What's Happened??

[newyorkray]

I'm a long time Celebrity cruiser (made the Elite status!! :) but haven't sailed since the Reflection last January. Now looking to book a Caribbean cruise and am finding a significant increased in prices. Even the older M class ships which was always cheaper are higher than the S class. I usually book Concierge for 7-10 days. Is it gas prices? It looks like the further from Florida the more expensive regardless of which ship. In 14 years I've only cruised one other line but now need to at least check others. I'd like to go further than St Thomas and St. Martin and for more than seven days but the prices seemed to have skyrocketed. And I see "RF Canada" has bought out a number of cruises. Any idea what RF Canada is?

[boogs]

I'm a long time Celebrity cruiser (made the Elite status!! :) but haven't sailed since the Reflection last January. Now looking to book a Caribbean cruise and am finding a significant increased in prices. Even the older M class ships which was always cheaper are higher than the S class. I usually book Concierge for 7-10 days. Is it gas prices? It looks like the further from Florida the more expensive regardless of which ship. In 14 years I've only cruised one other line but now need to at least check others. I'd like to go further than St Thomas and St. Martin and for more than seven days but the prices seemed to have skyrocketed. And I see "RF Canada" has bought out a number of cruises. Any idea what RF Canada is?

 

The economy has improved and continues to do so, resulting in people having more disposable income, so more people are cruising. It's a supply and demand thing, no different than virtually every other business in the world. When there are fewer customers, prices come down to try to sell their products. When there are more customers, prices go up because there is more demand.

 

Economics 101.

Edited September 1, 2014 by boogs

[ECCruise]

It is a lot of factors but oil prices not among them. Crude is at a lower level than a lot of the past 5 years.

 

Partly it is supply and demand, and that comes from several years of pent-up demand post recession. Another factor, IMHO, is the number of first-time cruisers who have little or nothing for comparison. And finally, frankly, a factor is the "free" liquor packages. We have 3 future sailings on the books with Celebrity and all have gone up considerably--some almost hilariously--since we entered 1-2-3 land.

Edited September 1, 2014 by ECCruise

[Orator]

In the last Conference call Richard Fain made it quite clear that he expected all companies under the Royal Caribbean umbrella to achieve double digit profits. The new strategies to attract higher margin cruises and increased prices are part of that goal. The ships are leaving full and the strategy seems to be working.

[hulamoon]

I also think it is free drink packages attracting people. Now they have added some air credits occasionally now that seems more enticing to me, unfortunately I have five booked and four under a drink package. The fee has climbed however, so I haven't switched them.

 

Before I sailed celebrity the rates were similar to other lines, that doesn't seem to be true anymore though, at least at what I am pricing.

[AntjeG]

I agree with the "ships are full". My upcoming cruise (January 2015) has been completely sold out for months now and shortly before prices rocketed up. I was lucky to get one of the last 3 available (at least available to German market) inside cabins more than 1 year prior to sail date. By now, the cruise is sold out on the German and US website.

Edited September 1, 2014 by AntjeG

[Oxo]

It is a lot of factors but oil prices not among them. Crude is at a lower level than a lot of the past 5 years.

 

Partly it is supply and demand, and that comes from several years of pent-up demand post recession. Another factor, IMHO, is the number of first-time cruisers who have little or nothing for comparison. And finally, frankly, a factor is the "free" liquor packages. We have 3 future sailings on the books with Celebrity and all have gone up considerably--some almost hilariously--since we entered 1-2-3 land.

 

A Factor is the 'FREE' Liquor Packages. In reality they are not 'FREE' since the price is raised to account for the Liquor Packages. Nothing is FREE as you pay in one way or the other. X must be making money using this 'FREE' package. If not they would not be offering it. JMHO!

[ECCruise]

A Factor is the 'FREE' Liquor Packages. In reality they are not 'FREE' since the price is raised to account for the Liquor Packages. Nothing is FREE as you pay in one way or the other. X must be making money using this 'FREE' package. If not they would not be offering it. JMHO!

