Pushka Posted October 19 #26 Share Posted October 19 7 hours ago, Miaminice said: booked Millennium again for May 2025. Then Hakodate and Aomori are beautiful. 😉 I was hoping we might cruise together but we just miss you. Think we disembark as you embark. This is all very useful info and being a cherry blossom (late) cruise we do go to Hakodate and Aomori. The latter we arrive on their Public Holiday for Golden Week and the Cherry Blossom festival. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichYak Posted October 19 #27 Share Posted October 19 12 minutes ago, C4HCG said: Is being a mass market cruise line a bad thing? Not sure why it would be, if I was selling a product I would hope it had a mass market. And I know you are having a dig at celebrity claiming to be premium / luxury but who really cares. If they feel they get value for money that’s the one and only thing that matters. Where did I say that being a mass market cruise line is a bad thing? I don’t even believe that to be true so why would I say it? A product can appeal to a mass market or a niche market. Neither is good nor bad, just a business decision that’s priced accordingly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichYak Posted October 19 #28 Share Posted October 19 57 minutes ago, zitsky said: Folks in this forum claim that luxury lines are cheaper than Celebrity RETREAT. I re-read your OP and see no mention of RETREAT pricing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushka Posted October 19 #29 Share Posted October 19 4 hours ago, zitsky said: Yes, I do look at both Aqua Class and Retreat pricing across Celebrity and similar lines. **IMHO** that is useful to me even if it is not useful to you. I do look at price of Aqua for a 11 day Japan cruise on Celebrity, about $10,300. I also look at MSC Yacht Club, similar to Retreat at $12,000. I am looking at what I can get for a certain price point. I have no interest in spending $30/40/50K on a "luxury" line. Maybe you are, not me. I am certainly interested in spending $15K on a Retreat like experience on another line. Gosh. Given the exchange rate and that ours includes tips, our cruise total for Aqua Japan next May was $12000 AUD. Which is $7800 USD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zitsky Posted October 19 Author #30 Share Posted October 19 50 minutes ago, RichYak said: I re-read your OP and see no mention of RETREAT pricing. I want to apologize for not including every post on this forum when I ask a question. I think we’re done here. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NMTraveller Posted October 20 #31 Share Posted October 20 (edited) 6 hours ago, RichYak said: I re-read your OP and see no mention of RETREAT pricing. Peace to all ... 🤣 Now I think that the OP comparing Millenium pricing as it is the least expensive pricing is highly suspect. Perhaps they should do a comparison with E class OMG 🤑 🤑 🤑 🤑 🤑 🤑 Yet I do have an E class cruise booked mostly for the itinerary... Not trying to throw shade on Millie as it is the best Celebrity ship IMHO. Edited October 20 by NMTraveller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NMTraveller Posted October 20 #32 Share Posted October 20 6 hours ago, Pushka said: Gosh. Given the exchange rate and that ours includes tips, our cruise total for Aqua Japan next May was $12000 AUD. Which is $7800 USD. OMG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Miaminice Posted October 20 #33 Share Posted October 20 (edited) 11 hours ago, Pushka said: Gosh. Given the exchange rate and that ours includes tips, our cruise total for Aqua Japan next May was $12000 AUD. Which is $7800 USD. When we booked our first Japan cruise in 2016 it still had a reasonable price. After falling in love with Japan on that cruise we looked for a second one. It was a cherry blossom cruise and Celebrity’s price was crazy expensive - so we booked with HAL for much less. In general Japan was still exotic and not on everyone’s radar at the time. Now Japan has become a very popular destination. On FB and Cruise Critic Japan has become a regular topic… and the prices unfortunately reflect the popularity - regardless of the season. We also enjoy Aqua but hate the current price tags. TBH, combined with the generally risen rates of Celebrity the prices reach levels we are not willing and able to pay - especially because we travel pretty often. We still got the next Japan cruise for a good price in comparison but we see ourselves slowly moving away to other means of travel. Our recent Mekong River cruise was absolutely fabulous and we are looking into other land trips as well. After 30+ long cruises we are kind running out of destinations. We have done the far away cruises, some more than once. We definitely don’t do the Caribbean. The Med is nice and has sooo much to offer, but we have seen all the regions repeatedly. And we feel that we won’t do a cruise just for the reason of doing a cruise… we want to see things and explore new places. So we’ll see where the journey takes us. One thing is for sure, we’ll enjoy every opportunity to travel the world and to learn more about it. 