Future Fares

With so many cruise lines now coming down to our part of the southern hemisphere could we expect to get cheaper fares as the competition hots up?

With so many cruise lines now coming down to our part of the southern hemisphere could we expect to get cheaper fares as the competition hots up?

no one will know what the cruise lines will do but one thing is the US ships might have to drop their prices the way the AUD is going other wise they may not fill their ships

With the aud dropping against the USD we may see a push for the cruise lines to fill the ships with Americans. It would be a great time for them to travel.

Here's hoping we get done great deals

The US currency ships may also start including more onboard costs - gratuities, drinks packages, or OBC - rather than dropping their prices too far.

Celebrity are already doing this but only for oceanview cabins upwards, not for inside cabins.

It's going to be interesting, especially since Princess now has the AU$59 all-inclusive drinks package which is much cheaper than RCI/Celebrity equivalent packages.

Do we think there will be a harder push in marketing?

Cruise lines trying to get new cruisers and keep existing customers happy?

More themed cruises?

New ports to visit?

I agree with some other comments that the ships that have USD as the currency on board will have to adjust as people adjust to the falling dollar.

no one will know what the cruise lines will do but one thing is the US ships might have to drop their prices the way the AUD is going other wise they may not fill their ships

Or they'd just move them away again if they were able to get better yields elsewhere.

The cruise business is all about mobility!

It will depend on how many people from overseas choose to cruise from Australia/NZ. If not enough overseas passengers, the prices for locals, who can cruise at short notice, will drop. You see the bargains overseas all the time, at short notice.

Or they'd just move them away again if they were able to get better yields elsewhere.

 

The cruise business is all about mobility!

....and they have to keep those dollars flowing in so that they can pay the mortgages on the ships. :eek:

....and they have to keep those dollars flowing in so that they can pay the mortgages on the ships. :eek:

 

Too true, the last thing you want on a ship is a Bridging Loan:p

Too true, the last thing you want on a ship is a Bridging Loan:p

*Groan* :rolleyes: :D

Too true, the last thing you want on a ship is a Bridging Loan

*Groan* :rolleyes: :D

They might have to accept the Floating Rate.:D

They might have to accept the Floating Rate.:D

I will watch with 'Interest':p

I love the comedy routines that go on on the Aussie/NZ forums :)

I love the comedy routines that go on on the Aussie/NZ forums :)

Yes! So different to the U.S. forums where you read quite a lot of bitchiness!

Keep it up Aussies! We'll show them how to share information whilst still engaging in some amusing banter! :)

Yes! So different to the U.S. forums where you read quite a lot of bitchiness!

Keep it up Aussies! We'll show them how to share information whilst still engaging in some amusing banter! :)

We will do our best without detracting to much form the subject. One problem is that sometimes the humour (especially when using sarcasm) can be miss understood when in written form. I do try and maintain my fair share of dad's jokes though as well.:p

They might have to up the fares....parking in Sydney is super pricey :p and they need big parking spaces for the mega ships ;)

To OP Good question...I am looking at our 2016 cruise plans and only a few moments ago said to DH I really think we have to stick to an AUD onboard unless there are a whole heap of inclusions. If the AUD went to 60 or ugh even 50 it would means some serious precruise planning for drinks & extras etc.

We only recently started cruising, 3 years now and have done 6, starting another (Alaska) in less than 2 weeks. In that time fares don't seem to us to have increased to any great extent. If this is the case generally, then that could indicate that even with the Oz $ slipping, we are still getting good fares. Any competetive price cutting by the cruise lines could be balanced by our falling dollar.

Does anyone else see it that way?

BTW I would not be too alarmed by the falling $ and I wouldn't expect it to go below 70 against the US any time soon.

If the AUD went to 60 or ugh even 50 it would means some serious precruise planning for drinks & extras etc.

Yes, you really have to look at all the cruise costs. I suspect the onboard costs on the US currency ships catch a lot of newbies out. They certainly caught us out on our Rhapsody cruise. We got a wonderful last-minute inside guarantee price but our onboard costs were higher than the actual fare, and that was mostly just the drinks package plus less than $100 of other stuff. I'd calculated the budget based on what we spent on our Christmas Princess cruise but the RCI onboard prices blew that budget to smithereens. Lesson learnt though. ;)

Yes, you really have to look at all the cruise costs. I suspect the onboard costs on the US currency ships catch a lot of newbies out. They certainly caught us out on our Rhapsody cruise. We got a wonderful last-minute inside guarantee price but our onboard costs were higher than the actual fare, and that was mostly just the drinks package plus less than $100 of other stuff. I'd calculated the budget based on what we spent on our Christmas Princess cruise but the RCI onboard prices blew that budget to smithereens. Lesson learnt though. ;)

Ah well, at least the fares were cheap. In regards to budgeting for future cruises, it just means a little more comprehensive research for us before committing.:D

We only recently started cruising, 3 years now and have done 6, starting another (Alaska) in less than 2 weeks. In that time fares don't seem to us to have increased to any great extent. If this is the case generally, then that could indicate that even with the Oz $ slipping, we are still getting good fares. Any competetive price cutting by the cruise lines could be balanced by our falling dollar.

Does anyone else see it that way?

BTW I would not be too alarmed by the falling $ and I wouldn't expect it to go below 70 against the US any time soon.

There's a lot of variability. Some lines have increased the price a fair bit though and whenever things change, some who get used to the old style see it as normal and some don't like change!

There have been a lot of changes, not just in price. Some who miss the old ways don't find the new ones as appealing. But at the same time you get new customers who don't mind, or even prefer it, so the business' goal is to ensure they get at least enough to balance that. So far it's been working ;)

And agree with you generally about the last point. That said, I do see it could go through... but don't see it as a new long term level.

They might have to up the fares....parking in Sydney is super pricey :p and they need big parking spaces for the mega ships ;)

 

 

To OP Good question...I am looking at our 2016 cruise plans and only a few moments ago said to DH I really think we have to stick to an AUD onboard unless there are a whole heap of inclusions. If the AUD went to 60 or ugh even 50 it would means some serious precruise planning for drinks & extras etc.

I'm already costing Souvenirs; Specialty Dining; Internet Package-minimum, there's a website where I get points daily for logging on, doesn't take much time, but the benefits are building up; Photography Package to remember my 1st cruise by: Culinary Delights: Soda and More Package-only a 3 night cruise so unless the All-Inclusive-Beverage Package is available for all cruises when I sail, I need to calculate the number of Cocktails per day, and put the money aside for On Board Credit to cover the above costs. I also intend to get Casino Credits, both to play the Pokies/Slots and to safely take extra funds for taxis needed in Melbourne. I did find a good website http://www.ozforex.com.au to help with the currency change from USD prices to Australian dollars. Am now confident I have a good idea what needs to be saved fortnightly from now on! Flights and hotel bookings are costed and paid for separately. Just rechecked on 2015 prices, and it's under the amount I'd "guesstimated" so very pleased!

I love the comedy routines that go on on the Aussie/NZ forums :)

What comedy?

If they need to drop prices too far they'll just reduce supply.

What comedy?

LOL!!! I nearly snorted my coffee