P&O are trying to sell balcony cabins on Azura next summer at around £150 per person per night - at today's exchange rate that's almost $250. VAT in the UK is currently 15%, and it's included in the price quoted, so even 'exc. VAT' the price would be around £130 per person per night. Converted, that would be around $215 before tax.

UK cruising has not traditionally been a mass-market holiday, it was generally well off elderly pax hence the popularity of P&O, Saga and Fred Olsen. Even the likes of NCL and RCI do not sell there mass-market cruises at mass-market prices to Brits.

quote:

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Originally posted by Tom Burke:
How much do Princess passengers pay, per night, on an equivalent ship (e.g. Emerald Princess), on a cruise out of a US port?

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I notice that on American ships in American waters you can upgrade to a Balconly cabin for maybe a few hundred dollars per couple. On an ex UK cruise the price diffential may well be more than twice that per person!

Independence of the Seas, 14 Aug 2010 (14 Night Med, Southampton return - no flying)

Inside:
£1,824/$3,037 (per person, inc. Tax, tips extra)
Outside:
£2,011/$3,348
Balconly:
£2,374/$3,952

So a balconly cabin cost £1,100/$1,832 more per couple than an inside cabin!

(Prices from RCI web site.)

Lasuvidaboy, Ernie, et al how do these fares compare to US ones?

[ 11-11-2009: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

Ship Name: Independence Of The Seas
Departure Port: Southampton, England
Ports of Call: Southampton, England; Gibraltar, United Kingdom; Villefranche (Nice), France; Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; Cagliari (Sardinia), Italy; Cadiz, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Vigo, Spain; Southampton, England
2010 Date(s): 14 Aug

Stateroom:
Prices From*:
Interior Outside Balcony Deluxe/Suites
$3,069.00 $3,399.00 $4,037.00 $5,898.00

GBP:
Interior - L:1764
Outside - L:1954
Balcony - L:2320
Deluxe - L:3390

USD
Interior - $2936
Outside - $3252
Balcony - $3864
Deluxe - $5646

The above rates DO NOT include gov't taxes/ fees or grats.

[ 11-11-2009: Message edited by: Jekyll ]

One 11-day cruise on the Brilliance of the Seas departing Barcelona on December 12, 2009 had fares ranging from $794.00 (inside) to $1921.00 (suite) per person.

The fares on the August 14th sailing of the Independence of the Seas from Southampton to the Med (14-days) were $2816.00 for an inside all the way to $5397.00 for a suite.

If space is available a few months before the sailing, expect the fares to be cut by a minimum of 1/2 if the prices I saw for MANY Med cruises on the site is an indicator. Most online travel agencies in the States seem to match these 'Interline' rates
today.

BTW, I also looked up a few longer (over 10-days) Cunard sailings. Nov 23, 2009 12-night Canary Island cruise on QV w/two catagories listed $2195.00 for an inside and $3095.00 for an outside. May 14, 2010, 12-night Med on QV. $2395.00 inside, $2895.00 outside and $3395.00 for a veranda.

[ 11-11-2009: Message edited by: lasuvidaboy ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Jekyll:
Malcolm:

Given that your rates include taxes (I am assuming 15% VAT - correct?) and mine do not. It would appear that the Brits are actually getting a better rates for the Cruise Only prices - it is the taxes that get you. Those we cannot control.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
I still don't get it why people pay some of P&O's high fares?

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Could be just the name recognition and an old habit of sailing on the 'ol P&O. I still remember taking the airport shuttle from the Crown Princess back in 1992 to Ft Lauderdale airport. An English couple were on the same shuttle bus and had just disembarked from Celebrity's Zenith and asked us what ship we were on. I pointed to the CP (with the big P&O logo on her superstructure) and she asked if that was some sort of 'cruise ferry'-being P&O. I said oh no it's Princess Cruises which is owned by P&O and IMO a much better cruise line that Celebrity-at that time (we were on Zenith a few months earlier) She was surprised that 'P&O' was a luxury line

[ 11-12-2009: Message edited by: lasuvidaboy ]

Also, the US market is much bigger; greater numbers, greater competition, lower prices etc.

quote:

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Originally posted by bcscot:
It is my understanding (& experience) that Americans are bigger spenders than Brits. They can let Americans onto a ship for low fares & make their profit on all the on board spending.

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This does not apply to most of our recent cruises though ( Saga, Fred Olsen & Cunard)! We did get free booze on the crossing on board Saga Ruby however! That was a bonus.

I would imagine P&O regulars would feel the same way on a few points or have more reasons.

Ferries and cruise ships are still worlds apart here in Europe.

As you can see on the link here

Reint

quote:

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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:

Could be just the name recognition and an old habit of sailing on the 'ol P&O. I still remember taking the airport shuttle from the Crown Princess back in 1992 to Ft Lauderdale airport. An English couple were on the same shuttle bus and had just disembarked from Celebrity's Zenith and asked us what ship we were on. I pointed to the CP (with the big P&O logo on her superstructure) and she asked if that was some sort of 'cruise ferry'-being P&O. I said oh no it's Princess Cruises which is owned by P&O and IMO a much better cruise line that Celebrity-at that time (we were on Zenith a few months earlier) She was surprised that 'P&O' was a luxury line

[ 11-12-2009: Message edited by: lasuvidaboy ]

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quote:

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Originally posted by bcscot:
It is my understanding (& experience) that Americans are bigger spenders than Brits.

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maybe, butb we have less disposable income than American's and pay higer cruise fares.

quote:

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Originally posted by oslo dutch:
P&O also offered cross channel ferry crossings from Dover to Calais, UK it Ireland etc. I think they must have been mistaken with that :-)

Ferries and cruise ships are still worlds apart here in Europe.

As you can see on the link here

Reint

As you can see on the link here

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I think that some of the Baltic ferries start to blurr the distinction between cruise ships & ferries. Some ferries seem to be close to providing 'booze cruises' for the Scandanavians!

I like ferries & cruise ships.

quote:

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

maybe, butb we have less disposable income than American's and pay higer cruise fares.

If I purchased a cruise for $399 I'd be more generous onboard!

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I am by choice a Cunard passenger with my 7th trip on QM2 booked for next summer to Norway again. 14 days for $3200 PP in unobstructed balcony with extremely generous double OBC due to booking onboard plus additional OBC from my agent. A good bit more per day but we love QM2.

quote:

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In answer to the earlier question as to what Princess passengers pay in the US, I have just booked Emerald Princess from Lauderdale to the islands for 7 days. This is our first Princess trip....our fare is $1030 PP inc tax and port fees for a balcony guarantee. We never did a guarantee before but the fare was lower than a specific cabin and for this trip we just want to a quick trip so don't care.

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Penny, thanks for this information. This suggests that the prices aren't actually too far out of alignment: I've had an email from Princess saying that if I booked on-line, 'cruise only', I'd get a reduction of just over £700 from the advertised cruise + flight price of just over £1400, so the cruise itself is £700. That price is inclusive of tax & fees, and would be for the lowest grade of balcony. Your Balcony Guarantee price is certainly in the same ball park.