I'm Stunned by the Price of an Upper Suite on a Three Night Cruise on Ascent...

[NMTraveller]

22 hours ago, markeb said:

Why does the size of the discount matter? Serious question. What would matter to me is absolute cost, not the cost relative to some arbitrary starting point. 

 

A $5000 cruise is a 50% discount off of a $10,000 "book value", whatever the book is.

It's a 20% discount off of a $6250 book.

I'm paying $5000 either way. That's the number that actually seems to matter since that's what's coming out of my bank account.

 

The "heavily discounted" metric is how Joseph A. Bank (for instance) stays in business...

 

I really don't play this game, but I'd find it much more relevant to search for the absolute fare and where that number intersects my willingness to pay, I'd buy. Getting a 50% discount is just about bragging about how well I did on the price. To me. 

Now back to our nighttime programming 🤣

 

If you have a $1208 cabin on the Ascent (newer ship) and you have a $2501 cabin on the Apex for a Christmas cruise which one would you choose?  I would choose the newer ship rather than the older ship.  Who are we kidding her?.  They are similar itineraries.

 

Sure you can brag about how you saved 50% or more but others will have done the same on the ship.

 

@RichYak how do I bring up similar stats on CruisePlum?  Sorry if I like the 90 day ticker.  Always looking for a better tool.

 

Regarding the math my estimate is that the 90 day ticker takes all cruises that are discounted 50% off of their brochure price.  While the brochure price is inflated it is a price that is scaled and is good for a relative comparison.  In other words I can compare similar cruises and ships belonging to the same cruise line with similar itineraries.

 

Challenge:

 

Find me a Celebrity cruise or otherwise that gives me a better bang for the buck that is not on the 90 day ticker.  Or perhaps one that CruisePlum can point out.  Find me a better deal than the $1208 for the inside cabin on the Ascent for a Christmas cruise with a similar itinerary.

 

 

@markeb who is Joseph A. Bank 🤣

 

 

 

 

 

[markeb]

1 hour ago, NMTraveller said:

@markeb who is Joseph A. Bank 🤣

Menswear company. Notorious because everything is always on sale. Essentially nothing is ever even offered for sale at the price printed on the price tag. An illusion of always getting a deal. Some of their stuff is actually OK, just don’t believe you’re actually saving 50%. 

[NMTraveller]

8 minutes ago, markeb said:

Menswear company. Notorious because everything is always on sale. Essentially nothing is ever even offered for sale at the price printed on the price tag. An illusion of always getting a deal. Some of their stuff is actually OK, just don’t believe you’re actually saving 50%. 

OK.

 

Find me another cruise to compare to.  The Apex is the closest one that I could find with a similar Interary and similar experience.  Yet I believe that the Ascent is superior.

 

 

 

Edited October 28, 2023 by NMTraveller

[markeb]

1 minute ago, NMTraveller said:

OK.

 

Find me another cruise to compare to.  The Apex is the closest one that I could find with a similar Interary and similar experience.  Yet I believe that the Ascent is superior.

 

 

 

FWIW, I think we’re agreeing? You’re choosing the lower absolute price without considering what the “discount” is, and getting the benefit of a greater value to you. In those circumstances that’s exactly what I’d do and what I wrote above. I’d buy a sweater if I thought the price was right, not because the sales price was half off. 

[neverlaysup]

On 10/22/2023 at 8:09 PM, buncosquad said:

Celebrity is clearly appealing to those who want real service, real suites, and a genuine premium service.

If I actually want a super premium product, I would not be sailing on Celebrity. Sorry, I have sailed in plenty of suites and we now spend far less than the super premium suites on X to sail other lines with way better everything (we don't really care about shows or casino).

[kywildcatfanone]

17 minutes ago, neverlaysup said:

sail other lines with way better everything (we don't really care about shows or casino).

Can I ask which lines? We don't care about casino's or shows.  We want a pool, place to eat and comfy bed.

[Dolebludger]

Actually, five or so years ago, we found that Celebrity suites were a true lux (super premium) product, at a lower cost than a lux line. Now, Retreat prices have been jacked up. In many cases higher than lux lines. And service seems reduced, according to reports. Want a recommendation? Check out Regent.

[neverlaysup]

26 minutes ago, kywildcatfanone said:

Can I ask which lines? We don't care about casino's or shows.  We want a pool, place to eat and comfy bed.

Viking, Regent, Seabourn and  Silversea cost less than the top tier suites and we prefer less people and better food/drink. We may have a smaller cabin on these ships but the service and amenities make up for it. JMHO!

[buncosquad]

1 hour ago, neverlaysup said:

If I actually want a super premium product, I would not be sailing on Celebrity. Sorry, I have sailed in plenty of suites and we now spend far less than the super premium suites on X to sail other lines with way better everything (we don't really care about shows or casino).

That's your opinion. I respect it.

 

I will only sail on their newest ships, and only in IC and EV staterooms. Few ships of any size or brand have accommodations that match these. In my experience, when I do compare and sail approximations, they are comparable in price.

