Europe Pricing - That's me done

I have been a little frustrated with three things recently:

1) The standard of the Millennium class ships compared to the now, masses of other options at sea

2) The dreadful entertainment and ghost ship like atmospheres on both class of ships, while others are pushing the boundaries

3) The same old same old itineraries for the Solstice class of ships

This is why I was so excited by the Edge, and I have to say the MSC style open jaw cruising is a great idea

However, prices are on average a thousand pounds more expensive for balcony rooms than other celebrity ships (I can do a 14 on the Millie from HK to Philippines and Vietnam for half the price of a 7 on the Edge)

Added to the fact that this the focus on creating the real luxury for suite guests and the knowledge that every other cruise line is bringing new ships out all the time, it looks like I will have to spread my wings a bit and start looking around more earnestly

Edge pricing is nuts. I think there's been at least 4 price increases on the TA it's not been on sale for 24 hours yet. I'm glad I hate her balconies as I have no desire to cruise on her never mind pay those prices. The Reflection Itineraries that we like though are only $100 more on release than last year which is pretty good.

I have to agree that pricing is very high currently! I would love to sail on the Edge for 2019 but I might go for the other Celebrity ships instead where at least, it will be realistic price wise!

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I also agree about the pricing on the Edge. I did put a deposit down on the May 25, 2019 sailing anyway because I love the itinerary, but we'll see what happens. Maybe by some miracle the prices will drop a bit.

Sky suites are around $600 per person per night and Aqua Class is running at around $400 per person per night.

The sky suite pricing puts them head to head against some genuine 6 star, all suite, cruise lines, slightly more than Seabourn based on their 2018 pricing and only just behind Regent based on their 2019 pricing based on similar Med itineraries.

It's certainly ambitious for a mass market cruise line!

Sky suites are around $600 per person per night and Aqua Class is running at around $400 per person per night.

 

The sky suite pricing puts them head to head against some genuine 6 star, all suite, cruise lines, slightly more than Seabourn based on their 2018 pricing and only just behind Regent based on their 2019 pricing based on similar Med itineraries.

 

It's certainly ambitious for a mass market cruise line!

Well, I started looking at 2019 cruises yesterday and was very disappointed with the Europe summer itineraries - nothing at all that excited me. Same old places all through the peak summer months and I agree about the pricing: some Oceania prices were actually less than X were asking :o!

Currently, we have 2 place holders on X and 1 on Royal and we’re struggling to find any itineraries that pique our interest to place them against.

Well, I started looking at 2019 cruises yesterday and was very disappointed with the Europe summer itineraries - nothing at all that excited me. Same old places all through the peak summer months and I agree about the pricing: some Oceania prices were actually less than X were asking :o!

 

Currently, we have 2 place holders on X and 1 on Royal and we’re struggling to find any itineraries that pique our interest to place them against.

We ended up booking Oceania. I had to take a lower category to compare to Celebrity pricing but the itinerary is miles better and the cruise is two days longer.

From what we can get from the early renderings, there won't be real luxury for suite guests as the ship is going to be within 3*-3.5* range overall (with a built-in luxury mini-hotel), or up to 4* (if something unexpected is still to come).

You may want to look at TUI Cruises ships (affiliated with RCI). They call their ships by numbers. The #3 and #4 are outstanding ships and well above 4.5* These two ships are dramatically improved (smaller) versions of the "S" class. Link to review.

You left out a very important point in recommending TUI - looks like you must understand German as the entire website and all the signs in your video tours are only in German (without even English subtitles). We would hate being completely lost the entire cruise. Daily schedule? Dinner menu? Don't care how well the ship is designed, if we can't enjoy it! BTY, the cabins I could click on looked VERY generic, not modern luxury at all.

We did our first Transatlantic last year on Eclipse. I was disappointed that X doesn't offer perks on TAs. I would have done the Reflection for next month's TA if I could have had perks. It's not like the price of the cruise is so cheap. So we are on NCL's Breakaway for it's TA in a few weeks. Why is it that other lines offer perks for TAs when X doesn't? Well, it's Supply & Demand.... so I will go with what suit's my wallet.

We ended up booking Oceania. I had to take a lower category to compare to Celebrity pricing but the itinerary is miles better and the cruise is two days longer.

