Do you expect MORE when NCL makes you PAY more to cruise????

[BirdTravels]

14 hours ago, expectthebest said:

what are your thoughts? 

Do  you expect more from a dozen eggs when the price goes from $0.70/dozen to $5.25/dozen????

 

Do you expect more from a gallon of gas when it has gone from under $3/gal to nearly $5/gal?

 

Do you expect more from your $2 Sausage McMuffin with Egg now that it costs $2.79? Or do you expect more from the $1 menu now that it is the $1/$2/$3 menu with nothing under a dollar?

 

Do you expect more from an item from Dollar Tree now that everything costs at least $1.25?

 

[seemoreroyals]

8 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Do  you expect more from a dozen eggs when the price goes from $0.70/dozen to $5.25/dozen????

 

Do you expect more from a gallon of gas when it has gone from under $3/gal to nearly $5/gal?

 

Do you expect more from your $2 Sausage McMuffin with Egg now that it costs $2.79? Or do you expect more from the $1 menu now that it is the $1/$2/$3 menu with nothing under a dollar?

 

Do you expect more from an item from Dollar Tree now that everything costs at least $1.25?

 

 

If eggs go from $.70/dozen to $5.25/dozen  I don't expect to get them home any only have 6 eggs in them.  Therein lies the dilemma. 

 

We don't mind paying more but quit taking services and entertainment and drink package choices away.   

[eileeshb]

I work in retail in a town that is traditionally a tourist destination here in Ireland. Our domestic tourism has been significantly down on normal levels for the past 2 summers. Last year was explained by folks having travel vouchers to use from the 2 covid travel ban summers, this year it was wholly due to cost and particularly accommodation costs. It was far far cheaper for people to fly to somewhere with guaranteed good weather that it was to holiday in Ireland. As it turned out we had miserable weather from the minute the kids finished school until the day they returned to school. 
I do the product ordering for our business and the prices have been steadily increasing since early 2021. It initially started to increase because there was a shortage of shipping containers in Asia (apparently they were all full of PPE sitting in Europe & North America). The cost of importing a single container jumped from €1,500 to €20,000 by the end of 2021, then just as the costs started dropping the Ukraine invasion happened and jacked up the fuel costs. The last update I had from the supplier was that shipping is now costing about €15,000 , one surfboard company has pulled their manufacturing back to Europe as the shipping prices now mean even with the higher manufacturing price in Europe it still works out cheaper to manufacture here. 
I had customers in 2021 that also dealt with imported products and a guy in the food industry was cursing the electronics industry as they could out bid everyone else for containers! Thankfully that is no longer the choke point. A couple of our suppliers are dropping some of their product prices for next summer so hopefully that will be the start of things getting back to “normal” in the supply chain. 

[bkrickles1]

20 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Do  you expect more from a dozen eggs when the price goes from $0.70/dozen to $5.25/dozen????

 

Do you expect more from a gallon of gas when it has gone from under $3/gal to nearly $5/gal?

 

Do you expect more from your $2 Sausage McMuffin with Egg now that it costs $2.79? Or do you expect more from the $1 menu now that it is the $1/$2/$3 menu with nothing under a dollar?

 

Do you expect more from an item from Dollar Tree now that everything costs at least $1.25?

 

While I understand your point, your analogy is extremely flawed. 

I loved my cruise in July on Joy. It was a great experience! 

But, there were some cutbacks, mostly minor for me, so I agree with those that say that we're paying more for less. 

And I might be paying twice as much for my dozen eggs, but I do come home with 12 eggs 🥚. Lmao! 

[BirdTravels]

21 minutes ago, seemoreroyals said:

We don't mind paying more but quit taking services and entertainment and drink package choices away.   

 

7 minutes ago, bkrickles1 said:

While I understand your point, your analogy is extremely flawed. 

I loved my cruise in July on Joy. It was a great experience! 

But, there were some cutbacks, mostly minor for me, so I agree with those that say that we're paying more for less. 

And I might be paying twice as much for my dozen eggs, but I do come home with 12 eggs 🥚. Lmao! 

