Why Are Other Lines So Much More Expensive

[vicocala]

I would agree with posters that HAL can be done inexpensively. I live in Florida so can go quickly and retired early so no job worries (other than my wife is a teacher, but if she is working and the price is right, I have been known to cruise solo). The point I am trying to reach is that with shopping Holland can be a real value. Oh yeah, speaking of going solo, I did my Monarch of the Seas for four days for only $129 with no solo supplement, but I felt I kinda got what I paid for. :cool:

 

My DW and I are going on the Westerdam on December 15th, upsold ourselves when prices dropped on the SZ balconies for a grand total of $799 plus taxes and tips pp and were immediately upgraded to an SC suite with concierge service! I expect we will be upgraded even further to an SA cabin across from the Neptune Lounge (a special lounge with snacks and the concierge) available to only penthouse and SC-SA suites.

 

Moral: great deals can be had by shopping and being flexable.

[maitlandmom]

I agree that it is like comparing Wal Mart and Saks. For instance on Carnival there are hardly any perks when you book a suite. On Celebrity you get a butler and lots of other perks. I have cruised Carnival, HAL, Princess and Celebrity. I love the "Old World" feel on HAL. I love the man that roams the dinning room during breakfast in his red uniform and his pastry cart. I also love the white gloves on HAL. For me the best part of Celebrity is the very limited smoking onboard. There is no smoking in cabins, on balconies or in the casinos. If you can afford another line, it is worth a try to see if you like the different atmosphere. I chose Celebrity over the Breeze this summer in the Med and was very happy with my choice. The Breeze was not significantly less expensive.

 

Happy Sailing

[jstcruizin]

I think a big part of it is that Carnival's is about 8 days and the other lines are 10 or over. Still they are allot more.

 

I agree, we mostly sail Carnival because of the price but have gone on 2 royal (same ship) cruises that were a good deal, you just have to go at the right time or at the last minute if your able. I see your on the the Breeze the same time as us, its getting close :)

[laumicmah]

Our 1st cruise was Disney in 2007 and since then we've only cruised Carnival. Last Xmas we spent 5 days at Disney with DH's entire family. They all wanted to add on a short cruise out of Port Canaveral on the 26th. DH and I wanted to do RCCL's 4 day and the inlaws all wanted to do Disney's 3 day which was double the price. They wanted the Disney experience and so DH and I passed on it and flew home. While Disney puts out a nice product, and yes it is better than CCL, it is absolutely NOT worth double (or more) the price....IMO.

DCL vs CCL:

1- the cabins are a very tiny bit larger on DCL and they have a 2 part bathroom that many folks love, but I prefer CCL's single bathroom as it's larger. The decor of the cabin on DCL is a tad nicer too. Both have ample storage.

2- the service on DCL is def a step up from CCL...they put the money in having more staff per guest ratios. Our MDR waiter really spent time with us...joked with us...knew our names and what we liked/wanted...was always accessible.

3- I think the food on DCL was a little better too.

4- there is no casino on DCL or much of a night life, but the specialty restaurant is adults only.

5- DCL can do fireworks at sea

6- the shows on DCL are also better.

7- free soda on DCL.

All these things are only a notch or 2 better...not doubly better, so I would rather take 2 CCL cruises for the price of 1 DCL cruise. I can upgrade my cabin (have been getting balconies). We can go to the steakhouse, order a wine package or a soda card, do nice excursions...really make a CCL cruise what we want it to be and still pay way less than DCL.

[golfb4cruzing]

Travelin Hogs. That is a stellar price. We are doing itinerary 4/13. My deal not so good 900 pp balcony. Still worth every penny. If you watch Princess, they wil be as good as Carnival pricing.

[vicocala]

oops December 16Th not 15Th in case there are any sticklers out there.;)

[Tapi]

The difference between the more expensive cruise lines are Carnival are usually the details.

 

If you are discerning enough to appreciate the brand of toiletries in your cabin, the type of linens, the china in the main dining room, the ettiquette displayed by your waiter, cabin steward and other staff members, the taste and quality of the decoration throughout the ship, the level of professionalism of the entertainment onboard, the quality and preparation of the cuisine onboard, and finally if you are able to recognize the credentials of the guest lecturer onboard, the more upscale brands may be for you.

 

If you absolutely don't care about any of the things listed above, stick with Carnival! :)

[MrSchwump]

On the CNBC show where they followed the NCL ship for a week they pointed out that the primary profit center of the ship was alcohol sales. I've not sailed on Carnival yet, but maybe their passengers stimulate that revenue stream to such a degree that the cost of the cruise can remain lower than others.

[tanyaewa]

Don't forget with Disney you can bring on your own alcohol. This saved us $ for sure.

We don't drink a lot on family vacations but it was nice to have bottles of wine to refill your glass and cold beers available in your room.

