just to respond to a couple of points I highlighted in bold...
My point about the Magic earning her keep will become more relevant when both new ships come online, how many threads are we seeing about people who can't wait to book the Dream to try out the Virtual Portholes, Aqua Duck, new dining etc... these are some of the same people who wouldn't book a Bahamian cruise because it is just Nassau and CC and no-one wants to go to Nassau anymore. The point being people will choose the Dream because of the new facilities rather than because of it's destination, in much the same way on RCCL people are booking Oasis for the ship but the older ships in the fleet get bookings because of where they are going.
Following on from this, I personally think DCL made a big mistake opting to essentially repeat the 2010 Med cruises. This repeat itinerary was competing directly with the new Alaska itinerary and the new ship for bookings amongst repeat DCLers and as the current customer base for DCL is still heavily populated by US cruisers then the incentive for them to shell out for a pricey transatlantic flight to do a repeat itinerary is not there compared to the other options of Alaska on the Wonder or Bahamas on the Dream. They have re jigged the schedules but IMHO they should have been offering either a series of different cruises like they are in 2010 or better still trying out a new itinerary altogether.
There has been an increase in marketing of DCL in Europe but it is still a relative unknown for most UK and European cruisers, I guess at some point Disney may have to realise that while it's customer base is probably always going to be largely US based there is still significant spending power among non US cruisers and if they made a little more effort to tap into this they may be a little more successful at expanding their horizons. For example i note that the special offers on the Baltic cruises are limited to US and Canadian residents only...
I suppose my point above is that the apparent poor sales in Europe is not necessarily because cruisers don't want to go to Europe, just that Disney has uncharacteristically made a few too many errors on this - maybe taking their eye off the ball whilst concentrating on plans for relocating the Wonder and for the inaugural season of the Dream.
Anyway, I think essentially on many things we agree, some time in Europe, some time doing a variety of itineraries including longer Caribbean ones and maybe some PC transits, i would just hate to see Disney write off the European cruise market without a little more effort!
Mel
x
Mel,
Great post,
If I put a timeline on some things.
August 2009. Lets name drop; Had a long chat with the Captain of the Magic, 'Europe is an up and coming market and central to our ongoing plans'.
September 10/11 Repeat Med cruises come out for 2011.
We know in a short time DCL unhappy and took off market and then in December replaced some summer ones with 7 night cruises in the Med.
Discounts seen on Transatlantic, early/late Med 10/11, 2010 cruises, then recently first two Baltics, now I have seen last two Baltic on sale with discounts, (Virgin Cruises).
We know DCL look at many routes all of the time. Then cut down to a few.
I agree with DREAM, ALASKA, headlines they needed something with sparkle in the Med in 2011, and it didn't occur.
Plenty of good ships out there, just booked 14 nights RCCL Independence of the Seas 50% cheaper than DCL 11 Night Med cruise in the same month.
What we must understand all cruise lines do offer specials, all discount, all offer last minute deals, so whilst we see discounts, that doesnt mean there is a problem, as its the norm, get as much money as you can, then discount to fill the ship. People might read that as bad news, in fact when all DCL ships are in the Caribbean (2006;2009) they discount far more, and have far more offers, than any other year, and often when the Magic is in Europe its low season in the Caribbean when most cruiselines pull most or all of their ships out.
Cruiselines aim to make 25% more money on ship, above cruise fare, so if the ship isn't full thats harder, so they will fill a ship, then make money on drinks, shops, photos etc. For DCL with free soda and no Casino this is difficult, but Baltic and med shore trips have high prices so they make a lot on that, when in the Caribbean the mainly USA based cruiser doesnt book shore trips. So whilst discounting fare they make a lot on trips.
For 2011 on the Wonder it was a close run thing for Hawaii, as at summer 2009 Europe was on, I suspect they have been working on plan B, now since December 2009, so Europe?? in 2012, personally I think so but changed...
