Pricing on NCL Has Gotten Outrageous

[Cruising Lynne]

7 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

My husband and I had a moment of nostalgia for NCL last night. Specifically Pincho on the Escape. The Escape was my very first cruise ship and it will always hold a special place in my heart. We decided to see what itineraries the Escape is up to later (I didn't even know where it was sailing now) and saw a 10-day sailing out of NYC for August 2025. We usually try to avoid sailing in August because of school breaks, but this cruise ended August 30th, so we thought most parents probably wouldn't want to be vacationing right up against the start of school? The cruise goes to Bermuda, Tortola, St, Maarten, San Juan, and Puerto Plata. The itinerary looked great, so we decided to price it out.

 

This is where things got shocking. Two people in a regular balcony cabin with FAS, port fees & taxes, and DSC comes out to $5,427.46!!! That comes out to $271.37 per person per day!

 

Usually, when we price out cruises, we are looking for a balcony with drinks and wifi for ~$150 per person per day. This is $120 more per person per day than that.

 

We are sailing in two weeks on the Enchanted Princess (one of Princess' newer ships) on a 14-day cruise that goes to the ABCs, San Juan, Dominica, Barbados, and St. Maarten. We were originally booked into a Deluxe Balcony and won an upgrade bid to a Mini-suite. Our total price for that sailing with Princess Plus (includes drinks, wifi, gratuities) and port fees is $3998. That's only $142.78 per person per day. That's coming extremely close to half the cost of the Escape cruise! And to compare apples to apples, I looked up this cruise for NEXT August when that Escape cruise is sailing and the pricing is very similar. It would be just under $4k for a deluxe balcony.

 

But my favorite comparison is a 10-day sailing we are sailing on in January. The MSC Meraviglia out of NYC, going to St. Thomas, San Juan, St. Maarten, and Puerto Plata. On that sailing, we booked a Whirpool Balcony Suite, which means we have our own private hot tub on our own GIANT balcony. We have been in this room on the Meraviglia before and it was amazing. We felt like this was an extravagant booking, way over our usual $150/person/per day, but well worth it for that hot tub. Did I mention the suite also has a separate living room and bedroom with a real door between them? And both the living room and the bedroom have sliding doors out onto that giant balcony? Oh, and don't forget that it includes thermal spa access. Anyway, the grand total for that cruise with drinks, wifi, DSC, and port fees is $5286.66. We also have a whopping $650 of OBC on that cruise. That's $140.80 less than the Escape sailing in a normal balcony.

 

I can't wrap my brain around how NCL is filling ships at these prices. Over $250 per person per day in a normal balcony is just completely nuts!

 

And then when I think about the fact that price doesn't include room service breakfast, evening turn-down service, Bailey's in the drink package, or unlimited wifi like MSC and Princess do, it really just blows my mind.

 

I used to be such an NCL cheerleader and I know that there are still a lot of them around. I just don't understand how they are willing to continue to WAY overpay for what has become an inferior product.

Maybe we will see you in January. I have a casino offer for up to a ten day, ocean view cabin from MSC, and I've been eyeing the end of January cruise on Meraviglia. We haven't been to St. Maarten in a long time, and I like going to St. Thomas. 

 

I think NCL may have put Baily's back in the regular drink package. Maybe some one else knows for sure?  Either way the suite on Meraviglia sounds like a great deal! We had so much fun on Meraviglia and I got over 10, 000 steps a day without trying.

 

We have NCL Aqua and Jewel booked for 2025 Bermuda trips, so I have not completely given up on NCL. Looking forward to Aqua for Indulge Food Hall etc.

[Saint Greg]

9 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Which ships are you looking at for solo on MSC? I have sailed solo on the Meravigia few times. Some of their studios have what you describe, but others have more like a daybed situation? It's a bed that is always made up as a bed, but it has a "back" and an "arm" like a couch would have? here's a picture:

 

 

I stayed in one of the cabins that had the pull-out sofa and I hated that when it was pulled out it blocked access to the closet and the mini-fridge, so I asked my room steward to just make up my couch as a bed (pretty similar to what NCL does for the third guest in a cabin) and that worked out fine for me. But if I were older or had back problems, it might not have worked. I have gotten good solo prices for balconies on MSC as well. I am going on a Halloween cruise on the Meraviglia this year and original looked at booking it solo (my husband decided to join me) and solo in a deluxe balcony with drinks and wifi would have been $793.

Right now I’m not looking at any. But at the time I was looking at the one you’re talking about out of NYC. Price was good but not to sleep on a fold out bed. I’m not paying a 3rd person price. I’m paying a solo price. I want a real bed on my vacation.