Along with frees soda for the kids that can be a daily savings for a family that needs to be added to the overall cost.

Disney was a fantastic value for what you get IMO. We did find a great price and itinerary that worked for us - cruising off season.

Princess to Alaska was fantastic and you could carry your own alcohol on at that time too (2001) the service and food was amazing. And early season we almost had the last to ourselves! Especially after 10pm - lol

 

22 days until our first carnival cruise.... Chosen once again for price and itinerary in the off season.

[laumicmah]

Don't forget with Disney you can bring on your own alcohol. This saved us $ for sure.

We don't drink a lot on family vacations but it was nice to have bottles of wine to refill your glass and cold beers available in your room.

Along with frees soda for the kids that can be a daily savings for a family that needs to be added to the overall cost.

Disney was a fantastic value for what you get IMO. We did find a great price and itinerary that worked for us - cruising off season.

Princess to Alaska was fantastic and you could carry your own alcohol on at that time too (2001) the service and food was amazing. And early season we almost had the last to ourselves! Especially after 10pm - lol

 

22 days until our first carnival cruise.... Chosen once again for price and itinerary in the off season.

You can bring on 1 bottle of wine per adult with CCL and a 12 pack of sodas/water per person.

[loxley]

I would agree with posters that HAL can be done inexpensively. I live in Florida so can go quickly and retired early so no job worries (other than my wife is a teacher, but if she is working and the price is right, I have been known to cruise solo). The point I am trying to reach is that with shopping Holland can be a real value. Oh yeah, speaking of going solo, I did my Monarch of the Seas for four days for only $129 with no solo supplement, but I felt I kinda got what I paid for. :cool:

 

My DW and I are going on the Westerdam on December 15th, upsold ourselves when prices dropped on the SZ balconies for a grand total of $799 plus taxes and tips pp and were immediately upgraded to an SC suite with concierge service! I expect we will be upgraded even further to an SA cabin across from the Neptune Lounge (a special lounge with snacks and the concierge) available to only penthouse and SC-SA suites.

 

Moral: great deals can be had by shopping and being flexable.

 

We did HAL to Alaska because of the crows nest room for the exact same price Carnival wanted. (OV room) I think service was better on HAL but I find it acceptable on Carnival. I think I liked Carnival food better, but I didn't go hungry on HAL. And HALs entertainment at night blew Carnivals out of the water in our opinion, but Carnival is in my home port year round. So advantage Carnival for us.

[SNJCruisers]

Looking to do a cruise that includes St. Lucia and would like to try another cruise line just to see what it is like. They cost so much more than Carnival and I don't understand why. Could someone that has been on a different line please explain this to me?

Don't know when you are looking to travel, but if you want to do it next summer, the only other option to St Lucia is on RCI's Jewel of the Seas and the cheapest is 8/31 @ 599 + tax. Other options include the Brilliance and Adventure of the Seas, both on RCI in the Spring. On 3/10/13, there is a 10 day sailing on the Norwegian Sun for 599.

If you want to see St Lucia on a higher end line, try the Celebrity Summit, 4/6/13 is only 569 + tax. If you're focused on St Lucia, the cruises tend to be longer or go out of San Juan for the most part.

 

[Mulege]

Celebrity, Princess, HAL have better:

 

Food quality and presentation

Service

Ships

Entertainment

Non fee extras

 

You get what you pay for.

[Brenna's Mom1]

If you are traveling with children or teens why would you spend the money to go on a more expensive cruise line. They don't drink, they don't eat gourmet, they could care less if someone makes their bed three times a day (do they ever sleep in a made bed at home) they don't usually fall all over themselves trying to be first in line for the crooner or the piano player on the ship, and they certainly aren't out and about on the ship searching for that perfect quiet spot, and if they can drink 100s of dollars worth of pop in a day I would say that they may have a real addiction problem.

 

Our family is going on Carnival this time around 'cause the teens love the big screen, the water slides, the rope course, their own "night club". They love the "comfort food" in the dining room, drink tons of lemonade, play basketball on the court. They love the fact that they get to meet other teenagers, especially my niece who loves that she is traveling with her male cousins and gets to meet their new friends.

 

Now I know these kids have no interest in Disney (that stopped when they were eight), would be bored stiff if the ship played chamber music, and would sulk for days if the only other passengers were high brow folks with their noses in the air and the only food was strange to their palette.

 

By no means is "expensive" always the "best" option. I think it is great that Carnival offers a cruise that is adjusted to the wants and needs of the entire family....Once this cruise is over I'll be scheduling one with my same age widowed Aunt on one of the elite lines 'cause we want to get the royal treatment one last time before we turn toes up...and based on the cost that statement may not be in jest.