 

Sure, smaller ships equal more diverse itineraries. But, I also do land-based trips.

 

Plus, I love these ships, all the restaurant variety (included), genuine personal service with a butler (never had a bad experience on Celebrity), good drinks from World Class Bar and the specialty dining venues. Works well for me.

 

I've got two more ICs and one more EV booked next year. But, I mix these trips with in depth land itineraries.

 

Fair pricing, as I see it. I like what they have for their authentic suites.*

 

*Sky "Suites" and Celebrity "Suites" don't come with what their other suites include. IMO, Celebrity is duping people into buying these as "suites." They appear to be large(r) rooms without the accouterments of their real suites.**

 

**Just my opinion. Not down on you if this satisfies what you seek.

[neverlaysup]

26 minutes ago, buncosquad said:

That's your opinion. I respect it.

 

I will only sail on their newest ships, and only in IC and EV staterooms. Few ships of any size or brand have accommodations that match these. In my experience, when I do compare and sail approximations, they are comparable in price.

 

Sure, smaller ships equal more diverse itineraries. But, I also do land-based trips.

 

Plus, I love these ships, all the restaurant variety (included), genuine personal service with a butler (never had a bad experience on Celebrity), good drinks from World Class Bar and the specialty dining venues. Works well for me.

 

I've got two more ICs and one more EV booked next year. But, I mix these trips with in depth land itineraries.

 

Fair pricing, as I see it. I like what they have for their authentic suites.*

 

*Sky "Suites" and Celebrity "Suites" don't come with what their other suites include. IMO, Celebrity is duping people into buying these as "suites." They appear to be large(r) rooms without the accouterments of their real suites.**

 

**Just my opinion. Not down on you if this satisfies what you seek.

I respect your opinion as well. We don’t really care about new and flashy and we tend to look for a more relaxed vibe. 100% agree with you on SS and CS because they are not fully inclusive as those suites should be. After we got a taste of less than 50% occupancy post Covid, we really don’t like the crowds anymore and have gravitated towards smaller ships. For us, the room size is usually smaller but the service is still stellar. We haven’t completely moved on from X but are starting to enjoy other lines more. 

[Dolebludger]

Well, if one cruises in any level of the Retreat, and goes outside of Retreat facilities, lines and crowds may be encountered. Like at the pool and at performances. Some may like this, as providing a lively atmosphere. We don’t. But when we cruised in a CS, and then in a RS a few years back,  the less expensive fares (compared to the lux lines then) were enough for us to want to again. Now these price  levels are actually higher in cost compared to the lux lines, via my research. From this forum, I know that the SS no longer has anything like a butler, and the steward only makes up the room. No included use of the mini fridge, and getting soda and beer for the room is do-it-yourself. With CS and RS, these matters are not clear, but I wonder if any services to the room are provided above make up? With the fact that, in a less expensive Regent concierge suite, we know we do get these services at lower cost and that makes us book Regent again. There is not a person called a butler on Regent at this level, but the steward has fewer rooms and is able to perform tasks that the butler in the Retreat (if provided) performed in years past. Basically, on Regent, you don’t need a butler. And there will be no lines or crowds anywhere on the ship. There is nightly entertainment, though at a lower key than on Celebrity, but with no lines or crowds for seating and with waiter service.  There is also a casino for those who want one (we don’t). And getting off and back on at ports is easy with only 750 to 400 guests on board (depending on the ship). It all depends on what one wants in a cruise. 

[markeb]

17 minutes ago, Dolebludger said:

 No included use of the mini fridge, and getting soda and beer for the room is do-it-yourself.

You keep saying this. This was NEVER the case. Many butlers replenished the mini fridge, but it was always specifically excluded. In reality, there are other threads on this board where people report the butler/cabin steward doing the same today. Which would be no change from before. 

 

I suspect there is a class of Celebrity cruisers in the demographic they’re targeting that would be bored to death on that ship you’re describing and actually like the dichotomy of a private area and the features of a larger ship. I think we might be at the point where we’d enjoy the true luxury lines, but if we were 15-20 years younger we’d likely pay more to have both options. Maybe not as much as the current rates, but we would have been beyond bored on those small luxury ships. As you say, it depends on what one wants in a cruise. 

[Dolebludger]

No sir, as I understand and have experienced, the mini fridge was available for use by all Celebrity suite guests (included) in the past. Now, from info here, it is not in SS and unclear in CS and RS. And, if one knows the “large ship experience” and likes it, one might not like the smaller lux ship experience. But I believe I described the small lux ship experience accurately above. We like it, but not all will, I am sure. Even for us, their are some ships that we believe (without cruising on one) are too small for us. An example would be Sea Dream. Yet some really like that line. 
 

My basic point, however, is that Celebrity has raised its suite fares dramatically while, at the same time, cutting services and inclusions so as not to be competitive for some of us. 

[Gracie115]

13 hours ago, kywildcatfanone said:

Can I ask which lines? We don't care about casino's or shows.  We want a pool, place to eat and comfy bed.

