Am I Seeing Things?? Pricing Gripe

[lovey1103]

Are all the cruise prices inflated due to the 123 go's?

Celebrity was always a good product with fairly reasonable pricing.

It now seems like the prices are really high due to the 123 offers.

If you don't drink much it seems as if you are paying big pricing for limited benefit.

Any comments or has cruising just gone up that much?:confused:

[Orator]

Are all the cruise prices inflated due to the 123 go's?

Celebrity was always a good product with fairly reasonable pricing.

It now seems like the prices are really high due to the 123 offers.

If you don't drink much it seems as if you are paying big pricing for limited benefit.

Any comments or has cruising just gone up that much?:confused:

 

They charge what the market tells them people will pay. Most cruises sail full so there doesn't appear to be much price resistence. Their stated goal is double digit profits and they are moving in that direction by using aggressive pricing, marketing and cost cutting. The stock is at a new high which means that investors like what they see. There is another factor as well that might cause some controvery: A number of Senior Officers in the Hotel Department have toldme that onboard passenger problems increase as prices go down. They really want to eliminate the "short cruise cruiser" and the "bargain cruiser". Just check the cruise listings for 2015-16. The new Suite category demonstrates a targeting of a more upscale customer.

Edited December 2, 2014 by Orator

[Project_gal]

OK. I have only checked certain European and Alaskan cruises for suites but I compared them with current prices for the previous year and I was pleasantly surprised. From the comments I have been reading on the new deployment thread, I thought that they had increased drastically but they do not seem to have done to me despite the pound dropping against the dollar at present.

[KKB]

10 years ago we cruised for $550/7 nights for an interior & felt we were getting a tremendous value.

We just booked a 5 night for $500 for an oceanview. 10 years later with free drinks, gratuities & OBC--sounds like a very good price to me.

We would love to cruise the Oasis/Allure again but their prices are NUTS--and NO free drinks!!

Edited December 2, 2014 by KKB

[Orator]

You can still find bargains in the Caribbean where there is over capacity. That's why most lines are finding new destinations in an attempt to reduce capacity in the Caribbean. The most recent RCL Conference call summed up the strategy.

Edited December 2, 2014 by Orator

[maxsales]

Are all the cruise prices inflated due to the 123 go's?

Celebrity was always a good product with fairly reasonable pricing.

It now seems like the prices are really high due to the 123 offers.

If you don't drink much it seems as if you are paying big pricing for limited benefit.

Any comments or has cruising just gone up that much?:confused:[/quote

 

Of course they are, there is never a free lunch. Look at it like the other lux lines that already include alcohol, everyone pays even if they don't drink.

[chrismakris]

Are all the cruise prices inflated due to the 123 go's?

Celebrity was always a good product with fairly reasonable pricing.

It now seems like the prices are really high due to the 123 offers.

If you don't drink much it seems as if you are paying big pricing for limited benefit.

Any comments or has cruising just gone up that much?:confused:

 

I have found that Celebrities prices are fairly good compared to what other cruise lines are offering in the same areas and similar itineraries even with the 123Go. I also believe later on you will find some good deals on Veranda Cabins because there will be more inventory because quite a few people will have booked a Concierge Cabin or higher because of the promo.

 

Unfortunately, with these promos you kinda have to get on it right away top get a real steal of a price. We booked a cruise on the Summit in Concierge Cabin on Day 1 of the 123GO All inclusive.

 

It was a cruise I had been looking at previously to book while we were going to be on our next cruise. I was going to wait so I could get the OBC for booking on board. A Veranda was at $699. When the promo started I looked at it again and noticed that a Concierge Cabin was $749!!!! with all the promos. I called my travel agent and booked the cruise.

 

Since then, in 3 weeks, the prices have remained the same for Veranda and lower cabins, while Concierge and higher have increased anywhere from $200-$500/pp. Our cabin category is going for $500 more than what we paid at the beginning.

 

In the end, with these promos, it all about knowing what you want beforehand and jumping on them right away without hesitation to get the best price possible.

