How do people afford $20,000 suites?

[gkbiiii]

Let's put this is perspective, what (or not) $20,000 buys in the travel world:

My father spent $60,000 on an African Safari.

My grandmother's Travcoa Tours in the 80's, would be over $20K today.

Luxury Train Travel (Orient Express, European/Indian/Asian/South African)

Exotic Expedition Cruising. Amazon River cruising, through Polar Expeditions.

Private Jet Tours, "Around the World by Private Jet."

Luxury Cruising on Europa I & II, Cunard Queen's Grille, & true Luxury Lines.

Private Yacht Charters, like $20,000+ a Day!

Private Aviation, $2,500-$5,000+ an hour!

Private Estate rentals, Unlimited $$$$+.

Richard Branson's Caribbean Island, $50,000-$100,000 a week.

High Roller Casino trips, $10,000-$1,000,000++, a day.

 

[ReneeFLL]

7 hours ago, Tapi said:

Airline pilot here too. I haven’t seen any massive discounts lately if booking far in advanced, but I’ve seen some killer deals if you have the ability to cruise last minute. I have a buddy who flies the A350 and he just did the Symphony transatlantic for $299, balcony stateroom. He booked it like 2 weeks before sailing.  
 

I’m normally planning a year+ in advance so I can never take advantage of the best last minute deals. 

I thought you might be by a few comments you have made over the years. 👍🏼  We should start looking at last minute cruises since he knows his schedule two weeks before the next month and can bid around something. Hopefully they would still have some cabins of interest. Plus we are 5 miles from PE. Enjoy your cruises.

 

Edited April 2, 2023 by ReneeFLL

[Tapi]

27 minutes ago, ReneeFLL said:

Enjoy your cruises.

Same to you! Since you mentioned that your spouse is on the 787, I figured that it may be easier for him to lump work days together since there are longer trips on the widebodies than on the narrowbodies. I am a 737 guy so I always have to get a bit creative with my schedule if I want a bunch of days off in a row, piecing together shorter trips. 
 

My buddy on the 350 never has that issue, plus he has no kids so he’s constantly taking last minute long cruises! (Envious 😂)

[ReneeFLL]

29 minutes ago, Tapi said:

Same to you! Since you mentioned that your spouse is on the 787, I figured that it may be easier for him to lump work days together since there are longer trips on the widebodies than on the narrowbodies. I am a 737 guy so I always have to get a bit creative with my schedule if I want a bunch of days off in a row, piecing together shorter trips. 
 

My buddy on the 350 never has that issue, plus he has no kids so he’s constantly taking last minute long cruises! (Envious 😂)

It is easy for him to lump 6 - 8 days together off each month. Also no kids here, except 3 furballs.

 

Edited April 2, 2023 by ReneeFLL

[momofmab]

Prior to the launch of the mega ships (and prior to the ship within a ship product), my family used to sail exclusively in suites (usually owner's, royal or penthouse depending on the ship).  My kids were young and I wasn't comfortable booking 2 cabins, and four people in a balcony just wouldn't be a vacation for this gal 🙃

 

Back then, I'm sure we paid between 7-10K for a family of 4 to sail during the peak spring break weeks, but we only cruised every other year.  It still took my breath away for a few minutes to pull the trigger on those prices for a 7-day vacation.

 

We took a few years off cruising and did other vacations.  Coming back after the mega ship revolution, I was surprised at how much the suite prices jumped if you wanted to sail on the newest & biggest.  Too rich for my blood, so because the kids were older, we did a few cruises on the megas with 2 balconies and one or two suite cruises on the older, smaller ships (which were most definitely showing their age).

 

Fast forward to now being empty-nesters with the ability to cruise "whenevs" - we want to cruise only on the newer (newest) ships.  Suite prices are, in our minds, astronomical on the newest ships, so we've settled into balconies, which is fine for the two of us.

 

That said, we will be trying the Yacht Club in December on one of the newest MSC ships for about the same as our concierge balcony this past January on X's Beyond.  I'm guessing the buzz and the increased popularity of the YC will no doubt drive those prices up as well.

