The cost of moving your cruise these days

[BrotherCraig]

So with John Heald talking about how families should look at moving their cruises to a later date due to the protocols / guidelines that are wreaking havoc on the cruise line industry right now, I am sure they know the high cost of doing just that.  For example, we already paid over $6K for our upcoming late-November cruise on the Mardi Gras and we might have to move it to 2022 or even 2023.  The cost difference is another $3-4K for a new booking.  That is steep for a Carnival Cruise.  Not sure many people will do that and more people will go for the refund.  Anyone else seeing that?  

 

Are families really going to dish out more money or will they take the refund?  

[scpirate]

1 hour ago, BrotherCraig said:

So with John Heald talking about how families should look at moving their cruises to a later date due to the protocols / guidelines that are wreaking havoc on the cruise line industry right now, I am sure they know the high cost of doing just that.  For example, we already paid over $6K for our upcoming late-November cruise on the Mardi Gras and we might have to move it to 2022 or even 2023.  The cost difference is another $3-4K for a new booking.  That is steep for a Carnival Cruise.  Not sure many people will do that and more people will go for the refund.  Anyone else seeing that?  

 

Are families really going to dish out more money or will they take the refund?  

I paid with gift cards for the piddly 10% which I wish I hadn't done but I booked pre COVID-19.so a refund is not in my future .I just want to take my cruise and wash my hands of it all. I got other things to do with my life.

[Joe817]

7 minutes ago, scpirate said:

I paid with gift cards for the piddly 10% which I wish I hadn't done but I booked pre COVID-19.so a refund is not in my future .I just want to take my cruise and wash my hands of it all. I got other things to do with my life.

We did exactly the same thing. Paid for the entire cruise(except the $250 deposit) with the discounted Carnival Gift Cards we got thru the Allstate Drive Wise website. We kind of regret that now. But that was pre-covid19 as well. 

[stellarose]

was John hinting that the protocols (95 vaccinated ) will remain for the rest of 2021???

[mondello]

I'd probably be inclined to just take a refund if faced with a 50%+ price increase to rebook. Those prices seem to be driven up by demand but I feel prices will drop back down later on. Always such a big difference over whether we can cruise off-peak while kids are in school.

[kdr69]

2 hours ago, BrotherCraig said:

So with John Heald talking about how families should look at moving their cruises to a later date due to the protocols / guidelines that are wreaking havoc on the cruise line industry right now, I am sure they know the high cost of doing just that.  For example, we already paid over $6K for our upcoming late-November cruise on the Mardi Gras and we might have to move it to 2022 or even 2023.  The cost difference is another $3-4K for a new booking.  That is steep for a Carnival Cruise.  Not sure many people will do that and more people will go for the refund.  Anyone else seeing that?  

 

Are families really going to dish out more money or will they take the refund?  

Are you saying the cruise you paid 6k for will be 9k in a year?😲Mights well take a Royal Caribbean Cruise for that price or a Disney Cruise!!!

[Cruisesfun65]

Surprisingly I got some price drops here and there this week for my upcoming cruises. So it's not all going up.

Keep searching for a ship/date that works for your family but doesn't break the bank.

[firefly333]

Rcl apparently called some cabins on freedom with unvaccinated kids and offered 100% refund and a 100% fcc. This thread is should we take the offer, prices have gone up for next summer.

 

 

[scpirate]

2 hours ago, stellarose said:

was John hinting that the protocols (95 vaccinated ) will remain for the rest of 2021???

2021 is almost half over.im sure the good doctor has another card up his sleeve  to mess everything up. When your 80 years old and you don't want to retire there is sethingbwrong with you..At this point I don't really care anymore .when I retired 6 years ago I bought a motorhome and a bigger pontoon boat.i have a place at the lake.if I feel like going to Cozumel I'll get an air BNB and fly there. No pushing and shoving to get on or off a ship and no one giving you the stink eye for what ever reason.i.like having the full experience where ever I go not the 4 hour abridged version.

 

[mirglip69]

3 hours ago, scpirate said:

I paid with gift cards for the piddly 10% which I wish I hadn't done but I booked pre COVID-19.so a refund is not in my future .I just want to take my cruise and wash my hands of it all. I got other things to do with my life.

Same here. 

[thesmiths]

12 hours ago, scpirate said:

I paid with gift cards for the piddly 10% which I wish I hadn't done but I booked pre COVID-19.so a refund is not in my future .I just want to take my cruise and wash my hands of it all. I got other things to do with my life.

 

We did the same thing,

Difference is.

 

I'm glad to receive the 10% discount.

To me 10% is not Piddly. ($400.00 + saving)

Can't wait for our cruise in Sept.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sailingships]

14 hours ago, BrotherCraig said:

So with John Heald talking about how families should look at moving their cruises to a later date due to the protocols / guidelines that are wreaking havoc on the cruise line industry right now, I am sure they know the high cost of doing just that.  For example, we already paid over $6K for our upcoming late-November cruise on the Mardi Gras and we might have to move it to 2022 or even 2023.  The cost difference is another $3-4K for a new booking.  That is steep for a Carnival Cruise.  Not sure many people will do that and more people will go for the refund.  Anyone else seeing that?  

