Insane prices for Oasis class ships in the Summer!

[sandebeach]

12 minutes ago, coaster said:

 

Insanely high! 8 night cruise on Empress in November would possibly be lower than that or not much more.  You need to investigate  other options.

Thanks but we booked Mariner using a casino comp so our cabin rate was very reasonable. My husband also likes the Mariner. We did the Nordic Empress back in 1993!

[KmomChicago]

Spring break is often cheaper than summer if you can work with that.

[Ourusualbeach]

28 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

Spring break is often cheaper than summer if you can work with that.

Christmas 2020 on a Oasis is cheaper than the prices in the summer.😳

[basictek]

My TA usually has some really great group rates for Oasis class ships, I ran the #'s for Symphony next July and found much lower prices then mentioned here also with lots of cruise cash. This was supposed to be for 2 people so I assume groups rates would work for that, and both of these rates were for ocean view balconies with rooms available on multiple floors. 

 

I'm paying around $2K to go in November so the prices are certainly much better outside summer but these group rates absolutely destroy everything on RCI site especially with $300+ obc on July 18th, & 25th. They didn't have group rates available on other dates in July probably some in August though.

 

Edited July 31, 2019 by basictek
added some info

[Giorgi-one]

16 hours ago, coaster said:

Never cruised in the summer even with my children when they were younger. Even then, we took older ships with them in the fall to save money.  Cruising on Empress in the summer next month as fares dropped drastically to fill the ship after Cuba was a washout. Temperatures will be hot and miserable, but I will never pass on a cruise that I can book an outside for around $50 a day per person.

 

My standard used to be $50 a day per person inside. Even better deals now with the Cuba cancellations.  $50 dollars a day per person goes much further now. Booked another Empress cruise for January for $50 a day per person. Timing is everything and  not being picky about only booking newer ships.

Everybody has different likes and dislikes.  We cruised almost every summer for 20 years.  It's a little warmer but usually pretty nice on the islands.  As far as booking newer ships, that's all I will book.  We are at the point where we usually stay on the ship and the newer ships have so much more to offer.  Love the Oasis class ships, NCL Breakaway class and looking forward to Celebrity Edge class!

[IzznOll17]

On 7/30/2019 at 11:07 AM, Host Clarea said:

 

Prices have nothing to do with paying for Coco Cay or ships, it's all about what people are willing to pay.

Of course it does! Rccl are a business, they have overheads and have invested in new ships/facilities and the like. The price they charge AND the demand for what they can supply are all linked in one form or another!

The european market has never been under subscribed, so the tactic there was to remove a ship (Independence) and use her to get people onto CocoCay. They haven't used the 'price people will pay' tactic very well with regards to Anthem itineraries, because I know of several regular cruises have jumped ship (cruise lines) for next year at least, to try different cruise lines and what they have to offer.

Another way to look at it is the way Rccl have steadily removed more and more perks from cruisers over the years. Again it's all about that top line!

 

 

[Tltay]

We paid $1200 more for next summer's cruise on the Harmony vs the one we just took on the Allure (both 1st week of June, both Western Caribbean).  I feel it has a lot to do with there only being two Oasis class ships next summer, vs three this year.  Also, at least for summer cruises, the ones out of Port Canaveral have always been higher than the ones out of Ft Lauderdale or Miami.  Also noticed that for the same week, the Symphony is $700 cheaper for almost the same Western route, except it goes to Labadee in stead of CoCo cay.  Assumption, CoCo Cay itineraries are more expensive. 

[John&LaLa]

On 7/30/2019 at 10:40 PM, Ourusualbeach said:

Christmas 2020 on a Oasis is cheaper than the prices in the summer.😳

 

It's not in NJ 😉

[sowhat]

On 7/30/2019 at 10:37 AM, little britain said:

I'll never complain about English pricing again.

£1554 for 2 7n B/W balcony on Oasis including RCIs free return flights from England to Barcelona.

Bargain!

 

 

* that is about $1900

Price for Allure, May 2020 is  £2600 for CP balcony  with free flights from UK for 2 people.
That’s  a 61% increase in price
 

[sgmn]

1 hour ago, Tltay said:

We paid $1200 more for next summer's cruise on the Harmony vs the one we just took on the Allure (both 1st week of June, both Western Caribbean).  I feel it has a lot to do with there only being two Oasis class ships next summer, vs three this year.  Also, at least for summer cruises, the ones out of Port Canaveral have always been higher than the ones out of Ft Lauderdale or Miami.  Also noticed that for the same week, the Symphony is $700 cheaper for almost the same Western route, except it goes to Labadee in stead of CoCo cay.  Assumption, CoCo Cay itineraries are more expensive. 

I feel that once they know people will pay the higher prices they won't drop again 

[little britain]

1 hour ago, sowhat said:

Price for Allure, May 2020 is  £2600 for CP balcony  with free flights from UK for 2 people.
That’s  a 61% increase in price
 

Yes I saw that!   Ridiculous increase!!!  

[ryano]

Prices are way up on all RC cruises it seems. I had to book Harmony over 500 days out and in the peak of hurricane season just to get a decent rate on a balcony cabin.   We paid 2023.00 with all fees and taxes included.  Its now 3108.00 AFTER final payment date and only 31 days before the cruise.   Royal is pricing me out Im afraid 

Edited August 1, 2019 by ryano

[SuiteLady]

On 7/29/2019 at 6:17 PM, Ashland said:

And this is the reason we opted to (take the kids out of school for a week) Our May 3, 2020 cruise on Harmony out of Port Canaveral was included in the KSF....well worth it for us and the extended family we're sailing with that included 4 kids.

