Are there no Princess ships in the Caribbean in May/June?

[Iamcruzin]

We don't seem able to find any Princess ships sailing in the Caribbean in May or June.

 

Is that correct?

 

Having sailed on Royal over New Year we would love to book another Princess cruise in May/June but it looks like we will have to go back to Oasis!

 

What a shame!:(

 

I have switched over to Celebrity for this reason and the fact that Princess doesn't sail out of San Juan anymore for southern itineraries. While not the Caribbean, Bermuda is beautiful and Celebrity sails their all summer long. I actually enjoy Bermuda more than the usual Caribbean run. It also helps that it's in driving distance to port

[lolane1]

I really believe they are following the $$$. The per day cost of European cruises are significantly higher than the non discounted winter Caribbean cruises. Princess has many choices in the summer including Europe, Alaska, Asia and Australia.

 

 

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I agree. As they say, "it's always about the money."

[go sea]

OK. I stand corrected. We have had one hurrican every 3 or 4 years in June and July since 1860

[iceleven]

Odd conclusion. You note that they have to discount too much to fill the ships but then dismiss the notion that hurricane season has anything to do with it. Riddle me this, Batman. Why do they have to discount the cruises so much? Answer: because people aren't interested in, or are reluctant to book during these months. And what causes this disinterest and reluctance? Hmmm. Maybe in part because it is hurricane season.

 

Many hurricanes in the Carribbean during Sept.Oct. even early Nov. yet Princess is there.

[caribill]

only the most obsessively paranoid passenger lets hurricanes worry them.

 

I am an offshore yachtsman and would suggest that this has been written by a person who has never been at sea in a real hurricane where the height of the waves can reach 30m (deck 10) - and windborne water can be even higher.

 

 

Cruise ships do not sail to an area where there is an active hurricane, so that is why passengers do not have to normally be worried about them as far as safety and the cruise experience are concerned. Yes, the itinerary will be modified if there is a hurricane in the original itinerary area.

 

One big exception is the embarkation/disembarkation port. Obviously if there is a hurricane at that port, the ship will not be there on the scheduled turnaround day and new passengers could not fly there anyway.

 

Another exception was Super Storm Sandy where cruise ships stayed in port instead of sailing into the storm.

[c-cruise]

My feeling is that Princess just can't compete in the Caribbean in the Summer at a price point that makes it worth doing (same with HAL and X). Summer is of course prime family vacation time and Princess doesn't have the type of amenities on their ships to really draw in the family market (i.e. water parks, characters, rock walls, rope courses, etc.)

 

Take a look at the lines and ships that stay in the Caribbean during the summer: RCI Oasis OTS, NCL Getaway, Disney Fantasy, etc. Family oriented lines with ships and activities geared towards families and kids.

[iceleven]

Yet Princess keeps 4-5 (more?) ships in Alaska from May thru September and usually has to drop prices to keep the ships full. There is much too much competition in Alaska with all the other cruise lines there, as well.

Edited January 23, 2015 by iceleven

[Iamcruzin]

My feeling is that Princess just can't compete in the Caribbean in the Summer at a price point that makes it worth doing (same with HAL and X). Summer is of course prime family vacation time and Princess doesn't have the type of amenities on their ships to really draw in the family market (i.e. water parks, characters, rock walls, rope courses, etc.)

 

 

 

Take a look at the lines and ships that stay in the Caribbean during the summer: RCI Oasis OTS, NCL Getaway, Disney Fantasy, etc. Family oriented lines with ships and activities geared towards families and kids.

 

 

I agree 100% and with these itineraries that have 3 sea days on a 7 day cruise there needs to be more activity to occupy the youth. At 54 I can get board on a Princess ship. Families aren't looking to come back new or escaping completely.

 

 

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[pablo222]

We don't seem able to find any Princess ships sailing in the Caribbean in May or June.

 

Is that correct?

 

All the comments about hurricanes and money are sensible,

but it seems that about every three years princess keeps a

ship in the carribbean for the summer.

 

This past summer it was Carribbean, and 3 years ago (maybe 4), it was

Emerald.

[taxatty]

My feeling is that Princess just can't compete in the Caribbean in the Summer at a price point that makes it worth doing (same with HAL and X). Summer is of course prime family vacation time and Princess doesn't have the type of amenities on their ships to really draw in the family market (i.e. water parks, characters, rock walls, rope courses, etc.)

 

Take a look at the lines and ships that stay in the Caribbean during the summer: RCI Oasis OTS, NCL Getaway, Disney Fantasy, etc. Family oriented lines with ships and activities geared towards families and kids.

