7/18/2010 Mickey's Baltic Ballyhoo!! Part 5

[RJAYL]

I agree on all counts. DCL is starting at a high price point (and while I'm not fond of that, the fact that I'm a gold castaway club member attests to the fact that I appreciate the value).

So I expect the key question is to what degree they are overbooking. Like you, I do expect the ships to sail full come July. It's just a question of how they will get there - and if they'll have to do some discounting to make that happen.

I also agree that DCL must be happy with the profitability on the European cruises. I'm sure they will be even if they do have to discount to fill the ship.

Here's a fun aside regarding profitability.....

I took a 4 night Carnival cruise last month. On the sea day they had an "excursion" that included a back-stage tour of the ship (including galley and the bridge, believe it or not). The head chef was "boasting" how he was about to place the weekly order for food - spending $180,000.
Based on the size of the ship and crew, that means he was feeding everyone for under $10/day. And let me tell you, DCL could learn a thing or two from Carnival regarding food - not that I have a problem with DCL food, but Carnival definitely beats DCL on variety (at the buffet, more choices in the dining rooms, longer service hours, and a much more substantial room service menu). I won't comment on quality - I'm not enough of a gourmet to compare - both are fine on that score.

I would give quality to Carnival as well the only thing DCL does better is the fast food options on deck 8 better that RCCI as well! Not RCCI regular dining!

 

[KathyInCitrus]

DH and I were hoping to get a brunch in Palo's private dining room. If your group is full are there any others here that want to try to get a group together for Palo brunch

Even if we can't get the private room it would be fun to go as a group

Well, if you need someone to fill a table, I've been known to eat with a group!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Andrew if you want to do this right it's 'all y'all'. I find myself saying that sometimes. So you should have said, "And to all y'all.".

We all have these funny sayings, I presume you have this out there as well. in the UK, to have any Debit or Credit card transactions you have a PIN, A Personal Identification Number, but so many people, including TV and Radio, all talk about a PIN Number, so thats a personal identification number number.

I agree on all counts. DCL is starting at a high price point (and while I'm not fond of that, the fact that I'm a gold castaway club member attests to the fact that I appreciate the value).

So I expect the key question is to what degree they are overbooking. Like you, I do expect the ships to sail full come July. It's just a question of how they will get there - and if they'll have to do some discounting to make that happen.

I also agree that DCL must be happy with the profitability on the European cruises. I'm sure they will be even if they do have to discount to fill the ship.

Here's a fun aside regarding profitability.....

I took a 4 night Carnival cruise last month. On the sea day they had an "excursion" that included a back-stage tour of the ship (including galley and the bridge, believe it or not). The head chef was "boasting" how he was about to place the weekly order for food - spending $180,000.
Based on the size of the ship and crew, that means he was feeding everyone for under $10/day. And let me tell you, DCL could learn a thing or two from Carnival regarding food - not that I have a problem with DCL food, but Carnival definitely beats DCL on variety (at the buffet, more choices in the dining rooms, longer service hours, and a much more substantial room service menu). I won't comment on quality - I'm not enough of a gourmet to compare - both are fine on that score.

I would give quality to Carnival as well the only thing DCL does better is the fast food options on deck 8 better that RCCI as well! Not RCCI regular dining!

I found that the food on Princess cruises was far far better than DCL, with the exception of Palo. It doesnt surprise me that Carnival can feed everyone for $10pp pd. Princess had a midnight buffet every night, not like DCL's One night Dessert buffet and a deck party.

DCL does recycle a lot of food, if a meal (Meat etc), is in the main restaurants at night, you can guarantee that Topsiders, or Lunch will have the same thing, in a soup, or other dish recycled from the unused dishes.

The Baltic cruises will be very profitable for DCL, Firstly the high average per day cost, but, similar to the Med, I expect, the high average cost of the shore trips, and the high take up will bump up income. This is why they like the Med the 10%>20% commission on there shore trips gave them a massive boost in income. In the Caribbean the average price is far lower, and there is less take up. A cruise line often makes another 25% income from the ship it self against cruise fare. DCL is behind this target due to the lake of casinos on-board so has to be aggressive on drinks, photos, and shore trips to make up that target.

I think the ''only'' reason DCL didn't take the Magic back to the Baltic in 2011 is it hasn't been 'tested as yet. With the Med they went in 2007, they were careful not to commit to going back until it was evaluated, and the income worked out, and final profit figures in. They are careful not to commit to the Baltic until they have number crunched 2010. Drop outs. shore trips etc.

 

[danfromca]

The Baltic cruises will be very profitable for DCL, Firstly the high average per day cost, but, similar to the Med, I expect, the high average cost of the shore trips, and the high take up will bump up income. This is why they like the Med the 10%>20% commission on there shore trips gave them a massive boost in income. In the Caribbean the average price is far lower, and there is less take up. A cruise line often makes another 25% income from the ship it self against cruise fare. DCL is behind this target due to the lake of casinos on-board so has to be aggressive on drinks, photos, and shore trips to make up that target.

Amen to that. One of the greatest surprises for me on the PC cruise was how relatively inexpensive all of the excursions were compared to the European ports. Certainly the cost of excursions is something I'll be factoring in before I make my final decision on this cruise.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Amen to that. One of the greatest surprises for me on the PC cruise was how relatively inexpensive all of the excursions were compared to the European ports. Certainly the cost of excursions is something I'll be factoring in before I make my final decision on this cruise.

Your up late!!!!

Yes I would expect a high cost for DCL shore trips, there might be some 'value' ones like walking tours quite doable in a few ports of call. But there will be some bit hitters, in the trip, and hits on the pocket, these ''Five Star'' trips will need a big budget for them. St Pete's I suspect will be the most expensive, two days and so much to do.

