whats going on with these skyrocketing prices

[yorky]

17 minutes ago, OBX-Cruisers said:

"Fantastic value"............instead of a cruise this December we did a land trip.  We rented a 3 BR, 1800 sq. ft. house on the West coast of FL within 5 min. drive to a great beach.  The house had a pond, a private heated pool and all conceivable kitchen amenities to prepare meals inside and outside the house.  We dined out often at the best restaurants in the area and visited local museums and art stores instead of listening to ear splitting "entertainment" in a crowded theater.  Unlimited internet use was included along with over 150 Comcast TV channels and movies.

The cost was about 40% of what we would have paid on a 7 day Celebrity cruise to live in a 200 sq. foot " verandah cabin"  with the privilege to pay extra for drinks, restaurant meals and daily cabin service.

Celebrity is off our list

We don’t tend to compare land and sea simply because for its it’s two different products. We love the sea and cruising in general, far more than any land based holiday. We will always cruise, but make sure we book something that offers us the value we seek.

[bikerunner]

11 minutes ago, yorky said:

We don’t tend to compare land and sea simply because for its it’s two different products. We love the sea and cruising in general, far more than any land based holiday. We will always cruise, but make sure we book something that offers us the value we seek.

I agree, comparing a land based vacation to a cruise is two different experiences.  I enjoy both but I do them for different reasons.  With a cruise, Im just looking usually for tropics, and a comfy chaise lounge along with cold drinks and sun.  Mainly Caribbean.  I do excursions sometimes but thats not a priority for me.  If I am doing a land based it is usually somewhere to explore for a few days/week etc.  Either nature/hiking based and or historical based, Italy/France etc.   

[cruznjan]

On 3/10/2019 at 8:27 AM, vana said:

Hello, 

 

I wouldn’t mind the price if X was brigging back the Celebrity shine from before...

give me back my formal nights, my sherbet parade around the pool, my steward all dress up depending on the night occasion, my midnight buffet (or brunch), all my favourite food like Osso bucco, my 6 schrimps cocktail, my desert tray every night to choose from, and all the other stuff that went away over the years.... and I'll be more than happy to pay the price.... but X wants to stay in the middle range now with the offering and cannot compete. 

 

When you offer a so called "repo" cruise and do not give any beverages package like some other company do, your are not in the game. 

 

When you charge 4000$ more for a couple doing the same cruise (ex South America) do not wonder why this couple switch (and also get, a beverage package on top of that). 

 

So yes, Celebrity has to reconsider is offering because it not up to par with the other companies...

 

But still we are going on X next month but we will really be attentive to detail and see what we do next, eventhough we are elite plus....and that the next level is soooooo far out....

 

have a great day 

 

 

I agree!

[bigbenboys]

We now mostly book sky suites. The prices have been going up. After cruising on the Edge and not liking the lack of options in Luminae, even after adding the every night items. Not liking the Edge or the direction Celebrity is going. I sat down and started to think. Is this where I really want to spend my money. We are both retired and I'm now 61. I'm thinking for the next 9 years we will cut back on cruising and do more land trips. I canceled one cruise $3600pp and rebooked for 2022. The price is now $7000pp. So instead of cruising in March we will go to England for 3 week in May. Already went to Washington DC. On my short list is seeing more of Germany, visit relative in Norway. Japan Disney and cruise back to Vancouver BC. I feel none of us that cruise are really poor and we all make choices of were to spend our money. As both my parents are still with us. I just might have another 20 years of travel.

[tfred]

1 hour ago, OBX-Cruisers said:

"Fantastic value"............instead of a cruise this December we did a land trip.  We rented a 3 BR, 1800 sq. ft. house on the West coast of FL within 5 min. drive to a great beach.  The house had a pond, a private heated pool and all conceivable kitchen amenities to prepare meals inside and outside the house.  We dined out often at the best restaurants in the area and visited local museums and art stores instead of listening to ear splitting "entertainment" in a crowded theater.  Unlimited internet use was included along with over 150 Comcast TV channels and movies.

The cost was about 40% of what we would have paid on a 7 day Celebrity cruise to live in a 200 sq. foot " verandah cabin"  with the privilege to pay extra for drinks, restaurant meals and daily cabin service.