I also agree 100%. Carnival, RCI and others generally have their oldest, least enticing ships sailing out of South Florida on short itineraries, and they're almost always full. However, they're seen as family or booze cruises--Princess isn't. That's not necessary a bad thing, but it's likely why ships like the Regal and Caribbean Princess aren't full on 3-4 day cruises and the ancient Majesty of the Seas is.

[c-cruise]

Yet Princess keeps 4-5 (more?) ships in Alaska from May thru September and usually has to drop prices to keep the ships full. There is much too much competition in Alaska with all the other cruise lines there, as well.

 

It's more like 7 ships in Alaska this summer and they certainly wouldn't be there if they could make more money elsewhere. Princess also has the advantage of being able to offer Glacier Bay itineraries which command an even higher price point. Many of the other lines can't enter Glacier Bay.

 

Alaska is about the destination much more than the ship. You don't need water parks, bumper cars, rock walls, etc. to sell an Alaska cruise to families like you do in the Caribbean.

 

There's not nearly as much competition in Alaska as the Caribbean. It's pretty much Princess and HAL and then everyone else is more of a bit player. Carnival sends 1 ship, RCI has 2, etc.

 

I don't know about Princess having to drop prices to fill ships in Alaska. There were a couple tough years in the Alaska market a while back, but it has come back in a big way. I just booked a Princess cruise to Alaska this summer and it cost more than our next Disney cruise will cost!

[dorisis]

Thanks, all.

 

I guess I was just hoping I was wrong.

 

I am afraid that we like the Mediterranean far less than the Caribbean, but obviously Princess make more money bringing their ships across the pond.

 

The Caribbean is hot and humid in the summer months,

[suzyed]

Yeah, Princess has deployed Caribbean Princess year-round in Caribbean in 2014, but in 2015, there are no Caribbean sailings between April and October!

 

If you do not want Oasis, book Independence or Freedom of the Seas - we have been sailing on Liberty of the Seas, sister of those two ships, and had a great time - book one of those ships, I just can recommend them, if you do not want to sail on monsters such as Oasis or Allure otS... :D

 

We sailed on Freedom of the Seas in 2013 and she is a beautiful ship! We loved our cruise!

[iceleven]

It's more like 7 ships in Alaska this summer and they certainly wouldn't be there if they could make more money elsewhere. Princess also has the advantage of being able to offer Glacier Bay itineraries which command an even higher price point. Many of the other lines can't enter Glacier Bay.

 

Alaska is about the destination much more than the ship. You don't need water parks, bumper cars, rock walls, etc. to sell an Alaska cruise to families like you do in the Caribbean.

 

There's not nearly as much competition in Alaska as the Caribbean. It's pretty much Princess and HAL and then everyone else is more of a bit player. Carnival sends 1 ship, RCI has 2, etc.

 

I don't know about Princess having to drop prices to fill ships in Alaska. There were a couple tough years in the Alaska market a while back, but it has come back in a big way. I just booked a Princess cruise to Alaska this summer and it cost more than our next Disney cruise will cost!

 

Perhaps that is because it is only January. I recommend that you keep an eye on the cruise prices you have booked a bit closer to your cruise date. We cruise to Alaska frequently with both Princess and HAL. Both have the best itineraries. However, the competition there, especially later in the season, has caused very competitive pricing.

[Iamcruzin]

The Caribbean is hot and humid in the summer months,

 

The Mediterranean isn't the coolest place to be in July either. I can't even imagine how hot it would be touring a church that was built during the middle ages.

[ellie1145]

Why is it then that both Allure and Oasis have spent the past 5 years sailing full during the period May to November (hurricane season)? They both command high prices and we have sailed on them every year for the past 4 years. Never had a problem with a hurricane.

 

I cannot imagine RCI would have put their most prestigious ships in the Caribbean if they were afraid of damage from hurricanes, families being too scared to travel during this season, or prices being too low. The fact that they sail full all year round shows that people, and especially families, are not afraid of hurricanes.

 

Crossing the Bay of Biscay can be pretty uncomfortable yet cruise ships cross it all the time. Princess even have Royal Princess sailing round the British Isles, yet the North Sea, the Channel and the Irish Sea can be quite horrendous even in summer - something we would avoid like the plague! So bad weather and very rough seas haven't put Princess off from deploying ships in these areas.

 

Thanks for the suggestion about Independence, we have looked at this possibility and will probably book two weeks on her instead. We love Oasis, but as the only mega ship left in the Caribbean she is way too pricey this year. We don't mind the heat and humidity in the summer and love seeing the sunshine after our generally miserable summer. Anyway, you don't notice the heat on a ship. Believe me, the temperatures in the Med during the summer can be very difficult to cope with.

