How come DCL isn't selling out?

[Paul Stupin]

So today DCL dropped kids sail 50% off with Disney + for a ton of their Wish, Wonder, and Dream sailings starting in Jan and going till mid June (which is a bit crazy to me since summer is normally already an easier sell).

Our early Jan sailings are blocked out (I'm guessing too close to the sail date) but looking at availability on the website- the *GT rates, CM discounts, and FL & Military discounts- still is no where close to full . I will report back passenger numbers after sailings but it is clear DCL is struggling to fill these ships

Other cruise lines are reporting record profits.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

And DCL is adding the fantasy, the destiny and the magic (part of the year) to sail MORE of these short Bahamas cruises. Not sure who is making these decisions, but they need to hire someone else. DCL needs more 7 night itineraries, not more short ones out of FL ports.

I think that’s intentional so the Treasure is just about the only option.

 

[VeronicaZS]

So today DCL dropped kids sail 50% off with Disney + for a ton of their Wish, Wonder, and Dream sailings starting in Jan and going till mid June (which is a bit crazy to me since summer is normally already an easier sell).

Our early Jan sailings are blocked out (I'm guessing too close to the sail date) but looking at availability on the website- the *GT rates, CM discounts, and FL & Military discounts- still is no where close to full . I will report back passenger numbers after sailings but it is clear DCL is struggling to fill these ships

Can only book for 4 people on the website, have to call for parties of 5+.

 

[dreamer17555]

Other cruise lines are reporting record profits.

I think the entire cruise industry is getting close to an oversaturation point with all the new ships being built, especially the mega ships. They are increasing prices, other lines are limiting and raising their drink packages, and changing some of their offerings to offer a little less (free at sea is gone- more at sea is a bit of a downgrade). Add that to a little bit of economic uncertainty and the Mexico cruise tax and it’s about to be a very interesting time in the next few years for the cruise industry…

I’m looking at what’s happening with NCL and I’m wondering if they might be the canary in the coal mine.

The last time DCL needed to offer a discount like this it was to get people sailing again once the ships fully opened up back to full capacity after Covid. It’s not a great sign that they need to bring it back, including all the way into June.

 

[Mommb]

The last time DCL needed to offer a discount like this it was to get people sailing again once the ships fully opened up back to full capacity after Covid. It’s not a great sign that they need to bring it back, including all the way into June.

The actual discount involved in "50% off for kids" is minimal. The previous Disney+ deal from 2 years ago included free fares for kids, and this is just half-price. It's significant for the families that use it, but not a big loss for DCL, especially if families spend more on Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boutique, souvenirs, excursions, and adult dining because they saved money on the room. There are also a lot of blackout dates, so it's not every cruise until June, or even most cruises until June.

From DCL's perspective, they have empty rooms that could be filled by 1 or 2 adults who have probably cruised with Disney before or by 2 adults and 2 kids who may be taking their first Disney cruise. If the family with kids has a good time, they are likely to take more cruises over the next few years that they may not have thought about taking without the special deal for their first cruise. So giving the discount only for 2 adults sailing with kids taps into a new market, which may be a different group from the people who typically book *GT rates.

I am guessing the shorter cruises are more profitable for DCL, which is why there are so many shorter cruises. As more people take shorter cruises and are ready for longer cruises, DCL may increase the number of longer cruises.

 

[AquaDame]

This could also result in a bump in Disney+ subscribers; if folks were planning to or already booked, they may add it on to lower their overall cost.

 

[dreamer17555]

The actual discount involved in "50% off for kids" is minimal. The previous Disney+ deal from 2 years ago included free fares for kids, and this is just half-price. It's significant for the families that use it, but not a big loss for DCL, especially if families spend more on Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boutique, souvenirs, excursions, and adult dining because they saved money on the room. There are also a lot of blackout dates, so it's not every cruise until June, or even most cruises until June.

From DCL's perspective, they have empty rooms that could be filled by 1 or 2 adults who have probably cruised with Disney before or by 2 adults and 2 kids who may be taking their first Disney cruise. If the family with kids has a good time, they are likely to take more cruises over the next few years that they may not have thought about taking without the special deal for their first cruise. So giving the discount only for 2 adults sailing with kids taps into a new market, which may be a different group from the people who typically book *GT rates.

I am guessing the shorter cruises are more profitable for DCL, which is why there are so many shorter cruises. As more people take shorter cruises and are ready for longer cruises, DCL may increase the number of longer cruises.

What’s interesting is several of the sailings are already offering *GT rates.

I totally understand that there is a difference between kids sail free and kids sail for 50% off- I believe the last deal was also tied to Disney+, as well but the fact that they are at least for some sailings offering both types of discounts to me means DCL isn't filling ships as well as they thought they would at the price point they originally set...