 

We agree. That was exactly my point :) One of our trips went up almost $2k after 1-2-3.

Edited September 1, 2014 by ECCruise

[wallie5446]

This is just MHO, I think they are trying to change our booking habits. How so? For years my wife and I most always booked 60-90 days out. The last 2 years we booked 10 and 11 months out. We have a 1A on deck 8 hump, for our 11 day on Equinox, now sold out. Balcony's still available are $600-900 higher. For years it was the flip, wait, wait, and the closer to sail date the price comes down. It seems this is only happening 10-20% of the sailings now.

 

Having a better knowledge that a sailing is full can do nothing but help purchasing make a better deal on supplies in the long term. Just a thought, which my wife says gets me in trouble from time to time.:D

Edited September 1, 2014 by wallie5446

[Oxo]

We agree. That was exactly my point :) One of our trips went up almost $2k after 1-2-3.

We do 2 to 3 Celebrity cruises a year, plus other cruise lines (RCI and Princess.) We have seen prices without the 1-2-3 packages for the same ports/days much cheaper. However, when X includes the 1-2-3, the price really goes up. In fact, same ship, ports time of year (1 year later) price is (like you say) almost 41-2K more.

[d4m]

A Factor is the 'FREE' Liquor Packages. In reality they are not 'FREE' since the price is raised to account for the Liquor Packages. Nothing is FREE as you pay in one way or the other. X must be making money using this 'FREE' package. If not they would not be offering it. JMHO!

 

Exactly. Last year when they introduced the "free" 123 deal, we had already booked. Several on the cruise called and asked about the "deal" which turned out to be, for us, $400 more a person if we changed to include the free deal. Since we rarely drink, it was a no-brainer.

 

Just my opinion that Celebrity has raised prices to compensate for giving away a portion of the normal $$ they would receive if passengers paid the full prices of the package.

 

Comparing a similar itinerary we took this year to one we booked for next year was nearly $400 more a person, same room, same class ship.

[newyorkray]

I am so disappointed, yes, it must be at least partially the free liquor packages. My wife and I are both recovering alcoholics but they make money on us in the casino. It took me a few years to made the "Elite" status and hate to feel I now need to look around at other cruise lines. I know Celebrity. Except for one cruise last year they were all I new. I first went on their old Meridian ship before even the Century class disappeared. They only had 2-3ships. I am usually a very loyal customer to any business I deal with. Now Celebrity's changes have disappointed me.

[Sloop-JohnB]

I'm a long time Celebrity cruiser (made the Elite status!! :) but haven't sailed since the Reflection last January. Now looking to book a Caribbean cruise and am finding a significant increased in prices. Even the older M class ships which was always cheaper are higher than the S class. I usually book Concierge for 7-10 days. Is it gas prices? It looks like the further from Florida the more expensive regardless of which ship. In 14 years I've only cruised one other line but now need to at least check others. I'd like to go further than St Thomas and St. Martin and for more than seven days but the prices seemed to have skyrocketed.

 

And I see "RF Canada" has bought out a number of cruises. Any idea what RF Canada is?

 

Demand in the cruising industry has gone up in recent years (and price follows demand)

 

Demand is being driven by the AI Experience that more Travellers are looking for (and indeed why X introduced the 123Go concept). Every year the world over more and more ships are being built to meet this need... The 5 S-Class Ships that Celebrity launched one a year 2008 thru 2012 was part of this.

 

As for the references you are seeing on the Celebrity Website to bookings for Canada... RF Canada & SI Canada, these relate to Celebrity's own in house AI Charters that they are running for the ReFlection and SIlhouette between February & April this year. A complete pkg from Celebrity that includes... Airfare Charter (with Canadian North) - All Tranfers - Cruise - and Hotel Rooms (if required)

 

They tested them out in select Cdn Cities last year, were hugely successful, so now are running every Saturday & Sunday February thru April from 6 Cdn Cities in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick & Nova Scotia for the Reflection & Silhouette

 

Hope this helps,

 

Cheers!

