Off the Chain while Price-Checking!

[orville99]

13 hours ago, Cruise5life said:

I booked my solo Alaska cruise on princess a few months ago and got another smoking deal 2 weeks from departure.    
1200 for a balcony on the new discovery. Was an amazing trip.      
 

you just have to keep searching   You never know what’ll pop up.      

Haven't sailed on Princess in decades, and how they price their cruises is irrelevant on an RCL pricing thread.

[smwg]

I booked in October for Next July and have checked several times for price drops only to see that I got the best deal so far.  Since I'm paying for 8 people, I would love to see it drop before final payment, but if not, I guess I'll be happy with what I got. 🙂

 

[Georgia_Peaches]

14 hours ago, HicksRA said:

I wish MSC would come to Galveston. 

They are in talks to do just that!

[Georgia_Peaches]

15 hours ago, twangster said:

Or I can book with MSC since their pricing isn't outrageous.  Seriously $346 for a 3 night cruise with drink package and 2 device wifi. 

Pricing on Celebrity pushed me to MSC and they are now our go-to for Caribbean travel. Price for AI in a suite was incredible. Cruise was amazing. We have our third booked with them coming up. 

[Cruise5life]

29 minutes ago, orville99 said:

Haven't sailed on Princess in decades, and how they price their cruises is irrelevant on an RCL pricing thread.

Maybe you should read the rest of this thread as other lines have been mentioned.       But thanks for stopping by.       

[DirtyDawg]

15 hours ago, Husky1987 said:

Good Lord with the CC wanna-be lawyers...it's always "false advertising" or "bait and switch" or now "price gouging".

 

No, it isn't.

And when did "price gouging" become a bad thing?

I mean I 'price gouged' a couple of my employers over the years by demanding salaries and bonuses way more than I was worth. 😉

 

[Mapleleafforever]

15 hours ago, twangster said:

 

Next Thanksgiving I'm on a newer MSC ship.  $700 all in with drink package and wifi.  Royal same week?  $2,400 for same cabin type on a 20 year old ship.

 

Royal has no problem throwing me under the bus when a full ship charter comes knocking on their door.  I have no problem sailing another line when it is the obvious thing to do. 

 

We're also considering trying out MSC for next year. We have an AI booked in DR for Feb this year. So many vacation options to consider. 

[orville99]

39 minutes ago, Cruise5life said:

Maybe you should read the rest of this thread as other lines have been mentioned.       But thanks for stopping by.       

Bottom line is this is an RCL board. I can't do anything about those who co opt a discussion to tout their other cruise line preferences. I couldn't care less what pricing schemes are on other lines. But interlope away if that's what floats your boat.🤪

[LuCruise]

Yep have noticed the same.

 

We booked Wonder cruise for March 2024 when it was released last December.  It's a year later and it has already gone up by $1000. This is a single balcony room.

 

We booked New Year's cruise on Odyssey cruise for Dec 2024.  Two interior virtual rooms. These have gone up by $3500.

 

At one point, I noticed that our Oasis cruise had gone up by $4500.  (Not fair to note now as it's past final payment and it's coming up and so comparing non-ref with refundable fare).

 

We have also recently booked Dec cruise on Icon.  Price is just ridiculous (and that's for an interior category room).  We never would have paid that but really want to take both kids on this ship while we can as older one will be in university and this may be only opportunity.  Wasn't expecting cheap though as it's holiday cruise + newest ship. Considering these factors along with general cruise pricing these days, I expect this one as well to only go up in price.

 

In the past, I'd be calling in often for price drops.  That seems to rarely happens these days and prices just go up.

 

Definitely book early if you can.  It seems to pay off, no pun intended.

 

For us, we are still booking as family vacation is just so important and I treasure the moments and we love cruising.  But definitely our room selection has changed and we will book what works so we can cruise.  Also, we had a couple of past cruises where we purchased the drink package. That too has gone way up so we just make do and pay a la cart until we are Diamond.  We just adjust but still book and enjoy.

Edited December 31, 2022 by LuCruise

[Cruise5life]

1 hour ago, orville99 said:

Bottom line is this is an RCL board. I can't do anything about those who co opt a discussion to tout their other cruise line preferences. I couldn't care less what pricing schemes are on other lines. But interlope away if that's what floats your boat.🤪

Yeah but why call me out and not the 6 other people that mentioned other cruise lines.  Geez.  Get a life.   
and it’s not a boat. It’s a ship. Lol.  

