Business Must Really Be Bad?

[Gaucho39]

I received an email this morning for cruises with prices I've never seen before.

 

7 dys on Eurodam for $399

 

10 day Panama Canal for $599

 

The Maasdam is offering FREE 3rd & 4th passenger fares for Christmas?

Christmas was always a premium fare????

 

Yesterday I got emails from Celebrity offering the second passenger 1/2 off on some saiings.

 

I realize times are tough, but don't know how these low fares can allow the cruise ships to turn a profit?

[bzv143]

On the New Years cruise aboard Noordam, they are practically paying me to travel in a Cat. SY, the prices are so low. :D

[AZNative2000]

I received an email this morning for cruises with prices I've never seen before.

 

7 dys on Eurodam for $399

 

10 day Panama Canal for $599

 

THANKS GAUCHO!!!!

 

The first onboard toast will be to you.:) Saw your post prior to doing my daily price check and our cruise had dropped by $100. Called our TA and she took care of getting the price adjustment. Every little $100 helps!:D:D

[Nasmas]

I guess it depends on when you're going. We're looking at trying to book something soon. The rooms are reasonable but not cheap. The airfare to FLL right now is about twice what it was last year. What's up with that?

[Krazy Kruizers]

None of the cruises we have booked have gone down on price.

 

And air fares are up!!

[Bill B]

...but don't know how these low fares can allow the cruise ships to turn a profit?

They'll reduce the fares to 'cost' if that's what it takes to fill the ship to 110% (3rd & 4th pax in a room) 'capacity', relying on 'onboard revenue' (drinks, casino, shopping & art auctions etc.) to turn a profit. Also, because you pay the vast majority of the crew's wages through your tips, they are lothe to sail with an empty stateroom.

[IRL_Joanie]

I received an email this morning for cruises with prices I've never seen before.

 

7 dys on Eurodam for $399

 

10 day Panama Canal for $599

 

The Maasdam is offering FREE 3rd & 4th passenger fares for Christmas?

Christmas was always a premium fare????

 

Yesterday I got emails from Celebrity offering the second passenger 1/2 off on some saiings.

 

I realize times are tough, but don't know how these low fares can allow the cruise ships to turn a profit?

 

Cruise lines do not make money on us booking a cruise with them. They do however make BIG money on the things we buy while on board. Things such as Booze, Dinners in the Specialty Restaurants, jewelry, etc..

 

The fares today for HAL are almost exactly what they were back in the 1970's as has been posted on these boards by some of our 'more experienced' Cruise Critic members such as BillRoddy and others. Bill, I believe it was he, even posted and old flier with a Stateroom from 1970 something for around $700.00 per person.

 

Joanie

[cruisinjudy]

One thing though, our stateroom fares used to include air and sometimes an overnight in the port city before the cruise. At least they did when I started cruising in the 80s.

[Schnauzerguy]

For what it worth I found the bill from our travel agent for our honeymoon cruise. 7 days inside passage on the Noordam in 1989. We sailed in an inside cabin for 7 days. Our trip (albeit including air fare Pittsburgh to Vancouver) was over $3000 for the two of us. Our current booked trip to the Caribbean for two if I include air would be around $2200 in a Veranda cabin. I think cruise fares have really dropped with all the ships that have been added in 20+ years.

[jotabecu]

I have not noticed any decrease in cruise fares lately.

 

Have been looking at Indian Ocean and Transatlantic itineraries mostly.

[VermeulT]

I for one am not complaining. It means I will cruise twice this year and I never thought I would able to afford that.

[Bill B]

Pricing depends entirely on how well the ship is 'filling'.

 

Yesterday, I made my deposit on a Volendam cruise. I just checked the HAL website and the fare for my Cat. stateroom has gone UP $819... glad I didn't wait until today!

[Taxguy77]

The real estate cycle is; lots of demand, build, overbuild, lots of supply = lower prices. Obviously the cruise industry, with all the new builds, is experiencing some of this at some times. They have an advantage in being able to reposition their supply where there is more demand and are doing it.

As noted in other posts, some cruises are cheap and others are increasing in price. Watch the itineraries change.

[sail7seas]

How can they offer the product we all want when charging such ridiculously low prices? With prices like that, how can we have expectation for the things that make our cruises special?