[as41shots]

You can wait until the 123GO specials are over, and then watch the prices come down. We'll be on the Reflection departing 12/13 and booked a SkySuite 1 late, after final payment and without a 123 special for $1300/pp all-in ($2600 for the cabin) and we're getting $275 in OBC, for a net of $2325 for the cabin. Now the OBC will cover our gratuities, and we decided to buy the premium alcohol package (which we get a 10% discount for since we have the Celebrity Signature VISA card), so add in around $825 for that, and our total cost for a SkySuite 1 with grats paid and the premium alcohol package is around $3400, or $1700/pp. Helluva deal in today's dollars if you ask me.

 

If I wanted to book the exact same cruise the exact same week next year with the 123GO attached, it would cost me $4300 right now, or an extra $900.

[4774Papa]

We started cruising after I retired in July 2010. Since then, we have done 7 Celebrity and 5 NCL cruises.

Celebrity is our cruise line of choice. I have seen price increases for many of X's cruises. I believe the 123 promotions have increased the basic cruise prices. I note that is especially true for transatlantics. Of course, the TA seem to include more ports.

 

We are elite and moderate drinkers. We generally don't start drinking alcohol until 5pm at the free happy hour. The drinks packages aren't worth much to us.

 

We will still look first at Celebrity, but if the price differential with NCL is more than 15%, for the same itinerary, then we might go with the lower price.

 

We are booked on to Asian cruises for 2015 that are not that expensive, but we retained our prior Japan cruise prices when both were cancelled.

[Sloop-JohnB]

I watch prices...

 

And YES prices are higher when there are Booking Promos on that offer a lot back to the Pax... And they are lower when the Promos are not on.

 

FYI, there are most definitely Travel Websites as well as Celebrity, who quote prices without the Booking Promo (ie 123Go - Pick Your Perk - All Inclusive). See something you like but not necessarily the price... Shop around / call & ask

 

Personally, we find the Booking Promos to be a good deal for us... And truly believe you don't have to be a big drinker to ever come out ahead with a Bevvy Pkg because of all the other items that are included... And how high the prices are for Bevvy items on the ships (Pop @ $ 2+ - Bottled Spring Water @ $ 4 - Premium Teas & Coffees @ $ 5+ etc)

 

Cheers!

Edited December 2, 2014 by Sloop-JohnB

[Jetswdo]

Right now we have a cruise booked, aqua 2 on the Summit for a June Bermuda sailing. It includes the all in package- but no obc. Now the pricing does include 150 per person OBC, but dollar for dollar it is actually just a savings of $20 cash if we re-book using the OBC inclusion. For $20.00, I would rather not feel the pressure of using up OBC on board. This way we have made and paid for our preferred dining reservations for the times that we want. I don't like booking specialty restaurants on board Celebrity as we know the times that we want before setting foot on the ship, and we are all set. If there is a special on board where the dining is cheaper for when we want it- then we just go right to customer service and ask for the refund. But we make it clear we are not changing our reservation time. Did this on the Reflection- took 5 minutes and money was promptly posted back on my credit card.

[BILLP1]

Check with your travel agent. We are booked on May 3rd on the Summit to Bermuda and had the drink package but not the tip package. Latter when tips were added to the 123 package I called my agent and got the benefit without re booking. When we booked it clearly said that if additional benefits were added we would be entitled to add them without re booking.

 

Go back to your booking and check the 123 package to see if that benefit was part of your booking. Our tip package was added this past October. My agent thought that I was wrong but when they checked with Celebrity the called me back to tell me that yes I was right..

[wallie5446]

For everyone that says prices are high, there will be another say 'no way' they are low. Our first 7 day cruise in a balcony cabin in 1992, adding in our on board account, cost us within $100 of our 7 day on the Reflection in 2013, in a deck 9 C2. Break it down however you want, it is total out of pocket spent from parking, to plane, to hotel, to cruise, tours, sea pass account, then back home.

