Increasing Prices

[cruizeblues]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] I've been waiting until the prices come down a bit before booking on AOS for July (I know it's peek season...I'm a teacher..have to sail when I'm off!) But instead of coming down, they are going up!!! $1,600 for a balcony on 7/11. This is only my 2nd cruise, last year I booked 40 days ahead of the cruise. Do you think that this is too risky, should I book now, or wait and see....not picky about the cabin, as long as it has a balcony. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

[Lynnees]

I believe you'll find that the prices are only going to go up. Personally, I think the low price cruising days are basically over. The only way to get a low priced cruise seems to be to book a long time in advance.

We booked the Brilliance nearly a year ago for the Med. At the time a D1 was $3300.00CDN - now the same cabin is $4570.00CDN each. That is a humungous difference!!!

Even our Jan. 17/05 Empress of the Seas cruise has gone up $100.00CDN since we booked it in January.

Marilyn

Cunard - various ships over many years
Song of America
Grandeur of the Seas
Dreamward
Infinity
Azur
Sovereign of the Seas
Serenade of the Seas


[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2004;6;19;17;00;00&timezone=GMT+0100[/img] Til the Brilliance in the Med.!!!

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2005;1;17;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] Nordic Empress



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[img]http://img6.photobucket.com/albums/v20/lynnees/shipmar2.gif[/img] </center>
[img]http://img6.photobucket.com/albums/v20/lynnees/marship.gif[/img]

[D4]

Yes, I recommend booking ASAP for July cruises.

We've always had to cruise in the summer, too, when our kids are out of school. The summer prices are always highest. It's just something we're stuck with.

However, cruise prices were lower than usual the last two summers. (The summer of 2002 because of 9/11 and last summer because of the war.) Prices are back up for this summer and the ships are filling very well.

I think the best way to get a really great deal this summer is if you are very flexible in date, cruise line, itinerary, and room type. You want a balcony, so that limits you somewhat. We've been on 9 cruises, so we're pretty picky on cruise line, ship, and itinerary, but since this will be your second, you've got a lot of the world to explore.

[bplazo]

The airfare price also has increased within the last couple of weeks. It has jumped about 150.00. We are sorry that we waited.

[cruizeblues]

BUMMER! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]

[PhoenixCruiser]

The price for our cruise has only gone up as well, it's about $300 more per person now than when we put our deposit down a few months ago.

For airfare, we seached and seached, finally found a price we were happy with - it's just not with the airline we have the most points with [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;6;26;17;1;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Navigator of the Seas 6/26/04

[brn2crz]

Try 188o on the Rhapsody for a Balcony..
Or How about 1049 for an inside??????

Cathy
NCL-Starward 1982
NCL-Seaward 1986
NCL-Norway 1992
Carnival-Celebration 1996
Carnival-Jubilee 2001
RCI-Rhapsody 1999
RCI-Rhapsody- 2003
Grand Princess or Rhapsody ?
2004


[img]http://heathersanimations.com/Fish2/netdiver.gif[/img]

[jander]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]How about the Rhapsody....18 Apr 549, 25 Apr 499. 19 Sep 529. and many other deals on RCCL website. You have to be flexable, but there are good prices out there.

[D4]

The original poster is a teacher and has to go in the summer when the prices are high. April cruises won't do.

We have to go in the summers too and it's the pits seeing all the bargain prices throughout the rest of the year. At least I help my parents get great prices.

[breal6]

boy has cruising changed. i remember when mid april went into low season for cruising. lol (back in the 80's) and low season lasted thru the hurricane season. holidays kicked off high season and jan/feb was out of my price range.

PROUD MEMBER OF THE PPS

1 Princess
1 Celebrity
21 Royal Caribbean

Mariner 09/04 in
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Jewel 11/04 in
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Splendour 01/05 in
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=9400d3&cdt=2005;1;8;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[Got2Cruise]

I think it is always best to book a cruise as early as possible. . .if the prices go down before you make the final payment most reputable agencies will make a price adjustment. I booked in February and we got a good price, it must have been right before the surge in bookings because now I noticed that the rates are much higher. Also, we need a triple room because we bring our daughter. . .there is a limited number of triple and quad rooms, so even if there are cabins available on certain sailings, the triples and quads are booked up far in advance.