 

I like a bargain as well as the next person but when does it stop being a bargain?

 

 

[cruz chic]

I'd like to see something in Canada like that....but I never do. My next cruise is costing me $2000 for an oceanview room for 14 days and that probably the cheapest cruise I've had in many years. Maybe you guys are getting smokin' deals but it doesn't translate to everyone.

[Randyk47]

My Maasdam cruise hasn't, at least yet, dropped a dime so I'm not seeing that it's all itineraries. Since they kind of have to sail the itinerary not matter what I guess they figure bodies in beds is better than an empty cabin.

[shandryl]

I hear you!! sail7seas!! There is a saying...........you get what you pay for! :eek: Lower prices and deals are okay but.........what often happens is the quality and the service everyone expects goes out the window. :(

 

How can they offer the product we all want when charging such ridiculously low prices? With prices like that, how can we have expectation for the things that make our cruises special?

 

I like a bargain as well as the next person but when does it stop being a bargain?

 

 

[NoWhiners]

I got the email on Panama Canal cruises at $599 but no offers covered our cruise (westerdam out of FLL 16 days to san diego, April 15, 2011). I have called TA twice and price has remained rock solid.

 

Does anyone know if this means the cruise is selling well or maybe its too soon for them to worry about it?

 

Would love to pay less or book a higher category for the same price. We booked a fully obstructed guarantee and would be happy with that, but if we could jump up a category or 2 for the same price, we would do it!!!

 

ML

[wilsonqbc]

I'd like to see something in Canada like that....but I never do. My next cruise is costing me $2000 for an oceanview room for 14 days and that probably the cheapest cruise I've had in many years. Maybe you guys are getting smokin' deals but it doesn't translate to everyone.

 

email I got yesterday is a Mariners sale stating at 450.00 instead of 399.00. deluxe verandah @ 1100.00

[matondo]

Jumping back to the airfare cost thought. I feel like airfares jump around like the stock market sometimes. We were able to book airfare Columbus to San Diego at a lower rate than we paid Columbus to Ft. Lauderdale almost 2 years ago. I was always hesitant to take a cruise that leaves out of the west coast because of the airfare but now I am making sure I factor in cost of cruise plus airfare. As a result we are taking our first Mexican Caribbean cruise in November!! For those of us who have a reduced vacation budget I was thrilled at this find.

[CtheW0rld]

not surprising to me they have having trouble filling the ships. they have alienated 20+ % of their potential customers (smokers). i toss all the fancy brochures without even opening them now.

[scamper]

The fares today for HAL are almost exactly what they were back in the 1970's as has been posted on these boards by some of our 'more experienced' Cruise Critic members such as BillRoddy and others. Bill, I believe it was he, even posted and old flier with a Stateroom from 1970 something for around $700.00 per person.

 

Joanie

 

Ah, yes...but adjusting for inflation, assuming the consumer price index, $700 in 1970 is equivilent to $3,870 in 2009 dollars.

[GmaPajama]

How can they offer the product we all want when charging such ridiculously low prices? With prices like that, how can we have expectation for the things that make our cruises special?

 

I like a bargain as well as the next person but when does it stop being a bargain?

I absolutely agree, Sail. We saw a price last week for a cruise we'd have never picked ... except that we just couldn't resist the unbelievable bargain. It was past final payment date, so the ship must have had a good number of unsold cabins. I can only assume that an occupied cabin is better than an empty one - and at the price, we "occupants" will certainly feel free to increase our onboard spending.

[cruz chic]

email I got yesterday is a Mariners sale stating at 450.00 instead of 399.00. deluxe verandah @ 1100.00

Lucky you. I've never seen anything like that. I wonder when these cruises are leaving. If its 2 days after they send it out it doesn't help most of the population that still works. I imagine those prices are without port charges which makes the cruise a lot more.

[iancal]

Some prices seem to be softening. We are on an 11 day Celebrity than finishes just before Christmas. It works out to $77. per person for a verandah and we had a reasonable selection of cabins from which to choose. We are going away in October...probably to an all inclusive. It will depend on what is the best last minute deal that we can snag. These prices are down, as are hotel prices in certain areas. But you have to shop carefully-know what you want and do your research.