3/1/24: Sharp Price Increases Today!!!

[LACruiser88]

While checking our current fares this morning on our 9 future bookings, I noticed a sharp increase in all of them!  Yikes!!!  Anyone else notice this???  I'm glad we booked our cruises when they were first released.  Btw, I usually check our fares 2 or 3 times per week.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 1 by LACruiser88

[startedwithamouse]

3 minutes ago, LACruiser88 said:

While checking our current fares this morning on our 9 future bookings, I noticed a sharp increase in all of them!  Yikes!!!  Anyone else notice this???  I'm glad we booked our cruises when they were first released.  Btw, I usually check our fares 2 or 3 times per week.

 

 

 

 

Yes!

We check our reservations daily on everything (not just cruises), and Princess has a huge jump on every single booking. They've got one month left for first quarter earnings?

Edited March 1 by startedwithamouse

[555]

It seems to be the trend with just about everything lately.

[SCX22]

The up to 40% off/cabin upgrade/3rd and 4th sail free promotion that has been going on for months, finally ended as well...or at least, it no longer headlines the USA Princess website.

[LACruiser88]

Just now, 555 said:

It seems to be the trend with just about everything lately.

Very true,  But, I happen to have checked fares yesterday and they were significantly lower.  Big hike in just 24 hours!  🤷‍♂️

[FLAlaska]

1 minute ago, LACruiser88 said:

Very true,  But, I happen to have checked fares yesterday and they were significantly lower.  Big hike in just 24 hours!  🤷‍♂️

they had been running a 40% off sale for a while. It changed today to an up to 35% off

[voljeep]

ours is up 38% since we booked when they first came out - not sure what the recent jump amount is.

[cbfb]

We booked my son’s on Tuesday to join us in November. It was $3600. Now it’s $4150. There was a 40% sale but now it’s a 35% sale so it shouldn’t be that much higher. I’m just glad we booked it already! 

[startedwithamouse]

6 minutes ago, 555 said:

It seems to be the trend with just about everything lately.

Not with cruise fares or airfares, we've been able to lock in with significant decrease in fares in February.

Today Princess increased fares on everything!

[startedwithamouse]

13 minutes ago, LACruiser88 said:

While checking our current fares this morning on our 9 future bookings, I noticed a sharp increase in all of them!  Yikes!!!  Anyone else notice this???  I'm glad we booked our cruises when they were first released.  Btw, I usually check our fares 2 or 3 times per week.

 

 

 

 

But you can save a whole dollar with your deposit! 

 

$99 instead of $100!

[LACruiser88]

Just now, startedwithamouse said:

oday Princess increased fares on everything!

Maybe they are trying to make up the revenue from the two canceled Sun Princess cruises!  🤣

[SCX22]

Just now, LACruiser88 said:

Maybe they are trying to make up the revenue from the two canceled Sun Princess cruises!  🤣

 

Wouldn't be surprised if that wasn't the truth.  After the 2nd cancellation, the prices of Sun Princess cruises had a big price increase, and this was still during the up to 40% off promotion last month.  My parent's Med cruise for August 2024 increased by $350 pp.

[startedwithamouse]

2 minutes ago, LACruiser88 said:

Maybe they are trying to make up the revenue from the two canceled Sun Princess cruises!  🤣

Did they issue refunds or just FCC?

[LACruiser88]

1 minute ago, startedwithamouse said:

Did they issue refunds or just FCC?

I believe it was refunds and FCC as a goodwill effort?  🤷‍♂️

[startedwithamouse]

OBC is also missing in action. 

[startedwithamouse]

Just now, LACruiser88 said:

I believe it was refunds and FCC as a goodwill effort?  🤷‍♂️

That money has to come from somewhere. 

[Wishing on a star]

Our booking on the SUN is about $1000. more than when we booked!

[PacnGoNow]

Wow!  Big increases on those long cruises we have booked.

 

Thanks for the heads up @LACruiser88.  Wish it was a decrease instead.  🥴

[karatemom2]

As someone who works in marketing I can say this is a not an unusual strategic move for a company that is launching a high profile new "project". It is a "strike while the iron is hot" approach. I'm sure Princess Corporate is anticipating the buzz around the new Sun Princess launch, despite the initial setback, will increase interest in their cruise offerings across the board and are fully going to take advantage of that for the next few weeks while they have influencers and travel media talking them up.

 

Now is not a great time to book - best to hold off at the moment if you can. It's sort of like the idea of "surge" pricing for peak times. This is a peak time for Princess because of all the free PR and promotion. It will subside and then prices will likely swing back on the pendulum, especially for cruises that might be less full.

 

However, for those itineraries that are wildly popular that might not hold true, so booking early on anything like that is a good idea. Those prices may not fall again.

[LACruiser88]

3 minutes ago, karatemom2 said:

It will subside and then prices will likely swing back on the pendulum, especially for cruises that might be less full.

Hopefully!!!

[karatemom2]

7 minutes ago, LACruiser88 said:

Hopefully!!!

 

Yes! Ultimately it will be a capacity issue and be determined by how hot sales are after the launch of the Sun. If sales stay robust, they will keep prices high. But if it starts to cool because people are put off by the price hikes they will adjust. It may be very ship and itinerary specific depending on demand.

 

Editing to add: We have seen a big shift in the Casino offers we normally get thanks to DH. A week ago, most itineraries were still showing $0 for an inside cabin, but that has changed dramatically now to just a few sailings - probably those that still have significant capacity. We are wishing we had booked a few more instead of fence sitting!

Edited March 1 by karatemom2

[Host CJSKIDS]

I just checked our sailing in April, prices are the same as they have been all week. However, the sailings on the Sun that I have been looking at, have all gone up.

[Mike A]

I just checked my pricing on my Majestic Princess April 21, 2025 sailing that I booked 1/23/24 and the price is the exactly the same as booked except, I did not have to pay a deposit. The new deposit requirement is $297 per stateroom. I have 2 Reserve Mini-Suites with Princess Premiere. Both rooms have 3 persons and I purchased Premiere for the 3rd person also

[startedwithamouse]

Anyone onboard can tell us if they're still offering deep discounts on drop and go cruises and discounted Plus packages?

[mtnesterz]

25 minutes ago, Host CJSKIDS said:

I just checked our sailing in April, prices are the same as they have been all week. However, the sailings on the Sun that I have been looking at, have all gone up.

We are on the same upcoming sailing as you. Checking in response to this thread, our Deluxe Balcony has gone up 33% since we booked. When the change happened, I can't say.