WOW 2020 Alaska prices

Looks like some pretty hefty price's for RT out of Seattle in 2020 $1100+ for an inside.

Looks like some pretty hefty price's for RT out of Seattle in 2020 $1100+ for an inside.

hefty prices all around. I take transatlantics for the most part and usually they are accessible but my goodness next year the average price for inside is 2400 dollars...:rolleyes:

this is partly why the prices is so high: https://cruiseradio.net/norwegian-cruise-line-warns-significant-price-hike-ahead/

i noticed higher prices in all of the 2020 nyc cruises too

this is partly why the prices is so high: https://cruiseradio.net/norwegian-cruise-line-warns-significant-price-hike-ahead/

 

i noticed higher prices in all of the 2020 nyc cruises too

i love the part where it says " looking at ways to increase loyalty" , talk about talking the talk but not walking the walk..all they have done in the recent years is actually decrease some people loyalty to their brand...IMHO:evilsmile:

I think they may be starting to push the envelope. There comes a point where the value just isn't there anymore, and people will start to look to other lines or other ways to get to those places. It is entirely possible to price yourself out of business or a market. I'm sure there will always be someone who is willing to pay, but if you can't fill the ship, or have to discount it to fill the ship, it should be telling you something.

I think they may be starting to push the envelope. There comes a point where the value just isn't there anymore, and people will start to look to other lines or other ways to get to those places. It is entirely possible to price yourself out of business or a market. I'm sure there will always be someone who is willing to pay, but if you can't fill the ship, or have to discount it to fill the ship, it should be telling you something.

i completely agree with you, it all started with Del Rio. It is a business after all, but i know so many people ( loyal) to NCL that are already cruising other lines because the value is just not there for them, and once people leave is very hard to get them back unless they start seeing the value for their money.

Prices were high for our Bliss cruise a few weeks ago. Value over price? Hardly! It was officially our last cruise on NCL. Our family has a much better cruise experience elsewhere.

I've been pricing Holland America lately looking for a 2019 Alaska Cruise. The HAL cruise with similar perks is over $1000 cheaper than NCL.

Nope, we cruise for best itinerary at best price and NCL would not be my top pick in a tie. We will go elsewhere. But we aren't as frequent cruisers as a lot here so maybe he doesn't care...

From that article that was posted this really stood out to me.

Del Rio also spoke about the success the company has seen since adjusting the due date of final payments… and suggested that cruisers might be asked to pony up even sooner. Last December, they changed from final payments being due at 90 days before sailing to them being collected a full 120 days in advance. “Skeptics said it was a mistake,” the exec told the travel agents, “but while I’m not saying we’re going to go to 150 days yet, people are willing to pay it.”

The most recent cruise I booked was already at 146 days until we would set sail. I would be very disappointed if they started requiring full payment at 150 days out. It was nice to have a couple of weeks to move money around, get a couple of extra paychecks and get things sorted before our full payment was due, which is in two days. I don't really care for booking super far in advance and with my work schedule I am not really able to do that.

I have been watching the prices on Alaska cruises as well because we live in Seattle and its super easy to get to the port. I refuse to sail to Alaska in an inside stateroom again but I also can't afford the current prices. Cruises may have to take a back seat to other vacations that we can do for less money. That makes me really sad.

Keeping an eye on 2020 prices. We are set for cruises through 2019 now, but looking ahead to what we might do after our Encore Inaugural TA in November 2019, I don't see any pricing that is appealing to me. Will definitely hold out to see if prices drop at all or might take a look at another cruise line at that point. The main reason we picked NCL in the first place is that with the drink and dining package as perks, the total prices were lower than other lines we were interested in. But if that changes, we might take a look at Celebrity or MSC, as we have heard good things. Clearly NCL is free to set prices at whatever the market will bear. Hopefully they aren't miscalculating what that amount is!

NCL price is high right now because other cruise lines haven't listed their Alaska prices for 2020. Price will come down once the competitions enter the market and buyers have more choices to choose from.

We're cruising on Princess next week Canada/New England only because when we booked NCL was $3,000. more. NCL included UBP and SDP but we don't drink that much in 10 days! I think their price came down quite a bit later on but we had already firmed up with Princess.

this is partly why the prices is so high: https://cruiseradio.net/norwegian-cruise-line-warns-significant-price-hike-ahead/

 

i noticed higher prices in all of the 2020 nyc cruises too

That article references the Luxury lines that NCL runs...

We booked Princess for Alaska with $500.00 OBC and drinks, for about $1000.00 less than NCL, and again Princess for 2020 on their new ship, the Sky for also about $1000.00 less then the Encore.

I've been pricing Holland America lately looking for a 2019 Alaska Cruise. The HAL cruise with similar perks is over $1000 cheaper than NCL.

HAL is great! forget what other folks say about being an old person cruise line. Im 34 and i cruised HAL last year for the first time and I truly enjoyed my cruise.

If you are a gambler, very generous casino discounts on future cruises.

I really didn't like the overall tone NCL seemed to take in that article. Funny how it references how to make guests loyal but didn't say how they would go about it other than making those same customers pay in full even earlier than 120 days ahead and jacking up prices.

There is a lot of competition in the marketplace. The ships being built today are huge and they are being launched with regularity.

Personally, I like NCL but I also like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess and Carnival. I look at all those options prior to booking anything.

I really wanted to book NCL to cruise the British Isles but they were well over $1000 more expensive than Royal Caribbean for one less night. That priced them out of the running for us and we had a great time aboard the Brilliance of the Seas.

