Suites/Retreat Are Getting Pricey

[Syd58]

39 minutes ago, Gracie115 said:

 

I was quoting what @Syd58 stated earlier in this thread on the Beyond for 10 nights in February.  I looked and I don't see that high a price but I do see over $8000 for Aqua Sky Suite per person , over $12,000 for a CS per person during that time period.  Crazy expensive.

Looks like the price may have dropped slightly. I'm seeing a Sky Suite in Retreat on Beyond in Feb. 2025 for 2 for $16,223.  Still too much for 10 days.

[ExArkie]

13 minutes ago, mac_tlc said:

It all depends. Our three X Sky Suites on Beyond (Nov 2024), Xcel (Jan 2026) and Silhouette (April 2026) are all less than $390 pp per day. 
 

We were looking at a SS from Tokyo-Vancouver at about $370pp per day. But I can find a lot of SS well north of $400 or $500 pp per day. 
 

Our Oceania TA in Fall 2025 on Vista is around $340pp per day. 
 

My point is general statements about “this line being less than this line” can be true of false. You have to shop around, at any point in time any line may be cheaper. 
 

We have found Royal’s suites to be crazy high. How about over $1,200 pp per day for Icon for a GS? Even the older Symphony of the Seas can be $700 or more pp per day for a GS out of NJ. 
 

Sometimes X is cheaper, sometimes not. It’s not all about pure price —- the experiences are different between X and O and SS. You need to determine what is important to you and factor that in. 
 

mac_tlc

Thank you for making that point. We almost always board ships for ocean crossings rather than port-to-port, with next year including a Spring transpacific and a Fall transatlantic.
 

For the Spring, Silversea entry-level cabin was slightly less than a Celebrity Retreat cabin for roughly the same itinerary, but Holland America’s suite price was significantly lower than both on an itinerary that includes a day in Glacier Bay coming from Yokohama to Vancouver.

 

For the Fall, we ended up with a Celebrity Eclipse S1 for about $302 pp per day. Well below the other offerings from lines we would consider.

 

We always look at everyone’s pricing and have rarely found the best deal on Silversea, but it does happen sometimes. 

[markeb]

They've been high for a while, and selling. You'd swear from some threads around here that Celebrity must be going broke from all their stupid decisions, but it's not from lack of sales...

 

I also think there's no universal in comparing the Retreat to a true luxury line. We're taking a pause from cruising for now, but we were shopping the ABCs for late next year/early 2026 (probably push it back at this point). When we first looked, the best deals were Sky Suites on Celebrity. We could leave from Fort Lauderdale, an easy and generally affordable flight for us. S-Class ship with a nice sized cabin. I don't remember all the details, but looking at Regent, Silversea, and Oceania, they were either more expensive or much less convenient, or both. More included, in general, although we rarely do a ship's excursion so that's kind of a wash.

 

If you moved up from a Sky Suite, there really was no comparison and other than the convenience factor for embarkation/disembarkation, all three offered more for the money (still lose out on big ship entertainment).

 

 

[Syd58]

3 minutes ago, ExArkie said:

Thank you for making that point. We almost always board ships for ocean crossings rather than port-to-port, with next year including a Spring transpacific and a Fall transatlantic.
 

For the Spring, Silversea entry-level cabin was slightly less than a Celebrity Retreat cabin for roughly the same itinerary, but Holland America’s suite price was significantly lower than both on an itinerary that includes a day in Glacier Bay coming from Yokohama to Vancouver.

 

For the Fall, we ended up with a Celebrity Eclipse S1 for about $302 pp per day. Well below the other offerings from lines we would consider.

 

We always look at everyone’s pricing and have rarely found the best deal on Silversea, but it does happen sometimes. 

Silversea is all-inclusive of excursions and gratuities, while these are extra on Celebrity. Even Celebrity's Simply More pricing did not usually cover the entire cost of excursions.

Edited September 9 by Syd58

[markeb]

Just to add:

 

We don't cruise multiple times a year. We enjoy it, but there are large parts of this country and the world that aren't close to a cruise port, and we like those places just as much. We're spending a week in Montreal in late October and another week in London in late November. For us, those beat out most cruises. 

 

I'm not in the "Loyal to Royal" or addicted to Celebrity crowd. Celebrity has offered us some very nice experiences, and not having to deal with smoke rising through a chimney from the casino has a value. But I think at the prices cruises have hit these days, it's difficult to just gamble on a line you have no experience with or a very old experience. We've successfully made it to the age that Holland becomes interesting again, but It's been 18 years and we'd be trying to make up our mind if we want to gamble on them now. They have changed, apparently fairly dramatically, at least with the newer ships. With some of the comments I've seen around here, we may give them another try.