Edited September 1, 2014 by Sloop-JohnB

[Gracie115]

Here's a price increase for you to think about:

 

The Spring 2015 TA for Eclipse began at about $3,700PER PERSON for a CS, it is now selling for just over $11,199 PER PERSON for the same CS......

 

THAT's JUST CRAZY!!!!:eek::D

[boogs]

I agree with the "ships are full". My upcoming cruise (January 2015) has been completely sold out for months now and shortly before prices rocketed up. I was lucky to get one of the last 3 available (at least available to German market) inside cabins more than 1 year prior to sail date. By now, the cruise is sold out on the German and US website.

 

We booked our February 2015 cruise over a year ago, and now, five months to sail date, every category stateroom has been sold out for months already. Occasionally someone will cancel their reservation, and a room becomes available. I subscribe to a price monitoring service and just this morning I received an email notification that a room had opened up in my stateroom category. The price is over $1,300 per person MORE than we paid for the same category. Prices never went down on this cruise, and about six months ago they started going up, and are still doing so as rooms become available.

 

Supply and demand. I don't blame the cruise lines for raising prices. For several years they struggled, having to lower prices to fill their ships. Now business is booming, and prices have gone up. More profits means a stronger company, one that isn't at risk of going bankrupt, and with the possibility of new ships in the future for us to enjoy.

 

Love it or hate it, this is an example of capitalism at work!

Edited September 1, 2014 by boogs

[Algebralovr]

We pretty much always book way ahead. In 2011, we booked Eclipse for Feb 2012, a 2D room that we gave about $900 per person for. The prices dropped after final payment, but our TA recommended we stay in our booked room (she was right as it was on the hump with a huge balcony). We came home and booked C3, which we paid about $1050 or $1100 per person for, to sail on Reflection in Feb 2013. We paid $1700 per person to sail 11 nights in Feb 2014. Then they came out with 123GO. We were lucky enough to have it added at no additional cost.

 

Then we booked our Feb 2015 cruise, a C2 for the price of a C3, since we booked on board. I think we paid $1139 and it has gone up to $1249. That $1249 seems to be the normal price for the room we want at the time we want it now. We do get the "free" beverage package, which I probably would have bought anyway.

[TeaBag]

I also agree that the drink package included in the fare is one of the causes for higher prices and/or cutbacks. Celebrity is in business to make money and they seem to have come up with a winner. Too bad it is not a winner for us.

[NLH Arizona]

Supply and demand. I don't blame the cruise lines for raising prices. For several years they struggled, having to lower prices to fill their ships. Now business is booming, and prices have gone up. More profits means a stronger company, one that isn't at risk of going bankrupt, and with the possibility of new ships in the future for us to enjoy.

 

Love it or hate it, this is an example of capitalism at work!

Well said. If people are willing to pay and it looks like they are, then the prices will remain high, if not higher.

[ECCruise]

Well said. If people are willing to pay and it looks like they are, then the prices will remain high, if not higher.

 

Exactly. Just like the equity market, October 2007 and the housing market, 2008.

[Sloop-JohnB]

Well said. If people are willing to pay and it looks like they are, then the prices will remain high, if not higher.

 

Another reason to book early... And perhaps book often.

 

We are keeping an eye on prices.

 

If you book far enough out you have the whole ship at your disposal when it comes to picking a preferred cabin.

 

Then watch to see if prices increase or decrease, and make moves accordingly...

 

Holding or Dumping (or calling Celebrity for a Price Adjustment)

 

The nice thing about speculating... Is that if you truly want to cruise you've had eons to save the money from booking until Final Payment Day

 

So you can decide if it is worth the overall investment

 

We have 2 on the books now, one for 2014, one for 2015, and are considering a 3rd for down the road

 

The first two are both increasing in value (vs our Current Contract) and neither have got to Final Payment Date yet.

 

Cheers!

Edited September 1, 2014 by Sloop-JohnB

[teecee60]

Leaving in two weeks for 23 nights on Century for $799pp with $250 OBC. :)

 

All three of the below listed cruises on Celebrity Constellation, inside cabin. OBCs through online site + shareholder benefit.

