Sticker Shock

[NMTraveller]

23 minutes ago, Spif Barwunkel said:

I feel the same way. As for your football team(s) the ladies from England are on to the semis of the Women's World Cup. A tip of the hat and a sip from a pint is due, wouldn't you say?

Having a fine glass of bubbly myself.  Cheers.

[Spif Barwunkel]

2 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

Having a fine glass of bubbly myself.  Cheers.

Cheers to you, NMT. A fine bubbly certainly works.

[phoenix_dream]

5 hours ago, bikerunner said:

Kind of disagree, they are doing what is needed for their stakeholders, ie stock holder.  Will pricing hit an apex, eventually but like many pointed out they are still selling so no reason to pause.  So they lose loyal, they might gain new ones.  Yes we were all spoiled with the prices right after and right before covid.  It's a market adjustment.  There are still good deals to be found, just not as straightforward anymore.  I use a TA for mine and the pricing is fine, 25-30% min off of published rates with extra obc.  

I have never found a TA to be 25-30% off, and for that matter can only rarely find group rates and they often don’t apply to AQ or suites, which are my preference. Too bad we’re restricted from mentioning names because I’d sure like to have the name of yours!

[bikerunner]

Just now, phoenix_dream said:

I have never found a TA to be 25-30% off, and for that matter can only rarely find group rates and they often don’t apply to AQ or suites, which are my preference. Too bad we’re restricted from mentioning names because I’d sure like to have the name of yours!

Agree suites are usually rarely in the group rate.  I don’t do suites as it’s not needed for me at this point.  Room is storage and sleeping but balcony Ie important for those 15-30 minutes  a day away from everyone.  I do get group rates under aq at times but usually fine if TA only offers concierge and I bid up to aq.   It’s not a jig box TA I use.  But one I have been dealing with for many years tied into American Express.  

[MandL]

Four cruises in the last few months with Celebrity. Two in Aqua Class, two in Suites.  We still think Blu has the best to offer.  But, sad to say Celebrity has let us down after many wonderful cruises.  Our cruise in Japan next March on the Millennium will probably be our last.  We are seriously taking a good look at Seabourn.  Their itineraries are much better, and if you price them out they aren't that far off from what Celebrity is going to.  The food and entertainment, the excursions they offer.  It's time for a change.  

[Lynn2629]

Hello, everyone. Long-term lurker here, but first time poster. The topic of sticker shock finally incentivized me to sign up! I too am in disbelief over how high Celebrity is pricing their cruises - and me out of their market. (I’ve been cruising for more than 40 years, and on multiple lines.) 

 

I have been looking for a Northern Europe cruise for next summer, and I found a 10-night cruise through Scandinavia on the brand new Queen Anne (Cunard, to launch May 2024) for $4500 for a balcony stateroom, or $3800 for an oceanview. (Solo pricing.) 

 

I then looked at what was on offer from Celebrity, as my last cruise with them was March, in Aqua class, and I loved it. The cost on Apex was $7700 for a balcony, and $6600  for an ocean view - close to double the price - and $6000 for an interior. (Full disclosure: Apex is an 11-nighter, compared to Queen Anne’s 10-nighter.) Aqua class was something in the $11,000 range.

 

This became a no-brained choice, I can enjoy a $4500 cruise on Cunard in a balcony, or spend $6600 on Celebrity in an oceanview. Cunard wins.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[binro01]

16 hours ago, phoenix_dream said:

I have never found a TA to be 25-30% off, and for that matter can only rarely find group rates and they often don’t apply to AQ or suites, which are my preference. Too bad we’re restricted from mentioning names because I’d sure like to have the name of yours!

I just booked an Aquaclass with my Travel Agent on a Transatlantic  on the Silhouette 13 Nights from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale on November 16th. This is also a holiday cruise since Thanksgiving falls within it.

We are paying $5,518.20 with a refundable deposit and $250.00 OBC. I just did a mock booking on the Celebrity website for the same room and with a refundable deposit, and it was $9,344.20. A huge savings of over 3,800.00 vs the Celebrity website, which equates to about 40% off.

I wish I could help you here on CC, but the rules will not allow it.

[tfred]

1 hour ago, Lynn2629 said:

Hello, everyone. Long-term lurker here, but first time poster. The topic of sticker shock finally incentivized me to sign up! I too am in disbelief over how high Celebrity is pricing their cruises - and me out of their market. (I’ve been cruising for more than 40 years, and on multiple lines.) 

