Honestly, Dev made the right decision, and besides, the ship will always be there. You're literally making a big jump in your life for you and your family. There is nothing wrong with going on a budget
They’re not a charity. They’re in it for the money. It’s a business. It’s a shame that it’s expensive, but like Disney, supply and demand. If People pay the rates, they’ll keep the rates high.
But just to play devil's advocate a little bit is it really corporate greed if the consumer is willing to spend these prices? Doesn't capitalism dictate that you sell at what the market can bear?
Good for you bro, I’m a cruiser, have a ton of cruisers under my belt and started cruising in 1983. I would not pay those high rates on Icon, give it a few years and that ship will be cheap again. Just wait
You made the right decision. You can take 2 or 3 cruises for that price. I know everyone wants to do the new shiny ships, but I can wait. Hopefully the fares for Icon will come back down to earth. We're doing Virgin in July and I'm soo excited. Have fun on your cruises!!
I'm actually leaving Saturday for a 6 day Caribbean Carnival cruise. Interior room, $1500 for 2 people. We prepaid tips which was $192. Didn't do the drink package, I wouldn't end up drinking all that and it added another $800. Gonna do a couple of shore excursions but they are only about $65 a person.
i booked in January 2023 the NCL Epic for $399 inside cabin 0 supplement for 12 days from Orlando to Rome April 7th-19th. Thats is if your not aware no extra fee for the 2nd person not in my cabin. i prefer to cruise more for less and i also never buy those expensive drink, spa, internet pkgs. i just sit back enjoy the scenery and see the world while i do no cooking, shopping or cleaning. Be sure and purchase at least 100 shares of stock and send in the proof usually 21 days before you cruise and you can get anwhere from $50 to $250 onboard spending credits for anything you want...including excursions.
there's no problem with Royal charging more for Icon. The rule of pricing is charge what the market will bear. If they're charging $8000 that means there are people booking it for that price. If you can't afford the Icon price, go on a less expensive ship. Even the Oasis class isn't that bad anymore (since now there's icon).
We looked at Icon OTS but decided on Symphony OTS. We got 2 balcony rooms, added internet for 4 people, 2 deluxe beverage packages, 2 refreshment packages, 2 specialty dinners for 4 people and the new hideaway beach passes for 4 for less than the price of an Icon balcony only for 2 people. We get to bring our kids who are in college and are growing up fast and have a big family trip with all the bells and whistles. While I agree about the outrageous prices on Icon, I haven’t heard of any grab an go places that charge for food that didn’t before. The only grab and go place that I heard upcharges for certain food is a place called Base Camp, but they do offer some complimentary items as well. All the other standard complimentary food is the same and they added the AquaDome market which is similar to Norwegian’s Indulge Food Hall. Maybe I’ll run into you on Icon in like 5 years. That’s probably when I’ll be willing to consider the prices again. Lol
Technically, can it truly be inflation if many sailings are selling out across most cruise lines? And, if it is inflation, the numbers don't seem to be negatively affecting cruise passengers. It's called price and demand. Prices will only go down when cabins are empty.
Credit cards man. More people in more massive amount of credit card debt than ever before to sustain their prior-to-inflation lifestyle. Bankruptcies have also raised 13% just in 2023. Credit cards & bankruptcies have honestly kept people going. If they were to stop giving lines of credit and bankruptcies our entire lives/lifestyle would change.
You definitely made the right decision. I’m waiting until all the hype dies down and the prices drop before I book Icon. There are a lot of great cruise deals out there to enjoy until that time comes.
Kudos on an amazing video Dev. You absolutely made the right decision on pulling the plug. Going on a disney cruise is one of my bucket trips. The inflataion is going up on food etc. You did what was right and you need to save your money on a new house. ❤
We’ve been on over 50 cruises over the last 30 or so years and there’s no way we would pay $4,000 p/p for a balcony cabin on a 1 week Caribbean cruise, never paid more than $1,000 p/p for a balcony. $4,000 p/p is just plain greed. Used to be loyal to RCCL and Celebrity, no more. Now we go with the best deal. You made the right decision, have fun on your next 2 cruises.
Dev, I definitely think you did the right thing. I myself could not justify paying almost $8000 for a one week cruise. I am actually planning 3 cruises with less. Good move my brother.
This is why I got prime in the casino. Free icon cruise and free drinks in the casino are so worth it. I'd never pay thousands for a cruise you made the right choice
We have a casino status on another cruise line where we sail free regularly. We can exchange this for free sailings on other lines. With that in mind, RCCL is stingy and has cut back their exchanges. We cannot book the Icon as a comp. I have no doubt this has pissed off a lot of bloggers who thought they would be able to get on board for free and cannot do so.
You're not getting it free if you have the status in the casino. You just prepaid for it in advance. Plus, there is NOT any free cruises on Icon as of yet
You are right regarding airline ticket inflation's. Fly from the East Coast to California. 1 family member bought their tickets in Dec. 407 dollars round trip. I waited till this month and I steadily watched that same flight go up and up. Mine was $649 dollars. Insane
You made the right decision, for sure. That's CRAZY pricing. The vacations we have planned this year are all awesome roadtrips. I'm not the least bit disappointed about that. Can't wait to see your upcoming adventures!
Hey Dev! Huge fan for years! You need to make decisions based on you and Bianca's wants and needs. If it's not in the cards to be one of the first, no worries! Hope you guys have an amazing cruise elsewhere! You've always done what you felt is right and that's why I love your videos. Keep doing you!!! Oh and good luck with the house hunt... market is absolutely disgusting... saving for that is 100000000x more important than a cruise. Yeah you have X amount of days to make amazing memories that will last a lifetime, but a house that you call home is forever. Good luck man! Many happy adventures to you guys!
I was looking at the LOWEST available prices for an inside cabin on Icon of the Seas for an early December cruise. The fare was $600 higher than a yacht cruise on a Windstar Cruise. In addition, since you are on a smaller ship, you get into smaller, more uncrowded ports. The cruise lines are taking advantage of this. However, when the economy collapses in a few months, discounts will be all around.
