Rising onboard cruise prices are seeing more cruisers purchasing pre-cruise packages. But are they saving money?
“Consumers are engaging in booking their vacations earlier. Around 70% book at least one of their onboard activities pre-cruise. And onboard spending continues to increase record levels and at higher rates,” says Royal Caribbean CEO Jason Liberty.
But he did make the point that there is still a ‘price gap’ and cruising is still cheaper than land-based holidays.
“This positions us very well to outperform the broader travel industry and narrow the pricing gap to land-based vacations.”
Carnival Corporation CEO Josh Weinstein also says he’s seeing an increase in pre-cruise package spending.
“As expected, our European brands are poised to become an even greater contributor to our 2024 operating improvement. At the same time, we are continuing to pull forward onboard revenue through bundling and pre-cruise sales.”
Cruisers are left divided on the issue. Many are happy to pre-purchase their packages and accept that as a built-in cost of their cruise. However, many other cruisers feel onboard costs like entertainment, beverages, and shore excursions are increasing excessively and pricing them out of their holiday.
Frustration from a long-time Princess Cruiser
Long-time and dedicated Princess Cruises customer Julie Jester says she is becoming frustrated by rising onboard prices.
“There have been price hikes on Princess, to the point of ridiculousness in some cases. In the past Princess seemed to take into account the different local pricing in our region so that things like corkage, specialty restaurant pricing, and wine prices were reasonable. Since the pandemic, and since the Australian dollar has dropped so much against the American dollar, some of their pricing isn’t realistic in local terms, for example, very few, if any, local restaurants would charge $30 corkage.
“But the thing that is annoying me is their wine pricing. Especially when they are charging $15 a glass, and $64 a bottle for wines that are just the bottled version of De Bortoli cask wines. And those retail for $20-22 for a four-litre cask at Dan Murphy’s.”
Jester chooses not to opt for a pre-cruise package with Princess due to the rise in package prices. And on top of that, she doesn’t want to pay for inclusions she doesn’t see value in.
“At the original USD$40 per day, then USD$50, the Plus package was exceptionally good value despite the poor quality and very limited selection of wines under that package. Still, at least you get 25% off the wine by the bottle price which makes their over-inflated prices a bit more reasonable. This allows us to drink wines we enjoy instead of being stuck with the current poor selection of wines by the glass.
“At USD$65 Plus is less attractive, especially for Elite passengers who get a 50% discount on internet packages. The extras they have added are of no interest to us. Especially those revolting “specialty desserts” which are essentially sugar-loaded sundaes.”
John Cook another Princess cruiser, feels similarly.
“Everything has gone up at least twice since cruising restarted. Princess Plus was 40 then 50 now 65. Individual drink prices are up and specialty restaurants are now $63 per person. Internet prices are also up.”
Cruisers feel priced out
Jon Daniels says these days specialty dining is out of his price range on a cruise, even when purchasing a pre-cruise package.
“Specialty restaurants are now mostly outside my price range. I only go to them now by using my BOGO benefit. Of course, the daily gratuity price has gone up. But they have reduced the number of times per day the cabins are serviced.”
Mechelle Davis says she’s seen a rise in shore excursions and drinks packages on Royal Caribbean.
“Drink packages are crazy. I was lucky to wait till a couple of weeks before sailing went down to $94 by getting it cheaper when rang them.
“Shore excursions from Royal are expensive now, especially in New Zealand. Last month, a lot of people did the same as us and just winged it. We organised our own when we got to shore.
“It’s an expensive holiday now, not cheap anymore. I know it depends on where and how long as well. It was still a lovely cruise ship. I couldn’t fault anything about Ovation of the Seas.”
Unavoidable inflation?
Many other cruisers, such as John Murton simply feel that onboard spend is rising in price. But so is your local supermarket and department store. Murton also feels that spending is simply a personal responsibility.
“I think you should be doing your bill costings on board, just as you do when you are at the supermarket. Further, within the app, you can also see your daily purchases and charges that are attributed to either your pre-paid card or whatever. It is so simple to see what you are paying for, there really should be no “bill shock” at the end of your cruise at all.“
“I see no problem with raising their costs to the cost of inflation….they too also need profit to continue business. I don’t think the costs have risen any more than in other areas where you do your everyday shopping.”
Are people totally blind to the now clearly obvious trend being pursued by Carnival,Carribbean to name just two.Their patently commercial greed evident with their rush to launch the current rash of MEGA MONSTER ships but refusing to pass on the “economy of scale” benefits resulting from these massive passenger numbers needs no further comment. As elite pax, my wife and I have turned away from Carnival & enjoyed two extended voyages with NCL, with inclusive unlimited drinks packages, four free specialty dinners, inclusive tipping and 300 minutes of quality WiFi.If NCL can do, so can the Big Boys, but they won’t. Wake up fellow cruisers….wake up??
I agree with all the comments so far. I am elite with over 700 sea days on Princess. I am not a big drinker so we always swapped Mini bar for 2 coffee cards. Now no coffee cards at all, so stuck with mini bar I don’t want. Coffee which worked out at $2.30 / cup on card, now costs $6.
Brown Bros wine which retails ashore at $12 – $16/ bottle is now $16 glass or $64 bottle on board.
Take a bottle of wine per person aboard and pay corkage on 2nd or more. Used to be $15 bottle, now $30.
No free internet.
So much for rewarding Loyslty!!☹️
I agree about Princess prices. My husband daughter and I are going on a cruise for a significant birthday in October. If we buy the drinks package it will be about $4000. That’s enough for another cruise.
What the CEOs don’t seem to understand is if cruises aren’t better value than land holidays, why bother cruising…
We are elite, booked on 110 day world cruise, have purchased Princess Plus, it is very disappointing that with this package we still only get 2 casual dining options, 2 gym classes etc. This is the same as if you are doing a 10 day cruise which I feel is unrealistic. I personally feel there should be a few more casual dining, gym options for longer cruises. It would appear that we are disadvantaged on longer cruises. Have passed this feedback to cruise staff in Jan 24 but no comment received. Yes prices have increased on the drinks packages but feel that it is still worthwhile, taking into account this covers wifi, drinks to the value of Aud $22, freshly squeezed juices, barista coffee, water etc. If you purchase more expensive drinks you are only charged the difference. Yes I agree quality of wine for the price you pay is unrealistic when compared to Dan murphys and this is disappointing. Overall we still very much enjoy Princess Cruises.
It’s just the cost of cruising – keeping in mind they are another form of hospitality so compete against the hospitality sector for pricing.
And those Princess prices are still comparatively good value – they’re not far off Australian prices, and compared to other lines like Celebrity and Virgin, which price in USD, massively cheaper. Since those lines have princes around the USD12+ mark for wine by glass, which is AUD $18+
Basically it’s an optional extra, so you just choose whether it’s worth it or not. Some cruise lines have become way too expensive against competitors and no longer good value – but Princess isn’t in that category (yet).
I agree with Julie Jester and her comments on the Princess packages. We are Elite and have usually purchased drinks packages. We were lucky enough last year to be able to purchase just one package before they changed it back to the mandatory all-in-the-stateroom requirement.
The Speciality desserts are horrid and I doubt anyone could or would consume 2 a day, especially on longer voyages.
We are booked on a 32-dayer and purchasing the Princess Plus package is just not worth the cost.
on princess before covid WIFI was free for elite and platinum now you don’t get much at all
My husband & I did a Princess Cruise last year and I was disgusted with the charges for drinks packages – whatever’s happened to the coffee card that you could purchase individually and you used to receive internet hours for free the more cruises you had gone on. NOT IMPRESSED.