Wow !! Have the Prices Ever Changed

[baldilocks]

I was looking at what we paid for TWO 8-night cruises. One going to Bermuda and the other doing the eastern Caribbean. Both cruises have the standard balcony. The total we paid was just over $3800 and includes all taxes, port charges, insurance and gratuities. We booked the cruises as soon as they were available....a little over a year out from the departure date. Now that $$$ amount gets you about one cruise.

[Smooth_J]

Never mind the cruise prices, I was looking at the cruise planner for a cruise in July 2024, and I was blown away at the price increases.

[RockHoundTX]

My wife used to check prices daily. Now she checks maybe once a week just to see if prices are still stupid high. Prices are 2x what they were before Covid (and 2.5x the prices we booked 2 years ago). At least for us, cruising is no longer the "relatively inexpensive vacation" it used to be. Add in the little things like increased gratuities, cost of parking (it more than DOUBLED in the last 12 months), etc., and the "all in" costs is even more. Combine that with all the cut-backs and the "value for dollar" just isn't anywhere close to what it used to be. For the last 10 years, we were averaging about 4-5 cruises a year. This year it will only be one (since we booked it last year before the steep price increases). That cruise is now 3x the price of what we paid. Instead of cruising this summer, we are taking a road-trip for our family vacation this year (at a fraction of the cost). Hoping that at some point the supply/demand flips and cruising becomes affordable again for those on a retirement budget (once both Carnival and RCL have paid off their debt since own stock in both ;-).     

[FamilyCruiserUK]

Yeap we look out as far as 2024 for cruises with rcl. As we are UK based we look for cruises around Europe and out of Southampton. More and more ships and cruise lines are coming to our part of the world. Looking at the prices RCL are very expensive compared to NCL, MSC and P & O and for us have priced themselves out of our price range. Even the so called deals, children sail for £99 do not add up as the adult base price goes up, effectively paying the childrens discount. People say "well prices going up everywhere" but RCL have taken it to the extreme. 

[Mapleleafforever]

We just got a great deal for 2 adults and 2 kids on Oasis in a GS. The price of everything is going up though, cruising included. 

[BobNoxious]

I just got an 8 night'er to the southern caribbean with OUTSIDE balcony on Symphony of the Seas for 2 ppl for $2500.  (+$200 for refundable)   Way less than OP's $3800

[HappyTexan44]

Last fall I booked a cruise for Feb 2024.   It wasn't as soon as the cruise was available, but they'd only had up to Mar 2024 loaded.  Some friends recently decided to book the same cruise, same number of people and same cabin class (next to us) and they paid almost twice what we did.  
 

[TwoMisfits]

53 minutes ago, HappyTexan44 said:

Last fall I booked a cruise for Feb 2024.   It wasn't as soon as the cruise was available, but they'd only had up to Mar 2024 loaded.  Some friends recently decided to book the same cruise, same number of people and same cabin class (next to us) and they paid almost twice what we did.  
 

I booked my May 2024 cruise on MLK weekend 2023 - every week I see this cruise climb higher (and yet, if I try to book a room, there are tons of my type available).  I'm glad I got in at the price I did, which is about $2K less than it would cost me for the same 2 interior cabins for 3 now...

[crazyfrazee]

I've been looking for a decent cruise since getting off Oasis in January. I'm not just seeing higher prices but seeing more cruises for undesired ports like Jamaica and Haiti. I figured they must be cheaper for cruiselines to port at. The cutbacks were horrible on Oasis and there's no way I'm paying a higher rate for a subpar cruise.

[kruzerci]

Royal Caribbean is absolutely not worth the money whatsoever at this point for us.

 

Unless you sail on a new ship, the cabins are often worn out and have an ick factor from the old carpet and bedding, the food quality has fallen below anything I would eat at home, massive lines for MDR, and the prices are skyrocketing. 
 

It’s definitely across all mainstream lines, but genuinely sad to see how Royal has fallen since it was our primary vacation company for many many years. 

 

We have more land trips and Celebrity cruises booked. Celebrity has also dropped in quality, but still is a more enjoyable experience. 

