anyone still sailing on the old prices?

[Susan-M]

....what other cruise line sharply increased their fares as azamara has done?

 

Only the ones that had provided sharply reduced fares while becoming established ... and who, like Azamara, needed to increase prices to a level that reflected what was being offered, and which would not keep them in the red.

 

Weren't we lucky to get such sharply reduced fares for those first couple of years from Azamara!:)

[California Native]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sawsea27

....what other cruise line sharply increased their fares as azamara has done?

 

________________________________________________

All of the cruise lines have done this at sometime

Princess has the R ships

On Princess

We sailed the Hawaii - Tahiti sailing for 24 days on a B2B

It was 1199.00 per person per segment in a balcony cabin -

7111

Currently the same ship, same cabin, same itinerary, same time of year

is 2449.00 per person per segment.

This is over a 1200.00 dollar increase per person per segment! In less than a year!!!!

We booked at the right time for the right price.

We are thrilled that we were so lucky. We wish that we would see those rates again...but realistically the industry

and these small ships can't support the same rates as the larger ships.

Cruising is still far cheaper than it was 10, 20 and 30 years ago.

[sawsea27]

they have all done it gradually...not all at once...

 

but back to those sailing at old prices....

[Jade13]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sawsea27

....what other cruise line sharply increased their fares as azamara has done?

 

 

________________________________________________

 

All of the cruise lines have done this at sometime

 

Princess has the R ships

 

On Princess

 

We sailed the Hawaii - Tahiti sailing for 24 days on a B2B

 

It was 1199.00 per person per segment in a balcony cabin -

 

7111

 

Currently the same ship, same cabin, same itinerary, same time of year

 

is 2449.00 per person per segment.

 

This is over a 1200.00 dollar increase per person per segment! In less than a year!!!!

 

We booked at the right time for the right price.

 

We are thrilled that we were so lucky. We wish that we would see those rates again...but realistically the industry

and these small ships can't support the same rates as the larger ships.

 

Cruising is still far cheaper than it was 10, 20 and 30 years ago.

 

Interesting as I consider that an exotic sailing. If Prince R class ship is $2,500.00pp for a Verandah, well Azamara's 12 night next year (to Iceland) is $4,449.00pp for 12 nights...Yes, gratuities are included but many people can get a TA to cover that and regarding the wine my DH does not drink. The "cola package" cost us about $82.00pp for 14 nights in Feb.

 

But you are right that the industry can not make the money with smaller ships. Even on a HAL "small" 1,200 passenger ships balconies can average starting at $1,000.00 more pp for 7 nights. They are established and can command these prices though.

[California Native]

But you are right that the industry can not make the money with smaller ships. Even on a HAL "small" 1,200 passenger ships balconies can average starting at $1,000.00 more pp for 7 nights. They are established and can command these prices though.

 

I know that Tahiti is a bit lower than other exotics, because the airfare is such a nightmare versus air to Europe.

It's just hard to get people to rationalize flying to Tahiti

from anywhere on the East Coast when they have the Caribbean in their backyard!

We had been watching Tahiti cruises for about 8 years ..when that rate was offered we swooped on in!!!!

but after going to Tahiti..I would definately pay the higher price..

It's the perfect paradise.

HAL...well, one of my favorite ships is the Prinsendam...we sailed her a couple of years ago..it was a 1 time sailing out of SFO to Alaska for 14 days. The ship was only 1/2 full...

I don't think she had been "discovered" yet by many cruisers... and now her itineraries are phenomenal but

just too expensive for us, as you know she has a very loyal fan base and can command the rates!

[Susan-M]

they have all done it gradually...not all at once...

 

Are you sure of that?

 

Azamara chose to implement the increase in 'one fell swoop'. Advance notice was given. It is their choice to make the changes that they want, whether we like it or not... in other words, we can take it or leave it. There are effective means of getting the message across that you are not happy with the new pricing ... such as not cruising with them at the higher prices.

[whynotme]

wish we had booked all sorts of cruises before they skyrocketted the prices...