 

Are families really going to dish out more money or will they take the refund?  

Last year during the cancellations someone mentioned something called ''lift and shift'' that involved Carnival allowing a new booking for the same ship/itinerary at the same 2018/19 price.

[Cruisesfun65]

8 minutes ago, sailingships said:

Last year during the cancellations someone mentioned something called ''lift and shift'' that involved Carnival allowing a new booking for the same ship/itinerary at the same 2018/19 price.

Lift and Shift was offered by Royal Caribbean, not Carnival. 

[wemjam]

14 hours ago, BrotherCraig said:

So with John Heald talking about how families should look at moving their cruises to a later date due to the protocols / guidelines that are wreaking havoc on the cruise line industry right now, I am sure they know the high cost of doing just that.  For example, we already paid over $6K for our upcoming late-November cruise on the Mardi Gras and we might have to move it to 2022 or even 2023.  The cost difference is another $3-4K for a new booking.  That is steep for a Carnival Cruise.  Not sure many people will do that and more people will go for the refund.  Anyone else seeing that?  

 

Are families really going to dish out more money or will they take the refund?  

This is unfortunate for sure!  I am wondering since you said late November if it isn't because it coincides with Thanksgiving time frame.  We have a cruise that week booked for this year and since I price watch to look for drops, I have noticed it has gone up a lot too... not as much as you are saying yours has as compared to next year, but still a couple hundred dollars.

 

Most people are likely in one of three camps. 1.  Don't care what it costs will just cruise when they want regardless.  2.  Cost sensitive, but still want to cruise so likely would find a cheaper cruise to roll over to (instead of trying to book exactly the same sailing next year - I am sure there are cheaper alternative during the year).  3.  Just giving up and throwing in the towel and getting refunds.

 

Just depends on your personal preference I guess.  Me I would still cruise for sure, just would find a different one that wasn't so much more expensive.

 

We actually had a family cruise of 3 rooms booked in October of this year, and decided to move to a different ship/sailing one week later since we were worried the Pride may not be sailing by then out of Baltimore... actually worked in our favor.  Got a way better ship and everyone got money back as OBC cause the cruise price was less per cabin.  So there can be a silver lining.

[BrotherCraig]

13 hours ago, stellarose said:

was John hinting that the protocols (95 vaccinated ) will remain for the rest of 2021???

 

No but Carnival reps are suggesting that families move their cruise to at least Spring 2022.  Hopefully they will announce what the plan is for the rest of the year.  Pins and needles here for a lot of folks.

[BrotherCraig]

13 hours ago, kdr69 said:

Are you saying the cruise you paid 6k for will be 9k in a year?😲Mights well take a Royal Caribbean Cruise for that price or a Disney Cruise!!!

 

 

Correct.  All of the cruise lines have high prices right now.  Disney went way up as well.  Pent up demand.

[BrotherCraig]

1 hour ago, sailingships said:

Last year during the cancellations someone mentioned something called ''lift and shift'' that involved Carnival allowing a new booking for the same ship/itinerary at the same 2018/19 price.

 

Yeah, wish they would do that.  We were booked on the first cancelled cruise in March 2020.  Then moved it, and then moved it again.  With each move, the price went up.  End up paying around $2000 more in the end.  Now, might be forced to move again but would have to throw more money into it.  Not going to do that.

[BrotherCraig]

1 hour ago, wemjam said:

This is unfortunate for sure!  I am wondering since you said late November if it isn't because it coincides with Thanksgiving time frame.  We have a cruise that week booked for this year and since I price watch to look for drops, I have noticed it has gone up a lot too... not as much as you are saying yours has as compared to next year, but still a couple hundred dollars.

 

Most people are likely in one of three camps. 1.  Don't care what it costs will just cruise when they want regardless.  2.  Cost sensitive, but still want to cruise so likely would find a cheaper cruise to roll over to (instead of trying to book exactly the same sailing next year - I am sure there are cheaper alternative during the year).  3.  Just giving up and throwing in the towel and getting refunds.

 

Just depends on your personal preference I guess.  Me I would still cruise for sure, just would find a different one that wasn't so much more expensive.

 

We actually had a family cruise of 3 rooms booked in October of this year, and decided to move to a different ship/sailing one week later since we were worried the Pride may not be sailing by then out of Baltimore... actually worked in our favor.  Got a way better ship and everyone got money back as OBC cause the cruise price was less per cabin.  So there can be a silver lining.

 

Yes, Thanksgiving.  We knew when we moved our cruise to that one that it will be a higher price and we paid that without hesitation.  Now, we are looking at March, mid-May, first week of June, and Thanksgiving again for 2022 or 2023 - all thousands higher. Might have to pay close to $12000 for a family of 6 to cruise when you add gratuities, etc.  That is a lot of change for a 7 day cruise.  Rather spend two week on a Caribbean island in a luxury all-inclusive resort if that is the case.  LMAO!

Plus, we have $1350 OBC.  Hate to give that up.

