Get a grip on prices!!

[MVPinBoynton]

Would you compare Celebrity and HAL in terms of their smoking policy please? I am very allergic to smoke so it is an important issue for us (and a reason we have continued with Celebrity).

 

Thanks.

 

There are many threads about HAL’s smoking policy on that board. It used to be bad; but now, the only difference I believe is that they allow smoking in the casino. On the 3 HAL we have been on, there weren’t many smokers, so the casino didn’t bother me when I walked through it.

[cpl100]

There are many threads about HAL’s smoking policy on that board. It used to be bad; but now, the only difference I believe is that they allow smoking in the casino. On the 3 HAL we have been on, there weren’t many smokers, so the casino didn’t bother me when I walked through it.

 

Thank you for your fast response. I have been reading tonight and it does appear that e-cig and vaping is allowed inside the cabins. This would be a definite 'no go' for me as I am allergic to any cigarette smoke and that would still apply if the person in the cabin prior to me was doing those activities. Is it true? Thanks again.

[MVPinBoynton]

Thank you for your fast response. I have been reading tonight and it does appear that e-cig and vaping is allowed inside the cabins. This would be a definite 'no go' for me as I am allergic to any cigarette smoke and that would still apply if the person in the cabin prior to me was doing those activities. Is it true? Thanks again.

 

I don’t know about vaping. You should search on the HAL board.

[villauk]

The prices for 2019 are outrageous. They are actually higher for AQ than Oceania on a couple Caribbean sailings! almost $8k for a 9 night...ya good luck.

 

Next year is the first year in a long time we have nothing booked with Celebrity, which is a shame as we just made Elite plus. I won't give up on X, but until the prices come down we will be sailing on other lines :(

 

Same here. I couldn’t believe the pricing for the Med. It’s actually cheaper for us to go on a 13 night cruise on Princess than 7 nights on X, both at the same time of the year in a balcony and with a beverage package. Additionally, I could sail on Oceania for 7 nights which priced up slightly less than X :o!

[4774Papa]

Celebrity's price bundling with drink packages is part of the problem. That is one reason we largely have gone to doing transatlantic or repo cruises that don't bundle and still seem to have low prices.

Also, we discovered Royal C doesn't bundle and they have far better prices.

[gerelmx]

They start with very high prices like our Eclipse Hawaii cruise, then they need to drop prices because the bookings are not as planned. Will see later if this price drops continue or begin to hike like the Silhouette Caribbean cruise.

[Globehoppers]

How do you think that RCCI was able to pay $2Billion for a 2/3rds stake in Seabourne?

[jmfdr]

Celebrity's price bundling with drink packages is part of the problem. That is one reason we largely have gone to doing transatlantic or repo cruises that don't bundle and still seem to have low prices.

Also, we discovered Royal C doesn't bundle and they have far better prices.

 

Hi 4774Papa,

 

Some years ago, when Celebrity had reasonable pricing, we did several cruises with you. I agree with everything you said in your note. We are paying for all the "perks" with the increase in cruise fares. We have recently booked several cruises with RCL because of their lower pricing for similar itineraries as Celebrity. Even some of Celebrity's transatlantic and repo prices have increased.

 

We plan to try a Viking Ocean cruise soon and may also look into some other the other lines suggested on this thread.

[4774Papa]

I don’t know about vaping. You should search on the HAL board.

Apparently, HAL allows vaping in cabins.

NOT for me

[4774Papa]

Hi 4774Papa,

 

Some years ago, when Celebrity had reasonable pricing, we did several cruises with you. I agree with everything you said in your note. We are paying for all the "perks" with the increase in cruise fares. We have recently booked several cruises with RCL because of their lower pricing for similar itineraries as Celebrity. Even some of Celebrity's transatlantic and repo prices have increased.

 

We plan to try a Viking Ocean cruise soon and may also look into some other the other lines suggested on this thread.

As much as we love Celebrity, if it comes down to spending a premium of 25-30% more over NCL or RCI, we will do other than Celebrity.

 

People on these boards talk about shopping for that great deal, assuming we want to take just any cruise. NOT.

We have cruised all over the World and hardly ever repeat a cruise, except for TransAtlantic. The only way we will ever do another MED cruise is if we find a cruise that goes to Israel and Egypt. We did one Caribbean for 14 days and will probably not do another. Some people like to cruise the same cruise over and over. One poster indicated he had done 11 Around the Horn cruises. Sorry, we still have our bucket list, even after having done 76 countries.

