A few of Royal Caribbean’s greatest offers will be discovered on the cruise line’s older cruise ships, however how a lot cash are you able to anticipate to save lots of by crusing on an older ship?
Everybody loves discovering an awesome cruise deal, and discovering an inexpensive cruise on a 20 12 months outdated cruise ship is extra widespread than discovering a deal on one in every of Royal Caribbean’s latest cruise ships like Icon of the Seas.
A $2000 inside stateroom on a brand new ship may be priced at solely $1200 on an older ship. You’ll typically see financial savings within the a whole lot of {dollars} when cruising on an older ship. This implies you are in a position to stretch your trip funds a lot additional, whether or not meaning splurging on a eating bundle, reserving a spa remedy, or planning an expensive port day.
Let’s check out how a lot you possibly can anticipate to save lots of by crusing on an older cruise ship.
Previous versus new Royal Caribbean ships
Royal Caribbean has 28 cruise ships in its fleet. The oldest, Grandeur of the Seas, launched in 1996 and the most recent, Star of the Seas, is presently underneath building and set to launch in August 2025.
These ships belong to seven ship lessons, that are categorized for his or her distinctive layouts, onboard choices, and measurement:
Most passengers take into account Imaginative and prescient and Radiance Class ships to be older ships, with Voyager and Freedom Lessons someplace within the center. Oasis, Quantum, and Icon ships are all thought of new ships by comparability.
Why sail on an older cruise ship
Older cruise ships lack most of the onboard actions that Royal Caribbean is understood for, comparable to waterslides, Broadway reveals, zip strains, and a plethora of specialty eating venues. The adrenaline-filled options you’ll see on Royal Caribbean’s TV commercials are unlikely to be discovered on the oldest ships within the fleet.
Associated: Belongings you’ll discover when cruising on an older cruise ship
Nonetheless, older and smaller ships nonetheless supply a traditional cruise expertise, bringing visitors to lovely ports all over the world whereas offering Royal Caribbean’s signature delicacies, leisure, and hospitality.
Cruising on an older ship can supply a extra intimate really feel than a ship with 6,000 passengers. As well as, the ports you go to are usually extra distinctive. Whereas newer and greater ships typically go to the identical ports time and again, smaller, older ships sail to distinctive locations comparable to Costa Rica, Fiji, and Montenegro.
Associated: 15 international locations you didn’t know you could possibly cruise to on Royal Caribbean
Plus, older cruise ships are usually priced decrease than newer ships within the fleet, with the potential to save lots of you a whole lot (and even 1000’s) of {dollars} on a cruise trip.
Placing it to the take a look at: how a lot are you able to save by crusing on an older Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
Simply how a lot cash are you able to anticipate to save lots of by crusing on an older Royal Caribbean ship? Sadly, there is no set worth distinction between older and newer ships. Cruise pricing adjustments day after day primarily based on the demand on any specific ship, itinerary, or stateroom class.
Associated: Methods to plan a Royal Caribbean cruise on any funds
You’ll normally see a development of older ships providing decrease costs, however often you possibly can come throughout improbable offers on newer cruise ships. To find out simply how a lot you possibly can anticipate to save lots of on an older ship, I priced out cruises in three completely different areas: Europe, the Caribbean, and Alaska.
In every location, I chosen ships of various ages and sizes to check the pricing between every. Pricing is predicated on a 7-night cruise for two adults. The cruise fare consists of taxes and costs, however doesn’t embody gratuities.
European cruise: evaluating costs by ship
Touring to Europe is a dream for a lot of cruisers, and Royal Caribbean sends each outdated and new cruise ships to Europe every summer season season.
Let’s check out the costs you possibly can anticipate to see on completely different lessons of Royal Caribbean ships in Europe. These costs are for a European cruise in June.
