Bermuda - Why So Expensive

[suntan]

I've just been checking Celeb's price for a veranda stateroom on June 7, 2015 and was shocked at the cost - $1500. Please educate me as to how sailing from New Jersey to Bermuda, having the ship sit in Bermuda for what is it 3 days and sail back to New Jersey, can cost more than a 7-night Caribbean cruise in April 2015 (I could only get a quote for April 2015 as there are no Caribbean cruises after that month). We really want to do the Bermuda cruise in 2015 but at those prices I could go to an all inclusive for less. I look forward to your explanation(s).

[Lsimon]

Supply and demand. The more popular a cruise, and the higher the demand, the more they charge for it.

[dkjretired]

Supply and demand. The more popular a cruise, and the higher the demand, the more they charge for it.

 

Absolutely plus Bermuda itself is expensive.

[cle-guy]

dozens of ships serving the caribbean market means much more competitive pricing

 

and what, 2 ships in bermuda, Norwegian and Summit mean less competitive pricing.

[cruiserone]

Book it earlier in the season. We went May 4 and paid $999 and got the classic drink package and were in a CC room. Loved Bermuda and we are going again next year on the Summit. Also buy a 2 or 3 day pass for the ferry or the bus. Well worth it!!! Loved St George and Horseshoe Bay!

 

Happy Sailing,

[Lastdance]

The pound is outrageous! After our cruises that leaves Southampton on the 21st, we are not going to England again, not even for a cruise. Now there is a lux tax when you fly out in business class...I took Bermuda off my list and will do Europe from different ports.

Edited June 14, 2014 by Lastdance

[A Sixth?]

The pound is outrageous! After our cruises that leaves Southampton on the 21st, we are not going to England again, not even for a cruise. Now there is a lux tax when you fly out in business class...I took Bermuda off my list and will do Europe from different ports.

 

:confused::confused::confused:

[OCA REP]

The pound is outrageous! After our cruises that leaves Southampton on the 21st, we are not going to England again, not even for a cruise. Now there is a lux tax when you fly out in business class...I took Bermuda off my list and will do Europe from different ports.

 

Besides you sticking the word 'Bermuda' in there, what does your post have to do with a cruise to/from Bermuda???

[txflood33]

higher insurance premiums because of that whole triangle thing

[TommyD3]

The port charges / taxes are also 2X a 7 night Caribbean cruise:(

[miched]

Besides the supply and demand there is very little opportunity for the cruise lie to generate any extra revenue.

 

There is no real shopping for the kickbacks.

 

Tours don't need to be booked on board as you can do them yourself or book direct.

 

Until recently the casino on board was closed. Have read where they may now be allowed to operate when in port.

 

You have access to the island the entire time so many choose to patronize the local bars.

 

Poeple enjoy the safe and clean atmosphere where they can enjoy the climate and beaches without having to put up with the beggars, poverty, and filth that is the norm for many islands

 

Plus if you want to visit the island on our own the cost of a land based resort would be much more and you would still have to get there.

 

🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[A Sixth?]

........

 

You have access to the island the entire time so many choose to patronize the local bars.

 

 

If you do it'll cost a lot more than drinking on the ship, even if you don't have a drink package. :p

 

Bermuda not be cheap! :p

Edited June 14, 2014 by A Sixth?

[miched]

If you do it'll cost a lot more than drinking on the ship, even if you don't have a drink package. :p

 

Bermuda not be cheap! :p

 

Many don't care as they want to have the rum swizzle, Dark and Stromy plus those that also need to eat at the place that is "to die for" or must do. I read where many just had to have a certain sandwich from some beach bar or couldn't wait to get back to the Swizzle Inn.

 

I agree it does cost more and I would rather drink on board. Something else that many don't realize on Bermuda is that the tip is included in the bill but they still add more but many will complain about the automatic 15 % added to the bill on board the ship

 

The point is that it is a revenue oportunity lost to the cruise line and that is why the prices may be higherfor those cruises.

 

🍸🍺🍻

[suntan]

Thank you for all your explanations on the higher cost for this itinerary. I will definitely be looking for sales and bumping up on the travel insurance to make sure my family is covered if the ship disappears in the Triangle.:D

[Wiltonian]

The pound is outrageous! After our cruises that leaves Southampton on the 21st, we are not going to England again, not even for a cruise. Now there is a lux tax when you fly out in business class...I took Bermuda off my list and will do Europe from different ports.

 

All depends on your perspective. From this side of the pond, it's outrageously good; best rates for 5 years, but still not the £1=$2.4 which I remember.

 

Stuart

[dkjretired]

Just venting but what annoys me now with going to Bermuda is the lines spending less time in Bermuda than they used to. Celebrity used to run two ships every week to Bermuda and as an example if you left on Saturday you arrived in Bermuda on Monday Morning and left Thursday afternoon. Now they take two plus days to get there. I suspect that it has to do with berthing problems because the lines pretty much only go to Kings Wharf and don't do two ports in Bermuda anymore. Also, believe they make more money at sea for two and half days in the casinos and shops. Maybe with the casinos open while in Bermuda there might be some thought to making the stop longer. Also, really think Celebrity should put a Solstice class ships there to compete with the Breakaway.

