Royal Caribbean’s transfer to deploy extra of its ships to sail shorter 3- and 4-night itineraries has sparked heated debate amongst its loyal cruisers.
Royal Caribbean launched new quick Caribbean cruises this week, however some cruise followers do not love a notable shift within the cruise line’s technique.
Utopia of the Seas and Surprise of the Seas may have already made this swap in 2025, however Oasis and Concord of the Seas will be part of the pattern after they begin crusing quick cruises within the fall of 2026.
“It is so unhappy that Royal Caribbean is ruining many of the Oasis class ships with the quick cruises,” stated Søren Hemmingsen on Fb, and it echoes what a whole bunch of different die arduous Royal Caribbean followers expressed concerning the new releases.
The massive change is in winter 2026-2027, Royal Caribbean may have all however one in all its Oasis Class ships crusing quick cruises within the Caribbean and so they’re all lower than 7 nights.
The explanation so many cruisers are upset is the dearth of itinerary selection and excessive value for a brief journey.
Some long-time cruisers really feel per week is important to have the ability to absolutely take pleasure in these mega ship’s facilities, leisure, and eating experiences. With extra ships being allotted to quick sailings, seasoned cruisers are feeling disregarded.
“I can’t appear to seek out it price my time to drive 8+ hours or value helpful to fly for a 3 or 4 night time cruise. This hurts these of us who’re simply far sufficient away which have to come back within the day earlier than,” stated Barry Akins.
The one Oasis Class ship that may stay providing week lengthy cruises is Symphony of the Seas out of Galveston, Texas. It isn’t clear what Attract of the Seas might be doing but.
A shift towards attracting new cruisers
Why is Royal Caribbean transferring extra of its ships to sail quick cruises? The reply is on the coronary heart of its enterprise.
“Quick cruises is de facto the onramp for brand spanking new to cruise,” Vicki Freed, Senior Vice President of Gross sales, Commerce Assist and Service for Royal Caribbean, defined to journey brokers throughout a webinar yesterday.
“It is form of the take a look at drive, folks do not have to take a position lots of time, they do not have to take a position some huge cash… to see if cruising is the appropriate expertise for them.”
Historically, older cruise ships sailed these quick cruises however Royal Caribbean wished to flip the script and appeal to new cruisers with the absolute best ships.
The thought is supply the easiest new cruise ship within the quick cruise market to provide new cruisers an apparent selection of which ship is greatest for them to strive. Shorter cruises enable passengers to get a style of one of the best that Royal Caribbean has to supply with out committing to a weeklong cruise.
From a enterprise standpoint, Royal Caribbean is doubling down on what works.
The cruise line is concentrating on a youthful demographic and those that desire a fast escape with out taking a full week off work. Shorter cruises typically promote out sooner and at larger per-night charges, making them a worthwhile choice.
One touch upon the brand new deployment acknowledged the enterprise actuality, “A really quick lesson in Cruising 101—Quick cruises you possibly can flip that ship twice and flip it and make more cash—that solely is smart for the cruise traces! Contemporary passengers shopping for extra drinks and playing extra. That is nothing new.”
Frustration over lack of selection
The shift away from longer cruises on Oasis Class ships means there aren’t many choices for a conventional 7-night Caribbean cruise on an Oasis Class ship. There are sailings on Icon Class vessels, however proper now Icon Class ships command the best common cruise fares within the fleet.
One workaround is to e book a again to again crusing, the place you sail the identical ship twice in a row to get per week on the ship. Nonetheless, there is not loads distinction in the place your ship visits.
“I hate this!,” wrote Susan Cliatt. “We have now to fly and it isn’t well worth the 3,4 or 5 days!
Royal Caribbean executives have repeatedly stated the highest two causes folks e book a cruise ship trip are for the locations and the meals.
Quick cruises, particularly 3-night sailings, often solely go to The Bahamas.
Cruise followers complained, “This caters to people who reside near the ports.”
“They’re solely price it in case you reside close to the port.”
One other frustration is many vacationers really feel that enormous, feature-packed ships like these within the Oasis Class are wasted on quick itineraries, the place there merely isn’t sufficient time to expertise every thing onboard.
Matt Anderson wrote, “Simply don’t perceive why all of the Oasis Class ships are transferring to quick cruises. You must take simply as many days off work to go on the 4-day cruise because it’s Mon-Fri as a 7-day Sunday-Sunday cruise. Additionally, there may be simply approach an excessive amount of occurring on these ships to solely be on for 3 or 4 days.”
One other individual echoed this concern:
“Hmmmm can’t say I like this transfer. We don’t like Icon as a result of it’s crawling with out-of-control youngsters and was completely blissful going again to Oasis Class for our 7-night Japanese Caribbean.”
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