Why is it so expensive????

[nurseypoo5]

to book over a year out? I just got off the Ecstasy and booked last Sept, and the price was just right at 1,000 for a room for 3.

I just inquired about another Ecstasy cruise next Jan, around the same time, and i was quoted nearly 900 EACH for NO WINDOW.

what is up with that??? I keep getting "book it and we'll lower it as it lowers" who wants to book, "thinking maybeeeee it will get lower"

Is this historically what the cruise lines do to get suckers in who dont know any better? Or are the cruise companies increasing prices (which seems difficult in the recession)

Just curious. I want a cruise booked NOW i cant wait, i need incentive to keep living and working lol

[SharHite]

Cruise pricing is a game. You never know where and when you will find the best prices.

Cruise prices vary depending on the time of the year you sail. A Caribbean cruise in September will frequently be less than half the price of the exact same cruise during January/February. If there is a holiday during the cruise, you will frequently find high prices. Also, if the sailing is selling really well early, they will go ahead and raise the price early.

But you frequently find the best prices by booking early. If we were to book our September cruise now (still 6 months away), we would pay more for an inside cabin than we are paying for an outside cabin. My other 3 cruises are all priced higher now than when they were booked.

We have had the price lowered before as well. We booked one cruise a year out and then my TA saw a lower price a couple months later. She called the cruise line and got our price lowered and then called us to tell us the good news. Another time, she saw that the week after we were scheduled to sail, the price would be $200 lower. She asked if we wanted to switch and we did.

But you may want to double-check your price. I looked up the prices for Ecstacy in January 2009 and only the suites were running 900 each.

[SACRUISER]

Originally Posted by nurseypoo5

I just inquired about another Ecstasy cruise next Jan, around the same time, and i was quoted nearly 900 EACH for NO WINDOW.

If your TA quoted you $900 each for inside cabin, I'd get a new travel agent.

[Cruznut2]

I just booked a 14 day Panama Canal cruise over a year away. I got a great deal on that and the price was quoted including the taxes, port charges and fuel surcharge. Quite often I see a cruise price that looks great then in small print they say not including taxes, port charges. by the time all of that is aded on the price is out ofrange.

Laura

[scottlpool2003]

I must agree that the cruises now days is sooo expensive!

[CaptainEdwardJohnSmith]

Liz, nothing beats booking last-last minute, period!

These are our cruises these last 15 months and what we paid for them per person, all prices include cruise, port charges, govt taxes and fees:

Dec 2006.....12-day Hawaii/Fanning Island cruise on NCL Wind including
return airfare Los Angeles-Honolulu-Los Angeles.....$619.00

Jan 2007.....7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise on Costa Magica including return airfare Los Angeles-Fort Lauderdale-Los Angeles.....$544.00

Feb 2007.....8-day Mexican Riviera cruise on Carnival Spirit - no airfare.....$349.00

Apr 2007.....19-day Panama Canal cruise on Regal Princess cruising out of Los Angeles and back to Los Angeles - no airfare.....$905.00

Sep 2007.....6-day Repo Cruise on Golden Princess Vancouver to Los Angeles including 1-way airfare Los Angeles to Vancouver.....$480.00

Oct 2007.....18-day Panama Canal cruise on NCL SUN San Diego to Miami including 1-way airfare Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles.....$960.00

Feb 2008.....6-day Baja California cruise on Carnival Elation - no airfare.....$321.00

Anyone who has some degree of flexibility of travel dates and does not have his/her heart set on any itinerary would be nuts to travel anything other than last, last-minute. Just my opinion.


