Is Celebrity getting a lot more expensive?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I was pricing out a GS on the Wonder for February, and they're wanting ~$6,500pp for the week. Now, if I want to travel in Star Class, and get all the perks, I can snag a large Aqua Theater suite for a mere $17,000 pp...

 

Thanks, but no thanks !

 

Tom

[chisoxfan]

18 hours ago, Oceangoer2 said:

We've thought as you but can't find a resort which compares $$ value, entertainment, dining options, room which isn't lost in a big hotel, and beach which is a good walk away from the hotel.  All inclusive is generally buffet dining with a poor option for room.  Upscale ocean view etc is priced higher than the suite life onboard.  The rest I agree with....direct flights, no pre hotel night, cancellations not 3 months out, refunds quickly, etc.  😕

While we've been at many Carib AI's a sweet spot for us is Cancun, Play del Carmen. Easy, cheap, non stop flights from Midwest. The props we have stayed at have buffet dining but as on many ships it is augmented by many finer dining options (we rarely eat at buffets). I would rate the dining experience as similar to specialty dining on cruises. Outdoor dining is common and spacing between tables not an issue. Almost all of the AI's there are right on the ocean and always many multiple giant pools usually with swim up bars. Rooms are typically 3 times (or more) larger than cabins with large lanais and it is unusual not to find an oversized rainshower and tubs/whirlpools in huge tiled bathrooms. WI Fi is free, no tipping, and a daily stocked mini bar-typically premium booze. It is also simple to find adult only if that is desirable. The cruises do offer more extensive entertainment and casino if that is important.  I was surprised by comment on pricing- while I know you can spend as much as you want, our experience has been that you can get a suite in AI for 500-700 a night in a 4 star prop which is cheaper than any shipboard suite with dining drinks etc. We have also been able to utilize hotel program points for some trips. Although we don't do it I think combined airfare deals with the major tour operators may offer better deals. 

I know these are all generalizations and every travel has good and bad but that is  what we have found. So for us AI as a 'no hassle' flexible winter getaway and we will continue to cruise when we want to experience a special itinerary which is a great advantage of cruising. Happy vacationing!

[grandgeezer]

1 hour ago, Homosassa said:

You are talking a Grand Suite for $1500 p.p. I was talking an inside cabin wit a shared bathroom for the deck for $2000 p.p.

 

Not exactly a comparison for room type and cost.

 

And while I still book inside cabins, they still cost less than $2000 with the added bonus of a private bathroom.

The reference to the Grand Suite pertained to you reference to inflation being the cause for the ultrahigh pricing. Inflation wasn’t the main cause of the suite price over doubling in four years.

Type of cabins is a personal choice, personally, I wouldn’t do an inside cabin even for free. Money isn’t the deciding factor, value for the money is. At the current pricing, winning the Powerball Jackpot wouldn’t change what I would buy or not buy.

[TeeRick]

On 12/8/2022 at 10:48 AM, grandgeezer said:

The reference to the Grand Suite pertained to you reference to inflation being the cause for the ultrahigh pricing. Inflation wasn’t the main cause of the suite price over doubling in four years.

Type of cabins is a personal choice, personally, I wouldn’t do an inside cabin even for free. Money isn’t the deciding factor, value for the money is. At the current pricing, winning the Powerball Jackpot wouldn’t change what I would buy or not buy.

If I won the Powerball Jackpot I think I would treat myself occasionally.😀

[RichYak]

1 hour ago, TeeRick said:

If I won the Powerball Jackpot I think I would treat myself occasionally.😀

If I won Powerball, I doubt you'd see me sailing with Celebrity any longer. 🤑

[LGW59]

IMO, Celebrity is VERY expensive for a premium line, there are some true luxury lines that pricing is comparable (better in some cases) than Celebrity offers.  They seem to have applied the same level of pricing fom the new ships, Beyond, Apex, Edge, to all of the others.  Just as an example.  We just a few weeks ago did a 14 night TA, Rome to Miami, EV (which was fantastic) $14k.  Now we are in the process of looking for a 10 day Med in May 2023.  In an attempt to do an apples/apples comparison, we have narrowed it down to two with very similiar itineraries.  Here is the cost for two of us; Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Suite, $24,335 (WTH)!  Oceania, Riviera, PH1 suite, $11,998.  I know Celebrity includes tips, drinks (we do not drink alcohol) and wifi, also $800 OBC.  With Oceania we'd choose the 3 shore exs and pay for any add'l up-charges, though all of their specialty dining is included.  But there is no way on earth we will spend an additional $12k for any additional on-boad spending w/Oceania.  Have been contemplating Oceania for quite a while and Celebrity's pricing for a very similiar itin. w/same total nights, made the decision a no brainer.   

