Royal Intel Insight

Did free play drop in April 2026?

Free play in 2604D runs from no listed bonus at 800 and 1,200 points to $2,500 at 40,000 points. The ladder is straightforward after 1,500 points: - 1,500 points: $50 - 2,000 points: $100 - 3,000 points: $150 - 4,000 points: $300 - 6,500 points: $500 - 9,000 points: $750 - 15,000 points: $1,000 - 25,000 points: $1,500 - 40,000 points: $2,500 The average free play across the certificate is $838.2, down $90.8 from March 2026. That decline is not tied to a single tier; the tier-level comparisons show flat free play at every comparable tier. The lower average comes from the shape of the book, not from a cut in the posted bonuses. The mix is still dominated by Caribbean sailings at every meaningful tier. Mexico is the second-largest region, with Alaska and Asia filling out the middle. Europe and Mediterranean inventory is thin overall, but it becomes visible starting at 1,200 points and improves at 3,000 and above. The free play ladder is most useful when paired with itinerary quality. The 1,500-point tier is the clearest example: it only pays $50, but it includes the best-scoring sailing in the release, a 12 Night Hawaii cruise on 2604D06 departing September 29, 2026. That same pattern repeats at 2,000 and 3,000 points, where Hawaii and Alaska continue to score well despite modest bonus increases. The main change versus March is the loss of the low-end two-guest structure. Last month, the first two-guest tier appeared at 400 points and the first balcony two-guest tier at 1,500 points. In 2604D, those entry points are gone. The certificate now starts with one-guest GOBO-style inventory at 800 and 1,200 points, then moves into the free play ladder. At the top end, the 40,000-point tier remains stable at $2,500 free play, with no change in average free play versus March. That makes the highest tier a consistency play rather than an improving one.