HMC Villas are listed as $999.99 now?!?!

[audcc77]

3 hours ago, wemjam said:

So, this could be back firing on them already.  I was curious so I looked, we cruise in 18 days and there are still Cabanas and Villas available at the $699, $999 rate.

Ahh, yes.  
 

Price-chicken has already begun. 🐓 

[wemjam]

13 minutes ago, audcc77 said:

Ahh, yes.  
 

Price-chicken has already begun. 🐓 

Just have to say this... your baby in the picture looks like ours we lost a year ago.  So cute!

[wemjam]

51 minutes ago, momof3cruisers said:

I know that about Carnival. In the past we’ve always gotten a cabana. (Although that isn’t happening at these prices!) However, my sisters rented a cabana while sailing with Holland America. They did not have to go to the buffet. They had a butler type person assigned to them who checked in regularly throughout the day, brought food beyond the provided snacks etc. I guess I’ll have to ask on the Holland board if they still do that. 

Well son of a gun!  So Holland has butlers for the same price... well that sucks the big one lol!  I want my Jeeve's

Edited May 2, 2023 by wemjam

[BlerkOne]

2 hours ago, momof3cruisers said:

I know that about Carnival. In the past we’ve always gotten a cabana. (Although that isn’t happening at these prices!) However, my sisters rented a cabana while sailing with Holland America. They did not have to go to the buffet. They had a butler type person assigned to them who checked in regularly throughout the day, brought food beyond the provided snacks etc. I guess I’ll have to ask on the Holland board if they still do that. 

For an upgrade charge

 

Butler Service Upgrade Package for Beach Villas

 

This special service upgrade is available to those guests who have purchased a Half Moon Cay Beach Villa Package (guests who are waitlisted for a Beach Villa should not purchase this upgrade until they have cleared the waitlist and secured a confirmed Beach Villa booking). The Butler Service Upgrade Package includes:

- Unlimited beverages available from the various bars on Half Moon Cay. Drinks made from house brand liquor, all beers, soft drinks, bottled water and wine.

- A picnic lunch consisting of appetizer, entree, and dessert.

- Butler escort from your cabin to assist you from ship to shore.

- Your Butler will see to whatever needs you have on the island including shopping from the island shops and any Shore Excursions bookings you may like to make on Half Moon Cay. The Butler Service Upgrade Package price is applicable for up to 8 guests. For groups of more than 8 guests, each additional guest must purchase an Extra Person Surcharge for the Butler Service Upgrade.

[BlerkOne]

2 hours ago, wemjam said:

Well son of a gun!  So Holland has butlers for the same price... well that sucks the big one lol!  I want my Jeeve's

A sneaky way to count the number of guests in a villa.

[wemjam]

30 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

For an upgrade charge

 

Butler Service Upgrade Package for Beach Villas

 

This special service upgrade is available to those guests who have purchased a Half Moon Cay Beach Villa Package (guests who are waitlisted for a Beach Villa should not purchase this upgrade until they have cleared the waitlist and secured a confirmed Beach Villa booking). The Butler Service Upgrade Package includes:

- Unlimited beverages available from the various bars on Half Moon Cay. Drinks made from house brand liquor, all beers, soft drinks, bottled water and wine.

- A picnic lunch consisting of appetizer, entree, and dessert.

- Butler escort from your cabin to assist you from ship to shore.

- Your Butler will see to whatever needs you have on the island including shopping from the island shops and any Shore Excursions bookings you may like to make on Half Moon Cay. The Butler Service Upgrade Package price is applicable for up to 8 guests. For groups of more than 8 guests, each additional guest must purchase an Extra Person Surcharge for the Butler Service Upgrade.

There's the catch!   So how much extra is this?  so you pay $999 for villa (current price anyhow) and how much more for this?

Edited May 2, 2023 by wemjam

[KmomChicago]

20 minutes ago, wemjam said:

There's the catch!   So how much extra is this?  so you pay $999 for villa (current price anyhow) and how much more for this?

 

[KmomChicago]

22 minutes ago, wemjam said:

There's the catch!   So how much extra is this?  so you pay $999 for villa (current price anyhow) and how much more for this?

Okay not really that other answer. 

[icft]

5 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

Okay not really that other answer. 

Ummm... Is "Butler Service" code for something else?

[KmomChicago]

3 minutes ago, icft said:

Ummm... Is "Butler Service" code for something else?

 

Right, it doesn't seem like you're getting much value for your $400, but then, I assume that price point would still not quite touch what you "might" be getting at. 

[icft]

9 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

 

Right, it doesn't seem like you're getting much value for your $400, but then, I assume that price point would still not quite touch what you "might" be getting at. 

Yeah, but I've played this game with my wife before. "Starting At" means à la carte and the upsell is what gets you.

[momof3cruisers]

7 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

 

Right, it doesn't seem like you're getting much value for your $400, but then, I assume that price point would still not quite touch what you "might" be getting at. 

They are charging $700 for a three sided hut, how much were you hoping for for $400?? 😂 Better drink up I guess!

[wemjam]

12 hours ago, icft said:

Yeah, but I've played this game with my wife before. "Starting At" means à la carte and the upsell is what gets you.

That's what I was thinking too.. "starting at."  So $400 may or may not include everything - like all you can drink.  So for a Villa you are talking a cool grand for it, then at least $400 more for a butler.  Sorry for that price I will get my own food and $400 buys a lot of liquor - more than I can drink! (if that is even fully included in that price)

[wemjam]

Curiosity got the best of me, so went to see exactly what is left for our sailing in just over 2 weeks.

