WOW have the prices increased!!

[jkneern]

After 3 cancelled cruises, I have just booked 2 new ones.

I have several credits and discounts that were applied along with FCC and WOW they both cost a lot more than the originals that were cancelled.

Can't wait to cruise again so this isn't a complaint just more of an eye opening observation.

Vaccinated and ready to CRUISE!!!  Lets Go!

[CaptainWoody]

My original October 2021 Alaska cruise that was cancelled by NCL:  $2606

My new October 2021 Alaska cruise:  $2701

 

Identical promotions and accommodations.

[david_sobe]

Prices are high for sure.  I was doing mock bookings of the Sky in Nov and Dec 2021.  OMG, you could score a balcony for a 4 night for about $500 not that long ago.  On some weeks, a balcony on the Sky is $1000 for 4 nights to the Bahamas.  NCL pricing lumps the Sky in with similar prices for Getaway and other modern ships.  NCL thinks because they changed the carpet on Sky that justifies equal pricing with modern/mega ships.  The Sky does not even have a Haven complex yet their suites are just as expensive per day as the mega ships.  This saddens me because it means I wont be on the Sky again.  With the pricing, I would take any Jewel class, or Breakaway class ship for the same price.

I just dont know where everyone is getting this money. People are panic buying houses 20% over listings.  There are car shortages and people are paying over MSRP.  And yes, people are booking cruises well over what they are worth.  Its a very crazy time but where is everyone getting this money 🤑

Edited May 23, 2021 by david_sobe

[CaptainWoody]

5 minutes ago, david_sobe said:

NCL pricing lumps the Sky in with similar prices for Getaway and other modern ships.  NCL thinks because they changed the carpet on Sky that justifies equal pricing with modern/mega ships. 

There are some who would rather sail a smaller ship for the same price.  We've had better experiences on the smaller ships than on the Epic, which was an epic disaster the first time we sailed her.  Second time not as bad, but still very over-crowded venues.

[rodndonna]

1 hour ago, david_sobe said:

Its a very crazy time but where is everyone getting this money 🤑

 

From all that surplus money we have after having a year of  nothing to spend our money on!

 

 Depending on your age/point in life, as a retiree our discrecinary spending is normally a big chunk of our expenses, but it has been almost nothing for the last year (no travel, no eating out, no casino, no show, no sporting events, no shopping to kill time .......)

 

This really only applies to travel budget though, I don't have any idea what all the craziness in the housing market is all about. That's just bizarre to me.

[david_sobe]

3 hours ago, CaptainWoody said:

There are some who would rather sail a smaller ship for the same price.  We've had better experiences on the smaller ships than on the Epic, which was an epic disaster the first time we sailed her.  Second time not as bad, but still very over-crowded venues.

I totally agree. I love the Sky.  However, the rule of thumb in the cruise industry is a ship that is over 22 years old does not fetch the same price as a newer ship.  NCL is breaking that rule 😬

[CaptainWoody]

3 minutes ago, david_sobe said:

I totally agree. I love the Sky.  However, the rule of thumb in the cruise industry is a ship that is over 22 years old does not fetch the same price as a newer ship.  NCL is breaking that rule 😬

Yep.  I actually like the variety, but the Epic was "too big."  It seemed like they doubled the passengers but only increased dining/shows/venues by about 50%  Everything just seemed crowded.  Getting off the first cruise was a disaster.  People were trying to get on "up" elevators just to go to the top and come back down.  Even that barely worked.  We had to drag our bags down a few decks just to be able to find room on an elevator going up.  Yikes!!  Once we made it to the lower deck, it was a mile long line to disembark (slight hyperbola).  Of course, there were one or two parties cutting in line claiming that it was their privilege.  Just a crappy end to an otherwise fun cruise.  Our only hurry was to get our rental car and get to Cape Canaveral.  It would have been calm, except that we learned there was a launch that day and the parking lots would fill up quickly.  We made it fine but, of course, the launch didn't happen....

[Darcy03231]

Our 2022 Breakaway cruise is now about $1000 more than we paid.

Our 2023 Pride of America cruise has doubled. 

 

I expect that they'll be some fluctuation in prices since we booked so far out, but we booked at a really low point so I'm hoping they don't get canceled.

 

[swmichigan cruiser]

I think probably prices are higher because they know people only have a short period of time to use their FCC before it expires. Just my opinion.

[BermudaBound2014]

Just now, swmichigan cruiser said:

I think probably prices are higher because they know people only have a short period of time to use their FCC before it expires. Just my opinion.

 this ^^

 

The name of the game has always been to wait it out. Pent up demand only lasts so long. I predict very low pricing to come last minute (after final payments). 

[pghflyer]

Yup agreed Joe public isn't paying these prices or in a rush to crowd onto any cruise ships which have been the center piece (unfairly IMO) of disease news stories for the last 15 months

Edited May 24, 2021 by pghflyer

[Cruising Lynne]

I was shocked how much they want for a balcony cabin on Pearl Boston to Bermuda in spring of 2022. Luckily, I was able to book a cabin with my casino voucher. While I prefer a balcony, and will bid on one if they bring back the upgrade program, I was happy to take the inside cabin I was offered through the Casino. The casino rep did not think bidding would happen due to reduced capacity, but we will see.