May seems to have very reasonable rates... sailed last May and sailing May 2020 on the Oasis.  Just saved $800 on my booking due to residence discount and cabin fare went down a bit too!

[SAmome]

On 7/29/2019 at 8:39 PM, John&LaLa said:

 

Making up for all the free cruises on Mariner this summer

What is the free Mariner cruise reference?  I thought all summer cruises were high but I understand casino guests get good deals but thought mainly on Empress and Majesty related to Cuba shut down.  

[HBE4]

2 hours ago, ryano said:

Prices are way up on all RC cruises it seems. I had to book Harmony over 500 days out and in the peak of hurricane season just to get a decent rate on a balcony cabin.   We paid 2023.00 with all fees and taxes included.  Its now 3108.00 AFTER final payment date and only 31 days before the cruise.   Royal is pricing me out Im afraid 

 

Nah, they are just making you book earlier.  They want to lock in customers as soon as possible.

 

I usually book my vacations (land and sea) 3-6 months out. But now, seeing how crazy high the prices are, I'm either going to have to wait until the last minute and hope for a price drop, or book 2 years out.  For someone like me who doesn't even know what I want to do this weekend, that's a tall order.

 

[Judyrem]

On 7/30/2019 at 10:10 PM, KmomChicago said:

Spring break is often cheaper than summer if you can work with that.

I would love to do that and I may look into it..

 

The main reason I want to book summer is that my grandaughter flies down  and stays with me a while and then goes to Dalton, Ga to see her other grandparents for week.

 

 

[sandebeach]

1 hour ago, SAmome said:

What is the free Mariner cruise reference?  I thought all summer cruises were high but I understand casino guests get good deals but thought mainly on Empress and Majesty related to Cuba shut down.  

There are many casino offers that have been sent out for free cabins on Mariner and Navigator. Also Enchantment. 

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, sandebeach said:

There are many casino offers that have been sent out for free cabins on Mariner and Navigator. Also Enchantment. 

 

Laura got a Freedom one as well. 7 day

[sandebeach]

5 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Laura got a Freedom one as well. 7 day

Very nice! I also received one for Allure at the end of September but already booked Allure for October. 

[ONECRUISER]

On 7/29/2019 at 6:17 PM, Ashland said:

And this is the reason we opted to (take the kids out of school for a week) Our May 3, 2020 cruise on Harmony out of Port Canaveral was included in the KSF....well worth it for us and the extended family we're sailing with that included 4 kids.

And nothing new. 20yrs ago when I started taking my kids 3rd and 4th Passenger was $999-$1399each when sailing Spring/Summer/Winter school Breaks, higher then passenger 1-2. Always had take my kids out school. We'd have to Cruise in Sep.Oct and Feb around short breaks/Holidays. Now my Grandchildren do year round school. Go to school Mid July-end of May with 2 weeks off end of Sept, 4 weeks Xmas and 2 Weeks March. Easier work Vacations around that schedule

Edited August 2, 2019 by ONECRUISER

[John&LaLa]

2 hours ago, SAmome said:

What is the free Mariner cruise reference?  I thought all summer cruises were high but I understand casino guests get good deals but thought mainly on Empress and Majesty related to Cuba shut down.  

 

There were lots of free sailings offered. We only took 1 on Empress, let 3 expire. 

4 free on Mariner plus the Freedom.

We weren't even going to sail this summer, but heck, it was free

[LUVINMYHUBS]

We cannot afford to go in the summer....or I should say, if we went in the summer, we would only be able to do a few a year, instead of 4 a year...I'd rather do 4 a year 🙂

[Johnamac123]

I did a second comparison to my 7N Western cruise on Allure : Nov 29 2020 to Feb 2021: Same PV room, same ports, same BOGO50,  etc= 45% price increase. Price are going up big time folks....

[SAmome]

10 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

There were lots of free sailings offered. We only took 1 on Empress, let 3 expire. 

4 free on Mariner plus the Freedom.

We weren't even going to sail this summer, but heck, it was free

Did any of the sailings show up as a great deal on the GGG sales to fill the ship or does all excess inventory pretty much go to gamblers now?  Could be good to start gambling I guess.

[John&LaLa]

38 minutes ago, SAmome said:

Did any of the sailings show up as a great deal on the GGG sales to fill the ship or does all excess inventory pretty much go to gamblers now?  Could be good to start gambling I guess.

 

First off, only gamble if you enjoy it.  Laura is at the Prime Tier, but at the lowest acceptable level.  She gets there by gambling a little, but on a lot of cruises.  This usually doesn't get you much other than free drinks, and 1 free cruise a year.

 

Other than the Empress fill in, most of these cruises were out well before the GGG sales show up.

 

The Freedom was booked on 4/17 for a 9/15 sailing.  It was a tax day promo

The Empress was a promo to fill the ship when Cuba cancelled. I even got a couple offers and I rarely gamble.  Booked 6/10 for a 7/13 sailing

The Mariner cruises were a promo called Summer Sizzle. She qualified for an inside cabin and a guest would pay half. The loophole was you could just say solo for free.😉

6/28 was booked on 4/9

7/8 was booked on 5/10

8/12 was booked on 4/22

9/9 was booked on 6/27

 

FWIW, the first three 'free' cruises have cost around 2 grand in casino losses. 😱🤣