 

Here is the kicker, we made less $$ in 1992 so the true effect was that, that cruise cost way more than what we pay today. Simple take home pay math.

Edited December 2, 2014 by wallie5446

[drakes2]

Ten years ago my husband and I took our very first cruise and booked an inside for a price of $800. each without any OBC. My sister and I will be on the Reflection this coming January and booked a guarantee balcony cabin for $599 each with $150 OBC. We have received our cabin assignment, a mid ship Hump Balcony on a high deck non obstructed view which sells for $1,200 pp. How do cruise lines determine who gets upgraded and who gets what they paid for?

For everyone that says prices are high, there will be another say 'no way' they are low. Our first 7 day cruise in a balcony cabin in 1992, adding in our on board account, cost us within $100 of our 7 day on the Reflection in 2013, in a deck 9 C2. Break it down however you want, it is total out of pocket spent from parking, to plane, to hotel, to cruise, tours, sea pass account, then back home.

 

Here is the kicker, we made less $$ in 1992 so the true effect was that, that cruise cost way more than what we pay today. Simple take home pay math.

[4774Papa]

Some posters have compared prices for cruises that they took 10-20 years ago, when most ships were smaller.

 

The economies of scale with the large ships have allowed cruise lines to lower relative prices.

 

This issue of this thread is have prices increased due to the 123GO specials.

 

Comparing prices for the past 3-4 years, look at the pre 123 GO cruises and compare to what is out there now.

 

Many of the European cruises, including the British Isles cruises are now a 12 day cruise is $3700 plus for a veranda.

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/cruises/cruise-package-CS12M408?packageid=CS12M408&dest=EUROP&shipCode=CS&shipName=Celebrity-Constellation

 

Then a 10 day Med cruise for $3300 for a veranda

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/cruises/cruise-package-EQ10M111?packageid=EQ10M111&dest=EUROP&shipCode=EQ&shipName=Celebrity-Equinox&applyCriteria=false&sailDate=1150511&cabincls=BALCONY&promoType=

 

A typical two week MED cruise until recently would cost $2400 to $2800 pp. This is an significant increase.

[floralscent]

I agree that prices have increased a lot on some itineraries. In 2012 we sailed 12 nights in Italy/Croatia on the Silhouette in a verandah for $1,600 per person. This included pp grats, generous OBC and bev pkg. This same itinerary with the same amenities is just over double the cost pp compared to 2012. I feel we got a screaming deal in 2012. I find the cost of longer Caribbean itineraries has increased as well and we can't even come close these days to the same 14 night price we paid in 2011. Shorter Caribbean itineraries with gty verandahs or lesser cabin class than verandahs is where more bargins seem to be, if you ask me.

 

Finding a great TA that can give you outstanding group rates on cabins and add to Celebrity's perk program amenities is key these days in getting a great itinerary at a super price. The deals are still there but as someone mentioned you have to do your research on prices and itineraries, find a great TA and be ready to pull the trigger when a great deal suddenly appears.

[HelenfromMelbourne]

Prices do seem higher to us, too. We have only been on Celebrity twice, and started cruising in 2010. We are a family of 4 and tend to splurge on suites for our cruise holidays (which is why we don't cruise very often:o)

 

Before this year, we could manage a celebrity suite on particular sailings for about $250 per person per day. Current prices are almost double that. I know that suite benefits have been enhanced, but suites are now out of reach for us.

 

We have started looking at Oceania, etc, where a standard verandah cabin will provide a great experience at less than a suite on Celebrity...which is a shame because we love the line. Also, being Australian, TAs generally can't offer any perks, OBCs or other benefits and prices are higher than for North American customers.

 

All that being said, we are really looking forward to our January cruise on Solstice.

[WALKER1313]

Carnival??? currently offering a four night cruise for $ 70.

[upwarduk]

he other items that are included... And how high the prices are for Bevvy items on the ships (Pop @ $ 2+ - Bottled Spring Water @ $ 4 - Premium Teas & Coffees @ $ 5+ etc)[/Quote]

 

On our TA in '13 water was priced at $5 a bottle, so our Classic drinks package more than paid for that.