😁 Edited October 20 by Miaminice 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare villauk Posted October 20 #34 Share Posted October 20 16 minutes ago, Miaminice said: After 30+ long cruises we are kind running out of destinations. We have done the far away cruises, some more than once. We definitely don’t do the Caribbean. The Med is nice and has sooo much to offer, but we have seen all the regions repeatedly. And we feel that we won’t do a cruise just for the reason of doing a cruise… we want to see things and explore new places. So we’ll see where the journey takes us. As you know, we also like to visit different places across the world and that’s one of the reasons why my DH wants to try a small-ship experience: alternative ports to the ones offered by every mass line. We now use the Med cruises as our ‘bimbling’ cruises without the kids - a sort of returning to familiar places and reflecting on past memories 😁. Boy does it make us feel old 😂. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodndonna Posted October 20 #35 Share Posted October 20 On 10/17/2024 at 7:21 PM, zitsky said: I know this may not be a complete comparison but this is here for all the folks saying Celebrity is overpriced. I just got a quote of $17,000 for a 15 day Apr/May 2026 Japan cruise on the Azamara Pursuit veranda cabin versus $6,300. $600/pp/pd Azamara vs $286 Celebrity. Maybe someone can explain why Azamara is worth so much more for a basic cabin? What is included on Azamara that you don’t get on Celebrity? Not sure which Azamara cruise you are looking at .. but if it is the April 10-24, 2026, the inflated price is a result of it being a "PerryGolf" cruise...which have inflated prices compared to the non-golf cruises made worst by the fact that the golf component has already sold out. https://www.perrygolf.com/golfcruising/japan-golf-cruise-2026-april10.php Having only 700 rooms is also a factor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare chemmo Posted October 20 #36 Share Posted October 20 58 minutes ago, Miaminice said: When we booked our first Japan cruise in 2016 it still had a reasonable price. After falling in love with Japan on that cruise we looked for a second one. It was a cherry blossom cruise and Celebrity’s price was crazy expensive - so we booked with HAL for much less. In general Japan was still exotic and not on everyone’s radar at the time. Now Japan has become a very popular destination. On FB and Cruise Critic Japan has become a regular topic… and the prices unfortunately reflect the popularity - regardless of the season. We also enjoy Aqua but hate the current price tags. TBH, combined with the generally risen rates of Celebrity the prices reach levels we are not willing and able to pay - especially because we travel pretty often. We still got the next Japan cruise for a good price in comparison but we see ourselves slowly moving away to other means of travel. Our recent Mekong River cruise was absolutely fabulous and we are looking into other land trips as well. After 30+ long cruises we are kind running out of destinations. We have done the far away cruises, some more than once. We definitely don’t do the Caribbean. The Med is nice and has sooo much to offer, but we have seen all the regions repeatedly. And we feel that we won’t do a cruise just for the reason of doing a cruise… we want to see things and explore new places. So we’ll see where the journey takes us. One thing is for sure, we’ll enjoy every opportunity to travel the world and to learn more about it. 😁 I thoroughly enjoyed your river cruise! Surprisingly after travelling the world with a mix of land tours, fly drive holidays and cruises some of our best holidays have been where we have ‘travelled less but absorbed more’. For example, we booked a villa in the mountains in Mallorca. We booked it for R&R and sunshine and were treated to a wealth of local Balearic food, farming and culture…We had visited the islands before and always stayed in hotels and visited the ‘main sights’. Sometimes there is a lot to be said for limiting where you go to but having the time to really savour the experience. Other options to cruising or ‘set tours’ are often overlooked. So many countries have great railways and others good (or if not interesting) coaches connecting towns and cities and obviously there is also the fly drive option….I could see you organising your own Japanese adventure and experiencing far more than you ever could on a cruise… 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Miaminice Posted October 20 #37 Share Posted October 20 (edited) @chemmo after really enjoying Vietnam and Cambodia, Birgit and I now have Laos on our radar. 😁 We also started doing combos. In September next year we‘ll try Virgin for a change. It’s a one week cruise, so we decided to add one more week on Paros. An island we really enjoyed two years ago. Sorry, we are going off topic here… Edited October 20 by Miaminice 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zitsky Posted October 20 Author #38 Share Posted October 20 We have already done several river cruises AND small ship ocean on Viking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodndonna Posted October 20 #39 Share Posted October 20 8 hours ago, NMTraveller said: Peace to all ... 