 

I have been looking for a Northern Europe cruise for next summer, and I found a 10-night cruise through Scandinavia on the brand new Queen Anne (Cunard, to launch May 2024) for $4500 for a balcony stateroom, or $3800 for an oceanview. (Solo pricing.) 

 

I then looked at what was on offer from Celebrity, as my last cruise with them was March, in Aqua class, and I loved it. The cost on Apex was $7700 for a balcony, and $6600  for an ocean view - close to double the price - and $6000 for an interior. (Full disclosure: Apex is an 11-nighter, compared to Queen Anne’s 10-nighter.) Aqua class was something in the $11,000 range.

 

This became a no-brained choice, I can enjoy a $4500 cruise on Cunard in a balcony, or spend $6600 on Celebrity in an oceanview. Cunard wins.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

solo pricing is really dependent on ship occupancy - it isn't a public service. .  If the ship is less than full they will offer somewhat attractive solo pricing   RCCL group announced 105% occupancy and I am sure that very few of those are  solo cabins - why would they if they can sell everything with some cabins 

having 3 people?

 

I have seen Crystal Cruise having some attractive solo cabin pricing - you should look at that as well

[81Zoomie]

We recently saw several cruises for Seabourn and Regent in a verandah suite that were roughly 40+% less per person per day than a Sky Suite on the Beyond.  The sailings were all during the same month.  Selecting the smaller more attentive experience luxury lines would be an easy decision for us.

[Gracie115]

2 hours ago, Lynn2629 said:

Hello, everyone. Long-term lurker here, but first time poster. The topic of sticker shock finally incentivized me to sign up! I too am in disbelief over how high Celebrity is pricing their cruises - and me out of their market. (I’ve been cruising for more than 40 years, and on multiple lines.) 

 

I have been looking for a Northern Europe cruise for next summer, and I found a 10-night cruise through Scandinavia on the brand new Queen Anne (Cunard, to launch May 2024) for $4500 for a balcony stateroom, or $3800 for an oceanview. (Solo pricing.) 

 

I then looked at what was on offer from Celebrity, as my last cruise with them was March, in Aqua class, and I loved it. The cost on Apex was $7700 for a balcony, and $6600  for an ocean view - close to double the price - and $6000 for an interior. (Full disclosure: Apex is an 11-nighter, compared to Queen Anne’s 10-nighter.) Aqua class was something in the $11,000 range.

 

This became a no-brained choice, I can enjoy a $4500 cruise on Cunard in a balcony, or spend $6600 on Celebrity in an oceanview. Cunard wins.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THIS!!

7 minutes ago, 81Zoomie said:

We recently saw several cruises for Seabourn and Regent in a verandah suite that were roughly 40+% less per person per day than a Sky Suite on the Beyond.  The sailings were all during the same month.  Selecting the smaller more attentive experience luxury lines would be an easy decision for us.

 

AND THIS!!!

 

And so many more (including my own) talking about the large price differences with Celebrity compared to other lines.  Both comparable lines(Princess) where the price is much lower or higher end lines like Seabourn or Regent which now seem to have comparable pricing but offering a much higher end product with FAR superior itineraries.

 

All this talk about "the ships are full why drop the price" may well be one way of looking at things.  But my thoughts are all those "NEW" people to cruising who are happy to pay the elevated prices will soon become "seasoned" cruisers and start looking around when they become bored with the same old same old itineraries and they see what other lines can offer them as far as price and amenities are concerned.  It will take awhile but suspect it will happen.  When it does Celebrity just might wish they had made an effort to retain their loyal base which seems to be eroding.  

 

As much we've loved the Celebrity product for 20+ years I just can't pay $9.5K plus for a CS on a 12 night Apex TA in fall 2024 when I can book a PH3(far superior suite than the CS) for $7K and 17 nights.  No brainer.  Why throw money at a line just because we have in the past.

 

I'll keep looking at X's offerings....just not expecting much at this point.

[Lynn2629]

53 minutes ago, tfred said:

solo pricing is really dependent on ship occupancy - it isn't a public service. .  If the ship is less than full they will offer somewhat attractive solo pricing   RCCL group announced 105% occupancy and I am sure that very few of those are  solo cabins - why would they if they can sell everything with some cabins 

having 3 people?

