Noticed some cruise line prices are rising

Wow, they were way ahead of us. We didn't even get married until 1963. As far as first "cruises", I might have been close to your father's first, in that my mother took me back, and down, to see next of kin in Nebraska and Kansas in late 1941. So we were there when the Japanese hit Pearl, I was four months shy of two years old. The way down and back to Seattle was via Alaska Steamship Company. Believe the vessel was the SS Aleutian.

Dad's first cruise was in 1941 as a Sparky for 5 years on the USS Cabanna, Needless to say he was not in a suite and no choice of dining menu. Mom's first cruise was on the original "Love Boat" The first Pacific Princess in the early 1970's for their 25th anniversary.

We have noticed this too. We just bought deposits on last cruise but when those are gone we may start looking elsewhere. But I suspect they are all going this way.

Ken, the $ 100.00 a day was for a premium cruise line back in the 1980's, Mom and Dad liked Sitmar and HAL, if they went regular cruise line they went RCI or Princess in a regular cabin, no balcony's back then except in a suite. Regent is a boutique cruise line, so your looking higher end then they used to go.

Hearing them talk about the cruises they went on is what got me into trying a cruise, and my addiction was born. I was "Loyal to Royal" back then but as I have gotten older I tend to prefer Celebrity. I was surprised at how nice Princess was after not being on it for 20 years. I'd consider Princess for future cruises also. I'd consider almost any cruise line if the price and port stops are good.

KENN, there are few, VERY few folks who post in cyber that I have conversed with over the years that have absolute credibility with me. What you are opining on would have been considered blasphemous not so long ago. However. it is becoming clearer and clear what even high end cruise lines seem to be inching toward. Its the old quantity vs quality discussion. Its important to note that the cruise lines aren't "in trouble", as anyone who wades through financials and eyeballs their SP's (those that are publicly traded) can easily see. Being able to do that and pick more winners than losers have allowed me the freedom in my dotage to cruise pretty much as I please. That doesn't make me smarter..just luckier. Its US that are having difficulties. By US, I mean those of us who remember the "not so long ago" when we KNEW what to expect onboard, and usually got it, and were surprised when we didn't. We are being replaced by a different generation who can claim that knowledge, but are more impressed with rock walls and kiddie car racetracks than superior service. It seems that their standards of what is an acceptable level of service and amenities are lower than most of ours. That's not an attack, that would be pointless. It simply is what it is..like most of us have decided long ago to ignore reviews by folks with no experience or those that are so old as to have decreasing value with the passage of time. I said that your recent post about the massive shipbuilding program at MSC spoke volumes. and volumes. They clearly would not commit to the financing required for a long term multibillion dollar agenda building ships bigger than USN full up aircraft carriers unless they intended to operate them at a profit, for more years than I have left above ground. The banks and other "lenders", and literally battalions of their bean counters and analysts agree with me. I too always felt that cruising gave us the "best bang for the buck". Once I realized it, I was hooked. I have experienced some subtle, and some not so subtle "downgrades" over the years. And quite frankly, I would defer to folks with more experience on other lines, even higher end ones, b4 I would dare opine about it. Hence, it IS becoming clear to me that either I should lower my expectations, or just get used to the idea that I'm paying MORE and getting less.

“So we’re focusing on price; we’re pushing price higher everywhere we can both in 2019 and 2020,” he said. “While we still have a lot of cabins to fill, the emphasis will be on raising prices across all three brands.”

By coincidence, at the time OldGreyWolf posted this latest spiel of FDRs I had been pouring through the most recent Oceania Cruise brochures and details that I have. Now, we have never been on Oceania or NCL but have almost 150 sailing days on Regent. We have quite a few perks with Regent as a result but none are transferable to the sister lines. I was considering a suite which provided the same perks as I would get if I had advanced Oceania loyalty status. I had yet to get into pricing and itinerary lengths, we prefer three weeks plus so that meant a B-2-B. Then I read FDR's latest, into the trash bin went the brochures. He is already out of sight price wise, his Regent cruise product is no longer commensurate with the few extra amenities you gain. Look elsewhere for better deals.

Just Me mentions $100.00 p.p. a day, we have been dropping about $630.00 per day p.p. so must be bargains we are missing.

We can get a huge three bedroom high end condo overlooking the Blue Pacific on the Kona Coast for $80 p.p. per day. Have to do our own cooking or eat out at one of the fine close by eateries though. We know, just wrote a check for a three week stay there beginning mid March. Been there before too. Tell me more about the best bang for our buck.

I can remember back in the 1980's my mom saying if you can get a cruise for $ 100.00 per person per day it is a good price. Back then the food and service was better then today. The ships did have less to offer back then, no rock walls, no surf Riders, no zip line, no go carts, no ice rink...... They were cruise ships, not floating amusement parks. Back then cruising was elegant and a high end vacation. Tux or suite for evening wear every night, back then "Casual night" was slacks and dress shirt for men, jeans strictly not allowed in the MDR for dinner.

Now today almost 30 years later with the price of everything higher cruising is still only about $100.00 PP a day with the modern ships offering so much more. Something had to give, it was service and food quality. I looked up the value of 1980 dollar to 2018 dollar, the internet article said a 1980 dollar is $ 3.05 in 2018. Cruising is still the best bang for your vacation buck.

With al due respect, I think "they" know that while us greyheads can remember more quality for less money, todays millenials which are clearly their target DON'T. The actual number of cruising passengers is increasing, not decreasing. Take a hard look at their stock prices. They're counting on it. KENNS post about MSC's shipbuilding program speaks volumes...and volumes...