 

When I re- booked ( due to the re deployment of Century) there were 2 prices for a balcony cabin on Eclipse:

1) 2D balcony for inside price- no beverage package

2) 2C, 2B, 2A higher, because they included the Classic package

 

I have read somewhere that you can book without the package.

[Embrace]

For our March 2013 cruise we signed up a year ahead for a 2B category balcony for $NZ227 each per night for an 11 night Solstice cruise in Australia (no 123go package on offer).

 

The price dropped significantly 6 months out from the cruise so we rebooked and paid $NZ190 for the same cabin - still no 123go.

 

For our next cruise in Australia on Solstice this coming Feb/Mar, we are paying $NZ187 each per night for the exact same cabin for a 17 night cruise including 123go benefit.

 

Again we booked this a year out. So for us it is cheaper this time than last time without the 123go - granted, the longer the cruise, the greater value for the cruiser.

Edited December 3, 2014 by Embrace
clarified NZ dollars

[andrew cooper]

Fully agree with 1st post - prices have definitely and noticeably gone up for 2016 in particular and more than exceed the cost of any so called inclusive ' free ' 123 packages . And it is even worse for anyone like ourselves with a couple of kids who can only cruise during out of school term times as 3rd / 4th person / kids prices have virtually doubled in 2 years . Anyone with kids is now an easy target .....

 

This is all well and good if wages have increased accordingly in that time . However we both work for the NHS . We have had no wage rise for nearly 5 years and are even having to strike to try and get a 1% rise next year !

 

We will still probably book for 2016 but as a family of 4 we work to a budget and to offset these price rises we will now book a lower grade cabin , give speciality restaurants a miss , avoid the casino , book our own trips and not use the internet on board .

 

In fairness to Celebrity it ain't just them ..... RCCL family prices are shocking .

 

:D:D:D

[BosoxI]

After four straight years of Christmas crusiing on X, I took a look at this year's pricing and hightailed to another line. But the X cruises are full, so obviously I'm the cheapskate.

[harz99]

After four straight years of Christmas crusiing on X, I took a look at this year's pricing and hightailed to another line. But the X cruises are full, so obviously I'm the cheapskate.

 

Not really, you've just got more sense than money. This Christmas we are on NCL Jade from Rome for 21 nights at a cruise fare of around £1000 each for a large balcony (so called mini suite) rather than pay the vastly inflated prices "X" or RCL want, plus of course the air fare for us to Rome is a heck of a lot cheaper than to North America or Australasia...........:D

[harz99]

Fully agree with 1st post - prices have definitely and noticeably gone up for 2016 in particular and more than exceed the cost of any so called inclusive ' free ' 123 packages . And it is even worse for anyone like ourselves with a couple of kids who can only cruise during out of school term times as 3rd / 4th person / kids prices have virtually doubled in 2 years . Anyone with kids is now an easy target .....

 

This is all well and good if wages have increased accordingly in that time . However we both work for the NHS . We have had no wage rise for nearly 5 years and are even having to strike to try and get a 1% rise next year !

 

We will still probably book for 2016 but as a family of 4 we work to a budget and to offset these price rises we will now book a lower grade cabin , give speciality restaurants a miss , avoid the casino , book our own trips and not use the internet on board .

 

In fairness to Celebrity it ain't just them ..... RCCL family prices are shocking .

 

:D:D:D

 

Hi; if you're looking for cruises ex the UK, in your situation I would be inclined to go through the brochures and list which cruises you would want to take and then sit tight and monitor them on online agents until they come up at "sale" prices to clear cabins near departure time. There is a very useful US travel agent site that does a "90 day ticker" in its weekly? email to subscribers - sorry not allowed to say which one.

[lovey1103]

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful replys.

I will continue to cruise with Celebrity no doubt, however, I will more inclined to shop around before bringing the hammer down.:D