Will promos end? Will prices come down?

[luvtheships]

I am wondering the same thing.

DW does not drink, I may have 2 beers in a week, we do not drink sodas, we are each Platinum, so get free Specialty restaurant meals, so the promotions are of no interest to us. Agree with you, we have found the MDR's dinners very good.

The suite perks of Cagney's are getting old, same ole menu for breakfast & lunch for years. On our last cruise, we skipped Cagney's half of the time.

But we have really noticed the prices increase in the last 6 months, there are cruises we are interested in booking, but we are not interested in them at the current prices. So will not book now.

I would assume when these promotions end, the prices will drop to compensate for the cost of the promotions.

But if not, we will change how we vacation in the future.

We like cruising with NCL, but will spend our vacation dollars in other ways.

We also can not go to the Caribbean every year, that is getting old.

May be selling a couple of FCC's in the future, bought 2 more last December.

 

Thanks for posting a good question.

 

Totally agree

 

Especially with the fact that I too will not book at these high prices. The promos have only increased my total cruise cost and we wouldn't use most of promos anyway nor qualify as we only book insides these days ( this decision comes after years of cruising btw)

 

I am waiting until prices go down to book and at this point I am ready to book something for mid late June

 

I would normally book a cruise but have shelved that idea and will book a land vacay instead

 

Ncl are you listening? Your prices have increased too much..... Of course newbies don't realize that and think these promos are great

 

Sadly my opinion lately is that Ncl is ignoring their long time cruisers in favor of the currently uninformed inexperienced cruiser who will think these deals are great and not realize how the prices have been jacked up

 

Of course I will admit that the prices on the imho less desirable older ships ships with IMHO less desirable itins are not so bad....... But I am not interested in them or in adding airfare when I can sail the BA.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[biker@sea]

"Value added" promos are here to stay I think. Celebrity has been very successful with their 123Go and Pick your Perk promos. NCL seems to be following their lead. All the cruise lines are trying to scare off bargain shoppers. They want passengers who will spend more up front to have more value add, so that those same passengers then end up spending (hopefully) on board what they they would have spent for the value added item(s) ..... The hopeful mental thought train of the passenger should go something like this: "Oh we got free drinks, now we can afford to spend that money on the Casino, Spa, Shops, Dining or Shore Tours since we are saving so much".

 

The goal is higher upfront revenue coupled with flat to higher overall revenues. The days of the $299 7night cruise and spending nothing extra onboard are going the way of the Dodo bird. That kind of passenger is a loss-leader and ALL the cruise lines want to shed them.

.

NCL can't not discount .

I Am a $299 sailor .

I help fill ship's .

My NCL guy knows I will sail 7 day for $299 , they were blowin up my phone last year with over a half dozen of these deals .

 

Every place discounts .

We scored even The Boston Harbor hotel (twice) and the Cheeca Lodge ( in the Florida keys) through Cruise Critics sister company " Jetsetter " for short money .:)

 

 

I guess it's not bad for a balcony but nothing beats my $2150 for 3 in an inside guarantee on the BA 12 day NYC in January 2015!! It was an incredible cruise and the cabin was perfect

 

We don't care for balconies anyway

 

Not to brag but , I got a call from NCL for a midship balcony 7 day cruise to Canada for $199 p.p. . My best deal to date .:)

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[david_sobe]

Wow, another day and yet another promo shows up in my inbox. For 4 days only they have 50% off deposits in addition to the "free" UBP, UDP, free gratuities, etc

 

I read the terms and conditions but could not find anything that said the Haven suites were disqualified. Do the Haven suites also get 50% off deposits (making the deposit $750).

 

NCL definitely makes money on the UDP. And they make money on the UBP too. I don't want either package. But if I book and got them, NCL would be making out on the deal because I would only be drinking a few drinks a day. I don't want to be hung over every day and drunk all the time even if it is a vacation. Quality time on the ship is important and when I am hung over, its not quality time IMHO. At home, its ok because I don't feel guilty just laying in bed :eek:

Edited March 28, 2015 by david_sobe

[Got Tequila?]