[TeeRick]

2 hours ago, RichYak said:

If I won Powerball, I doubt you'd see me sailing with Celebrity any longer. 🤑

Yeah I would buy a yacht.

[RichYak]

1 hour ago, LGW59 said:

Have been contemplating Oceania for quite a while and Celebrity's pricing for a very similiar itin. w/same total nights, made the decision a no brainer.   

I agree. I think I'm done with booking Retreat class on Celebrity. I'm ready to try what appear to be better options for the same or even less money.

[jagoffee]

1 hour ago, LGW59 said:

IMO, Celebrity is VERY expensive for a premium line, there are some true luxury lines that pricing is comparable (better in some cases) than Celebrity offers.  They seem to have applied the same level of pricing fom the new ships, Beyond, Apex, Edge, to all of the others.  Just as an example.  We just a few weeks ago did a 14 night TA, Rome to Miami, EV (which was fantastic) $14k.  Now we are in the process of looking for a 10 day Med in May 2023.  In an attempt to do an apples/apples comparison, we have narrowed it down to two with very similiar itineraries.  Here is the cost for two of us; Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Suite, $24,335 (WTH)!  Oceania, Riviera, PH1 suite, $11,998.  I know Celebrity includes tips, drinks (we do not drink alcohol) and wifi, also $800 OBC.  With Oceania we'd choose the 3 shore exs and pay for any add'l up-charges, though all of their specialty dining is included.  But there is no way on earth we will spend an additional $12k for any additional on-boad spending w/Oceania.  Have been contemplating Oceania for quite a while and Celebrity's pricing for a very similiar itin. w/same total nights, made the decision a no brainer.   

$2434 a day for a Celebrity suite?  I kind of doubt that others actually paid that amount. You cruised in an EV for 1,000 a day?  Are the pricing that you are reporting for two people?

I think you will enjoy Oceania’s Riviera.  We completed a 14 day cruise on her last January.  In our opinion the food was outstanding.  We did not care for their drink package, but that does not matter to you.

[cruisemom42]

On 12/7/2022 at 3:30 PM, Baron Barracuda said:

DW & I have been sailing with X for almost 30 years and have never paid over $200pp/pd for verandah or CC.  That pricing is still available if you search, some even with AI.   It's the suites where supply is limited and for some people no price is too high.  Would never consider paying $400pd for X.  For that price Viking and Oceania provide much better value.

 

Yes, I do chuckle a bit when I see how many of those complaining about cost are only quoting rates for categories higher than, let's say, a basic verandah....

 

You'll never find me saying that I'd rather stay home than cruise in anything less than a suite...or even a verandah.  As a solo cruiser, I have to work twice as hard as most to find decent fares, yet I manage to keep booking with Celebrity. 

 

In October I spent a wonderful 19 days in the Med for $198/night (as a solo and WITH with AI!). Yes I took advantage of Celebrity's zero solo supplement deal but that just puts my fare on an equal footing with anyone traveling as a couple. Yes, I was in an OV cabin -- but you know what?  None of the things I most enjoyed about the trip had any connection whatsoever to my cabin:  the lunch at a seafood restaurant on the harbor in Portofino, the specialty dining onboard, the great live music around the ship, the wonderful weather (spent hours just reading outside and watching the sea), the private tour of Amalfi Coast, the coffee in Al Bacio, the friendly crew, the people I met....  I could go on but you get the picture.

 

I just booked 3 BTB cruises on Solstice in 2025 that will take me from Hong Kong to Singapore to Australia, Fiji, Samoa, and ending in Hawaii. For just above $200/night (no AI though).  I'm very happy with it and am even thinking of extending it further. 

 

Four times longer on a ship beats a short cruise in a suite every single day of the week for me....

[rmalbers]

Um, I don't want to argue but X is not a premium line, it's a luxury cruise line.  But I do agree that the mid suites on X are now priced like premium lines.  When you get into room sizes and stuff like that it gets complicated.  I was on VO last summer and there's a difference.   I'm interested to see what happens with pricing as all the new mega ships come online and FCC has moved thru all the cruise lines, then we'll really see how all the pricing shakes out.  I am also sort of thinking that cruisers might get tired of what the ports are like when the mega ships dock and there will be some backlash in cruising. 