 

11 night Black Sea, R/T Istanbul, 14 Oct. Still at $549pp with $25 + $200 OBC.

 

11 night Med, Istanbul Israel Rome, 25 Oct. Still at $599pp but with only $200 OBC.

 

16 night T/A, Rome Morocco FLL, 5 Nov. Price hike to $979pp with $75 + $250 OBC.

 

38 nights b2b2b on Celebrity for under $2,100 with $750 of OBC. :eek:

 

Delta Airlines, Houston to Istanbul, on 12 Oct. through Choice Air $335.22!!!

 

Similar prices on one way air to IST from Atlanta, Miami, and Minneapolis. ;)

Edited September 1, 2014 by teecee60

[SantaFeFan]

Leaving in two weeks for 23 nights on Century for $799pp with $250 OBC. :)

 

All three of the below listed cruises on Celebrity Constellation, inside cabin. OBCs through online site + shareholder benefit.

 

An inside cabin? They would have to pay ME to book one of those. Having a closed-in box with no natural light for a room is not my idea of a vacation. I put too high a value on my total vacation experience to be cooped up in one of those. Ugh! :p

[ECCruise]

 

38 nights b2b2b on Celebrity for under $2,100 with $750 of OBC. :eek:

 

Delta Airlines, Houston to Istanbul, on 12 Oct. through Choice Air $335.22!!!

 

Similar prices on one way air to IST from Atlanta, Miami, and Minneapolis. ;)

 

That's smart shopping. Not many doing it though, for better or worse. Just the 11 day Black Sea in an AQ cabin is over 3 times what you are paying for the whole 38 days: around $7500.

Edited September 1, 2014 by ECCruise

[eg1]

Demand in the cruising industry has gone up in recent years (and price follows demand)

 

Demand is being driven by the AI Experience that more Travellers are looking for (and indeed why X introduced the 123Go concept). Every year the world over more and more ships are being built to meet this need... The 5 S-Class Ships that Celebrity launched one a year 2008 thru 2012 was part of this.

 

As for the references you are seeing on the Celebrity Website to bookings for Canada... RF Canada & SI Canada, these relate to Celebrity's own in house AI Charters that they are running for the ReFlection and SIlhouette between February & April this year. A complete pkg from Celebrity that includes... Airfare Charter (with Canadian North) - All Tranfers - Cruise - and Hotel Rooms (if required)

 

They tested them out in select Cdn Cities last year, were hugely successful, so now are running every Saturday & Sunday February thru April from 6 Cdn Cities in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick & Nova Scotia for the Reflection & Silhouette

 

Hope this helps,

 

Cheers!

We are living proof that the concept works. We're booked on Reflection in March on one of these packages, and it is our first cruise -- I imagine our experience will dictate whether or not we repeat.

 

According to our TA this Canadian plan was something of a gamble. Before these charters the cost of flights was a serious drag on sales in Canada.

[dlfntx]

Leaving in two weeks for 23 nights on Century for $799pp with $250 OBC. :)

 

All three of the below listed cruises on Celebrity Constellation, inside cabin. OBCs through online site + shareholder benefit.

 

11 night Black Sea, R/T Istanbul, 14 Oct. Still at $549pp with $25 + $200 OBC.

 

11 night Med, Istanbul Israel Rome, 25 Oct. Still at $599pp but with only $200 OBC.

 

16 night T/A, Rome Morocco FLL, 5 Nov. Price hike to $979pp with $75 + $250 OBC.

 

38 nights b2b2b on Celebrity for under $2,100 with $750 of OBC. :eek:

 

Delta Airlines, Houston to Istanbul, on 12 Oct. through Choice Air $335.22!!!

 

Similar prices on one way air to IST from Atlanta, Miami, and Minneapolis. ;)

 

I for one will be looking forward to hearing about your trip when you get back. What a great trip and what a great price. Sailing in an inside would be so worth this trip. Have fun!