 

I have seen Crystal Cruise having some attractive solo cabin pricing - you should look at that as well

Thank you for that idea about Crystal, I might see fit paying Celebrity prices for a true luxury cruise - like Crystal. 
 

I just think Celebrity has no interest in solo cruisers. I was interested in the flash sale that came around for Alaska this summer - with outside cabins going for $400 pp. I figured I would pay $800 - both halves - but when I tried to book, the charge solo in the cabin had shot up to $1800. 
 

Again, appreciate your suggestion about Crystal.
 

 

Edited August 13, 2023 by Lynn2629

[C4HCG]

21 minutes ago, Gracie115 said:

THIS!!

 

AND THIS!!!

 

And so many more (including my own) talking about the large price differences with Celebrity compared to other lines.  Both comparable lines(Princess) where the price is much lower or higher end lines like Seabourn or Regent which now seem to have comparable pricing but offering a much higher end product with FAR superior itineraries.

 

All this talk about "the ships are full why drop the price" may well be one way of looking at things.  But my thoughts are all those "NEW" people to cruising who are happy to pay the elevated prices will soon become "seasoned" cruisers and start looking around when they become bored with the same old same old itineraries and they see what other lines can offer them as far as price and amenities are concerned.  It will take awhile but suspect it will happen.  When it does Celebrity just might wish they had made an effort to retain their loyal base which seems to be eroding.  

 

As much we've loved the Celebrity product for 20+ years I just can't pay $9.5K plus for a CS on a 12 night Apex TA in fall 2024 when I can book a PH3(far superior suite than the CS) for $7K and 17 nights.  No brainer.  Why throw money at a line just because we have in the past.

 

I'll keep looking at X's offerings....just not expecting much at this point.

We are new cruisers, happy with the price we pay, don’t consider them elevated. If and when we get bored we may look at other lines, as will people who cruise other lines may do too, and come to Celebrity. Why do you think Celebrity aren’t making an effort to keep loyal cruisers and what would you suggest they should be doing?

[volk904]

I think you to recheck what you mock booked. I just did a search using my comparison site. The Edge Balcony for 2 on Sept 8 was $1435 PP plus tax & port fees.  I would guess it would be less than $3400 total. Maybe you ran it as the all included package?  I would suggest you use a travel agent and look for a group rate. Their group rates are refundable with no extra fee. 

[Gracie115]

13 minutes ago, C4HCG said:

We are new cruisers, happy with the price we pay, don’t consider them elevated. If and when we get bored we may look at other lines, as will people who cruise other lines may do too, and come to Celebrity. Why do you think Celebrity aren’t making an effort to keep loyal cruisers and what would you suggest they should be doing?

You are a new cruiser so you are unaware of the downgrade in quality in food from prior years. Not just quality but the variety of choices is far less than it once was.

 

On our sailings pre pandemic there was far more live music entertainment, strings trios around the ship, dance music in the atriums around dinner hours(E class doesn't have a real atrium area..though they call it that) late night live music in the Sky Lounge, frequently featuring some of the singers & dancers from the theatre groups to get the crowd going. Some of the ships featured piano bar entertainment(though that ended well before the shutdown). Guitar players in the Sunset lounge.  It seemed there was live entertainment to be found somewhere all through the day and evening.  Not so anymore. So many venues rely on "canned" music. On our 2 post Covid cruises over the last 10 months the daytime entertainment was basically trivia trivia trivia.  

 

The MDR used to have Sommelier's, haven't seen that in a long time.

 

All suites had dedicated butlers, now Sky Suites have a "team" which I don't think will provide the kind of personalized service that a dedicated butler has.

 

Vaping allowed in the Casino.... one of the things that brings (well brought) passengers to Celebrity was it's no smoking of any kind indoors policy.

 

Luminae on the E Class ships is a huge step down from M & S class.  Now just another MDR, just a bit smaller but just as loud.  Service suffers and even the staff when asked which class they prefer if they have worked in all will tell you it's not Edge class.

 

That's just off the top of my head.  AND then the really crazy increase in pricing has us looking seriously elsewhere.  As I stated in my post a TA for 17  nights in a PH3 on Sky Princess at $2500 less per person than on the Apex (12 nights) makes it a no brainer for us.  We work too hard for our money to just throw it at Celebrity because of some misguided sense of loyalty.  

[crusinthrough]

The 6N May 2024 Alaska sailing on the Edge has better pricing than the other itineraries.  

