New Cruise Planner User Interface and New Up Front Gratuities on Dining and Drinks Packages

[twangster]

Booked another Mariner cruise this weekend.  Now have have one just before the new UI is used and one just after the new UI is used.

 

Old UI - UDP is $87 with gratuity included.

New UI - UDP is $73.99 plus gratuity for a total price of $87.30.

 

Both 3 night cruises.

 

Old UI

 

 

 

New UI

 

 

 

[twangster]

Also noted that the new UI displays "Spots Left".

 

The presumably kicks in when an item is close to selling out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ourusualbeach]

32 minutes ago, twangster said:

The presumably kicks in when an item is close to selling out.

Or when they want you to think that there are only a few spots left.

[twangster]

8 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Or when they want you to think that there are only a few spots left.

 

Ah yes... the airline trick.  Only 3 seats left!

[twangster]

I do see they are now charging for VAT at PDCC that wasn't charged before.

 

Same sale price example for two cruises, one before, one after the new UI

 

Newly booked scuba dive confirmation email:

Total: $45.90

 

 

Previously booked scuba dive using old UI confirmation email:

Total $40.99

 

 

[Ourusualbeach]

9 minutes ago, twangster said:

I do see they are now charging for VAT at PDCC that wasn't charged before.

 

Same sale price example for two cruises, one before, one after the new UI

 

Newly booked scuba dive confirmation email:

Total: $45.90

 

 

Previously booked scuba dive using old UI confirmation email:

Total $40.99

 

 

Different thread but someone also posted that they were charged the 12% Bahamas sales tax on their cabana. 

[twangster]

13 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Different thread but someone also posted that they were charged the 12% Bahamas sales tax on their cabana. 

 

Yep.

 

New My Royal Cruises:

 

 

 

Old cruise planner:

 

 

Those cabanas and PDCC in general just got a lot more expensive.

[CruiszBug]

On 4/14/2021 at 3:10 PM, RFerrington said:

There may already be a topic on this.  If there is, I apologize...I have not seen it.

 

There is a new User Interface with the Cruise Planner showing up on my Symphony bookings in 2022.  Since my first Symphony booking is for Feb 12, 2022, this is where I first saw it.  It is also on my 12 March 2022 Symphony sailing but we are Star Class on that one so I had not been checking CP prices and didn't notice until today.

 

At first glance, it appeared that the prices were lower in the new interface (the new UI Unlimited Dining Package had a sales price of $163.99pp.  I had previously paid $179pp in the old CP).  Thank goodness I did NOT cancel the old purchase; instead, I put the new packages into my cart and when I got to the very end, it was going to charge me $60.19pp for gratuities on top of the $163.99 (for a total of $224.18).  So I cancelled the purchase and kept my old UDP's for $179.  Will I be charged gratuities when I get on the ship ?  Who knows....but I will dispute it if they do.  But for now, it appears that they are beginning to charge grats on pre-purchased packages.  This does not surprise me...those pre-purchasing dining and drinks packages had been avoiding additional grats for some time but they are rectifying that situation, it seems.

 

Beware of what looks like a lower price !  $60.19 is 37% of $163.99 !  Yikes.  That is a huge gratuity !

Same thing happened to me on Friday. I tried to purchase the UDP for Symphony cruise, but it told me I had already purchased it. So when I canceled it the actual price was $30 higher rather than the preview screen! Sent an email to Customer Service right away to not cancel my original booking. First response is "it's out of our control". So I guess unless a new sale comes along I will be eating in the MDR that week!

[dswallow]

On 4/14/2021 at 3:10 PM, RFerrington said:

...those pre-purchasing dining and drinks packages had been avoiding additional grats for some time but they are rectifying that situation, it seems.

 

Gratuities have been added to the beverage packages since I've been sailing with Royal Caribbean in 2016. It's the dining packages where they had not been getting added.

[RFerrington]

2 hours ago, dswallow said:

 

Gratuities have been added to the beverage packages since I've been sailing with Royal Caribbean in 2016. It's the dining packages where they had not been getting added.

Yes, you are correct. I misstated by adding “...and drinks packages...”.

[The Scurvy Pirate]

As noted by a previous poster, I have not been able to find the Deluxe Beverage/internet combo either... I hadn't called them directly to see if they may have it that way.

Edited April 19, 2021 by The Scurvy Pirate

[Summer35]

I just checked the Unlimited Dining for the Jewel Cruise in July, and the Cruise Planner says 137,73 Euro and when I check out it says 142,80 Euro....but in the small print unter the UDP informations it says : prices including service charge. So why 5 Euro more?

[AF-1]

I have a trip booked for Aug 2022;   when should I be able to book these packages for my cruise.  As of today it says I can not book anything yet. Thanks

[Blizzard54]

I have been trying to book UDP for my January Vision cruise and it says 

SELECTION NOT AVAILABLE

We're sorry, this restaurant is not available during this meal time or one or more of your selected guests do not meet the minimum requirements. Please check onboard.

 

 

 

[AF-1]

Blizzard54;  I get the same reply.  I will try again in Jan 2022;  no big deal. Have a good day

[Blizzard54]

18 minutes ago, AF-1 said:

Blizzard54;  I get the same reply.  I will try again in Jan 2022;  no big deal. Have a good day

I just hope the price stays the same, I doubt it will.

[AF-1]

I hear what you're saying.  Cheers