Welcome to TUGBoats the TUG Cruise Vacation Forum

[Passepartout]

More like sipping mimosas with little old ladies from Des Moines.

 

[momeason]

Is there any value in exchanging your week for a cruise? I used a week in 2019
for a hotel stay. I had a week about to expire and I needed hotel rooms for my
son's wedding. I did not get a lot of value for the trade.

 

[Passepartout]

Is there any value in exchanging your week for a cruise? I used a week in 2019
for a hotel stay. I had a week about to expire and I needed hotel rooms for my
son's wedding. I did not get a lot of value for the trade.

Not unless you use the discount for 4+ cabins. Otherwise use a discounter and use timeshare exchanges for timeshare stays.

 

[Arusso]

I'm surprised there is not more commentary on this forum. Is it possible, TUGGERS are not aware of this new section of the forums?

Traditional TS and cruising are, of course, different venues for vacationing. Yet, they have some features in common. I've done both over the past 40 years and can see the benefits and drawbacks of both. Due to a confluence of factors, I deeded back my TS holdings last year. That does not mean i won't be vacationing in a TS property in the future. I just won't be liable for any more MFs and Club dues. I'll just be paying rent.

Now, on the topic of cruising, the cruise industry, much like the TS industry, has undergone predictable change in an unpredictable manner. We've got mega ships, new ships, older ships, new ports, old ports, many ports limiting the number of ships and/or passengers, new itineraries, differing levels of service and accommodations on the big cruise lines, many smaller ships and cruise lines to choose from.

FB pages are an overwhelming amount of information. Some done by professional travel experts, some by cruisers. Some are factual, many are just opinion.

One such topic already reviewed is the value obtained for a TS exchange for a cruise. TUGGER Passepartout recommendation from June 16th is duly noted.

So, I propose a good topic to discuss is the subject of "value" for what is expected for the money spent - if we factor in the pros and cons of each vacation venue. TUGGERS are, for the most part, knowledgeable savvy travelers.

Anything other topic?

 

[CalGalTraveler]

@Arusso I agree with your ideas. I am relatively new to cruising (only 1 paid cruise so far) and am interested in money saving hacks and ways to extract more value - something Tuggers are very good at doing!

I expect to cruise more in the future. I found some great cruise deals but expensive airfare has been limiting such trips. Conversely, some cruises IMO are overpriced compared to exchanging a timeshare for a week.

 

[Arusso]

@Arusso I agree with your ideas. I am relatively new to cruising (only 1 paid cruise so far) and am interested in money saving hacks and ways to extract more value - something Tuggers are very good at doing!

I expect to cruise more in the future. I found some great cruise deals but expensive airfare has been limiting such trips. Conversely, some cruises IMO are overpriced compared to exchanging a timeshare for a week.

Yes, TUGGERS are all about value. From my perspective having cruised since the 1960s as a teen through the present and having owned TS, I can reflect on the differences. IMO, those differences are predicated on purpose. For example, when the kids were young, we used TS to visit specific destinations both in the USA and abroad. There was a purpose to the trips (which differs from a vacation). Trips with the family in tow were unquestionably goal oriented. They were to do stuff.

On the other hand, I define vacations as trips without kids for the purpose of recalibration of both mind and body. Of course, in discussing this subject with others they opt for destinations full of activities and a packed itinerary. To each, their own.

So, as our family has changed so too have our expectations. As a result, I found that land vacations, as retirees, have become more of a challenge. COVID-19 challenges as well as less reliable and expensive air travel have also been a factor.

Cruising from a port near home, resolves some of these challenges, but not all. Depending on ship, itinerary and amenities selected, it may or may not be a better deal than exchanging or renting a TS. But, the valid comparison is cost/per day factoring in all the variables of travel such as travel cost to destination and back home, food and entertainment.

Are these valid observations? Are there other factors to consider?

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Activity packed TS vacations were true when the kids were younger. Now with our kids as young adults and having seen the sites at our timeshare locations, we use Timeshares to "get a vacation from our vacation." We enjoy downtime at a beach with a few restaurant meals, time with family, and exercise without the go-go of a European "got to see and do everything vacation"

I put cruises in the latter category since we are still new to it and use cruises and excursions as a way to see locations we wouldn't or couldn't visit on land on our own e.g. Asia, New Zealand fjords, Alaska, Panama Canal (all on our bucket list).

We are still mobile and energetic enough to do the land tours but as we age, we will pursue more cruises.

 

[Arusso]

Yesterday, I saw a you tuber devote a segment on his vlog to discuss the fact that he has seen a reduction in pricing on some Icon class RCL and the Breakaway class NCL ships for some sailings. He also referenced the 10 to 15% drop in some airline and lodging of late. He opined that the recent drop in the securities market is the catalyst for this recent price reduction which may signal a halt to the rising prices for cruises going forward. The number of reservation and the number of passengers cruising to the present has been higher than preCOVID numbers.

With more new and several mega ships coming online this year and for the foreseeable future, does anyone have any insight or opinion as to where this is all going?

 

[jorcus]

Judging by how much advertising I see for Norwegian these days I would think they are doing as much as they can to keep those ships full. There was bound to be some boomer demographic slow down. The pull forward of retirements leading to the revenge travel was going to end sometime. I guess deals are in the eye of the beholder but I think due to a number of factors I would expect some demand drop.

 

[Arusso]

Judging by how much advertising I see for Norwegian these days I would think they are doing as much as they can to keep those ships full. There was bound to be some boomer demographic slow down. The pull forward of retirements leading to the revenge travel was going to end sometime. I guess deals are in the eye of the beholder but I think due to a number of factors I would expect some demand drop.

For most families and individuals, the budget allocated for "vacationing" is discretionary. Therefore, it stands to reason that factors affecting such spending could affect future disposable income. The post-pandemic surge appears to be softening as reflected by the lower quarterly income projection announcement by Delta airlines yesterday. Other major US carriers agreed and their market cap reflected this. Airlines in particular registered record profits as they imposed new fees and increased others. Rolling back some, if not all of these would be welcome.

It stands to reason that there will be a ripple effect across all travel-related sectors - including cruise lines. For all but the ultraluxe lines, fares are sure to roll back from historic highs as reservation intensity subsides. Whether everyone will still be operating at a profit remains to be seen. I suspect they still will, but the margin will be less.