travelberlin

I would not say too cheap. I would say it was price worthy. I have booked several cruises with other cruise lines with solo tariffs which were price worthy. Ivi

Thanks for this information. We will see how much actually the solo supplement is. But you are right, it hurts 😔 Ivi

Comparison between my booked and fully paid Crystal Serenity cruise from Vancouver to New York due to sail in August 2022, 25 days total price including all taxes and fees for a solo passenger in Cabin Ocean View, midship category C2. Total price US 9343. Per Diem US 373.72. This cruise never took place due to Crystal’s bankruptcy. Same itinerary and number of days for August 2024, in the solo C3 Ocean view cabins forward, US 12.900 including the so called destination fees (I am not sure if those are taxes and fees ). This is a Per Diem of US 516. If I would like to take the same category C2 as for the cruise, which never took place, the price would be US 23.600 (assuming the taxes and fees are included and that as a solo traveler I would have to pay for two because of choosing that category). This means a Per Diem of US 944. Ivi

Yes, Adam Smith could write more about it. For example that the laws of supply and demand do not apply to flight tickets in the way he thought. It is not an “invisible hand” regulating the market so that supply and demand meet, but the hands of the airlines. The airlines have the power to influence the supply and they do so first by forming alliances which eliminates competition, second reducing the number of flights offered using code shares with those partners and 3rd cancelling flights which did not sell well. I have never seen a price reduction in flights I have booked although at the moment of flying the planes might not be full. But maybe this is just me. Airlines do not seem to discount prices when the demand is low. They just seem to reduce supply cancelling flights. In addition, I have noticed two, for me “new”, strategies: one is the offer to bid for an upgrade to a higher class and the other is to capture the information of your browser via cookies so that if you keep looking for certain flights on certain days, the prices of those flights will get higher. In this last case you end up competing with yourself. So I try to book the flight the first time I search in order to avoid price increases just because I am signaling interest. Interesting indeed… Ivi

I know what you mean. I am in a similar situation. Ivi

Fact is that the dispute of the Falklands has left a bad taste in Argentina. However I would not think that this has implications in Buenos Aires in the way how they treat foreigners. Just think that Porteños (how Argentinians from Buenos Aires are called) are not the friendliest folks around. This is noticeable even from people who are not British and speak Spanish. The picture is from Ushuia. Ivi

You have got a good point there. I will start looking at Ponant. However, I find it good to compare also with the previous prices from the Crystal we new and loved. Both comparisons are very helpful to decide. 1) Comparison with Original Crystal prices because assuming the new company will deliver same quality, now we know if this is being delivered at per diem prices acceptable to us. 2) Comparison to other cruise lines, because since some of us are price sensitive but still enjoy cruising and never, ever, had an experience in which we did not appreciate the crew, itineraries, etc., we will compare the per diem to others and see if current per diems for this new Crystal are what we wish to pay. Ivi

Do you know how to find information on that event? Ivi

Yes! And that wine was a Trapiche Malbec Reserva. Since I was alone and I do not drink a whole bottle by myself I have asked them to keep it for me until next day. I went again to have a nice meal 😋 Ivi

Thank you so much! I really appreciate this information and I know now that if I want to stay in Miami during this time, I should look for other places. Ivi

In March Keith. Exactly at the start of Spring Break 😔 Ivi

Thanks this means that we should only plan to book about 3 months in advance if we want to have a more or less reliable booking. But isn’t it that there are lower fares when booked far in advance? Is there any information when flights become more expensive? Ivi

Thanks Benny B Goode and Keith for your answer to my question. Lovely pictures Keith. I would look into the locations you have both mentioned. I have stayed in South Beach several times and actually I like that it is possible to walk every where and the nice vibe with latin music coming from every where. We consider South Beach as the capital of South America (with all respect for USA Americans). Wealthy and famous South Americans party there. I wouldn’t mind the normal vibe of South Beach. What I am actually concerned now is the Spring Breakers. I am not sure if South Beach will have lots of them. I wouldn’t like to be in a place where many drunk people are walking around. My experience with that custom of young US Americans is only from movies and that doesn’t leave a good impression. Maybe I should just avoid South Beach during that time of the year… Ivi

Could you please tell us how many days to see the per diem per person? That makes easier to compare with similar offers from other cruise lines. Ivi

There is a good Argentinian steak house called Santos Manjares in the Paraguay Street in Buenos Aires. Good prices, good food. Ivi

Oh no! That is also my cruise (Onward June 28th)! Why is Azamara doing something like that? I was thinking we might go one evening to a performance in Montecarlo. Like you, I would prefer to do my own thing in Porto Venere or in other ports during the day. Ivi

Now that we are talking about drinking I have a question. I have a cruise ending in Miami at the start of the Spring break. I like Miami very much and I was considering to stay about 3 nights after my cruise in the South Beach area. Now, I am not familiar with Spring Break but when I see that on movies I am not sure if I should stay at all in Miami or in the South Beach area at that time. What do you think? Any advice? Ivi

You are right. 😊 I had a Lapsus mentalis… Ivi

I am not sure what you are talking about. I habe had several Azamazing evenings with Azamara. I have never heard of an Azamazing event during the day. But maybe is just me. Are you saying that during your cruise is in the morning? 😲 Ivi

Yes. This is very good information. In this case the per diem is lower now. This is per diem for two or per person? Thanks. Ivi

It was not my intention to cut you short Vince 😔 please excuse me. Ivi

Yes. But at the moment we are not searching for the causes of the price increases. We are just trying to find out whether there are price increases and the magnitude of those increases. Ivi

That would be great if you can compare the original WC 2022 cruise with the WC 2024 once you have this price Keith. Thanks. Ivi

Thank you! definitely a price increase … ”The most trusted, all-inclusive luxury cruise brand” listed for 2022, you are right OUCH 🤕 Ivi

Thanks for this comparison Keith. Holiday cruises are always the most expensive. Could you please kindly compare the per Diem at the WC 2022 with the per Diem at the WC 2024? Since we still think that the new Company might be adequate for us for a WC, this will be helpful for us. Ivi