Price increased 8/14 Freedom cruise

[tlp517]

Glad I booked my refreshment package last night as it appears to be higher this morning.

I was assigned my interior GTY already last week,32 days ahead of cruising. I was looking around today and a bunch of rooms in all categories suddenly became available (talking blocks of 5 in areas of ocean views and balconies) and prices increased, even though it's still the 30% of discounts they continously extend.

 

Is this something RCL does? Make rooms unavailable to be purchased and then make available when they increase their prices? Are they holding out for Royal up bids to make more money out of the people who bought at the lower price?

It just seems sketchy to me.

[smokeybandit]

There are several reasons rooms can appear at the last minute. None of it for evil reasons.

[tlp517]

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

There are several reasons rooms can appear at the last minute. None of it for evil reasons.

I understand last minute cancels, but I'm talking about multiple clusters of 5 rooms connected together on multiple decks, different categories.

[smokeybandit]

12 minutes ago, tlp517 said:

I understand last minute cancels, but I'm talking about multiple clusters of 5 rooms connected together on multiple decks, different categories.

Right, not cancelations, but the big TAs returning blocks as well as RC holding some back for last minute purchases.

[tlp517]

15 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Right, not cancelations, but the big TAs returning blocks as well as RC holding some back for last minute purchases.

Exactly! Releasing these cabins for purchase at higher prices. The rooms I wanted when I bought were not available,  but suddenly they are.

[OCSC Mike]

1 minute ago, tlp517 said:

Exactly! Releasing these cabins for purchase at higher prices. The rooms I wanted when I bought were not available,  but suddenly they are.

 

You can ask to switch to any available cabin in your exact category if that helps.

[Ourusualbeach]

31 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Right, not cancelations, but the big TAs returning blocks as well as RC holding some back for last minute purchases.

Royal recalls all unsold group space at 180 and 120 days to sailing so given that this sailing is 32 days away that is not it

[Tree_skier]

1 hour ago, tlp517 said:

Exactly! Releasing these cabins for purchase at higher prices. The rooms I wanted when I bought were not available,  but suddenly they are.

IF you've been assigned your gty cabin you can switch to any other cabin in the exact same category (4d to 4d, 3v to 3v etc...) that you would prefer that now show as available.  

[Tree_skier]

1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

You can ask to switch to any available cabin in your exact category if that helps.

Oops sorry Mike, I should have kept reading before I posted 🙂 

[not-enough-cruising]

1 hour ago, tlp517 said:

Exactly! Releasing these cabins for purchase at higher prices. The rooms I wanted when I bought were not available,  but suddenly they are.

These are rooms that were held by a travel agency being returned, nothing nefarious or unique.

[3yorkies]

Unsold blocks released by travel agencies.   Usually about 30 days out.   This is when I check to change rooms from my casino comp rooms as sometimes they are great locations and as long as in category I have there is no charge.  

[tlp517]

4 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

There are several reasons rooms can appear at the last minute. None of it for evil reasons.

 

29 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

These are rooms that were held by a travel agency being returned, nothing nefarious or unique.

Someone said released 180-120 days prior to cruise, so which is correct ?  These became available 26 days from sailing. These room availabilities did not exist yesterday.

[OCSC Mike]

2 minutes ago, tlp517 said:

Someone said released 180-120 days prior to cruise

 

I would trust that someone. He would know.

[smokeybandit]

2 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Royal recalls all unsold group space at 180 and 120 days to sailing so given that this sailing is 32 days away that is not it

I'll defer to you for that knowledge. Though for my cruise next week, about 2 dozen balcony rooms appeared out of thin air about 30-45 days out (could be 60).  So that must be RC simply holding back their own cabin allotment until late.

[not-enough-cruising]

8 minutes ago, tlp517 said:

 

Someone said released 180-120 days prior to cruise, so which is correct ?  These became available 26 days from sailing. These room availabilities did not exist yesterday.

It all depends on the contracting with the agencies 

Also, people cancel cruises from time to time. 
People upgrade. 
The possibilities are endless. 

[PhillyFan33579]

5 hours ago, tlp517 said:

Glad I booked my refreshment package last night as it appears to be higher this morning.

I was assigned my interior GTY already last week,32 days ahead of cruising. I was looking around today and a bunch of rooms in all categories suddenly became available (talking blocks of 5 in areas of ocean views and balconies) and prices increased, even though it's still the 30% of discounts they continously extend.

 

Is this something RCL does? Make rooms unavailable to be purchased and then make available when they increase their prices? Are they holding out for Royal up bids to make more money out of the people who bought at the lower price?

It just seems sketchy to me.

Based on the information in your post, I am 99% certain these cabins were returned by a travel agency(s). 

[smokeybandit]

The cruise I'm on in one week just went from "sold out" to having 20+ interior rooms available

[Ourusualbeach]

53 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

The cruise I'm on in one week just went from "sold out" to having 20+ interior rooms available

I'll bet that they just handed out a bunch of Royal Ups and that opened up the interiors

[OCSC Mike]

54 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

The cruise I'm on in one week just went from "sold out" to having 20+ interior rooms available

 

Just curious, what are the prices like?

[smokeybandit]

32 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

Just curious, what are the prices like?

$3700 for 2 on an Adventure 7 nighter

[OCSC Mike]

1 minute ago, smokeybandit said:

$3700 for 2 on an Adventure 7 nighter

 

In case I didn't already know last minute deals were dead. Yeesh.

[firefly333]

On 7/19/2023 at 12:42 PM, tlp517 said:

 

Someone said released 180-120 days prior to cruise, so which is correct ?  These became available 26 days from sailing. These room availabilities did not exist yesterday.

Agree with Mike. I'd trust the post from the TA before someone else. He books tons of groups. He has a reputation here. He knows from experience vs people throwing out guesses. 

[firefly333]

31 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

In case I didn't already know last minute deals were dead. Yeesh.

My southern on adventure in april 2025 went up. So far away and I thought I'd paid a lot per day. Last time I looked insides now are over $1100 pp. I didnt click thru, but for sure up. A month ago was under $1000 pp. The other 2 up too. We have to meet. You and I post the same things too often. Rates are getting crazy high. 

[RedIguana]

39 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

$3700 for 2 on an Adventure 7 nighter

Remember when that was 9-10 night JS prices? Pepperidge Farms remembers.

[smokeybandit]

3 minutes ago, RedIguana said:

Remember when that was 9-10 night JS prices? Pepperidge Farms remembers.

I've got an 8 nighter on Adventure next year in a GS for 3 people that's cheaper than that.