 

3 Villas

6 Cabana's

1 Private Oasis

 

Think the increased pricing really is impacting it, I can't recall ever seeing any Cabanas or Villas, or even the Private Oasis open this close to sailing.  If it didn't mean walking the entire length of the beach I would would see how many sit empty the day we get there lol.

 

I hope, since I love these, they find they have priced people right out of buying and bring it back down a notch.

 

 

[missholly24]

23 hours ago, wemjam said:

Well son of a gun!  So Holland has butlers for the same price... well that sucks the big one lol!  I want my Jeeve's

Holland has the VILLAS for $699. The Cabana at Carnival is $699 no butler option, Villa 999 no butler. Just to clarify double annoying!! 

 

1 hour ago, wemjam said:

Curiosity got the best of me, so went to see exactly what is left for our sailing in just over 2 weeks.

 

3 Villas

6 Cabana's

1 Private Oasis

 

Think the increased pricing really is impacting it, I can't recall ever seeing any Cabanas or Villas, or even the Private Oasis open this close to sailing.  If it didn't mean walking the entire length of the beach I would would see how many sit empty the day we get there lol.

 

I hope, since I love these, they find they have priced people right out of buying and bring it back down a notch.

 

 

We still have them available for ours in Feb. Both types. The Private Oasis was booked right away. 

[wemjam]

3 minutes ago, missholly24 said:

Holland has the VILLAS for $699. The Cabana at Carnival is $699 no butler option, Villa 999 no butler. Just to clarify double annoying!! 

 

 

Well that is even more annoying.  So the Villa is $699, the same price as the Cabana on Carnival.  No butler,  higher price...What gives? 😁

[missholly24]

1 minute ago, wemjam said:

Well that is even more annoying.  So the Villa is $699, the same price as the Cabana on Carnival.  No butler,  higher price...What gives? 😁

Yes you can check right on their website! haha...they actually own the island I believe. 

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, missholly24 said:

Holland has the VILLAS for $699. The Cabana at Carnival is $699 no butler option, Villa 999 no butler. Just to clarify double annoying!! 

And the price of a Holland cruise compared to Carnival?

 

1 hour ago, missholly24 said:

We still have them available for ours in Feb. Both types. The Private Oasis was booked right away. 

 

[momof3cruisers]

49 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

And the price of a Holland cruise compared to Carnival?

 

 

That is the catch right there! Carnival’s strategy seems to be to get bodies on the ship and then upsell as much as possible. Which is fine. If people will pay it, then why not?

[n6uqqq]

3 hours ago, wemjam said:

Curiosity got the best of me, so went to see exactly what is left for our sailing in just over 2 weeks.

 

3 Villas

6 Cabana's

1 Private Oasis

 

Think the increased pricing really is impacting it, I can't recall ever seeing any Cabanas or Villas, or even the Private Oasis open this close to sailing.  If it didn't mean walking the entire length of the beach I would would see how many sit empty the day we get there lol.

 

I hope, since I love these, they find they have priced people right out of buying and bring it back down a notch.

 

 

How much is the Oasis now? It was 1599 for our February cruise.

[Jamman54]

10 minutes ago, n6uqqq said:

How much is the Oasis now? It was 1599 for our February cruise.

2K.

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, momof3cruisers said:

That is the catch right there! Carnival’s strategy seems to be to get bodies on the ship and then upsell as much as possible. Which is fine. If people will pay it, then why not?

There really isn't a catch. Carnival doesn't make money off of cabins, they make it off of onboard spend. Another cruise line might choose to collect upfront before you get on the ship.

 

A business has to make money somewhere.

[staceyglow]

7 hours ago, wemjam said:

Curiosity got the best of me, so went to see exactly what is left for our sailing in just over 2 weeks.

 

3 Villas

6 Cabana's

1 Private Oasis

 

Think the increased pricing really is impacting it, I can't recall ever seeing any Cabanas or Villas, or even the Private Oasis open this close to sailing.  If it didn't mean walking the entire length of the beach I would would see how many sit empty the day we get there lol.

 

I hope, since I love these, they find they have priced people right out of buying and bring it back down a notch.

 

 

At the current prices, Carnival could sell none of  the remaining cabanas or villas and they will still be making more money than they would have at the old price. 

 

Now that doesn't mean that they may lower the price of the remaining units in order to get a sellout.  But they may also decide to comp them to some of the big gamblers on board.  Casinos do that type of thing all the time.

[BlerkOne]

8 hours ago, wemjam said:

Curiosity got the best of me, so went to see exactly what is left for our sailing in just over 2 weeks.

 

3 Villas

6 Cabana's

1 Private Oasis

 

Think the increased pricing really is impacting it, I can't recall ever seeing any Cabanas or Villas, or even the Private Oasis open this close to sailing.  If it didn't mean walking the entire length of the beach I would would see how many sit empty the day we get there lol.

 

I hope, since I love these, they find they have priced people right out of buying and bring it back down a notch.

 

 

All you have to do is check with shore excursions the day before to see how many are left, if any, and if there was a price reduction once on the ship. We look forward to your report. 😉

[momof3cruisers]

6 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

There really isn't a catch. Carnival doesn't make money off of cabins, they make it off of onboard spend. Another cruise line might choose to collect upfront before you get on the ship.

 

A business has to make money somewhere.

I didn’t mean catch as in a trick simply that the money is coming from somewhere.