[Crusin Hogs]

Princess allows you to carry on all the wine , and beer you want .along with carrying on more at port stops. With their soda card , You get the sodas , AND milkshakes , juice , virgin drinks , International Cafe is open 24 hrs a day for soups ,sandwiches , hot cookies , pastries , salads, ect

[Cruise4Music]

Comparing Carnival to RCL,Holland ,Princess or celebrity is like comparing Walmart to Saks fifth Avenue ,both offer the same type of items but quality is not the same . .But hey you get what you pay for.

 

RCI?????????????

 

Same mass market cruising as Carnival.

[Cruise4Music]

Hi Tim and Gayle.....nicely said..... and Richard and I think you will enjoy our Carnival Conquest cruise coming on December 2nd:D

 

We have also cruised on Celebrity, and yes it did have a little more ambiance, and we also enjoyed having our drinks and trays politely taken to our table for us when we ate in the buffet.

 

However, we are pretty young in mind, body and spirit for being in our 60's, we love to dance and listen to music and have fun while on board!

 

One of the main things we noticed on Celebrity was that you could throw a bowling ball down any passageway after 9pm and you wouldn't be in any danger of hitting another passenger :o...they roll everything up pretty early on Celebrity...at least that was our experience! But, that wouldn't stop us from sailing on her again if the price was right and the itinerary was good.

 

We will all be having a lot of fun in 25 days on the Conquest...see you on board:D

 

We are in our early 60s and had the same Celebrity experienceas you.

 

Great service but no nightlife and forget any good rock & roll music.

 

A lot more energy on Carnival.

[Coqui of the Seas]

RCI?????????????

 

Same mass market cruising as Carnival.

 

But hardly the same product. Mass Market? Yes. So is HAL, Princess, Celebrity. All charge more than Carnival because they offer more.

 

I don't know why people try to make Carnival something they are not.

 

 

A lot more energy on Carnival.

Energy doesn't cost extra. That's why it's cheaper to cruise on Carnival.

[Rottweiler Puppy]

Looking to do a cruise that includes St. Lucia and would like to try another cruise line just to see what it is like. They cost so much more than Carnival and I don't understand why. Could someone that has been on a different line please explain this to me?

 

They aren't always much more expensive. Last year Princess to Alaska was cheaper than Carnival but a few hundred so I got my parents on it.

 

This month I am cruising Princess and was only $80 more then Carnival at the time I booked. Now that its getting close Carnival dropped the price but its still really close.

 

I booked my step daughters on NCL and it was basically the same price as Carnival.

 

I did Celebrity during Spring break and it was only $175 for 2 ppl more then Carnival and was a great cruise. No rowdy idiots anywhere.

 

I Carnival usually cheaper? Yes, Much cheaper? Not always.

[GOLDENBONNY]

Holland America and Princess. I'm looking for a quieter experience.

 

You get much better food on HAl vs CCL. Less people =less crowd -less kids on HAL.

[MCC retired]

Some cruise lines have terrible Early Booking rates unlike CCL's Early Saver .

They wait until after final payment date to offer their best rates for new bookings to fillout the sailings.

So if $$$ is paramont ,

If OP can wait , is not choosey about cabin type/location or dining choices , you may find better rates for what appears too $$$ early on.

[ccruisequeen]

Priced for clientele. Celebrity HA and RCCL seem to have a more Upper Class clientele- older, more sophisticated, better educated. Dress code is maintained. Even trivia is directed to higher educated audience.

 

Carnival's audience is more laid back, college aged or slightly older, and the pricing and experience reflect that. No dress code, games are more general audience and food is more homespun.

[scotlady]

OP -

 

Should have mentioned. The Celebrity cruise we took was the seven day out of San Juan that included St. Lucia.

 

It was a GREAT itinerary, except for having to start in San Juan. Airport there is the most crowded zoo I've ever seen, so take that into account. Boarding was smooth, but debarkation was a mess. We even took a tour with Celebrity at the end of the cruise, thinking it would make getting our luggage transferred to the airport easier, but if anything, it made things more difficult.

 

But the cruise was fantastic, and St. Lucia was amazing. We did decide to splurge there, and we did a private tour that was one of the best tours I've ever done.

[Stilles]

Having cruise Carnival, Princess and Norwigan I can tell you that there are some differences as far as the Mood on the ship, Princess for instance is a bit more refined more of an older crowed, so more money is spent on the entertainment. I also noted that the linens were of better quality and also the menu in the MDR had more of the fru fru type stuff (stuff I really dont want to eat) there are alot of little things small touches here and there that make up the price difference.

 

Honestly I had the best time on the Destiny, Carnival is my line of choice simply because of the price and the amount you get for your $ is unmatched.

[TravelGal22]

I just looked at Celebrity and there was a very affordable cruise that went to St. Lucia. Thinking of booking for next Dec.