 

[Celestine]

Your up late!!!!

Yes I would expect a high cost for DCL shore trips, there might be some 'value' ones like walking tours quite doable in a few ports of call. But there will be some bit hitters, in the trip, and hits on the pocket, these ''Five Star'' trips will need a big budget for them. St Pete's I suspect will be the most expensive, two days and so much to do.

I completely agree & we are saving for DCL trips for that - our kids are too young for an independent tour, but the rumours of some of the DCL trips will work well for us. We are doing it on our own in all the other ports so minimise the cost

Celestine

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I completely agree & we are saving for DCL trips for that - our kids are too young for an independent tour, but the rumours of some of the DCL trips will work well for us. We are doing it on our own in all the other ports so minimise the cost

Celestine

Reviewing the guides, its quite feasible to do it on your own in Oslo, Copenhagen, Tallinn, thoose the port is very close to the city and some highlights, or in case of Oslo there is transport/boar connections.

It will keep the cost down.

But DCL look like offering a lot of tempting kid friendly trips, so that might incline us to book.

For my kids I want it to be educational, St Pete's I have a request with Anastasia, for a two day private tour, but I expect to go DCL at the other ports.

I am hoping for Fjords in Oslo, by boat, City tours of Copenhagen and Tallinn and Germany its how long the trip is to Berlin that will swing it if its local or Berlin. That will be a very long day.

They must know what they are doing by now, the press releases we have seen confirm this, so why not publish? My guess will be exchange raters and costs, and maybe local port times that have changed back and forth, particularly in St Pete's

 

[RJAYL]

Good Morning!
Good afternoon Andrew & Celestine

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Good Morning!
Good afternoon Andrew & Celestine

Morning!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your paid in full as well arnt you?????

 

[RJAYL]

Morning!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your paid in full as well arnt you?????

Yup back in August however I will be putting some spending money on account as we get closer to the cruises!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Yup back in August however I will be putting some spending money on account as we get closer to the cruises!

Sounds like a good idea, but I am waiting for shore trips and cost before planning what amount.

 

[MrsG]

Re: Palo group brunch

I'm pretty sure we're in one of the brunches, but it was soooooo long ago. Barb, you do have the list for the first brunch? Anyway, whomever does have the brunch lists, maybe we can repost them so us forgetful ones can be reminded?

Also, just a thought. Do you think we might put together a precruise dinner in London, maybe for Sat. night before the cruise. About 14 of us got together for dinner with a group before the Med cruise and it worked out great! It was a great place to finally meet those who we had "spoken" with for so long.

 

[jilljill]

Mike will be getting his list to me this week. Someone else was doing a 2nd list and I have no clue who that was. I guess if we reread the 1st thread we could find out that info. That's scary since it was so long ago and the thread is so long.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Mike will be getting his list to me this week. Someone else was doing a 2nd list and I have no clue who that was. I guess if we reread the 1st thread we could find out that info. That's scary since it was so long ago and the thread is so long.

I think the other Palo Brunch was Izzi DisneynutinLondon.

 

[MrsG]

Thanks, Andrew. If it was Izzy, we'll have to do a new one.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I think the other Palo Brunch was Izzi DisneynutinLondon.

Thanks, Andrew. If it was Izzy, we'll have to do a new one.

I know I helped a couple of people organize applying for the Private room, and i am pretty sure one was Izzi, She knew I did it in 2007 in the Med.

 

[Samanthasmom1]

Hi again,

The last couple of weeks have been busy both at work and at home so I am going to try and catch up by reading the last 20 pages or so.

While I go backwards in the posts I have a question after reading the last page or two....If Disney does discount this cruise what does that mean for those of us that have already booked at the rate that was current at the time? Will we get discounts as well or pay the original higher rate and in a sense be "penalized" for choosing this cruise in advance?

Monica

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Hi again,

The last couple of weeks have been busy both at work and at home so I am going to try and catch up by reading the last 20 pages or so.

While I go backwards in the posts I have a question after reading the last page or two....If Disney does discount this cruise what does that mean for those of us that have already booked at the rate that was current at the time? Will we get discounts as well or pay the original higher rate and in a sense be "penalized" for choosing this cruise in advance?

Monica

Monica personally I can't see it happening at all, there are only four cruises, and they did sell well. *IF* DCL did reduce price its often by releasing CAT 12 rooms, more than they have, and people electing to downgrade to thoose.-Now some people do this, expecting a *free* upgrade back up, its playing the odd's, knowing DCL oversold the Cat12's but rule 1 is never book a room you are not happy to cruise in for 12 nights, as there is a good chance thats what will happen.

Its a back door discount, other tricks they do is offer free kids, free tips etc.

*IF* they did reduce overall prices, you could ask them or your TA to reduce it, but if you are past PIF date they can treat it as a cancellation if they so wish.

But I do not expect we will see any discounts bar maybe some Cat 12 offerings on the Baltic, we may see offers on the 7/8 day Europe Repos, and more on early /late Med trips and I expect offers on the Transatlantic.

 

[Samanthasmom1]

Thanks for all of the great information and advice everyone! I am sure that I will be asking more as time goes on. We are so very excited I can't stop thinking about it every day.

My DD is so excited to be going to London! At her school they celebrated International Childrens day the last week of October. They were asked to pick a country they are interested in to represent. When I asked her what country she wanted to pick her answer was "London". So after trying to explain that London is not a country but is a city we decided on England. She made the flag of the country for their parade, dressed up as a queen (it is very hard to find English costumes here) and then we made an apple crumble to share with her class. It all turned out great. It is so cute to see all of the children dressed from other countries. One child dressed as a Transformer.....what country do you think he was from?

Monica

 

[Samanthasmom1]

Celestine,

Please include us in the FE. I think it sounds like a lot of fun!

Monica