pacheco18 Posted May 12, 2011 #26 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Meow -- I agree with your analysis but not your conclusion about strategy. I will continue to book early. Only once has the price of my cruise decreased after booking (it was an O cruise) and my TA was able to get me the credit even though the reduced rate was for "new bookings" only. Our recent Asia cruise on Nautica went up in price significantly after booking. My August Celebrity cruise has gone up 1500 pp! I like to choose my cabin and since I have tons of FF miles and hotel points I need to book free Business Class air and free hotels well in advance. I am anxiously awaiting the release of 2013 itineraries for O, Celebrity, Azamara and river cruises -- I have at least 2 more trips to plan -- not sure if they will all involve cruises -- depends on itineraries. I will likely book the day the itineraries are released. I do not see much risk in that approach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacheco18 Posted May 12, 2011 #27 Share Posted May 12, 2011 We just finished a B-2-B aboard Marina...the TA followed by Pearls of the Riviera. Clearly no repeat ports on that B to B!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xplrcrzn Posted May 12, 2011 #28 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Actually, I would have expected Celebrity to build a ship like Marina to replace it's aging Century-class ships. They would have been a good compliment to the Solstice-class ships. If they don't work out for O, then maybe..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meow! Posted May 12, 2011 Author #29 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Actually, I would have expected Celebrity to build a ship like Marina to replace it's aging Century-class ships. They would have been a good compliment to the Solstice-class ships. If they don't work out for O, then maybe.....We agree, and at Celebrity's price point, that would be a great deal. We had been on the Mercury and the Century, we like their older smaller ships, sub-2000 passengers. P.S. Perhaps down the road, if the Fincantieri shipyard has no more orders and employees on long long lay-offs, they might build Oceania's cancelled third option ship and sell it to Celebrity at a discount (and there need not be further design costs). Then we may just be able to gather enough money through the years to give it a try! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendy The Wanderer Posted May 12, 2011 #30 Share Posted May 12, 2011 With the introduction of the large Riviera, over capacity is likely to increase. Through our decade posting on this board, we have time and again cautioned ALL cruise lines against over expansionism. Among other factors, over expansionism was a key factor in driving the former Renaissance under. Oceania's management had been very bold in planning the addition of three new large ships just several years ago, tripling its capacity (only Seabourn dared do the same). ... Oceania appeared to have so much confidence in their own judgment as to ignore historic experience and followed the usual businessmen's innate inclination in expansionism. ... On the side of ordinary individual consumers, we would guess that it would be wise to postpone bookings, wait for good deals to come down the road, especially after Riviera starts sailing. This is a good analysis. There seems to be some hubris on the part of management. I'm really surprised that they didn't allocate the second build to Regent, which is crying out for a new ship. Since I'm not in a position to book right now, it's moot, but I think I agree with pacheco18 that booking early is still a good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dino2067 Posted May 12, 2011 #31 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Clearly no repeat ports on that B to B!! :)...nope there weren't! But I know from where you speak regarding no repeat ports. We like the longer itins and it wasn't easy to find a B-2-B Oceania itin in 2012 that we liked and minimized the repeat ports. Kathleen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacheco18 Posted May 12, 2011 #32 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Actually, I would have expected Celebrity to build a ship like Marina to replace it's aging Century-class ships. They would have been a good compliment to the Solstice-class ships. If they don't work out for O, then maybe..... LOL -- many C cruisers love those Century class ships; others not. When C announced the Solstice was going to be in Australia in 2013, some cancelled their 2012 OZ cruise on Century just to be on an S class ship the following year. I think the Solstice class ships are wonderful. The M class ships have almost