Brilliance of the Seas (Radiance Class ship)
- Inside: $1952.76
- Balcony: $3014.76
- Grand Suite: $6075.76
Explorer of the Seas (Voyager Class ship)
- Inside: $1932.90
- Balcony: $4230.90
- Grand Suite: $7212.90
Attract of the Seas (Oasis Class ship)
- Inside: $2512.98
- Balcony: $2994.98
- Grand Suite: $9267.98
Ideas
There is not a lot of a worth distinction for an inside room on Brilliance of the Seas (Imaginative and prescient Class ship) and Explorer of the Seas (Voyager Class ship), however the increased class staterooms see a some separation. Whereas these two ships are older, Explorer of the Seas is a a lot bigger vessel with a lot of Royal Caribbean’s signature options, such because the Royal Promenade and an ice-skating rink.
Attract of the Seas, as one of many fleet’s largest and shall be up to date in 2025, so it comes at a better worth than the smaller ships. Nonetheless, the worth distinction between Symphony and the 2 smaller ships just isn’t outrageous, particularly if planning to cruise in a balcony cabin.
It’s additionally value noting that, whereas a collection is over $2000 extra on Attract of the Seas in comparison with older ships, you’ll obtain many extra advantages by cruising in a collection on an Oasis (or Quantum) Class ship. These ships are a part of the Royal Suite Class, with advantages together with complimentary VOOM web, personal Suite Solar Deck, and meals at Coastal Kitchen, a suites-only restaurant.
Caribbean cruise: evaluating costs on Oasis Class ships solely
Whereas we are likely to categorize Oasis Class cruise ships as new cruise ships, there’s a 13 12 months hole between the oldest Oasis Class ship and the most recent. Subsequently, you possibly can anticipate to see decrease costs on the 2 older Oasis Class ships (Attract of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas).
Let’s examine cruise fare pricing on three Oasis Class ships to find out how a lot of a worth distinction you possibly can anticipate in the identical ship class. These costs are for a Caribbean cruise in June.
Concord of the Seas (7-nights)
- Inside: $2066.12
- Ocean view Balcony: $2273.12
- Junior Suite: $6840.12
Oasis of the Seas (6-nights)
- Inside: $2234.94
- Ocean view Balcony: $4599.94
- Junior Suite: $4383.94
Marvel of the Seas (7-nights)
- Inside: $2838.00
- Neighborhood view Balcony: $3557.00
- Junior Suite: $6933.00
Ideas
Marvel of the Seas has among the highest cruise fares within the fleet. You’ll be able to anticipate to spend a number of hundred {dollars} extra per particular person on Marvel of the Seas in comparison with different Oasis Class ships.
The homeport is a think about worth as properly, as usually fares are decrease for cruises from Galveston than Florida. As well as, Oasis of the Seas is doing 6- and 8-night cruises solely, so it is not precisely the identical itinerary for every of those ships.
Nonethless, the worth of a Junior Suite is an efficient instance of the pricing you possibly can anticipate between ship ages. The most recent ship is priced essentially the most in comparison with Oasis or Concord.
You’ll be able to anticipate to save lots of a couple of hundred {dollars} per particular person on Oasis of the Seas in comparison with crusing on a brand new Oasis Class ship like Symphony or Marvel of the Seas.
Conclusion
There’s no denying that cruising on an older Royal Caribbean ship can prevent cash, but it surely isn’t so black and white.
As you possibly can see within the examples above, cruise costs don’t comply with any set guidelines. Simply because a ship is ~20 years older than one other ship doesn’t assure that you just’ll see decrease costs in each stateroom class.
Costs change from crusing to crusing and might fluctuate each day. You would possibly be capable of snag a collection on an older ship for the worth of an inside cabin on a more recent ship. Quite the opposite, nonetheless, you would possibly find yourself paying extra for a balcony on an older ship than a more recent ship.
It’s typical that you just’ll save a pair hundred {dollars} per particular person on an older ship in comparison with a more recent ship, particularly when you guide far upfront. That being stated, you’ll need to weigh the professionals and cons of crusing on an older ship versus a more recent ship earlier than reserving to make sure you don’t find yourself stunned or dissatisfied on embarkation day.
