Going to Europe in '05 in Spite of Weak Dollar?

[jhannah]

As I was making final payment for our May Zaandam sailing, my TA noted how the word was that people wouldn't be going to Europe much in 2005 because of the weak dollar. Trips would simply be too expensive. She noted that this hasn't really happened. Ships are filling up. Our August Prinsendam cruise is right now showing just G and H categories open.

So, are you going to Europe this year even though it's more pricey than in the past? Or have you chosen to visit somewhere else where the dollar is doing better?

[sail7seas]

DH really wants to go back to Europe. We have not been for a while. The dollar hasn't really influenced his thinking. I'm not very keen on the idea right now. If we had not already been so much, I might think differently about it but it doesn't much matter to me. (:) Maybe I'll do him a huge favor and agree to go!!! :) ;) We'll see. Maybe if I hem and haw long enough, all the Suites will be spoken for on the cruises that interest him!!

[starysacz]

Going on the 35 day Maasdam cruise from Boston and return to Boston. Always wanted to do transatlantic and visit the Fjords. Boston is close to the Hartford area and makes it convenient. No flying involved. Not too concerned about the dollar value.:)

[Stevesan]

We've booked a European Capitals cruise for June despite the weak dollar - the lower cruise fares balance out the lousy exchange rates. We're paying 40% Less now than in 1999 for a higher category cabin on the same ship. But we are cutting back from five to three the number of nights pre/post cruise.

I certainly wouldn't do a Europe land tour right now. Hotel and restaurant rates in major destinations are sky high.

[RuthC]

35 days to/from Europe round-trip from Boston is just too good to pass up. I love the length of the cruise, love the ports (been to most of 'em at least once).

If there's anyone in this world who is going to be good to me and give me nice trips, it's gonna be me! :D

[obriendan]

We will be returning from Europe on the Maasdam from Rotterdam on August 2nd. One of the ways I convinced DW to take this cruise was that we could visit Paris for a few days beforehand. So we will spend 4 nights in Paris, 2 nights in Brugge, and 3 nights in Rotterdam pre-cruise. We plan to feast on a lot of cheese, bread, and wine and avoid expensive restaurants in Paris!

[2rg]

We had considered booking on a Med cruise for May 05 when the prices were great late last year. We waited to long and lost out on it. Looked in to their similar Oct 05 cruise and found the price had really gone up. We wanted to go for 1 specific port with the intent to hire a guide and car for the day. What it came down to was the increased cost plus the private tour cost. We ended up booking this week for a Mar 05 cruise in the sun instead, but your right, they are booking up anyway.

[localady]

IMHO the only way to see Europe and not get sticker-shock from the cost is to take a cruise. :D
We purchased our fares for the Prinsendam at quite acceptable rates ( US Dollars) and we decided to cut back one day on our pre-trip stay in Amsterdam, now staying 2 nights but arriving at 6:30am for a full day before the hotel. We know food and trinkets will be expensive, and will purchase accordingly. Some countries (like Estonia) might still be a bargain though the Baltic is notoriously expensive.:cool:

[TedC]

Localady,

The first time we were in Estonia, 1994, there were many bargains. The next time we were there was in 2002, on a Baltic cruise.

I told my daughter to save her spending for Tallinn. Unfortunately, since our first visit to the second, prices had skyrocketed. DD then learned what my wife already knew: Don't listen to dad!

[saltydog28]

Hello everyone,
I couldn't go on any holidays in '04 and I won't be going on a cruise until Nov. '05. We have had-- WEDDINGS--Sept. '03--Sept. '04--Oct. '05---'06 says 'I don't know, maybe in the spring or the fall'.

I will be going to Ireland in March. And I'm going to enjoy every minute of it. I don't feel that the exchange rate for the euro is to horrible. I do think the pound sterling is rather high. If I have any euros left over, I will use them in Guadeloupe in Nov.
Take care,
Pat.

[shipcafe]

As I was making final payment for our May Zaandam sailing, my TA noted how the word was that people wouldn't be going to Europe much in 2005 because of the weak dollar. Trips would simply be too expensive. She noted that this hasn't really happened. Ships are filling up. Our August Prinsendam cruise is right now showing just G and H categories open.

So, are you going to Europe this year even though it's more pricey than in the past? Or have you chosen to visit somewhere else where the dollar is doing better?