 

It's still on my bucket list to do the Retreat on X's Edge class ships one day but I can't imagine a scenario where I plunk down 20K for it.  I will try the strategy that some suggest of booking way far in advance as soon as the itineraries are released 😇

Edited April 2, 2023 by momofmab

[BND]

As for the statement made that we're all rich here, by the world's standards, we are.  Even people living paycheck to paycheck, at the poverty line, on welfare, are all wealthy when compared to many other people in the world.  

 

When we were in our 20's and 30's and I was home with our boys, we could barely afford a weekend at the beach on the bay side in a motel.  Things change as you get older. I went back to work and made pretty good money for what I was doing. DH got promoted and he also retired from the Navy reserves which left a gap in income for about 6 years before he started drawing that retirement.   Kids get through college, they move out, get married, etc, you get closer to or actually retire and you have a lot more disposable income.    Also, we made sure to pay ourselves first (401K's) so we'd have more when we retired.  All of that were choices we made.  Now, we're reaping the benefits.

 

As for the OP, she's cracking me up with the talk about spending 5K on a trip but acting like saving 10K for carpeting is hard, all while talking like they're rolling in dough.  And, she sees spending 100K on a car as worth it.  

Edited April 2, 2023 by BND

[vswan]

I'm going to jump in here. Been reading this thread and finding it highly entertaining. Agree with many of the others that we all have our priorities on how to spend our money.

 

Having said that... When we started cruising we were a family of four and contacted a TA, gave him a budget of $4000 all in and asked what he would recommend for a great family vacation before my oldest graduated from high school. Our cruising began in an inside cabin, but we had a wonderful time.

 

I am now retired. We made some wise choices with our money, were frugal and saved for retirement. My DHs job provides several pensions and with savings, rental property and SS, and a minimal do-it-when-I-want-to job, spending $20,000 on a suite would be entirely possible, but not something I would do. Again, priorities. There are probably many others on this board in similar but different situations.

 

The sad thing is, my DH passed away earlier this year just as we were gearing up to take advantage of our savings over the years. Within the year before his passing we took four cruises ranging from 7 to 18 days, all in a balcony cabin. Our priorities were more cruises, less per cabin.

 

 

[poocher]

2 minutes ago, vswan said:

I'm going to jump in here. Been reading this thread and finding it highly entertaining. Agree with many of the others that we all have our priorities on how to spend our money.

 

Having said that... When we started cruising we were a family of four and contacted a TA, gave him a budget of $4000 all in and asked what he would recommend for a great family vacation before my oldest graduated from high school. Our cruising began in an inside cabin, but we had a wonderful time.

 

I am now retired. We made some wise choices with our money, were frugal and saved for retirement. My DHs job provides several pensions and with savings, rental property and SS, and a minimal do-it-when-I-want-to job, spending $20,000 on a suite would be entirely possible, but not something I would do. Again, priorities. There are probably many others on this board in similar but different situations.

 

The sad thing is, my DH passed away earlier this year just as we were gearing up to take advantage of our savings over the years. Within the year before his passing we took four cruises ranging from 7 to 18 days, all in a balcony cabin. Our priorities were more cruises, less per cabin.

 

 

My deepest sympathy on your husband’s passing.

[mramella]

We're booked for Icon of the Seas in March of '24. We have one balcony room for my wife and me, and one inside room for our two sons. Our grand total is around $6,500 for both rooms. We booked our rooms once they became available back in October of last year. Prices have jumped significantly since then. $6,500 is relatively inexpensive, compared to $20k, obviously.

 

Just for the heck of it, I just priced out one of the corner suites for all 4 for us for March of '24. Grand total... Drum roll, please... $27,607. Yikes! Way too much for us, but we do have friends that could easily pay this amount. As my one buddy says that makes a TON of money and travels lavishly, "It's inconsequential." Money is not an object for him.

Edited April 2, 2023 by mramella

[Tapi]

It’s all relative. One of my friends just paid $10K for a 3 night cruise on the Disney Wish. And that is just one of 3-4 vacations he’s taking with his family this year. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

For him, it’s chump change. 