all been Solsticized. Not the same, but an acknowledgement of the popularity of those ships. I am sure Marina is much different -- I love it all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 12, 2011 #33 Share Posted May 12, 2011 I recently booked a cruise on Marina for 2012. If O reduces the prices (similar to what Meow posted) do we get notified & credited the discount? I would say yes It may depend on if the new pricing is before or after final payment whether you will get the discounted fare. Just like most lines it may be for NEW BOOKINGS ONLY ask your TA if it should happen lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacheco18 Posted May 12, 2011 #34 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Reality calls for Regent too -- just got this For a limited time, you can now enjoy 2-for-1 Fares plus NEW bonus savings of up to $10,000 per suite on all of the following voyages. This is in addition to our all-inclusive amenities of FREE Roundtrip Air, FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions and a FREE Luxury Hotel Package. With these unprecedented savings, availability won't last. To avoid disappointment, book your suite today on one of these exciting and exclusive voyages to the world's most longed for destinations, all with every luxury you can imagine. Indulge...it's all included. ISTANBUL TO ATHENS — New Itinerary EMPIRES OF ANTIQUITY August 12, 2011 12 Nights | Seven Seas Mariner FARES FROM $5,999 PER PERSON Request a Quote | Book Online Special Offers Fares include NEW bonus savings of $10,000 per suite Business Class upgrades for $999 each way Specially reduced single supplement of 50% for select suite categories Kids sail for $1,499, including FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions ATHENS TO ROME — New Itinerary CIVILIZATION'S FOOTPRINT October 10, 2011 14 Nights | Seven Seas Mariner FARES FROM $7,499 PER PERSON Request a Quote | Book Online Special Offers Fares include NEW bonus savings of $7,000 per suite Business Class upgrades for $999 each way Specially reduced single supplement of 50% for select suite categories Additional Seven Seas Society savings of up to $1,500 per suite ROUNDTRIP FT. LAUDERDALE PINK SAND AND PALMS October 28, 2011 11 Nights | Seven Seas Navigator FARES FROM $3,999 PER PERSON Request a Quote | Book Online Special Offers Fares include NEW bonus savings of $4,000 per suite Additional Seven Seas Society savings of up to $750 per suite BARCELONA TO DUBAI SANDS OF ANTIQUITY November 28, 2011 21 Nights | Seven Seas Voyager FARES FROM $8,599 PER PERSON Request a Quote | Book Online Special Offers Fares include NEW bonus savings of savings of $10,000 per suite Business Class upgrades for $999 each way Specially reduced single supplement of 50% for select suite categories Additional Seven Seas Society savings of up to $2,500 per suite ROUNDTRIP FT. LAUDERDALE IDYLLIC ISLES December 4, 2011 12 Nights | Seven Seas Mariner FARES FROM $4,299 PER PERSON Request a Quote | Book Online Special Offers Fares include NEW bonus savings of $6,000 per suite Specially reduced single supplement of 50% for select suite categories Additional Seven Seas Society savings of up to $900 per suite BARCELONA TO ISTANBUL MEDITERRANEAN PALETTE April 2, 2012 10 Nights | Seven Seas Mariner FARES FROM $5,599 PER PERSON Request a Quote | Book Online Special Offers Fares include NEW bonus savings of $4,000 per suite Business Class upgrades for $999 each way ISTANBUL TO ROME ART & ANTIQUITY April 12, 2012 7 Nights | Seven Seas Mariner FARES FROM $4,499 PER PERSON Request a Quote | Book Online Special Offers Fares include an additional bonus savings $3,600 per suite Business Class upgrades for $999 each way Additional Seven Seas Society savings of up to $1,100 per suite MONTE CARLO TO BARCELONA RIVIERA HIDEAWAYS April 23, 2012 7 Nights | Seven Seas Mariner FARES FROM $4,499 PER PERSON Request a Quote | Book Online Special Offers Fares include NEW bonus savings of $5,000 per suite Business Class upgrades for $999 each way Additional Seven Seas Society savings of up to $2,400 per suite BARCELONA TO ISTANBUL TUSCANY & THE RIVIERA April 30, 2012 10 Nights | Seven Seas Mariner FARES FROM $5,999 PER PERSON Request a Quote | Book Online Special Offers Fares include NEW bonus savings of $3,600 per suite Business Class upgrades for $999 each way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meow! Posted May 12, 2011 Author #35 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Reality calls for Regent too -- just got this For a limited time, you can now enjoy 2-for-1 Fares plus NEW bonus savings of up to $10,000 per suite on all of the following voyages. This is in addition to our all-inclusive amenities of FREE Roundtrip