How come DCL isn't selling out?

We use cc points for our pre cruise hotel stay and most of our cost for flights.

Yes, other cruise lines are cheaper but DCL is what we like most. We have stayed from interior cabins to having 2 connected verandahs, and and never felt like I was staying in a coffin.

We don’t spend much time in our room except to get ready to go out in am and before dinner. Then a little time to unwind with a movie as we fall asleep.

It’s good to find a cruise line that suits you and you can enjoy. There is no right or wrong answer for this.
Agreed, we were wavering ourselves, but ended up booking a 7 night on the treasure in dec 2025 for a very merrytime cruise. Yes it's probably around 3k more expensive then some of the other cruises I was looking at, but we just want that disney touch to it.

Plus, I really want to spend time in that Haunted Mansion lounge lol
 
Agreed, we were wavering ourselves, but ended up booking a 7 night on the treasure in dec 2025 for a very merrytime cruise. Yes it's probably around 3k more expensive then some of the other cruises I was looking at, but we just want that disney touch to it.

Plus, I really want to spend time in that Haunted Mansion lounge lol

I know! So want to do the haunted mansion and the periscope pub... yes Disney cruises are more expensive, but I go for the total package, Disney AND cruising, if I just wanted Disney, I go to the parks (and do lol), if I just want to Cruise, well, tons of other choices. I want both and am willing to pay more to get it.
 
I know! So want to do the haunted mansion and the periscope pub... yes Disney cruises are more expensive, but I go for the total package, Disney AND cruising, if I just wanted Disney, I go to the parks (and do lol), if I just want to Cruise, well, tons of other choices. I want both and am willing to pay more to get it.
That is how I feel, but I do have to say, the higher the prices are getting the less I am willing to keep toeing the line there….

The spring break and summer cruise pricing are becoming beyond staggering and I am not sure we can do that too much longer to be honest!
 

Agreed, we were wavering ourselves, but ended up booking a 7 night on the treasure in dec 2025 for a very merrytime cruise. Yes it's probably around 3k more expensive then some of the other cruises I was looking at, but we just want that disney touch to it.

Plus, I really want to spend time in that Haunted Mansion lounge lol
I am curious about that too!

They know how to reel us in. Lol
 
Because they are outrageously priced.

I'm sailing on the Fantasy in a month and the cost for 2 adults and 3 children is twice the cost of a stay in WDW of the same length, all expenses considered.
We did a trip to WDW in March (prime Spring Break ) - with a stay at Boardwalk - because it was cheaper than doing a Disney Cruise 🤣 My mom wanted to splurge, but an 8 day WDW trip - made more sense than 4 days Wish for the price.
 
Que the latest doom and gloom thread - "DCL 3% EMPTY, how can they ever survive without a full ship!"

I made myself behave and not write something like this... and then you did lol.

but yeah, clearly Disney is feeling the sting of their own corporate greed and mismanagement, 3% vacancy, all that money lost! The public has spoken! That will teach Disney!

Though, with more ships and higher cruise fares, there are those pesky profits Disney is crying all the way to the bank with..
 
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Most of us were discussing all the VGT discounts offered to get to that 95% ... and this thread was specifically about summer 2024 sailings offering VGT discounts out of PC when they haven't needed to in past summers... This summer's numbers are not reflected in that report
 
Will the guaranteed rates become more consistent in the years to come? Possibly so, since the rates will always rise and not fall? But I do admit, after seeing that latest fight on Carnival, that could be an added incentive to pay such rates for Disney.
 
Most of us were discussing all the VGT discounts offered to get to that 95% ... and this thread was specifically about summer 2024 sailings offering VGT discounts out of PC when they haven't needed to in past summers... This summer's numbers are not reflected in that report

But the issue on Disney's approach as supported by that data is a valid discussion point, because the implication is that by many (the same most?) that Disney's high prices has led to the topic's assumption (which is anecdotal at best) and that it would hurt Disney. Data that suggests at the end of the day Disney is still at high occupancy is important, and very relevant given the assertion that Disney has raised its prices... point being VGT discounts do not matter, Disney is making more money not less, because they have adjusted their pricing model accordingly. Selling out to fast was just bad business to them.
 