 

What amazes me is that people think they are economizing by taking the beverage package, even when they are Elite and have the happy hour. We don't cruise to drink ourselves to sleep.

 

Please stop the price bundling and get more competitive X!

[ptrpanpens]

Hi 4774Papa,

 

Some years ago, when Celebrity had reasonable pricing, we did several cruises with you. I agree with everything you said in your note. We are paying for all the "perks" with the increase in cruise fares. We have recently booked several cruises with RCL because of their lower pricing for similar itineraries as Celebrity. Even some of Celebrity's transatlantic and repo prices have increased.

 

We plan to try a Viking Ocean cruise soon and may also look into some other the other lines suggested on this thread.

 

You might want to look into Azamara too, especially if you are lucky enough to snag a cabin during one of their better sales. I just returned from my first AZ cruise and am hooked. I travel alone decided to book an oceanview on my cruise rather than a veranda, but saved $4,000 on a guarantee cabin which turned out to be so good I booked it again for next year,

 

I also think you may be able to book AZ onboard Celebrity and RCCL and get the onboard booking discounts and credits. Some of their cruises are outrageously priced, but many are surprisingly affordable given the difference in quality between AZ and Celebrity, and especially compared to RCCL.

[MVPinBoynton]

Apparently, HAL allows vaping in cabins.

NOT for me

 

That is really a shame. I am disappointed about it.

[Xport]

How do you think that RCCI was able to pay $2Billion for a 2/3rds stake in Seabourne?

 

Actually, it's a 2/3 stake in Silversea... Seabourne is--as it has been for some time now--still owned by Carnival...

[Bo1953]

As much as we love Celebrity, if it comes down to spending a premium of 25-30% more over NCL or RCI, we will do other than Celebrity.

 

People on these boards talk about shopping for that great deal, assuming we want to take just any cruise. NOT.

We have cruised all over the World and hardly ever repeat a cruise, except for TransAtlantic. The only way we will ever do another MED cruise is if we find a cruise that goes to Israel and Egypt. We did one Caribbean for 14 days and will probably not do another. Some people like to cruise the same cruise over and over. One poster indicated he had done 11 Around the Horn cruises. Sorry, we still have our bucket list, even after having done 76 countries.

 

What amazes me is that people think they are economizing by taking the beverage package, even when they are Elite and have the happy hour. We don't cruise to drink ourselves to sleep.

 

Please stop the price bundling and get more competitive X!

 

Price bundling is for those who want it, non-bundling pricing is available and not very often used, as far as I have read by posters who complain about it, or so I believe.

 

For us, it is not economizing it is convenience. Yes, there may come a time when we wish to economize and will do on future sailings, yet not now.

 

bon voyage

[richsea]

The prices for 2019 are outrageous. They are actually higher for AQ than Oceania on a couple Caribbean sailings! almost $8k for a 9 night...ya good luck.

 

Next year is the first year in a long time we have nothing booked with Celebrity, which is a shame as we just made Elite plus. I won't give up on X, but until the prices come down we will be sailing on other lines :(

We’re pretty much in the same boat with teir prices. I have my eye on some January sailings on Reflection, and that fishy site sent me notice that a 10 night sailing in Concierge jjust increased to $2749 per person, and an 11 night sailing in Concierge is now $3349 per person. They cannot be serious.

[Croooser]

We are Elite on Celebrity but our next 4 cruises are booked on MSC and Oceania. 'Nuff said.

[maggie.1008]

My favorite ship is Ocean Riviera. Love O`s two larger ships .

[grandgeezer]

Second week of September, MSC Yacht Club Suite about the same price as Aqua on Equinox. The Sky Suite is $3600 per couple more. The price for MSC is about $4000 total, per couple.

[mmsJack]

Thanks OP for this great post - many helpful tidbits to be found within the comments offered in response!

 

While our first X cruise was in 1998 we're actually newbies to X as our second (and only other X cruise) was just last winter. My 30 yo daughter picked a Reflection 10 day for our family holiday after doing a lot of research. Because we're new to X we don't have the price (or any other) insight that many here have so it's interesting to get all the valuable feedback.

