How do people afford $20,000 suites?

[orville99]

2 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Not really, sorry 

 

Hopefully someone else here does

 

 

Oh well, probably why I can't find one in all the stuff they send me in the mail.😞

[John&LaLa]

Just now, orville99 said:

Oh well, probably why I can't find one in all the stuff they send me in the mail.😞

 

What info are you looking for?

[orville99]

Just now, John&LaLa said:

 

What info are you looking for?

We were bouncing a few ideas around about some things they could add to the C&A on board perks, that wouldn't cost them anything but would balance out the benefits between Oasis/Quantum class ships and the older classes of ship. Just wanted to pen an email presenting our thoughts.

[Tatka]

1 hour ago, John&LaLa said:

 

We once bought a Honda CRV using the Royal credit card. Though typically, they tend to cap you at around $3K

 

My DH worked at dealership for 10+ years. It was a rule. Maybe some small down payment, yes. But not full amount. Not that we wanted to do this... but for points that would be great. 🙂

[A&L_Ont]

2 hours ago, Tatka said:

That is what we do as well. Only use CC and pay off.

But I do not think we ever used CC for 20K purchase. I know you cannot buy a car on CC

You need to talk with salesman and “finance person” at the dealership. Some will consider it. 

 

4 minutes ago, Tatka said:

 

My DH worked at dealership for 10+ years. It was a rule. Maybe some small down payment, yes. But not full amount. Not that we wanted to do this... but for points that would be great. 🙂

I guess I’ve been luckier at dealerships. On multiple times I’ve put a deposit down of $5k for a new car.
 

One dealership would have let me use my card for the entire purchase but I would have had to pay their credit card fee on top of the purchase price. I declined this offer and paid by cheque. 

[Ret MP]

I purchased a Honda Goldwing, 100% with a C.C., in 2008.  About 17K

[time4u2go]

3 hours ago, Tatka said:

I know you cannot buy a car on CC

Not true. 

[Tatka]

2 minutes ago, time4u2go said:

Not true. 

 

Maybe it is by state and amount.

My husband was working at several dealerships and there was up to I think $500 allowed from CC. Dealerships did not want to pay 4% do credit card companies.

[Ret MP]

1 minute ago, Tatka said:

 

Maybe it is by state and amount.

My husband was working at several dealerships and there was up to I think $500 allowed from CC. Dealerships did not want to pay 4% do credit card companies.

My brother was General Manager for a large consortium of dealerships for over 30 years.  His policy was that he accepted all colors of green U.S. dollars.  C.C.s were just a different color of green.  The C.C. percentage that businesses pay to accept C.C.s is a negotiated %age/discount rate.  The more C.C. business you have the better your chances at a lower %age/discount rate.  His dealerships didn't pay a 4% discount rate.  On the other hand, if they knew that you were using a C.C. they adjusted how much of a deal you could get, of course. I will say, though, it is getting harder and harder to find a dealer that will accept a C.C. for 100% of a new car sale.  But, the cost of accepting a C.C. for payment is "the cost of business".  I'm guessing that there are maybe some C.C. companies that do limit the total sales on C.C.s at dealerships, now. 

[A&L_Ont]

3 hours ago, topnole said:

We (family of 5) have sailed three times in the last year (6 nighter, 6 nighter, and 12 nighter).  All have been Oasis Class in suites (one Star Class and two Sky Class).  None of those cruises cost 20k and in fact none of those even cost 10K.  No casino comps involved.  One of them was under 5K (not counting tips).  So the assumption that a bunch of folks are paying 20k for suites is way off imo.   Not even Star class cabins cost that much on many of the cruises.  

You must have lucked out on pricing, possibly in conjunction with flexibility on sailing dates.
 

I just checked a random sailing on Oasis in October, for 3 people. I also looked at Harmony from MIA, but they didn’t have great cabin category availability.  However of the cabins classes available the pricing was very comparable.  Only the RLS is over 20k but other Star Class Cabins are not far off.  
 

The majority are half the cost but still not as nice as what you got them for. I’d be happy to get some of your pricing. 😃

 

GS $9,000
CLS $9,200

OS $9,700

2BDR ATS $18,800

SLS $18,400

RLS $31,500

[topnole]

1 hour ago, orville99 said:

We were bouncing a few ideas around about some things they could add to the C&A on board perks, that wouldn't cost them anything but would balance out the benefits between Oasis/Quantum class ships and the older classes of ship. Just wanted to pen an email presenting our thoughts.

What crown and anchor perks are different based on ship?   I thought those perks were fleet wide?   

[topnole]

Just now, A&L_Ont said:

You must have lucked out on pricing, possibly in conjunction with flexibility on sailing dates.
 

I just checked a random sailing on Oasis in October, for 3 people. I also looked at Harmony from MIA, but they didn’t have great cabin category availability.  However of the cabins classes available the pricing was very comparable.  Only the RLS is over 20k but other Star Class Cabins are not far off.  
 

The majority are half the cost but still not as nice as what you got them for. I’d be happy to get some of your pricing. 😃

 

GS $9,000
CLS $9,200

OS $9,700

2BDR ATS $18,800

SLS $18,400

RLS $31,500

Well I definitely pick and choose carefully.  Paid 8500 for our 6 night 2Bdr ATS (deck 8).  A prior time pre Covid I paid 7000 for the deck 10 2bdr for just me and my wife (7 nights).  I’d assume 12-15k is more common and with current pricing even more (sadly).  
 

We recently had the 2 bdr Grand suite for under 9k for the Symphony TA.  We had a CLS for under 5K on Harmony in December.   The later 2 cruises were booked in 2022 when pricing definitely seemed high to me.  But somehow I found these good deals so we cleared schedules and we made it happen.  I won’t cruise in peak times if I have to pay a huge premium to be on a packed ship. 