 

Shrink-flation. It is everywhere. Do you not agree? Fewer chips in the bag. Less cereal in the box. 

 

Personally, I have zero idea why anyone would pay for the Plus package. Take the freebie + grats and enjoy your cruise. I don't drink top-shelf booze at home and certainly not going to pay extra on a cruise. 

 

Let's get to the bottom line. Every department in NCL was given a reduction quota to hit. Food, Beverage, Housekeeping, Cruise Director Staff, Entertainment, Casino. etc. Bottom Line is that there have been and will continue to be cuts across the board. All cruise lines have to recoup from a year-and-a-half of unfairly forced shutdown. Something no other industry faced. NCL and other cruise lines kept their ships active, hoping for a quicker end to the directed shutdown (i.e., they didn't put ships into cold storage where it would take them months to get them back and certified to sail). All of that bleed money. Every cruise line is cutting back to help improve profits.... Not money in their pockets... but money to pay back the millions in costs they incurred during the shutdown. If you want to cruise, it will cost more and you will get less on all cruise lines for the foreseeable future. That is the direct result of an unfair, forced shutdown. 

Edited September 22, 2023 by BirdTravels

[bkrickles1]

8 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

 

 

Shrink-flation. It is everywhere. Do you not agree? Fewer chips in the bag. Less cereal in the box. 

 

Personally, I have zero idea why anyone would pay for the Plus package. Take the freebie + grats and enjoy your cruise. I don't drink top-shelf booze at home and certainly not going to pay extra on a cruise. 

I totally agree with you! 

It's just that the examples you used were finite items. A dozen eggs, a gallon of gas, etc. 

And I never upgrade to plus either. I'm totally satisfied with the standard fas. 

[ChiefMateJRK]

19 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

 

 

Shrink-flation. It is everywhere. Do you not agree? Fewer chips in the bag. Less cereal in the box. 

 

Personally, I have zero idea why anyone would pay for the Plus package. Take the freebie + grats and enjoy your cruise. I don't drink top-shelf booze at home and certainly not going to pay extra on a cruise. 

 

Let's get to the bottom line. Every department in NCL was given a reduction quota to hit. Food, Beverage, Housekeeping, Cruise Director Staff, Entertainment, Casino. etc. Bottom Line is that there have been and will continue to be cuts across the board. All cruise lines have to recoup from a year-and-a-half of unfairly forced shutdown. Something no other industry faced. NCL and other cruise lines kept their ships active, hoping for a quicker end to the directed shutdown (i.e., they didn't put ships into cold storage where it would take them months to get them back and certified to sail). All of that bleed money. Every cruise line is cutting back to help improve profits.... Not money in their pockets... but money to pay back the millions in costs they incurred during the shutdown. If you want to cruise, it will cost more and you will get less on all cruise lines for the foreseeable future. That is the direct result of an unfair, forced shutdown. 

Very well stated! 😎

[Isabella Benjamin]

I expect to at least get what I'm paying for on my cruise.  When I pay for a drink package I expect a bartender to serve me a drink, but they all act like I'm invisible.  I've already paid for the drink, yet it isn't available to me unless I'm sitting at a dining table.  I'm not bitter, lol.  

[Laszlo]

7 hours ago, hallux said:

Do tell, how is NCL insanely MORE than Royal?  Just compared a 5-day cruise for 4 to Bermuda, the Joy for NCL and Liberty of the Seas for Royal, balcony for both.  NCL came in $400 LESS than Royal, on a newer ship and with the Free At Sea package so it has the open bar grats. on the NCL cruise.  Screenshots for proof...

Royal -

NCL -

 

I guess the "insane" prices compared to other lines depend on the itinerary...

Wow, and I thought $4200 for a Balcony on the Gem June / 2024 out of Boston to Bermuda and Bar Harbor for 7 days was expensive Lol

 

At the same time..... Joy out of NYC is about $3800 for a Balcony and Celebrity Eclipse is about $4500 for a balcony

Edited September 22, 2023 by Laszlo

[seemoreroyals]

47 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Do  you expect more from a dozen eggs when the price goes from $0.70/dozen to $5.25/dozen????

