FL discounts- why no W. Coast ones?

[Seamama]

I've noticed there are often FL discounts to cruise and I was just wondering who offers those and why? I've heard DCL has a hard time selling the W. Coast cruises and just wondered why there aren't discounts for those folks- surely that would help entice them to book...

 

[cris0809]

The only offer Florida Resident rates for cruises originating out of Florida...

 

[Seamama]

The only offer Florida Resident rates for cruises originating out of Florida...

Yes but I'm trying to figure out why. Who offers them? DCL? The state of FL? The local tourism board? I'm just wondering why this exists and why it's not offered for people living in California or British Columbia.

 

[tinkerone]

I could be wrong but I do believe I have seen Canadian res rates. i'm sure of it. they have just never worked for me. maybe someone else will jump in here.

 

[deanimal]

I've seen some discounts for British Columbians for the Alaskan cruises, usually at the beginning and end of the season. They probably aren't advertised at all in the United States.

 

[cris0809]

Because the point of resident rates is to offer last minute discounts to locals who can easily take advantage (read: don't necessarily have to fly).

They HAVE had Canadian resident rates as recently as this summer. A quick search shows rates were available on June 24th, at 25% off using the code CAN for the September 2nd Alaska sailing. Believe there were some NY resident rates for the cruises originating out of NYC in the past as well. I am unaware if there were ever California resident rates for the cruises out of LA.

It has nothing to do with the tourism board. It's just a last minute marketing effort by Disney Cruise Line.

Having last minute resident rates is not the aim of the cruise line, they are discounted rates that they shouldn't be relying on for their bread and butter. The cruises out of LA didn't sell well because people had increasing concerns about the safety of the ports. Also, Disney didn't do the best job of marketing the fact that they were in the area to locals. I know many who had no idea DCL was there at all. Even "Disney people".

 

[jrabbit]

in 2005 when DCL first brought the Magic out to LA for Disneyland's 50th anniversary, there were some Florida rates offered to Floridians to help fill the Magic in California, but no California rates :

 

[luv2sleep]

in 2005 when DCL first brought the Magic out to LA for Disneyland's 50th anniversary, there were some Florida rates offered to Floridians to help fill the Magic in California, but no California rates :

How crazy ! No wonder DCL didn't do well here. Poor marketing

 

[jetskigrl]

How crazy ! No wonder DCL didn't do well here. Poor marketing

Yes, I found it very interesting that when I was talking to CMs at Disneyland about our cruises on the Wonder, they had no idea there was a Disney cruise ship in LA. So if even their own employees don't know about it, I would say they had an epic fail in marketing to the West Coast

 

[TheLanes]

Good question though. If you want to sell cruises last minute, why limit to just Florida residents. Open it up to the world.

There must be a bit more of a reason

 

[plumeriainseattle]

When DCL was sailing out of Seattle for Alaska cruises, they did have last minute WA resident rates. But, as a previous poster pointed out, these rates are to put bodies on the ship, not to benefit residents. It's basic sales...get people in for cheap and they will spend money! Not to mention that each sailing is a perishable commodity: if people aren't booked once the boat leaves port, DCL never has a chance to increase the number on that sailing again.

 

[luv2sleep]

Yes, I found it very interesting that when I was talking to CMs at Disneyland about our cruises on the Wonder, they had no idea there was a Disney cruise ship in LA. So if even their own employees don't know about it, I would say they had an epic fail in marketing to the West Coast

I live here and when the ships were here I never saw an advertisement. Sad.

 

[silence]

I live here and when the ships were here I never saw an advertisement. Sad.

There were billboards in Sacramento when the Wonder was sailing out of CA. But, no discounts

 

[alaskanabbott]

I would love to see an Alaskan rate on Alaskan cruises- pretty much the only way I'd ever take it! If I'm cruising I want to live in my bathing suit

 

[TagsMissy]

Yes but I'm trying to figure out why. Who offers them? DCL? The state of FL? The local tourism board? I'm just wondering why this exists and why it's not offered for people living in California or British Columbia.

There have indeed been discounts for Canadians for Alaska cruises out of Vancouver.

 

[jahber]

Good question though. If you want to sell cruises last minute, why limit to just Florida residents. Open it up to the world.

There must be a bit more of a reason

Discounted rates *are* opened up to everyone--in the form of the *GT rates.

I don't know for sure, but I read theories here on the boards that DCL is trying to protect their prices by only offering these super-low prices to CMs and FL residents (or Canada or NY, etc). If everyone were able to snag a FL res deal, it would have a negative impact on their pricing scheme, their perceived value, and their brand prestige. Basically, they would become the Carnival of cruising instead of having the reputation they have now. (Fwiw, my family loves Carnival!) I also doubt they would be able to operate profitably with half the cruisers at FL resident rates. But if everyone knows those rates will eventually be available, how many people will pay full fare? Just look at how many people now expect and plan for the *GT rates to come out now. And finally, and this applies to my family, many (not all) FL residents don't pay full fare for cruises. We can afford to wait and book last minute on any of the lines cruising out of Fl. If DCL, Royal, and Carnival all offer me a FL res rate, I'm going to book DCL if I can! If DCL ignores FL residents, we're going to sail anyway, but likely on another cruise line.

Anyway, those are just theories I've run across, excepting the last one. We represent a small, but crazy, bunch of people who will sail whenever a good deal pops up. If DCL wants our repeat business, they have to compete with the bigger lines.

 

[PaceFamily]

From my understanding, it has to do with a deal that Florida worked with Disney during the purchase of the land for WDW.

 

[lbgraves]

Good question though. If you want to sell cruises last minute, why limit to just Florida residents. Open it up to the world.

That is what the *GT rates are doing now.

There have indeed been discounts for Canadians for Alaska cruises out of Vancouver.

They have offered discounts for Canadians for cruises out of PC as well.

 

[rcchello]

If you search in the archives you can find at least two DCL discounts aimed at the west coast and there may have been more. One was a discount for Disneyland AP owners. Another was a 25% discount for residents of Southern California, which probably has as many or more residents as Florida.

 

[peloha86]

Yup, it is frustrating to find discounts for West Coast peeps. I have many friends and coworkers who would LOVE to go on a Disney cruise but can't primariy becuase of location of the cruises, length, cost,etc... For expample, in September, for a family of four to do a 3 night cruise on the Dream, flying from the West coast to MCO, it's at least $1600 in airfare, $1800 in cruise fare, so far that's $3400, not including incidentals. If I lived Florida, I would love to drive from my home to Port Canaveral and hop on a ship.

If DCL was to be more agressive with West Coast discounts, and have more Disney peeps try out DCL here, now that would be awesome. I hope Disney tries harder for us peeps out here. There's plenty who would love to go on a Disney cruise!!!

And I don't know why DCL doesn't and hasn't given discounts to Northern California peeps... Need more here please!!! We know you read these boards...