[Ret MP]

4 minutes ago, topnole said:

What crown and anchor perks are different based on ship?   I thought those perks were fleet wide?   

Some perks are available on some ships while others don't have the capability.  I believe the Coastal Kitchen, maybe one of them.  I'm not sure if the Diamond Lounge is on EVERY ship either.

[A&L_Ont]

2 minutes ago, topnole said:

Well I definitely pick and choose carefully.  Paid 8500 for our 6 night 2Bdr ATS (deck 8).  A prior time pre Covid I paid 7000 for the deck 10 2bdr for just me and my wife (7 nights).  I’d assume 12-15k is more common and with current pricing even more (sadly).  
 

We recently had the 2 bdr Grand suite for under 9k for the Symphony TA.  We had a CLS for under 5K on Harmony in December.   The later 2 cruises were booked in 2022 when pricing definitely seemed high to me.  But somehow I found these good deals so we cleared schedules and we made it happen.  I won’t cruise in peak times if I have to pay a huge premium to be on a packed ship. 

I think the flexibility has really helped out in your case. Unfortunately it doesn’t work so much for us right now. Hopefully in the future. 
 

The one thing I know is pricing has only gone one direction, up.

[topnole]

5 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

Some perks are available on some ships while others don't have the capability.  I believe the Coastal Kitchen, maybe one of them.  I'm not sure if the Diamond Lounge is on EVERY ship either.

Coastal Kitchen is a suites benefit (with pinnacles getting access based on availability) and has nothing to do with C&A other than for pinnacles (which is surely far less than 1% of CA members.  At this point I believe there is a DL on every ship.  

[Tatka]

7 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

Some perks are available on some ships while others don't have the capability.  I believe the Coastal Kitchen, maybe one of them.  I'm not sure if the Diamond Lounge is on EVERY ship either.

 

Diamond lounge is on every ship now.

Empress did not have it.

[Ret MP]

1 minute ago, topnole said:

Coastal Kitchen is a suites benefit (with pinnacles getting access based on availability) and has nothing to do with C&A other than for pinnacles (which is surely far less than 1% of CA members.  At this point I believe there is a DL on every ship.  

It is listed in the C&A benefits:

 

I could have mentioned Priority Access to the Aquat Theater or the Ice Skating show(s) as there are only a couple of classes of ships that have 'em.  

[topnole]

2 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

I think the flexibility has really helped out in your case. Unfortunately it doesn’t work so much for us right now. Hopefully in the future. 
 

The one thing I know is pricing has only gone one direction, up.

Yes, flexibility helps a lot.  But occasionally the prices can go lower on varying ships for short periods of time and when I see something that looks quite good, I go for it if I like the time of year (ex. I don’t even look in January, but April is beautiful in the Caribbean so that I would consider).  I’d much rather adjust my schedule a bit and go in a suite.  A friend went in July on Harmony and we considered going.  But it would’ve been way more (and I mean way more) to be in a regular family cabin than it was to do our December Harmony cruise in a loft suite.  Given we are willing to be flexible, that is a no brainer.  At this point in my life I certainly prefer to be in a suite, but if I have to pay 15-20k, I’ll rent a beach house for the summer and vacation a different way that year.  
 

But my main point is, it is more rare to pay 20k for a suite.  Yes. It isn’t uncommon at all, but most in the suite lounge didn’t pay close to that on most cruises.  

[orville99]

32 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

I’d be happy to get some of your pricing.

The earlier you book the better the price.

[topnole]

1 minute ago, orville99 said:

The earlier you book the better the price.

Often true.  But we didn’t book early on any of the above mentioned trips. 

[Pratique]

2 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

We once bought a Honda CRV using the Royal credit card. Though typically, they tend to cap you at around $3K

A dealership in Central Florida once let me pay the $16,000 balance on a new vehicle after trade in using a CC. Initially they said that they don't like to do it but it was a Saturday and the finance guy didn't want to wait for me to go to the bank on Monday, so they let me do it. It's up to the dealer I suppose.

[Ret MP]

14 minutes ago, Tatka said:

 

Diamond lounge is on every ship now.

Empress did not have it.

I guess that is what I was thinking when I said I wasn't sure.  I know that there is or was a ship that didn't have it.  Thanks.

[John&LaLa]

2 hours ago, orville99 said:

We were bouncing a few ideas around about some things they could add to the C&A on board perks, that wouldn't cost them anything but would balance out the benefits between Oasis/Quantum class ships and the older classes of ship. Just wanted to pen an email presenting our thoughts.

 

Start a thread on this. There were several in the past. Interesting opinions, for sure

[Tatka]

7 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

I guess that is what I was thinking when I said I wasn't sure.  I know that there is or was a ship that didn't have it.  Thanks.

 

We learned it by accident. She was put back in service to do Cuba, then Trump banned it. We were scheduled to do 4 nights Bermuda cruise with 2 days in St George and 2 in Hamilton... Amazing itinerary!!! Without DL (back then drinks were unlimited in DL) ... only with 3 drinks in bars. 🙂

 

Unfortunately it was scheduled for July 2020...

[orville99]

29 minutes ago, topnole said:

Often true.  But we didn’t book early on any of the above mentioned trips. 

We occasionally have found an acceptable price for a suite when booking late (usually when DW decides she’d like to add an additional leg to an existing BxB), but rarely does that additional leg come anywhere near to what the other legs cost when we originally booked them.

 

For example:

We have a B3B booked for next July in a GS on Adventure (8-6-8). DW wanted to extend it by another 6 nights so we would have the entire month booked. The second 6-nighter was the same itinerary as the first one, but the cost was almost $2,000 more than the first one (which we booked when the itineraries were released).

Edited April 4, 2023 by orville99