We went on Adventure of the seas last may and the sauna/steam rooms were free! It was amazing, we used them daily! Then we booked our next cruise for October on Allure and went to go use the sauna/steam and we're told you have to pay for them! We were really shocked and so disappointed. We didn't think the newer and more expensive ship would charge for that
Hi dev! Another great video. You made the right choice. Prices are crazy for these new ships coming out. I saw it was $11K for two people for a veranda on Disney treasure maiden voyage. I can’t wait to see the new ships you try out!
For those prices a person can book a river cruise and all those extra charges for a drink package, specialty dinning, excursions and WiFi would be all included in your cruise fare. Just saying as a person who has researched both.
Agreed , it’s a lot , when I saw those prices they were higher than my last (3) cruises combined, (voyager , oddessy & Allure of the seas) thought I’d wait until the dust settles , but after watching this , doesn’t look like no time soon , appreciate you sharing. Thanx
I booked inaugural Icon of the Seas the day it was opened. Plus since I am a travel agent, I booked groups rates. It was such a deal compared to prices now. The ship was awesome too!
i have over 30 cruises and over 340 days at sea and i only purchased travel insurance 2 times when i traveled with a friend that had medical issues. otherwise i do not bet against myself. i understand when you paying $5000 it might make sense? i am a stoway cruiser and rarely pay over $80 a day so if something goes awry it wouldn't be huge. i also usually book 4 months or less out, the least was 7 days before sailing. what Dev didnt say was that the insurance is based upon the total price you paid (or insuring) they get to keep that. its usually runs around 10%...so he lost up to $800. thats a huge windfall for the cruise lines...but i think if i paid thousands than it makes more sense to insure it. Cruisin Carl
We are about one cruise away from being Diamond +, we have no desire to sail on this ship. Those prices are simply ridiculous. In fact, we are soon sailing on a different cruise line. I think you made a very wise decision. I enjoy your videos. I would even enjoy seeing you and Bianca dine at some of Orlando's popular restaurants. Keep up the great work Dev!
I was reading the Same thing as you, alot of people are complaining that it's gotten too expensive. A few in some comments have even stated that a Disney theme park vacation is cheaper than a cruise. I also saw comments on people choosing to vacation in the mountains. Sad too because my sister and I have been wanting to go on a cruise, particularly RC. But now it's just too expensive. Don't blame u at all. I also like you are venturing out to other cruise companies.
I think you made the right decision. I still haven’t been on a cruise yet. I’m not a big party person so I’m moving towards Disney for that. Just looking for a relaxing, go with the flow at your own pace type cruise.
Smart move for sure. I wouldnt think it twice. I would take 3 cruises on other good cruise lines over 1 on icon any day. Icon prices are absolutely INSANE.
You definitely made the right decision! I am a very loyal RCL fan, just one 10- night cruise away from Diamond status. So excited about that ship, but I looked at those prices ... and I just refuse. I refuse to feed the greed. Like you said, there are other terrific cruise lines out there that are still reasonable, a good deal and a good time, and you have important goals right now for your family that take precedence. You did good!
Hi Dev I think you made the right decision. The newest ship 🚢 always has the highest price tag. When the Oasis was the biggest ship, 🚢 everyone wanted to go on this brand new 🚢 ship. I waited a couple of years for it to go down in price. I enjoyed this much better!!! I'm a saver too and why spend more money than you need to. I bet you'll feel the same way too!
folks i hope your reading this. please i know many people have to make specific time plans and you cannot take advantage of the cheapest prices that sometime are closer to the sail date. i booked Norwegian Epic Orlando to Rome April 7th to the 19th for $399 inside cabin but that is not the best part. thats $399 by myself, since i cruise single inside cabin i explore the cheapest prices and i booked this in January 2023. It is now being offered around $479 single inside cabin..do not confuse this with the Solo Cabins on the Ship. i sailed this ship from Rome to Orlando in the Fall and loved the Gym. I know the listed prices are quite shockers but i never pay more than $100 a day. If the cruise lines can get people to pay those crazy prices thats great, but when they have empty cabins, i will find them first i hope. You made the right decision not paying $1000 a day per person. Thats crazy and thats why some people say Cruising is expensive and that was the most expensive vacation i ever took. i sit in the hot tub with you all and hear the stories. Cruisin Carl
Definitely the right move both financially and content-wise. Theres plenty of Icon stuff out there right now. Royal is on the best behavior because of it. It will be better to go in a year or so later when things are "normal" to see how it really is.
I just booked on NCL with my two Adult Grandsons (18 and 20) the older boy and myself….free, the 18 year old $500. We paid port fees, tip and drink packages but “Casino at Sea” compted the trip as we are rated players. After this trip, the 18 year old will be a rated player. We Love NCL
Wow those prices are CRAZY, definitely the right decision Dev! In the UK and really hope the prices are more reasonable here, because we are looking to go on one as well as we missed getting our very first cruise as my grandson was taken ill so feel like we missed out there,so fingers crossed there will be a next time 😂
You definitely made the right decision. Honestly, I wouldn’t pay that much for a cruise and we love cruising! We’ve been cruising for about 20 years with our family of four and the only time we paid that much was when we cruised to Hawaii. There will always be new ships and they will always cost more than the older ones. Personally, I feel like some of the ships are getting so big and outrageous that I prefer the smaller ones. We just did a three night on Royal’s Allure of the Seas and had an amazing time. It’s hard to believe that’s an older ship nowadays. I’m looking forward to your videos on the other cruise lines. I see a lot of great deals from MSC but haven’t tried that line yet. Thanks for always keeping it real.
I think everyone should take inventory of how money is spent right now and we have to decide to get the best value for the dollar. You made the best choice for you. I don’t want to throw away money just because. We are considering a variety of travel options and we are weighting in on the cost
Good decision! It's about value and you provided a nice description of value - 2-3 cruises versus one. I'm shocked at the cost of Alaska cruises this summer - crazy.
You made the right decision. It is insane how expensive land vacations and cruise vacations have become! I do not think it is inflation at this point, I think companies are trying to make a lot of money and there is a few people that can afford it but enough to maintain the travel industry making more money.
I think part of the huge price tag to sail on ICON is that it is not sailing at capacity and also as you said because they can charge that much right now. The pricing on the Wonder of the Seas is much less than this and is similar to ICON and is very new. I can’t wait to see your cruise videos coming up. Also, congratulations on setting your wedding date! Wishing you both a long happy and happy life together 🩷🩷🩷
You were so right to cancel. I have cruised all of Royal Caribbean ships. Have been cruises since 1988 . I have stayed in the Loft Suite on 4 Oasis class shoes and didn't pay for what they want for a baloney . It's crazy greed.