 

anyone still enjoying those?

 

make me salivate...

 

We booked last October and got the old prices and also a shipboard credit. Are we ever happy that we did that as the current prices are a little high for us.

 

Sheila;)

[Susan-M]

We booked last October and got the old prices and also a shipboard credit. Are we ever happy that we did that as the current prices are a little high for us.

 

Sheila;)

 

That's wonderful ... but sadly, more salt in the wound for the OP.:(

 

Enjoy!:)

[Jade13]

HAL...well, one of my favorite ships is the Prinsendam...we sailed her a couple of years ago..it was a 1 time sailing out of SFO to Alaska for 14 days. The ship was only 1/2 full...

I don't think she had been "discovered" yet by many cruisers... and now her itineraries are phenomenal but

just too expensive for us, as you know she has a very loyal fan base and can command the rates!

 

I really want to cruise on her. She sounds like the perfect ship. It is hard to find that size ship with a wrap around Verandah.

[Jade13]

Are you sure of that?

 

Azamara chose to implement the increase in 'one fell swoop'. Advance notice was given.

 

Advance notice was given but the only deals were for the beginning of 2011 and for us, well, we just did Quest in Asia and as far as Journey (Caribbean) we are not interested in the Caribbean other than a shortie extra cruise vacation which Century has provided twice at 4&5 nights each. We would not pay the "new" fares for the Caribbean which is not exotic enough for us.

[sawsea27]

oh of course we can take it or leave it...

 

and you are wrong when you say more salt in the wound for the OP...in fact it is just the opposite...I am really happy that there are people who are still enjoying what others are now paying double for...

 

as you may have figured out by now, my agenda in all this is for azamara to see that there are many of us who would come back if they had some softening of their prices...that they not lose us forever to a hard line of no movement of their prices....

 

as you can see, most that are sailing on the old prices have sad that sadly that will be the last for them...

 

as far as advance notice of increases....we always get notice of cruise prices going up..and no one is surprised by that...but it is the sharpness of the increase...that was not expected by most of us...

[gillianrose]

]HAL...well, one of my favorite ships is the Prinsendam...we sailed her a couple of years ago..it was a 1 time sailing out of SFO to Alaska for 14 days. The ship was only 1/2 full..I don't think she had been "discovered" yet by many cruisers... and now her itineraries are phenomenal but just too expensive for us, as you know she has a very loyal fan base

 

That was in 2003 that the Prinsendam did that itinerary. How time flies!

 

I would have booked the cruise, but there were some photos at the time that showed really awful mold in the shower/tub. Hopefully that was corrected. The DVD of the Prinsendam HAL sent out looked wonderful, but I couldn't get over that terrible (and then current) picture.

[California Native]

That was in 2003 that the Prinsendam did that itinerary. How time flies!

 

I would have booked the cruise, but there were some photos at the time that showed really awful mold in the shower/tub. Hopefully that was corrected. The DVD of the Prinsendam HAL sent out looked wonderful, but I couldn't get over that terrible (and then current) picture.

 

Yes, we saw the picture...she did need some spucing at that time

but we had sailed on her when she was with Royal Viking.

So, we were aware of her age...

She is such a throw back to the era of traditional cruising..

That's probably why we love the Prinsendam so much!

[sawsea27]

Advance notice was given but the only deals were for the beginning of 2011 and for us, well, we just did Quest in Asia and as far as Journey (Caribbean) we are not interested in the Caribbean other than a shortie extra cruise vacation which Century has provided twice at 4&5 nights each. We would not pay the "new" fares for the Caribbean which is not exotic enough for us.

 

yes I understand completely that you would not wish to pay "new" fares for the carib...neither do we...will see if they find anyone who would...

[sawsea27]

this thread will end soon as those who are still sailing for the old prices will get fewer and fewer...to the relief of some posters here who for whatever reason really dont want anyone to remember or know what the old prices were....cant understand why they would get so upset at the mention that prices last year were half of what they are now...calm down...take a pill...