Wow, another day and yet another promo shows up in my inbox. For 4 days only they have 50% off deposits in addition to the "free" UBP, UDP, free gratuities, etc

 

I read the terms and conditions but could not find anything that said the Haven suites were disqualified. Do the Haven suites also get 50% off deposits (making the deposit $750).

 

NCL definitely makes money on the UDP. And they make money on the UBP too. I don't want either package. But if I book and got them, NCL would be making out on the deal because I would only be drinking a few drinks a day. I don't want to be hung over every day and drunk all the time even if it is a vacation. Quality time on the ship is important and when I am hung over, its not quality time IMHO. At home, its ok because I don't feel guilty just laying in bed :eek:

 

I saw this somewhere, so I don't think the Haven suites get the 50% off deposit...

 

Offer: 50% off the standard deposit fleetwide. Reduced deposit does not apply to Haven and S1 categories

Booking Window: 3/28-3/31/15

[david_sobe]

I saw this somewhere, so I don't think the Haven suites get the 50% off deposit...

 

Offer: 50% off the standard deposit fleetwide. Reduced deposit does not apply to Haven and S1 categories

Booking Window: 3/28-3/31/15

Yeah that is what I remember too but I swear at some time I booked a suite with a half off deposit. The terms on the email I got from my PCC was not clear at all. It had all the rules for the packages but never had any ***** for the deposit.

 

Now if they throw in unlimited slot pulls its a deal :eek:

[Cynthia1271]

Our family has only ever sailed using the kids sail free promo. Our first cabin was an inside for just over $1000. We had two drinks the entire cruise and had so much fun, except the air quality for two asthmatic family members was tough on the inside so we decided that when we sail again, we need a balcony for air. We we bumped up to a balcony for just about $2000, and bought three bottles of wine and a drink a day. We had to pay that and the gratuities, and a $20 tube of sunscreen (lesson learned) at the end of the cruise, which was a large bill and a bit of a downer at the end of the cruise. We loved the balcony so much more than we thought we would!! We sat on it for hours.

 

With this new promo I love the idea of not worrying about the bill at the end, so I took the leap and booked a penthouse for $6000. Ncl loves people like us, we won't drink any more than we did, but the thought of having a little extra luxury-the espresso machine-and a very small tab at the end of the trip drew me into a more expensive room. We would have bought the UDP in any case.

 

Next trip (I will use my $200 OBC to buy a future cruise credit) will be a balcony with kids across the hall, they will be old enough to have their own space, but not yet. This is likely my last kids sail free promo... Unless we go into a two bedroom suite[emoji6]!

[Buford T Justiice]

I agree with David (OP) and DaPainter, the current promos and inflated cabin costs don't work for us currently. We are Non drinkers, happy with the MDR menu, with a couple of free (platinium) LeBistro meals.

 

we're looking at Bermuda for this summer and the Caribb. in February 2016. The Caribb cruise price is almost $2000 more than 2015 for the same cabin.

 

For Bermuda, We are going to wait out NCL and if prices drop after final payment, we will book. If prices don't drop into good deal territory, we may still book and try our first inside cabin

[jmele999]

Several people have pointed out that prices are really high due to the promo. Can someone post an example with a comparison. What are looking to pay? NCL is having this promos so that they fill the ship without offering discounted prices. I am sure that they have done math and have figured out that those who get discounted fares also spend less onboard. Please correct me if I am wrong.

[david_sobe]

Its hard to tell by how much the fares are increased because of the promos. But I would love to book at today's prices and then subtract the offers at the price that NCL sells them for.

For example if I booked a suite for $5800

Subtract $1400 ($700 each for UBP)

Subtract $280 for UDP

 

I know its a pipe dream and not going to happen but its a fantastic deal for someone that can drink 2 bottles of wine per day or a pint of rum or vodka per day :eek:

[Granny DI]

Here are some numbers to determine if this promo is a deal:

 

May 2014, category h6, cruise fare $2600 pp, $300 OBC

 

May 2015, category h6, cruise fare $2858.30 pp, $500 OBC which includes stockholder $100 OBC

 

May 2016, category h6, cruise fare $3095.80 pp, $400 OBC including stockholder OBC, gratuities, UDP and UBP. I jumped all over this deal!

[Buford T Justiice]

February 2015 BA Balcony (3 Pass.) on the Gem paid $3305 (nine day pd. $2975, adj. for 10 day for comparison)

 

Current pricing February 2016 BA Balcony on the Gem $4,150

 

increase 25%

Edited March 28, 2015 by Buford T Justiice

[jmele999]

February 2015 BA Balcony (3 Pass.) on the Gem paid $3305 (nine day pd. $2975, adj. for 10 day for comparison)

 

Current pricing February 2016 BA Balcony on the Gem $4,150

 

increase 25%

 

Thanks for the comparison. Two things to keep in mind. 1) How far in advance did you book the 2015 cruise? 2) keep in mind that everything is going up. I agree that 25% is a big increase.

[grandsix]

The new people at NCL HQ are going to price themselves out of the market and when loyal customers find that other cruise lines are either the same or better it may be too late.

 

Besides, adding more guests per cabin will put additional work load on cabin stewards who have problems as is.

 

More drunks from unlimited booze strains security and longer wait time from the bar staff for your drink. Loads of people not getting their specialty restaurant time due to limited seating. More complaints for guest services and concierge.

NCL be careful what you wish for as short term profit is not worth the long term damage of losing customers due to service problems. Operating a 600 passenger ship is different than a 4000 cruise ship.

[pattymo]

NCL never really came onto my cruise radar when considering a cruise. There were so many negative opinions out there about them when idid the bulk of my cruising ....However when looking at an European cruise out of Venice I zoned I on RCCl...the splendor. But they were priced high and only insides and suites left 9 month out ..happened to notice the Jàde with a similar itinerary etc with much more cabin availability and lower prices ( RCCl inside and NCL balcony the same price ). Since the UBP promotions my cabin has come down in price twice !! I was able to get the lower price and the free UBP and $200inOBC ....Now after final payment with the promotions still in place the prices are even lower.!!!! Still happy. PS The splendor is even more with their wow sale

[moesyk4]

I think their prices have very much been in line with other lines and even if the current promo ends I dont forsee them dropping prices soon as this has seemed very successful at filling ships. All about supply and demand! Rccl had a wow sale last may that was truly an amazing sale for about twelve hours. Bogo half off with no initial increase in rates, woohoo! But bookings shot through the roof within 24 hours, the sale is still going on almost a year later with very high prices. We were booked on the Independence in a family ocean view and the oasis in a balcony and switched to a spa mini suite with ubp on the getaway and a sj suite with all perks on the dawn. For both cruises not even factoring in the perks, the price was better and the prices we had were from that awesome sale, so they have been significantly higher since. Obviously haven't sailed yet, so time will tell if we like the switch. Anyway, I was honestly surprised it took as long as it did for prices to go up during this current sale!

[luvtheships]

[quote name='Buford T Justiice']February 2015 BA Balcony (3 Pass.) on the Gem paid $3305 (nine day pd. $2975, adj. for 10 day for comparison)

Current pricing February 2016 BA Balcony on the Gem $4,150

increase 25%[/QUOTE]

Stop with the everything is going up nonsense

Gas is way down

Housing prices down

Clothing prices are the same as 20 years ago

Utilities and cable and cell phones go up because they gouge people and they know we must pay up

College tuition rises because the schools know the higher the tuition the more financial aid kids get plus they know mommy and daddy might have deep pockets as well

Bottom line ...stop acting like " sheeple" and just buying into the everything is going up mentality

Pay whatever price you feel comfortable with when cruising but ftlog don't tell the cruiselines you expect their prices to rise.... Tell them you will book another cruise again only if their prices get better!!!

We are the consumer and we control the purse strings!!!




Sent from my iPhone using Forums