By Gene Sloan, USA TODAY
Royal Caribbean’s 3,114-passenger Voyager of the Seas.
Courtesy Royal Caribbean
Would you pay $35 to have a few extra hours on a cruise ship? Royal Caribbean is betting you will.The mass-market line is expanding a $35-a-person “Late Departure” program tested on a couple ships last year in Europe to more vessels.
Now available on all eight Royal Caribbean ships in Europe, the program allows passengers to stay aboard the vessels through lunchtime and into the afternoon on disembarkation day instead of a traditional early-morning departure. Passengers who sign up for the program can stay on their ship until 90 minutes prior to its next sailing.
The option costs $35 for adults and $17.50 for children ages 3-17. Children under three years of age are free.