 

as for me, yes I am hopeful that azamara will read all the opinions and know that many of us will not forget how much we enjoyed sailing the line and hope to come back to it, when things become sensible again.

 

those of you still sailing with "old" prices...I salute you for having been very astute consumers...

[Jade13]

this thread will end soon as those who are still sailing for the old prices will get fewer and fewer...to the relief of some posters here who for whatever reason really dont want anyone to remember or know what the old prices were....cant understand why they would get so upset at the mention that prices last year were half of what they are now...calm down...take a pill...

 

as for me, yes I am hopeful that azamara will read all the opinions and know that many of us will not forget how much we enjoyed sailing the line and hope to come back to it, when things become sensible again.

 

those of you still sailing with "old" prices...I salute you for having been very astute consumers...

 

I don't even know what your point is anymore. Can you understand that Azamara has not made a profit? They are in business to make money. Now with all of the inclusions they rely on the cruise fare. The casino was empty on our trip. Whatever my DH was trying to play they could not even round up four players to make it happen.

 

I understand the prices no longer work for you and made what I thought was a reasonable solution to take another stateroom besides a Verandah. We have done so ourselves on numerous occasions to get on a ship or exotic location (such as Antarctica where starting prices for a Verandah on an expedition would have been approx $30,000 for only 10 nights).

[Susan-M]

this thread will end soon...

 

One can only hope. :D

[California Native]

this thread will end soon as those who are still sailing for the old prices will get fewer and fewer...to the relief of some posters here who for whatever reason really dont want anyone to remember or know what the old prices were....cant understand why they would get so upset at the mention that prices last year were half of what they are now...calm down...take a pill...

 

as for me, yes I am hopeful that azamara will read all the opinions and know that many of us will not forget how much we enjoyed sailing the line and hope to come back to it, when things become sensible again.

 

those of you still sailing with "old" prices...I salute you for having been very astute consumers...

 

Oh, well thank you for seeing that I'm a VERY ASTUTE Consumer.

I'm also a consumer that realizes prices go up and down.

Whether I'm buying a car, home furnishings or clothing.

I embrace the deals that I find along the way with JOY!

If you sailed at the old prices you got a great deal!

If you booked at the old prices for a future cruise you got a great deal

(or in my case~2 future cruises)

It was a deal, but those prices don't exist anymore.

That is life!

In life you have to decide....

Is this something I can live with? and if so embrace it with a smile

or

Do I put on my big boy pants and come up with an alternative plan for what is best for me

or

Do I just throw a temper tantrum and ignore and criticize anyone who won't throw the same temper tantrum

Unfortunately, if this choice is made at some point

the 1st 2 choices will eventually have to be considered.

Not to say...you have chosen any of those paths...

but that's what the choices boil down to.

[California Native]

One can only hope. :D

 

 

I wish I had that magical padlock

[California Native]

..

 

is anyone still sailing at the old prices?

 

YES on 2 cruises

We have saved over $5,000

 

because we are astute consumers and we believed Azamara when they said prices were going up!!

[sawsea27]

oh that is excellent...

 

wish I had gotten your good advice long ago...

 

way to go!!!

[amanda blake]

we are sailing at the old prices, but on the equinox, we have sailed azamara and really enjoyed it, but unfortunately we have been priced out

 

the holyland cruise this fall on the equinox is about half the price of the azamara holy land cruise and one day longer, yes we booked it a year ago so of course the price has gone up and we are very happy with it.

[sawsea27]

looks like you didnt book ahead at the old prices either....but you have found an alrenative that you are happy with...good job...

 

thank you for posting...

[crzrr]

Sawsea - you never answered my question on another thread! Did you receive a B2B discount on your Constellation cruise?

[sawsea27]

oh sorry...no we didnt...but it was an amazing price to begin with....so there was no need for any further discount...and not sure if celebrity has that kind of promo anyway..since they dont do 7 day cruises in europe...

 

have to go to work...

 

have a nice day all....