Edited July 13, 2021 by BrotherCraig

[firefly333]

1 hour ago, BrotherCraig said:

With each move, the price went up.  End up paying around $2000 more in the end.  

I resemble that. In the covid beginning carnival has such great deals .. got refunds on all but one, rebooked higher, canc, rebooked higher. I think most not on casino deals booked higher several times. If it werent for the obc I personally wouldnt have paid what I paid for vista.

 

Breeze was a deal, not a rebooking, no obc. But it's a 4/5 day ship they were filling up. Hence b2b, not a 7 day cruise. 10 days total now. Cheaper than vista. So there are deals, but not many if you arent getting casino deals.

 

Lol carnival isnt even trying to tempt me to book more with them. Let's see if there are more cancellations by families and maybe some deals later. Right now carnival is pushing me at rcl.

[BrotherCraig]

9 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I resemble that. In the covid beginning carnival has such great deals .. got refunds on all but one, rebooked higher, canc, rebooked higher. I think most not on casino deals booked higher several times. If it werent for the obc I personally wouldnt have paid what I paid for vista.

 

Breeze was a deal, not a rebooking, no obc. But it's a 4/5 day ship they were filling up. Hence b2b, not a 7 day cruise. 10 days total now. Cheaper than vista. So there are deals, but not many if you arent getting casino deals.

 

Lol carnival isnt even trying to tempt me to book more with them. Let's see if there are more cancellations by families and maybe some deals later. Right now carnival is pushing me at rcl.

 

Yep.  It is a little crazy to me.  If we move our cruise until March 2022, our 7 day cruise goes from $6K to $8K for our family.  Our $1200 OBC will move over and we would pick up an additional $400 OBC.  So that helps a little with the difference but not much.  If we move it to June, goes up to almost $10K for the cruise.  No win here - no compromise - just a big middle finger it seems.  Too bad they could not accommodate and let people with full fare cruises to move without additional cruise fare added.  Simple move.

[BeachHopper]

2 hours ago, BrotherCraig said:

 

Yep.  It is a little crazy to me.  If we move our cruise until March 2022, our 7 day cruise goes from $6K to $8K for our family.  Our $1200 OBC will move over and we would pick up an additional $400 OBC.  So that helps a little with the difference but not much.  If we move it to June, goes up to almost $10K for the cruise.  No win here - no compromise - just a big middle finger it seems.  Too bad they could not accommodate and let people with full fare cruises to move without additional cruise fare added.  Simple move.

Are you planning on cancelling/moving your cruise by a certain date or are you holding out hope that Carnival will offer an incentive to cancel/move similar to the RCL posting above? 

[BrotherCraig]

1 minute ago, BeachHopper said:

Are you planning on cancelling/moving your cruise by a certain date or are you holding out hope that Carnival will offer an incentive to cancel/move similar to the RCL posting above? 

 

They already gave us $1200 OBC as an incentive when we moved last year.  We moved again and carried that OBC over to this current one.  They will move it again if we decide to move our cruise to March or June or whenever.  Just holding out hope that restrictions will loosen up by mid November but I doubt they will.  We have decided to move our cruise to March but ugh -- it sucks.  Plus, we have to pay $2000 more when we rebook for March.  Was hoping for a clean move like RCL but doesn't seem like that will be offered - although it should.

[BeachHopper]

1 minute ago, BrotherCraig said:

 

They already gave us $1200 OBC as an incentive when we moved last year.  We moved again and carried that OBC over to this current one.  They will move it again if we decide to move our cruise to March or June or whenever.  Just holding out hope that restrictions will loosen up by mid November but I doubt they will.  We have decided to move our cruise to March but ugh -- it sucks.  Plus, we have to pay $2000 more when we rebook for March.  Was hoping for a clean move like RCL but doesn't seem like that will be offered - although it should.

Ugh, that stinks. I'm sorry. We're almost certainly canceling. My daughter will have just turned 2 at the time of our cruise and I was hoping protocol would change so that she wouldn't have to be nasal swabbed, and would be allowed off the ship with us to sight see on our own, but it's looking less and less likely. With my luck we'll cancel, and the next day they'll offer some special incentive haha

[BrotherCraig]

3 minutes ago, BeachHopper said:

Ugh, that stinks. I'm sorry. We're almost certainly canceling. My daughter will have just turned 2 at the time of our cruise and I was hoping protocol would change so that she wouldn't have to be nasal swabbed, and would be allowed off the ship with us to sight see on our own, but it's looking less and less likely. With my luck we'll cancel, and the next day they'll offer some special incentive haha

 

 

Yeah, that is the issue.  Afraid if I cancel now and rebook, then they will change the protocols again.  lol  Ugh!  Hope it works out for you.   Crazy times!

[BrotherCraig]

Well, we went ahead and held two cabins for now.  Best we can do is interior cabins together. I never had an interior.  So, going from two balconies together on the MG ship to two interior cabins - still have to pay an additional $1600 to switch.  Would pay a hefty price for a downgrade.  But we will have $1600 OBC now so there is a sunny side of things.  LOL!