Available Inventory 2 months out

[Nikkimouse44]

I looked over the weekend and it looked like there were A LOT of cabins available on my sailing of the Wish end of January (close to 150-ish). Are those really "available" or will the guarantee stateroom bookings get put into those rooms at check-in?
Trying to see how full this sailing will be, I am nervous about check-in and PAT!

 

[WinterSolider]

Port Canaveral and Port Everglades sailings are full, pretty much always. When a ship doesn't fill up, Disney will offer last-minute discounts to cast members and those get snatched up fairly quickly. This isn't always the case in Galveston, Europe, Alaska, etc. where there isn't a huge CM population to draw from.

You already mentioned Guaranteed staterooms, that's part of why you see availability. The other factor is that the ship can reach *passenger* capacity before every stateroom is sold. This is the factor that determines how full the ship feels. Every room full of 2 people is a lot less crowded than family rooms full of 5 people. Shorter sailings tend to have more small kids, meaning more people per stateroom.

 

[pjacobi]

You can't know the actual inventory of a ship with 100% certainty because it is a business secret. You can estimate based on the currently available cabins, but some inventory might be reserved for unsold group trips. Some inventory might be sold at last minute discount. Only DCL upper management knows for sure!

Due to very high fixed costs of a voyage (fuel and staff), the ship only makes a profit when full. DCL will try hard to fill every cabin even at a deep discount. The profit comes from everything that you buy on the ship, especially alcoholic drinks. Profit centers like the bars and specialty restaurants must make their drink quotas or face intervention from management! It is all part of the cruise "game" that you must play or politely refuse and let someone else contribute to cruise line profits.


-Paul

 

[WinterSolider]

Due to very high fixed costs of a voyage (fuel and staff), the ship only makes a profit when full. DCL will try hard to fill every cabin even at a deep discount. The profit comes from everything that you buy on the ship, especially alcoholic drinks. Profit centers like the bars and specialty restaurants must make their drink quotas or face intervention from management! It is all part of the cruise "game" that you must play or politely refuse and let someone else contribute to cruise line profits.

True, but much less true of Disney than other cruise lines. Disney sells way less alcohol, and has no onboard casino.

The other factor to consider is the crew. Full ships mean full dining rooms which means full gratuities for the servers. This helps attract and retain the highest quality crew members.

 

[pjacobi]

True, but much less true of Disney than other cruise lines. Disney sells way less alcohol, and has no onboard casino.

How much is the popcorn at DCL movie theater? That's got to be more profitable than drinks!


-Paul

 

[dreamer17555]

I looked over the weekend and it looked like there were A LOT of cabins available on my sailing of the Wish end of January (close to 150-ish). Are those really "available" or will the guarantee stateroom bookings get put into those rooms at check-in?
Trying to see how full this sailing will be, I am nervous about check-in and PAT!

The guaranteed staterooms will be pulled from some of that inventory if not additional inventory that you're not seeing. Keep in mind that there are also non-public discounts happening behind the scenes for cast members and travel agents. Most ships sail almost full these days.

 

[Mle8308]

True, but much less true of Disney than other cruise lines. Disney sells way less alcohol, and has no onboard casino.

The other factor to consider is the crew. Full ships mean full dining rooms which means full gratuities for the servers. This helps attract and retain the highest quality crew members.

This! Disney used to distinguish itself from other cruise lines when it first opened by guaranteeing their CM's would receive a base level of tips. If they did not get a certain set amount in tips, then Disney would make up the difference. That is why they discount to CM's, the tip is aromatically charged so the cabin stewards. servers, etc. are getting tipped. Disney charges CM's enough to cover basic expenses, it helps ensure they (DCL) don't have to pay our tips due to empty cabins. Same for guaranteed rates, they offer those first (more revenue) and whatever is not picked up is then offered to the CM's. Disclaimer, I am not sure this is still the Disney policy, but it was in the first 5 years of operation.