New Itineraries OVERPRICED????

[Esahuma]

OMG - RCL is getting a little 'too rich' for our blood!

 

This year we did the 13 day repo on Brilliance out of Boston E-1 Balcony for a total of $2750 including taxes. That is total of $104.20 per day per person

 

The price for 2016 12 day "Beantown to Beaches" for same E-1 Balcony - same discounts (BOGO) total of $4050 including taxes. That is a total of $168.75 per day per person.

 

The total difference (with all sales and discounts) is 62% HIGHER than this years prices - WOW

 

I understand business - I know RCL needs to make a profit - BUT 62% HIGHER including their discounts?

 

We have 6 more cruises booked between April 2015 and April 16 - might be the end of our cruising days - at least with RCL

 

OR - Since we do have the luxury of being retired - we might just start booking a few weeks before a cruise and get a better price on the cabins!

Edited March 11, 2015 by Esahuma

[Doc Rick]

We've already made the switch.... Did a 7 night on the Norwegian Breakaway a couple of weeks ago and Loved it ! Prices were considerably less than RC and it included their Ultimate Beverage Package for free - and cabin price was not inflated to cover cost of package.

 

One of the best cruises we've ever taken, and we've done over 25 with Royal Caribbean.

 

Currently getting ready to book a High School Reunion Cruise on the Breakaway out of NY at half the price of RC Anthem of the Seas - and it includes beverage package and extra guests in stateroom are free - really free! I understand that the Anthem is new, but the Breakaway was built just 2 years ago and it's a great Mega-Ship.

 

I was really disappointed with the pricing also. I've been waiting to plan this reunion cruise for months now - patiently waiting for RCL to release the new itineraries. I simply won't pay that much for a cruise - too many other options...

[laedw]

My family and I are booking our Thanksgiving cruise on NCL. See you later (at least for a while) RCCL. Your prices are too high for us!

[Esahuma]

We've already made the switch.... Did a 7 night on the Norwegian Breakaway a couple of weeks ago and Loved it ! Prices were considerably less than RC and it included their Ultimate Beverage Package for free - and cabin price was not inflated to cover cost of package.

 

One of the best cruises we've ever taken, and we've done over 25 with Royal Caribbean.

 

Currently getting ready to book a High School Reunion Cruise on the Breakaway out of NY at half the price of RC Anthem of the Seas - and it includes beverage package and extra guests in stateroom are free - really free! I understand that the Anthem is new, but the Breakaway was built just 2 years ago and it's a great Mega-Ship.

 

I was really disappointed with the pricing also. I've been waiting to plan this reunion cruise for months now - patiently waiting for RCL to release the new itineraries. I simply won't pay that much for a cruise - too many other options...

 

I agree with you Rick -- we will probably look into booking with other cruise lines - we just don't want to pay inflated prices to go to the same places we have already been!:)

[cruisinderek]

I must be the minority on here, I just booked the Oasis today using the BOGO 1/2 off sale including BOGO 1/2 off drink package. With the BOGO 1/2 off sale my cruise cost $225 more than NCL Escape would have cost. With the size of the ship and the having the multiple shows, I feel that I got as good of a deal as I would have if I had booked NCL. I look at Oasis as being a port within itself, With that being said, the $225 is just my shore excursion cost. I guess it really comes down to when and what you book and what you are comparing it to.

[shipshape sam]

I must be the minority on here, I just booked the Oasis today using the BOGO 1/2 off sale including BOGO 1/2 off drink package. With the BOGO 1/2 off sale my cruise cost $225 more than NCL Escape would have cost. With the size of the ship and the having the multiple shows, I feel that I got as good of a deal as I would have if I had booked NCL. I look at Oasis as being a port within itself, With that being said, the $225 is just my shore excursion cost. I guess it really comes down to when and what you book and what you are comparing it to.