 

We've booked the Silhouette for a 12 day this December. Total price per person = $148/day. For clarification this includes the cost of the cruise + *included* perks: Classic Bev from X/4ppl plus $325 obc per room & grats from our TA - 3/C2 verandas, 1 is single occupancy w/ residency discount & no bev since on of our group doesn't drink the adult stuff. Is this a good deal? It's cheaper than our Reflection cruise last year for whatever that's worth. We booked about a month ago and I noticed that the price just went up $100/pp for our category though our cruise appears to be at ~29% unsold. Are there better deals on cruise lines of comparable quality/style - I have no idea. Is ~$150/day per person for a 12 day all inclusive holiday with 7 great (IMHO) destinations included a good deal :confused: - I mean, I think so...?(yn)(yn)(yn)

 

While I marvel at (& envy!) those who can cruise many times a year, we're just not so fortunate and can only swing one big vaca a year for our group. Part of not looking around for our vaca this year was simply that we don't want to risk our one holiday to the unknown. (OH that devil you know...) Thats why I'm always so keen to read these posts and others with such interesting insights - it helps us to build confidence in making the best choice possible. I'm eternally grateful to people here for the time, honesty and passion for sharing with the larger cruise community.

 

We completely loved our first (second) X cruise last year. 3 generations (though no kids) and we all had a blast. We had great service, nice rooms, an awesome itinerary and most surprisingly - really solid food (much better than we expected) but remember, we don't have much history for comparison... That said, lots of knowledgable cruisers here who are taking exception to X and the current pricing program so maybe we should also be looking around at other options too?!

[4774Papa]

Price bundling is for those who want it, non-bundling pricing is available and not very often used, as far as I have read by posters who complain about it, or so I believe.

 

For us, it is not economizing it is convenience. Yes, there may come a time when we wish to economize and will do on future sailings, yet not now.

 

bon voyage

Non bundled prices are never available for us. I must be the state discount, never have that for Georgia.

[richsea]

Non bundled prices are never available for us. I must be the state discount, never have that for Georgia.

I have found that they make the non bundle pricing inconvenient to find. If I go to a travel site the offers the “Best Price”, when you choose a cabin, they list the best price for a refundable room, which offer no perks except what the TA is offering, & also list the costs with all the perks, which usually come with a non refundable deposit, which is anothe4 annoying gimmick; one we never consider.

[George C]

Second week of September, MSC Yacht Club Suite about the same price as Aqua on Equinox. The Sky Suite is $3600 per couple more. The price for MSC is about $4000 total, per couple.

 

I was just looking at edge week after thanksgiving sky suite was over 4K per person msc yacht was half that price, will be booking msc

[mmsJack]

Non bundled prices are never available for us. I must be the state discount, never have that for Georgia.

 

Finding the drop down to get discounted fares on the X site is a little tricky. I don't know how to add images to these posts (such a rookie) but if you want to check to see if you quality for a discounted fare you can go to the Celebrity site and find your booking (or pick any sailing if you want to test it out.)

 

Once you pick a cruise, the first page you get asks you to select the number of cabins. (I've found that selecting anything other than 1 causes problems - maybe it's just me...)

 

The second page asks how many guests will be in your cabin. This is the page where you will find the drop down for entering discount criteria. Right under the Adults and Children options you will see a blue "see if you qualify for offers*" statement - click on that line and a new drop down will appear allowing you to enter your captains club #, your state, a promo code and a few other options including senior, military and police/EMT.

 

NOTE: Every time I've entered info in ANY of these spaces the page refreshes. I again click the 'see if you qualify for offers' line to get the drop down and the info I've entered is gone. When you enter the info for a second time it will take. You just have to do it twice. (no comment on the X site...)

 

When you hit enter you will get a new page with all the room classes available on that sailing with prices that reflect the best discount (sometimes residency, sometimes senior, I don't quality for military or police so I've never tried those.

 

Once you go through the process of select the room category first then the actual room (by number or GTD) you will get a new page offering the choice to stick with your discounted rate or you can see the bundle offer pricing for go big, better and best.

 

I checked our Silhouette Dec 9 sailing - the current go big price for a veranda 2D is $1599/pp. The resident discount offer for GA is $1199/pp for the same category room, the Senior discount is $1179/pp (both would include no perks.)

 

Hope I've answered your concern & this is helpful! :D

[gordylad]

on top of the costs being so high we are looking at next year and nothing really jumping out from celebrity with regards to their schedules..........thing we need to open our mind to other cruise lines and variety.

[Kaibocan]

We are Elite on Celebrity but our next 4 cruises are booked on MSC and Oceania. 'Nuff said.

 

 

 

Can you seriously do Oceania for less than Celebrity? I’d love to do Oceania.

 

Never been on MSC & don’t know anyone who has. How does it compare to Celebrity?

 

 

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