL and NCL. Each cruise line has some good things about it but we really love Carnival.

 

We have been talking about a back to back and while we were looking at Carnival prices, RCCL sent me an email about booking an inside and they upgrade you to an oceanview or booking the oceanview and they upgrade you to a balcony etc.

 

Well, when I looked at similar times and ports, the cost for Carnival was under $60 per person per day and the cost of RCCL was about $125 pp pd.

 

I just can't justify that right now either.

 

However, at some point I would love to sail on Royal's Oasis of the Seas and we may do NCL to Alaska. We may even do a Disney cruise some day. Again, different lines offer different things that we want to experience at some point.

[Nunu]

Why compare anything? Have fun and let them do the same.

[Traveler353]

Why compare anything? Have fun and let them do the same.

 

 

Dito.

[GXmanDC]

OP- your friends have selected a brand new ship, her first sailing is December 2010. Maybe they want that "new ship smell."

 

I am a huge RCI fan, but I won't pay the new ship premium. Or, I should say I can't pay the new ship premium. I'm sure it will be a wonderful experience but I will wait until prices come down a little.

 

Have a great vacation.

[PA Dutchman]

Its just money, If you have it spend it.

[MrPete]

Comparing just may cause ill feelings.

 

RCCL cruisers seem to like to justify what they get for the extra $$. Unfortunately, we find we get more out of Carnival AND pay less, due to their buying power.

[salty dingo]

It does appear much of the higher price is due to the new ship. Maybe the friends put more value on the amenities than you do? I'm with you, if the itinerary, food, and service are the same, the age of the ship matters little.

[Lakesilly605er]

As our funds are limited, we would rather maximize our vacation dollars. Hopefully at some point in our lives, we will have the option of choosing a new ship, or even a balcony! Right now, we go with a great location inside room, and use the difference in price to go on excursions and pay for our tab at the end of the cruise.

[Lakesilly605er]

We have cruised on Carnival, NCL, and RCCL. That being said, we enjoyed our time on all of them. I would not hesitate to go on any of them again.

[firefly333]

Heck, I havent even done Oasis, waiting for the prices to come down some. Allure .. Id say your friends are lucky dogs!!! If thats their choice let them. It will be awesome.

[clackey]

Its just money, If you have it spend it.

And if you don't have it, don't spend it.

 

I'm not cheap, just very, very, very frugal.:rolleyes:

[habby]

We booked a cruise recently on the Valor. Our friends, who book primarily with RCCL booked a cruise for the same week we are going except that they did so on a RCCL cruise. I looked to see what it would cost us to go on the Allure that same weekend, and for the cheapest inside room, it would cost us 1700 dollars more. I just cannot justify that sort of price differential. We love to cruise and take vacations, but we have to watch what we spend. Anyone had anything similar happen to them? They are our friends, but unless they want to pay the difference, we will just have to compare vacations when they are over.

We just had a similar experience. My best friends were going on their first cruise, but were sailing on Royal. Like you, and as much as I wanted to see their faces when they first boarded the ship, we couldn't justify spending the extra money for a comparable cabin. As it turned out, we did meet up with them on Grand Cayman. They had a great time on their cruise and we had a great time on our cruise. Maybe someday we'll get to cruise together.

[Lakesilly605er]

We have cruised with these friends before but they are diamond or platinum or whatever the top classification is on RCCL and they like the perks. I can think of a lot of perks I can buy for 1700 bucks, but to each their own.

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

I had several friends that had booked a cruise on RCI Radiance about a week before I sailed on Carnival Elation. At the time they were trying to get me to go on their cruise instead of the Elation, it would have cost me twice as much money so I stuck with CCL. When it got close to sailing time after final payment was made, RCI still honors price drops so that same cruise dropped in price to the same as the CCL cruise. CCL only offers price drops after final payment if you book early saver which I NEVER do. Just something to consider. However, $1700????? It won't come down that much I guarantee it. I would also stick with Carnival for that. I'm trying my first RCI cruise this May just to see what all the hooopla is about but so far from what I've been reading, it won't be any better than I usually get on Carnival. I'll report back on my experience end of May.

[jules815]

Why compare anything? Have fun and let them do the same.

 

Exactly! I'm sure they'll have a great time and the new ship is lovely, but there NO WAY I would pay that much. Give it a few years for prices to go down. My husband wants to try the larger RC ships; I'm indifferent, but rates like that aren't currently in our budget. (we'll be sailing on Dream in June.)