Sail of the Year pricing increase?

[Isr45]

48 minutes ago, Sunprince said:

This is good to know. Thanks for mentioning it. I didn’t realize that some new releases were priced lower initially.  May I ask how you monitor this? Via notification from your TA, Seabourn email or through your own search?

Unfortunately it is the time consuming task of deciding areas/ship you like and checking each itinerary.

Occasionally it is on this board ie when the 25 day Istanbul to Dubai November 25 was mentioned and the November 25 transatlantic crossing on Ovation.

[Isr45]

Just now, Isr45 said:

Unfortunately it is the time consuming task of deciding areas/ship you like and checking each itinerary.

Occasionally it is on this board ie when the 25 day Istanbul to Dubai November 25 was mentioned and the November 25 transatlantic crossing on Ovation.

Assuming you do realise these are error fares and are eventually picked up and corrected online by Seabourn - good thing is if you have booked it you are fine 😀

[markandjie]

On 3/24/2024 at 8:53 AM, jdk-atlga said:

I'm reminded of the story of the "Goose that lay the golden egg," with the significant price increases across the "luxury" lines. At this rate (or rates), I believe that they are jeopardizing a significant portion of their customers. While we can probably afford the increases, the new higher prices are raising the "value equation" to where alternatives ("premium" cruise lines, land ventures, etc.) look more appealing

 

Might be an unpopular opinion, but I have to say that I find the price increases to be reassuring as it means that Seabourn is (presumably) experiencing sufficient demand that they can raise prices. With all of the capacity coming on the market it will not be surprising to me that we could see a shakeout and several bankruptcies. Would prefer that not happen to my preferred line. And while we'll continue to seek out deals where we can, slightly higher prices in my mind are a healthy indicator for Seabourn's long term viability.

 

Then again, in the US alone there will be huge growth in the over-65 population during the 2020's that I'd imagine is mirrored world-wide...so lots of incremental retirees to take cruises...

[Nops]

Pricing can work both ways, we booked a cruise for winter 2023 which about four months prior to sailing reduced by about 20% (due presumably to low numbers), our TA secured us a slightly better reduction than that. While on the Sojourn Trans-Atlantic in November we booked for Greenland in August 2024 even our TA commented on the great fare. Indeed it was, it is now 50% more expensive. 

 

My conclusion, first look at the itinerary, no good booking a bargain to somewhere you don't want to go, then examine the offerings. After booking keep watching the fares, it is always possible to rebook.

[Isr45]

1 hour ago, Nops said:

Pricing can work both ways, we booked a cruise for winter 2023 which about four months prior to sailing reduced by about 20% (due presumably to low numbers), our TA secured us a slightly better reduction than that. While on the Sojourn Trans-Atlantic in November we booked for Greenland in August 2024 even our TA commented on the great fare. Indeed it was, it is now 50% more expensive. 

 

My conclusion, first look at the itinerary, no good booking a bargain to somewhere you don't want to go, then examine the offerings. After booking keep watching the fares, it is always possible to rebook.

Not simple to rebook if live in UK as lose deposit.

[Vineyard View]

The trip we had booked to sail next month, and had to cancel due to medical, is 28% higher than we booked it for if we were to sail it next year at the same time. In my mind, that is not a small increase. The other itineraries we are looking at for next year are not small % increases either, just since pricing offered in February this year. 
I guess cheers to SB if they keep filling the ships with these increases. 

[Nops]

14 hours ago, Isr45 said:

Not simple to rebook if live in UK as lose deposit.

I am in UK and managed to rebook via TA without penalty. Seabourn and agent were very flexible about this. I think in their T & Cs they indeed give you the ability to take advantage of any reduction in fares.

[Isr45]

42 minutes ago, Nops said:

I am in UK and managed to rebook via TA without penalty. Seabourn and agent were very flexible about this. I think in their T & Cs they indeed give you the ability to take advantage of any reduction in fares.

That is not true re T & C, they state Seabourn may allow you to rebook to another cruise of higher value.

Many examples on this board where Seabourn has refused a rebooking of same cruise and not offered a reprice.

 

[Nops]

2 hours ago, Isr45 said:

That is not true re T & C, they state Seabourn may allow you to rebook to another cruise of higher value.

Many examples on this board where Seabourn has refused a rebooking of same cruise and not offered a reprice.

 

Just relating my experience!

[Isr45]

13 minutes ago, Nops said:

Just relating my experience!

Just stating this is not in T&Cs as you stated 😀

[Vineyard View]

I had an interesting dialogue with the TA we have used for years. I sent details on the price increases that I posted earlier on this thread, including dollar and percentage (ie:28% next vs this year same itinerary/cabin category). I suggested that future pricing more resembles luxury lines which are including excursions (which are no interest to us).  They are big sellers of SB, and they are noticing the same, but apparently the new direction from SB is that this year’s January sales event will represent the best sale/price of the year. 
I sincerely hope that this turns out not to be the case (after all we just started April). Clearly I have no influence, but since we could not book in January, we may have missed out. 
If anyone hears differently, please let us know!  We were sincerely hoping to rebook Seabourn post medical for next year. 