[LGW59]

1 minute ago, rmalbers said:

Um, I don't want to argue but X is not a premium line, it's a luxury cruise line.  But I do agree that the mid suites on X are now priced like premium lines.  When you get into room sizes and stuff like that it gets complicated.  I was on VO last summer and there's a difference.   I'm interested to see what happens with pricing as all the new mega ships come online and FCC has moved thru all the cruise lines, then we'll really see how all the pricing shakes out.  I am also sort of thinking that cruisers might get tired of what the ports are like when the mega ships dock and there will be some backlash in cruising. 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/booking-cruise/review-and-pay/summary?pID=IN10M321&sDT=2023-05-24&sCD=IN&sCT=CO&roomQuantity=1

[RichYak]

4 minutes ago, rmalbers said:

Um, I don't want to argue but X is not a premium line, it's a luxury cruise line.

Is the sarcasm going over my head or is this a serious comment?

[LGW59]

8 minutes ago, rmalbers said:

Um, I don't want to argue but X is not a premium line, it's a luxury cruise line.  But I do agree that the mid suites on X are now priced like premium lines.  When you get into room sizes and stuff like that it gets complicated.  I was on VO last summer and there's a difference.   I'm interested to see what happens with pricing as all the new mega ships come online and FCC has moved thru all the cruise lines, then we'll really see how all the pricing shakes out.  I am also sort of thinking that cruisers might get tired of what the ports are like when the mega ships dock and there will be some backlash in cruising. 

"it's a luxury cruise line".  Perhpas compared to Carnival, but Silversea, Regent, Viking..hmmmm

[rmalbers]

5 minutes ago, RichYak said:

Is the sarcasm going over my head or is this a serious comment?

Completely serious, I don't think X ever has advertised itself as a premium cruise line.  RCG does/did have Azamara and now has Silversea, those were/are it's premium lines.  Most people, I think, don't know about them.

[RichYak]

1 minute ago, rmalbers said:

Completely serious, I don't think X ever has advertised itself as a premium cruise line.  RCG does/did have Azamara and now has Silversea, those were/are it's premium lines.  Most people, I think, don't know about them.

Ah, ok, you're heart is in the right place, you just have your terms mixed up. In cruise line lingo, Luxury > Premium. Azamara, Silversea, Regent, Oceania, Seabourn are all Luxury lines. Premium is more murky, but most would agree that Celebrity, Princess, and Holland America make up that category.

[LGW59]

2 minutes ago, RichYak said:

Ah, ok, you're heart is in the right place, you just have your terms mixed up. In cruise line lingo, Luxury > Premium. Azamara, Silversea, Regent, Oceania, Seabourn are all Luxury lines. Premium is more murky, but most would agree that Celebrity, Princess, and Holland America make up that category.

But when it comes to luxury v premium pricing, Celebrity seems to have missed the memo

[rmalbers]

3 minutes ago, RichYak said:

Ah, ok, you're heart is in the right place, you just have your terms mixed up. In cruise line lingo, Luxury > Premium. Azamara, Silversea, Regent, Oceania, Seabourn are all Luxury lines. Premium is more murky, but most would agree that Celebrity, Princess, and Holland America make up that category.

ok, that's fine, I disagree but anyway.  I agree with your list and X isn't in it.   

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

For our recent B2B (7 nighters) on the Reflection, I managed a Blue Chip Club rate of just over $5,000/wk for a RS.

 

I was looking at the Edge for Feb (a 10 night) and a S3 was going for $11k (the RS, $19k). The folks at Blue Chip knocked down the $11k to $6.5K, but obviously I'd be missing out on a couple of perks. I had it on hold for 24 hours, and let it go -- when it popped right back on their website, that same S3 was now over $13k... with the "75% off second guest, blah, blah,...".

 

I ended up going with a 7 night aft corner excel suite on the Mardi Gras for $2,500 which includes CHEERS.

 

Yes, the experience will be a different one - but I think I can manage, especially with all the balcony space that suite has (daybed, loungers, jacuzzi tub, etc).

 

With our recent Reflection sailing, I just passed 1,500 tier credits. With the price of their suites of late, I'm not so sure now that I'll ever make Zenith (or really care, lol) !

 

Tom

[Jeremiah1212]

52 minutes ago, RichYak said:

Ah, ok, you're heart is in the right place, you just have your terms mixed up. In cruise line lingo, Luxury > Premium. Azamara, Silversea, Regent, Oceania, Seabourn are all Luxury lines. Premium is more murky, but most would agree that Celebrity, Princess, and Holland America make up that category.

