Is cruising too cheap

[Dark Knight]

has cruising become too cheap and does it still have the cache of days gone by

Discuss

[GillD46]

I do think that many of the Getaway fares have been too cheap - at those prices something has to give - and it has!

We are paying less now than when we started 16 years ago - make of that what you will!

[haveabeer]

At present early booking is not cheap
but late getaway example email today 27th November 2013 Oreana 12 nights balcony £499

[GillD46]

It isn't just late bookings that are cheap.

A very similar cruise to our first one is currently on sale for next July at $899pp for an outside cabin. That's 899US$. We did an almost identical itinerary back in July 1997 but it cost us over £1,200pp - and that was without any flights!

[davecttr]

Solo cruisers certainly do not find cruising cheap. It is cheaper than an equivalent land based holiday but not cheap.

[Jacknian]

I don't think cruising is too cheap, especially when you have to book early as we do. Oh how I would love to take advantage of deals like the one mentioned by haveabeer, £499 ! Amazing, but we have to book our holidays a year in advance so no chance. Ah well when we retire maybe. If they were much more expensive we'd have to go back to land based holidays.

[Stephen]

I prefer to describe them as good value rather than cheap.

[Frank Manning]

Its supply and demand. More and bigger ships equals more Supply, and a recession equals less Demand. Hence Prices fall in real terms to try to stimulate Demand, and so do Margins and the inevitably some quality aspects of the Product.

[towny44]

Its supply and demand. More and bigger ships equals more Supply, and a recession equals less Demand. Hence Prices fall in real terms to try to stimulate Demand, and so do Margins and the inevitably some quality aspects of the Product.

Well explained Frank, however with P&O there is still too large a gap between the early booking price and late giveaway deals.

[Boris+]

No, I think it's about right - and there is 'wriggle room' for special offers.

Em

[Frank Manning]

Its supply and demand. More and bigger ships equals more Supply, and a recession equals less Demand. Hence Prices fall in real terms to try to stimulate Demand, and so do Margins and the inevitably some quality aspects of the Product.

Well explained Frank, however with P&O there is still too large a gap between the early booking price and late giveaway deals.

Yes there is, I guess when the ship is below the break even point for the cruise, they have to fill it somehow.

Do you still have that fantastic choir in Huddersfield?

[Onelife]

has cruising become too cheap and does it still have the cache of days gone by

Discuss

Hi DK,

I think the answer lies somewhere here.....

A cruise only becomes too cheap when cruise lines have to make compromises in quality to accommodate these prices.

A cruise only becomes too cheap when those who have paid the headline price feel so aggrieved that they also start waiting for the cheap deals.....those like me who have no choice but to take the headline price are in effect paying the price for/which allows opportunists the opportunity to wait for these cheaper deals.

The whole thing is a total shambles and the sooner cruise lines realise “competitive headline pricing”, combined with a brand that provides for the market they are trying to attract will ultimately keep their ships afloat.

Until this comes to fruition please keep donating to the Onelife cruise fund.

Regards

The soon, not to be Cheese eater.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I've sent you a cyber pound Onelife.

[Onelife]

Thanks M&T

You’re moving in the right direction which is more than can be said for most of the tight gits on this forum

Regards

Keith

[Stephen]

Thanks M&T

You’re moving in the right direction which is more than can be said for most of the tight gits on this forum

Regards

Keith

I'd pay just to get rid of you.

The rubber check is in the post. Oh sorry, I forgot, you prefer leather!!!!

[Onelife]

Stephen,



With slanderous comments like that you could find yourself leaving a lot sooner than me....I’ve got friends who can make people disappear...

MOB...Any chance of a little favour?...Oh! and be very worried if Stephen asks you the same question...I did and look what happened to me

Regards

Keith

[Stephen]

Stephen,



With slanderous comments like that you could find yourself leaving a lot sooner than me....I’ve got friends who can make people disappear...

MOB...Any chance of a little favour?...Oh! and be very worried if Stephen asks you the same question...I did and look what happened to me

Regards

Keith

Paul Daniels probably.

[davecttr]

has cruising become too cheap and does it still have the cache of days gone by

Discuss

Hi DK,

I think the answer lies somewhere here.....

A cruise only becomes too cheap when cruise lines have to make compromises in quality to accommodate these prices.

A cruise only becomes too cheap when those who have paid the headline price feel so aggrieved that they also start waiting for the cheap deals.....those like me who have no choice but to take the headline price are in effect paying the price for/which allows opportunists the opportunity to wait for these cheaper deals.

The whole thing is a total shambles and the sooner cruise lines realise “competitive headline pricing”, combined with a brand that provides for the market they are trying to attract will ultimately keep their ships afloat.
Until this comes to fruition please keep donating to the Onelife cruise fund.

Regards

The soon, not to be Cheese eater.

Which P&O have some difficulty with as they are trying to cater for 3 different markets under the same brand.

Child Free - 3 ships - somewhat older cruisers who prefer more formality with no kids in evidence.

Posh Child - 2 ships -somewhat more traditional and formal for those who take their 'orftspring' on holiday.

Family Friendly - 2 ships - holidays for everyone, at least those who can afford it. Somewhat hampered by bits of the other two filtering across.

[Dark Knight]

perhaps a better question would have been
is cruising still a holiday to aspire to ?

[Gill W]

perhaps a better question would have been
is cruising still a holiday to aspire to ?

I don't actually aspire to cruising anymore, because I'm actually doing it.

But a lot of people that I speak to say they would like to do a cruise one day, so I think there is still something aspirational about it. But most people realise that it's just another holiday choice, and not something only posh people do

[Manoverboard]

It isn't too cheap at all ... the price can ' finish up ' at whatever you wish it to be, in our own case in the past 24 months ;

* Two cost effective Getaway deals within the £450 - £800 price range, plus extras, for the Med and Xmas Markets.

* Two very reasonably priced World Sectors, the upgraded flights were the expensive part, one of these cruises was unfortunately cancelled due to Political influence.

* One extremely expensive short duration mini cruise in a Suite to celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary with all the trimmings.

The protected else actual costs of these cruises, for the two of us, ranged from fifteen hundred to close on fifteen thousand but they all represented value for money and we were completely satisfied with our choice on all five occasions.

I do not agree therefore that P&O cruises are, or indeed need to be, cheap ... unless you are a tight a*se and want them to be.

[Dark Knight]

moby
I did not say PandO
I asked if cruising was too cheap, there is more to cruising than PandO

[david63]

Before this question can start to be answered we need to know what is the definition of cheap.

[Dark Knight]

Cheap.........not expensive

[Manoverboard]

Pure coincidence that they were with P&O, we have also booked one land based coaching tour and two Riverboat Cruises within the same time scale ... my values, as stated, still apply.