Del Rio can raise the prices to see what the market will bear but I have to agree with other posters that the market will dictate the pricing. You know that adage of your house only being worth what someone is willing to pay for it...

From that article that was posted this really stood out to me.

 

Del Rio also spoke about the success the company has seen since adjusting the due date of final payments… and suggested that cruisers might be asked to pony up even sooner. Last December, they changed from final payments being due at 90 days before sailing to them being collected a full 120 days in advance. “Skeptics said it was a mistake,” the exec told the travel agents, “but while I’m not saying we’re going to go to 150 days yet, people are willing to pay it.”

The most recent cruise I booked was already at 146 days until we would set sail. I would be very disappointed if they started requiring full payment at 150 days out. It was nice to have a couple of weeks to move money around, get a couple of extra paychecks and get things sorted before our full payment was due, which is in two days. I don't really care for booking super far in advance and with my work schedule I am not really able to do that.

I have been watching the prices on Alaska cruises as well because we live in Seattle and its super easy to get to the port. I refuse to sail to Alaska in an inside stateroom again but I also can't afford the current prices. Cruises may have to take a back seat to other vacations that we can do for less money. That makes me really sad.

Close out price for the last few Bliss sailings (August and September) was pretty inexpensive for Alaska.

Sail away balconies on the Bliss Alaska went as low as $799. Balconies with perks went to $1049. Mini suites with perks went to $1249. sail away minis as low as $1049. They sold to a certain point and then closed out all but inside at $449. No single supplements on some sailings too.

They’re always changing up the price dumping strategy (even week to week to keep us guessing) so it is tough to know when to buy.

I see they are really trying hard to fill the joy with free airfare obc...If not highly successful they should have some similar deals again next year on Bliss and Joy. They aren’t going to sail with empty staterooms just to protect price integrity. They can negate some price dumping with their upgrade bidding process but at some point this season they also had to highly discount their balconies and mini suites in order to fill up the ship.

i completely agree with you, it all started with Del Rio. It is a business after all, but i know so many people ( loyal) to NCL that are already cruising other lines because the value is just not there for them, and once people leave is very hard to get them back unless they start seeing the value for their money.

Platinum Plus here over 25 cruises and looking elsewhere. Very disappointing how NCL has morphed into the typical money grab. Takes more money at the same time decreasing quality of service and food.

Princess does a great job in Alaska and that or Hal would be my first choice for that route. They get more of the permits to sail in glacier bay and put their Panamax ships on the inside passage north and south bound.

But if that changes, we might take a look at Celebrity or MSC, as we have heard good things.

In addition to the many positives related to MSC Yacht Club (which I have experienced), you might also want to take a look at Celebrity's newest ship (Edge) and the Celebrity Retreat which is Celebrity's version of "a ship within a ship". For now, it is only on Edge which is almost complete but will also be on Edge's 3 sister ships (Apex, unnamed #3, and unnamed #4). A suite with Retreat access can be done for less than a suite with Haven access. Both have suites away from the actual complex (less expensive) as well as very expensive suites within the complex. There are Celebrity suites on Edge that are nearly double the cost of a Haven DOS or Garden Villa.

Plus, Celebrity is refurbishing their current fleet to add a Retreat-like "ship within a ship" to the older ships but full details aren't known as to what extent the separation/features will be. The Retreat lounge, restaurant, and sundeck with hot-tubs for suite guests should be fleetwide but other amenities for suite guests are unknown at this point.

MSC has multiple ships on the way and they are gunning for NCL's spot in Miami. Escape, Joy, Bliss, and Encore will all be away from Miami as MSC, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Carnival will be bringing their newest/best ships to either Miami or Fort Lauderdale.

Since I'm not loyal to any line, the increase in competition is good for me. The increase in prices from NCL is just another category for comparison when deciding what cruise to book.

Looks like some pretty hefty price's for RT out of Seattle in 2020 $1100+ for an inside.

that is 2 years almost away and there will be lots of adjustments I am sure. I can't think many are going to be booking almost 2 years away. I wouldn't let this bother me. There are too many other things for us to worry about. :cool:Now if those prices continue I too would worry and start looking elsewhere.

HAL is great! forget what other folks say about being an old person cruise line. Im 34 and i cruised HAL last year for the first time and I truly enjoyed my cruise.

 

If you are a gambler, very generous casino discounts on future cruises.

Don't gamble enough to consider any kind of discount but agree with you it is a great cruise line. I do disagree about the age breakdown, it is still mostly seniours that cruise HAL. I am glad you enjoyed the line and of course not everyone who chooses HAL is a senior but it is still pretty much a senior line.

Good market segment. Seniors who cruise usually have money to spend.

I really didn't like the overall tone NCL seemed to take in that article. Funny how it references how to make guests loyal but didn't say how they would go about it other than making those same customers pay in full even earlier than 120 days ahead and jacking up prices.

 

There is a lot of competition in the marketplace. The ships being built today are huge and they are being launched with regularity.

 

Personally, I like NCL but I also like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess and Carnival. I look at all those options prior to booking anything.

 

I really wanted to book NCL to cruise the British Isles but they were well over $1000 more expensive than Royal Caribbean for one less night. That priced them out of the running for us and we had a great time aboard the Brilliance of the Seas.

 

Del Rio can raise the prices to see what the market will bear but I have to agree with other posters that the market will dictate the pricing. You know that adage of your house only being worth what someone is willing to pay for it...

I agree his tone is off putting. It's like he sees customers as oranges to be squeezed as much as possible. He is not a good face for the company. If you look at other cruise line CEOs and how they speak, they are much more respectful and inspirational.

I am getting the impression that with their new high price business model, it might be better to book after paid in full date.