Cruise prices sink to all-time lows

[robtulipe]

Have you already made final? If not cancel and book the suite thru the TA. We just had 2/3 couples on our Roll Call that got a higher grade cabin when the price dropped below what they had paid for their balcony. This happens all the time, there must be some other factors in your booking for them not to do so.

 

Well, according to the Celebrity policy, no price adjustments or upgrades are made after a final payment, which I made in September.

See above

[Mypka]

How naive of me!!

I also was set aback by the pure irritation in the tone of voice of the Celebrity booking agent on the phone... May be, I should have asked for his superior? Call the corporate?

[neilrr]

We have been trying to book a cruise to Europe for this summer and the airfares are crazy. That is a good reason why the cruise prices are low - they can't fill the ships.

 

We are waiting and if it happens - it happen. We flew from MIA (direct) to Rome last summer and returned from Venice to MIA for $878 RT PP. This year the fares are between $1,600 - $1,800PP RT. We are not going to book a $1,000 PP cruise and spend $2,000 PP on the air fare and baggage.

 

The cruise lines need to work with the air lines or they will have empty ships and empty planes.

 

We will wait and see.

 

Happy cruising. :)

Edited April 28, 2014 by neilrr

[luvstosail]

We have been trying to book a cruise to Europe for this summer and the airfares are crazy. That is a good reason why the cruise prices are low - they can't fill the ships.

 

We are waiting and if it happens - it happen. We flew from MIA (direct) to Rome last summer and returned from Venice to MIA for $878 RT PP. This year the fares are between $1,600 - $1,800PP RT. We are not going to book a $1,000 PP cruise and spend $2,000 PP on the air fare and baggage.

 

The cruise lines need to work with the air lines or they will have empty ships and empty planes.

 

We will wait and see.

 

Happy cruising. :)

 

We agree with you !! You should take this and start a new thread !

luvstosail

Boston Ma

[SoBe2010]

I think 878$ was more than just a good deal.

 

2000 is certainly a lot. However, such a low low low fare in a high season should not be taken for granted.

[DirtyDawg]

We have been trying to book a cruise to Europe for this summer and the airfares are crazy. That is a good reason why the cruise prices are low - they can't fill the ships.

 

We are waiting and if it happens - it happen. We flew from MIA (direct) to Rome last summer and returned from Venice to MIA for $878 RT PP. This year the fares are between $1,600 - $1,800PP RT. We are not going to book a $1,000 PP cruise and spend $2,000 PP on the air fare and baggage.

 

The cruise lines need to work with the air lines or they will have empty ships and empty planes.

 

We will wait and see.

 

Happy cruising. :)

 

The airlines are going to do what is best for themselves and their shareholders. Airline prices are up because demand is up. So until demand starts to go down again airfares will stay high. And if that hurts the cruise line industry, tough!

[BrendaJ]

Maybe some late fall Med cruises are cheap but not ours. I checked last week, and standard balcony cabins on our October 14 cruise are now $1,700 more per person than when we booked (and yes, we did get the 1-2-3 promotion). Only AQ is sold out on the cruise, so I'm not sure what's up - I'm just glad we booked so early.

[CruisingGatorGirl]

We have been trying to book a cruise to Europe for this summer and the airfares are crazy. That is a good reason why the cruise prices are low - they can't fill the ships.

 

We are waiting and if it happens - it happen. We flew from MIA (direct) to Rome last summer and returned from Venice to MIA for $878 RT PP. This year the fares are between $1,600 - $1,800PP RT. We are not going to book a $1,000 PP cruise and spend $2,000 PP on the air fare and baggage.

 

The cruise lines need to work with the air lines or they will have empty ships and empty planes.

 

We will wait and see.

 

Happy cruising. :)

 

I agree. We had to cancel our med cruise for this October because of plane ticket prices :( The plane ticket is only $100 less! No way will we spend almost as much on air as our 13 day cruise :mad::(

 

Meanwhile, we will continue trying to build skymiles. Maybe we will make it back to Europe in 2015.

[gordiej]

The airlines are going to do what is best for themselves and their shareholders. Airline prices are up because demand is up. So until demand starts to go down again airfares will stay high. And if that hurts the cruise line industry, tough!

