Why are Alaskan Cruises so much more expensive?

[fairytalelover]

Just pricing out an Alaskan cruise and I noticed how much more expensive they are than cruises to the Bahamas and Carribean........why?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Just pricing out an Alaskan cruise and I noticed how much more expensive they are than cruises to the Bahamas and Carribean........why?

Couple of reasons, one thing port fees in Alaska are higher generally than in the Caribbean, at least in our experience.

And less availability typically means higher prices in any market. There are many more Caribbean/Bahama cruises than there are Alaska cruises.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Just pricing out an Alaskan cruise and I noticed how much more expensive they are than cruises to the Bahamas and Carribean........why?

Because the Alaska cruise season is much shorter and in higher demand....ships cruise the Carib year round, do Supply and Demand....the supply is limited because of a short warm weather season.....and the demand is great.....lots of people want to go to Alaska. The cruise lines are profit making companies and they want to price their service as high as possible.

Port fees are not higher there lower and added on outside the cruise price Alaska charges $50 per cruise, not a lot of the fare at all!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Everything is more expensive in Alaska!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Everything is more expensive in Alaska!

True food fuel all shipped in.

 

[Tenkawa]

More expensive origination port (Vancouver)
Shorter cruise season
limited number of ships (must be able to fit through panama canal, or live life in the pacific)
all in the USA (any services at those ports are paid at proper wages)

So that should answer most of it.

now for some other thoughts: some people think it is really expensive once they add airfare. To those of us who live on the west coast, we laugh. ever priced out a flight from here to Florida? owch!

 

[for my family]

Actually it is just the opposite. Our DCL Alaskan cruise last month was less expensive than our Easter WC on the Fantasy last year and quite a bit less than our EC cruise next June on the Fantasy.

In fact, a quick check of the DCL website shows a June 1st Alaska cruise next year is $1000 less than a June 6th cruise on the Fantasy for 2 adults in an inside stateroom.

I also think the OP and others are comparing 7 day cruises to 3 and 4 day cruises. The OP mentioned Bahama cruises as a comparison.

 

[mmcxiiad]

These are my thoughts, while I don't have financial data to back it up, I am pretty sure these factor into the cost.

A huge reason is that it costs money to get the ship there and back. While that is subsidized by relocation cruises, there is other additional costs.

For example, in Port Canaveral, all the ships share one port. If they are renting a port, that charge can't be spread over multiple ships.

The economy for Bahama & caribbean islands are dependent on tourism. Due to the amount of destinations in that area, cruise lines have the ability to negotiate a move favorable rate. On the other hand, Alaska is destination ports, so the is probably less negotiation.

I would also imagine that local wages are higher in Alaska vs Bahamas & Caribbean.

Not sure if this one plays into the cost, but currently only the wonder can go through the panama canal. All the other ships are too long.

Alaska is a seasonal location so there is a narrow window of time that they can run.

Finally (and most importatly). Because they can. If the Disney Cruise has no problem filling up the ship, why should they discount the rate?

(the same could be true for Europe, with the exception of not having to deal with the panama canal)

 

[KristiMc]

Actually it is just the opposite. Our DCL Alaskan cruise last month was less expensive than our Easter WC on the Fantasy last year and quite a bit less than our EC cruise next June on the Fantasy.

In fact, a quick check of the DCL website shows a June 1st Alaska cruise next year is $1000 less than a June 6th cruise on the Fantasy for 2 adults in an inside stateroom.

I also think the OP and others are comparing 7 day cruises to 3 and 4 day cruises. The OP mentioned Bahama cruises as a comparison.

I was just going to say this. We are on the June 8, 2015 Alaska cruise and the price on opening day was a little less for the same category, same week on the Fantasy.

 

[for my family]

These are my thoughts, while I don't have financial data to back it up, I am pretty sure these factor into the cost.

A huge reason is that it costs money to get the ship there and back. While that is subsidized by relocation cruises, there is other additional costs.

For example, in Port Canaveral, all the ships share one port. If they are renting a port, that charge can't be spread over multiple ships.

The economy for Bahama & caribbean islands are dependent on tourism. Due to the amount of destinations in that area, cruise lines have the ability to negotiate a move favorable rate. On the other hand, Alaska is destination ports, so the is probably less negotiation.

I would also imagine that local wages are higher in Alaska vs Bahamas & Caribbean.

Not sure if this one plays into the cost, but currently only the wonder can go through the panama canal. All the other ships are too long.

Alaska is a seasonal location so there is a narrow window of time that they can run.

Finally (and most importatly). Because they can. If the Disney Cruise has no problem filling up the ship, why should they discount the rate?

(the same could be true for Europe, with the exception of not having to deal with the panama canal)

Excellent analysis, except that DCL Alaska cruises are not more expensive than the same length cruises on DCL during similar times of the year.