You did good. The prices will drop eventually. I booked freedom of the seas for this year for around $3k for 2 people, 7 nights + $150 cruise credit. I wanted to do a Disney one, but they didnt have dates that matched our time frame, and the wish crusie, only one that did, was only 4 nights for around $4k. Royal was the better deal for us but maybe soon we will do a Disney cruise too.
Thanks for the video Dev. I agree with you! Just booked a NCL cruise. 7 days out of Miami to Honduras, Belize, and Mexico for $1300 pp for a balcony with unlimited drinks, $50 towards excursions, and specialty dining for two nights included.
You are absolutely correct for canceling your cruise in fact I commend you for your integrity of looking at the finance and what the cruise lines are doing to the customers unfortunately the cruise lines have figured a way to entice content creators by giving them reduced or no fee cruises therefore they get a market advantage because those content creators do not speak ill of the price increases. Or try to convince their followers and patrons the experience is worth it, no matter brand 800 a day is expensive. RCCL decided to increase prices while decreasing The Experience value I do think that the prices will go down starting this fall and into next spring
And did you know that Carnival owns several other cruises, including Norwegian CL, MSC, Princess, P&O, Holland America, Cunard, AIDA, and the infamous Costa. I cruised 2-3 times per year with Carnival. I watched their guest services go downhill...so much so that Carnival employees downright insulted me and I was nice and didn't deserve that. When I came home I heard about Carnival the poop cruise, the Carnival Fire at sea, and then the final blow......Costa Concordia sinking. I thought enough was enough. So I thought Carnival and their subsidiaries is not getting a single penny from me! So I started cruising Royal Caribbean and never looked back! RC has superb customer service and competent Captains and don't sink no ships! Always has the best cruises! I would like to try a Disney cruise 🚢. That would definitely be a Dream come true!!! I've heard nothing but great things about Disney Cruises!
We’re sailing on Icon March 16. We have several perks such as an ocean view balcony, drink package, adjoining cabins and cruise credit. The total was $5K for three of us. We booked a long time ago though, and many of the perks came with the AE platinum card. We can’t wait to experience Icon.
Hi Dev 👋🏻 We love you and are rooting for you and B! 🥰 can I give you some genuine insight? My two cents. Husband and I are looking for a cruise next spring (a year out) to take our three kids on. Honestly we were going towards icon because Disney seemed so expensive. Icon seemed like more value for the money. Our trip total would be about 15,000 for the week. Honestly, we were thinking that is a good deal. Hear me out. People like us don’t cruise often. Maybe once every few years. I can absolutely see for someone like you who has a travel Vlog it seems outlandish. But for those of us who save for several years to go on a very nice vacation it actually seems like a reasonable amount to go on a brand new ship. Hope this gives you some insight. Be well 🙏🏻
its all about supply and demand. Companies will charge what people are willing to pay. As a shareholder I would expect the company to maximize profits by balancing price increases and filling rooms. If they are sold out, they can charge more, if they are nearly empty, they need to drop the price.
Royal Diamond member, almost Diamond plus. I booked my Cruise first day Icon went on sale, got a great deal for my family of 4 for the family suite. If I booked in Jan I would have paid almost 2.5 times the cost. Smart move by you, wait 2 more years. I’m not doing the obstacle course at that cost.
We normally cruise every year, but we're thinking about taking a break. We've started looking at maybe Disneyland, we normally go to WDW, in fact I met you at WDW years ago. We normally cruise Carnival because it has been the most cost effective. I was never able to justify paying Disney Cruise prices when I could get a balcony for less on Carnival than an interior on Disney.
I got my icon of the seas on opening day 3800 Surfside with mom. Feb 10 cruise . It was awesome! Will not go ags8n till prices come down. We live in Florida. We will not do another Disney anything.
Ya I noticed the pricing being wildly higher with the newest ships. I have a friend that worked for Royal Caribbean helping me. And she told me even with employee discounts you ain't getting on their newest ship that first year without paying a ton. They have already sold out the first calendar year and have no need to discount. She. recommended going on the ships 2 years old or the reconditioned Oasis class ships. She was right the price was way cheaper. What I paid for a suite 2 years back only gets you a balcony room now. Sheeeesh! But I understand a ton of people now interested in this floating cities for a vacation. I like them because if traveling with family and friends you can all do your own thing and still hang out. Also if you love great food this is the way to go. Looking forward to you checking out the ship before I do. 🤣🤣🤣
We booked it as soon as it opened up for booking and we have an up coming cruise. May 18 thru 25, 2024 I got a balcony on the 14th floor 4200. I looked for my daughter and 2 grand kids it was 12k!!!! CRAZY!!
Thanks for sharing. I made a decision not to cruise Icon yet because I travel solo and always book a balcony. I have to pay double each time I cruise, that's easily $6K for me. Plus, the Icon is going to places I have already been to. I will book Icon if the prices go down reasonably and to a port I have not been to. A side note: I also teach fitness classes on royal Caribbean for 7-day cruises. Those I don't pay for. However, if I got the offer to teach on the Icon, yes, I would go, knowing the cabin would be paid for.
I must say as me being a cruiser since I was a teenager I’ve been so sad that since after COVID I haven’t been able to cruise really because of these prices & living in Florida we just don’t get paid enough for the cost of living so I’m just sad that something I love to do & helps me reset I can’t do as much because of the prices & cost of living. Cancelling Icon was best. I’d rather do multiple cruises a year then one cruise. I’m waiting for icon to become not as demanding to book. But I will be on Utopia of the seas this year so that’s exciting.
You made the right decision. I booked a cruise on Star of the Seas for October 2025 and I cancelled. After thinking about it I can do several cruises for the price that I was going to pay. I do always purchase the travel insurance, so that helps. Thank you for your videos and good advise. Good Luck in finding your new home.
I have booked a bahama cruise on Utopia of the seas for 4 nights, £1800 for 4. I thought that was a brilliant price for a balcony room. Coming from the UK flights are expensive so this will probably be a one off but it’s a surprise cruise for my husbands 40th so has to be done!
