Same time next year prices :O

[sharonna3]

So decided to look at next year. Same time frame (Easter), same ship, same itinerary, same cabin and surprise...The price is $400+ more 😪

[lifes-a-beach]

Yeah we have three booked this year and have been looking at taking the 125% but it’s a losing proposition.  I take pride in finding really good deals and I guess all the deals I found are like 175% below market.  Also concerned what will happen to my money if RC files for bankruptcy protection.  They might still be sailing but what about the money I let them keep?  Not sure if it’s worth the 20% since it benefits me nothing.  

[sharonna3]

31 minutes ago, lifes-a-beach said:

Yeah we have three booked this year and have been looking at taking the 125% but it’s a losing proposition.  I take pride in finding really good deals and I guess all the deals I found are like 175% below market.  Also concerned what will happen to my money if RC files for bankruptcy protection.  They might still be sailing but what about the money I let them keep?  Not sure if it’s worth the 20% since it benefits me nothing.  

I'm stuck with the FCC. Cancelled a couple days before they did. Tried asking with no success. I too, take pride in finding the best deals. Makes me sick to my stomach thinking about losing my $. If I could I most certainly would take the refund. Hate having thousands of dollars tied up in credits.

Edited March 29, 2020 by sharonna3

[ONECRUISER]

Is what is as many rebook Easter/Spring Break(& others) for next yr as drives some prices higher. My Bookings on same Cruises/dates this and next yr Fall are all cheaper then was last 4yrs. Other dates, now received $3000 in price drops on 4 Cruises in last 3.5 weeks.

Edited March 29, 2020 by ONECRUISER

[h20skibum]

Looked at next year, same dates and cabin for our canceled Alaska cruise, and it is $1,000 more and without the perks we had. 

[lazydayz]

I am going to wait until the cruise lines are back up and running.  My guess is there will be a lot of bargains as cruising has taken a big hit in the media.

[rtazz17]

You need to wait...... I wouldnt book a thing yet for a long time..

[MoniMommy]

Me too. My plan is to book something within final po payment once they start cruising again. Hoping to get a good deal between the last minute deal and the fact that cruises are just resuming. We shall see.

[Iamcruzin]

4 hours ago, sharonna3 said:

So decided to look at next year. Same time frame (Easter), same ship, same itinerary, same cabin and surprise...The price is $400+ more 😪

I find Royal Caribbean is least expensive the earlier you book. Did you book further out last year. $400 increase doesn't sound all that bad. 

[Hoopster95]

8 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

I find Royal Caribbean is least expensive the earlier you book. 

 

Firstly, I've read all of your posts and really hope you stay safe and come out of this mess with your chin high!

I bet a lot of lurkers have read your predicament but perhaps haven't posted back to you... stay strong and you have well wishers here sending you prayers and good thoughts.

 

Regarding your quote above, this has been the general sentiment over and over again by so many here on CC and I don't agree at all. Price is totally dependent on the popularity of the sailing. For as many cruises have gone up in price, there have been so many that people call in to the their TA daily it seems to get a few dollar price reduction as it keeps going down.

 

So for me, this topic has been discussed on the forum for years, and I've kept track of my last 8 cruises. 3 of them were higher than day 1 deployment, 5 of them were lower in price at around the final payment date. All 5 I booked within a couple of weeks of final payment (3 before final, 2 after)

 

This virus mess is totally different, and I feel prices will be very  much lower, unless they keep a few ships off the table (they do not sail them right away) which perhaps then makes less supply to match a weakened demand

Edited March 29, 2020 by Hoopster95

[Ourusualbeach]

4 hours ago, sharonna3 said:

So decided to look at next year. Same time frame (Easter), same ship, same itinerary, same cabin and surprise...The price is $400+ more 😪

Find a TA with group rates.  Chances are you will find it compatibly priced or even cheaper. 

[Ourusualbeach]

16 minutes ago, Hoopster95 said:

Firstly, I've read all of your posts and really hope you stay safe and come out of this mess with your chin high!

I bet a lot of lurkers have read your predicament but perhaps haven't posted back to you... stay strong and you have well wishers here sending you prayers and good thoughts.

Great post.

[Ourusualbeach]

17 minutes ago, Hoopster95 said:

Regarding your quote above, this has been the general sentiment over and over again by so many here on CC and I don't agree at all. Price is totally dependent on the popularity of the sailing. For as many cruises have gone up in price, there have been so many that people call in to the their TA daily it seems to get a few dollar price reduction as it keeps going down.

 

So for me, this topic has been discussed on the forum for years, and I've kept track of my last 8 cruises. 3 of them were higher than day 1 deployment, 5 of them were lower in price at around the final payment date. All 5 I booked within a couple of weeks of final payment (3 before final, 2 after)

Agree

 

A lot of the problem is that people are comparing bookings made at different times.  Many of the bookings they are looking at haven’t yet been adjusted to reflect true supply and demand while the ones that they were just on they booked either at a low point or had a few price drops along the way.  No way to tell if those price drops will follow on this years sailings or not, only time will tell.  

 

Prices are also high on all the new sailings that Royal released starting last November covering sailings departing from May 2021 through April 22.  Those sailings went up across the board by 15 to 20% from what the releases were the year prior.  It’s easy for me to compare as I can see the group rates and they don’t fluctuate.