 

I stopped watching and stopped looking at MSC after he covered the bed.

 

 

 

[shof515]

this is getting off topic but i am looking into MSC for the future, is there a way to tell which studio cabins have a normal bed and which have that horrible couch bed type thing

 

is msc studios similar to ncl studios? i love ncl studio cabins

[JamieLogical]

5 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

Right now I’m not looking at any. But at the time I was looking at the one you’re talking about out of NYC. Price was good but not to sleep on a fold out bed. I’m not paying a 3rd person price. I’m paying a solo price. I want a real bed on my vacation.

 

I stopped watching and stopped looking at MSC after he covered the bed.

 

 

 

 

Well, like I said, not all of the studio cabins have that bed arrangement. It requires a little research when selecting the room and you can always sail solo in a normal interior, OV, or balcony....

[JamieLogical]

4 minutes ago, shof515 said:

this is getting off topic but i am looking into MSC for the future, is there a way to tell which studio cabins have a normal bed and which have that horrible couch bed type thing

 

is msc studios similar to ncl studios? i love ncl studio cabins

 

Cruise Deck Plans is your friend!

[luv2kroooz]

3 hours ago, Oakman58 said:

I love cruising, but with the prices getting so high, I'm considering going back to land based all-inclusive vacations.

But it isn't everywhere. There are still some deals to be had out there. Some cruise lines are still doing 2x daily stateroom service with daily gratuities at $16 or $17 per day. Not that we need 2x service, but right out of the gate we are finding more value on other cruise lines, even if the base fare is similar.

[luv2kroooz]

2 hours ago, PartyPlannerLady said:

 

You do realize that in a free market system, it is the BUYER who sets the price.  Its the classic golden rule. he who has the gold sets the rules!  If you think something is being offered for sale at too high a price simply do not buy it.  As other consumers make their purchasing decisiond, the market will adjust accordingly.

Advice taken. Thank you for this. 

[Saint Greg]

11 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Well, like I said, not all of the studio cabins have that bed arrangement. It requires a little research when selecting the room and you can always sail solo in a normal interior, OV, or balcony....

Yeah but when I was looking at it upgrading to regular interior wiped out all of the savings of booking with MSC.

[Saint Greg]

7 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Forgot to mention that NCL also doesn't include bottled water and specialty coffee in their drink price like every other line does either.

You mean the free drink package right? The one you just pay $163 grats for and get? Because I did get it with the $300 upgrade package last year. With Carnival you have to buy a drink package to get the coffee and water. That’s like $70 per person per day on long cruises or $80 per person per day on short ones. And they don’t bundle WiFi or specialty dining with that either. You pay separately for those.

 

 

[graphicguy]

Like all cruise lines, a little shopping goes a long way.  NCL has some killer deals to

Alaska this October.  They also have killer trans-Atlantic sailings this December.  All less than $200/nite per cabin with FREE AT SEA!

 

Matter of fact, the transatlantic is well under that amount.

 

We all have preferences.  I have issues with MSC, but have sailed them.  Princess I have not sailed, but I’ve yet to find one of their sailings that “floats my boat”.

 

NCL puts my preferred bourbon in the “plus”.  Category.  But, my 2nd favorite (Buffalo Trace)  is included in Free At Sea.  I’m OK with that.

 

This is why there are so many choices.  NCL has scratched my cruise itch the last few years.  I’ve enjoyed them all.  That doesn’t keep me from looking around!

 

 

[JamieLogical]

2 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

You mean the free drink package right? The one you just pay $163 grats for and get? Because I did get it with the $300 upgrade package last year. With Carnival you have to buy a drink package to get the coffee and water. That’s like $70 per person per day on long cruises or $80 per person per day on short ones. And they don’t bundle WiFi or specialty dining with that either. You pay separately for those.

 

 

 

Yes, I am talking about the drink package included with FAS. No way am I paying even more than the $270 per person per day listed in the my OP to upgrade the drinks package! Every other cruise line I can stay around $150 per person per day total and get water and specialty coffee included in my drinks package. Paying even more to upgrade is completely insane.

[Saint Greg]

44 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Yes, I am talking about the drink package included with FAS. No way am I paying even more than the $270 per person per day listed in the my OP to upgrade the drinks package! Every other cruise line I can stay around $150 per person per day total and get water and specialty coffee included in my drinks package. Paying even more to upgrade is completely insane.

All I know is on Carnival you’re  going to pay $1,000/week for a drink package for two people. On NCL you can get the upgraded drink package, WiFi, and specialty dining for two for less than that. That along with solo cabins, 10% veterans discount, and cruise first/next is why I’m here.

