Royal Intel Insight

Did free play drop in January 2026?

Free play in 2601C is steady, not aggressive. The release average is 962.7, up 13.2 from December 2025, but the increase is small enough that the month should be read as stable rather than improved. The real story is the tier ladder: free play is absent below 1,500 points, then rises in clean steps through the rest of the book. The first paid tier with free play is 1,500 points at $100. From there the progression is straightforward: $150 at 2,000, $250 at 3,000, $500 at 4,000, $750 at 6,500, $1,000 at 9,000, $1,500 at 15,000, $2,000 at 25,000, and $2,500 at 40,000. There are no surprises in the ladder, and no tier breaks the pattern with a one-off bonus that changes the math. The strongest free play value sits at the top end, but the most useful jump is lower. The move from 3,000 to 4,000 points is where the offer mix changes most clearly: free play doubles from $250 to $500, and balcony inventory becomes much more common. That makes 4,000 a practical pivot point for players who care about both cabin type and onboard credit. The lower tiers are fare-driven and cabin-limited. At 400, 600, and 800 points, the book is mostly interior or interior-plus-oceanview, with no free play attached. By 1,200 points, the mix starts to widen, but the release still does not attach free play there. The first tier that combines meaningful flexibility with cash value is 1,500. From 1,500 upward, balcony inventory becomes a regular part of the book. At 1,500, the mix is split across balcony, interior, and oceanview. At 2,000 and 3,000, balcony remains present but not dominant. At 4,000, balcony becomes the clear lead cabin type, and that pattern continues through 6,500 and 9,000. By 15,000 and above, the book is mostly junior suites or grand suites, with free play rising in step. The release does not show a free play drop anywhere in the tier history. Every tier holds its prior amount, so the month is about placement, not deterioration. That makes the tier ladder easier to read: if you are chasing free play, the decision is mostly whether to stop at the first usable breakpoint or push to the next cabin upgrade. For most players, the practical floor is 1,500 points. Below that, the offers are usable but not especially efficient. At 4,000 points, the combination of $500 FreePlay and stronger balcony coverage is the first clear value tier. At 9,000 and above, free play becomes large enough that itinerary quality starts to matter more than the raw bonus amount. 2601C is a clean free play month. The amounts are consistent, the ladder is predictable, and the best value is not at the very top. If you want the first tier where free play and cabin choice both improve, look at 4,000 points. If you want the strongest cash component, the upper tiers are there, but they do not change the structure of the book.