Captain

[Dutchman]

Yep the cabin cost is just the start. Till you get back from the cruise "what did the cruise really cost " from you home and back ???
cabin for two w/taxes and fees
Tips on board
Air for two
Insurance for two
Parking if needed
Gas for car if needed/or transportation to hotel/cruise port/more tips
Hotel if needed or wanted before or after cruise
Tips for anyone who touches your bags
Food on travel if needed
New anything if needed to take along
casino
drinks
shopping
Shore excursions
Tips for anybody that looks at you
AND THAT TOTAL IS "WOW" I didn't think it was that much

[Floridanamaw]

I too have been pricing cruises for October or November of 2009. When we sailed Oct. 2007 on the Glory I was able to get a balcony cabin on the Empress deck for less than 700.00 per person. Great price I thought. I have priced the legend and the glory for same time period in 2009 and a balcony cat 8B is 800.00 per person with the deposit now 250.00 per person instead of 200.00 per person. I was told by my PVP with Carnival that some port fees have increased and the price quoted did include the fuel charge, which I guess might be taken off if dropped in the future. So they have gone up since last year with higher port charges and fuel charges. So now I might only be able to cruise every other year, bummer!!

[Mike M]

Originally Posted by nurseypoo5

to book over a year out? I just got off the Ecstasy and booked last Sept, and the price was just right at 1,000 for a room for 3.

I just inquired about another Ecstasy cruise next Jan, around the same time, and i was quoted nearly 900 EACH for NO WINDOW.

what is up with that??? I keep getting "book it and we'll lower it as it lowers" who wants to book, "thinking maybeeeee it will get lower"

Is this historically what the cruise lines do to get suckers in who dont know any better? Or are the cruise companies increasing prices (which seems difficult in the recession)

Just curious. I want a cruise booked NOW i cant wait, i need incentive to keep living and working lol

Nurseypoo: You REALLY need to get a new travel agent. Inside cabins for all of Ecstacy's cruises in January 2009 are available for under $389 p.p.. (This does not include the fuel surcharge) You can get a suite for under $900. Get the new price and if your TA won't do it for you then drop them like a bad habit and rebook. You are being taken.

Take care,
Mike

[mehawk]

When I do my research, I go to the popular V.T.G. website (which is Houston based by the way), then to the cruise site itself, then to the TA. That way, I have three prices to choose from and they are often the same. The TA gets me a little bit of a lower price.

[marysed]

We are booked on the Fantasy Dec 08/08.
For a room for 3 inside the total tax and all is $1049.68.
I was so excited about that because our first cruise was June 07
and it was a little over $2000.00 total same ship and same type of room.
I have booked both my cruises with AAA travel and my deposit is only $25.00 per person. Then it has to be paid off 2 months before the cruise.
That is the best deal I could find.

[flowers]

If you booked the Ecstasy for $300 per person, wow, you booked at the right time. I booked about last April for the next two Januarys and the price has gone up some, but not to $900 per person. That doesnt sound right for next January to me, even counting the new fuel surcharge.

Id get another quote. I dont think the Ecstasy went from $300 to $900 pp for January an off month, or I sure got a bargain.

[nurseypoo5]

Originally Posted by SACRUISER

If your TA quoted you $900 each for inside cabin, I'd get a new travel agent.

lol, i just checked carnival and they are charging us 1,500 including port fee's/taxes, which is still ridiculous. Now i wonder if the 900 was for a suite? who knows, all i know is i was on this cruise ship at the same time this year with a booking since sept for 300 each.

just seems like such a jump, im not that into paying this much for a 5 nighter with 3 cabin mates

Guess i'll hold out for now, maybe find a group to join with or somthing.

thanks!

[nurseypoo5]

Originally Posted by CaptainEdwardJohnSmith

Liz, nothing beats booking last-last minute, period!

These are our cruises these last 15 months and what we paid for them per person, all prices include cruise, port charges, govt taxes and fees:

Dec 2006.....12-day Hawaii/Fanning Island cruise on NCL Wind including
return airfare Los Angeles-Honolulu-Los Angeles.....$619.00

Jan 2007.....7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise on Costa Magica including return airfare Los Angeles-Fort Lauderdale-Los Angeles.....$544.00

Feb 2007.....8-day Mexican Riviera cruise on Carnival Spirit - no airfare.....$349.00

Apr 2007.....19-day Panama Canal cruise on Regal Princess cruising out of Los Angeles and back to Los Angeles - no airfare.....$905.00

Sep 2007.....6-day Repo Cruise on Golden Princess Vancouver to Los Angeles including 1-way airfare Los Angeles to Vancouver.....$480.00

Oct 2007.....18-day Panama Canal cruise on NCL SUN San Diego to Miami including 1-way airfare Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles.....$960.00

Feb 2008.....6-day Baja California cruise on Carnival Elation - no airfare.....$321.00

Anyone who has some degree of flexibility of travel dates and does not have his/her heart set on any itinerary would be nuts to travel anything other than last, last-minute. Just my opinion.