 

Do you expect more from a gallon of gas when it has gone from under $3/gal to nearly $5/gal?

 

Do you expect more from your $2 Sausage McMuffin with Egg now that it costs $2.79? Or do you expect more from the $1 menu now that it is the $1/$2/$3 menu with nothing under a dollar?

 

Do you expect more from an item from Dollar Tree now that everything costs at least $1.25?

 

 

Maybe I should try this approach.   Using your example from Dollar Tree.   We still go to there but don't buy as much.  We notice the shrinkflation at Dollar Tree. In addition to the huge price increase some of the items we used to buy there have been repackaged into smaller sizes.  Therefore we now purchase those items elsewhere.

 

You may not be aware but Dollar Tree is in the process of going back and repricing many of their items back at $1.  So far at the store we shop at this has not taken effect.  When it does we will no doubt start buying some of those items there again.  

 

The moral of the story is that in this inflationary real world we live in most of us are willing to pay more for our goods and services but it kind of rubs us the wrong way when what we get back in return is less than we were getting before.

 

Thus my analogy to you of paying more for eggs but not being happy about it if the company reduces the number of eggs in the carton.

[DCGuy64]

16 hours ago, expectthebest said:

Now most areas are out of the woods and have been for over a year and the vast majority are ready to set sail again.. but at what NEW cost of cruising?? Are these extremely high prices here to stay? 

I'm sorry, but this statement isn't true. MOST areas are out of the woods? Uh, no. Inflation is STILL hitting many people in this country, and it isn't isolated to just one geographic area, either. Gas prices are up, restaurants are charging more and cutting back staff, too. Interest rates are very high, which is causing a major slowdown in the mortgage industry. I saw a news story this morning that 50% of Americans aged 18-30 are moving back in with their parents to save money. Nobody is out of the woods.

[yakcruiser]

1 hour ago, skittl1321 said:

Cruise pricing is up because demand is there.  LOTS of people want to cruise, and ships are selling out at these high prices, with the lower level of service.  There is no reason a cruise line would increase service or reduce pricing when the market is telling them that the premium prices they are charging are appropriate. 

When cruising was cheaper than a land vacation, it was because there was less demand for it. When service was premium, it was because that was how the lines had to be to attract customers. 

If you, and everyone else, stop buying at the price, they will come back down or the offerings will change to bring more value.

Exactly!!! But you do realize that such a thorough grasp of economics disqualifies you from ever running for congress.

[Albinroo]

3 hours ago, schmoopie17 said:

I'll never understand the concept of booking "late". Especially when there is virtually no risk of booking early. If price drops, no problem. Call in and get the new price. After final payment? Still no problem. Call in and get FCC. (Assuming you're planning another cruise in the future).

 

Plus, booking early gets you a better choice of cabins before they're gone. And it's always exciting to have an upcoming cruise in "the hopper".

 

Like they say, the early bird...

Sadly for Europeans we can't get the lower price before final payment, only the fcc after final payment. For me it's usually worth waiting to see if price drops before I book because the savings are huge...

[RocketMan275]

1 hour ago, seemoreroyals said:

 

If eggs go from $.70/dozen to $5.25/dozen  I don't expect to get them home any only have 6 eggs in them.  Therein lies the dilemma. 

 

We don't mind paying more but quit taking services and entertainment and drink package choices away.   

The choice is increase prices even more or take away more services and entertainment.  

[cruiseny4life]

1 hour ago, BirdTravels said:

Do you expect more from your $2 Sausage McMuffin with Egg now that it costs $2.79? Or do you expect more from the $1 menu now that it is the $1/$2/$3 menu with nothing under a dollar?

 

Just had to mention that the price increase on the Sausage McMuffin with Egg has created a world in which I don't purchase it nearly as often. Now, they're 2 for $5. Used to be I purchased two of them a couple times a week (when they were 2 for $4). Now, I might get them once a week. My spending on this lovely breakfast item (it's actually and surprisingly good) has decreased by more than half since the price increase. Dang it, now I'm hungry! 