[PrincessTraveller]

I have not heard any specifics from industry professionals but agree that the new price structure resembles other luxury cruise lines that are even more inclusive than SB. We also looked at two similar itineraries on Regent recently.  I used Regent air credit pricing for the comparison.  One was almost the identical price of SB while the second was less than SB.  Was quite surprised.  And, as you point out, other luxury cruise lines include excursions.

 

Last week we booked the lengthier (just shy of 2 months long) cruise we had been researching since December.  Didn't choose SB but we are thrilled with what our TA found both Itinerary and price wise.  We'll look at SB for other cruises down the road, just not now.

[Vineyard View]

18 hours ago, PrincessTraveller said:

I have not heard any specifics from industry professionals but agree that the new price structure resembles other luxury cruise lines that are even more inclusive than SB. We also looked at two similar itineraries on Regent recently.  I used Regent air credit pricing for the comparison.  One was almost the identical price of SB while the second was less than SB.  Was quite surprised.  And, as you point out, other luxury cruise lines include excursions.

 

Last week we booked the lengthier (just shy of 2 months long) cruise we had been researching since December.  Didn't choose SB but we are thrilled with what our TA found both Itinerary and price wise.  We'll look at SB for other cruises down the road, just not now.

I haven’t looked at Regent or SS lately because their pricing does include ship excursions- which we really do not engage with. We chose SB last year because the price point was below those two, but offered luxury without the price of excursions. It was a great fit for us. 
I guess I am not totally surprised that Regent was about the same with these latest price jumps. Excursions are just not our deal. Thank you for sharing this. 

[markandjie]

Revisiting this. Currently in French Polynesia first on Rangiroa and now Bora Bora. Hotel in Rangiroa was technically a four star and we paid about $1000 a night for room plus F&B. Service and food were acceptable...barely. Not close to SB levels.

 

Now at St Regis and getting Seabourn level food and service...for about $4k a night. Larger accommodations, but similar quality to SB.

 

Personally I still think SB fares are priced well. They've gone up, yes, but so have land options. 

[Vineyard View]

Thank you Markandjie for revisiting this. Your timing is interesting as I just spent time today looking again at options for next year - still vacillating between a land trip vs cruise next year in Europe. 
While prices for land hotels in Europe are not yet available for next May, I would say that we would not honestly be looking at a $4/k a night room +F&B. I have compared 5* hotels in a few different countries, based on last month (we want to travel next May), and I think we will be okay. That said, I also would not be looking at paying $4k/night on Seabourn if we go that route. 
I believe that different regions command different price points for ‘expected’ levels of service, so it could very well be that where you are is very different from where we are looking to sail. We experienced Figi, private island in 1999…..it was $1/k night back then. In today’s dollars, the math would be quite different. Our experience last year in Venice with a balcony overlooking the lagoon was similar priced to Figi back then. So, IDK. 
At the end of the day, it doesn’t change the current pricing on Seabourn or where you are at the St Regis. But I do know that with SB it is a huge price increase over the first part of 2024. 

[2SailingNomads]

$4K A night better be in the highest, well not on Regent, suite.  We are doing a land vacation in a few weeks in Hawaii part of it staying in one of the best hotels in the area with an ocean view room.  Add in rental car, $500 per day for F&B and nowhere near $4K. 

FWIW I don't know how with all the new ships (hello Seabourn where are yours on the book? Oh we don't have any unlike Silversea Explora and even Crystal) these prices will be supported.  Some friends got a 70 or so day Seabourn cruise on the Pursuit for under $400 per day for 2.  And that itinerary rocks, if it didn't coincide with other plans we would have joined them.

[Vineyard View]

20 hours ago, 2SailingNomads said:

$4K A night better be in the highest, well not on Regent, suite.  We are doing a land vacation in a few weeks in Hawaii part of it staying in one of the best hotels in the area with an ocean view room.  Add in rental car, $500 per day for F&B and nowhere near $4K. 

FWIW I don't know how with all the new ships (hello Seabourn where are yours on the book? Oh we don't have any unlike Silversea Explora and even Crystal) these prices will be supported.  Some friends got a 70 or so day Seabourn cruise on the Pursuit for under $400 per day for 2.  And that itinerary rocks, if it didn't coincide with other plans we would have joined them.

Which itinerary is this?  Most of the SB Itineraries in the Mediterranean next Spring seem to be ranging from $1,250- $1,500 per day for two in a V2 Suite. 
If we want to bump up to V4, which we sailed in last year, it is obviously higher, as are larger suites. 
Last Spring we sailed for approximately $1k/day in a V4 in the Mediterranean - so a range of 25% -50% higher for next Spring. I would think that other categories are similar in % increases, but I do not have that data.