Got2Cruise
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=9400d3&cdt=2004;7;11;23;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
till we sail ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS,

[iowacruiser]

Have you tried some of the online ta's?
I monitor them a couple of times a week and there are some great deals out there.
We have a Grand Suite booked on Explorer for October 24th and got the cabin for just under $1300 per person through cruisequick.
The junior suites are running around $1100 on icruise and a little less on Bestpricecruises.
Also noticed that balcony and oceanview cabins are under $1000 per person on Holland Americas Oosterdam in late fall and early 2005.
I have found that the online TA's are often much lower then the Cruiseline websites. The only noticeable drawback is the limited selection of cabins in each category.
There are still bargains out there.

[yarlenna]

Now that prices are recovering - I hope that the menu and number of service staff recover as quickly. RCI, are you listening?

Work like a dog. Live like a pauper. Save all your money. Then Cruise!

[gkrebs]

I would book now. On RCi at least you can get a refund if the price drops, even after final payment. But you have to watch and catch it and call your TA as soon as it happens. The best way to do it is to check the RCI website the day you book and watch that price. If it goes down, make your call to get your money back. I have done this twice on RCI. Princess doesn't give refunds after Final payment, but a good TA can get you upgraded.

[img]http://www.gifs.net/animate/ag00612_.gif[/img]


Gary

Explorer of the Seas 10/24/04
Dawn Princess 10/12/03
Voyager of the Seas 12/01/02
Adventurer of the Seas 4/21/02
Sea Breeze 06/98
Atlantis 06/70

Time to Set Sail

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=CD20CD&cdt=2004;10;24;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0400[/img]

[cruizeblues]

Thanks for all the advice! I think that I'll be booking it today! I'll check out the other sites suggested by Iowacruiser (thanks) I've been looking at Vacationstogo and Cruise411 every day for the last few months(it's my hobby!) So far, cruise411 has the best deal at $1477pp. We really want to sail on AOS again (loved it soooo much last year!) Limited to July because of work reasons, and I'm afraid if I wait any longer we won't get a balcony room!
Wish me luck!

[pcur]

I'm going to confuse things a little here, but I suggest signing up for the online travel sites email alerts. I've been getting tons of last minute deals coming through on them. I can't remember if the AOS is one of the ships, though.

I have a list of sites if you email me directly to my email address shown in my profile.

I also agree that if you book now, keep an eye on the price drops, because I'm seeing that the ones inthe 2 week - 45 day range are coming up on the last minute deals. If this is one you've already booked, then you should get the difference if that price is offered by RCI to all bookings.

Peggy - RCI since 1973

[cruizeblues]

Hi Peggy,
Couln't find your email address on your profile. I'm on a few e-mail lists for last min. (90 day ticker is my fav.) also, travelzoo, crucon, cruise411 and RCI. That is how we booked last year (little more than 30 days before cruise) got a good deal, but that was for August. I'm getting nervous...I'm afraid after reading some of these posts from veteran cruisers that my ship will fill up while I'm waiting for the prices to drop. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img] I'm caught between booking now to save myself an ulcer, or waiting a month to save $200-400. I could really use the extra $$$$ toward shipboard fun!

[pcur]

Oops! I thought it was there. I'll put it back.

I know how you feel. If you can't be flexible with your ship or dates, then book now and look for the price drop. Otherwise, I'd go for the last minute deals.

Look again for my email address.

P.S. I just checked and it's there. Click on my user name and go to my public profile.

