Huge Price Increase

[schubes]

Does anyone know the reason for the huge price increase for 2005? I am looking at the exact same ship (NOS), same week, same itinerary, same two cabins (JS and inside deck 10) as we sailed 1 week ago and the total price will be about $2,500 MORE. It is completely apples to apples. I really do not understand this enormous price increase. Anyone with insight?

[jkrislc]

I beleive it's simply supply and demand. Fewer new ships are coming out than in the past and more people are going back to cruising. From articles and posts I have read here, many were hesitant to cruise after 9/11 and it has taken awhile to get passengers back. In addition, with so many domestic departures and domestic routes along both coasts, I believe more people are being attracted the cruising and the ease and perceived safety that this type of travel represents.

 

KLC

 

MONARCH OF THE SEAS

(04/04)

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PRIDE OF ???????-HAWAII (01/05)

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RCI's Monarch of the Seas (01/04)

Star Princess (6/03)

RCI's Rhapsody of the Seas (4/01)

Carnival's Ecstasy (6/96)

RCI's Viking Serenade (1/94)

[PhoenixCruiser]

I looked at ours and it's about $250 cheaper in 2005?

 

Navigator of the Seas 6/26/04

 

[Ocean Boy]

They say Princess is increasing its Caribbean presence by 75%. RCI just brought Mariner on board. Ultra Voyager is on order. No ships have been retired from the Caribbean recently other than the Norway.

 

We will see about the supply and demand and how much of a price increase will be tolerated. There may be a big difference between what they are hoping to charge for 2005 and what they actually end up getting. We will just have to see how it plays out.

[magnumcoog]

This is due to Easter being last weekend in March. If you will look at cruises on each side of this week the prices are much lower.

 

Big Red Boat 1996, Enchantment 1997, Magic 1999, Magic 2001, Magic 2003, Serenade 2004, Grand Princess March 26, 2005

 

Grand Princess

 

[GaryWT]

I agree with Mag, next year your same week is Easter week with means a lot of school vacations the 2 weeks around Easter.

 

3/98 Grandeur of the Seas

4/00 Grandeur of the Seas

2/02 Enchantment of the Seas

04/16/05 Navigator of the Seas

[Family of 14]

The pricing now is higher for that week because it is so early. They will probably go down in a few months before going back up. Keep checking!

 

PS - Just checked mine and the categories are $200 - $300 cheaper pp for 2005.

 

Are you sailing on the Mariner 7/18/04?...Click here!

or HERE!

 

Disney Wonder 3/2000 ~ Disney Magic 9/2000 ~ RCI Vision 2/2001 ~ Carnival Victory 12/2001 ~ Celebrity Millennium 3/2003 ~ RCI Adventure OTS 9/2003 ~ RCI Mariner OTS 7/18/2004 ~ RCI Serenade OTS 9/26/2004

[imosoreal]

I don't know what it is but I see a huge difference in the prices between the time I booked my 2004 cruise in December up until now.

 

Til our Adventure of the Seas 10/03/04

 

 

Triumph -- November 2003

Fantasy -- July 2001

Imagination -- Nov 2000

Fantasy -- Nov 1999

[brn2crz]

I posted a similar topic yesterday,but I was only looking at the Rhapsody.Across the board,for the rest of this year,they have really increased.There are insides in Junes for 1049,and balconies for 1869...The highest price I ever saw last year for a balcony was 1100.

Prices are 400 more on our particular sailing in sept over last year.

I know the Rhapsody is popular,and I was expecting some increases.But in comparison.The Elation,same class basiclly,with bigger staterooms,both from Galveston.Highest price listed all year for a inside is 579...Not sure the RCI is worth 500 more for an inside.

These were not just random,summeror spring break prices.On the ROS..There was one sailing an inside was under 500,one under 600 all the rest are over 700..most be quite a dry dock!!!

Cathy

NCL-Starward 1982

NCL-Seaward 1986

NCL-Norway 1992

Carnival-Celebration 1996

Carnival-Jubilee 2001

RCI-Rhapsody 1999

RCI-Rhapsody- 2003

Grand Princess or Rhapsody ?

2004

 

 

[yarlenna]

Let's see,

prices going up

food quality going down

Fewer people in housekeeping

Could it be that RCI is trying to get a healthier bottom line?

 

Work like a dog. Live like a pauper. Save all your money. Then Cruise!

 

[RickT]

Just booked a Celebrity (hmmm, am I allowed to type that word here) Cruise for next March and as far as I can tell the price is identical to what it would have cost me for this March. I'm hoping the price will drop a little later in the year but if it doesn't I still think I've got a pretty good price.

[dutch]

Take a look at the gas pumps lately? Fuel is at an all time high. I think the lines are hedging their bets. I'm sure the prices will moderate in time.

 

April 10 Nordic Empress

[schubes]

I am very disappointed and am not taking any chances....it looks like an all-inclusive on Playa for our family. Just priced it out and we will save $3,000 over the price of the cruise next March. What a shame, I love cruising and so does my family. Thanks for the responses.

[JustFloatN]

Wow! "saved" over 3000 bucks????? Ive never even spent that much on a cruise total for the 3 of us . I must be cheap.

[schubes]

The price of the March 2005 cruise in the cabins we want will be about $7500.00 (Cat C and inside deck 10). The A-I vacation will be about $4,000. All of the catagories on the March 19, 2005 cabins are outrageous. Even other Voyager class ships are similar in price. It is just too much to pay at a crazy time to vacation. The bright side to this is that it now allows us to try something different.