Just booked Icon last night for January 2026. The price is shocking for an ocean balcony. The same as what you quoted. We have a long time to decide if we are going before final payment is due. But at least I’m booked and can dream about sailing on icon for now lol
I’m with you Dev. My wife and I can’t see ourselves paying these outrageous prices for cruises nowadays. We’re 50+ and we have retirement plans and have to use wisdom like you and Bianca did. Wise decision Bro. Maybe one day on the Icon but not today. Great video and thanks for the info.
We're going on our first non Disney Curise in Aug. We're going on Carnival, we have two inside cabins. Our teen age daughter went on a Carnival Curise with her best freiends family and she loved it! So at the end of summer we're looking forward to our five day Curise.
I don't think anyone should ever put themselves in an uncomfortable position financially. Especially for a vacation. But for sake of comparison, we just priced out the Disney Fantasy (7 nights, W. Carribean) for this June and it was $9600 for a family of 3. $9600!!! The Icon of the Seas came in at $7500 for a family of 3. The ships and experiences are in no way comparable. Why is there no outrage on the ever inflating Disney prices? There are always cheaper options. Always. And everyone should figure out what fits their own lifestyle and budget. But I'm not seeing the issue here in comparison.
Dev, you need to book into group space! Granted for a ship like Icon, the availability is a bit limited for Spring and Summer, but I just found a midship (D2) cabin for 2 people, REFUNDABLE rate, plus obc for $3485.60...and that includes port fees and taxes. 7-night, Western Caribbean, Icon :)
Cruising compared to home ownership....ummm you made the BEST decision. We cruise often and learned a long time ago to book a cruise while cruising. Room choices are better and more perks involved. Plus you get to watch to see if a sale just happens to pop up and pay the difference :). I'm looking forward to an ICON voyage myself, but I'm putting it in the atmosphere that it will be a sponsored vacation lol. Thanks for sharing your insights on the matter.
I think going to an all inclusive resort is a better deal. They include more than these cruises. All inclusive rates not only include food, but also alcohol, soda, juice, coffee, water etc. And you don’t usually need to pay extra to use the snorkeling gear or if they have waterslides/lazy river/wave pool on property. Cruises nickel and dime you for drinks, activities, etc. Also you never have to fight for a lounge chair and umbrella on the beach. These resorts usually have private beaches with a ton of loungers and umbrellas. I used to struggle to get a good spot by the pool on a cruise. I definitely think you made the right decision to cancel. Take the money and book an all inclusive! 🏝️
Wow those rates are insane! Florida residents usually get a good rate on cruises. Check rates for sailings after Labor Day they MAY be lower, but if demand is steady, maybe not.
I don’t blame you but yeah, should have booked early. I’m going in March because I got in a year ago but I definitely won’t be paying again when I can get such a similar experience on an oasis class ship.
I think you made the correct decision. And honestly, it is not inflation. Gas prices are much lower than a few years ago. And as someone living on a fixed income, I am doing fine. Like you said, they spent 2 billion on this ship. They want it paid for in a year. I am going on two cruises this year. Carnival at the end of the month and NCL in September, both 7 days and still with all the extras, I am not paying what an interior cabin with no extras will cost on Icon. There are so many other options out there for people to book an amazing vacation without having to go into financial debt. I think the Icon will loose its novelty glamor sooner than you think.
We leave for Icon this weekend. Booked ours maybe a couple weeks after bookings were available. We were going to cancel and reschedule until we seen the pricing if we did lol. We only paid about 4,000 for me and the kids for a Surfside balcony. When I looked to rebook it’d been almost 9. Needless to say we just kept what we had lol.
Wooow I did not know they raised the prices that high. My family wanted to do a trip for next year on Icon. Hopefully those prices go down after the hype this year😅
This is exactly why I haven’t booked icon of the seas yet because I was saw it was $7,000 or more for two people for the week and that’s before drink package, dining, excursions, and so on
We're going on a RC cruise later this year on one of their older ships. I would love to sail on icon but my budget is more important than balling out for a cruise. Inflation is out of control. I rather get my house and car before I pay that price for any cruise at this time.
Honestly, Dev made the right decision, and besides, the ship will always be there. You're literally making a big jump in your life for you and your family. There is nothing wrong with going on a budget
Agreed
Amen!! Buy a home!!
Great move! If people continue to pay these high prices they will continue to rise.
It’s not inflation, it’s corporate GREED.
sadly it is both, this country is ran by true evil that allow modern slavery
They’re not a charity. They’re in it for the money. It’s a business. It’s a shame that it’s expensive, but like Disney, supply and demand. If People pay the rates, they’ll keep the rates high.
Yep, can't be inflation if these corporations are having record profits
@@austindonnelly1837 BINGO
But just to play devil's advocate a little bit is it really corporate greed if the consumer is willing to spend these prices? Doesn't capitalism dictate that you sell at what the market can bear?
Good for you bro, I’m a cruiser, have a ton of cruisers under my belt and started cruising in 1983. I would not pay those high rates on Icon, give it a few years and that ship will be cheap again. Just wait
Save your money for a house, and your wedding is my recommendation. Especially a home that you will own.😊 Love to you & Bianca! Love your videos!❤
Is not inflation That’s just them gouging prices to make more money
It’s almost like they’re a business aiming for profit!
And yet, the ship is booked solid for the next 9 months.
Supply and demand set prices. It’s called Capitalism.
@@tenn24th they’re making more than a profit. Have you seen the amount of money the CEOs get in just bonuses? I’m sorry, but that’s not necessary.
Not inflation? Have you bought groceries lately?
The ship costs like 1.7B due to Covid or something.
7,500 is literally a semester of college tuition lol or a lavish trip to another continent
Your honesty is refreshing. Most creators just throw cotton candy at us. Great job
You made the right decision. You can take 2 or 3 cruises for that price. I know everyone wants to do the new shiny ships, but I can wait. Hopefully the fares for Icon will come back down to earth. We're doing Virgin in July and I'm soo excited. Have fun on your cruises!!
You will have so much fun on Virgin Voyages!!