Will the guaranteed rates become more consistent in the years to come? Possibly so, since the rates will always rise and not fall? But I do admit, after seeing that latest fight on Carnival, that could be an added incentive to pay such rates for Disney.
There was a fight on Royal last week. And some woman sliding down banister on The Wish before that. On our May Wish cruise we had security need to escort a group of guests from Luna balcony for being disrespectful and also leaning as far over as possible (dangerously so) to argue with the CM on stage. Bad behavior is not limited to Carnival.
 
I wonder how Disney calculates occupancy, room or passenger capacity.

Usually ships can go over the threshold with the 3rd and 4th guests. RCCL for last year was at 105.6%. Carnival came in at 109%. Norwegian was at 105.1%. Disney's 95% isnt bad but I would think with all the kids they would be higher.
 
There was a fight on Royal last week. And some woman sliding down banister on The Wish before that. On our May Wish cruise we had security need to escort a group of guests from Luna balcony for being disrespectful and also leaning as far over as possible (dangerously so) to argue with the CM on stage. Bad behavior is not limited to Carnival.
No, not just Carnival. But I have never seen reports of such on DCL. But I believe what your saying.
 
Que the latest doom and gloom thread - "DCL 3% EMPTY, how can they ever survive without a full ship!"

Nobody’s suggesting doom & gloom, they’re just pointing out that people are being turned off by Disney’s prices. Statistics are deceitful — select employee groups get access to deeply discounted DCL rates, and where you’re paying full price or getting a 90% discount, you’re still a revenue passenger.
 
Will the guaranteed rates become more consistent in the years to come? Possibly so, since the rates will always rise and not fall? But I do admit, after seeing that latest fight on Carnival, that could be an added incentive to pay such rates for Disney.
This is how we’ve always felt about DCL that we pay more but we feel “safer” less drunks and fights, a calmer family crowd. But we just got off a Mediterranean cruise which was seriously expensive and the behaviour we experienced was pretty bad. We had a clearly drunk woman roaming the halls (drink in hand) with her 2 young kids knocking doors to find the “big good cabins” . We had a HA room so had a doorbell which the kids rang on 10 times in the space of 5 mins. Stateroom host saw it and laughed and allowed her to peer into next doors cabin he was cleaning. I reported it and he denied ever seeing them. Also many other people visibly very drunk around the pool most days shouting and screaming. Kids running and pushing past me in the hall, nearly knocking me into the wall. At cabanas a family were arguing loudly about yogurts and one of them launched a yogurt pot across the room narrowly missing me, another family and crew. Because we paid so much it felt like we could have had a similar experience on Royal for half the price. The cruise was sold out too. It just felt like the whole vibe was off and turning away from everything we used to love about Disney cruising
 
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Nobody’s suggesting doom & gloom, they’re just pointing out that people are being turned off by Disney’s prices. Statistics are deceitful — select employee groups get access to deeply discounted DCL rates, and where you’re paying full price or getting a 90% discount, you’re still a revenue passenger.

If statistics are deceitful, then what are sweeping comments that are supposed to refute but actually are either not factual, or unsupported (hence easy to make) or hyperbole?

I question your 90% figure, I think the norm discount is far less. I also question enough employees with discounts are on a cruise to significantly impact the bottom line. Been on 4 cruises now, have yet to meet a single employee paying with a discount, and I have met a LOT of people. :) I am sure it happens, just as I am sure someone will come up with their anecdote that proves the rule, but not enough to be relevant. Finally, so what? what cruise does NOT offer employee discounts? so if they all do it, what relevance to this discussion?

I agree, Disney prices are higher than some cruise lines, lower than others. That's indisputable. Also as Disney prices rise, some are going to be priced out and or no longer see the value. That's the beauty of choice. But what Disney experience would you have Disney drop to make a cruise cheaper? Character meet and greets? Don't see that on other cruises. You willing to give up twice a day cleaning? Again not standard these days on other cruise lines? The list of touches goes on and on.

Cool, some people get tired of the Mouse and/or the premium pricing and move on. So? The difficulty I have is when people seem to take personal offense and blame Disney as if Disney should just lower their prices for them. It's a product. People always have choices.
 
I question your 90% figure, I think the norm discount is far less.
Agree. When you look at the discounts being offered right now, they're obviously better than full price but nowhere close to 90%. I just checked a few random ones and it's more like a 20% discount.

But the hyperbole is more fun, I guess.
 

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