 

But after a great cruise on Royal Princess we are disappointed not to be able to sail with Princess.

Edited January 26, 2015 by ellie1145

[Iamcruzin]

Why is it then that both Allure and Oasis have spent the past 5 years sailing full during the period May to November (hurricane season)? They both command high prices and we have sailed on them every year for the past 4 years. Never had a problem with a hurricane.

 

But after a great cruise on Royal Princess we are disappointed not to be able to sail with Princess.

 

It has nothing to do with hurricanes. RCCL's mega ships command a high price because of supply and demand. Since most lines pull out of the Caribbean for the summer it leaves very little supply. Those large ships belong in the Caribbean as the ship is the destination. I couldn't imagine flying to Europe on a port intensive itinerary to sail on one of those ships. You would either miss the ports of call or all of the features that the ship has to offer. I would imagine that sea days are more important than port days on those ships in the Caribbean.

[kendon]

I don't believe hurricanes have anything to do with Princess leaving the Caribbean in the summer...when you see the other cruise lines going there. But summer is family time, generally, and the Royal and Carnival are "fun" ships. It's what they want. It's NOT what I want, so I'm disappointed that I don't have the Princess option. Being in a school gives me less of an option to enjoy the Caribbean. I'd rather be hot in the Caribbean than hot in NY.

[kendon]

I have switched over to Celebrity for this reason and the fact that Princess doesn't sail out of San Juan anymore for southern itineraries. While not the Caribbean, Bermuda is beautiful and Celebrity sails their all summer long. I actually enjoy Bermuda more than the usual Caribbean run. It also helps that it's in driving distance to port

 

Really miss those 7 day southern carib itineraries out of San Juan!

 

Regarding the Celebrity Bermuda run, the Summit is a dive of a ship (IMO).

Edited January 26, 2015 by kendon

[Iamcruzin]

Really miss those 7 day southern carib itineraries out of San Juan!

 

Regarding the Celebrity Bermuda run, the Summit is a dive of a ship (IMO).

 

 

Compared to the new ships it's definitely dated and the food was mediocre at best. For me it's about the cost and destination. Unfortunately the Summit also does the Southern Caribbean route. The nice thing about the older ships is that they have larger balconies than the new Princess ships.

 

 

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[kendon]

It is nice being in a port for three days though. We did that itinerary a few years ago. Wish they would fix up the ship...then I'd do it again.:)

[dmwnc1959]

Really miss those 7 day southern carib itineraries out of San Juan!

 

 

The airfare getting to SJU just got rediculous for some of us to even consider flying there, and the cruise lines starting filling the ships with rates aimed at the 'locals'. I remember reading all sorts of horror stories of large families traveling with babies being changed in the atrium and MDR's. The cruise lines just weren't making any money, as the 'locals' weren't making up for those lost revenues by spending in the shops or using the casinos. It wasn't long after that we started seeing the number of southern Caribbean cruises from San Juan decrease or being eliminated all together.

 

:D

[dmwnc1959]

Compared to the new ships it's definitely dated and the food was mediocre at best. For me it's about the cost and destination. Unfortunately the Summit also does the Southern Caribbean route. The nice thing about the older ships is that they have larger balconies than the new Princess ships.

 

 

A more 'apples to apples' comparison would be between the Celebrity Summit and the Caribbean Princess, as they were the ships competing for the San Juan departures to the Southern Caribbean.

 

:D

[dmwnc1959]

Believe me, the temperatures in the Med during the summer can be very difficult to cope with.

 

 

I lived in Italy for two years, and the summers were miserably hot. But since Europe and the Mediterranean (as well as Alaska) have a short 'optimum' cruising season (summer-time), it makes since that the cruise lines take advantage of it by deploying the bulk of their fleets away from the Caribbean to generate more profit (more expensive cruises with more expensive shore excursions on port intensive itineraries, pre- and post-cruise land options in Europe and Alaska) than what they make during some of the off-season and shoulder-season rates we see being heavily discounted.

 

:D

Edited January 29, 2015 by dmwnc1959

[pablo222]

Why is it then that both Allure and Oasis have spent the past 5 years sailing full during the period May to November (hurricane season)? They both command high prices and we have sailed on them every year for the past 4 years. Never had a problem with a hurricane.

 

I cannot imagine RCI would have put their most prestigious ships in the Caribbean if they were afraid of damage from hurricanes, families being too scared to travel during this season, or prices being too low. The fact that they sail full all year round shows that people, and especially families, are not afraid of hurricanes.

 

I think your comments are spot-on.

 

I also think it's interesting that these 5-yo royal carribbean ships

command higher prices than princess' new ships.