Cruising is actually a much better VALUE given the Euro exchange rate. It would cost much more to see everything you do by ship on one's one, getting hotels, transfers, air, coaches, etc. etc. You name it.

I, on the other hand, am going to Europe in a month for a land vacation (Berlin, Germany & Amsterdam). I know that it will be quite expensive but am already mentally prepared for it.

[jhannah]

I agree that cruising is a great value for what you get. However, some supplies and foodstuffs are purchased along the way. Those have to be paid for in local currencies. I am assuming that shore excursion providers are paid in their country's currency as well. Europe (and Great Britian in particular) is definitely higher than other places. I just checked HAL's website for costs in U.S. dollars. All these cruises are for 14 days (except one that is 34 days) for a category F stateroom, and take place about the same time.

British Isles $278 per day
Baltic $250 per day
Panama Canal SAN to FLL $194 per day
SAN to Auckland $161 per day

Saltydog28 noted that the Pound Sterling is rather high, and the British Isles price reflects that. I feel we got a decent price for our British Isles itinerary, but it's the most expensive cruise we've booked to date. We're still going to enjoy it! After all ... it's just our kids' inheritance! :D

[Aussie Gal]

Our dollar compared to yours is so much weaker against the Euro and Sterling but that hasn't deterred us for the past 11 years of going to Europe and this year is no different. In fact last year and this year our dollar has been the strongest for a long time.

We are so lucky that we can afford a wonderful holiday where we can spend time away for four to five weeks and not have to stint on accommodation or food. We love cruising but also enjoy independent holidays as well. I must admit that Great Britain is the most expensive of all the countries to visit and to us the food there is the worst of all the countries.

Jennie

[ekerr19]

We were ther in November and the dollar was seriously weak. It did not influence our decision to travel and I doubt that it ever would. It's the price you pay... one of these days maybe we'll get lucky and have a strong dollar. :)

[localady]

Localady,

The first time we were in Estonia, 1994, there were many bargains. The next time we were there was in 2002, on a Baltic cruise.

I told my daughter to save her spending for Tallinn. Unfortunately, since our first visit to the second, prices had skyrocketed. DD then learned what my wife already knew: Don't listen to dad!

TedC-

Oh well....It was bound to happen. I will count myself lucky to have gotten handpainted silk ties for $10 US and beautiful woolen sweaters for $20US in 2000. Maybe this trip I will come home with alot of frig magnets!:eek: We find the more we travel, the more the pictures are the best souvenir...I haven't enough space for all the trinkets I want when I travel!:cool:

[Sail With Me]

We are on the Windmills and Waterford cruise August 23 with Vegas Jim and we are not letting the dollar influence our decision to sail. We look forward to sailing on the Prinsendam. Visited her last weekend when she was in Long Beach and loved everything about the ship, especially her size.

Have a great cruise wherever your destination takes you!

Karen and Bob

[drk]

We're booked on the Oct 4th Rotterdam cruise out of Venice. We got in before the cruise fares got too high and cruising seemed to be the best way to see the Greek isles without having to pack and unpack every couple of days. Seems more cost effective than a land tour at this time for us.

[Cruising Jake]

We are going to the Baltic in June. Once I finally convinced DH to say "yes", there was no stopping me.

[sandij]

We did a 12 day British Isles and Western Europe last May and JUne. The dollar was weak then too. I had purchased Euros and Pounds from my local bank before we left and it was easier. Being on a cruise and booking tour trough the cruiseline helped a lot. It was still wonderful to walk the streets of London, Paris and Dublin.

[travelingmcmahans]

A cruise does help soften the blow because food and lodging are incuded. My husband and I are going to Europe (land only) this year, and are going to Eastern Europe for 6 of the 9 nights because the dollar is *less* horrible in Hungary and Slovakia. We've noticed the cost of everything rise significantly since we started going in 2001. The Euro has hit almost as high as the pound was on our first trip to England. (Mid $1.36 euro couple weeks ago to $1.45 pound June 01) If it isn't better in 06 we may have to skip a year in order to go on our much-hoped-for Med cruise in 07 for our 10 year anniversary.
We've found ways to economize to despite the dollar on our next trip ... we used Priceline in Budapest (Marriott app. $75 a night) and are using 3 years worth of Hilton points for 3 nights in Vienna free.