Why Are Royal Carib's Fares Out Of Line?

[JKrise]

I have been comparing cruise prices..doing an apples-to-apples comparison, inside / outside cabins across various lines, Carnival, NCL, MSC and Royal for more or less the same 7 day routes and month.

 

Anyways, it appears to me that Royal Carib's fares are significantly higher than the competition. Just wondering, does anyone have an idea why this is?

 

Thanks in advance.

[DanJ]

Fares for RCI's newest ships also are a lot higher than their older ships, let alone compared to other lines. Demand is high for the Oasis, as well the as the Freedom, Liberty and Independence. I've also read that while their advance fares are much higher, people tend to see more price drops with them as the cruise approaches.

[GottaLuvCruising]

I have been comparing cruise prices..doing an apples-to-apples comparison, inside / outside cabins across various lines, Carnival, NCL, MSC and Royal for more or less the same 7 day routes and month.

 

Anyways, it appears to me that Royal Carib's fares are significantly higher than the competition. Just wondering, does anyone have an idea why this is?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Hi JKrise,

 

Your name caught my eye as my maiden name was Krise (not particularly common). Any family in Pennsylvania?

 

IMHO (in response to your question), Royal Caribbean thinks they offer a superior cruise experience which warrants a higher fare. To keep their quality up, they need to charge more. To some extent, I agree on both counts, but I think they are pushing it too far and will regret it.

 

Janet

[JanineM]

A few months ago, RCI's CEO made a statement that they would NOT be discounting fares in response to the current economic conditions. Other cruiselines have made different decisions.

 

It is a business decision and whether or not it works to RCI's favour remains to be seen. I am a shareholder and hope that the CEO made the right decision.

 

BTW --- we still choose to pay more to sail on RCI or Celebrity (same company) versus Carnival, Princess or Norwegian. I guess they're betting on people like us!

[JKrise]

Janet,

Agreeded, Krise is not a common name. Usually I can trace the family branch to the main family trr trunk. Did some family tracing in the past. Three generations ago (1890s-1920s), most of the 'Krise's' that I traced came from Eastern/Central Penn area----south of Scranton. Lumberjacks and Coalminers. My Grandfather moved to Binghamton NY, 60 miles north of Scranton.

- Jim

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

You posted this same question at the Royal Caribbean folder, I see.

 

Anway, my answer would be cruiselines charge what the traffic will bare. If RCI starts to lose business as a result, fares will come down.

 

By the way, I think it is hard to compare "apples to apples" on a cruiseline because there are tangible and intangible differences other than just the basic fare for a certain class of room.

 

For example, on NCL, the basic room fare is quite low, but except for the buffet and two main dining rooms, the rest of the dining venues are extra pay.

 

Another example in my opinion, NCL's private island Great Stirrup Cay is not as nice as RCI's private island Coco Cay even though they are side-by-side. That said, many say the BEST private island is Disney's.

 

Another example...Disney's fares seem very high, but they do not have a casino. So, you see, that an 'apples to apples" comparison is quite difficult because room fare alone does not begin to reflect the entire cruise experience.

[GottaLuvCruising]

Janet,

Agreeded, Krise is not a common name. Usually I can trace the family branch to the main family trr trunk. Did some family tracing in the past. Three generations ago (1890s-1920s), most of the 'Krise's' that I traced came from Eastern/Central Penn area----south of Scranton. Lumberjacks and Coalminers. My Grandfather moved to Binghamton NY, 60 miles north of Scranton.

- Jim

 

Hi Jim,

 

There is likely a connection someplace! My family is from the Dysart / Patton / St. Augustine PA area (west of Altoona). Good Catholics...there are plenty of them in those parts. Several of my aunts and uncles live on "Krise Lane" where my grandfather's land was divided up for his kids. I was on a conference cruise once when an award was announced for "Ray Krise". I sought him out at the cocktail party and, sure enough, his father was my grandfather's brother. He lived in CA; I lived in FL. But we both had roots in PA.

 

BTW - both my husband and I served in the Coast Guard Reserve.