 

With the money I saved on the Pearl cruise, I was able to justify getting a balcony for the cruise I booked on Prima. I did not have a voucher for the Prima booking. The Prima trip was booked through my wonderful PCC.

 

 So excited for both trips!!

 

[graphicguy]

I think when NCL originally posted cruises that they knew for certain would sail (like the GEM out of Punta Cana and the Joy out of Montego Bay), they had some very enticing fares.  But, it looks like bookings have been brisk on both sailings and the fares have risen as a result.

 

I'm very happy with my August Joy fare.  But, I booked it a month ago.  Today, same fare is 2X the cost.

 

Alaska sailings have alway been on the high side, so those fares don't surprise me at all.

[HBCcruiser]

Interesting, though, I was able to book a '23 Prima NY-Bermuda cruise in the Aft Owner's Suite for roughly $2000.00 less than my '22 Joy NY-Bermuda in an H5 (2-bed Haven Courtyard) Suite.  Same add-ons and perks. Needless to say we cancelled the Joy for the Prima. Better cabin and what a ship! 

[Trimone]

H5 is normal suite, H6 is two bed..

[HBCcruiser]

11 minutes ago, Trimone said:

H5 is normal suite, H6 is two bed..

Not on the Joy. We were booked on 17720 

https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/member/Norwegian-Joy

[HBCcruiser]

[Trimone]

my apologies it looks like the joy has re cauterised the cabins, I stayed in 17718 ending March 2020 and it was a H5, I know they were incorporating the concierge suites into the Haven 

[Sailing12Away]

It all depends on your sailings. Some folks the prices stayed about the same or were lucky to have them drop, others like me saw a 40% hike in prices for the identical sailing and identical cabin. 

 

With regards to the Epic - I'm still in the minority and actually enjoy her. First round we had 3 people in a mini suite and the bathroom situation was not ideal, but we made it work. Second go around we were in a 2 BR Haven room. Night and day difference for minimal upgrade in cost (I snagged a ridiculously low price for the 2 BR room). We waited on no lines, was walked off the ship in under 5 mins when we were ready to leave, had the entire Haven bar and lounge to ourselves most nights with a handful of motley friends we made up there... I would gladly sail on Epic again before I would hop on the Jade again. But to each their own.

[HowardK]

21 hours ago, CaptainWoody said:

Yep.  I actually like the variety, but the Epic was "too big."  It seemed like they doubled the passengers but only increased dining/shows/venues by about 50%  Everything just seemed crowded.  Getting off the first cruise was a disaster.  People were trying to get on "up" elevators just to go to the top and come back down.  Even that barely worked.  We had to drag our bags down a few decks just to be able to find room on an elevator going up.  Yikes!!  Once we made it to the lower deck, it was a mile long line to disembark (slight hyperbola).  Of course, there were one or two parties cutting in line claiming that it was their privilege.  Just a crappy end to an otherwise fun cruise.  Our only hurry was to get our rental car and get to Cape Canaveral.  It would have been calm, except that we learned there was a launch that day and the parking lots would fill up quickly.  We made it fine but, of course, the launch didn't happen....

I personally LOVED the epic but now think about when I got off the ship and it was really early (2011) and around 7am there was mass confusion as to how to let people go. 

[HowardK]

6 hours ago, pghflyer said:

Yup agreed Joe public isn't paying these prices or in a rush to crowd onto any cruise ships which have been the center piece (unfairly IMO) of disease news stories for the last 15 months

I wasn't going to go next year regardless (other things planned), maybe 2023 but now not until 2024. 

I think by then there will be more competition, NCL will have the newer and older ships to fill as well.

By then it would be 6 years in between cruises for me but oh well

[Wink87]

RCI sent an email on 4/14 regarding resuming sailings out of LA for 7 nights to mexico.We booked a JS immediately (on the hump!) and within a month, the fare has more than doubled! 

[whataboutport]

If a fare ever drops before final payment do they issue any credit or refund? We booked for May 2022. I felt it was a little high but it's a family reunion trip so we paid it.

[sverigecruiser]

11 hours ago, Sailing12Away said:

With regards to the Epic - I'm still in the minority and actually enjoy her. First round we had 3 people in a mini suite and the bathroom situation was not ideal, but we made it work. Second go around we were in a 2 BR Haven room. Night and day difference for minimal upgrade in cost (I snagged a ridiculously low price for the 2 BR room). We waited on no lines, was walked off the ship in under 5 mins when we were ready to leave, had the entire Haven bar and lounge to ourselves most nights with a handful of motley friends we made up there... I would gladly sail on Epic again before I would hop on the Jade again. But to each their own.

 

We enjoyed the Epic too. She is the only ship we have cruised on twice and it should have been a third time unless they had increased the Havenprices so much a few years ago. The money we saved when we choosed the brand new MSC Meraviglia instead of the Epic almost paid for our businessclass tickets from Stockholm to Miami for the cruise after that!

[CWMixer]

Last fall we were looking at a couple of cruises for 2022:

1) Alaska B2B on Jewell: 5/30 NB & 6/06 SB, category H4.

NB is now up 14%, SB 23%, combined 19%.

 2) Breakaway 14D NYC > NOLA in Nov., category H7.

Now up 8%.