I'm actually leaving Saturday for a 6 day Caribbean Carnival cruise. Interior room, $1500 for 2 people. We prepaid tips which was $192. Didn't do the drink package, I wouldn't end up drinking all that and it added another $800. Gonna do a couple of shore excursions but they are only about $65 a person.
i booked in January 2023 the NCL Epic for $399 inside cabin 0 supplement for 12 days from Orlando to Rome April 7th-19th. Thats is if your not aware no extra fee for the 2nd person not in my cabin. i prefer to cruise more for less and i also never buy those expensive drink, spa, internet pkgs. i just sit back enjoy the scenery and see the world while i do no cooking, shopping or cleaning. Be sure and purchase at least 100 shares of stock and send in the proof usually 21 days before you cruise and you can get anwhere from $50 to $250 onboard spending credits for anything you want...including excursions.
Carnival is the way to go
there's no problem with Royal charging more for Icon. The rule of pricing is charge what the market will bear. If they're charging $8000 that means there are people booking it for that price. If you can't afford the Icon price, go on a less expensive ship. Even the Oasis class isn't that bad anymore (since now there's icon).
We looked at Icon OTS but decided on Symphony OTS. We got 2 balcony rooms, added internet for 4 people, 2 deluxe beverage packages, 2 refreshment packages, 2 specialty dinners for 4 people and the new hideaway beach passes for 4 for less than the price of an Icon balcony only for 2 people. We get to bring our kids who are in college and are growing up fast and have a big family trip with all the bells and whistles.
While I agree about the outrageous prices on Icon, I haven’t heard of any grab an go places that charge for food that didn’t before. The only grab and go place that I heard upcharges for certain food is a place called Base Camp, but they do offer some complimentary items as well. All the other standard complimentary food is the same and they added the AquaDome market which is similar to Norwegian’s Indulge Food Hall.
Maybe I’ll run into you on Icon in like 5 years. That’s probably when I’ll be willing to consider the prices again. Lol
Technically, can it truly be inflation if many sailings are selling out across most cruise lines? And, if it is inflation, the numbers don't seem to be negatively affecting cruise passengers. It's called price and demand. Prices will only go down when cabins are empty.
Credit cards man. More people in more massive amount of credit card debt than ever before to sustain their prior-to-inflation lifestyle. Bankruptcies have also raised 13% just in 2023. Credit cards & bankruptcies have honestly kept people going. If they were to stop giving lines of credit and bankruptcies our entire lives/lifestyle would change.
I’ve done Disney many times as solo traveler. Enjoyed all cruises and felt safe.
It reminds me of when Disney opened the Star Wars hotel with the ridiculous pricing. You definitely did the right thing by canceling.
You need to try Celebrity. It's like a grown up Disney cruise.
You definitely made the right decision. I’m waiting until all the hype dies down and the prices drop before I book Icon. There are a lot of great cruise deals out there to enjoy until that time comes.
RC is bringing a lot of cabins online over the next few years. If the economy were to take a hit...prices will have to decline.
Kudos on an amazing video Dev. You absolutely made the right decision on pulling the plug. Going on a disney cruise is one of my bucket trips. The inflataion is going up on food etc. You did what was right and you need to save your money on a new house. ❤
We’ve been on over 50 cruises over the last 30 or so years and there’s no way we would pay $4,000 p/p for a balcony cabin on a 1 week Caribbean cruise, never paid more than $1,000 p/p for a balcony.
$4,000 p/p is just plain greed. Used to be loyal to RCCL and Celebrity, no more. Now we go with the best deal. You made the right decision, have fun on your next 2 cruises.
Dev, I definitely think you did the right thing. I myself could not justify paying almost $8000 for a one week cruise. I am actually planning 3 cruises with less.
Good move my brother.
This is why I got prime in the casino. Free icon cruise and free drinks in the casino are so worth it. I'd never pay thousands for a cruise you made the right choice
We have a casino status on another cruise line where we sail free regularly. We can exchange this for free sailings on other lines. With that in mind, RCCL is stingy and has cut back their exchanges. We cannot book the Icon as a comp. I have no doubt this has pissed off a lot of bloggers who thought they would be able to get on board for free and cannot do so.
I call bs on your free icon cruise ok. Because I called the royal casino and they told me there will be no free icon cruise for awhile.
You're not getting it free if you have the status in the casino. You just prepaid for it in advance. Plus, there is NOT any free cruises on Icon as of yet
@@robertwainwright7761 They lied. I just booked on Icon for this May from an instant certificate I got in January
You are right regarding airline ticket inflation's. Fly from the East Coast to California. 1 family member bought their tickets in Dec. 407 dollars round trip. I waited till this month and I steadily watched that same flight go up and up. Mine was $649 dollars. Insane
You made the right decision, for sure. That's CRAZY pricing. The vacations we have planned this year are all awesome roadtrips. I'm not the least bit disappointed about that. Can't wait to see your upcoming adventures!
Thank you for being transparent with these prices & understanding that they’re not normal prices lol I love your videos!
Hey Dev! Huge fan for years! You need to make decisions based on you and Bianca's wants and needs. If it's not in the cards to be one of the first, no worries! Hope you guys have an amazing cruise elsewhere! You've always done what you felt is right and that's why I love your videos. Keep doing you!!! Oh and good luck with the house hunt... market is absolutely disgusting... saving for that is 100000000x more important than a cruise. Yeah you have X amount of days to make amazing memories that will last a lifetime, but a house that you call home is forever. Good luck man! Many happy adventures to you guys!
You made the perfect decision. Y’all are going to be so busy vacating! Have a great time. Meow meow 😻 ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
It depends if you book via ROYAL directly or find an agent that has group space. I am going in November for $2400.00 for 2 people.
Which ship though?
@@adisonsichampanakhone1070 icon
Same. We got the group pricing for Nov 2nd at 2400 per room for 2 people.
I was looking at the LOWEST available prices for an inside cabin on Icon of the Seas for an early December cruise. The fare was $600 higher than a yacht cruise on a Windstar Cruise. In addition, since you are on a smaller ship, you get into smaller, more uncrowded ports.
The cruise lines are taking advantage of this. However, when the economy collapses in a few months, discounts will be all around.
The way I clicked so fast😂 luv ur videos ❤
Me too lmao
The prices are so unbelievable crazy 😢😢 Sorry Dev you have to cancel. Thank you for all the updates.
Good decision to cancel - way too high!
Never been this early before! Always a great day when a new PCDev video drops!!