 

Choice is good...

[billc23]

4 hours ago, Syd58 said:

Have noticed a significant uptick in prices,  Not sure what Celebrity’s strategy is. On many itineraries, it’s now possible to sail on smaller ships on Silversea, Seabourn, and Oceania for roughly the same price or even less. Silversea is all-inclusive and Seabourn includes gratuities and frequently runs OBC specials. We love the Retreat, but if the smaller, luxury ships’ prices are the same or less, we’ll choose them every time. 

 

This has been true for two years. I recently booked an Alaska trip on Silversea for less than a sky suite on Celebrity. The Silver Moon is a much newer ship (2020) than the Summit. In 2023, my trip to Iceland on Silversea was cheaper than Celebrity with more ports and longer time in ports too. The excursions were included and of good quality.

[billc23]

3 hours ago, sanger727 said:

A celebrity sailing will be a totally different experience than a smaller ship.  If you want the VIP treatment and are willing to accept the downsides of a smaller ship - fewer dining options, less entertainment - then that is probably the way to go.  If you want the VIP treatment and the amenities that come with a larger ship are important to you, then you would have to pay for the Celebrity suite. 

More dining options on Silversea. An elevated experience on Silversea but there is not the class system with the VIP's that Celebrity sells as part of the Retreat. There is no being escorted to the front of the line on Silversea... there are hardly any lines. The luxury lines tend to be more port intensive. Celebrity has more ship activities but MSC has many activities and an over the top VIP system in their YC. 

[mac_tlc]

4 minutes ago, billc23 said:

More dining options on Silversea. An elevated experience on Silversea but there is not the class system with the VIP's that Celebrity sells as part of the Retreat. There is no being escorted to the front of the line on Silversea... there are hardly any lines. The luxury lines tend to be more port intensive. Celebrity has more ship activities but MSC has many activities and an over the top VIP system in their YC. 

No line is going to be the answer to everyone. Smaller ships will have fewer entertainment and activity options, but less people. Usually more port intensive -- which is a problem for those of us with mobility challenges, especially in Europe where the accessibility is very poor. 

 

I do agree with @markeb when they said that at today's prices, it is difficult to "take a chance" with an cruise or line with which you have no experience. I have been trying to sell the YC to my wife, but every time she hears/sees something about the rest of the ship, it becomes a no go. 

 

We are looking forward to our Oceania experience in 2025, With 1200 passengers, that will be the smallest ship we have ever been on.   

 

Our goal in the next few years is to try a number of them. First HAL and O in 2025, hopefully SS after that and maybe a Viking. But, we like the X experience so if we can find an acceptable price, we will take advantage of it. 

 

 

mac_tlc

[billc23]

3 hours ago, cyntil8ing said:

We're also checking prices carefully. A Sky Suite on a 10-night on Ascent in December 2025 is over $2k more than an 11-night in a Veranda Suite on the brand new Silversea Silver Ray. The itinerary on the Silver Ray is much better, and includes excursions in each port.

 

Now I just have to wait forever for it to get here!

I booked a b2b on the Silver Ray January 2026. They recently changed the ports to more interesting ones as opposed to the usual Caribbean ports. Then the March Silver Ray TA to Lisbon. I am sure you will have a great time!

[billc23]

3 hours ago, Gracie115 said:

The pricing is crazy and outside of a little 4 night on the Equinox we don't sail Celebrity anymore. Too bad after 25+ years, but there is NOTHING in the retreat experience that would make an S1 worth 20K for a Caribbean cruise.  Anyone paying that much has money to throw away.........and is pretty gullible to think it's worth it. 

A few frequent Celebrity cruisers on this board (like me) have tried the luxury lines and when they post that the price was similar and often less, they were often shot down by the Celebrity loyalists. Almost 3 years ago at our local jazz club I was conversing with a couple who had just returned from a Regent cruise. They loved it and I said how great Celebrity's Retreat was - best of both worlds..., great service... entertainment... all the loyalists talking points. 

 

Now I will admit, you don't know what you don't know. 

[RichYak]

1 hour ago, phoenix_dream said:

They are selling them out on almost every cruise so it will not change until/if that does.

Are they? Or are they just filling them via move-ups?

