Black Friday drink packages

[DCLMP]

This is why I will never use Royal. They charge for drinks-even non alcoholic ones! Disney all the way.

Drinks are free on Disney?? Who knew? Sign me up.

 

[John VN]

IGNORE THE PERCENTAGE OFF!
IGNORE THE PERCENTAGE OFF!
IGNORE THE PERCENTAGE OFF!

Look at total price. PERIOD. Royal (along with many companies) will do "funny math" and change the base price.
40% off $100 (for example) = $60 cost.
50% off $120 = $60 cost.

Which is better?

If you paid at the listed price right now, would you be upset? Or you'd only be upset if the price happens to drop? Royal also allows you to cancel and rebook later if the price drops.

Except look at the base cost of the cruise.

7 Night Caribbean Cruise June 13-20, 2026

Disney:
View attachment 993107

Royal (one day later):
View attachment 993108

$800 difference will pay for a crap ton of drinks.

ETA: Corrected math because I didn't notice Disney pricing was for two.

PLEASE, tell me what I am missing here???
DCL = $7,747 for a Verandah 6/13/2026

Royal = $6,450 for a Verandah they pick cabin 6/14/2026

We cruise MSC Yacht Club DeLuxe Suite All Inclusive even have a Butler = $6,804 6/14/2026

 

[sam_gordon]

PLEASE, tell me what I am missing here???
DCL = $7,747 for a Verandah 6/13/2026

Royal = $6,450 for a Verandah they pick cabin 6/14/2026

We cruise MSC Yacht Club DeLuxe Suite All Inclusive even have a Butler = $6,804 6/14/2026

Other items to compare (you don't say, so I don't know if they're comparable)...

Length of cruise
Port (# of and where)
Age of ship
Ship amenities

Everything being equal, you're still talking $1300 difference. For two people, that's $650 each. I still say that's a lot of drinks.

 

[John VN]

Other items to compare (you don't say, so I don't know if they're comparable)...

Length of cruise
Port (# of and where)
Age of ship
Ship amenities

Everything being equal, you're still talking $1300 difference. For two people, that's $650 each. I still say that's a lot of drinks.

Here is the info ---

MSC Seashore - https://www.fincantieri.com/en/products-and-services/cruise-ships/msc-seashore/

7 night out of Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida - Nassau, Bahamas - Cozumel, Mexico - Costa Maya, Mexico, - Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas - Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida

note - Yacht Club is above DCL Concierge, the Ship in a Ship again ALL INCLUSIVE

 

[DCLMP]

PLEASE, tell me what I am missing here???
DCL = $7,747 for a Verandah 6/13/2026

Royal = $6,450 for a Verandah they pick cabin 6/14/2026

We cruise MSC Yacht Club DeLuxe Suite All Inclusive even have a Butler = $6,804 6/14/2026

Those both look over priced. I paid 1200 for a balcony on Utopia in January. I'm pretty happy with that price. It's probably the month and I'm guessing those are two ships that cater to families. I bet prices come down on both of those. DCL has been offering all kinds of discounts of late. I'm new to how Royal last minute pricing goes.

 

[John VN]

Those both look over priced. I paid 1200 for a balcony on Utopia in January. I'm pretty happy with that price. It's probably the month and I'm guessing those are two ships that cater to families. I bet prices come down on both of those. DCL has been offering all kinds of discounts of late. I'm new to how Royal last minute pricing goes.

r.e. bold -- just did a search and isn't $1,200 for a 4 night cruise NOT a 7 night and inside not ocean view??

 

[DCLMP]

r.e. bold -- just did a search and isn't $1,200 for a 4 night cruise NOT a 7 night and inside not ocean view??

Yes it's a 4 night balcony, but compared to DCL prices that's great. I did consider a few of the 7 nights the same week. Star was 3800 and Icon was 3600 for balcony. Symphony and Allure were less. I booked during the labor day sale. Prices have since gone up. This is the first week of January and not comparable to when you were looking during prime time.
I don't know what current prices are, but I booked over a month ago.

 

[sam_gordon]

Here is the info ---

MSC Seashore - https://www.fincantieri.com/en/products-and-services/cruise-ships/msc-seashore/

7 night out of Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida - Nassau, Bahamas - Cozumel, Mexico - Costa Maya, Mexico, - Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas - Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida

note - Yacht Club is above DCL Concierge, the Ship in a Ship again ALL INCLUSIVE

So are you asking what's wrong with the MSC Cruise that puts that cost between Disney & RCI?

I don't know. It is interesting and would be tempting if that was my budget. Maybe check out reviews of the ship & line?

If that's not what you're trying to ask, I'm at a loss.

 

[John VN]

So are you asking what's wrong with the MSC Cruise that puts that cost between Disney & RCI?

I don't know. It is interesting and would be tempting if that was my budget. Maybe check out reviews of the ship & line?

If that's not what you're trying to ask, I'm at a loss.

Nothing wrong with MSC YC since our first cruise in 2019 and just interesting that people spend thousand's of $$$$ more for and complain about an experience and still return. The cost of our Easter Sunday cruise in a DeLuxe Verandah Suite in YC this year was comparable to the cost of an inside cabin on WISH.

 

[sam_gordon]

Nothing wrong with MSC YC since our first cruise in 2019 and just interesting that people spend thousand's of $$$$ more for and complain about an experience and still return. The cost of our Easter Sunday cruise in a DeLuxe Verandah Suite in YC this year was comparable to the cost of an inside cabin on WISH.

Then I'm really confused on what this post was for...

PLEASE, tell me what I am missing here???
DCL = $7,747 for a Verandah 6/13/2026

Royal = $6,450 for a Verandah they pick cabin 6/14/2026

We cruise MSC Yacht Club DeLuxe Suite All Inclusive even have a Butler = $6,804 6/14/2026

I'm not sure what you can be missing. There's no snark, I truly don't understand what you're asking for.

 

[DCLMP]

Disney = Treasure, Royal = Star.
Keep in mind Royal's "best rate" is contingent on a non-refundable deposit so you'll get hit with a $100 per person change/cancellation fee if you have to make a change to your reservation.
On the flipside, travel agents on Royal can access group rates which include a refundable deposit plus other perks (OBC, specialty dining, etc.) that can oftentimes be lower than the publicly available price.
In any case, Royal's cost differential on their newer ships versus Disney is shrinking.

If you book a cruise onboard is the deposit refundable and can you change dates at a later time?

 

[CapnCrunch]

If you book a cruise onboard is the deposit refundable and can you change dates at a later time?

No - onboard booking (NextCruise) deposits are nonrefundable. You have two months after making the deposit to either select a sail date or change your sailing with no penalty.

You can read through all the T's & C's here if you want all the details of the program.
https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cont.../next-cruise-booking-terms-and-conditions.pdf

 

[DCLMP]

No - onboard booking (NextCruise) deposits are nonrefundable. You have two months after making the deposit to either select a sail date or change your sailing with no penalty.

You can read through all the T's & C's here if you want all the details of the program.
https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cont.../next-cruise-booking-terms-and-conditions.pdf

There doesn't seem to be a big advantage to booking onboard.

 

[CapnCrunch]

There doesn't seem to be a big advantage to booking onboard.

It can make sense if you're combining the onboard booking with an instant casino certificate if you generate enough points playing in the casino. I did this personally for an upcoming Star sailing and netted some bonus OBC plus free-play in the casino.
Otherwise, you're right, there really isn't a big advantage. Your best bet for a pricing advantage is accessing group space through a TA, but these are limited to double occupancy cabins in most cases.