Royal Caribbean International announced that the 6300-passenger Allure of the Seas, identical sister ship to Oasis of the Seas, will debut a week early in the home port of Fort Lauderdale. The cruise line is adding an additional revenue cruise, a seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary, sailing December 5, 2010.
The addition of a second 230,000-ton ship should result in lower fares than Oasis of the Seas is presently getting in her first season. For example, Allure of the Seas’ per person, double occupancy fares start at $999 for a one-week voyage during Febuary, 2011, peak season. By contrast, Oasis of the Seas’ advance purchase fares for a departure in March, 2010 begin at $1259.
Allure of the Seas will sail round-trip from Fort Lauderdale on alternating one week itineraries. Western Caribbean cruises will call in Labadee, Haiti (RCI’s private beach area); Jamaica and Cozumel. Eastern Caribbean ports are Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Maarten.
08 February
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ShipCritic Blog is a labor of love by Anne Campbell, a journalist who has been covering the cruise industry since 1993. Why a blog? This newfangled technology is the best way of interacting with cruisers, both first timers and veterans, who also share a passion for seeing the world by ship.
7 Comments Allure of the Seas to Debut in December, 2010
Faraz
February 11th, 2010 at 6:51 am
1Thought it was interesting that pricing for Allure of the Seas was low at $999.
At some point, cruisers might tire of the very large ship appeal and not be willing to spend top dollar for the experience. But I don’t get why RCL discounted this ship right off the bat.
Michael
February 16th, 2010 at 8:51 am
2I was going to sail with Royal Caribbean but since I very rudely got the shaft by their sales department, I will be looking elsewhere. I called last night to check the availability of 2 cabins but needed to verify with my wife on the dates of the cruise. It was too late to call back so I called first thing in the morning. They raised the prices by over $600!!!! The same cabins are still available but 12 hours later they want to stick it to me on the price. The sales person very smugly told me “supply and demand” so too bad. I do not buy it. That is no way to treat a potential customer.
I say no thank you to Royal Caribbean. I will take my business elsewhere.
Anne Campbell
February 16th, 2010 at 9:11 am
3Michael….
Royal Caribbean wasn’t trying to cheat you. All cruise lines use “yield management” just as the airlines do. This is a computerized program that adjusts fares as cabins are sold. A few cabins are sold and, because there is less supply of that category, the price goes up.
Once I saw a terrific deal on a cruise that included airfare so I called the cruise line’s reservations departments. I was told there was ONE cabin left in that category and when it was gone, the old fares would apply.
A friend wanted to book a great deal, had to wait a few hours to check with her husband, and when she went back the fare increased. This was at a website travel agency.
And reservations agents — whether Royal Caribbean’s or those found in travel agencies — have no control of cruise prices. They are set by the cruise line.
Michael
February 16th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
4Saying that this is the way the cruise lines sell their cabins doesn’t make it an ethical practice. The only way to teach these greedy impersonal corporations is to vote with your wallet.
I will not support an industry that treats its customers the way I was treated.
The airlines at least post the current available fare on their web site. The cruise line purposely posts rates that are not available. That is called “bait and switch”
I will certainly tell all of my friends of my experience with RCCL and hope eventually the cruise lines learn.
mike
May 19th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
5we were very disappointed to find out that our january 16 2011 cruise on allure of the seas will NOT be going to jamaica.
the second stop is now costa maya mexico(which is a cargo port) and will be the substitute for jamaica for all allure and oasis cruises until october 2011.
i would think that a cruise line like royal caribbean would see that the subsituted stop on a caribbean cruise would actually be in the caribbean, not another stop in mexico only a few hundred miles from cozumel.
we have contacted royal caribbean and were told that our travel agent should have notified us of the change, however our travel agent wasn’t notified by royal caribbean but by myself.
royal caribbean has the right to change itinery, but shouldn’t they notify us or at least note it on their website ?
they are offering no compensation whatsoever. not even a free drink, for having a years anticipated cruise to stop at a shipping port in mexico.
we have been advised to stay on the ship in costa maya unless we have a pre-arranged outing planned because there is nothing there but an industrial atmosphere.
VERY POOR CHOICE OF A STOP ROYAL CARIBBEAN
thanks for stopping at an industrial shipping port instead of falmouth jamaica or an island thats actually in the caribbean.
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schowbike@yahoo.com
Anne Campbell
May 19th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
6Hi… I understand being upset that there’s a substitute of port and am not clear why RCI had done this. However you’ll find Costa Maya is a lot nicer than a cargo port. Here’s a review of the port (http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=150).
Actually, I’m no fan of Jamaica and would personally prefer to visit Costa Maya. Locals are very unfriendly in port towns and there’s nothing to do but take an overpriced shore excursion.
Benny
June 12th, 2010 at 10:28 am
7Just got back from Gay Days and saw that the Allure cruise was sold out. If anyone knows someone who needs to get out of there cabin let me know or needs a roommate let me know.
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