[smokeybandit]

1 hour ago, Tapi said:

One of my friends just paid $10K for a 3 night cruise on the Disney Wish

That's actually quite a deal for a Disney cruise

[Sigyn]

On 3/31/2023 at 9:19 AM, Mum2Mercury said:

Agree ... because for that much money, I'd expect more than the experience could provide.  

Eh, I have just retired (young), and I really don't see a spend-spend-spend mentality among my peers.  Oh, sure, many -- no, most -- are taking a nice trip or two as a gift to themselves after retirement, but I don't see them spending that kind of money.   

 

Our financial advisor says we should plan on spending the most in the first 2-3 years of retirement, whatever age we retire. He said he sees it over and over. People have bucket lists of things they want to do, and they do them all in those first 2-3 years, and then they just relax and stop spending as much, whether due to health or lack of interest. It's a good rule of thumb for retirement savings. 

 

He also says he's never seen an 80-year-old with an entirely new wardrobe of clothes. 

[Sigyn]

On 3/31/2023 at 11:33 AM, PompeySailor said:

 

 

If they wish to share their business on a world wide public forum, that’s also their choice.

 

A world wide public forum, but it's anonymous to an extent. And being open about salaries is something that's becoming more popular, since companies take advantage of people who don't share this information. It particularly keeps women and minorities underpaid if they don't know their value. 

[Sigyn]

On 4/1/2023 at 12:09 PM, ldubs said:

 

A lot of folks might wonder who can afford $900/day for lodging and dinner.  Add in breakfast and lunch then maybe that is close to $1,000/day?  Multiply by 20 for a 20 day cruise and there you are.    

Right, but I wouldn't do that for 20 days. It's a 4 day trip. 

[Sigyn]

9 hours ago, vswan said:

I'm going to jump in here. Been reading this thread and finding it highly entertaining. Agree with many of the others that we all have our priorities on how to spend our money.

 

Having said that... When we started cruising we were a family of four and contacted a TA, gave him a budget of $4000 all in and asked what he would recommend for a great family vacation before my oldest graduated from high school. Our cruising began in an inside cabin, but we had a wonderful time.

 

I am now retired. We made some wise choices with our money, were frugal and saved for retirement. My DHs job provides several pensions and with savings, rental property and SS, and a minimal do-it-when-I-want-to job, spending $20,000 on a suite would be entirely possible, but not something I would do. Again, priorities. There are probably many others on this board in similar but different situations.

 

The sad thing is, my DH passed away earlier this year just as we were gearing up to take advantage of our savings over the years. Within the year before his passing we took four cruises ranging from 7 to 18 days, all in a balcony cabin. Our priorities were more cruises, less per cabin.

 

 

I'm so sorry about the loss of your spouse. I'm glad you were able to do a lot of vacation with your husband and have happy memories. But again, I'm so sorry. 

[Sigyn]

9 hours ago, BND said:

As for the statement made that we're all rich here, by the world's standards, we are.  Even people living paycheck to paycheck, at the poverty line, on welfare, are all wealthy when compared to many other people in the world.  

 

When we were in our 20's and 30's and I was home with our boys, we could barely afford a weekend at the beach on the bay side in a motel.  Things change as you get older. I went back to work and made pretty good money for what I was doing. DH got promoted and he also retired from the Navy reserves which left a gap in income for about 6 years before he started drawing that retirement.   Kids get through college, they move out, get married, etc, you get closer to or actually retire and you have a lot more disposable income.    Also, we made sure to pay ourselves first (401K's) so we'd have more when we retired.  All of that were choices we made.  Now, we're reaping the benefits.

 

As for the OP, she's cracking me up with the talk about spending 5K on a trip but acting like saving 10K for carpeting is hard, all while talking like they're rolling in dough.  And, she sees spending 100K on a car as worth it.  

I never said I spent 100K on a car. I have no car in my garage that is anywhere close to 100K. My husband and I drive cars in the 60K range. 

 

And I do save for carpeting. I don't put things on credit cards. Nor am I rolling in dough. I never said I was. I said my salary and what I save. You extrapolated the rest. The whole point of this thread was me saying I do not have the cash to spend  20K for suites. I am saving for carpet. I am saving for a garage remodel. I have three kids. I have expenditures that go beyond a cruise suite. I save for retirement and rainy days. I like cash in the bank for unexpected expenses. 

