Royal Intel Insight

Did free play drop in October 2026?

Free play is present from 1,500 points upward in this release. The lower tiers — 600, 800, and 1,200 — do not carry free play, so the first meaningful bonus threshold starts at 1,500 points. At 1,500 points, the average free play is $100 per sailing. That steps up to $150 per sailing at 2,000 points, $250 per sailing at 3,000 points, and $400 per sailing at 4,000 points. The next tier, 6,500 points, moves to $500 per sailing, then 9,000 points reaches $750 per sailing, and 15,000 points reaches $1,000 per sailing. The premium tiers continue the same pattern: 25,000 points averages $1,500 per sailing, 40,000 points averages $2,500 per sailing, and 70,000 points averages $5,000 per sailing. The month-over-month free-play comparison is a mix shift. Per-tier free play is unchanged from the prior month; the average moved because the mix of sailings shifted toward higher tiers. That distinction matters. This is not a broad cut or a broad raise. The shared tiers kept the same free play amounts, including the $100, $150, $250, $400, $500, $750, $1,000, $1,500, $2,500, and $5,000 levels. The change is in where the volume sits. The release added more sailings overall, and the added volume is concentrated in the upper part of the chart. Higher tiers such as 25,000, 40,000, and 70,000 all gained sailings month over month, while the lower tiers also grew but did not outpace the premium side. That is why the weighted free-play average moved up even though the tier amounts did not. The practical takeaway is simple: if you are comparing this month to September 2026, do not read the higher average as a tier-by-tier improvement. The offer structure is stable. The distribution is what changed. The strongest free-play value in the release is at the top end. The 70,000-point tier averages $5,000 free play and includes long Mediterranean and Alaska sailings, plus a 17-night Europe transatlantic option. The 40,000-point tier averages $2,500 free play and is still broad enough to include Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Asia. For players who are not chasing the top suite tiers, 9,000 and 15,000 points are the cleanest middle ground. They carry enough free play to matter without forcing you into the highest-point inventory. The 9,000-point tier averages $750 per sailing, and 15,000 points averages $1,000 per sailing. Free play is stable by tier and higher on average only because the month shifted toward higher-point sailings. If you are comparing releases, use the tier amounts, not the weighted average, to judge whether an offer improved.