We’d consider Oceania if both our of boys weren’t travelling with us - looks like one may not be next year but the other definitely will. I was shocked at the 7 night prices on Edge :o!

Do let us know how you enjoy your sailing on Oceania.

I have a few thoughts/opinions on Celebrity pricing-

- Celebrity pricing includes charges for the ‘perks’. Although the ‘perks’ are less expensive than paying for them separately, I still believe we are paying for them. Finding a TA that has additional incentives will help offset these charges. When people weren’t traveling and prices were great, I believe Celebrity tossed in perks that were essentially free to get more business.

- The economy is better than it has been so more people are traveling and spending money. Supply and demand is the name of the game. When the economy was not good and less people travelled we were able to snap up some great European itineraries with all the perks for crazy low prices in CC and above. Would love those prices again but we can’t except that again until maybe another recession.

- The Edge. Pricing is insane now but it doesn’t upset me. We reserved our trip early 2017 for January 2019 and pricing was crazy low with all the perks. I don’t understand why the now expensive pricing shocks people. This class of ships is new to Celebrity, the concepts are incredible and they have a new ship to pay for.

IMO Celebrity is aiming for a different image and wants to be a higher class line than what we know them as. They are striving for more which equals more revenue. Can’t blame them. Does it sadden me a bit, sure...but I don’t feel I can complain about it as that’s business.

My moto is everything changes in life. Learn to enjoy things in life when you can and expect that things will change. Don’t get angry just move on and look for other great opportunities if you need to. Just my 2 cents.

Happy sails!

I have a few thoughts/opinions on Celebrity pricing-

 

 

- The Edge. Pricing is insane now but it doesn’t upset me. We reserved our trip early 2017 for January 2019 and pricing was crazy low with all the perks. I don’t understand why the now expensive pricing shocks people. This class of ships is new to Celebrity, the concepts are incredible and they have a new ship to pay for.

 

 

Happy sails!

Edge pricing was never “crazy low” we booked a standard run of the mill 7 day Caribbean the first day they went on sale and I guarantee you it was not crazy low. We eventually cancelled as we could do a couple of weeks in Australia with air for that crazy low 7 day Caribbean price in a basic balcony.

As for perks? There aren’t any on TAs. Check out those prices lately, especially on Edge.

I have a few thoughts/opinions on Celebrity pricing-

 

- Celebrity pricing includes charges for the ‘perks’. Although the ‘perks’ are less expensive than paying for them separately, I still believe we are paying for them. Finding a TA that has additional incentives will help offset these charges. When people weren’t traveling and prices were great, I believe Celebrity tossed in perks that were essentially free to get more business.

 

- The economy is better than it has been so more people are traveling and spending money. Supply and demand is the name of the game. When the economy was not good and less people travelled we were able to snap up some great European itineraries with all the perks for crazy low prices in CC and above. Would love those prices again but we can’t except that again until maybe another recession.

 

- The Edge. Pricing is insane now but it doesn’t upset me. We reserved our trip early 2017 for January 2019 and pricing was crazy low with all the perks. I don’t understand why the now expensive pricing shocks people. This class of ships is new to Celebrity, the concepts are incredible and they have a new ship to pay for.

 

IMO Celebrity is aiming for a different image and wants to be a higher class line than what we know them as. They are striving for more which equals more revenue. Can’t blame them. Does it sadden me a bit, sure...but I don’t feel I can complain about it as that’s business.

 

My moto is everything changes in life. Learn to enjoy things in life when you can and expect that things will change. Don’t get angry just move on and look for other great opportunities if you need to. Just my 2 cents.

 

Happy sails!

I don’t think the Edge pricing for Europe has ever been ‘crazy’ low for 2019 for 7 night sailings in a basis balcony cabin :confused:.

I have a few thoughts/opinions on Celebrity pricing-

 

- Celebrity pricing includes charges for the ‘perks’. Although the ‘perks’ are less expensive than paying for them separately, I still believe we are paying for them. Finding a TA that has additional incentives will help offset these charges. When people weren’t traveling and prices were great, I believe Celebrity tossed in perks that were essentially free to get more business.

 

- The economy is better than it has been so more people are traveling and spending money. Supply and demand is the name of the game. When the economy was not good and less people travelled we were able to snap up some great European itineraries with all the perks for crazy low prices in CC and above. Would love those prices again but we can’t except that again until maybe another recession.

