These cruise prices are insanely high!!

[SUgwoz]

46 minutes ago, asctony said:

If we read other cruise line CC Forums, you will find the same issues, comments, remarks.

 

Agreed, my land vacations have increased so I am not surprised cruising has increased as well.  

[Tree_skier]

I’m currently on Harmony. 6600 people aboard. Only 2500 have gold status or above. That means 4100 first time cruisers on this ship. Maybe take away a little for first timers from other lines.  Still lots of noobs driving the prices 

 

 

 

Edited December 19, 2023 by Tree_skier

[budmeister]

44 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

I’m currently on Harmony. 6600 people aboard. Only 2500 have gold status or above. That means 4100 first time cruisers on this ship. Maybe take away a little for first timers from other lines.  Still lots of noobs driving the prices 

 

 

 

Wow! I find that surprising. 

[Tree_skier]

1 minute ago, budmeister said:

Wow! I find that surprising. 

6600 people and at 345 in the afternoon tones of seating available in the solarium 

 

 

[pcur]

Between early Jan 2024 until March 2025, I'm on the Odyssey, Freedom, Radiance, Anthem, Vision, and Grand Princess for an average of $90/night (factoring out my solo supplement I pay). Virtual Balcony, partially obstructed Ocean View, and Balcony cabins.

 

I suggest everyone start going on the hunt for a travel agent with group rates.

 

For instance:  I tried to book with NextCruise on the Liberty last month.  Texted my travel agent who got me the same $100 obc, and a $750 lower rate for a higher category cabin.

 

The prices don't have to be really high; the travel agent has to be really good with group rates.

I agree that direct booking with RCCL is not the way to get a lower price.

[Cruise a holic]

Yes, prices are insane- but since people still are willing to pay them, they will not decrease.  Early booking is the key for newer ships.  If you don't mind the old rust buckets, you might still get a more reasonable price.  Or consider another cruise line.  We are considering MSC for a cruise as their prices seem more reasonable.

[OCSC Mike]

13 hours ago, pcur said:

I suggest everyone start going on the hunt for a travel agent with group rates.

 

This.

[neverbeenhere]

I would say that the prices are quite high. The people paying the prices might be considered insane.

[Another_Critic]

16 hours ago, pcur said:

Between early Jan 2024 until March 2025, I'm on the Odyssey, Freedom, Radiance, Anthem, Vision, and Grand Princess for an average of $90/night (factoring out my solo supplement I pay). Virtual Balcony, partially obstructed Ocean View, and Balcony cabins.

 

I suggest everyone start going on the hunt for a travel agent with group rates.

 

For instance:  I tried to book with NextCruise on the Liberty last month.  Texted my travel agent who got me the same $100 obc, and a $750 lower rate for a higher category cabin.

 

The prices don't have to be really high; the travel agent has to be really good with group rates.

I agree that direct booking with RCCL is not the way to get a lower price.

$88/night SOLO ($62/night dbl occ.) in 4D OV balcony on upcoming Oasis TA with group rates.  🙂

[firefly333]

25 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

$88/night SOLO ($62/night dbl occ.) in 4D OV balcony on upcoming Oasis TA with group rates.  🙂

$101 per night solo. Voyager may 2025 TA. 4D balcony. Actually I'm happy with that price. The next leg is $175 per night inside, $270 per night stay in my 4D. The TA price is good it's any additional legs. 

 

And that's not counting added air flight home from europe. 

 

Same ole Caribbean I think comes out even higher. I'm hoping for some last minute deals once I get moved.

Edited December 20, 2023 by firefly333

[OCSC Mike]

11 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I'm happy with that price.

 

And that's all that should matter for anyone.

 

Some people are happy paying more for cruises than others. That doesn't make one person right and one person wrong. People spend their money on all types of things. It's their money and their choice.

 

(Just so it's clear, this post wasn't directed at firefly, the quote is just there for inspiration of my point.)

Edited December 20, 2023 by OCSC Mike

[SbbquilterUT]

Add to silly pricing for the cruise - flights are nearly the same price as the cruise if flying in from the West coast.

[little britain]

On 12/18/2023 at 7:22 PM, FamilyCruiserUK said:

We also looked at Icon when she was released and Star but the costs are too high at the moment and the itinerary is the same old. We have done Oasis of the seas and really enjoyed it both times around Europe and Mexico. 

 

In the end we booked MSC world Europa out of Barcelona April 24, including grats and drinks for £1700. Two adults and 1 child 7 days. Flights an extra £500. 👍

I looked at Icon the day she came out for a cruise in Jan 2025 when she would be a year old. 

It was £1463pp starting price for a balcony. Now it is £2513pp starting price.... over £5000 for a week to go to PDCC... ridiculous! 

 

Enjoy World Europa - fabulous ship! 

[Lynn2629]

I agree the prices are insane! I just checked out a 12-night Caribbean cruise RT on Odyssey for January 2025, and the price for an overview (as a solo traveler) is $10,000! 
 

So I figured if they’re asking luxury prices, I might as well check out a luxury line. Crystal has an 11-night Caribbean cruise for $6,200 (solo), which is 40% less.

 

 

Edited December 20, 2023 by Lynn2629

[firefly333]

6 minutes ago, Lynn2629 said:

I agree the prices are insane! I just checked out a 12-night Caribbean cruise RT on Odyssey for January 2025, and the price for an overview (as a solo traveler) is $10,000! 
 

So I figured if they’re asking luxury prices, I might as well check out a luxury line. Crystal has an 11-night Caribbean cruise for $6,200 (solo), which is 40% less.