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

Being Castaway club members we wait for the 35% off E mails to arrive. Then chose the cheapest cabin on the cheapest cruise and take the discount.
Serious savings.
We can't stand other cruise lines.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

I think the entire cruise industry is getting close to an oversaturation point with all the new ships being built, especially the mega ships. They are increasing prices, other lines are limiting and raising their drink packages, and changing some of their offerings to offer a little less (free at sea is gone- more at sea is a bit of a downgrade). Add that to a little bit of economic uncertainty and the Mexico cruise tax and it’s about to be a very interesting time in the next few years for the cruise industry…

I’m looking at what’s happening with NCL and I’m wondering if they might be the canary in the coal mine.

The last time DCL needed to offer a discount like this it was to get people sailing again once the ships fully opened up back to full capacity after Covid. It’s not a great sign that they need to bring it back, including all the way into June.

We DCL cruise a lot but friends that cruise even more than us get amazing offers and super deals if they book more than one cabin.
This come close to cut-off time for booking so you are probably right. May be the red flag.

 

[msu2002]

I think the entire cruise industry is getting close to an oversaturation point with all the new ships being built, especially the mega ships. They are increasing prices, other lines are limiting and raising their drink packages, and changing some of their offerings to offer a little less (free at sea is gone- more at sea is a bit of a downgrade). Add that to a little bit of economic uncertainty and the Mexico cruise tax and it’s about to be a very interesting time in the next few years for the cruise industry…

I’m looking at what’s happening with NCL and I’m wondering if they might be the canary in the coal mine.

The last time DCL needed to offer a discount like this it was to get people sailing again once the ships fully opened up back to full capacity after Covid. It’s not a great sign that they need to bring it back, including all the way into June.

I would not be surprised to see Disney back up the dates on the 4 new ships, it was what 2031? That's a ways off but that's 4 ships in soon to be 6 years. I think they need to figure out the itineraries as everybody has talked about, bring back NYC, NOLA, Canada, Bermuda etc. you can't run that many ships on short Bahamas cruises and that could be a mistake that hurts them for a while.

 

[holula]

Absolutely agree they need to go back to offering more than just Bahamas and more Bahamas. Why not try a longer season in NYC if they can get the port space? Two ships in Europe? A longer season on the West Coast (potentially they are trying this in 2026.) A handful of longer cruises in slow season? More stage shows that are unique to each ship?

Starting from 2027 (which is when I thought the first new ship was meant to sail) they are going to have a LOT of ships to fill.

 

[Grumpydad12]

I just booked the Wish for spring break using the Disney plus deal. Good thing I waited to book as it was a 1300 savings from the regular price. . I booked deluxe ocean view . Family of 4 .

Any discount is better than no discount .

 

[scroogie]

Absolutely agree they need to go back to offering more than just Bahamas and more Bahamas. Why not try a longer season in NYC if they can get the port space? Two ships in Europe? A longer season on the West Coast (potentially they are trying this in 2026.) A handful of longer cruises in slow season? More stage shows that are unique to each ship?

These are all great ideas. I've always felt in particular that they could get away with two ships in Europe, base one in the Med and another doing the northern itineraries.

 

[DCLMP]

Most cruise lines barely charge anything for 3rd and 4th guests in the room. This makes DCL more competitive. The economy is not great especially for families.

 

[Cfabar1]

Being Castaway club members we wait for the 35% off E mails to arrive. Then chose the cheapest cabin on the cheapest cruise and take the discount.
Serious savings.
We can't stand other cruise lines.

I have never seen these emails... how do you get on the list?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I have never seen these emails... how do you get on the list?

I was wondering the same thing. I am on Disney's email list but they never send me cruise offers. Maybe I need to avoid booking for a few years for them to start sending them.
We usually cruise every spring and fall so they probably see no need to send me offers.

 

[dreamer17555]

As far as I am aware DCL does not email Castaway members about *GT rates... but I know some TA's have mailing lists and share them with their clients. Maybe that is what they are referring to?

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

Contradict all ya want, we get the offers.

Our last two non-TCM cruises were booked online with 35% off offers.
Friends booked theirs with the discount too.

Then, once booked with the discount, often offers to book additional cabins for that cruise come in at significantly lower rates than 35% off.

Booking the past TCM Cruise immediately when it opened up brought a modest discount, but a discount none the less.

Sorry you don't get them, that doesn't mean we don't.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Contradict all ya want, we get the offers.

Our last two non-TCM cruises were booked online with 35% off offers.
Friends booked theirs with the discount too.

Then, once booked with the discount, often offers to book additional cabins for that cruise come in at significantly lower rates than 35% off.

Booking the past TCM Cruise immediately when it opened up brought a modest discount, but a discount none the less.

Sorry you don't get them, that doesn't mean we don't.

What’s a TCM cruise?

 

[FreeTime]

TCM - Turner Classic Movies

I am a lowest of the low Castaway member and haven’t sailed in years on a non-cast member discount and we receive email promos pretty regularly for percents off / GT rates directly from Disney.