Utopia of the Seas Short Cruises??

[lcpagejr]

Why would RCL build a behemoth ship and only sail her on 3/4 night cruises??  Seriously ...you won't be able to enjoy the ship nor experience all its amenities and areas.

Edited June 25, 2023 by lcpagejr
typo

[Vera/Lee]

I asked a similar question a few days ago and got a great answer from a regular cruiser. I didn't realize that this has been discussed at length in the thread titled "Utopia of the Seas Blocks Are In The House!". You might enjoy reading it. It seems like a lot of people are booking b2b sailings. That sounds like a good option to see the ship.

[firefly333]

Lol but for a cheaper price you can get on her and see what the ship is like. I'm signed up, just today. 

 

Might as well. 

[cruiserking]

Most first-time cruisers pick short cruises because they're not sure if they'll like cruising. The first time cruise market is the largest market in the cruise industry and Royal Caribbean wants to Wow new guests with a top of the line ship busting with bells and whistles. 

 

Jonathan

[ink76]

56 minutes ago, cruiserking said:

Most first-time cruisers pick short cruises because they're not sure if they'll like cruising. The first time cruise market is the largest market in the cruise industry and Royal Caribbean wants to Wow new guests with a top of the line ship busting with bells and whistles. 

 

Jonathan

Yes family with children will book multiple cruises it cheaper them a stay at Disney world a big $$$ win for RCCL🤑

[PhillyFan33579]

It is a large ferry to Coco Cay, which is extremely profitable for RCI. 

[lcpagejr]

3 hours ago, Vera/Lee said:

I asked a similar question a few days ago and got a great answer from a regular cruiser. I didn't realize that this has been discussed at length in the thread titled "Utopia of the Seas Blocks Are In The House!". You might enjoy reading it. It seems like a lot of people are booking b2b sailings. That sounds like a good option to see the ship.

Thank you...I will definitely read!

[lcpagejr]

3 hours ago, Vera/Lee said:

I asked a similar question a few days ago and got a great answer from a regular cruiser. I didn't realize that this has been discussed at length in the thread titled "Utopia of the Seas Blocks Are In The House!". You might enjoy reading it. It seems like a lot of people are booking b2b sailings. That sounds like a good option to see the ship.

Yeah.. but a b2b which visits Nassau 2x and Coco Cay 2x ....does not interest me. This could become Carnivals version of the short party cruises only with lots of kids!

[Biker19]

7 hours ago, lcpagejr said:

Why would RCL build a behemoth ship and only sail her on 3/4 night cruises?

Like most RCI decisions, it’s all about the $ - they think that is the most profitable way to use her. 

[molly361]

😍never mind

Edited June 25, 2023 by molly361

[zebra36]

3 or 4 day stay at an amusement park with stops at Coco Cay is most likely the best revenue generator. also, I would guess that the average daily  onboard spend on shorter cruises is higher.

[soremekun]

Fresh wallets every 4th or 5th day.

Alternative to Disney right in their backyard.

Soon, their new Nassau offering will be available.

Not a fuel draining itinerary. (Compared to sailing from Cape Liberty doing the same ports)

Very smart move.

 

Edited June 25, 2023 by soremekun

[mramella]

Agreed, this is financially driven, no question. I think the most interesting dynamic will be around pricing, whereby, people will see prices that are roughly on-par or slightly less than most 7 day cruises and think, "That's not a bad price," and will not realize they're actually paying more for less.

[orville99]

10 hours ago, Vera/Lee said:

It seems like a lot of people are booking b2b sailings. That sounds like a good option to see the ship.

Did a mock booking for a B2B on Utopia, and the cost for a basic balcony cabin was higher than the cost of a 7-night cruise on her sister ship Wonder in the same cabin leaving the previous day.

[Anton]

RCI hopes "new to cruise" guests will want to come back for more after a bite of the apple for 3 or 4 nights. 

[firefly333]

Actually the wonder 7 day, one day off, then 4 day utopia. .. wonder costs more per day, not ,ess.

 

Everyone assumes it's more..  not for bella2 ...plus utopia .. utopia is the better value per day. 

[smokeybandit]

The 3-4 day market is not just a bunch of first time cruisers. There are plenty of regular and seasoned cruisers just taking the long weekend approach to vacations.

[molly361]

I just booked 2 4 day cruises on the Utopia next Fall, both are group rates.  But the 2 4 day cruises cost just about the same as my 7 day one on the Wonder.  All cruises are Sept and Nov 2024

[villager70]

5 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Actually the wonder 7 day, one day off, then 4 day utopia. .. wonder costs more per day, not ,ess.

 

Everyone assumes it's more..  not for bella2 ...plus utopia .. utopia is the better value per day. 

You are correct. We booked two BTB  on Utopia  for Sept 13th and 2 more BTB on the Utopia  for  Jan 6 and price for Wonder one day later in Jan was over $ 900.00 more for the same  cabin. Also the 3 & 4 day on Oaisis class  starts in Oct out of Canaveral on the Allure. They will have The Utopia  to coordinate with the Nassau beach club later in 2025.We booked the four  on pre opening day  for C&A and on the 23rd price dropped on two so got 426.00 price adjustment the next day.

[OCSC Mike]

7 minutes ago, orville99 said:

Did a mock booking for a B2B on Utopia, and the cost for a basic balcony cabin was higher than the cost of a 7-night cruise on her sister ship Wonder in the same cabin leaving the previous day.

 

Not too surprising. We can only sail during certain times of year mostly due to my wife being a teacher so we were doing comparisons like that.

 

I wanted to go on the Utopia inaugural and the 2nd sailing for a B2B but the cost was almost double what my TA could get for 7 nights on Wonder in July. I was willing to pay a little extra but not double.

 

I had him price other dates that worked for us and the prices for our spring break 2024 were pretty close after group rates and OBC so we'll likely do a B2B on Utopia in March, 2025 and just sail Wonder until then.

[OCSC Mike]

16 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

The 3-4 day market is not just a bunch of first time cruisers. There are plenty of regular and seasoned cruisers just taking the long weekend approach to vacations.

 

Or do a B2B just to enjoy the ship and CocoCay.

[OCSC Mike]

23 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

wonder costs more per day, not less

 

This will of course vary by date, when you booked, what deal you got from your TA, etc.

 

I saw better per day prices on Utopia for off-season, we just aren't able to take advantage of them unfortunately.

[Pratique]

I don't see the appeal of B2B with only one sea day and two days at each of Nassau and CocoCay plus a turnaround day at PC.

[firefly333]

57 minutes ago, orville99 said:

Did a mock booking for a B2B on Utopia, and the cost for a basic balcony cabin was higher than the cost of a 7-night cruise on her sister ship Wonder in the same cabin leaving the previous day.

My cost for boardwalk balcony on utopia for Feb 2025, our S2S is quite a bit less per day than wonder. Just the opposite. 

[A&L_Ont]

3 hours ago, soremekun said:

Fresh wallets every 4th or 5th day.

Alternative to Disney right in their backyard.

Soon, their new Nassau offering will be available.

Not a fuel draining itinerary. (Compared to sailing from Cape Liberty doing the same ports)

Very smart move.

 

Great fuel savings compared to a full eastern or western sailings as well. 
 

They should have you on board as an educational host to provide information on CoCo Cay.