Should Celebrity be worried about about Virgin Cruises?

[Static events]

I am curious to see what people think. 

 

I am very loyal to Royal and Celebrity however the new Virgin ship does look very good. 

 

Do you think the Virgin cruises will disrupt the market for Celebrity? 

 

😅

 

[shipshape sam]

1 minute ago, Static events said:

I am curious to see what people think. 

 

I am very loyal to Royal and Celebrity however the new Virgin ship does look very good. 

 

Do you think the Virgin cruises will disrupt the market for Celebrity? 

 

😅

 

I would think Celebrity and Royal will both be watching and react as needed to any new competition.    What amazes me more right now is how market capacity is expanding as pricing is increasing.  Richard Fain said ( I will paraphrase here) many years ago, that they are in the perfect place with rising profits and increasing cabin capacity.  Some of it is how they bundle features to new customers to cruising which to their credit is what they should be doing, providing what customers want (or like) and increasing the bottom line to shareholders.

 

 

[bEwAbG]

The room renderings that were put out by Virgin gave lots of people pause when they were posted.  Looked like dorm furniture.  I suppose it will all come down to actual experiences once they launch.

[mafig]

Are they still going with no bed unless you're in a suite?  I don't like having the bed converted to a sofa during the day.

 

At least they're supposed to have regular, full size balconies.👍

 

No drink packages.  I admit I've gotten used to them.

 

At first they said no casino.  However, I've read recently they'll have one (or more?).

 

 

[twodjs]

We have already "jumped ship" and have booked a back-to-back on the Scarlet Lady. The number one draw for us is no kids! The recent Celebrity marketing push of "Kids Sail Free" was a HUGE turn-off for us! We're up for anything different, so the Drag Queen Brunch on Virgin is near the top of our list as well. We loved our recent cruise on Edge, including our IV in Aqua, but I was disappointed in the elememts they left out of the Spa, as well as a lack of any explanation of the benefits of some of the unusual rooms. Also don't care for the way they are shrinking parts of the gym/spa on the older ships in the redesigns. So, Celebrity is pushing us away as much as other lines are attracting us. 

[deliver42]

The ship looks beautiful, but from what I've seen and heard on their videos, I don't think it would be my cup of tea. I'm 76, so I not really what Virgin is looking for anyway. The "bed" is another turn off, as is the price for a 5 day cruise. I do think they'll be successful, but question what cruise lines would be most affected. Maybe the higher end lines. I do love the fact that there are no for charge restaurants.

[Redtravel]

I don't know much about Virgin. As a new cruise line, I would wait to read reviews before thinking about booking. Meanwhile, I agree with twodjs. The new higher prices and kids sail free are enough to not make me book Celebrity. Sailed on Reflection in January. While I had a good time, there were a lot of cutbacks that really were annoying. Being elite plus, it has been years since I didn't have a future Celebrity booking. Often we would book multiple cruises in advance.  To repeat the cruise that I took on Reflection,it would have cost me double. And, the only real 14 night cruise is in February. Not when I want to cruise. That sailing now shows as sold out. I wonder how many people book and hope that the fares will go down. I have 5 future cruises booked. None on Celebrity. With so many ships sailing, there are many good deals.  There is a 2020 cruise that we are interested in. There are friends who want us to go with them. i also found a similar cruise on Oceania that is less expensive. 

[Static events]

1 hour ago, shipshape sam said:

I would think Celebrity and Royal will both be watching and react as needed to any new competition.    What amazes me more right now is how market capacity is expanding as pricing is increasing.  Richard Fain said ( I will paraphrase here) many years ago, that they are in the perfect place with rising profits and increasing cabin capacity.  Some of it is how they bundle features to new customers to cruising which to their credit is what they should be doing, providing what customers want (or like) and increasing the bottom line to shareholders.

 

 

 

Yes this is a very good point indeed. I am amazed that so many new ships a being built (still) and the prices have increased. 

[prim8keeper]

We were initially so excited about Virgin. We are in our 30's don't have kids and love a relaxing upscale cruise vacation so in a way we are the target audience. X has been filling that niche, but Virgin had us at no kids! However, as more and more stuff has come out we have yet to see anything that would get us to jump ship so to speak. I personally dislike the bed/sofa concept and so much of it sounds gimmicky. Whether or not it ends up being has yet to be seen. That said we will continue to keep an eye on it as it becomes reality to see how it plays out.

 

I know there seems to be increased concern regarding the "kids sail free" promo on X. Personally I don't think it will work that well. There are just so many other ships out that there that offer a lot more for kids or families if that is really what you are looking for (probably at better prices too given the current X pricing). Not to say that X doesn't do their part as I have heard parents mention great things about the kids club on X. We have seen kids on all our cruises and I've always found them to be pretty well behaved even well sailing in the middle of the summer. Thus we have never found it to be that big of issue. All that said we are now cruising in suites on X so that could be insolating us from a lot of it.