 

Janet

[matj2000]

I always look for value.

I was checking out Spring Break 2010. My choices were. Drive 1 hour to Galveston and hop on the Voyager and do the tired Western Itinerary. Or fly to Florida and do NCL, Carnival, HAL, MSC, or Costa, and have multiple itinerary choices.

For my family of 4, it is still $2000 cheaper to go to Florida(even after airfair, ground transportion, ect ) than to go on RC. I cannot justify paying those 3rd & 4th person fees......

[JKrise]

Matj2000....I too am a 'Value' consumer. My wife and I have also done (and still do) the cost analysis exercise before every cruise.

[JKrise]

Janet,

 

Semper Paratus ! !

 

- IT1 JKrise

[BonnieVA]

My family & I would love to try one of RCL's newer, modern ships but we can't justify the cost over other lines that provide just what we need/want in a cruise.

[GottaLuvCruising]

Janet,

 

Semper Paratus ! !

 

- IT1 JKrise

 

SK3 here. Hubby was MK1 (after six years MM1 USN).

[GORDONCHICK]

I always look for value.

I was checking out Spring Break 2010. My choices were. Drive 1 hour to Galveston and hop on the Voyager and do the tired Western Itinerary. Or fly to Florida and do NCL, Carnival, HAL, MSC, or Costa, and have multiple itinerary choices.

For my family of 4, it is still $2000 cheaper to go to Florida(even after airfair, ground transportion, ect ) than to go on RC. I cannot justify paying those 3rd & 4th person fees......

 

We are right there with you! While I would love to try Voyager it's cheaper for the three of us to fly to Florida too. But part of that is that demand is still high in Galveston. Our particular spring break week is $300 pp more than the weeks before and after it. We are looking forward to our first Eastern Caribbean itinerary.

[Aquahound]

If you look, there are good deals being offered by RCI. For example, the Nov 30 sailing of the Radiance, an 11 night cruise, starts at just over $600 per person.

 

Otherwise, I have yet to sail on an RCI ship that is not full. So if the demand is there, why not charge for it? That's business.

[emjsea]

If they sell out their cruises, they aren't out of line. It's supply and demand. They have no reason or obligation to provide the cheapest cruise they can. The provide the price points that make them the most money.

[BroncosFan2010]

They have to pay for the monstrosities that are the Oasis and Allure! Try looking at some of their older ships.

[matj2000]

If you look, there are good deals being offered by RCI. For example, the Nov 30 sailing of the Radiance, an 11 night cruise, starts at just over $600 per person.

 

You can find deals on RCCL but I am restricted because of the school year. I wish we could go anytime.

[grand isle joe]

Hi JKrise,

 

 

 

IMHO (in response to your question), Royal Caribbean thinks they offer a superior cruise experience which warrants a higher fare. To keep their quality up, they need to charge more. To some extent, I agree on both counts, but I think they are pushing it too far and will regret it.

 

Janet

 

Just off the Splendour and found the fare worth every dime. I sailed once on NCL and NEVER again. I feel the product RCL provides is as good as it gets until you go into a higher catagory like Regency,Crystal,etc. but an 8yr. old would not feel too comfortable on those lines. Wishing you a wonderful cruise.

[cruiserbryce]

I think the answer is simple...supply and demand...with how important it is for ships to sail with high occupancy I am sure RC is monitoring their rates to be sure that they get what they can for the cabins but still make sure the ships are as full as possible.

[debshomespun]

The RC Ships that are the Freedom, Liberty and Independence, and the new Oasis to come out certainly have the "WOW" factor to them. They are unlike any other cruiseship floating right now. It definitely is a great experience. However, I am a big fan of RC, but have cruised other lines, and have been happy with them all. It is great though, to be able to experience it once, then decide for yourself if it is worth the extra money or not. And, alot of the sailings will come down in price just after final payment, if they are having trouble filling the ship.

 

BIL & SIL just returned home from the Eastern Liberty 4-25 sailing, and paid $1278. for inside cabin for BOTH of them. She said the sailing was sold out. Said they had a great time. We enjoyed our week on the Freedom, and would like to go back on one of the mega ships.