 

This reminds of the game of telephone where things get blown out of proportion. 

 

Edited April 2, 2023 by njsmom

[Sigyn]

On 4/1/2023 at 2:45 PM, Tatka said:

What do you mean ‘I save 1,500”.

Save from what? I pay to 401k… and we use some money for investments, but I don’t need to save for anything. I just pay for what I want/need.

save from paychecks. we actually have one savings account that's just for travel and fun stuff and we put extra money into that. I move $1,500 a month from checking into that savings account. our investment accounts are something else entirely, separate from 401Ks and inherited accounts and everything else. 

[ldubs]

13 minutes ago, njsmom said:

Right, but I wouldn't do that for 20 days. It's a 4 day trip. 

 

I understand.  I was attempting to put some perspective by showing how it was comparable to your daily rate for a trip to Napa.  You must be aware that most of the population will wonder how someone can afford to spend $4,000 on 4 days in Napa much less $20K for a 20 day cruise.  And of course, no criticism at all in my comments for you or anyone else's spending habits.  

 

 

[Sigyn]

This has been an interesting thread. I have gotten various answers to my original question, and I appreciate that. it's pretty much what I figured, now that I think about it. There's no mystery to it. Some people just want to spend more on cruise cabins than I'm willing to spend. And some people make a lot more than I do. 

 

 

[Oceansaway17]

3 minutes ago, njsmom said:

This has been an interesting thread. I have gotten various answers to my original question, and I appreciate that. it's pretty much what I figured, now that I think about it. There's no mystery to it. Some people just want to spend more on cruise cabins than I'm willing to spend. And some people make a lot more than I do. 

 

 

it's okay and I have enjoyed all the comments. I think even if one has the means, 20K is a lot of money unless you bring adult family who can share the price.  Hoping the rich folks still give to a charity or two.

[ldubs]

2 minutes ago, njsmom said:

This has been an interesting thread. I have gotten various answers to my original question, and I appreciate that. it's pretty much what I figured, now that I think about it. There's no mystery to it. Some people just want to spend more on cruise cabins than I'm willing to spend. And some people make a lot more than I do. 

 

 

 

"...than I'm willing to spend"

 

I think that phrase is true for us.  We must have a special gene or something that tells us  no matter how worth it something might be we just aren't willing to spend that much.  😀

[Sigyn]

19 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

it's okay and I have enjoyed all the comments. I think even if one has the means, 20K is a lot of money unless you bring adult family who can share the price.  Hoping the rich folks still give to a charity or two.

I'm not rich but obviously comfortable by any definition and we definitely give to a range of charities every month.

[Sigyn]

19 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

"...than I'm willing to spend"

 

I think that phrase is true for us.  We must have a special gene or something that tells us  no matter how worth it something might be we just aren't willing to spend that much.  😀

I have certain categories in my head of what something is worth, no matter what it is - a nightgown, a belt, a purse, and I cannot spend over that. One of my good friends says she has the same mental calculator that goes on in her head. There is a certain value to items - shirts, blouses, pants, etc. - and she can't spend past what she feels that category is worth. 

[Oceansaway17]

1 minute ago, njsmom said:

I'm not rich but obviously comfortable by any definition and we definitely give to a range of charities every month.

very nice. Like I said this thread is fun to read unless folks are mean.

But for those who do not cruise, they too would ask the same question about 20K suites and why?

[Tree_skier]

On 4/1/2023 at 10:08 AM, HBE4 said:

As others have said, it's all about spending priorities.  I'm a cheap skate with certain items - day to day items like groceries and clothing -  but won't think twice about splurging for other items, such as nicer car, concert or baseball/ hockey tickets...or the Deluxe Drink Package. 😉

 

So if someone chooses to spend $20,000 on a suite, more power to them! Hopefully that's a big profit center for RCL which help lower the cost (ha-ha) for the regular cabins. I know, wishful thinking.

I'm like you.  I'll swing from spending extravagantly on some things to being the absolute cheapskate on others. If someone wants to drop $20,000 grand on a suite, more power to them.  I don't need to do that to have an amazing time.  I've enjoyed suite life but don't have to have it to enjoy my cruise.