 

On Princess you would pay an additional $400 pp/week for the Princess plus which gives you the drink package, Wi-Fi, a couple casual meals, and gratuities. The gratuities evens Princess Plus out with the NCL upgraded package.
 

Those are the only lines I have been on. I’ve heard Royals package is even more expensive than carnival’s but they give a number of free drinks per day based on loyalty status. 
 

Celebrity I can’t get past the sticker shock. I looked earlier today at one. It was $350/day for an interior. Insane.

 

 

[JamieLogical]

Just now, Saint Greg said:

All I know is on Carnival you’re  going to pay $1,000/week for a drink package for two people. On NCL you can get the upgraded drink package, WiFi, and specialty dining for two for less than that. That along with solo cabins, 10% veterans discount, and cruise first/next is why I’m here.

 

On Princess you would pay an additional $400 pp/week for the Princess plus which gives you the drink package, Wi-Fi, a couple casual meals, and gratuities. The gratuities evens Princess Plus out with the NCL upgraded package.
 

Those are the only lines I have been on. I’ve heard Royals package is even more expensive than carnival’s but they give a number of free drinks per day based on loyalty status. 
 

Celebrity I can’t get past the sticker shock. I looked earlier today at one. It was $350/day for an interior. Insane.

 

 

 

 

All of the he prices I have mentioned in this thread are total cruise price including drinks, wifi, gratuities (DSC), and port fees/taxes. There is literally no point in comparing pricing between cruise lines without all of those things as I would never sail without them.

 

On MSC I always book with drinks and wifi included. On Celebrity, I always book their "Always Included" price. On Princess I always book with Princess Plus. And on NCL I always book with FAS.

 

NCL's FAS drinks and wifi are inferior to the other lines in that the drinks package doesn't cover bottled water and specialty coffee and the wifi is a limited number of minutes.

[Saint Greg]

16 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

NCL's FAS drinks and wifi are inferior to the other lines in that the drinks package doesn't cover bottled water and specialty coffee and the wifi is a limited number of minutes.

It kind of depends on what you drink I guess. I mostly drink vodka or rum drinks and beer. So I’m good with Tito’s, Bacardi, Malibu, Captain Morgan and Coronas all being on the FAS package I get for $163. I have to pay $400 to get those on Princess and $500 to get them on Carnival. Yes I get coffee and water with those packages but that’s not worth a $250-350 upgrade. I will pay for a WiFi upgrade but it’s about the same price on Carnival.

 

Edited July 28 by Saint Greg

[JamieLogical]

49 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

It kind of depends on what you drink I guess. I mostly drink vodka or rum drinks and beer. So I’m good with Tito’s, Bacardi, Malibu, Captain Morgan and Coronas all being on the FAS package I get for $163. I have to pay $400 to get those on Princess and $500 to get them on Carnival. Yes I get coffee and water with those packages but that’s not worth a $250-350 upgrade. I will pay for a WiFi upgrade but it’s about the same price on Carnival.

 

 

Okay, but how much you think you are paying for the drink package is irrelevant. Trust me, with the inflated "base" cruise fares on NCL, you are still paying more for drinks on NCL than on other lines. All that matters is the total cruise price.

 

These are absurd numbers, but they illustrate my point. If cruise A has a base fare of $100 and the drink package costs me $1000, then I am paying $1100 for the cruise (leaving gratuities, wifi, port fees out of it for this example). If cruise B has a base fare is $700 and the drink package is $500, then the total cruise price is $1200. Cruise A is cheaper even though I am paying twice as much for the drinks package.

 

What cruise lines charge for this package or that package or this addon or that addon is irrelevant. All that matters is the total price you are paying and what is included in that total price. That bottom line is what you need to be comparing between lines.

 

Sure, you could book with no add-ons or packages and just pay the base cruise fare and, if that is all you need then the math may work out very differently between the different lines, but for me I am never going to sail on a cruise without drinks and wifi, so I always factor those into the total cost and that total cost is all I care about.

[PhillyTravelBug]

Next year is the first time we are breaking with NCL. We have bene wanting to try Celebrity and their Mediterranean sailings were a better price.  I'm excited and think we will bounce back and forth between the two for fututre sailings. I have four cruise vouchers to use with NCL.

[Saint Greg]

48 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Okay, but how much you think you are paying for the drink package is irrelevant. Trust me, with the inflated "base" cruise fares on NCL, you are still paying more for drinks on NCL than on other lines. All that matters is the total cruise price.

 

These are absurd numbers, but they illustrate my point. If cruise A has a base fare of $100 and the drink package costs me $1000, then I am paying $1100 for the cruise (leaving gratuities, wifi, port fees out of it for this example). If cruise B has a base fare is $700 and the drink package is $500, then the total cruise price is $1200. Cruise A is cheaper even though I am paying twice as much for the drinks package.

