What’s a "good" price for Ovation of the Seas?

DW & I are considering trying Ovation OTS next year. We tend to book inside cabins and usually pay about $100/person/night on RCI. We’ve done a couple of Carnival cruises and have paid just over this price for balcony cabins.

I realise that Ovation is more expensive. The cheapest I’ve seen lately is about $140-$150/person/night but I’ve also seen upward of $300. :eek:

What would YOU consider to be a good base lead in price for this ship?

I think the itinerary will have a huge influence on the price too, not just the ship.

I am paying $200 per night for an upcoming 11 night cruise on Explorer, while I have been quoted close to $400 per night for a 7 night alaska cruise on Ovation.

Ship and Itinerary make a huge difference.

Haven’t been on her, but 150-200 looks a bit steep for an inside.

It's eye of the beholder stuff. I find most of her itineraries way overpriced (though have gotten good deals on some itineraries so sailed her twice).

I still apply the same benchmark as other ships, though if you value the attractions more you may be willing to pay more.

we have just booked a balcony for 150 a night to newzealand in feb 2019 earlier this year we got a spa junior suite for 163 a night for the 14 night sydney to singapore just keep watching till you see a price your ok with weve got one on explorer of the seas in November this year 110 a night balcony with 100 obc and the Ovation one in feb also has the 100 obc

Itinerary and timing would be driving the demand which in turn drives pricing. I suggest looking at an Asian cruise out of HK, Shanghai or Singapore, they are much better value for money and there are fly/cruise/stay deals that make them very good value.

Quite different products though. Chinese itins are usually 4-6 days so much shorter, plus the onboard experience is very different with the food especially lacking, and more charges onboard. Australian based cruises are mostly longer, and more enjoyable onboard experience.

Unless you absolutely wanted to try the ship just for the sake of it and were tying it into a more enjoyable land vacation over there, the Asian itineraries are an inferior option.

Quite different products though. Chinese itins are usually 4-6 days so much shorter, plus the onboard experience is very different with the food especially lacking, and more charges onboard. Australian based cruises are mostly longer, and more enjoyable onboard experience.

 

Unless you absolutely wanted to try the ship just for the sake of it and were tying it into a more enjoyable land vacation over there, the Asian itineraries are an inferior option.

None of those drawbacks applied to the cruise I did out of HK, it was 9 nights, the food was as per normal. the main difference was due to the many Chinese on board the Casino was packed and had a smoking section (didn't worry me) and the bars were empty as there were only 1700 westerners aboard. I rate that as being a Superior option.

DW & I are considering trying Ovation OTS next year. We tend to book inside cabins and usually pay about $100/person/night on RCI. We’ve done a couple of Carnival cruises and have paid just over this price for balcony cabins.

 

I realise that Ovation is more expensive. The cheapest I’ve seen lately is about $140-$150/person/night but I’ve also seen upward of $300. :eek:

 

What would YOU consider to be a good base lead in price for this ship?

$150 a night for inside cabin is reasonable

Trouble is your paying for the new ship.

If you're flexible 3 months before sailing date the usually discount fares pretty well if there's plenty of vacancy.

None of those drawbacks applied to the cruise I did out of HK, it was 9 nights, the food was as per normal. the main difference was due to the many Chinese on board the Casino was packed and had a smoking section (didn't worry me) and the bars were empty as there were only 1700 westerners aboard. I rate that as being a Superior option.

That cruise isn't the norm though as the base is Tianjin or Shanghai where the standard frequency and provisions apply. Also, I believe the drawbacks on pricing still apply even on your Hong Kong cruise at the higher level for internet, as are the extra charges for ifly and north star.

While there are a limited number in other ports in Asia, the reviews from other ports are similarly worse than cruises out of Australia, indicating that most find them inferior.

Perhaps you are right and I don't like what 'Most' like when cruising in Asia. As for the charges you listed on board, I don't buy the internet and didn't worry about North star or Ifly, as they are not part of my usual cruise experience no matter what the ship.

A few years ago, we were lucky to cruise on Quantum in a balcony for about $110 pp per night. I haven't really seen a deal as good as that since on Quantum class. I think on Ovation if you can score an inside room for around $150 pp pn, and under $180 pp pn for a Balcony you are doing very well. And any suite for around $200 pp pn would also be a great buy if you can find one! All suites give you access to Coastal Kitchen the best eatery on the ship!

Just got a great deal of obstructed view balcony Syd to Hawaii next April, flights and accomodation. Check out the site that advertises in the Sunday paper, we like to cruise 1st with them.

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Thanks to everyone who has weighed in.

We’ve just booked a 20 night package for March/April next year.

Flight to Adelaide, 1 night's accommodation, 18 night cruise on Pacific Eden, 1 night's accommodation, and flight back to Sydney. This will be our first time on P&O and all new ports for us except Bali and Singapore.

We might squeeze in another cruise late next year. It’s our 10th wedding anniversary in Nov 2019 and DW is keen to go back to NZ where we honeymooned. Not sure if we’ll cruise or do a fly/drive.

We have 8 weeks holiday in 2020 and are planning on visiting the USA. Tossing up between cruising home or flying home then taking a short cruise to recover from the flight and the rest of the trip.

Good work, I am sure you will enjoy it.

Just got a great deal of obstructed view balcony Syd to Hawaii next April, flights and accomodation. Check out the site that advertises in the Sunday paper, we like to cruise 1st with them.

 

Am curious what deal you got if you are willing to share. We have a group of friends and relatives on that same cruise and are paying a little less than $115/pp/night (not including taxes, airfare or hotels) for an unobstructed view balcony on deck 12, a few bucks less a night still for a deck 6 unobstructed view balcony, and less than $93/pp/night for an inside on deck 10. Our onboard ship credit is only $75 per cabin, though, and on our last group cruise (UK a few months ago), we got perks like unlimited beverage package (including even the tips, which their UBP doesn't usually include; only groups got it included, and on NCL, the drink package is crazy expensive normally at $89/day plus 20% gratuity for over $100/pp/day!) and all gratuities ($14.50/pp/day normally, same as RC currently) included and those were huge perks.

 

On RC, the Deluxe Beverage Package is currently $55/pp/day (and RC does include tips in that, unlike NCL) and so people know, from what I am reading on RC's site today, you don't have to buy the drink package for the entire cruise, like some cruise ships insist, but must buy it with at least four days left in the cruise. I am suggesting to my group that they wait until after leaving Bora Bora to get the unlimited drink package if they even think it is worth the money then.