Those are not all luxury lines. There is a stark difference between Azamara and Silversea. Most of that type of clientele is vehement that Azamara, Viking and Oceania are Premium not Luxury. Celebrity, Princess, etc are mass market no matter how you cut it. 

 

4 hours ago, LGW59 said:

IMO, Celebrity is VERY expensive for a premium line, there are some true luxury lines that pricing is comparable (better in some cases) than Celebrity offers.  They seem to have applied the same level of pricing fom the new ships, Beyond, Apex, Edge, to all of the others.  Just as an example.  We just a few weeks ago did a 14 night TA, Rome to Miami, EV (which was fantastic) $14k.  Now we are in the process of looking for a 10 day Med in May 2023.  In an attempt to do an apples/apples comparison, we have narrowed it down to two with very similiar itineraries.  Here is the cost for two of us; Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Suite, $24,335 (WTH)!  Oceania, Riviera, PH1 suite, $11,998.  I know Celebrity includes tips, drinks (we do not drink alcohol) and wifi, also $800 OBC.  With Oceania we'd choose the 3 shore exs and pay for any add'l up-charges, though all of their specialty dining is included.  But there is no way on earth we will spend an additional $12k for any additional on-boad spending w/Oceania.  Have been contemplating Oceania for quite a while and Celebrity's pricing for a very similiar itin. w/same total nights, made the decision a no brainer.   

 

That’s not so even though. The PH1 is more comparable to a Sky Suite. The CS on Celebrity is never a great value (on any class) in my opinion. That Infinity sailing has also been almost sold out for quite some time so pieces are skewed. The itinerary may be similar but that’s where it ends. 

[Obobru]

We just booked our first cruise with Celebrity and it doesn't look in any way luxury, maybe that's people wanting to think they have a higher status in life. 

 

We only paid £2950 for 12 night Scandinavian cruise inside room with $400 OBC. That's just £245 a night with AI which would be impossible to find on a luxury line. We have been with Disney a few times and don't pay anywhere near that for the same room category and I wouldn't call Disney Luxury more premium and I expect Celebrity to be on a similar level for food/ship quality but not entertainment. If people are finding the prices are rising I can't imagine what bargains were had in the past!

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

57 minutes ago, Obobru said:

We just booked our first cruise with Celebrity and it doesn't look in any way luxury, maybe that's people wanting to think they have a higher status in life. 

 

We only paid £2950 for 12 night Scandinavian cruise inside room with $400 OBC. That's just £245 a night with AI which would be impossible to find on a luxury line. We have been with Disney a few times and don't pay anywhere near that for the same room category and I wouldn't call Disney Luxury more premium and I expect Celebrity to be on a similar level for food/ship quality but not entertainment. If people are finding the prices are rising I can't imagine what bargains were had in the past!

It's like saying a Mercedes is a luxury vehicle.

 

What's the benchmark?

 

RR is a luxury vehicle, as would be Maybach. With this benchmark, Mercedes is a common, mass produced middle market vehicle.

 

If a chartered yacht in Med or Carrib for 7 nights comes in at $250k-$300k (but for four couples), this is my definition of luxury (and true customized itinerary). This pricing isn't bad on a per couple basis. You do have all shore costs plus tips (and you tip well).

 

So then where does place Celeb, HAL, etc rate? Mass market, middle market.

 

Don't get me wrong. I'm trying Celeb Retreat myself. It's been hyped for its character and uniqueness. I'm game. Twice for next year to evaluate it.

 

Just a ride on the water.

 

Life is short. Enjoy. 

Edited December 10, 2022 by 4-2-N-8

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

2 hours ago, 4-2-N-8 said:

...

 

If a chartered yacht in Med or Carrib for 7 nights comes in at $250k-$300k (but for four couples), this is my definition of luxury (and true customized itinerary). This pricing isn't bad on a per couple basis. You do have all shore costs plus tips (and you tip well).

...

 

Yep.. "not bad"... lmao

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

10 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Yep.. "not bad"... lmao

If one goes for priceless (well, almost) memories, the old adage applies... You (often) get what you pay for.

 

I think Celebrity is being smart in doing what they can to lure in a wider audience. 

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

1 minute ago, 4-2-N-8 said:

If one goes for priceless (well, almost) memories, the old adage applies... You (often) get what you pay for.

 

I think Celebrity is being smart in doing what they can to lure in a wider audience. 

 

How it is that they're luring in the wider audience? (and, what defines this target group?)

 

Tom