What happens when ships is 1/4 empty??

[djquog]

How I'd love to find the site Holly2 wrote about to find a complete posting of available cabins on cruises. I've googled, my husband googled and we don't find the site.

 

Jan

[Napi's Mom]

Like all things there are swings and roundabouts. North Americans will find being in New Zealand and Australia a lot cheaper than it was just a couple of months ago. The Kiwi and Aussie dollars have both gone through the floor losing 40% of their value making meals, hotels, gifts etc a lot cheaper than they otherwise would have been for foreigners. Locally sourced tours will now also be even better value than the Celebrity equivalent - always assuming that you haven't paid for them yet.

 

For Aussies and Kiwis there will be good savings for last minute bookings but not as much as would have been the case when the Aussie dollar was at recent high levels. Of course, all shipboard purchases including booze and tours will be more expensive because they are priced in US dollars. As most Australians like a drink :D, this will take away the gloss of a cheaper fare.

 

So my guestimate is that overall it will cost about as much as it otherwise would have for all of us.

Guess what I was referring to is the fact that a $798 cabin,,,,for us leaps to nearly $3000 because of the Air fare, and you won't have that huge a price to fly to & from the ports you embark or disembark from. Don't know why you couldn't get the fares, as several people on the NZ OZ port message board her on Cruise Critis seemed to have gotten very cheap deals!

[Napi's Mom]

If the ship is 1/4 empty, then you should increase your tips by 25% so the crew can still make the same amount as if the ship was full.

"Don't think so Tim":D:D

[The_Big_M]

Guess what I was referring to is the fact that a $798 cabin' date=',,,for [u']us[/u] leaps to nearly $3000 because of the Air fare, and you won't have that huge a price to fly to & from the ports you embark or disembark from. Don't know why you couldn't get the fares, as several people on the NZ OZ port message board her on Cruise Critis seemed to have gotten very cheap deals!

 

The price will be lower in USD, but given we don't have the same specials you have, and the increased local cost after conversion, the local currency effect is certainly similar. We also do have one way flights required due to the nature of all Celebrity's AU cruises which have different start and end ports, whereas your flights tickets cost won't change much with departures/arrivals in Sydney vs Auckland.

 

And in a practical cost of living sense, our currency is broadly similar to yours in terms of how many dollars you need to buy things e.g there's a whole range of things you could measure and locations, but I think your average loaf of bread costs $2-4.00 in your currency, whereas if you buy here it'll cost around $2.25-4.50 in our currency. Thus, when you say it costs $3000 for that cabin in your money, the cost here is going to be about $400 airfare plus about $1900 for the cabin, so about $2300 to us per person for that inside cabin alone.

 

Then any purchases on board will also add significantly to the local cost, moreso than it would for a US traveller, so when you look at the total cost of the trip, including any hotel you've purchased, any souvenirs and tours you've taken, your total trip cost increases much less compared to us in a real dollar value. So, yes, the total US dollar cost would be theoretically lower to us because of the air fare, but we don't get paid in USD so it's the local cost that matters.

[Holly2]

Jan, If you post your email, I'd be happy to send you the info. Sorry, it was so easy when I tried to find it.

[wannuhcruise]

If the ship is 1/4 empty, then you should increase your tips by 25% so the crew can still make the same amount as if the ship was full.

 

You're joking, right? If a restaurant is only half full, do you tip your waiter extra?

[Napi's Mom]

Then any purchases on board will also add significantly to the local cost, more-so than it would for a US traveller, so when you look at the total cost of the trip, including any hotel you've purchased, any souvenirs and tours you've taken, your total trip cost increases much less compared to us in a real dollar value. So, yes, the total US dollar cost would be theoretically lower to us because of the air fare, but we don't get paid in USD so it's the local cost that matters.

 

We make it a habit to spend as little as possible on ship that isn't included in fare. We don't drink alcohol which helps, but others have mentioned bringing their own, and we also pick up water, sodas etc, on shore to put in fridge (can buy a 6 pk for price of 1 soda almost) Never buy their Pictures (now $20 @) tours, locals are better and WAY cheaper, stuff in shops -way overpriced! Don't do the specialty rest. or Spa's. So why go some would say...we go to "see the world" or however small a corner we can in the time we have! Ship is Taxi and hotel, not a destination! Our money is spent ashore.