 

 

Having trouble comparing. Overview is a oceanview balcony? I just priced it with DP340 which I used above to get those prices too. $7,600. Still high. My TA would probably have a lower group price to being the rate down further.

 

My TA quotes above plus 1 extra leg are after multiple discounts. The 2nd leg I quoted above as $2700 for 10 days in a balcony, was $5k when I look at booking it direct before my TA helped. The higher the rate the more valuable DP340 is becoming to me. 

[Lynn2629]

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

Having trouble comparing. Overview is a oceanview balcony? I just priced it with DP340 which I used above to get those prices too. $7,600. Still high. My TA would probably have a lower group price to being the rate down further.

 

My TA quotes above plus 1 extra leg are after multiple discounts. The 2nd leg I quoted above as $2700 for 10 days in a balcony, was $5k when I look at booking it direct before my TA helped. The higher the rate the more valuable DP340 is becoming to me. 

In both cases, the oceanview is just that - a window, no balcony. And in both cases, too rich for my blood.

 

I’ve booked a Cunard cruise for $3,800 for a 10-day Scandinavia cruise this summer. Even that is a splurge, but do-able. It seems that the current prices for RC knock me out of the running,

 

For comparison’s sake, I just returned this Sunday from a 7-day on Anthem, The balcony cabin was only $1200, solo rate. But deals like that are nowhere to be seen now.

[firefly333]

6 minutes ago, Lynn2629 said:

In both cases, the oceanview is just that - a window, no balcony. And in both cases, too rich for my blood.

 

I’ve booked a Cunard cruise for $3,800 for a 10-day Scandinavia cruise this summer. Even that is a splurge, but do-able. It seems that the current prices for RC knock me out of the running,

 

For comparison’s sake, I just returned this Sunday from a 7-day on Anthem, The balcony cabin was only $1200, solo rate. But deals like that are nowhere to be seen now.

I'm probably never going to pay $3,800 for a regular cruise unless it's going somewhere like the Galapagos or truly special. If one is too high dont book it, find another. 

 

Do my TA out of port Canaveral it's a lot less. 

[cruiselvr04]

21 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

6600 people and at 345 in the afternoon tones of seating available in the solarium 

 

 

That is just a strange picture for a warm day. The only time I’ve seen it that quiet was on Allure out of Galveston in January going across the gulf when it was 50 degrees outside with 30 mph winds. 

[Lynn2629]

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

I'm probably never going to pay $3,800 for a regular cruise unless it's going somewhere like the Galapagos or truly special. If one is too high dont book it, find another. 

 

Do my TA out of port Canaveral it's a lot less. 

Well, everyone’s idea of “truly special” is subjective. To me, a cruise to the Scandinavian countries and the Norwegian fjords IS truly special, and thus I bit the bullet in paying $3,800. My idea of a “regular” cruise is to the Caribbean, and for that I’d pay $2,000 tops.

[PhillyFan33579]

4 hours ago, neverbeenhere said:

I would say that the prices are quite high. The people paying the prices might be considered insane.

Why am I insane because I continue to book cruises on RCI? If I (and obviously a lot of other people) can afford to cruise even with the current prices, I don’t think that makes any of us insane. It might be the beginning of going back to the “old days” when cruising wasn’t affordable for everyone. However, even I draw the line at paying the current prices for Icon and Star. I can literally cruise on several luxury cruise lines for less than Icon and Star right now. Even though I can afford to cruise on these new ships, I can’t justify paying more for an RCI cruise than a cruise on a luxury cruise line.  

[firefly333]

15 minutes ago, Lynn2629 said:

Well, everyone’s idea of “truly special” is subjective. To me, a cruise to the Scandinavian countries and the Norwegian fjords IS truly special, and thus I bit the bullet in paying $3,800. My idea of a “regular” cruise is to the Caribbean, and for that I’d pay $2,000 tops.

We agree. That's special and worth paying extra. I was just giving a example of special enough I'd pay extra.

 

Or my TA and I'm already over there, might as well add the 2nd leg as a flight to see greece isnt cheap. Might as well do at least a 2nd leg. Debating a 3rd leg.

[goldfish65]

No. 

[bouhunter]

11 hours ago, Cruise a holic said:

Yes, prices are insane- but since people still are willing to pay them, they will not decrease.  Early booking is the key for newer ships.  If you don't mind the old rust buckets, you might still get a more reasonable price.  Or consider another cruise line.  We are considering MSC for a cruise as their prices seem more reasonable.

We'll be on Grandeur, Explorer and Radiance for 6 weeks soon.  I guess we love rust buckets.  Has nothing to do with the prices we just don't like the chaos and crowds at elevators, windjammer, etc. on the huge ships.  Watching people lay on the floor on the sun deck on Symphony last winter because all the chairs were taken at 7AM every day was the last straw.  In fact half those 6 weeks are "free" thru casino comps, we could have chosen any ships and intentionally stayed away from the monsters.

 

As for prices, the lines have billions in debt to pay off after covid, it's not surprising.

Edited December 20, 2023 by bouhunter

[bucfan2]

1 hour ago, bouhunter said:

As for prices, the lines have billions in debt to pay off after covid, it's not surprising.

We're giving MSC a shot in the yacht club...booked it for 1/2 what RCCL gets for a full suite.  Be interesting to compare...hoping they're both of roughly the same 'value', allowing us to double up on the bookings.  They're be some drawbacks, but we have heard the YC blows away Royal's suite area.  We're certainly curious.

[deliver42]

I gave up on Royal's pricing. They give you nothing. I now sail mostly with Celebrity for a better experience in my opinion. I can do an Edge class with drinks, wifi, and adding grats for what Royal is charging on anything Wonder and later with no extras.