Air, FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions and a FREE Luxury Hotel Package. Thank you kindly pacheco18, for such interesting information. We don't know, can someone tell us WHETHER the dykes are beginning to crumble on the high fare highly included hitherto seemingly successful marketing scheme of this FDR-Apollo conglomerate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacheco18 Posted May 12, 2011 #36 Share Posted May 12, 2011 With respect to Regent, I was told that once they announced the new 2 tier regime "concierge class" giving priority for free excursions and specialty restaurant reservations to more expensive cabins they had a 15% cancellation rate (I was among those who cancelled). I have a pretty good source. Huge mistake. Very long thread on Regent board about this -- lots of angry Regent veterans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glutenhab Posted May 12, 2011 #37 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Oceania has increased prices to the point where their inside cabin has pretty much matched the price of a full suite on Seabourn (approx $300.00/day cruise only on average for most itineraries). An inside 140 sq ft cabin on a 5.5 Star for the same price as a 277 sq ft outside (full picture window) suite just doesn't make any sense. Add to this the fact that Seabourn includes all beverages (including alcoholic), gratuities, marble bathroom with tub & shower, specialty restaurants, 6 Star service, fully stocked bar, almost one to one passenger to staff ratio etc. etc. & the choice becomes obvious. Now they are paying the price! You reap what you sow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azam71209 Posted May 12, 2011 #38 Share Posted May 12, 2011 We have reserved the cruise from Dover to Iceland-Greenland in July, 2011. Hopefully, if there are discounts, those of us who sign up early will still get them. Azamara gave us price reductions and upgrade offers, even after we had made full payment. We had a very alert TA who kept checking for us. Apparently, you can get the reduction but you have to ask for it. It appears that the Istanbul-Athens trips are being deeply discounted. It's also on our "bucket list" so if we find that latecomers are getting discounts and we aren't getting them, it could make more sense to just go on a different cruise. I'm also watching the number of O cruises that have had ports eliminated or shore time reduced. That is also going to influence whether we make a final payment. In my opinion, O is putting way too much emphasis on providing the "best" food at sea and is ignoring other preferences-itinerary, enrichment lectures, interesting shore excursions, etc. A hotel stay in a world class city will get me all the fine dining I could ever want. I'm looking for more from a cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacheco18 Posted May 12, 2011 #39 Share Posted May 12, 2011 In my opinion, O is putting way too much emphasis on providing the "best" food at sea and is ignoring other preferences-itinerary, enrichment lectures, interesting shore excursions, etc. A hotel stay in a world class city will get me all the fine dining I could ever want. I'm looking for more from a cruise. I agree. But from the posts on this board for many it's all about the food. I cruise with another couple and none of us thinks the food on O is "the best at sea." It's good cruise food but not so much better than other cruise food that it would cause me to book O to the exclusion of other lines. In fact, the best food I have had at sea was on the PG and in the specialty restaurants on Celebrity. Frankly, I have not had a decent steak properly cooked in Polo and Toscana is just "OK" IMO (I attended cooking school in Italy so I think I'm a pretty good judge of Italian food). Hoping Jacques and Red Ginger are more stellar. Of course, food is very subjective but O should understand that for many of us food is secondary. We do not cruise for the food. We cruise for the itinerary. Like you, we would prefer more emphasis on some of the other aspects of cruising that you raise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meow! Posted May 12, 2011 Author #40 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Oceania has increased prices to the point where their inside cabin has pretty much matched the price of a full suite on Seabourn (approx $300.00/day cruise only on average for most itineraries).An inside 140 sq ft cabin on a 5.5 Star for the same price as a 277 sq ft outside (full picture window) suite just doesn't make any sense. Add to this the fact that Seabourn includes all beverages (including alcoholic), gratuities, marble bathroom with tub & shower, specialty restaurants, 6 Star service, fully stocked bar, almost