[Lastdance]

I think being loyalist to any line is just fine, but you may be missing something better.  My Oceania cruise cannot get here soon enough, but I will just have to wait.  My DH and I are cruising a little less, but adding more time in a particular country, at the beginning, or at the end.  I do not believe in throwing money away, but I know what I want and like, so sticking pretty closely with what works!  Celebrity really disappointed me in a few ways, so it made us look for other companies.  All of us have different wants, so whatever yours is, I hope you find it and smile!🥰

[billc23]

39 minutes ago, RichYak said:

Are they? Or are they just filling them via move-ups?

When I sailed on the Flora in September 2023 I booked the PH. The other PH and the two RS were filled via move-ups. Who's the chump??? 

[Dolebludger]

In the past decade, most of our cruises have been either Regent or X Retreat. In the pre pandemic past we really liked the Retreat deal because it allowed us to get a CC or RS without breaking the bank. We did find more vip treatment on Regent and actually preferred the entertainment on it over X. Perhaps it was because the theater was never crowded with plenty of seating choices. But then the Retreat was substantially less expensive than Regent and thus a pretty good deal at times. But not any more. I can’t speak to relationship in fares since July 1. Then Regent stopped including air in its fares and its fares have been moving around, up and down. All I can say for sure is that Regent still includes unlimited valet  laundry, mini bar in suite, and some shore excursions in the fare.

[Oceangoer2]

3 hours ago, canderson said:

Yeah, but if your ovens are already at capacity (ships full), you don't want or need to spend any additional money to add demand you can't fulfill.  All that's needed is to keep the demand on an even keel (-1 for pun, yes).  To steal those customers, you'd need more ovens (more new builds) in the pipeline, and Celebrity has only one in the works - Xcel.

Are you confusing apples with oranges?  but that was a great comparison in ship speak!  I was referring to just 'bread' not cruising costs.  On CC I should stay with a ship analogy...LOL.  However OP was trying to compare ship loads so I shouldn't have been so literal.  🤐

[Oceangoer2]

1 hour ago, RichYak said:

Are they? Or are they just filling them via move-ups?

Before move ups are available, our Nov. cruise is almost sold out at least from concierge and up.

[Oceangoer2]

2 hours ago, Syd58 said:

Even Celebrity's Simply More pricing

Isn't Simply More Oceania?

[canderson]

1 hour ago, RichYak said:

Are they? Or are they just filling them via move-ups?

Find a suite on next year's WB Fall TA on Constellation.  Has been sold out for ages.  Bit early for MoveUps.

[Syd58]

2 hours ago, billc23 said:

More dining options on Silversea. An elevated experience on Silversea but there is not the class system with the VIP's that Celebrity sells as part of the Retreat. There is no being escorted to the front of the line on Silversea... there are hardly any lines. The luxury lines tend to be more port intensive. Celebrity has more ship activities but MSC has many activities and an over the top VIP system in their YC. 

The embarcation process for Retreat guests was/is horrific in Seattle. The waiting area is small, so small that some had to find a seat outside the room.  The lounge in Ft. Lauderdale is beautiful.

[1Virgo]

we just booked Princess Sanctuary (same as Retreat). seriously cheaper than Celebrity and we have been loyal to that line for years bRetreat…💰💰💰💰💰💰.  The nearly same itinerary on X was almost double

[Syd58]

38 minutes ago, 1Virgo said:

we just booked Princess Sanctuary (same as Retreat). seriously cheaper than Celebrity and we have been loyal to that line for years bRetreat…💰💰💰💰💰💰.  The nearly same itinerary on X was almost double

Celebrity is generally considered to be a step up from Princess, so not surprising the Sanctuary on Princess is cheaper.

Edited September 10 by Syd58

[Cruise Junky]

40 minutes ago, 1Virgo said:

we just booked Princess Sanctuary (same as Retreat). seriously cheaper than Celebrity and we have been loyal to that line for years bRetreat…💰💰💰💰💰💰.  The nearly same itinerary on X was almost double

Isn’t it only available on two ships and one isn’t out yet?  

[Cruise Junky]

2 hours ago, Oceangoer2 said:

Isn't Simply More Oceania?

Yes and Simply More has been discontinued. 

[1Virgo]

4 minutes ago, Cruise Junky said:

Isn’t it only available on two ships and one isn’t out yet?  

Sun Princess

[1Virgo]

30 minutes ago, Syd58 said:

Celebrity is generally considered to be a step up from Princess, so not surprising the Sanctuary on Princess is cheaper.

we will see. Family have sailed both and say for them, they had a better experience and no cheaping out  with Princess.