I think you made the right choice. My family cruise with carnival and they are a lot of fun and fairly priced!!!! Love your videos!!!
We went on Adventure of the seas last may and the sauna/steam rooms were free! It was amazing, we used them daily! Then we booked our next cruise for October on Allure and went to go use the sauna/steam and we're told you have to pay for them! We were really shocked and so disappointed. We didn't think the newer and more expensive ship would charge for that
Crazy prices everywhere these days sledgehammered that like button sharing out full watch ty for sharing your thoughts Dev
Dev - you made the right decision. Those prices are ridiculous!!
Sounds like you made the right decision! Love your channel as a fellow Florida channel.
Hi dev! Another great video. You made the right choice. Prices are crazy for these new ships coming out. I saw it was $11K for two people for a veranda on Disney treasure maiden voyage. I can’t wait to see the new ships you try out!
This is horrible! I'm glad you're keeping your family safe and thinking about the financial aspect of the cruise this time around!
The best cruise line for me Hass to be carnival hands down as long as you cruise, the celebration, Mardi Gras or Jubilee
we have a cruise book for the Glory Carnival.
For those prices a person can book a river cruise and all those extra charges for a drink package, specialty dinning, excursions and WiFi would be all included in your cruise fare. Just saying as a person who has researched both.
Agreed , it’s a lot , when I saw those prices they were higher than my last (3) cruises combined, (voyager , oddessy & Allure of the seas) thought I’d wait until the dust settles , but after watching this , doesn’t look like no time soon , appreciate you sharing. Thanx
I absolutely love cruising as well. It’s the ultimate way to travel. You made the right decision and I can’t wait to ride the ICON next year or so .
I booked inaugural Icon of the Seas the day it was opened. Plus since I am a travel agent, I booked groups rates. It was such a deal compared to prices now. The ship was awesome too!
I need to look more into these group rates!
I did the same. Got back last Saturday and it was awesome
I work for a travel agency called Vacations To Go. I believe we have group rates for the icon for March of next year@@PCDev
That travel insurance tip was definitely helpful. I never booked a cruise on my own before but I like being cautious. Thank you Dev
i have over 30 cruises and over 340 days at sea and i only purchased travel insurance 2 times when i traveled with a friend that had medical issues. otherwise i do not bet against myself. i understand when you paying $5000 it might make sense? i am a stoway cruiser and rarely pay over $80 a day so if something goes awry it wouldn't be huge. i also usually book 4 months or less out, the least was 7 days before sailing. what Dev didnt say was that the insurance is based upon the total price you paid (or insuring) they get to keep that. its usually runs around 10%...so he lost up to $800. thats a huge windfall for the cruise lines...but i think if i paid thousands than it makes more sense to insure it. Cruisin Carl
We are about one cruise away from being Diamond +, we have no desire to sail on this ship. Those prices are simply ridiculous. In fact, we are soon sailing on a different cruise line. I think you made a very wise decision. I enjoy your videos. I would even enjoy seeing you and Bianca dine at some of Orlando's popular restaurants. Keep up the great work Dev!
I was reading the Same thing as you, alot of people are complaining that it's gotten too expensive. A few in some comments have even stated that a Disney theme park vacation is cheaper than a cruise. I also saw comments on people choosing to vacation in the mountains. Sad too because my sister and I have been wanting to go on a cruise, particularly RC. But now it's just too expensive. Don't blame u at all. I also like you are venturing out to other cruise companies.
I think you made the right decision. I still haven’t been on a cruise yet. I’m not a big party person so I’m moving towards Disney for that. Just looking for a relaxing, go with the flow at your own pace type cruise.
Smart move for sure. I wouldnt think it twice. I would take 3 cruises on other good cruise lines over 1 on icon any day. Icon prices are absolutely INSANE.
You definitely made the right decision! I am a very loyal RCL fan, just one 10- night cruise away from Diamond status. So excited about that ship, but I looked at those prices ... and I just refuse. I refuse to feed the greed. Like you said, there are other terrific cruise lines out there that are still reasonable, a good deal and a good time, and you have important goals right now for your family that take precedence. You did good!
Hi Dev I think you made the right decision. The newest ship 🚢 always has the highest price tag. When the Oasis was the biggest ship, 🚢 everyone wanted to go on this brand new 🚢 ship. I waited a couple of years for it to go down in price. I enjoyed this much better!!! I'm a saver too and why spend more money than you need to. I bet you'll feel the same way too!
folks i hope your reading this. please i know many people have to make specific time plans and you cannot take advantage of the cheapest prices that sometime are closer to the sail date. i booked Norwegian Epic Orlando to Rome April 7th to the 19th for $399 inside cabin but that is not the best part. thats $399 by myself, since i cruise single inside cabin i explore the cheapest prices and i booked this in January 2023. It is now being offered around $479 single inside cabin..do not confuse this with the Solo Cabins on the Ship. i sailed this ship from Rome to Orlando in the Fall and loved the Gym. I know the listed prices are quite shockers but i never pay more than $100 a day. If the cruise lines can get people to pay those crazy prices thats great, but when they have empty cabins, i will find them first i hope. You made the right decision not paying $1000 a day per person. Thats crazy and thats why some people say Cruising is expensive and that was the most expensive vacation i ever took. i sit in the hot tub with you all and hear the stories. Cruisin Carl
Definitely the right move both financially and content-wise. Theres plenty of Icon stuff out there right now. Royal is on the best behavior because of it. It will be better to go in a year or so later when things are "normal" to see how it really is.
I just booked on NCL with my two Adult Grandsons (18 and 20) the older boy and myself….free, the 18 year old $500. We paid port fees, tip and drink packages but “Casino at Sea” compted the trip as we are rated players. After this trip, the 18 year old will be a rated player. We Love NCL
Wow those prices are CRAZY, definitely the right decision Dev! In the UK and really hope the prices are more reasonable here, because we are looking to go on one as well as we missed getting our very first cruise as my grandson was taken ill so feel like we missed out there,so fingers crossed there will be a next time 😂
You definitely made the right decision. Honestly, I wouldn’t pay that much for a cruise and we love cruising! We’ve been cruising for about 20 years with our family of four and the only time we paid that much was when we cruised to Hawaii. There will always be new ships and they will always cost more than the older ones. Personally, I feel like some of the ships are getting so big and outrageous that I prefer the smaller ones. We just did a three night on Royal’s Allure of the Seas and had an amazing time. It’s hard to believe that’s an older ship nowadays. I’m looking forward to your videos on the other cruise lines. I see a lot of great deals from MSC but haven’t tried that line yet. Thanks for always keeping it real.