[Silkroad]

Whoops! Need caffeine lol. Read Virgin, and thought Viking (since I’d just been looking at their itineraries).

 

Since I’ve not yet sailed the Caribbean, try to travel during shoulder seasons, and don’t book short cruises at the holidays, Celebrity’s kids’ policy is irrelevant to me. There have been kids on each of my cruises, but they’ve rarely bothered me. Most were better behaved than some of my fellow adults!

Edited April 6, 2019 by Silkroad

[Static events]

2 minutes ago, Silkroad said:

Some Virgin itineraries appeal to me, but I strongly dislike their payment policy. Based on their prices, I don’t see them as a competitor to Celebrity. I’d say they’d compete with Oceania and Azamara.

 

Since I’ve not yet sailed the Caribbean, try to travel during shoulder seasons, and don’t book short cruises at the holidays, Celebrity’s kids’ policy is irrelevant to me. There have been kids on each of my cruises, but they’ve rarely bothered me. Most were better behaved than some of my fellow adults!

 

Totally agree about kids not being an issue on Celebrity. Sometimes were are only about 100 or so which is totally irrelevant. 

[twodjs]

Just now, Static events said:

 

Totally agree about kids not being an issue on Celebrity. Sometimes were are only about 100 or so which is totally irrelevant. 

But that was before they started marketing it big time! 100 maybe irrelevant - but 400 or 500 on a future cruise without the additional kid spaces to deal with them - VERY relevant. Remember that adults had to pay for each kid on past cruises -  which helped to limit the numbers. 

[George C]

Love the though of adult only,  one on the things we like about music charters like rock and romance and flower power which have been on celebrity ships.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Never seen many kids on Celebrity, but we mostly do TA, or the Med in May or Oct when kids are in School

 

i am worry about doing a Vigin cruise , they call their passengers sailors , and sailors work on a ship, no way I'm I doing any work on a cruise , except carrying my wife's shopping 😉

 

Also one of the first things they put out was they are having a Tattoo shop , not that I care if you have one, but when it is one of the first thing they wrote about it makes you wonder 🤔

[dkjretired]

2 hours ago, prim8keeper said:

We were initially so excited about Virgin. We are in our 30's don't have kids and love a relaxing upscale cruise vacation so in a way we are the target audience. X has been filling that niche, but Virgin had us at no kids! However, as more and more stuff has come out we have yet to see anything that would get us to jump ship so to speak. I personally dislike the bed/sofa concept and so much of it sounds gimmicky. Whether or not it ends up being has yet to be seen. That said we will continue to keep an eye on it as it becomes reality to see how it plays out.

 

I know there seems to be increased concern regarding the "kids sail free" promo on X. Personally I don't think it will work that well. There are just so many other ships out that there that offer a lot more for kids or families if that is really what you are looking for (probably at better prices too given the current X pricing). Not to say that X doesn't do their part as I have heard parents mention great things about the kids club on X. We have seen kids on all our cruises and I've always found them to be pretty well behaved even well sailing in the middle of the summer. Thus we have never found it to be that big of issue. All that said we are now cruising in suites on X so that could be insolating us from a lot of it.

 

Just an FYI with the supposed big time marketing of kids sailing free. This is probably a temporary thing, they have been doing the same thing periodically for at least 25 years so this is nothing new. I know they did because I did it with my kids in 94. Just passing on that this is not a new marketing scheme. If you want a virgin ship because of no kids that’s fine but blowing something way oout of proportion is not fair.

 

By the way, this big marketing scheme is already gone.

Edited April 6, 2019 by dkjretired

[prim8keeper]

24 minutes ago, dkjretired said:

 

Just an FYI with the supposed big time marketing of kids sailing free. This is probably a temporary thing, they have been doing the same thing periodically for at least 25 years so this is nothing new. I know they did because I did it with my kids in 94. Just passing on that this is not a new marketing scheme. If you want a virgin ship because of no kids that’s fine but blowing something way oout of proportion is not fair.

 

By the way, this big marketing scheme is already gone.