[C4HCG]

14 minutes ago, Gracie115 said:

You are a new cruiser so you are unaware of the downgrade in quality in food from prior years. Not just quality but the variety of choices is far less than it once was.

 

On our sailings pre pandemic there was far more live music entertainment, strings trios around the ship, dance music in the atriums around dinner hours(E class doesn't have a real atrium area..though they call it that) late night live music in the Sky Lounge, frequently featuring some of the singers & dancers from the theatre groups to get the crowd going. Some of the ships featured piano bar entertainment(though that ended well before the shutdown). Guitar players in the Sunset lounge.  It seemed there was live entertainment to be found somewhere all through the day and evening.  Not so anymore. So many venues rely on "canned" music. On our 2 post Covid cruises over the last 10 months the daytime entertainment was basically trivia trivia trivia.  

 

The MDR used to have Sommelier's, haven't seen that in a long time.

 

All suites had dedicated butlers, now Sky Suites have a "team" which I don't think will provide the kind of personalized service that a dedicated butler has.

 

Vaping allowed in the Casino.... one of the things that brings (well brought) passengers to Celebrity was it's no smoking of any kind indoors policy.

 

Luminae on the E Class ships is a huge step down from M & S class.  Now just another MDR, just a bit smaller but just as loud.  Service suffers and even the staff when asked which class they prefer if they have worked in all will tell you it's not Edge class.

 

That's just off the top of my head.  AND then the really crazy increase in pricing has us looking seriously elsewhere.  As I stated in my post a TA for 17  nights in a PH3 on Sky Princess at $2500 less per person than on the Apex (12 nights) makes it a no brainer for us.  We work too hard for our money to just throw it at Celebrity because of some misguided sense of loyalty.  

Appreciate and respect your response. 
 

We’ve not had an issue with food, on our 4 cruises it’s not disappointed. Entertainment good too, but the theatre disappoints with the odd exception. Don’t sail in suites, don’t think they are worth it. Don’t use the casino so vaping there doesn’t impact us. But wouldn’t like it to spread indoors elsewhere, but don’t think this is a problem unique to Celebrity.  Not sailed Edge class yet, but doing that next year in Hawaii, can’t wait. And finally, prices we find acceptable.

 

All things considered, we love throwing our money at Celebrity as we think we get value for it.

[doghog]

10 minutes ago, Gracie115 said:

You are a new cruiser so you are unaware of the downgrade in quality in food from prior years. Not just quality but the variety of choices is far less than it once was.

 

On our sailings pre pandemic there was far more live music entertainment, strings trios around the ship, dance music in the atriums around dinner hours(E class doesn't have a real atrium area..though they call it that) late night live music in the Sky Lounge, frequently featuring some of the singers & dancers from the theatre groups to get the crowd going. Some of the ships featured piano bar entertainment(though that ended well before the shutdown). Guitar players in the Sunset lounge.  It seemed there was live entertainment to be found somewhere all through the day and evening.  Not so anymore. So many venues rely on "canned" music. On our 2 post Covid cruises over the last 10 months the daytime entertainment was basically trivia trivia trivia.  

 

The MDR used to have Sommelier's, haven't seen that in a long time.

 

All suites had dedicated butlers, now Sky Suites have a "team" which I don't think will provide the kind of personalized service that a dedicated butler has.

 

Vaping allowed in the Casino.... one of the things that brings (well brought) passengers to Celebrity was it's no smoking of any kind indoors policy.

 

Luminae on the E Class ships is a huge step down from M & S class.  Now just another MDR, just a bit smaller but just as loud.  Service suffers and even the staff when asked which class they prefer if they have worked in all will tell you it's not Edge class.

 

That's just off the top of my head.  AND then the really crazy increase in pricing has us looking seriously elsewhere.  As I stated in my post a TA for 17  nights in a PH3 on Sky Princess at $2500 less per person than on the Apex (12 nights) makes it a no brainer for us.  We work too hard for our money to just throw it at Celebrity because of some misguided sense of loyalty.  

We only eat in the MDRs. We have no problem building a 5 course meal each evening with the different nightly selections.

 

Plenty of live musical entertainment. Especially in the evening. 

 

Sommelier's are still in the MDRs. Great and timely service.

 

Vaping in the casino's isn't fleetwide, yet. Hope it's a bust. 