[ZoeyVictoria]

18 hours ago, twangster said:

 

Or I can book with MSC since their pricing isn't outrageous.  Seriously $346 for a 3 night cruise with drink package and 2 device wifi. 

 

Sure I get 6 drinks on Royal and free wifi but the sme interior cabin is $800.  Duh!

 

Plus the casino on MSC is smoke free.  So MSC gets my business.  

 

If Royal can get people to $800 for a 3 night cruise good for them.  If MSC follows Royal and jacks up their rates then I will stay home.  

We recently booked MSC for the same reasons.  I am relieved and grateful that we already have six fairly reasonably priced cruises booked in the future because I see nothing (except MSC) that I would even consider paying for at this time. 

[BND]

18 hours ago, orville99 said:

Mine is included in my Hulu subscription, and that only went up $5.

What percentage is that?  Your $5 increase could be his 34% one.

 

As for the increase in cruise costs, it always goes up as you get closer unless they aren't selling.  Price is set by demand and cost of expenses.  With the cost of EVERYTHING going up, why is anyone surprised when prices are going up?  We booked Wonder for fall 2024 as soon as the itineraries came out and they weren't much more than the same 7 day cruise on HOTS was last year but they have increased some.  No one is required to cruise, so everyone has to make a choice.  Complaining about it won't change anything.  There is still obviously a huge demand and people are booking.  

Edited December 31, 2022 by BND

[firefly333]

13 minutes ago, BND said:

What percentage is that?  Your $5 increase could be his 34% one.

 

As for the increase in cruise costs, it always goes up as you get closer unless they aren't selling.  Price is set by demand and cost of expenses.  With the cost of EVERYTHING going up, why is anyone surprised when prices are going up?  We booked Wonder for fall 2024 as soon as the itineraries came out and they weren't much more than the same 7 day cruise on HOTS was last year but they have increased some.  No one is required to cruise, so everyone has to make a choice.  Complaining about it won't change anything.  There is still obviously a huge demand and people are booking.  

It's more than that. 

 

I can book dec 2023 or dec 2024 on harmony. Harmony prices for dec 2024 are increased over $200 for insides and balconys starting prices. Same ship, same time a week before xmas which my friend wants. .. rcl came in higher for 2024. Starting prices. Lol but I'll pay it, because my friend wants that date. The closer in dec 2023 is lower priced right now vs 2024. I think they raised prices and want to see if it floats. 

[bonsai3s]

I love the hotdog- soda combo at Costco...still $1.50 😉

 

Happy New Year!

 

* On the Navigator...they are "selling/renting" the tables  located outside The Pub tonight for the new year's eve celebration...$700 per table...unlimited drinks from 11pm to 1am...and includes a bottle of Dom Perignon.

[blueslily]

3 hours ago, orville99 said:

Haven't sailed on Princess in decades, and how they price their cruises is irrelevant on an RCL pricing thread.

 

I might be the lucky person that has had rare experiences with Royal, but I have indeed found good price drops closer to sailing dates. I love those experiences since I tend to book travel based on where I am excited about going at that time. Booking years in advance doesn't have much excitement for me.  I've booked really extensive or multi destination  international travel more in advance, but cruise booking is so simple that I definitely enjoy the adventure of fun later minute bookings.

 

  We are all different of course. This just works for me and my wallet has not suffered yet from using this strategy for years. We will see how it works in 2023. Lots has happened lately, but I'm still optimistic based on recent cruise experience. 

 

Happy cruising 🛳🤗🌞🏝

[BND]

8 minutes ago, blueslily said:

 

I might be the lucky person that has had rare experiences with Royal, but I have indeed found good price drops closer to sailing dates. I love those experiences since I tend to book travel based on where I am excited about going at that time. Booking years in advance doesn't have much excitement for me.  I've booked really extensive or multi destination  international travel more in advance, but cruise booking is so simple that I definitely enjoy the adventure of fun later minute bookings.

 

  We are all different of course. This just works for me and my wallet has not suffered yet from using this strategy for years. We will see how it works in 2023. Lots has happened lately, but I'm still optimistic based on recent cruise experience. 