 

I totally agree! As I said we have traveled at times when there are more kids on board and we have personally never had any issues. Half the time we see a group a kids at some point and I always wonder where they all have been the entire cruise. I know people who have run into issues, but like so much in life it’s all how it’s handled. My parents traveled a lot me with as a kid and I’m really thankful now because I know it’s what started my love of exploring the world. 😃

[MarLieb]

We are a family of 3 that just sailed on Celebrity for the first time in December 2018.  Our son is 11.  I can tell you that, at least amongst my circle of mom friends (both that I see in person and on social media), Celebrity does not cross their minds as a cruise line to even consider.  So, while there may have been a marketing push to attract families, I don't know how successful it was or will be.  In my mommy circles, DCL, Carnival and RCCL are still top-of-mind for family cruise lines.  We travel a lot and were happy to branch out to find something quieter and more sophisticated.  My son felt the same way as DCL became sensory overload for him.  We were on a Christmas week cruise and I saw less than 100 children on the entire ship.  So while I understand many adults do not want to sail with children, I really don't think Celebrity is making that big of a dent in the family market to worry too much about it.    

[mafig]

I asked this question on the Virgin board, but since I don't know how active that board is, I'll ask here to since some of you have already booked with Virgin.

 

Can you pick your stateroom?  I went through a mock booking just to get an idea of pricing, when I picked a balcony it came back stating "just like a hotel, we'll pick the best room for you."  Is this the case with all categories?

[wwcruisers]

22 minutes ago, mafig said:

I asked this question on the Virgin board, but since I don't know how active that board is, I'll ask here to since some of you have already booked with Virgin.

 

Can you pick your stateroom?  I went through a mock booking just to get an idea of pricing, when I picked a balcony it came back stating "just like a hotel, we'll pick the best room for you."  Is this the case with all categories?

See my recent reply on the VV boards -- (hint: get your phone out...😉)

[clskinsfan]

With only 5 night sailings at this point I dont see how they are any competition at all. If I am going to take time off of work and travel a long distance I am taking at least a week off to do it. Now. Nothing says you cant spend a couple of days in Miami pre cruise before boarding. But I would much prefer to spend those couple of extra days on an island in the Caribbean somewhere.

[Baron Barracuda]

Believe the whole kid paranoia on X is way overblown.  If my kids were still young I'd be looking at Royal, Disney, Carnival, Norwegian and MSC.  Wouldn't even consider X.  Family oriented activities are pretty much non-existent.

 

If kids bother you though, in addition to Virgin take a look at Viking.  They don't allow kids either.  We sailed Viking last November and enjoyed them much more than our recent X cruises.

[AdGuyMG]

6 hours ago, Static events said:

I am curious to see what people think. 

 

I am very loyal to Royal and Celebrity however the new Virgin ship does look very good. 

 

Do you think the Virgin cruises will disrupt the market for Celebrity? 

 

😅

 

NO.

 

Come next spring, Celebrity will have 12 ships and about 28,000 berths available each week.

 

Virgin will have 1 ship and about 2700 berths.

 

If Celebrity cancelled all future ship builds and Virgin added 1 new ship every 18 months it would take about 17 years to make a definitive apples for apples comparison.

[CRZR58]

100 or even 200 well behaved kids are no problem at all.

 

2 who are swinging on the curtains and yelling at each other when the music's playing and their parents are dancing are. The little 'darlings' screaming around the pool when the water shot up through the deck may be music to their parent ears, but annoyed my wife and I. The little ones in fecal tea bags (Diapers) who just had to go in the pool then follow their parents into the hot tub were also a problem.

For some reason the parents didn't even try to correct any of them.

[Fighterone]

1 hour ago, mafig said:

I asked this question on the Virgin board, but since I don't know how active that board is, I'll ask here to since some of you have already booked with Virgin.

 

Can you pick your stateroom?  I went through a mock booking just to get an idea of pricing, when I picked a balcony it came back stating "just like a hotel, we'll pick the best room for you."  Is this the case with all categories?

Mafig, we put a deposit down the minute Virgin posted this option and before the ship was even built. We later were given the offer to book before the prices became available to the general public and we were able to get the stateroom we wanted (called a SWEET AFT SUITE - EVEN BIGGER TERRACE...what a name!)  

When the sales opened up to the public, however, the staterooms seemed considerably restricted.

Not sure if they now give only guarantees but that would not work for us either. Glad we booked when we did as we like to try different lines but probably will not book again with them since this line seems to be oriented more towards millennials and we are way past that, LOL. 

Edited April 6, 2019 by Fighterone

[Oville]

We are booked on a Virgin cruise and it isn’t cheap.  Like others we had no interest in a bed/couch combo so ended up in a “Cheeky Corner Suite” as it had normal seating in the cabin.  

 

There were quite a few people on the Virgin board who requested their pre-booking deposits back after seeing staterooms, itineraries and 4/5 day cruises.  My guess it will be one and done for us.  I do not think Celebrity needs to worry about losing passengers to the Scarlet Lady.

Edited April 6, 2019 by Oville