Well, demand is up, but almost as importantly, supply is down through flight cutbacks and mergers. And yes, the high airfare prices can squeeze out other travel-related spending, like hotels. I think Vegas has suffered over the last 5 years as a lot of air capacity came out and whereas you used to be able to get a flight from the East Coast for $250-300 r/t, now it's usually $400 minimum. So less money to spend in the casinos, nightclubs, restaurants.

 

That said, you'd be very hard pressed to find airfare to Europe (and back) for less than $1200, from the Northeast during the summer. But probably more like $1400. And higher for other areas.

 

But something to consider - business travel to Europe really drops off in July/August and there are usually great business class fare sales, this year they're probably starting at $2200 r/t, although it may be getting late since usually you need to purchase these 50 or 60 days in advance.

 

For me, it's worth paying that difference so I can sleep on the way over and actually enjoy the start of my vacation, without jet lag. Can't sleep in coach... :(

[Biker19]

[Michidoeme]

 

Can anyone refresh my memory... Do People in Europe have access to Choice Air, and are the rates the same as in the US???

 

Yes, I am from Europe and have booked airplane tickets through Choice Air at same prices as US clients (great one-way prices). Anyone can look up prices on Choice Air website. But for making on-line or telephone bookings, you need your Celebrity cruise booking reference.

Choice Air doesn t care where you live, as long as your credit card is good :)

[Antonintassie]

Hi we have booked our first cruise with Celebrity (tried another brand was not for us)a 14 day cruise on the Eclipse Jan 4th in a suite .For the 3 of us it equates to $280.00 AUD per day per person.

We are not price sensitive travellers it is not unusual for use to pay $500 to $600 per night for a hotel room so cruising represents value .

I think the dilema with short cruises is that the air travel costs ( 12k) from Australia make many think about the time vs cost and effort.

We are looking forward to trying Celebrity and seeing if it will be our cruiseline of choice

Kind Regards

Anthony

PS thanks Andy you give excellent information

[neilrr]

We agree with you !! You should take this and start a new thread !

luvstosail

Boston Ma

 

I agree. We had to cancel our med cruise for this October because of plane ticket prices :( The plane ticket is only $100 less! No way will we spend almost as much on air as our 13 day cruise :mad::(

 

Meanwhile, we will continue trying to build skymiles. Maybe we will make it back to Europe in 2015.

 

luvstosail and CruisingGatorGirl - We are just taking wait and see attitude. We have gone to Europe over the past few summers; if we can't go, so be it. I am a pretty good judge of the bookings on the ships and I don't think people are going to pay $1,800 PP for air on a $1,000 PP cruise. :rolleyes: The bookings, based on where the cabins are located -- there are way too many good cabins available on many sailings.

 

We live in S. FL - we can always catch a ship to the Caribbean for a vacation. I believe we will see some movement on airfares shortly. Let's see who can hold out the longest... the airlines/cruise lines or me -- Ha!!! :p

Edited April 29, 2014 by neilrr

[Quo Vadis?]

Eclipse Jan 2015:

14 night cruise:

2015JAN 04*

Inside 1,749.00 USD*

Ocean View 2,699.00 USD

Veranda 2,799.00 USD

Concierge Class 2,999.00 USD

Aqua Class 3,699.00 USD

Suite 4,799.00 USD

 

Inside seems to be cheap enough but these prices are higher than this year and quite a bit higher than Constellation two years ago.

Edited April 29, 2014 by Mr & Mrs X

[neilrr]

Eclipse Jan 2015:

14 night cruise:

 

 

Inside seems to be cheap enough but these prices are higher than this year and quite a bit higher than Constellation two years ago.

 

Mr & Mrs X - I would wait a while -- especially since it is after New Years and Christmas. Those prices should go down. Good luck.

[momofmeg]

However, would add from October onwards, the weather can be awful in Europe so I am not surprised the prices are so cheap. May to September is the time to go, other months best to be avoided if possible.

 

The Med in June was just as hot and miserable as it is at home in GA USA. If I ever go again I will avoid the months you say are "good weather." I often have 95-100 degree F weather right here at home in June. No need to go away for that.

 

 

I had a friend that went in October and she said the weather was great and she went around in the couple of short sleeves tops she had brought with her. Her long sleeves tops she never even wore and she wished she had taken more short sleeves.