[printingchick]

Hi JKrise,

 

Your name caught my eye as my maiden name was Krise (not particularly common). Any family in Pennsylvania?

 

IMHO (in response to your question), Royal Caribbean thinks they offer a superior cruise experience which warrants a higher fare. To keep their quality up, they need to charge more. To some extent, I agree on both counts, but I think they are pushing it too far and will regret it.

 

Janet

 

I agree with Janet. While RCL is my cruise line of choice, I choose my cruise more for the itinerary than the ship...although the ship is absolutely a factor. I'm willing to pay a little more for RCL, but I do believe they are pushing it and may live to regret it. I certainly hope not. The cruise lines all tell you they want to capture that first-time cruiser. A first-time cruiser, with no experience on any of the lines, is shopping by price an itinerary. RCL seems to be counting on their ships to sell their cruises. I have no interest in sailing on Oasis or Allure at this point. They visit the same old ports of call and are tremendously expensive. Yeah, they're amazing ships...absolutely incredible. But I don't stay on the ship the entire cruise. I know some people do, but I bet there are far more who cruise (primarily) for the ports.

[momofmeg]

You posted this same question at the Royal Caribbean folder, I see.

 

Anway, my answer would be cruiselines charge what the traffic will bare. If RCI starts to lose business as a result, fares will come down.

 

By the way, I think it is hard to compare "apples to apples" on a cruiseline because there are tangible and intangible differences other than just the basic fare for a certain class of room.

 

For example, on NCL, the basic room fare is quite low, but except for the buffet and two main dining rooms, the rest of the dining venues are extra pay.

 

Another example in my opinion, NCL's private island Great Stirrup Cay is not as nice as RCI's private island Coco Cay even though they are side-by-side. That said, many say the BEST private island is Disney's.

 

Another example...Disney's fares seem very high, but they do not have a casino. So, you see, that an 'apples to apples" comparison is quite difficult because room fare alone does not begin to reflect the entire cruise experience.

 

I found NCL, Great Stirrup Cay great-and not much different than Cocco Cay, Princess cay, or Half Moon Cay-(except Half Moon cay has no shade,you have to rent a clam shell to stay out any amount of time on the HAL private island) One person said, they did not like NCL's because the whole island is not rented by NCL, that part of the island is public, but heck the private part is as big as RCI's, That is why they are call the islands Great Stirrup Cay and Little Stirrup Cay. Pirncess Cay also is only part of a public island. You are right about one thing though-Disney's island is great.

 

As you said, RCI has been so popular in the past, they could charge extra prices and they did, even Grandeur of the seas and Enchantment of the Seas' cost was high for Caribbean cruises even though they are older ships.

 

I have heard though that Mariner of the Seas, because of this swine flu pandemic thingie, have slashed their prices. This would be a great time to book that ship if you live on the west cost and don't mind seeing San Francisco and Victoria.

[momofmeg]

If you look, there are good deals being offered by RCI. For example, the Nov 30 sailing of the Radiance, an 11 night cruise, starts at just over $600 per person.

 

Otherwise, I have yet to sail on an RCI ship that is not full. So if the demand is there, why not charge for it? That's business.

 

I saw a ten day west coast one on the Radiance that was $899 for a balcony, this was earlier in November. This was before this swine flu pandemic fear thingie-I imagine now could be even less. Though hopefully, by November, that will no longer be a worry.

[Robb]

Last September we did a 14 night transatlantic cruise on Princess. We had a standard balcony cabin. In April of this year we did a 14 night transatlantic on Royal Carib. and we had an Owner's Suite.

 

The standard balcony on Princess cost us $800 each MORE than the Owner's Suite on Royal Carib. :confused:

 

RCL does not always cost more.

[peabody99]

I founds RCI to be better than I expected, but I do feel the prices are out of line. We were interested in couple different cruises, but prices are higher than some of the more premium lines. I am sure for the loyalists and those that like to stick to the same product/or don't like change it will not be as much of a problem.