Daydreaming of new itineraries

[n2mm]

It’s not late yet. Last year the bookings started June 10-13 so things are still in line if you compare to last year. I would love to see some different itineraries though.

 

[Primeval Princess]

Why not when you have tens of thousands of cruisers re-booking at 125%?

For one thing, because the extra 25% cost of those cruises was subsidized by DCL. It wasn't an extra 25% out of the cruisers' own pockets. For another, those cruisers had mostly already made the decision to cruise and paid for their original cruises before this crisis occurred. For another, there is a large percentage of cruisers who are choosing to take the refund, instead. For another, the job losses and other economic fallout from this disaster are just beginning. We are only in the first stage of a severe economic recession, and that is going to affect future cruising (and travel in general) in a big way.

 

[T & R]

For another, the job losses and other economic fallout from this disaster are just beginning.

Irrelevant if future cruise bookings are up compared to last year. Prices are based on demand for the product. Increased demand generally equals increased prices. So if demand is up, then?? Guess we'll see.

Various sources are reporting future bookings up 10-40% from this time last year. It would make no business sense to lower your prices when demand has increased by that much. It doesn't matter what the opinion of the economy is or if someone feels we are in a severe economic recession. The state of the economy is irrelevant when you have more paying customers lining up than the previous year.

 

[MomOTwins]

Yes, next round of cancelations will be within the 15 months re-booking window for the upcoming itinerary release.

I would like to think they'll start cruising again at the end of July but the fact that they went through so much trouble to send all the CM's to their home countries makes me think not. Why would you sail your ships around the world to repatriate crew if you were just going to recall them in a couple of weeks? Also, even if they were able to recall all the staff from the four corners of the globe, they would have to quarantine them all for a few weeks prior to exposing them to the guests because you have no idea where they've been or who they've come into contact with. So up and running by July 28th doesn't look reasonable to me based on how they're conducting their business right now.

I think you are right, but the Magic had to go to Europe anyway for its dry dock, and the Fantasy and Dream are still staying relatively close to home. Odds are probably better for Dream to start piloting short cruises to "test the waters" of the new protocols in August, but not looking good for any of the 4 ships honestly.

 

[n2mm]

I think you are right, but the Magic had to go to Europe anyway for its dry dock, and the Fantasy and Dream are still staying relatively close to home. Odds are probably better for Dream to start piloting short cruises to "test the waters" of the new protocols in August, but not looking good for any of the 4 ships honestly.

funny, somewhere along the way I read that only short cruises would be offered first, because if some gets sick less outbreaks while on the ship. Hmmmm

 

[o&smom]

funny, somewhere along the way I read that only short cruises would be offered first, because if some gets sick less outbreaks while on the ship. Hmmmm

Yeah, if the timing is just right. Many people could be getting on the ship already exposed and infected with no symptoms. They could easily infect people and become symptomatic while on the cruise.

 

[gotomu212]

Irrelevant if future cruise bookings are up compared to last year. Prices are based on demand for the product. Increased demand generally equals increased prices. So if demand is up, then?? Guess we'll see.

Various sources are reporting future bookings up 10-40% from this time last year. It would make no business sense to lower your prices when demand has increased by that much. It doesn't matter what the opinion of the economy is or if someone feels we are in a severe economic recession. The state of the economy is irrelevant when you have more paying customers lining up than the previous year.

One of the problems with those future bookings is they are zero risk soft bookings. People are willing to tie up small deposits (most of which are 100% refundable if booked during this time), but how many people are paying in full once non refundable and then boarding the ship? No one knows yet. I myself have reservations for ‘21 that I will most likely cancel once I hear DCL’s modified procedures, their refund policy if denied boarding, and based on where we are with cases next year.

Until real money is on the line, I’d take a lot of ‘20/21 sales as aspiration.

 

[MomOTwins]

Yeah, if the timing is just right. Many people could be getting on the ship already exposed and infected with no symptoms. They could easily infect people and become symptomatic while on the cruise.

I think the concept is with a shorter cruise you come into contact with fewer people than if you spend 7 days all on the same ship, so a contagious person will infect a lower number people. Also on a longer cruise any newly infected people will be off the ship before the virus has incubated enough to be contagious

 

[FSU Girl]

I could see Disney waiting to release new sailings until they have a firm opening date for sailing again. They’ll want to see how many people actually sail or if a lot jump ship. If a lot of people start cancelling before their PIF they aren’t going to keep prices high