 

- The Edge. Pricing is insane now but it doesn’t upset me. We reserved our trip early 2017 for January 2019 and pricing was crazy low with all the perks. I don’t understand why the now expensive pricing shocks people. This class of ships is new to Celebrity, the concepts are incredible and they have a new ship to pay for.

 

IMO Celebrity is aiming for a different image and wants to be a higher class line than what we know them as. They are striving for more which equals more revenue. Can’t blame them. Does it sadden me a bit, sure...but I don’t feel I can complain about it as that’s business.

 

My moto is everything changes in life. Learn to enjoy things in life when you can and expect that things will change. Don’t get angry just move on and look for other great opportunities if you need to. Just my 2 cents.

 

Happy sails!

I think you are getting close to the trends in modern cruising. First is that the mass market lines realise that there are a lot of people with money who like the big ship experience, but some small ship perks. Secondly, some of the luxury lines are bringing larger and larger ships into their fleets and making their product more accessible to a broader demographic. Lastly, quite a few new entrants in the 6 star area are choosing to go small and position themselves as yachting rather than cruising companies.

We have to say it's not just Europe pricing that puts us off Celebrity at the moment, but also pretty much everywhere else. Looking at the Caribbean for early 2019 right now...

I constantly check whether one of their offerings could fit us. Latest when looking at the pricing (plus factoring in what you end up paying on top on board etc...) some other option turns out to be more attractive.

And for us, Celebrity clearly isn't THAT much better to justify the, at this time, sometimes huge price difference. Not even talking about the insane rates for Edge.

(By the way: both comparing pricing through U.S. travel agencies as well as through European sales offices, where by the way the historically huge price differences have lessened quite a bit)

We became Elite with Celebrity after having sailed just this line in the 2000's/early 2010's numerous times and would certainly go back. But we somewhat "got used" to the (great at the time) product, great food etc... but wanted to test some alternatives, mainly for a more vibrant atmosphere, better and more modern entertainment & music (something we felt always lacking) etc...

So we tested NCL (vibrant and good entertainment, but poor crowd flows and so-so food).

For now have started to settle at TUI / Mein Schiff.

Great itineraries, long time in ports, much less commercial pressures on board like bingo, casinos etc... and great value with few upcharges on board.

Ships aren't quite as spectacular but very modern and with a great layout.

Going a second time on MS5 (Mein Schiff 5) this year, and they're already in progress of making our shortlist for 2019, too.

So another vote for this option, has already been mentioned by in this thread by @ronbe65. It certainly helps to know a bit of German, but then again, i think one could certainly get by fine with English only.

Just have to accept the fact that most pax are Germans and some will take one or two days to mentally stop "working" and finally arrive on holidays to chill ;-)

On the other hand, the ambiance feels much less stiff and "structured" than on U.S. ships, as there is not a constant worry to get sued for millions in damages over everything and there are a lot less "demanding and feeling entitled" pax on board. This shows in a lot of details and we felt was also reflected by the crew (and confirmed by a higher-up).

It's certainly great to have options and choices :-)

rgds cavok

I had planned on waiting before booking the Edge. Prices tend to come down once the newness wears off. But my husband talked me into booking the Dec 16 '18 cruise. Twice what I am normally willing to pay. But he does not get excited that often and he really wanted to see this ship and do a cruise around the holidays... they decorate so nicely. So we will see if the ship is worth the extra $

We’d consider Oceania if both our of boys weren’t travelling with us - looks like one may not be next year but the other definitely will. I was shocked at the 7 night prices on Edge :o!

 

 

Do let us know how you enjoy your sailing on Oceania.

We ventured from our Celebrity only stance, after several Celebrity flubs, and sailed on Oceania and others in the last couple years. We are booked on a 3 day preview cruise to assess Celebrity and check out the Edge. We liked Oceania quite a bit. If Celebrity continues to charge demand pricing (like Uber) then we will just hold off to book more Edge. The Edge pricing makes the comparison to other high premium lines more attractive.

pricing

For those of you with Elite or above Captain's Club points who are moving away from Celebrity in Europe due to high prices on Edge, have you considered Azamara? I'm not sure how they compare to say Oceania but I'm wondering if they are worth consideration?