 

 

Source: https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/product/sausage-mcmuffin-with-egg.html

 

I do have to say, even with the increased price, it seems the product is the same as I received when it was 2 for $4. One expects that (though I agree with your point on shrinkflation). The bag of chips I used to buy (key word is "used) were bigger and cheaper. Now that the chips are hovering at around $5/bag, I don't buy them anymore. No way I'm paying $5 for a few ounces of fried potatoes!! 

 

Thankfully, the Haven product hasn't been downgraded enough to cause me to cut spending there. I was worried when the Berkshire chop went away and the steak for breakfast became NY Strip and the Delmonico was replaced. But, the quality on available items is still excellent (and I can custom order that filet for breakfast). Teppanyaki, however, well...let's not get started on the NY Strip they offer. 

[graphicguy]

I keep hearing this tired old (pick a cruise line) is gouging us.

 

Any given ship, any given itinerary, any given cruise line, any given date...all goes into the fare charged.  For every "high" fare I've seen quoted, I've found others that are great deals.

 

Case in point, last year at this time I was in a "Mini-Suite" Cabin on a 7 day New England/Canada cruise on the Breakaway.  Cruise Fare?  Less than $800, all in.

 

This year sailed Alaska on the Bliss in April, 7 days, again in a "mini-Suite". Fare?  $900, all in.

 

I'm leaving in about 10 days in  2BR Haven Suite for a France/Spain/Italy 11 day cruise.  Fare?  $4,800, all in.

 

I can't even stay in a nice hotel for 11 days in a resort for that money.  Let alone pay for meals, drinks, entertainment in a room with 2 BRs and 2 Baths, that overlook the water.  

 

Like anything else.  Shop around.  Deals are out there.  IF you're going to limit yourself to a given ship or any given cruise line, you're limiting what fares are available.

 

Are the fares better or worse than they were right after the startup?  Probably not better  But, they aren't far off.  

[The Traveling Man]

1 hour ago, seemoreroyals said:

We don't mind paying more but quit taking services and entertainment and drink package choices away.   

Exactamundo.

[RocketMan275]

2 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

 

 

 

Source: https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/product/sausage-mcmuffin-with-egg.html

 

All Egg McMuffins are overpriced.  Can't stand an egg with a hard cooked yoke.

[olemissreb]

11 hours ago, Tapi said:

I don’t expect more. I just expand my search and look at other cruise lines and itineraries until I find something that fits my budget. Not going to stick to one cruise line.

 

Take for example NCL’s sailings from San Juan on the Viva. Rightfully, they’re priced very high since it’s a brand new ship. But if you look at Celebrity or Royal Caribbean prices for the same dates from San Juan, they’re literally 1/3 the prices of NCL. Would love to sail on Viva, but not at those prices. Glad to have options. 
 

On a separate note, there are still great deals to be found that mimic pre-COVID pricing. We’re sailing on MSC from Port Canaveral during the summer of 2024 for less than $50pp/pd (booked early, 10% discount for past guest, and kids sail free promo). 
 

We also booked a Northern Europe cruise for the summer of 2025 and we’re paying almost the same as what we paid pre-COVID in 2018 to sail the Mediterranean. 
 

Deals are out there. But maybe not on the newest ships, or the most popular routes or sailing dates. The pricing on those (no matter the cruise line) can be heart attack inducing. But with some flexibility, you can still get some great deals. 

Look at the 2025 sailings on the Viva. My sister and I had a Celebrity Summit cruise booked and when it was cancelled, we booked the Viva which was only $500 more per cabin.  So while we have to wait for what feels like forever, we'll be on an 18 month old ship for only an extra $500. I can't wait!

[Tapi]

5 minutes ago, olemissreb said:

Look at the 2025 sailings on the Viva. My sister and I had a Celebrity Summit cruise booked and when it was cancelled, we booked the Viva which was only $500 more per cabin.  So while we have to wait for what feels like forever, we'll be on an 18 month old ship for only an extra $500. I can't wait!