[brn2crz]

I agree that the oil prices may have something to do with it.But out of the 5 lines that I have been considering and checking,RCI is the only one that shows this much increase.Also,the other Vision class ships are not nearly as expensive as the Rhapsody.(Those on a similar route).

 

Cathy

NCL-Starward 1982

NCL-Seaward 1986

NCL-Norway 1992

Carnival-Celebration 1996

Carnival-Jubilee 2001

RCI-Rhapsody 1999

RCI-Rhapsody- 2003

Grand Princess or Rhapsody ?

2004

 

 

[Hlitner]

The cruise market is simply supply and demand, and brochure prices have little meaning. If you are willing to pay higher prices, the lines will be willing to take your money. If they have unsold space, the old "yield managment" philosophy will find the market flooded with lots of last minute low priced bargains. With an improving economy (am sorry Democrats, but its true), the ship building boom coming to an end, and more folks cruising, prices are going to increase! The question is, by how much?

 

Hank

[mrsbooger]

I too was shocked with the price increases. I was going to be prepared and book while onboard my 3/20/2004 Navigator cruise for 3/19/2005 next year. The price increase was outrageous! Since I prefer a smaller ship than the Voyager Class, I know, I'm in the minority here. I decided against booking. I came home, did my research and am now booked on NCL for that date with ports I hadn't been to, a bigger and better suite, a smaller ship that I prefer, and I SAVED money! I just want to say, Thanks to RCCL for the price hike. Although I like RCCL they are not my favorite line. I'm not one to stick to just one line I prefer to try new ships and lines. And yes, gas prices are out of site. Time to sell the gas guzzling ZUV!

 

Happy Cruising!

 

 Days To Go Until The Sensation!

 

[SpringBreak]

I was also shocked at the price increase in a cruise for next March. The same week in March 2005 as the one I was on this March(NOT Easter week either),it was more expensive pp for an E1 cabin than I paid for a C cabin! Even Buycruises price was higher. When I got home I found out that our school had changed our traditional spring break to coincide with Easter week, and of course when I checked the prices it was another $500 more. Cancelled my onboard reservation as I just don't want to pay that much more or be cruising on Easter Sunday either. I think its time for me to check out Carnival

[cuppy]

I agree with the above posters about Easter. Also you have to remember that March is spring break for college students and break is late next year.

 

View my photos at

http://community.webshots.com/user/cuppyb

 

RCCL - Voyager of the Seas - Canada Cruise

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RCCL - Jewel of the Seas - Western Caribbean

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RCCL - Navigator of the Seas - Caribbean

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RCCL Explorer of the Seas 1-3-04

RCCL Majesty of the Seas 10-27-03

Carnival Ecstasy 5-26-03

NCL Sky 5-19-02

[gene624]

Where are you folks getting info on 2005 trips? I have been unable to get any info, and need to plan a trip to Med in 2005. Already booked this year.

I have asked my TA to find something, but no response yet. Am getting anxious even though it is a long time off.

Gene in Birmingham

[TBRay]

No names here but almost all of the major internet travel sites have cruise listings well out into 2005.

 

My 3 cents worth: (1 cent for a gas hike). If you are fixed on a particular timeframe then I agree totally about the all-inclusive option. But for people with a little more flexibility, I've seen some excellent bargains well into the future.

 

I wanted to book my DW and daughter on a weekend cruise this spring. The rates spiked so high they are actually higher for two people than all four of us traveled last spring. We finally opted for a fall version and found rates MUCH more reasonable. My daughter will miss two days of school with "Plan B" (I'm sure she'll manage) but the cost saving is quite significant.

 

And our next cruise (02/2005) is through a group booking and balconies are running about $200-$250 cheaper than the current internet rates. They will match any rate drops but I'm not holding my breath. We have an excellent rate and a much coveted aft-balcony.

 

And one additional note: We just reached Platnium level and got an extra $100 off of next's year's cabin (balcony and higher levels). It all adds up.

 

So there ARE bargains. You just have to stay flexible and look at all the options.

[GatorWop]

My college spring break is a week earlier next year. The last week of February. I am paying only $20pp more for the Voyager than I did this year. I go for the inside cabins so I guess that makes a big difference. Cruising continues to be the best bang for my buck when it comes to Spring Break destinations and provides for the most fun as well.

 

-Rick

 

Norwegian Sea '94 Bahamas

Ecstasy '96 Mexico/Key West

Nordic Empress '97 Mini-Southern

Imagination '98 Western Caribbean

Carnival Destiny '00 Eastern Caribbean

Carnival Triumph '01 Eastern Caribbean

Voyager of the Seas March'04 Western Caribbean

Navigator of the Seas 08/07/2004....

Seconds Please!! Voyager of the Seas 02/26/2005

[cmjaffe]

Well, I know that pricing through April '05 has been out for quite some time now (at least Sept. of last year) so it's supply and demand. The time to get a decent price is to jump on cabins as soon as they hit the system and then watch for drops in pricing. I'm greatful that I jumped on my winter cruise for Xmas/New Years .. this time I got in on the initial offering pricing.. and have seen 3 price increases already and there haven't been quads avail since November...saved the $$$ and peace of mind knowing I have a choice of cabins in our price range.. now to decide which one ... to splurge on the cabin or save extra $$ and splurge on the extras...

Carolyn

[H2Osign]

Gene624, I booked my 2005 Mediterranean cruise last week. I can't say for certain when they were released, but I first put a hold on my room 3/26.

 

Which one are you thinking of? Like I said we're already booked onthe Splendour.

 

Until we sail again!

 

 

 

and next up Splendor of the Seas

days and counting!