Captain

I just had this conversation with my hubby. were in our early 40's and i'm trying to get him to sale his land so it can build up interest and we can retire in our early 50's, but alas, he's stubborn lol.

Unfortunatly, having a 5th grader and full time jobs makes it impossible to travel last minute

[NY Cruisin Mama]

Nurserypoo5 - Have you been given a cabin ## - I certainly would check the deck plans and see exactly what type of cabin they are giving you.

[Kegan36604]

Originally Posted by mehawk

........... go to the popular V.T.G. website (............

We've had great luck with getting deals through VTG.

[CaptainEdwardJohnSmith]

Liz,
If you want to, I'd be more than happy to provide you with contact info by PM of a travel agent we have used from time to time. The Captain ain't no big fan of travel agencies in general but this one seems to have her act together both on service and prices.
Just let me know.


Captain

[Irish Girl]

I don't get why you were quoted such a high price either. Even on the Carnival website the prices aren't that high for a category 11 suite for any January 2009 sailing.

Either get a new TA or book directly through the Carnival website.

[nurseypoo5]

i submitted a request thru cruisecomplete.com i've had better deals thru them before, which were matched by nancy (not a lot better just a few bucks)

but here is my quote...perhaps its a balcony

February 11, 2008, 6:09 am

Agent: Any Cruise Agent, Cruises-N-More. Agency Information and Ratings

Contact: 1-800-839-9384

Outside: $881.79 (Category 6A; $881.79 average cost per passenger)

window or balcony: Not available (see notes below for details).

Special offer: The Balcony cabin you have requested is not available.

[CaptainEdwardJohnSmith]

I know exactly what happened here, Liz:

Cruises-N-More quoted you for a category 6A OCEANVIEW for a single person.....maybe when you entered the info on the cruisecompete request form you only listed 1 passenger, you you get hit with paying the full cabin price (the infamous single supplement), if not more! For January 25 2009, Carnival has insides starting at $389 per person, based on 2 persons sharing a cabin. It's a 5-day sailing, Liz.

I will reply later on this afternoon via PM to the other matter at hand. I'll give you 2 contacts Liz. Hopefully one of them will help.


Captain

PS: Sorry about the edit Liz, I edited this post at the same time you were posting.

[nurseypoo5]

Originally Posted by CaptainEdwardJohnSmith

I know exactly what happened here, Liz:

Cruises-N-More quoted you for a category 6A OCEANVIEW for a single person.....maybe when you entered the info on the cruisecompete request form you only listed 1 passenger, you you get hit with paying the full cabin price, if not more! For January 25 2009, Carnival has insides starting at $389 per person, based on 2 persons sharing a cabin.

I will reply later on this afternoon via PM to the the matter.


Captain

no, i actually listed 2 adults and a child 12, i just didnt post that part since it had my past guest info on it i did just recieve another quote for about the same price but evidently its for a balcony room...so maybe thats what i'm being offered here, no matter i wont take either lol, i dont want to splurge on a balcony for a 5 nt cruise for those prices anyway lol


thanks honey

[cherylroy]

Dutchman...I like the way you think.

[catty]

We just booked the Victory 8D balcony for 800 each 7 days in March 08. This will be our first balcony room. I thought it was a good price. We did pay $199 for 5 days on RCCL just after 9/11. That was the best price ever, but I am happy with the balcony on Lido deck. Has anyone been on Lido and is it a good deck?