 

What cruise lines charge for this package or that package or this addon or that addon is irrelevant. All that matters is the total price you are paying and what is included in that total price. That bottom line is what you need to be comparing between lines.

 

Sure, you could book with no add-ons or packages and just pay the base cruise fare and, if that is all you need then the math may work out very differently between the different lines, but for me I am never going to sail on a cruise without drinks and wifi, so I always factor those into the total cost and that total cost is all I care about.

It’s less. I wouldn’t book it if I were paying more. I take all expenses into account when choosing my cruises.

 

Edited July 28 by Saint Greg

[LadyBerard]

For those looking for a cruise with a good price, you can currently book the Prima 10 nighter out of NY - round trip - to the Caribbean departing 12/11/24 - total for 2 in a BB with perks is $4080.72.  That's a great deal.

[MiniJeffrey]

If possible, you can get good deals last minute. I might start booking only last minutes from now on as the fares have become very expensive if you book a year in advance like I mostly do.

[luv2kroooz]

7 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

I have to pay $400 to get those on Princess

One option to consider with princess is to buy the plus package onboard on Day, just fyi. You can then use OBC to absorb the cost. So, if you have $125 OBC to use, your package is now $275. That $275 includes your daily gratuities for your steward and dining team, so now your cost for a far superior, more inclusive, Princess package is $165, similar to what you pay NCL for the beverage service charge and you have used your OBC on something you would have purchased anyway. You get unlimited WiFi, too. We find the NCL OBC rules to be quite restrictive, and we end up spending it on overpriced things we typically would have no interest in buying.

 

 

[luv2kroooz]

12 minutes ago, MiniJeffrey said:

If possible, you can get good deals last minute. I might start booking only last minutes from now on as the fares have become very expensive if you book a year in advance like I mostly do.

This is a strategy that has worked well for us. You must be flexible and not be overly concerned about cabin type, location, itinerary. But, you won't find cheaper pricing. Good luck to you.

[WarfRatWA]

Inflation for 2021, 2022 and 2023 is such that prices have to rise.  Given the heavy capital investment nature of cruising, there is no way to avoid this inflation without increasing prices.  Throw in the loss of revenue due to covid (which is why we see a loss in quality, eg. less staff), and add the high demand for cruising and that is why we are where we are.  Pricing will never go back down.

 

Search shoulder seasons, get that military discount, book early and monitor pricing for drops, look at other lines to deal with price issue.  And lastly....I hate to say it, adjust expectations to be more inline with the current situation.  IMO.

 

 

[graphicguy]

9 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

All I know is on Carnival you’re  going to pay $1,000/week for a drink package for two people. On NCL you can get the upgraded drink package, WiFi, and specialty dining for two for less than that. That along with solo cabins, 10% veterans discount, and cruise first/next is why I’m here.

 

On Princess you would pay an additional $400 pp/week for the Princess plus which gives you the drink package, Wi-Fi, a couple casual meals, and gratuities. The gratuities evens Princess Plus out with the NCL upgraded package.
 

Those are the only lines I have been on. I’ve heard Royals package is even more expensive than carnival’s but they give a number of free drinks per day based on loyalty status. 
 

Celebrity I can’t get past the sticker shock. I looked earlier today at one. It was $350/day for an interior. Insane.

 

 

Those are the reasons I keep sailing  NCL.   Those, and the fact i like their service and their ships.  I can always find a deal on their fares….especially for solos, which is what I mostly sail!

 

I have no issues with those who find any other cruise line more to their liking!

[graphicguy]

Just looked at the fares for my last few NCL cruises…all include Free at Sea, all are per cabin (not per person).  All 7 nite (except for EPIC)

 

-Joy-Bermuda 06/24 Haven-$3,883

-Prima-Caribbean 02/24 Haven-$4,098

-EPIC 10/23 Haven 2BR Mediterranean 11 nite-$4,550

-Breakaway-New England/Canada 10/22 Balcony-$591

 

Granted, all solo, so only paid fees/taxes/grats 

for one.

 

Looking at Transatlantic 11-nite in December, solo Balcony with Free aT Sea for around $1,400.

 

 

[JamieLogical]

2 hours ago, LadyBerard said:

For those looking for a cruise with a good price, you can currently book the Prima 10 nighter out of NY - round trip - to the Caribbean departing 12/11/24 - total for 2 in a BB with perks is $4080.72.  That's a great deal.

 

Is that including DSC? If it is, that works out to $204 per person per day. If not that works out to $224 per person per day. That is WAY over my $150 per person per day target.