 

Looking forward to our two future Celebrity cruises and our one Princess cruise. We've received price reductions on all three cruises since booking them. But we book a year or two out. 

 

 

[deliver42]

We were on the Beyond. The food in the MDR and Ocean View Cafe was very good. We also had a  sommelier in the MDR every evening. The entertainment was a big improvement over the past Celebrity cruises.

[Gracie115]

33 minutes ago, doghog said:

We only eat in the MDRs. We have no problem building a 5 course meal each evening with the different nightly selections.

 

Plenty of live musical entertainment. Especially in the evening. 

 

Sommelier's are still in the MDRs. Great and timely service.

 

Vaping in the casino's isn't fleetwide, yet. Hope it's a bust. 

 

Looking forward to our two future Celebrity cruises and our one Princess cruise. We've received price reductions on all three cruises since booking them. But we book a year or two out. 

 

 

 

 

34 minutes ago, C4HCG said:

Appreciate and respect your response. 
 

We’ve not had an issue with food, on our 4 cruises it’s not disappointed. Entertainment good too, but the theatre disappoints with the odd exception. Don’t sail in suites, don’t think they are worth it. Don’t use the casino so vaping there doesn’t impact us. But wouldn’t like it to spread indoors elsewhere, but don’t think this is a problem unique to Celebrity.  Not sailed Edge class yet, but doing that next year in Hawaii, can’t wait. And finally, prices we find acceptable.

 

All things considered, we love throwing our money at Celebrity as we think we get value for it.

 

Glad you both enjoyed yourself. Obviously, Celebrity is making a lot of people happy.  Good for them.  I've been cruising on X since 1998 so have seen LOTS of changes, some good, some bad. 

Perhaps what we came to expect from Celebrity was/is too much to expect in the world today. 

 

We were younger then and perhaps our $$'s got tossed around a bit more carelessly than they do now.  So we look elsewhere to make sure we are getting what we want.  Maybe there will be another X cruise in the future, who knows. I do know it will not be an Edge class ship.  There is still hope for an S class sailing someday.🙂

 

(oh....there was no Sommelier in the MDR on the nights we were in one in April...or maybe there was and he/she was too busy, we never saw them. )

Edited August 13, 2023 by Gracie115

[terrydtx]

Sticker shock is when a Celebrity Aqua Class and/or a Sky Suite cost more than a Concierge class cabin on Oceania Marina with more days for a similar itinerary.  This is the case with our March 2025 18 night cruise on Oceania VS a 14 night cruise in the Equinox.

[C4HCG]

3 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

Sticker shock is when a Celebrity Aqua Class and/or a Sky Suite cost more than a Concierge class cabin on Oceania Marina with more days for a similar itinerary.  This is the case with our March 2025 18 night cruise on Oceania VS a 14 night cruise in the Equinox.

Looks like you have a great deal there, hope you enjoy it. 

[Jim_Iain]

I know we have all recognized the price increases and some cut backs, but I would expect that we will not see any reductions in the near future. 

 

I read an interesting article comparing the prices of Land Based vacations vs Cruises.   Obviously price increases in Hotels and Land Based Resort have increased at a greater rate than what we are seeing within the cruise industry.   Not arguing about being right or wrong but trying to give it some perspective.

 

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said during the company's third-quarter earnings call that land-based vacations now cost about 40% more than cruises, a number that has stretched from about 20% before the pandemic. 

[villauk]

On 8/12/2023 at 7:42 PM, tfred said:

 

 

PS. It's the first match - long season.  Ask Villa fans how their day went 

 

I’d rather you didn’t 🙈.

[karmamule]

On 8/11/2023 at 7:23 PM, Gracie115 said:

 

The OP was comparing 2 new ships, Apex and Discovery with Discovery being slightly newer and much LESS expensive...so your theory doesn't work out in this situation.

 

If you look at my post I explicitly said I was referring to ships within a cruise line. The op was comparing across two cruise lines and yes Celebrity is more expensive than Princess in general, at least for the pricings I've done. When I said that I was thinking of the skyhigh prices on Icon of the Seas because it'll be the newest/biggest royal ship vs older Oasis class or earlier ships. 

Edited August 13, 2023 by karmamule

[marieps]

I have an aft corner Sunset Sky Suite on Sillie's TA in October.  There's one SS left just below the Sunset Bar for $1700 more.  I'll be happy on Deck 8.