 

[JLS]

If you compare prices of balconies there is a huge difference between Alaska and the Caribbean. Balconies go for a huge premium on all Alaska cruises, not just Disney, because it is a sightseeing cruise. If you are willing to do an inside stateroom then the cost may be similar.

 

[Four Swampers]

If you compare prices of balconies there is a huge difference between Alaska and the Caribbean. Balconies go for a huge premium on all Alaska cruises, not just Disney, because it is a sightseeing cruise. If you are willing to do an inside stateroom then the cost may be similar.

That would make sense when you consider that the Wonder (DCL's only Alaska ship) has a LOT fewer balcony cabins than the Fantasy and Dream. Supply and demand is rearing its head on the cabin category!

 

[jetskigrl]

Excellent analysis, except that DCL Alaska cruises are not more expensive than the same length cruises on DCL during similar times of the year.

I knew we paid more for Alaska so I did some research.

We are paying $1100 more for Alaska this year than we paid for an Eastern Caribbean on the Fantasy last year.

Just for kicks, I checked cruisefish to see what the difference would be for the Fantasy this year the same week we are going to Alaska and it is $609 less (per adult) for the Fantasy EC than the Wonder Alaska - opening day pricing.

Oh, that is for a 4B room (I compared with what we have booked).

BUT.....
The inside rooms were about $400 - $500 cheaper for the Alaska cruise than the Fantasy EC on opening day.

So it depends on what room type you book but yes, Alaska can be close to the same or even less expensive then other cruises the same week

 

[Dug720]

I would definitely agree that balconies are more expensive in Alaska - not just on Disney. I'm going on a Holland America cruise with a running group leaving Seattle on Saturday. There was about a $500-ish difference between an inside cabin and an ocean view cabin (which based on the layout is pretty much a joke on the Westerdam - either the bed is separated into 2 twins so you can lean over the nightstands to look out the window or you get to kneel on the head of the put-together beds to look out the window ), but about a $1000 difference between the ocean view and the lowest-level balcony.

 

[seacruise]

Every time I have looked at Disney to Alaska it has been considerably more expensive than the caribbean. Balcony for the 4 of us next July is close to 10k. We booked the Magic in April to the Caribbean for half that.

We wanted to book the Wonder when it sailed out of Seattle, but same thing. We ended up booking the Fantasy to the Caribbean as it was cheaper to do that cruise and fly the 4 of us to MCO than to do the Alaska cruise which was 20 minutes from our house.

All the lines charge a bit of a premium for Alaska, but nothing compared to the difference I have seen on Disney.

 

[KristiMc]

It also depends on when in the summer you are cruising. We are on the June 8th Alaskan next year in a 5c veranda and for 2A2K we are paying $6600. We did have the 10% off so it was ~$7300 before the discount. I looked at the Fantasy for the same week next year and it was a little more.

If you can sail earlier in the summer to Alaska it helps. Now the airfare is what is going to kill me. We usually drive to Florida from OH.

 

[mmcxiiad]

I think the other thing to take into account is there are (more or less) three price structures that DCL uses:

Older Ship Non-Refub (Wonder) - Lowest Price
Older Ship Refub'ed (Magic) - Mid Price
New Ship (Dream & Fantasy) - Highest Price

If the Wonder's prices are nearly equal to or even higher then the Magic and/or Fantasy for a 7 night cruise, then they are getting a lot more per room.

For example, this can be seen when you compare 3/4 night cruises. In January 2015 the Wonder is $200-$400 per trip cheaper then the Dream for the identical trip.

The other thing is when there are multiple ships competing for the same route (Wonder and Dream both running the 3/4 night cruises), there is competition for price. When the Wonder is the only one running the Alaska cruises, the prices don't have to be as competitive.

 

[Ofinn]

Just pricing out an Alaskan cruise and I noticed how much more expensive they are than cruises to the Bahamas and Carribean........why?

Have you considered a different cruise line? They're considerably cheaper than Disney. I love the Fantasy and the Dream, but I'm not sure I would want to pay the premium on the Wonder or Magic on a Port intensive cruise. If we stick with DCL for Alaska we will be cruising Aug 31 which is reasonably priced. We got a great deal on SC cruise this Sept. I don't see anything that great about the old ships that would make me pay thousands more than another cruise line.

 

[dcassetta]

Much of the route that Wonder sails is through National Park and National Forest land. I wonder if there aren't some additional fees associated with entering Tracy Arm.

 

[fairytalelover]

Have you considered a different cruise line? .

LOL!!! Another cruise line?????!! Ummm.........not in this lifetime! We only do Disney. There is a reason the others are cheaper than Disney......