Celebrity is off our list

 

There is no shortage of people that love a "no decisions" vacation.  Doing what you did would be an impossible task for many.  How many people continue to go to WDW at very high prices?  I think they are at record attendance levels now and the hotels re sold out all the time at very high prices  

 

X, and others, are looking at those land vacation people and trying to get them on board.  Ships are resorts that move.  Believe me, a week at any Marriott resort with food and drinks is expensive for a family - probably in range of a cruise.  That is X target market - people who are already spending the money on land.  They aren't looking for the $100 ppd crowd moaning about free movies

[gskimmel]

On our last cruise, I told the future cruise person that their prices are more expensive than Crystal or Silversea. Granted I’m comparing a sky suite on Celebrity with a balcony on the premium lines but if I am paying that amount of money, I’m going with the more premium cruise line. The person didn’t know how to respond to that. 

[Mike981]

We will certainly look at their offers when we board Reflection next month, but I agree prices are high and causing us to ponder other options. We are limited since we cruise in January to get some warmth and prices tend to run higher then.

[molemaui]

From my perspective, cruise lines are definitely using what airlines call "dynamic pricing". In other words, get what you can when you can get it. I've seen first class airlines mileage awards go from 45,000 miles to 110,000 miles simply based on inventory projections. Cruise lines seem to be no different. 

 

Profit certainly isn't a dirty word but we must be smarter when we book. I've cruised enough that I don't get where I have  to take a particular cruise. When one sale ends, another begins, etc. If the cruise fare with basic amenities (drinks, internet, gratuities) approaches $1000 night on Celebrity, I simply start looking at Seabourn, Silversea, Viking Ocean and Regent. I've sailed all of these lines and when you add everything up, they're not much more than Celebrity and much better. 

 

I'm sailing next month on Celebrtity-got a good deal averaging $673/night with all four amenities in a sky suite. Part of the fun is finding the deals. 

[bigbenboys]

2 hours ago, gskimmel said:

On our last cruise, I told the future cruise person that their prices are more expensive than Crystal or Silversea. Granted I’m comparing a sky suite on Celebrity with a balcony on the premium lines but if I am paying that amount of money, I’m going with the more premium cruise line. The person didn’t know how to respond to that. 

My problem with the higher end cruise ships are they are smaller. IE not as much to do onboard and the dress code. No I dont want to wear shorts and a baseball cap to dinner, just wanting country casual. You know jeans and a polo. We have cruised on Azamara once it was ok, just to small of a ship. I will consider Azamara for the Black Sea. We now book sky suites with Celebrity.

Edited December 27, 2019 by bigbenboys
added words

[molemaui]

24 minutes ago, bigbenboys said:

My problem with the higher end cruise ships are they are smaller. IE not as much to do onboard and the dress code. No I dont want to wear shorts and a baseball cap to dinner, just wanting country casual. You know jeans and a polo. We have cruised on Azamara once it was ok, just to small of a ship. I will consider Azamara for the Black Sea. We now book sky suites with Celebrity.

 

I agree with the dress code. Oceania is our current favorite-casual dress, food comparable with Silversea and Crystal and enough stuff to do if on their larger ships (1300pax). With that said, Celebrity can deliver a pretty good cruise value if you buy right. My only issue is if I'm going to spend $1000/night, I want a more premium experience. Otherwise, Celebrity is a pretty good product. 

[ECCruise]

Man, I can't even imagine paying anywhere near $1000 a night for Celebrity or any mainstream line.  Maybe for the PH but not even a RS would tick that box for us.  We are pretty fastidious shoppers and pretty much keep our ceiling at ~$250-300 a night for balcony, ~$300-325 for AQ and $400-450 for suite (total prices for 2).  And we don't do the Caribbean so most of those would be more unique itineraries with some crossings thrown in.   

[tfred]

42 minutes ago, molemaui said:

 

I agree with the dress code. Oceania is our current favorite-casual dress, food comparable with Silversea and Crystal and enough stuff to do if on their larger ships (1300pax). With that said, Celebrity can deliver a pretty good cruise value if you buy right. My only issue is if I'm going to spend $1000/night, I want a more premium experience. Otherwise, Celebrity is a pretty good product. 