 

[TwoMisfits]

19 hours ago, TwoMisfits said:

I booked my May 2024 cruise on MLK weekend 2023 - every week I see this cruise climb higher (and yet, if I try to book a room, there are tons of my type available).  I'm glad I got in at the price I did, which is about $2K less than it would cost me for the same 2 interior cabins for 3 now...

 

And now it's officially a full 2K less...another sale, another $120 ($20/person) increase.  Crazy!

[monorail81]

19 hours ago, crazyfrazee said:

I'm not just seeing higher prices but seeing more cruises for undesired ports like Jamaica and Haiti

You’re not going to see Haiti go away anytime soon. That’s Royal’s private beach compound. 

[mramella]

Yep, it's crazy! I booked Icon for March of 2024 right when the cruise became available via rccl.com. The same cruise is over $3k more than what we locked in back in October of last year (2022). Crazy!

[Mum2Mercury]

I agree that prices are high overall, but bargains can still be had.  We sailed an 8-night recently for less than $400 each, then we sailed a 3-night for $99 each.  Of course, we're retired (and loving it), giving us the freedom to jump on bargains at any time of year.  

[DrProfessor]

21 hours ago, BobNoxious said:

I just got an 8 night'er to the southern caribbean with OUTSIDE balcony on Symphony of the Seas for 2 ppl for $2500.  (+$200 for refundable)   Way less than OP's $3800

 

I think the OP is saying he spend $3800 total on TWO 8-night cruises for standard balconies, so abuot $1900 for each cruise.

[Blue Eyed Belfast Belle]

I can't get over that they are trying to change nearly 85 quid ($102 approx) for 2 sunbeds and a clamshell shade in Labadee.  It is nearly 3 times more than when I last was there in 2018!!

 

[BobNoxious]

1 hour ago, RCFirstTimer said:

 

I think the OP is saying he spend $3800 total on TWO 8-night cruises for standard balconies, so abuot $1900 for each cruise.

Correct, but he is also saying that NOW $3800 gets you one cruise, and my post shows that one cruise is not that high for 8-night southern carib balcony.

[chfenton]

There is so much data now  available to the cruise lines pricing analysts.  Unless demand subsides, i.e. ships sail with empty cabins, I expect this recent  pricing to be the new norm. 

 

Same with airfare, they know what they can charge and planes are still full even though fares have gone up significantly.  

[FamilyCruiserUK]

Its the post covid travel boom. Lots of people still have airline vouchers to use and some have other holiday vouchers to us. Throw in those that didnt have any bookings but had saved money through covid means a boom for travel companies. I do think prices will come down and it wont be long for a price war. 

[HappyTexan44]

Also, I wonder if people have extra PTO time that they didn't use when they were afraid to leave their house?  

[catlady66]

Just curious if those complaining about pricing have paid a bill, bought groceries or went to a gas station or restaurant in the last 2 years?  All prices are sky high right now.  Did you expect a vacation to miraculously escape the inflation that has emptied all our wallets?

[ReneeFLL]

10 hours ago, Mum2Mercury said:

I agree that prices are high overall, but bargains can still be had.  We sailed an 8-night recently for less than $400 each, then we sailed a 3-night for $99 each.  Of course, we're retired (and loving it), giving us the freedom to jump on bargains at any time of year.  

What type of cabin? Casino discount? Makes a big difference when referencing a price. The OP stated their price was for an ocean view balcony.

[jeh10641]

I live near Seattle. For 89 octane gas, I am averaging about $4.89/gallon. Eggs are over $4/dozen. My cruise cabin (large spacious forward looking) that I reserved in April 2022 for October 2023 is now 60% higher and unavailable at any price. That is a transatlantic, 15-night trip. Original price was less than $1,500/person. That comes to less than $100/night/person for room, food, entertainment. etc. i usually reserve an inside cabin (on HAL) for that price which is why I booked it so far out. Air fares are about where I expected them to. To get to Europe from New York City, we are flying on IcelandAir with a short stop in Iceland. That saved about $500 in air.

[JamesEM]

The price increases does not bother me as much as the cut backs in service and food, plus the nickel and dimming.  

[mcatmcat]

Due to prices I went to celebrity’s for the first time in Feb because Royal was super expensive. Oh wow, thanks royal now I have 2 more reservation with celebrity.