Thanks for that! Yes, I was comparing pricing for the Viva’s inaugural season out of San Juan, and the price discrepancy was significant. Good to know that they’re less heart attack inducing for the following year. 😀

[vswan]

In 1996, I went to a TA and told him I wanted to do a family vacation and gave him an all in budget of $1000 PP for a family of 4, $4000 total. He asked if I had ever considered a cruise and we booked on HAL, an inside cabin ad air for under that amount. Had a complimentary OV upgrade.

 

Have continued cruising at least once per year since then - except for covid. Over the years we went from expecting air and cruise for $1000 pp to as close as we could get to $1000 and eventually to cruise only, we also upgraded to a balcony, but not until about 5 years ago. We were not loyal to any cruiseline, looked at dates, ports and price.

 

My last Alaskan cruise was more than $6000 for 2, but that included air, daily service charge and trip insurance. Balcony cabin on NCL.

 

Have a RC cruise booked for early November. I thought the prices were horrible when I booked, but when I actually did the math the base price - not counting tips, air, insurance -was about $1150pp for an outside facing balcony on the Oasis. And, I don't think I could get an inside cabin now at that price. Drink package has been running $73 to $78pppd. Skipping that.

 

I would be interested to know what type of increase that actually is. In 25 years if the price doubled I would be way ahead going from inside to balcony. I know air is at least twice the cost it used to be.

 

I love to cruise. As long as my budget allows and I am able to do it, I will. But, I will compare prices and look for deals, have been doing it all along. Not getting a balcony might be a deal breaker for me though.

[RD64]

Nobody is forcing anybody to take a cruise - for those of you that no longer see the value proposition in cruising, the answer is simple - do an all inclusive, road trip, or plain and simple stay home. NCL does not owe you a vacation at a price that you deem acceptable. For those of you that complain, I suggest you try booking a hotel in Vancouver, on a weekend, during the height of the Alaskan season - the prices for a night will take your breath away. But - either pay - or stay home - supply and demand.

[HowardK]

OP- i totally understand your point-  For me personally, I've accepted the fact things I used to do more frequently are more expensive due to exponential increase in demand since the pandemic.

 

For example, a hotel I stayed at in NYC in August 2021, and even as late as February 2022 was $130 per night- with taxes etc.. now I am averaging $350 a night there ( I pick because I get reward points, the staff actually knows me and it is close to MSG and the train hall)

 

Next year is my first cruise in 6 years- I am likely paying higher but invested for it during the pandemic.

I'm going on a 11 night Prima- It was going to be $2k + everything else for a studio which would have been $3k. I decided I'll get a balcony for $4k+ whatever and maybe the spa or vibe .

I heard entertainment options were less but I have 6 ports that I actually am all interested in (been to 3 before) and I really could use 10-11 days just to veg.

Ship doesn't have howl at the moon which I used to play at on all my cruises- but maybe there is a piano somewhere. 

 

 

[RD64]

2 minutes ago, HowardK said:

OP- i totally understand your point-  For me personally, I've accepted the fact things I used to do more frequently are more expensive due to exponential increase in demand since the pandemic.

 

For example, a hotel I stayed at in NYC in August 2021, and even as late as February 2022 was $130 per night- with taxes etc.. now I am averaging $350 a night there ( I pick because I get reward points, the staff actually knows me and it is close to MSG and the train hall)

 

Next year is my first cruise in 6 years- I am likely paying higher but invested for it during the pandemic.

I'm going on a 11 night Prima- It was going to be $2k + everything else for a studio which would have been $3k. I decided I'll get a balcony for $4k+ whatever and maybe the spa or vibe .

I heard entertainment options were less but I have 6 ports that I actually am all interested in (been to 3 before) and I really could use 10-11 days just to veg.

Ship doesn't have howl at the moon which I used to play at on all my cruises- but maybe there is a piano somewhere. 

 

 

$350 a night will not get you a bus shelter or cardboard box in Vancouver.

[IAcruising]

6 hours ago, Isabella Benjamin said:

When I pay for a drink package I expect a bartender to serve me a drink, but they all act like I'm invisible.  I've already paid for the drink, yet it isn't available to me unless I'm sitting at a dining table.

 

That's some serious hyperbole right there.