What am I missing? Fascination way overpriced for my sailing.

[Grandmaanne7]

I have been watching a particular sailing in June on the Fascination as we wish to celebrate my father's 80th birthday with a short cruise. The same 30 or so oceanview cabins have been available since I started checking prices about 6 or 7 times a day at least 5 weeks ago. I have to admit that the first time I looked, the price was $329 and I absolutely should have grabbed it. Instead, I started checking around to see if that really was a good deal and the next day, it shot up. It has been sitting at around the $500 mark ever since. It is around 6 weeks out. I just can't understand it. Why has the price not dropped? Any ideas?

[Sparky2]

I have been watching a particular sailing in June on the Fascination as we wish to celebrate my father's 80th birthday with a short cruise. The same 30 or so oceanview cabins have been available since I started checking prices about 6 or 7 times a day at least 5 weeks ago. I have to admit that the first time I looked, the price was $329 and I absolutely should have grabbed it. Instead, I started checking around to see if that really was a good deal and the next day, it shot up. It has been sitting at around the $500 mark ever since. It is around 6 weeks out. I just can't understand it. Why has the price not dropped? Any ideas?

 

Yes, you should have grabbed it when you first looked, but I do understand why you did not.

 

If it's in June, it is the beginning of the "high" season due to schools being out for the summer.

[lizardhowson]

I have been watching a particular sailing in June on the Fascination as we wish to celebrate my father's 80th birthday with a short cruise. The same 30 or so oceanview cabins have been available since I started checking prices about 6 or 7 times a day at least 5 weeks ago. I have to admit that the first time I looked, the price was $329 and I absolutely should have grabbed it. Instead, I started checking around to see if that really was a good deal and the next day, it shot up. It has been sitting at around the $500 mark ever since. It is around 6 weeks out. I just can't understand it. Why has the price not dropped? Any ideas?

 

Carnival is waiting for you to book at higher price, once you book, they will lower it back :eek: :cool:

 

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Sorry, couldn't resist ;)

Edited April 15, 2015 by lizardhowson

[RuthlessBoss]

Kind of curious. Why that ship? There are cheaper options from other ports. What date were you looking at?

[Grandmaanne7]

Kind of curious. Why that ship? There are cheaper options from other ports. What date were you looking at?

 

I'm looking at June 6th. The port is close to where my Dad lives and I thought he would really like the itinerary and the sailing down the river prior to going out to sea. I already have our flights booked and paid for. It would be a real shame not to do it but I really think it's overpriced (especially since I'll be paying for 4 people in 2 cabins). I realize that the previous sailing is much cheaper but it's not during Dad's birthday. He only turns 80 once! :)

 

Do you really think they would sail with more than 30 empty cabins? Only 2 cabins that we would have considered have sold since I've been watching!

[misstiffany]

I've never cruised in June but I know summer prices can be high...even if you look at Port Canaveral for that week it looks like the prices are on the rise. $449 for 4 nights on the Sensation, June 7th. If you can I'd suggest waiting till the last minute and seeing if the prices drop. I've never had to book flights for a cruise so this is usually my strategy... I will ask off the time from work for a particular week, start watching prices and then book a cruise anywhere Florida that falls within those dates and most importantly, my budget!

[Karebear98]

Try a ta see if they have better prices

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Forums mobile app

[SadieN]

Everybody thought about summer cruises over Spring Break.

[tfrcal]

Try clearing the cookies on your computer or look at prices on a different computer. I have noticed in the past that this can make a difference if you are looking at one particular cruise a lot.

[Grandmaanne7]

Try clearing the cookies on your computer or look at prices on a different computer. I have noticed in the past that this can make a difference if you are looking at one particular cruise a lot.

 

Thanks tfrcal. I have noticed that as well. I have used a couple of different computers with the same results. I'll keep trying as it finally went down 10 whole dollars today!!!!