 

I think that X is looking to provide small ship service (with the walled off suite product) with the big ship experience when you want to leave the suite area.

 

Suites on X are expensive and rival Crystal or Silversea when booze and food is factored in.  Some pax just don't want that "small" of a ship and will pay a comparable price on X to get the big ship feel.  Crystal is a helluva product, but the vibe is not what everyone looks for 

 

X is a pretty good product.  You just have to know when the price is too high and it is time to move to Crystal or SS if you want to pay pay that kind of money

[bigbenboys]

51 minutes ago, molemaui said:

 

I agree with the dress code. Oceania is our current favorite-casual dress, food comparable with Silversea and Crystal and enough stuff to do if on their larger ships (1300pax). With that said, Celebrity can deliver a pretty good cruise value if you buy right. My only issue is if I'm going to spend $1000/night, I want a more premium experience. Otherwise, Celebrity is a pretty good product. 

I just got my mail. I got Crystal, Celebrity, Regent and Oceania. With over 50 cruises, some of our cruises is more about the ship than were we are going. Celebrity suite class does do a good job of putting small private tours.

Edited December 27, 2019 by bigbenboys
added words

[NHCRUISIN]

On 3/9/2019 at 9:10 PM, MizDemeanor said:

I think that they have a huge burden with the new builds, the lack of bookings, and the lack of upward tick in the market is responsible for this. 

This makes no sense, if there were a lack of bookings the prices would actually drop. If the ship is empty the only way to fill it is to lower the price not increase pricing.

[molemaui]

24 minutes ago, bigbenboys said:

I just got my mail. I got Crystal, Celebrity, Regent and Oceania. With over 50 cruises, some of our cruises is more about the ship than were we are going. Celebrity suite class does do a good job of putting small private tours.

No different here. It is absolutely incredible how much cruise lines spend on mass mail marketing. Those brochures aren’t cheap and they’re so redundant. 
 

The way I look at it is it’s nice to have something in your mailbox besides bills!

[NMTraveller]

I don't see the high prices.  Of course we book two years out and sometimes see price drops early on.

 

I suppose that the ships are getting half booked early which triggers a price increase.  

 

Say thanks to a roaring economy.

Edited December 27, 2019 by NMTraveller

[NMTraveller]

6 hours ago, bigbenboys said:

We now mostly book sky suites. The prices have been going up. After cruising on the Edge and not liking the lack of options in Luminae, even after adding the every night items. Not liking the Edge or the direction Celebrity is going. I sat down and started to think. Is this where I really want to spend my money. We are both retired and I'm now 61. I'm thinking for the next 9 years we will cut back on cruising and do more land trips. I canceled one cruise $3600pp and rebooked for 2022. The price is now $7000pp. So instead of cruising in March we will go to England for 3 week in May. Already went to Washington DC. On my short list is seeing more of Germany, visit relative in Norway. Japan Disney and cruise back to Vancouver BC. I feel none of us that cruise are really poor and we all make choices of were to spend our money. As both my parents are still with us. I just might have another 20 years of travel.

We are not fans of the Edge either.  That caused us to reevaluate our options.  We are looking at smaller cruise ships.

 

I view a cruise as a sampler course.  It allows you to see a lot of places in a short period of time.  You then go back and explore the places that you really enjoyed on your cruise on land.  The smaller ships get you to different cities that your bigger cruise ships cannot get into.  They tend to have more exciting itineraries and a quieter and more relaxed experience.

Edited December 27, 2019 by NMTraveller

[PhillyTravelBug]

Next years cruise on the Apex is cheaper than our NCL Alaskan cruise was this year. I have been monitoring the Apex cruise and noticing it has been climbing back up from when we booked.

[Clipper Chick]

On 3/10/2019 at 9:25 PM, Wiltonian said:

Arcadia - 24 days to Canada and back in September. 

Hope you like Arcadia it is my favourite ship am sailing on World Cruise 3 January 2020.  
I sailed Silhouette Southampton to Fort Lauderdale October and loved it have booked Reflection for next year.

Only ship I did not like was Cunard QM2 the unfriendliest ship at sea.