one to one passenger to staff ratio etc. etc. & the choice becomes obvious. Now they are paying the price! You reap what you sow. We just got the following on Seabourn's sale list: -------------- 7-nts. Venice roundtrip July 22, 2011 aboard Seabourn Spirit Starting at $2,199pp. *Receive a $150pp. SBC or an Exclusive Virtuoso Voyager Club Shore Excursion Itinerary: Venice, Italy; Ravenna (San Marino), Italy; Korcula, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Sibenik, Croatia; Opatija, Croatia; Venice, Italy 7-nts. Rome to Monte Carlo June 17, 2011 aboard Seabourn Legend Starting at $2,399pp. Itinerary: Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; Bonifacio, Corsica, France; Le Lavandou, France; Marseille (Provence), France; Sanary sur-Mer, France; Saint Raphael, France; Cannes, France; Monte Carlo, Monaco 7-nts. Monte Carlo to Nice June 24, 2011 aboard Seabourn Legend Starting at $2,799pp. Itinerary: Monte Carlo, Monaco; Antibes, France; Porquerolles, France; Barcelona, Spain; Palamos, Spain; Port-Vendres, France; St Tropez, France; Nice, France ----------------------- The above voyages have per diem of $300 to $400, and they are in Europe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacheco18 Posted May 12, 2011 #41 Share Posted May 12, 2011 All this competition is good for all of us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lahore Posted May 13, 2011 #42 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Well I, for one, am very pleased. I had the HKG to Athens 35 days booked. I got this recent discount by asking for it, and now I used the extra $2k to book a b2b getting us to Barcelona which I would have otherwise done overland. That's 45 days now, and the extension works out at $73 per day if you add the cost of the new cruise to what we were previously prepared to pay. Happy happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wryonrye Posted May 13, 2011 #43 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Re: reality calls I found super prices on several web sites for the 9/9/11 Regatta cruise but couldn't get them. Was there some code that you need to get these deals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacheco18 Posted May 13, 2011 #44 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Call a trusted TA who does high volume O business. The deal will likely get even better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 13, 2011 #45 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Re: reality calls I found super prices on several web sites for the 9/9/11 Regatta cruise but couldn't get them. Was there some code that you need to get these deals? Just go to Oceania website & book it from there Not sure why you cannot get a cabin it looks wide open Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lahore Posted May 13, 2011 #46 Share Posted May 13, 2011 LHT28: just curiosity please: how do you (presuming you are a private indidvidual and not a TA) know that an O cruise is 'wide open'? Useful information... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 13, 2011 #47 Share Posted May 13, 2011 LHT28: just curiosity please: how do you (presuming you are a private indidvidual and not a TA) know that an O cruise is 'wide open'? Useful information... Just look on the website not many CAT are sold out or waitlisted http://www.oceaniacruises.com/findcruise/caribbean/reg110909/fares.aspx so that tells me that there are plenty of cabins still available If you want to check further just go through the motions of doing a booking it will show available cabins in each CAT (up to 7) Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lahore Posted May 13, 2011 #48 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Oh thanks, that's sort of obvious. I guess I overthought it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meow! Posted May 13, 2011 Author #49 Share Posted May 13, 2011 This morning, Silversea has announced a bunch of Asian voyages, increasing their usual discount from 60% to 65%. So it is not just Oceania, different cruise lines are following each other in this discount endeavour. Good for the consumer. For those who have the cash, this is brave new world in the context of a double dip recession. Not only the U.S., also look at Greece, Spain, Ireland ... ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xplrcrzn Posted May 13, 2011 #50 Share Posted May 13, 2011 This is good for the consumer but the race to the bottom is very bad for the cruise lines. I hope they all make it through for the long haul. Not sure which one is carrying the biggest debt burden but that would be the one I'd be concerned about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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