I think everyone should take inventory of how money is spent right now and we have to decide to get the best value for the dollar. You made the best choice for you. I don’t want to throw away money just because. We are considering a variety of travel options and we are weighting in on the cost
Good decision! It's about value and you provided a nice description of value - 2-3 cruises versus one. I'm shocked at the cost of Alaska cruises this summer - crazy.
You made the right decision. It is insane how expensive land vacations and cruise vacations have become! I do not think it is inflation at this point, I think companies are trying to make a lot of money and there is a few people that can afford it but enough to maintain the travel industry making more money.
I think part of the huge price tag to sail on ICON is that it is not sailing at capacity and also as you said because they can charge that much right now. The pricing on the Wonder of the Seas is much less than this and is similar to ICON and is very new. I can’t wait to see your cruise videos coming up. Also, congratulations on setting your wedding date! Wishing you both a long happy and happy life together 🩷🩷🩷
You were so right to cancel. I have cruised all of Royal Caribbean ships. Have been cruises since 1988 . I have stayed in the Loft Suite on 4 Oasis class shoes and didn't pay for what they want for a baloney .
It's crazy greed.
You did good. The prices will drop eventually. I booked freedom of the seas for this year for around $3k for 2 people, 7 nights + $150 cruise credit. I wanted to do a Disney one, but they didnt have dates that matched our time frame, and the wish crusie, only one that did, was only 4 nights for around $4k. Royal was the better deal for us but maybe soon we will do a Disney cruise too.
Thanks for the video Dev. I agree with you! Just booked a NCL cruise. 7 days out of Miami to Honduras, Belize, and Mexico for $1300 pp for a balcony with unlimited drinks, $50 towards excursions, and specialty dining for two nights included.
Yes you did the right decision, it is ridiculous the prices
You are absolutely correct for canceling your cruise in fact I commend you for your integrity of looking at the finance and what the cruise lines are doing to the customers unfortunately the cruise lines have figured a way to entice content creators by giving them reduced or no fee cruises therefore they get a market advantage because those content creators do not speak ill of the price increases. Or try to convince their followers and patrons the experience is worth it, no matter brand 800 a day is expensive. RCCL decided to increase prices while decreasing The Experience value I do think that the prices will go down starting this fall and into next spring
Paid $900/PP for my Icon cruise, 2K total for my partner and I.
I stayed up til midnight when sailings opened up and saved big.
And did you know that Carnival owns several other cruises, including Norwegian CL, MSC, Princess, P&O, Holland America, Cunard, AIDA, and the infamous Costa. I cruised 2-3 times per year with Carnival. I watched their guest services go downhill...so much so that Carnival employees downright insulted me and I was nice and didn't deserve that. When I came home I heard about Carnival the poop cruise, the Carnival Fire at sea, and then the final blow......Costa Concordia sinking. I thought enough was enough. So I thought Carnival and their subsidiaries is not getting a single penny from me! So I started cruising Royal Caribbean and never looked back! RC has superb customer service and competent Captains and don't sink no ships! Always has the best cruises! I would like to try a Disney cruise 🚢. That would definitely be a Dream come true!!! I've heard nothing but great things about Disney Cruises!
We’re sailing on Icon March 16. We have several perks such as an ocean view balcony, drink package, adjoining cabins and cruise credit. The total was $5K for three of us. We booked a long time ago though, and many of the perks came with the AE platinum card. We can’t wait to experience Icon.
You definitely made the right decision 👍🏻👍🏻😀. 🌸
It’s still cheaper than a Disney cruise. Not by much though. Plus, it’s brand new. All new ships have high prices.
Hi Dev 👋🏻 We love you and are rooting for you and B! 🥰 can I give you some genuine insight? My two cents. Husband and I are looking for a cruise next spring (a year out) to take our three kids on. Honestly we were going towards icon because Disney seemed so expensive. Icon seemed like more value for the money. Our trip total would be about 15,000 for the week. Honestly, we were thinking that is a good deal. Hear me out. People like us don’t cruise often. Maybe once every few years. I can absolutely see for someone like you who has a travel Vlog it seems outlandish. But for those of us who save for several years to go on a very nice vacation it actually seems like a reasonable amount to go on a brand new ship. Hope this gives you some insight. Be well 🙏🏻
Kinda nice thing about Icon coming along is it made cruising on Wonder of the Seas much more affordable!
its all about supply and demand. Companies will charge what people are willing to pay. As a shareholder I would expect the company to maximize profits by balancing price increases and filling rooms. If they are sold out, they can charge more, if they are nearly empty, they need to drop the price.
Royal Diamond member, almost Diamond plus. I booked my Cruise first day Icon went on sale, got a great deal for my family of 4 for the family suite. If I booked in Jan I would have paid almost 2.5 times the cost. Smart move by you, wait 2 more years.
I’m not doing the obstacle course at that cost.
We normally cruise every year, but we're thinking about taking a break. We've started looking at maybe Disneyland, we normally go to WDW, in fact I met you at WDW years ago. We normally cruise Carnival because it has been the most cost effective. I was never able to justify paying Disney Cruise prices when I could get a balcony for less on Carnival than an interior on Disney.
I got my icon of the seas on opening day 3800 Surfside with mom. Feb 10 cruise . It was awesome! Will not go ags8n till prices come down. We live in Florida. We will not do another Disney anything.
Ya I noticed the pricing being wildly higher with the newest ships. I have a friend that worked for Royal Caribbean helping me. And she told me even with employee discounts you ain't getting on their newest ship that first year without paying a ton. They have already sold out the first calendar year and have no need to discount. She. recommended going on the ships 2 years old or the reconditioned Oasis class ships. She was right the price was way cheaper. What I paid for a suite 2 years back only gets you a balcony room now. Sheeeesh! But I understand a ton of people now interested in this floating cities for a vacation. I like them because if traveling with family and friends you can all do your own thing and still hang out. Also if you love great food this is the way to go. Looking forward to you checking out the ship before I do. 🤣🤣🤣
We booked it as soon as it opened up for booking and we have an up coming cruise. May 18 thru 25, 2024 I got a balcony on the 14th floor 4200. I looked for my daughter and 2 grand kids it was 12k!!!! CRAZY!!