 

Happy cruising 🛳🤗🌞🏝

Price drops are very homeport related.  Ports like PC and Ft. Lauderdale have multiple ship choices and different itinerary lengths.  Cruising out of Baltimore, with one ship always sell out so price drops just don't happen.  Usually within a month of departure, the only category left is insides on lower decks and then usually only a handful.  To go on a ship out of Baltimore, if you don't book at least 6-9 months out, you will not be able to get any suite and balconies will be limited and not the best ones.  We're booked on cruises through Nov 2024 and got the cabins we wanted.  For example, on Wonder in Nov 2024, we got the middle hump JS on deck 12 which if we had waited a few months, it would have been unavailable as those go first.   We booked the day the new itineraries came out.

Edited December 31, 2022 by BND

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, BND said:

Cruising out of Baltimore, with one ship always sell out so price drops just don't happen. 

Sure, but insides and OV are so cheap (some of the lowest pppd in the fleet outside of repos) there's not much they could drop.

[BND]

22 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

It's more than that. 

 

I can book dec 2023 or dec 2024 on harmony. Harmony prices for dec 2024 are increased over $200 for insides and balconys starting prices. Same ship, same time a week before xmas which my friend wants. .. rcl came in higher for 2024. Starting prices. Lol but I'll pay it, because my friend wants that date. The closer in dec 2023 is lower priced right now vs 2024. I think they raised prices and want to see if it floats. 

I did say they had increased some.  This is hardly the first time RCI has increased prices, just like any business.

[blueslily]

1 minute ago, BND said:

Price drops are very homeport related.  Ports like PC and Ft. Lauderdale have multiple ship choices and different itinerary lengths.  Cruising out of Baltimore, with one ship always sell out so price drops just don't happen.  Usually within a month of departure, the only category left is insides on lower decks and then usually only a handful.  To go on a ship out of Baltimore, if you don't book at least 6-9 months out, you will not be able to get any suite and balconies will be limited and not the best ones.  We're booked on cruises through Nov 2024 and got the cabins we wanted.  For example, on Wonder in Nov 2024, we got the middle hump JS on deck 12 which if we had waited a few months, it would have been unavailable as those go first.   We booked the day the new itineraries came out.

 

Yes, I do  not sail out of Baltimore. 

 

Thanks 

[BND]

4 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Sure, but insides and OV are so cheap (some of the lowest pppd in the fleet outside of repos) there's not much they could drop.

Considering the ships out of Baltimore are older/smaller than most of those out of FL, the cost isn't really cheaper, not to mention, there are a lot less amenities on ships out of there.  FL has a lot of cheap cruises for those that want short itineraries.   Did you notice where I said, it's homeport related?

Edited December 31, 2022 by BND

[BND]

5 minutes ago, blueslily said:

 

Yes, I do  not sail out of Baltimore. 

 

Thanks 

I was responding to your general statement about price drops.  You didn't say where you cruise out of and I just made a statement about your generalization.

[blueslily]

2 minutes ago, BND said:

I was responding to your general statement about price drops.  You didn't say where you cruise out of and I just made a statement about your generalization.

 

Yes, I understood.  Thanks

[orville99]

1 hour ago, BND said:

What percentage is that?  Your $5 increase could be his 34% one.

Hulu Live, Disney+ and ESPN+ bundle went from $90.75/month to $96.42/month

[orville99]

1 hour ago, Cruise5life said:

Yeah but why call me out and not the 6 other people that mentioned other cruise lines.  Geez.  Get a life.   
and it’s not a boat. It’s a ship. Lol.  

Actually, the only two people who were doing that were you and Twangster, and at least he was making a comparative argument between RCL and another line. BTW, there is only one reason why any cruise line would consistently drop its prices the closer they get to sail dates - they can't fill that ship any other way.

 

Row on, your boat is listing.

[Cruise5life]

13 minutes ago, orville99 said:

Hulu Live, Disney+ and ESPN+ bundle went from $90.75/month to $96.42/month

Lol pot calling the kettle black ?   This isn’t a streaming forum. It’s a RC forum.   Maybe you should take your own advise.  Lol.   Sail on.  Rock on.