It looks like Royal Caribbean is about to drop a fee it had been charging guests.
Royal Caribbean's app has a chat feature that currently costs $1.99 per guest, per day to use it.
While at a question and answer session aboard Wonder of the Seas on Thursday, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley told travel agents in attendance the line will remove the cost to use the chat feature.
According to travel agents in attendance, Mr. Bayley said the change will go into effect beginning January 1, 2023.
Following up on a promise
This isn't the first time Mr. Bayley talked about removing the fee for the chat feature.
At a similar event held on Odyssey of the Seas in 2021, Mr. Bayley said the cruise line would change the chat feature to free.
"I remember that we had a lot of arguments internally within the company about a dollar ninety nine."
"I'm tempted to say we'll drop it, but nobody seems to be reacting against it. So we'll we'll drop it. Yeah. I think that will be good."
It now appears that promise is coming to fruition.
Why a free chat feature makes a difference
By making the chat feature free, this opens up the function to many more passengers.
Since most guests do not purchase an internet package, that limits communication options for passengers while onboard a ship.
Moreover, having a free chat feature allows kids to use the chat feature without their parents having to spend anything extra.
How Royal Caribbean's chat feature works
The chat in Royal Caribbean's app works very similar to other texting apps you may have used in other apps.
Royal Caribbean's chat offers one-to-one guest chat, along with group chats.
Once onboard the ship and logged onto Royal Caribbean's Wi-Fi network (no internet package required to use the app), other guests will show up as offline or online but are only online if they have the app opened and to the “chat” window.
If your travel agent linked your reservation before sailing with a friend or family the will automatically show up in your list of contacts. You also have the option of adding other guests.
Royal Caribbean's app is available on the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.