Oceania....which from all I've read has the most, or one of the most comfy beds at sea, outstanding food & service and a pool or two.  We'll find out for sure in December.

[mac_tlc]

This line vs line comparison is a hot topic on this board due to Celebrity’s drastic suite price increases. I have joined in myself. 
 

I agree with previous posters who highlighted that just because of a price difference, it doesn’t mean the experience is identical. Some like a bigger room (us), some say they spend no time in it. Some like casinos and shows (us), others don’t. The number of passengers is also quite different. E-class, around 3000, Viking around 900, Oceania new ships around 1200, Regent around 700 or less, Silversea about 400-700. 
 

Those smaller ships usually make for a more port intensive itinerary. Good for some, not our preference. 

 

We have two O cruises booked on Vista, but are a bit hesitant to go from X to Regent with 1/4 the passengers. It’s still a lot of $$$. We figured a try at 1200 could be a good test. 
 

Generally, it seems folks feel the food is better on any of those lines than it now is on X. 
 

There is room for all of these. Maybe it’s other parts of the experience that draws people to the high end X suites? Just because Regent may be price competitive doesn’t mean the totality of the experience is equal. 

 

What these current prices have done is make us less loyal and more willing to look around. I’d like to try them all, except the very small ships. 
 

No wrong answers here.

 

 

mac_tlc

Edited October 29, 2023 by mac_tlc

[QuestionEverything]

15 hours ago, kywildcatfanone said:

Can I ask which lines? We don't care about casino's or shows.  We want a pool, place to eat and comfy bed.

Try Oceania - the entire vessel is premium, particularly the new Vista and the Marina class vessels - meaning you do not have to hide in a segmented space. The food selection and quality is far superior to the Retreat. Now O does not specialize in entertainment, casino - so if that is important to you, O is not the correct choice.

 

[dock]

@mac_tlc, seems like we have the same viewpoint and are also trying to figure out what works best for us.

 

Have Retreat on Ascent in Feb, then O Vista ( PH), 1200 is the smallest  we would do at this point, in July and we’ve even booked NCL in 2025.( may change to X, once I see Iceland/ Norway routes and ships).

 

We do land trips in between and at this point no brand loyalty.

Hope you’ll write a review of your O cruises, would love to hear your opinion. Thanks.

[mac_tlc]

1 hour ago, dock said:

@mac_tlc, seems like we have the same viewpoint and are also trying to figure out what works best for us.

 

Have Retreat on Ascent in Feb, then O Vista ( PH), 1200 is the smallest  we would do at this point, in July and we’ve even booked NCL in 2025.( may change to X, once I see Iceland/ Norway routes and ships).

 

We do land trips in between and at this point no brand loyalty.

Hope you’ll write a review of your O cruises, would love to hear your opinion. Thanks.

Very similar indeed! I will definitely do a LIVE from O and will compare/contrast to our other experiences. Too bad it’s 13 months away…..

 

 

mac_tlc

[Lastdance]

3 hours ago, mac_tlc said:

Very similar indeed! I will definitely do a LIVE from O and will compare/contrast to our other experiences. Too bad it’s 13 months away…..

 

 

mac_tlc

I will be very interested, as ours in a TA in May of 2025!

[TeeRick]

@Georgia_Peaches

I have been following your thread from the Ascent.  Great job!  

We just booked an upper level suite on RCCL Symphony for this coming Feb.  And it was significantly less expensive than even a Sky Suite on Celebrity.  So no Celebrity cruises booked at this point.  First time in years!  Their suite product has really changed (for the worse) IMO.

[Georgia_Peaches]

10 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

@Georgia_Peaches

I have been following your thread from the Ascent.  Great job!  

We just booked an upper level suite on RCCL Symphony for this coming Feb.  And it was significantly less expensive than even a Sky Suite on Celebrity.  So no Celebrity cruises booked at this point.  First time in years!  Their suite product has really changed (for the worse) IMO.

Thank you, TR!  Though we had a great time, I’m afraid that our currently booked SS for May will be out last suite on Celebrity as well. Our experience over the last three nights, while lovely, no longer has the suite value it once did. 

[deliver42]

Celebrity's prices have gotten insane. That's the only word I can use to describe them without offending anyone.

[Dolebludger]

I agree with the insanity of suite price hikes on Celebrity, especially because they happened at the same time as service cuts. All we can do about this  is to book on another cruise line. If enough do this, the problems may be fixed — eventually.

[Gracie115]

We board our first Oceania cruise in 10 days.  Looking forward to it.  We have nothing booked on Celebrity at all.  Have looked at a few Royal sailings that have much better suite prices than Celebrity so we may go that way too, their suites are very nice, especially on the newer ships.

[PTC DAWG]

On 10/28/2023 at 5:42 PM, kywildcatfanone said:

Can I ask which lines? We don't care about casino's or shows.  We want a pool, place to eat and comfy bed.

I have that at my house. 🙂