 

Many times it is the 'luck of the draw/cruise'. We don't like idea of raising prices to then include 'free' stuff. I am 100% sure the cruise line wins overall. May lose/break even with you, but just like casinos, they win and don't have to win much with each customer to win a lot over time.

 

We sailed Coral Princess sister ship on Panama Canal 10 and it was great. It was our first cruise of over 7 days. Sailed Coral in Alaska. Both are neat ships. We liked the opportunity to use self service laundry and thus packed a lot less.

 

Have a great cruise.

Edited March 11, 2015 by shipshape sam

[maxs mom]

OR - Since we do have the luxury of being retired - we might just start booking a few weeks before a cruise and get a better price on the cabins!

__________________

 

This has worked in the past, but not any more! It's very frustrating. We can't plan too far ahead for several reasons. So.....we are cruising far less than we have in the past. Very sad.

[karena1]

as you can see from my signature - we have cruised almost exclusively with Royal!

 

But - just went out on a limb and booked for the first time on NCL Sky for a 3 night cruise. $6 pp more than Royal by with the free bev pkg. No brainer.

[celebrity]

OR - Since we do have the luxury of being retired - we might just start booking a few weeks before a cruise and get a better price on the cabins!

__________________

 

This has worked in the past' date=' but not any more! It's very frustrating. We can't plan too far ahead for several reasons. So.....we are cruising far less than we have in the past. Very sad.[/size']

 

Max'sMom, have you sailed recently? I miss your reviews. :(

[mcatmcat]

The year 2015 for the first year after been loyal to royal that I explored something new

[maxs mom]

Max'sMom, have you sailed recently? I miss your reviews. :(

 

Last cruise was the first week in January! Cruises that we have wanted to go on this winter were either sold out or way too expensive for our retired selves! Cruising again on the Jewel in late April.....Southern Caribbean followed by a two week Panama Canal full transit. I am so ready to get back on the ocean.

[39august]

I expected very high prices for new schedules. I was very surprised to see Jr. Suites on Liberty in Sept. 2016 for as little as just a few dollars over $1000 per person including our D+ discount and all taxes and port charges!

[tigger-ttfn]

I must be the minority on here, I just booked the Oasis today using the BOGO 1/2 off sale including BOGO 1/2 off drink package. With the BOGO 1/2 off sale my cruise cost $225 more than NCL Escape would have cost. With the size of the ship and the having the multiple shows, I feel that I got as good of a deal as I would have if I had booked NCL. I look at Oasis as being a port within itself, With that being said, the $225 is just my shore excursion cost. I guess it really comes down to when and what you book and what you are comparing it to.

It truely is the luck of the draw or when you are sailing. I find Nov, Dec and 1st part of Jan the best. But at present and having a hard time finding something in these months other then what I have booked and I booked it last June. The furthest out I have ever booked. I'm now looking at NCL, HAL and don't say it ...don't say it Carneval. I told myself I would never do Carnavel.

Edited March 11, 2015 by tigger-ttfn

[parrotfeathers]

Wow--sic cruises in a year--not sure I will ever be that retired,

 

I booked Anthem for Oct 2016. Decided it was time to try a big ship. I didn't think the price for a regular GS was that bad. I do wonder what earlier booking prices were.

[American Bear]

I must be the minority on here, I just booked the Oasis today using the BOGO 1/2 off sale including BOGO 1/2 off drink package. With the BOGO 1/2 off sale my cruise cost $225 more than NCL Escape would have cost. With the size of the ship and the having the multiple shows, I feel that I got as good of a deal as I would have if I had booked NCL. I look at Oasis as being a port within itself, With that being said, the $225 is just my shore excursion cost. I guess it really comes down to when and what you book and what you are comparing it to.

 

RCL's drinks, excursions, and specialty dining is in our opinion more expensive then other cruise lines.

That being said, if you think you got your money's worth, have a great trip!:)

[Merion_Mom]

OR - Since we do have the luxury of being retired - we might just start booking a few weeks before a cruise and get a better price on the cabins!

