Why my cruise keeps going up in price.....

[PattBenatar]

After another post in another thread I thought this would be a great topic to discuss. Please add to the list if you have any good ones or even bad ones...

 

People:

1.Share Cheers/Bubbles that was meant for one person

2.Share wifi programs that was meant for one person

3.Smuggle booze on to the ship for personal consumption, no harm right?

4.Depart the ship smuggling 32 boxes of cereal for home use (yes this was real)

5.Order excess amount of food (10 lobsters etc....)

6.Rock the "CASH" machine in the casino to get the stacks of money to fall and then play stupid when confronted by security.

7. Run to CS and remove all tips because you had to turn a light on when entering your cabin or any other silly reason.

8. Pack away that big blue beach towel while going home because it was a gift no doubt. You tell your steward on the way out you dropped it in the box while watching the movie last night.

Edited May 16, 2017 by PattBenatar
spelling

[d12j28]

After another post in another thread I thought this would be a great topic to discuss. Please add to the list if you have any good ones or even bad ones...

 

People:

1.Share Cheers/Bubbles that was meant for one person

 

2.Share wifi programs that was meant for one person

3.Smuggle booze on to the ship for personal consumption, no harm right?

4.Depart the ship smuggling 32 boxes of cereal for home use (yes this was real)

5.Order excess amount of food (10 lobsters etc....)

6.Rock the "CASH" machine in the casino to get the stacks of money to fall and then play stupid when confronted by security.

7. Run to CS and remove all tips because you had to turn a light on when entering your cabin or any other silly reason.

8. Pack away that big blue beach towel while going home because it was a gift no doubt. You tell your steward on the way out you dropped it in the box while watching the movie last night.

 

1 - Wouldn't this up the Cheers price more than the cruise price?

 

2 - Isn't the wifi per device, not person?

3 - See #1.

 

4 - I've actually seen people do this.

 

5 - Seen people do this also.

 

6 - Have never seen that happen and I've been in the casino a lot. I would imagine it would be easy for them to pull up the video if it did happen so I don't see how this would raise the price of your cruise.

 

7 - This doesn't really impact your cruise price but could up the cost of gratuities.

8 - I would imagine they would be charged if they didn't sign the towel back in.

[A&Jfamily]

While I applaud your efforts, most of what you sight is simply the cost of doing business.

 

I think the real answer is "because we live in a free market economy that is largely driven by supply and demand." The economy has improved, more people are traveling and thus no need for rate drops because people are booking the cruises as advertised.

 

A few years ago, at times I would see hundreds of dollars in rate drops and have a nice chunk of OBC for my cruise - even at popular travel times like spring break. Now, it seems that the best best is to book early as they are just gonna climbing as the ships fill.

[Razor_Poke]

2 isn't a problem. By design, you can login 1 device at time. They don't care how many devices you have.

5, in my opinion is the big problem. It includes the buffets, burger joints, pizzeria, and MDR meals. I'm not sure it affects the fare, the food quality / choices or some combination of these.

6. Casino's are the most secured places on earth and at sea. Cheaters get called out, thrown out, etc.

[riffatsea]

Nope! None of the reasons listed are why prices rise.

It is all supply and demand. IF more people buy then the price goes up.

IF you are going at a quiet time(like the week after Thanksgiving) then you may find price drops as fewer people want to sail then.

[ksmcdonald]

Actually, I just looked at an old receipt of a cruise we took back in 1988 on Carnival Holiday ship. Our price per person was $799 inside for a seven day cruise out of Miami. With inflation, cruises should cost double that! I don't really see prices going up for cruises. They probably break even on the cruise fare and make up for it with specialty dining, casino, excursions, drink packages etc.

 

I agree there are a few people who try to "cheat" to system, but I'd say 90% of the people do not do the things you listed. I doubt that even puts a dent in their profits. If everyone participated in those items on the list, then yes, they would feel the loss.

 

I think wifi is per cabin or device, not per person.

[Gypsywych]

After another post in another thread I thought this would be a great topic to discuss. Please add to the list if you have any good ones or even bad ones...

 

People:

1.Share Cheers/Bubbles that was meant for one person Separate from your cruise price

2.Share wifi programs that was meant for one person Also separate from your cruise price.

3.Smuggle booze on to the ship for personal consumption, no harm right? That's why you can't bring on bottled soda or water any longer.