 

If people want to find comparable pricing they need to find a TA with access to lots of group space.  Decent pricing can still be had. 

[Hoopster95]

1 minute ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Prices are also high on all the new sailings that Royal released starting last November covering sailings departing from May 2021 through April 22.  

 

I bet RCL expects most everyone with FCC's to rebook at the higher prices for now.

The fire sales will (edit: may) come after final payment and you will see plenty of drive by first-post complainers here on CC 

[Ourusualbeach]

Just now, Hoopster95 said:

 

I bet RCL expects most everyone with FCC's to rebook at the higher prices for now.

The fire sales will (edit: may) come after final payment and you will see plenty of drive by first-post complainers here on CC 

I think the sailings are far enough out that eventually supply and demand will take over and you will see a lot of price drops before final.  Right now I don’t see them adjusting prices up or down on the further out sailings and it wouldn’t surprise me if they have suspended the computer algorithms that make the price adjustments for the time being until the majority of FCC’s get applied. 

 

Short term I definitely see some price reductions, especially after final however I don’t expect to see the reductions that we saw during the last economic downturn where they were giving them away just to get people on the ship. I think it will be somewhere in between and a lot more strategic.  They have spent the last few years reinforcing that they won’t do the rock bottom prices and have changed the way cruisers shop, I don’t think they will throw that away.  They will fill the ships, or try to through casino camps, unadvertised friends and family rates, TA and interline rates etc...

[MightyMike]

I've been monitoring the price of a spring break cruise we are on next year. Pricing has been quite stable actually. Now it's a little more expensive than when I booked, but less expensive than a few months ago.

[Zendeck]

Canceled this years Med June cruise on Allure and rebooked next years except it is on Harmony.  It is  4K more!  I’m still getting a great TA credit but lost a bogo discount. I’m hoping over the year I can get a better deal but I just had to rebook because my 2 boys are counting on it!

[Iamcruzin]

1 hour ago, Hoopster95 said:

 

Firstly, I've read all of your posts and really hope you stay safe and come out of this mess with your chin high!

I bet a lot of lurkers have read your predicament but perhaps haven't posted back to you... stay strong and you have well wishers here sending you prayers and good thoughts.

 

Regarding your quote above, this has been the general sentiment over and over again by so many here on CC and I don't agree at all. Price is totally dependent on the popularity of the sailing. For as many cruises have gone up in price, there have been so many that people call in to the their TA daily it seems to get a few dollar price reduction as it keeps going down.

 

So for me, this topic has been discussed on the forum for years, and I've kept track of my last 8 cruises. 3 of them were higher than day 1 deployment, 5 of them were lower in price at around the final payment date. All 5 I booked within a couple of weeks of final payment (3 before final, 2 after)

 

This virus mess is totally different, and I feel prices will be very  much lower, unless they keep a few ships off the table (they do not sail them right away) which perhaps then makes less supply to match a weakened demand

Thank you for the kind encouraging words.

[sharonna3]

23 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

I find Royal Caribbean is least expensive the earlier you book. Did you book further out last year. $400 increase doesn't sound all that bad. 

I booked in October 2019 for April 2020. Had 1 price adjustment in December and that was it. Never saw it cheaper again.  

Edited March 30, 2020 by sharonna3

[sharonna3]

On 3/29/2020 at 3:08 PM, ONECRUISER said:

Is what is as many rebook Easter/Spring Break(& others) for next yr as drives some prices higher. My Bookings on same Cruises/dates this and next yr Fall are all cheaper then was last 4yrs. Other dates, now received $3000 in price drops on 4 Cruises in last 3.5 weeks.

There actually was limited availability in certain cabin categories😮. Which does make me think that people may have already  rebooked for next yr. I'm not worried and will wait. This was to be our first RC cruise. 

[SJ1_]

On 3/29/2020 at 2:23 PM, sharonna3 said:

So decided to look at next year. Same time frame (Easter), same ship, same itinerary, same cabin and surprise...The price is $400+ more 😪

Noticed the same thing.  A quick glance and I could tell it went way up..

[Norwich Cruiser]

On 3/30/2020 at 12:12 AM, Ourusualbeach said:

Agree

 

A lot of the problem is that people are comparing bookings made at different times.  Many of the bookings they are looking at haven’t yet been adjusted to reflect true supply and demand while the ones that they were just on they booked either at a low point or had a few price drops along the way.  No way to tell if those price drops will follow on this years sailings or not, only time will tell.  

 

Prices are also high on all the new sailings that Royal released starting last November covering sailings departing from May 2021 through April 22.  Those sailings went up across the board by 15 to 20% from what the releases were the year prior.  It’s easy for me to compare as I can see the group rates and they don’t fluctuate.

 

If people want to find comparable pricing they need to find a TA with access to lots of group space.  Decent pricing can still be had. 

Do you know one ?
 

Whoops!

[tennboy1981]

The prices may drop though as it gets closer?  Could always call and get OBC if it drops.

[island lady]

Already booked out for 2021, and in fact had started on 2022...could be good...could be bad. 😮   But if we all start to sail again, I may have saved some money by booking early.  😉 

[Ocean Boy]

18 minutes ago, tennboy1981 said:

The prices may drop though as it gets closer?  Could always call and get OBC if it drops.

Not once the final payment date has gone by.