Sticker shock

[RADICALBURN]

It doesn't matter the cost. We just have so many nickels and it may take longer to save for a cruise. But we will go eventually, it will be just a couple more years of saving......RADICAL

[Deptacon]

Does anyone else think that Royals prices are high especially for the Harmony? I did some comparison between Royal and Carnival (don't hate). Balcony for 4 people during the week of March 10, 2018,for a minimum of 7 days.

Carnival Vista(newest ship 2016) 8 day $3900

Allure of the seas 7 day $4600

Harmony of the seas (newest ship 2016) $6000

I would really like to to do Royal over Carnival but not for that difference in price. I cant believe Royal is that much better and I am not that picky.

Anyone else have the same opinion. Help me see the light of Royal.:D

 

I concur. You will notice my future cruises.....don't have royal in them. the NCL deals right now are too good to pass up. Cruise is cheaper up front, and on top of that, free drink packages and speciality dinning. Everytime i looked, I look at royal...but when i compare the prices, I end up pulling the trigger elsewhere.

 

you really want to see a price difference? look at the MSC Divina now sailing in the Caribbean......

[jticarruthers]

I concur. You will notice my future cruises.....don't have royal in them. the NCL deals right now are too good to pass up. Cruise is cheaper up front, and on top of that, free drink packages and speciality dinning. Everytime i looked, I look at royal...but when i compare the prices, I end up pulling the trigger elsewhere.

 

you really want to see a price difference? look at the MSC Divina now sailing in the Caribbean......

 

In the same boat, I finally made Diamond and really want to book cruises on RCI but everytime I look I end up booking something else because I cant make it make sense to book RCI :(

[papaflamingo]

So... in this most bizarre of Political Seasons where everyone fears a "Socialist," we are talking about straight Capitalism here. A company charges top dollar. What is "top dollar?" Well it's what the consumer will pay. If you go one cent higher, people quit paying. So RCCL, like any smart business, prices it's premium product, Harmony in this case, at "top dollar." If a consumer doesn't want to pay it, go on Allure or Oasis, or some smaller ship. But as long as the consumer will pay it, they'll charge it. If you list your house at $400,000 and it doesn't sell, you lower it until you hit a price it'll sell at. But if you start at $250,000 and it sells overnight, you under priced and lost profit. RCCL, I assume, has a whole team who determines a maximum price. New ship, lot's of bells and whistles, pride of the fleet, Spring Break. Seems pretty reasonable.

As for "sticker shock," nah.... I had dinner in Grand Central Station in Manhattan at an Italian Restaurant. Two drinks and a pasta dish... $75 is that "sticker shock?" No, it's New York City.

[marci22]

RCCL, I assume, has a whole team who determines a maximum price. New ship, lot's of bells and whistles, pride of the fleet, Spring Break. Seems pretty reasonable.

 

And we all wish them the very best of luck.

[grand isle joe]

........"There's a sucker born every minute".......P.T.Barnum........;)

[davy jones]

Prices seem to be increasing across the board on the cruises that I look at on Royal and their competition. Bookings must be strong and they are raising prices to see what the market will bear.

[FSUNole]

Are you comparing to similar type rooms on Royal and does both prices include port charges and/or tips? This can make a big difference.

 

I've done the same comparison and it always came out in Carnival's favor regarding price. I made things as equal as possible regarding the variables you mention.

[LMaxwell]

4 nights on Enchantment; 3 people, interior is like $100 less than 7 nights on MSC Divina 3 people interior. To say I had sticker shock is a mild understatement.

[Tapi]

4 nights on Enchantment; 3 people, interior is like $100 less than 7 nights on MSC Divina 3 people interior. To say I had sticker shock is a mild understatement.

 

 

When we sailed on Enchantment during the summer of 2014, that 4 night Bahamas cruise was priced as high as our 7 night cruise to Alaska on Holland America the year before! [emoji33]

 

We went on that cruise simply because we had enough points on my Royal Caribbean credit card to pay for 3 out of 4 passengers and received a C&A discount for the 4th guest. But otherwise I would've never been able to justify paying the original price for that cruise. It would've been absurd!

[LMaxwell]

When we sailed on Enchantment during the summer of 2014, that 4 night Bahamas cruise was priced as high as our 7 night cruise to Alaska on Holland America the year before! [emoji33]

 

We went on that cruise simply because we had enough points on my Royal Caribbean credit card to pay for 3 out of 4 passengers and received a C&A discount for the 4th guest. But otherwise I would've never been able to justify paying the original price for that cruise. It would've been absurd!

 

Just to add another data point; to compare Enchantment out of Miami with Carnival Victory from Miami, same sailing date, both 4 nighters with Key West, after Amex Offers Rebate, Carnival was $680, RCI almost $1200.

 

Hey, if they fill the ships at their current prices, that's fine, but those prices are just too high for me to justify. Even as a Diamond member with free evening drinks, the experience/food/and accommodations aren't really significantly different.

[Sunkissed Mommy]

I'm seeing price increases across the board from all cruise lines. NCL isn't such a great "deal" for the people who aren't interested in a drink package.

 

Carnival has always been the lowest price. Have I enjoyed my 3 cruises on Carnival? Sure. Loved my 3 NCL cruises too. Have I enjoyed my 14 cruises on Royal more? Yes. That's why I keep going back.

 

It makes sense for our family especially in the last 3 years when I've had an infant/toddler. No other cruise line (except Disney) has offered a nursery for the under 3 crowd. I am willing to pay a premium for an hour or two of adult time with my husband. It boils down to what meets your "wants" the best.

 

There are multiple cruise lines and people are free to choose which one suits their family best. Now that Carnival has pulled the Breeze from South Florida I am less inclined to even consider them. Not a fan of the older ships, but I loved the Breeze. Not willing to fly to another state when I can drive an hour from home and go to the same ports.

[ryano]

Now that Carnival has pulled the Breeze from South Florida I am less inclined to even consider them. Not a fan of the older ships, but I loved the Breeze. Not willing to fly to another state when I can drive an hour from home and go to the same ports.

 

How far are you from Port Canaveral? I think Carnival Magic is virtually identical to Breeze now since her recent drydock. Im really excited about my upcoming Carnival Magic cruise!

Edited March 9, 2016 by ryano

[Sunkissed Mommy]

How far are you from Port Canaveral? I think Carnival Magic is virtually identical to Breeze now since her recent drydock. Im really excited about my upcoming Carnival Magic cruise!

 

I'm about 2-2.5 hours from PCL. Im only 30 minutes from Port Everglades and an hour from Miami. Its hard to convince my DH to drive the 2.5 hours unless it's a steal.

[George C]

I most likely will book another rccl cruise next month when sailing on Liberty, I just priced GS for Liberty and Allure for 7 day cruise April 2017, Liberty is 1,000 per person cheaper, so guess which one I will book??