4.Depart the ship smuggling 32 boxes of cereal for home use (yes this was real) Criminal, but 32 cents worth of cereal didn't raise your cruise price.

5.Order excess amount of food (10 lobsters etc....) Carnival expects that. It's built into the food budget.

6.Rock the "CASH" machine in the casino to get the stacks of money to fall and then play stupid when confronted by security. The Casino is a separate vendor. Zero to do with your cruise price.

7. Run to CS and remove all tips because you had to turn a light on when entering your cabin or any other silly reason. Gratuities are completely separate from your cruise price.

8. Pack away that big blue beach towel while going home because it was a gift no doubt. You tell your steward on the way out you dropped it in the box while watching the movie last night. You'll be charged. Trust me.

 

 

Did you come up with any that actually do have an effect on cruise pricing? Like supply and demand? Bunker fuel futures? Competition? Insurance prices? Loans for new ships?

[bakersdozen12]

Comment on #2-the wifi plans are not meant for just one person. The only restriction is that you can only use one device at a time. But there is no reason why my husband and I, for example, can't share a plan while on a cruise. No way are we going to pay for the premium plan twice. That would be ridiculous.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[gambleballs]

I'd like to see some numbers proving cruise fares are actually increasing that much. As someone else mentioned, small upticks are normal as prices keep up with inflation.

 

This chart suggests it has been steadily getting cheaper to cruise since 2008 peak pricing.

[perditax]

Yes, the consumer is definitely to blame, well done.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tef43]

Actually, I just looked at an old receipt of a cruise we took back in 1988 on Carnival Holiday ship. Our price per person was $799 inside for a seven day cruise out of Miami. With inflation, cruises should cost double that! I don't really see prices going up for cruises.

Agreed. The cost for our 1983 cruise on the TSS Carnivale for 7 nights in the equivalent of today's IS guarantee cabin was $999/pp. Adjusted for inflation, that equates to $2,443.37 in 2017.

 

Show me a cruise that costs that much today.

[Mysticks1]

#5 would depend upon if the food is actually eaten or if it is wasted. I am sure they expect and budget for a certain amount of waste.

[lazydayz]

Simple economics - supply and demand. They will charge what they can get for the cruise fare but what they are really want are additional purchases and expenses like booze, casino, photos, spa, and specialty restaurants. Once you are on the ship, you are a captured audience so the main goal is to get you on the ship to buy more stuff. Those who spend little onboard are probably not rewarded with exceptional deals after the fact. Those that do, at least in the casino, get offers for free or low cost cruises.

[lizardhowson]

This thread is just a knee jerk, emotional observation which has completely ignored free market enterprise principles.

[Lerin]

#5 would depend upon if the food is actually eaten or if it is wasted. I am sure they expect and budget for a certain amount of waste.

 

Exactly, and it probably evens out when you consider people that eat significantly less.

Twice I've cruised with kids who were nursing; paid full price, didn't eat a thing. Since then our family groups have included children who eat nothing but cheerios or baby food from home, a vegan who ate a few veggies and beans, a woman on a special diet that had to bring shakes and bars from home, and an uncle who got sea sick and ate nothing but saltines for 2 days...believe it or not everyone on a cruise isn't stuffing their face.

 

Can't say I've had an issue with anything else the OP listed and feel cruise prices are quite reasonable.

[cruisemom67]

I think cruise prices are an excellent value. Our first cruise, the "once in a lifetime I get to CRUISE!" back in 1992, was $799 pp for a 4 day Bahana cruise, inside cabin.

I tend to look at WHY IS MY CRUISE PRICE SO LOW?

No more free drinks at sail off

No more captains party

No more mints on pillows

No more midnight buffets every night

No more Grand Gala Buffet

No more free ships photo

No more Welcome Back parties unless Platinum or Diamond.

FTTF

Casinos not paying back as much

Fewer lobster dinners

No more tableclothes during American Table.

Spa cabins

Balcony cabins

 

Most of those changes I don't care about, and I am very happy my "once in a lifetime" has turned into "once a year."

Cruising is very affordable, and very little of what OP mentioned will raise the price. The people who take off tips are heartless, as far as I'm concerned. Those tips many times are what supports an entire family in an underdeveloped country. Many mothers and fathers leave their children for months at a time to serve YOU and support their family.

 

Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk