Has Princess overestimated Alaska demand?

[phred119s]

Mine was one of 74 kids on our northbound cruise this week last year.  We booked 4 days in advance in a mini suite.  This year we're paying a crazy amount (in my opinion) in an obstructed oceanview to sail RT from Seattle in August, and it was booked in November because we wanted a specific ship/sail date this year.   In our experience, mutli city trips have not always been more expensive than round trips. I'm really hoping for an upsell to be honest. There are very few inside/oceanview cabins left for our sailing, but definitely more balcony/minisuites.

[azbirdmom]

I just got a casino mailer with casino fares of $199 inside or $499 balcony for Alaska cruises this summer.  If we weren't already on a freebie in July, I would jump on that.

[CynCyn]

1 hour ago, azbirdmom said:

I just got a casino mailer with casino fares of $199 inside or $499 balcony for Alaska cruises this summer.  If we weren't already on a freebie in July, I would jump on that.

Thank you for sharing.  I got one too! Held a cruise, fingers crossed that I can get decent airfare. A little over $1700 for three in a forward, obstructed balcony. 

[DisneyDorkhead]

20 hours ago, Coral said:

Crystal has a ship this summer also. Not sure if it has started sailing yet this year in Alaska.

Crystal is will be cruising out of Vancouver starting mid/late June. Most are round trips with a one ways to or from Anchorage/Seward.

[DisneyDorkhead]

20 hours ago, Coral said:

Crystal has a ship this summer also. Not sure if it has started sailing yet this year in Alaska.

Crystal is will be cruising out of Vancouver starting mid/late June. Most are round trips with a one ways to or from Anchorage/Seward.

[patrickmoran]

Got a guaranteed balcony on Royal for July 6th NB for under $500 pp with casino discount! We'll be celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary and 20th year anniversary of cruising with Princess. Our 1st cruise was a cruisetour 20 years ago!

 

I've been watching prices for awhile and they were crazy high! I had given up until I saw this thread and checked again.

Airfare is not bad: $625 pp

Edited May 31, 2019 by patrickmoran

[John99]

These special offers are great.  I’m glad people are taking advantage of the offers.

I’m curious about how you get on the mailing list. 

I have never received a mailer on special offers on Alaska cruises.

Is this because I have a TA and the special offers goes to the TA (first) instead of me?

Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.   

John

 

[JF - retired RRT]

1 hour ago, John99 said:

These special offers are great.  I’m glad people are taking advantage of the offers.

I’m curious about how you get on the mailing list. 

I have never received a mailer on special offers on Alaska cruises.

Is this because I have a TA and the special offers goes to the TA (first) instead of me?

Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.   

John

You sign up for "special offers" on the Princess website in the dark blue border at the top of the first page.

I just got the one about Alaska. I get them once in a while. Frequently talk on CC about special offers that I didn't get.

BTW: TA only comes into play for cruises that you've booked with a TA.

Edited May 31, 2019 by JF - retired RRT

[azbirdmom]

4 hours ago, John99 said:

These special offers are great.  I’m glad people are taking advantage of the offers.

I’m curious about how you get on the mailing list. 

I have never received a mailer on special offers on Alaska cruises.

Is this because I have a TA and the special offers goes to the TA (first) instead of me?

Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.   

John

 

 

 

Other than the casino offer, I haven't received offers for Alaska.  However, under "deals" on the Princess website, there's 2 for 1 offers on many sailings.  Here's a direct link https://www.princess.com/find/searchResults.do?trade=A&voyages=1918A,1920A,1922A,1924A,1926A,1928A,2916A,2918A,2920A,2922A,2924A,2926A,2928A,2930A,5915A,5917A,5919A,5921A,5925A,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,2915,2916,2917,2918,2919,2920,2921,2922,5915,5916,5917,5918,5919,5920,5921,6912,6913,6914,6915,6916,6917,6918,6919,9913N,R921

 

[Sailaway617]

Does casino “mailer” mean US post office mail or is it an email? 

[CynCyn]

2 hours ago, Sailaway617 said:

Does casino “mailer” mean US post office mail or is it an email? 

Mine was an email.

[geoherb]

I found my great price for solo cabin on the Island on a travel agency website that has a page for low single supplements. I had been looking on the Princess website as well. It's been a couple of years since I've received a great casino offer via email. 

[dcrow72]

At one point, my Royal 5/18 cruise was selling for $199 for an inside!  i upgraded to a mini for a song!  I love Royal and would choose her over other ships anytime.  Didn't feel crowded anywhere we went.  No problems docking. Food and service were amazing.  No complaints except slow internet most of the week which I didn't expect!  

[matadams4u]

I’ve been surprised by the offers but sensed it was going to be a soft season.  International travel is down to the US (it is having an effect on Vegas room rates).  US travel abroad I believe is down as well.  Canadian travel to the US is down (we has a lot of direct flights from Canada to Las Vegas).  There are also signs that higher debt loads by those younger is having an effect on travel.  My projection is that for the next couple of years - those with cash in the bank, watch for deals, time, ability and willingness to travel will see some really good deals. The Alaska deals popping up are really great.

[pamwigs]

On 5/30/2019 at 10:23 AM, bemis12 said:

 

They are giving away inside cabins on the Royal for $313, leaving Saturday.  Tons of rooms there for the taking.

 

There were not tons of cabins. I work at the port and they had over 3000 on board, excluding crew.

[pamwigs]

No they have not. It's early in the season. Nobody knows how full the ship is untill the day they sail. By the looks of our ships manifests, ships have been very full. 

[cruisingrob21]

Princess does have it's second largest deployment ever in Alaska this year, and its the first year in several that there has been a decrease in Seattle based ships.  This is likely the result of so much extra capacity from NCL in Seattle with the Bliss and Joy flooding the market with ships that are more desirable for families.  Still, it seems like there are a lot of good prices on the 1 way voyages to/from YVR early on this season.  Unfortunately, YVR really isn't suited to multiple 2000+ passenger ships docked at Canada Place.

 

Princess will be bringing the Regal to Alaska in 2021 with the Royal.

 

https://cruisingrobsblog.blogspot.com/2017/12/princess-alaska-deployment-for-2019.html

[LeeW]

All the lines are saturating the Alaska market.  Makes it great to book late summer/September in July.

[Crystal04]

They are having some amazing solo deals on NCL and Princess right now.  Also, I am seeing the cruise I booked for in July dropping down to under 300 per person.