🤣 Now I think that the OP comparing Millenium pricing as it is the least expensive pricing is highly suspect. Perhaps they should do a comparison with E class OMG 🤑 🤑 🤑 🤑 🤑 🤑 Yet I do have an E class cruise booked mostly for the itinerary... Not trying to throw shade on Millie as it is the best Celebrity ship IMHO. I think a better comparison would be an E-class ship pricing with an Azamara cruise which is not part of the inflated price that comes with being an Azamara PerryGolf cruise (that has been made even more expensive as it is sold out for the golfers). I am curious on the pricing and differences between the two though- we have sailed Celebrity and are booked on an "overpriced" Azamara (PerryGolf and golfing) but am curious on comparing the lines price-wise for similar itineraries (not inflated by the golf program) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruseKrazy Posted October 20 #40 Share Posted October 20 Azamara is in direct competition with Oceania. Both of these lines offer smaller ship experiences at a higher price typically. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NMTraveller Posted October 20 #41 Share Posted October 20 (edited) 2 hours ago, Miaminice said: @chemmo after really enjoying Vietnam and Cambodia, Birgit and I now have Laos on our radar. 😁 We also started doing combos. In September next year we‘ll try Virgin for a change. It’s a one week cruise, so we decided to add one more week on Paros. An island we really enjoyed two years ago. Sorry, we are going off topic here… So what are your thoughts on the two different Japan Celebrity itineraries for first timers? Forgive me if you have been over this before. They have the Best of Japan which goes from Seoul to Tokyo and has fewer ports but some overnights. And then there is Golden Week which has more ports ... Which would you recommend? Edited October 20 by NMTraveller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zitsky Posted October 20 Author #42 Share Posted October 20 1 hour ago, NMTraveller said: So what are your thoughts on the two different Japan Celebrity itineraries for first timers? Forgive me if you have been over this before. They have the Best of Japan which goes from Seoul to Tokyo and has fewer ports but some overnights. And then there is Golden Week which has more ports ... Which would you recommend? How are you counting ports? Because from what I see, Japan to Korea has 2 more *Japanese* ports. Note I'm not counting Shimizu as it seems just a short stop to see Mt Fuji? BEST OF JAPAN April 21-May 2, 11 nights Aqua $4095 pp plus extra Retreat $7,528 pp $10,147 Pay gratuities, Drinks / wifi included ALL INCLUDED PORTS Tokyo / Yokohama Shimizu (Mt Fuji) Kyoto / Osaka overnight two days Kochi Sea Day Busan, South Korea Nagasaki Kagoshima Tokyo 4 Japan ports plus Tokyo plus Busan (I don’t count Mt Fuji) BEST OF JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA, 12 NIGHTS May 14-26, 2026 Aqua $3,461 The Retreat $6,963 TOTAL ALL INCLUED PLUS GRATUITIES $9,056 PORTS Tokyo Mt Fuji / Shimizu Kyoto / Osaka overnight Kochi Hiroshima Sea Day Kagoshima Nagasaki Fukuoka Busan Sea Day Seoul 6 Japan ports plus Tokyo plus Busan plus Seoul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Miaminice Posted October 20 #43 Share Posted October 20 4 hours ago, NMTraveller said: So what are your thoughts on the two different Japan Celebrity itineraries for first timers? Forgive me if you have been over this before. They have the Best of Japan which goes from Seoul to Tokyo and has fewer ports but some overnights. And then there is Golden Week which has more ports ... Which would you recommend? The upper one of the itineraries in post #2 is the one I would definitely recommend… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Miaminice Posted October 20 #44 Share Posted October 20 3 hours ago, zitsky said: Note I'm not counting Shimizu as it seems just a short stop to see Mt Fuji? oh, Shimizu is much more than that. Yes, you can see Mt. Fuji. However, there’s also the Konuza n Toshugo shrine - IMHO one of the nicest in Japan - and some smaller ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zitsky Posted October 20 Author #45 Share Posted October 20 1 hour ago, Miaminice said: oh, Shimizu is much more than that. Yes, you can see Mt. Fuji. However, there’s also the Konuza n Toshugo shrine - IMHO one of the nicest in Japan - and some smaller ones. Thanks. You mean I have to see Mt Fuji AND a beautiful temple? Darn. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushka Posted October 20 #46 Share Posted October 20 12 hours ago, Miaminice said: When we booked our first Japan cruise in 2016 it still had a reasonable price. After falling in love with Japan on that cruise we looked for a second one. It was a cherry blossom cruise and Celebrity’s price was crazy expensive - so we booked with HAL for much less. In general Japan was still exotic and not on everyone’s radar at the time. Now Japan has become a very popular destination. On FB and Cruise Critic Japan has become a regular topic… and the prices unfortunately reflect the popularity - regardless of the season. We also enjoy Aqua but hate the current price tags. TBH, combined with the generally risen rates of Celebrity the prices reach levels we are not willing and able to pay - especially because we travel pretty often. We still got the next Japan cruise for a good price in comparison but we see ourselves slowly moving away to other means of travel. Our recent Mekong River cruise was absolutely fabulous and we are looking into other land trips as well. After 30+ long cruises we are kind running out of destinations. We have done the far away cruises, some more than once. We definitely don’t do the Caribbean. The Med is nice and has sooo much to offer, but we have seen all the regions repeatedly. And we feel that we won’t do a cruise just for the reason of doing a cruise… we want to see things and explore new places. So we’ll see where the journey takes us. One thing is for sure, we’ll enjoy every opportunity to travel the world and to learn more about it. 😁 Weve enjoyed many cruises to pretty much all across the world except for Antarctica which is eye wateringly expensive and also the Arctic. I think our most memorable was just over a year ago where we're transited the Suez Canal visiting Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Israel. Four months later and everything changed. That is one itinerary we will never see again in our lifetime. This was on Viking for 21 wonderful days. We couldn't afford it again anyway. After Japan cruise our next one in 2025 is Mekong River Cruise to Vietnam and Cambodia with Viking. Again, prices now beyond what we are prepared to pay. So it's back to celebrity for a while now. 2026 is Celebrity but in a standard balcony. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NMTraveller Posted October 21 #47 Share Posted October 21 10 hours ago, zitsky said: How are you counting ports? Because from what I see, Japan to Korea has 2 more *Japanese* ports. Note I'm not counting Shimizu as it seems just a short stop to see Mt Fuji? BEST OF JAPAN April 21-May 2, 11 nights Aqua $4095 pp plus extra Retreat $7,528 pp $10,147 Pay gratuities, Drinks / wifi included ALL INCLUDED PORTS Tokyo / Yokohama Shimizu (Mt Fuji) Kyoto / Osaka overnight two days Kochi Sea Day Busan, South Korea Nagasaki Kagoshima Tokyo 4 Japan ports plus Tokyo plus Busan (I don’t count Mt Fuji) BEST OF JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA, 12 NIGHTS May 14-26, 2026 Aqua $3,461 The Retreat $6,963 TOTAL ALL INCLUED PLUS GRATUITIES $9,056 PORTS Tokyo Mt Fuji / Shimizu Kyoto / Osaka overnight Kochi Hiroshima Sea Day Kagoshima Nagasaki Fukuoka Busan Sea Day Seoul 6 Japan ports plus Tokyo plus Busan plus Seoul I took a second look. Both have 8 ports. One has two overnights and the other just one overnight and goes back to Tokyo... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zitsky Posted October 21 Author #48 Share Posted October 21 (edited) 5 minutes ago, NMTraveller said: I took a second look. Both have 8 ports. One has two overnights and the other just one overnight and goes back to Tokyo... I carefully reviewed this before I posted. So is what that I posted is incorrect? According to my notes one has 8 ports and one has 10. Look specifically at the ports in Japan. Edited October 21 by zitsky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Port Power Posted October 21 #49 Share Posted October 21 15 hours ago, rodndonna said: I think a better comparison would be an E-class ship pricing with an Azamara cruise which is not part of the inflated price that comes with being an Azamara PerryGolf cruise (that has been made even more expensive as it is sold out for the golfers). I am curious on the pricing and differences between the two though- we have sailed Celebrity and are booked on an "overpriced" Azamara (PerryGolf and golfing) but am curious on comparing the lines price-wise for similar itineraries (not inflated by the golf program) You need to remember that Azamara is more port intensive. It is docking at many more ports than Millennium, as well as two overnights. That adds a lot more to the cruise. Of course, the increased fare is also due to the fewer veranda cabins, as well as the very low crew-to-staff ratio. Included drinks has already been mentioned. The overall ambiance of a small ship that warrants the premium paid. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Miaminice Posted October 21 #50 Share Posted October 21 11 hours ago, zitsky said: Thanks. You mean I have to see Mt Fuji AND a beautiful temple? Darn. 🙂 Here´s more about Shimizu: Our most recent trip and Shimizu DIY: https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2970853-celebrity-millennium-japan-10242023-liveish-report/?do=findComment&comment=66334394 The first visit on Millennium: https://www.travelandcruise.net/travellove_en/Our-Trips/Celebrity-Millennium-Japan/Celebrity-Millennium---Shimizu/celebrity-millennium---shimizu.html The second on HAL during Sakura https://www.travelandcruise.net/travellove_en/Our-Trips/HAL-Westerdam-Japan-01/HAL-Westerdam-Japan---Shimizu/hal-westerdam-japan---shimizu.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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