 

Misstiffany, I am going grey waiting on this cruise! I am usually quite a planner and this last minute stuff is doing me in! :eek: I'm not sure if the stress of this waiting has anything to do with it or not but I have completely lost my voice and have been unable to talk for the last 2 days! Since I work on the phone, 2 days of lost pay added to the high price of this cruise just might put off retirement a few months. :D:D:D

[CruiseHealing]

Boy this one is way too simple.

 

1. Most FLA schools are out by the end of May or first week in June. GA schools aren't far behind.

 

2. Fascination is the only ship out of Jax Port. No competition, so no real price pressure.

 

3. It is the most northern port in FLA. So demand is high because the next port, Port Canaveral, is 3 hours away.

 

4. Compare the rates to PC rates. If it is comparable, then book it!

 

I live in Jax. We travel through out the state to cruise, and it is tough to get a lower rate than PC or Tampa. Miami has way too much competition, so prices are cheaper. But the ships are closer to the other ports like Nassau.

 

Good luck and I recommend you book it!

[FTLCruiseGal]

I once looked at one of the travel booking websites, and it was $100 cheaper than booking directly through the cruiseline. Not only that, but they sometimes have some pretty good perks when you book through them.

[Tapi]

I just can't understand it. Why has the price not dropped? Any ideas?

 

 

Summer time = high season

Only ship in JAX

Prices going up is a solid indicator that the ship is filling up

 

You already missed out on the cheaper price by waiting. Don't miss out on the cruise altogether by waiting even longer. It WILL sell out.

[AmberTeka]

I live in Jacksonville. We have sailed on the Fascination. Expected to not expect much from the cruise, and then had the time of our lives.

 

On our cruise, we found that most of the people were Southern. Most had sailed on the Fascination six, seven, eight or so times. They were...or many of them..from S.C, N.C, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida....You could almost follow the routes down I-95 or I-10 to connect to I-95.

 

The cruise was laid back to the max. No pushing. No rushing. Everything is OK. it was graduation week in Georgia and Florida, and high school kids with their parents, and college students were on the ship in droves.

 

I have never had so many young people hold doors for me, say Yes Mam, to me..make sure I got out of the elevator first in my life. Saw NO drunks. Many of the college kids were fascinated by the Vault. That money stealing machine in the casino. I did see a few young ladies in very tiny Swimsuits, but If I looked like that......who knows. And NOT in the Buffet.

 

And when you fly in..........the area around the air port has very nice, new hotels and such. Lots of restaurants. a shopping mall is about 3 miles away, with a Wal mart, etc. Publix is close as is Winn Dixie. Down Airport Road.

The Jacksonville Zoo is about 10 miles away and it is a very good zoo. animals have good housing.....those can live together have their own Savannah area...

Little Talbot Island State Park......which is on the same Island as Amelia Island..the famous hang out of the rich and famous.....Bill Clinton is seen there... Is about 9 miles away.

 

Conde Nast has named it one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the USA> Has nice RR and Showers, Picnic tables..but UNDEVELOPED. And watch out for rip tides if no life guard is present. Looks like Florida did when Ponce de Leon landed. Never crowded. Cost about 5 bucks for a carload to come and stay all day.

 

A lot in Jacksonville. Hope you come.

[AmberTeka]

The Jacksonville cruise port gets the highest satisfaction rating from customers of any port they have...................

 

Nice place. Nice People. Nice things to do. In the summer...........Jax is as hot as Miami and has more less crowded beaches. much cheaper to stay on the beach too.

[Grandmaanne7]

Thanks everyone, especially AmberTeka! I have taken your advice and booked the cruise. Price went down a wee bit. Certainly not what we have paid in the past but since we are celebrating 3 birthdays, including my Dad's 80th and our DD's 30th, what the heck? I went for it. I guess that's the problem with getting such amazing deals. It's then very hard to pay a "normal" price.

 

AmberTeka, thank you for all the info on Jacksonville. I'm sure we will be able to use some of it. It sounds like a lovely place!