Is Disney's timing off?

[Donut23]

I saw this promotion in USA Today. Is the the beginning of Mexican Riviera deals on Disney? We all know Disney doesn't give away a penny unless it has to!! Looks like the beancounters are not happy with advance sales.....or is that sails.

I know two cruiselines pulled their ships from Mexico itineraries because of crime against tourists - just as Disney decided to join the West Coast fleet. I thought with so much inventory gone, Disney would have no trouble filling thier relatively little ship. After all, the Mariner of the Seas alone carries nearly TWICE the guests the Disney Wonder carries.....and the guests on all the cancelled cruises had to find a new ship......and don't forget Carnival pulled a big ship out too.

If onshore activity keeps up, Mexician Riviera cruises will be cruises to nowhere as other ports are dropped. Well.....it would save on the port service fees!!!


Disney Cruise Line this week unveiled a "Kids Sail Free" deal on most of its Mexican Riviera sailings from October 30 to December 18, 2011.

Children age 17 and under will sail free on the 1,754-passenger Disney Wonder when traveling with two full-fare passengers in the same balcony cabin (categories 4A – 6A). Disney said there is no expiration date on the deal, but that the number of cabins allocated for the offer is limited



But hey, if Disney has bad timing, just think about poor Royal Caribbean. Just after the finalized all itineraries and announced their beautiful Mariner of the Seas (and what a GREAT ship!) would abandon the West Coast for the Med, the government change in Egypt happened and the Mariner's port visits to Alexandria were cancelled through the summer and into the fall. THAT was bad timing!!

 

[nytimez]

I saw this promotion in USA Today. Is the the beginning of Mexican Riviera deals on Disney? We all know Disney doesn't give away a penny unless it has to!! Looks like the beancounters are not happy with advance sales.....or is that sails.

I know two cruiselines pulled their ships from Mexico itineraries because of crime against tourists - just as Disney decided to join the West Coast fleet. I thought with so much inventory gone, Disney would have no trouble filling thier relatively little ship. After all, the Mariner of the Seas alone carries nearly TWICE the guests the Disney Wonder carries.....and the guests on all the cancelled cruises had to find a new ship......and don't forget Carnival pulled a big ship out too.

If onshore activity keeps up, Mexician Riviera cruises will be cruises to nowhere as other ports are dropped. Well.....it would save on the port service fees!!!


Disney Cruise Line this week unveiled a "Kids Sail Free" deal on most of its Mexican Riviera sailings from October 30 to December 18, 2011.

Children age 17 and under will sail free on the 1,754-passenger Disney Wonder when traveling with two full-fare passengers in the same balcony cabin (categories 4A – 6A). Disney said there is no expiration date on the deal, but that the number of cabins allocated for the offer is limited



But hey, if Disney has bad timing, just think about poor Royal Caribbean. Just after the finalized all itineraries and announced their beautiful Mariner of the Seas (and what a GREAT ship!) would abandon the West Coast for the Med, the government change in Egypt happened and the Mariner's port visits to Alexandria were cancelled through the summer and into the fall. THAT was bad timing!!

Could be bookings are down -- but this could also be one of those savings that isn't really a savings. It said it's with two adult full-fare tickets... I don't know what the normal savings you'd get since I've never taken a Disney cruise, but the wording of this reminds me of "free" dining, which isn't so free when you crunch the numbers.

 

[skiingfast]

It's not a shock. KSF doesn't happen in July, they happen when kids are in school. They also show up on the newer routes, not the established ones, they have solid rebookings.

It also moves the guests from inside cabins to expensive balconies. Just like with not so free dining, you get for example...Instead of inside stateroom booked at 500x2+200x2=1400 you will get 800x2+0x2=1800. Just like instead of a room in PoP with payed for meals a room in the Poly, with free dining.

 

[Donut23]

Yes, in the travel biz it's called "yield management". When advance reservations are not following an acceptable trend, they offer discounts. Like Southwest Airlines sales on Tuesdays and $52 seats. Sometimes the discounts are soooooo good you cannot understand how they can afford to do it. Again, like Southwest Airlines....once that cruiseship sails.....you can never sell that cabin. Again, in the biz, the $$ makers are bar, excursions and casino (not on Disney). Yield management is responsible for free dining at WDW.

I know across the board Disney cruiseline reservations, now with the 3rd ship, have not been what Disney had expected. I just wonder if it's the economy or people are taking a look at what is happening in Mexico and saying....Not with MY family!

Poor timing was soooooo obvious last year when Disney announced it was sending the Wonder to the west coast at nearly the exact week two major cruiselines were pulling OUT of a once popular market because of safety concerns in Mexican ports.

Still, with so much Mexican Riviera inventory now gone, I thought there would be a waiting line for the relatively few cabins still sailing into Mexico. I'm surprised the Wonder does not have a wait list. Sure, she is considered an older ship now, smaller, fewer whistles and bells than the newer ships......but she is still beautiful - certainly one of the nicer ships sailing on the West Coast.

I guess some don't want to sail with the mouse, or are confused that it's a kiddie ship.....but the Wonder is a GREAT holiday. I hope things pick up for her.