Peggy - RCI since 1973

[cruisinfanatic]

cruizeblues
It's not $1477 because you haven't included taxes and fees. You can't compare rates if you don't look at the final cost.
I found a couple places that were around $1450pp and one that was $1420pp, all quotes including all taxes and fees. You need to research some more for the best deal

[I][B]
Tropical 9/91
Ecstasy 9/93
Monarch 9/95
Sensation 9/96
Grandeur 9/97
Inspiration 9/98
Enchantment 9/99
Grandeur 9/00
Explorer 3/01
Grand 9/01.........[url="http://cruisereview.homestead.com/GrandPrincessReview.html"]Review!![/url]
Victory 9/02........[url="http://cruisereview.homestead.com/VictoryReview.html"]Review!![/url]
Navigator 3/03....[url="http://cruisereview.homestead.com/CruiseReviews.html"]Review!![/url]
Adventure 9/03....[url="http://cruisereview.homestead.com/AdventureReview.html"]Review!![/url]
Voyager 9/04
Email....Cruisinfanatic@AOL.COM
[/I][/B]

[ccletzgo]

what is interesting is the prices differ so much between cruise lines now. In the past, the prices where in range for the same type cabins at the same time of year. Now there are huge differances between cruise lines. Royal being one of the highest as far as increases go.
For the first time ever, I have been looking at other lines.

Lets Go!

Royal's Viking Seranade 1/94
Carnival, Holiday 12/95
Carnival, Jubilee 12/96
Royal's, Song of America 11/98
Celebrity Galaxy 9/99
Royal's, Viking Seranade 6/00
Celebrity, Millennium 12/00
Royal's Vision 2/02
Royal's Vision 12/02
Royal's Monarch 6/03
Celebrity Galaxy 9/17/04 !!

[cruizeblues]

I just got a quote from cruisequick for $1420, everything inc. like you said. Has anyone booked with them? Also, they will accept my C&A coupon minus 16% (not a big difference) I think that I'm going to put down my deposit now...unless anyone has had a bad exp. w/them.

[cruisinfanatic]

booked with them 3 times with no problem

[I][B]
Tropical 9/91
Ecstasy 9/93
Monarch 9/95
Sensation 9/96
Grandeur 9/97
Inspiration 9/98
Enchantment 9/99
Grandeur 9/00
Explorer 3/01
Grand 9/01.........[url="http://cruisereview.homestead.com/GrandPrincessReview.html"]Review!![/url]
Victory 9/02........[url="http://cruisereview.homestead.com/VictoryReview.html"]Review!![/url]
Navigator 3/03....[url="http://cruisereview.homestead.com/CruiseReviews.html"]Review!![/url]
Adventure 9/03....[url="http://cruisereview.homestead.com/AdventureReview.html"]Review!![/url]
Voyager 9/04
Email....Cruisinfanatic@AOL.COM
[/I][/B]

[cruizeblues]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]I'm cruizin' YE HAAAA---finally booked it!! Thanks to everyone for their help! DH says a BIG thanks so now he can stop hearing about it and start looking forward to it! He would gladly pay the extra $$ just to get me off the compputer! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Thanks especially to Peggy for telling me about cruisequick. It's probably the ONLY cruise site that I haven't visited until today!

Now....how do you guys get the countdown going?
91 days till the ADVENTURE begins again!

[wblynch]

one word about price increases.... FUEL

Bill & Jane Lynch


Serenade of the Seas - 8/22/2004
Monarch of the Seas - 8/29/2003 - voyage #660
Vision of the Seas - 5/4/2003 - voyage #225
Explorer of the Seas - 7/20/2002
Monarch of the Seas - 10/17/1999


------------------------------

"Ya best start believin' in ghost stories, Miss Turner, yer in one ! "

[tinsel57]

I booked RCI Rhapsody 7 day Caribbean out of Galveston in Nov 03 for Sept 04. I got an ocean view room and upgraded to Deck 7 Superior Balcony D1 for... $610 per person plus tax, $1541 total.

I have been watching to see if I can bump it up for a resonable price to one of the suites but so far, the jump in price is to big to rationalize such an expense.

Since that point in time, I have not seen the same classification for anywhere near what I paid, all over $800. I hope that means I've done well.

It's really hard to keep up with the pricing unless you just pound the boards several times a week. But I think it's worth it.

tinsel57

[This message was edited by tinsel57 on 04-10-04 at 06:32 PM.]