 

 

My new plan, too, Jane. :)

[Ourusualbeach]

My new plan, too, Jane. :)

 

Not retired but still could be joining that club.:)

[Deptacon]

I have a few RCCL cruises, with 3 also currently booked. I am a few hours from New Orleans and may hop on the NCL ship from there last minute this summer to try it out.

 

I feel the same way. The prices have inched up.....but the excursions, Beverage prices, and the excessive upselling onboard....are ticking me off a bit too.

[Lyndonn]

OMG - RCL is getting a little 'too rich' for our blood!

 

This year we did the 13 day repo on Brilliance out of Boston E-1 Balcony for a total of $2750 including taxes. That is total of $104.20 per day per person

 

The price for 2016 12 day "Beantown to Beaches" for same E-1 Balcony - same discounts (BOGO) total of $4050 including taxes. That is a total of $168.75 per day per person.

 

The total difference (with all sales and discounts) is 62% HIGHER than this years prices - WOW

 

I understand business - I know RCL needs to make a profit - BUT 62% HIGHER including their discounts?

 

We have 6 more cruises booked between April 2015 and April 16 - might be the end of our cruising days - at least with RCL

 

OR - Since we do have the luxury of being retired - we might just start booking a few weeks before a cruise and get a better price on the cabins!

It appears by the increased pricing...that the entire fleet is paying for all these ships coming on board.

 

We jumped back to a Princess...lots of good deals with their 50 year celebration.

[maxs mom]

My new plan, too, Jane. :)

 

That was my OLD plan! Worked quite well last year. But not this year. There is no rhyme or reason to our bookings this year. The prices aren't going anywhere but UP!! I just lucked into something for September. I still don't know how that happened!

[Funbobby68]

Yep sadly might be looking and another cruise line , go figure right after I reached platinum, between the general price increases and now the bar drinks going up , just hate the thought of spending money on something I might find sub par , the hawaii cruise we booked last June has gone up over 1000 buck , and Alaska prices have gone up way to much for a quick get away

[Illyria]

I haven't quite gotten to the point where I can look at a price of a cruise and know if it's a "great" deal or just a "so-so" deal :D I've been on a few cruises but not that many, and we're not particularly loyal to any one cruise line (yet). Cheapest itineraries are in the Caribbean, which we're not interested in doing. I just booked a NE/Canada 8-night itinerary on RCCL Grandeur, which was part of the BOGO sale and ended up being about $100/pp/day. Seems like a really good deal (even taking into consideration that it's an old ship). But we may consider NCL in the future, their prices are definitely much more competitive than I remember.

[shutterbug63]

We are on Princess this year for a variety of reasons..one of which was price. We are booked on the Freedom next year but ONLY because we got in on the BOGOHO when it first appeared and we got a great deal.

 

I have considered moving from the Freedom to a different itinerary on Royal because we've done Western Caribbean before, but there is NOTHING else that's remotely within my price range. Royal has basically priced themselves out of existence for me. I can do better elsewhere, at least at this point in time.

[Merion_Mom]

That was my OLD plan! Worked quite well last year. But not this year. There is no rhyme or reason to our bookings this year. The prices aren't going anywhere but UP!! I just lucked into something for September. I still don't know how that happened!

 

Jane, over the past couple of weeks, lots of friends have said to me, "Oh, we are on Cruise X. Book it!" And they are all WAY too expensive. And then I looked at some of them again today......and they are even MORE expensive!

 

Either Esahuma is right, and Richard Fain needs his head examined, or the public is going to pay these prices and you and I are staying at home!

 

:eek:

[parrotfeathers]

Will you look at the price of a regular GS on Anthem for Oct. 2016 and tell me if it is outrageous? It wasn't much more than the same cruise for Grandeur. I don't know Anthem's "old" prices so having nothing to compare it to.

 

 

 

My new plan, too, Jane. :)