Thanks for sharing. I made a decision not to cruise Icon yet because I travel solo and always book a balcony. I have to pay double each time I cruise, that's easily $6K for me. Plus, the Icon is going to places I have already been to. I will book Icon if the prices go down reasonably and to a port I have not been to. A side note: I also teach fitness classes on royal Caribbean for 7-day cruises. Those I don't pay for. However, if I got the offer to teach on the Icon, yes, I would go, knowing the cabin would be paid for.
I must say as me being a cruiser since I was a teenager I’ve been so sad that since after COVID I haven’t been able to cruise really because of these prices & living in Florida we just don’t get paid enough for the cost of living so I’m just sad that something I love to do & helps me reset I can’t do as much because of the prices & cost of living. Cancelling Icon was best. I’d rather do multiple cruises a year then one cruise. I’m waiting for icon to become not as demanding to book. But I will be on Utopia of the seas this year so that’s exciting.
You made the right decision. I booked a cruise on Star of the Seas for October 2025 and I cancelled. After thinking about it I can do several cruises for the price that I was going to pay. I do always purchase the travel insurance, so that helps. Thank you for your videos and good advise. Good Luck in finding your new home.
I have booked a bahama cruise on Utopia of the seas for 4 nights, £1800 for 4. I thought that was a brilliant price for a balcony room. Coming from the UK flights are expensive so this will probably be a one off but it’s a surprise cruise for my husbands 40th so has to be done!
Just booked Icon last night for January 2026. The price is shocking for an ocean balcony. The same as what you quoted. We have a long time to decide if we are going before final payment is due. But at least I’m booked and can dream about sailing on icon for now lol
Great video and great information Dev! Thanks for sharing
I’m with you Dev. My wife and I can’t see ourselves paying these outrageous prices for cruises nowadays. We’re 50+ and we have retirement plans and have to use wisdom like you and Bianca did. Wise decision Bro. Maybe one day on the Icon but not today. Great video and thanks for the info.
We're going on our first non Disney Curise in Aug. We're going on Carnival, we have two inside cabins. Our teen age daughter went on a Carnival Curise with her best freiends family and she loved it! So at the end of summer we're looking forward to our five day Curise.
I don't think anyone should ever put themselves in an uncomfortable position financially. Especially for a vacation. But for sake of comparison, we just priced out the Disney Fantasy (7 nights, W. Carribean) for this June and it was $9600 for a family of 3. $9600!!! The Icon of the Seas came in at $7500 for a family of 3. The ships and experiences are in no way comparable. Why is there no outrage on the ever inflating Disney prices? There are always cheaper options. Always. And everyone should figure out what fits their own lifestyle and budget. But I'm not seeing the issue here in comparison.
Dev, you need to book into group space! Granted for a ship like Icon, the availability is a bit limited for Spring and Summer, but I just found a midship (D2) cabin for 2 people, REFUNDABLE rate, plus obc for $3485.60...and that includes port fees and taxes. 7-night, Western Caribbean, Icon :)
Cruising compared to home ownership....ummm you made the BEST decision. We cruise often and learned a long time ago to book a cruise while cruising. Room choices are better and more perks involved. Plus you get to watch to see if a sale just happens to pop up and pay the difference :). I'm looking forward to an ICON voyage myself, but I'm putting it in the atmosphere that it will be a sponsored vacation lol. Thanks for sharing your insights on the matter.
I enjoy your video's. Could you do a Ritz Carlton cruise one day?
I think going to an all inclusive resort is a better deal. They include more than these cruises. All inclusive rates not only include food, but also alcohol,
soda, juice, coffee, water etc. And you don’t usually need to pay extra to use the snorkeling gear or if they have waterslides/lazy river/wave pool on property. Cruises nickel and dime you for drinks, activities, etc. Also you never have to fight for a lounge chair and umbrella on the beach. These resorts usually have private beaches with a ton of loungers and umbrellas. I used to struggle to get a good spot by the pool on a cruise. I definitely think you made the right decision to cancel. Take the money and book an all inclusive! 🏝️
Wow those rates are insane! Florida residents usually get a good rate on cruises. Check rates for sailings after Labor Day they MAY be lower, but if demand is steady, maybe not.
I don’t blame you but yeah, should have booked early. I’m going in March because I got in a year ago but I definitely won’t be paying again when I can get such a similar experience on an oasis class ship.
I booked the first day they opened reservations in October 2022. I was able to get an Oceanview balcony for $3100.
I think you made the correct decision. And honestly, it is not inflation. Gas prices are much lower than a few years ago. And as someone living on a fixed income, I am doing fine. Like you said, they spent 2 billion on this ship. They want it paid for in a year. I am going on two cruises this year. Carnival at the end of the month and NCL in September, both 7 days and still with all the extras, I am not paying what an interior cabin with no extras will cost on Icon. There are so many other options out there for people to book an amazing vacation without having to go into financial debt. I think the Icon will loose its novelty glamor sooner than you think.
That’s a lot of money. You’re better off putting it towards a house versus spending $8000 and it’s gone in just one week! Just my opinion
We leave for Icon this weekend. Booked ours maybe a couple weeks after bookings were available. We were going to cancel and reschedule until we seen the pricing if we did lol. We only paid about 4,000 for me and the kids for a Surfside balcony. When I looked to rebook it’d been almost 9. Needless to say we just kept what we had lol.
Yeah I don’t blame you! Have a great cruise.
I think you made the right decision.
Wooow I did not know they raised the prices that high. My family wanted to do a trip for next year on Icon. Hopefully those prices go down after the hype this year😅
Those prices are crazy. We paid less than that for a trip to Bora Bora staying in a luxury over the water bungalow!
This is exactly why I haven’t booked icon of the seas yet because I was saw it was $7,000 or more for two people for the week and that’s before drink package, dining, excursions, and so on
We're going on a RC cruise later this year on one of their older ships. I would love to sail on icon but my budget is more important than balling out for a cruise. Inflation is out of control. I rather get my house and car before I pay that price for any cruise at this time.