[grandgeezer]

5 hours ago, molemaui said:

From my perspective, cruise lines are definitely using what airlines call "dynamic pricing". In other words, get what you can when you can get it. I've seen first class airlines mileage awards go from 45,000 miles to 110,000 miles simply based on inventory projections. Cruise lines seem to be no different. 

 

Profit certainly isn't a dirty word but we must be smarter when we book. I've cruised enough that I don't get where I have  to take a particular cruise. When one sale ends, another begins, etc. If the cruise fare with basic amenities (drinks, internet, gratuities) approaches $1000 night on Celebrity, I simply start looking at Seabourn, Silversea, Viking Ocean and Regent. I've sailed all of these lines and when you add everything up, they're not much more than Celebrity and much better. 

 

I'm sailing next month on Celebrtity-got a good deal averaging $673/night with all four amenities in a sky suite. Part of the fun is finding the deals. 

We sailed in a Sky Suite, on the Equinox, the end of August. We paid about $300 p.p. per night, for all four perks and, when we got home, we felt , for the product we received, we grossly overpaid.

[Baron Barracuda]

7 hours ago, bigbenboys said:

My problem with the higher end cruise ships are they are smaller. IE not as much to do onboard and the dress code. No I dont want to wear shorts and a baseball cap to dinner, just wanting country casual. You know jeans and a polo. We have cruised on Azamara once it was ok, just to small of a ship. I will consider Azamara for the Black Sea. We now book sky suites with Celebrity.

We did Viking last year and loved it.  Got a deal on a large (pv3) cabin for under $250/night.  Small ship entertainment but no formal dress.  Free:  beer & wine, wifi, shore excursions, specialty dining.  No kids or casino.  Sometimes they throw in r/t air and obc.

[molemaui]

8 minutes ago, Baron Barracuda said:

We did Viking last year and loved it.  Got a deal on a large (pv3) cabin for under $250/night.  Small ship entertainment but no formal dress.  Free:  beer & wine, wifi, shore excursions, specialty dining.  No kids or casino.  Sometimes they throw in r/t air and obc.

 

Loved Viking Ocean. Probably my favorite group of ships (virtually identical). Thoughts the ships were spectacular and loved all the amenities. Also sailed PV class. Thought the food was good to very good but certainly not great. Even though I think I'm a foodie, that didn't matter. Everything else about the ship was quite excellent. 

[yorky]

14 hours ago, grandgeezer said:

We sailed in a Sky Suite, on the Equinox, the end of August. We paid about $300 p.p. per night, for all four perks and, when we got home, we felt , for the product we received, we grossly overpaid.

Is there a reason you keep sailing with Celebrity when you always seem to be so unhappy with the product ?

[Cruise Junky]

On 12/27/2019 at 7:18 AM, OBX-Cruisers said:

"Fantastic value"............instead of a cruise this December we did a land trip.  We rented a 3 BR, 1800 sq. ft. house on the West coast of FL within 5 min. drive to a great beach.  The house had a pond, a private heated pool and all conceivable kitchen amenities to prepare meals inside and outside the house.  We dined out often at the best restaurants in the area and visited local museums and art stores instead of listening to ear splitting "entertainment" in a crowded theater.  Unlimited internet use was included along with over 150 Comcast TV channels and movies.

The cost was about 40% of what we would have paid on a 7 day Celebrity cruise to live in a 200 sq. foot " verandah cabin"  with the privilege to pay extra for drinks, restaurant meals and daily cabin service.

Celebrity is off our list

We do mainly land trips now. Last month we had the most beautiful Villa in Port Douglas, Australia. Cruising is nice occasionally but we enjoy the freedom and space of a land trip. Land trip in 2020 too. Maybe a cruise in 2021 

[tfred]

23 hours ago, gskimmel said:

On our last cruise, I told the future cruise person that their prices are more expensive than Crystal or Silversea. Granted I’m comparing a sky suite on Celebrity with a balcony on the premium lines but if I am paying that amount of money, I’m going with the more premium cruise line. The person didn’t know how to respond to that. 

The future cruise person doesn't really know competitive information, they are just there to sell what is in front of them.  

 

Dare to say that most X people are moving up from RCCL or NCL and don't know what you know about SS or C.  You have to be a knowledgeable cruiser to know about luxury lines and pricing