[Iamcruzin]

The two main reasons that Bermuda is so expensive is first the only lines that sail there are NCL, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity. However, next year HAL will be sailing from Boston in May June and July of 2015. Hopefully with another line added it will help add to the supply and decrease the demand. The second main reason is that they sail there during peak vacation time. Any travel during the summer months land or sea is always more expensive. I have been tracking the prices and they have already come down. I was quoted $1199 for an ocean view the first week of May when the itinerary first opened for captain club members. It is now down to $899. I have been to Bermuda 3 times as a port stop on a repo cruise from the Caribbean the first week of May. The weather was always beautiful and since I'm from Long Island I'm accustomed to swimming in water that is colder than the water in the Caribbean.

[Iamcruzin]

Just venting but what annoys me now with going to Bermuda is the lines spending less time in Bermuda than they used to. Celebrity used to run two ships every week to Bermuda and as an example if you left on Saturday you arrived in Bermuda on Monday Morning and left Thursday afternoon. Now they take two plus days to get there. I suspect that it has to do with berthing problems because the lines pretty much only go to Kings Wharf and don't do two ports in Bermuda anymore. Also, believe they make more money at sea for two and half days in the casinos and shops. Maybe with the casinos open while in Bermuda there might be some thought to making the stop longer. Also, really think Celebrity should put a Solstice class ships there to compete with the Breakaway.

 

For me there is no competition with NCL. Either you like Celebrity and all it offers or you like Free style. However, I did suggest it to my wife that it would be nice not to have to dress up. She said, "No way". While bringing in a larger ship would drive the price down as there would be more berths to fill it would also bring more passengers into port crowding the beaches and other points of interest.

[A1A]

higher insurance premiums because of that whole triangle thing

 

Thanks, I appreciated that! :D

Edited June 14, 2014 by A1A

[Nebr.cruiser]

The pound is outrageous! After our cruises that leaves Southampton on the 21st, we are not going to England again, not even for a cruise. Now there is a lux tax when you fly out in business class...I took Bermuda off my list and will do Europe from different ports.

 

I will agree on one thing--taxes for Heathrow are outrageous, and we don't (usually) fly business class. It has made us avoid any flights to the UK, which is sometimes inconvenient, but I've seen taxes and fees of up to $900 for the two of us.

 

I don't really mind the pound conversion, although prices are definitely higher in the UK, and most of Europe, then we are used to at home. Do people there make that much more money? Maybe it's the no tipping thing! (Wait, don't want to open that can of worms.)

[cle-guy]

I will agree on one thing--taxes for Heathrow are outrageous, and we don't (usually) fly business class. It has made us avoid any flights to the UK, which is sometimes inconvenient, but I've seen taxes and fees of up to $900 for the two of us.

 

The "luxury tax" on business flights has been around for some time, I was hit by it back in 2007-09 when i was flying, they even collect it on frequent flyer redemption tickets.

 

I was recently looking at fares, and the taxes and fees were something like $170 for a coach ticket, and $550 for a business ticket. I have read in other travel forums where some people now fly to Paris where the tax isn't near as heavy, and use the Chunnel Train to get to central London instead of flying through or into London.

[downsmead]

Most UK people think the departure tax is exorbitant too. We have no option but to pay it every time we fly out of the country :mad:. Along with the other mandatory charges, it almost doubles the cost of a lot of long haul flights. There are ways round such as travelling to Amsterdam or other European airports but they add time (and nuisance factor) onto your journey that in the end most people just 'accept' the high airfares. It was due to go up again but the British government decided not to apply that increase luckily.

 

Sorry, not relevant to the OP! However we are going to Bermuda on our TA on the Eclipse in November and staying overnight. I did not realise that it was such an expensive island. As someone suggested, we shall sight-see and then eat and drink back on board. The current 123go promotion excludes the TAs, which is quite normal I believe (too many sea days???).

Edited June 14, 2014 by downsmead

[Wiltonian]

At least it'll be less on long haul flights from April 2015!

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26647046

 

Stuart

[downsmead]

.Nothing to do with the General Election next year :rolleyes:

[suntan]

Most UK people think the departure tax is exorbitant too. We have no option but to pay it every time we fly out of the country :mad:. Along with the other mandatory charges, it almost doubles the cost of a lot of long haul flights. There are ways round such as travelling to Amsterdam or other European airports but they add time (and nuisance factor) onto your journey that in the end most people just 'accept' the high airfares. It was due to go up again but the British government decided not to apply that increase luckily.

 

Sorry, not relevant to the OP! However we are going to Bermuda on our TA on the Eclipse in November and staying overnight. I did not realise that it was such an expensive island. As someone suggested, we shall sight-see and then eat and drink back on board. The current 123go promotion excludes the TAs, which is quite normal I believe (too many sea days???).

 

No worries about the posting of the costs of flying from the UK. We have the same issue where I live (Toronto, Canada). Pearson International Airport is one of the expensive airports to fly out of all because of the fees and taxes one has to pay on top of the flight itself. Some of us drive to Buffalo and spend the night at a hotel that offers extended parking, some of us (depending where we live in the Province) will drive to Detroit, Michigan to get a cheaper flight. One has to balance the costs though - pay the price charged for the flight out of the expensive airport vs. driving to another city, maybe getting a hotel for the night plus parking, gas, etc. Sometimes you same money sometimes not so much.