just got back from Disney Dream and wow

[Tonka's Skipper]

Actually, it is "always to capacity". But the same is true for every other ship out there as well. Cruise lines do not allow ships to leave port with empty cabins even if they have to practically give them away. Capacity isn't the issue. It is: "What do they have to charge to fill the ship". I got a last minute offer to sail on DCL for a week-long cruise for $389 per person for a cruise leaving in 10 days. They weren't going to let that bed stay empty.
See page 6, bullet point 10 of this...http://www.f-cca.com/downloads/2013-cruise-industry-overview.pdf

Jimmy you have a point but the lines cannot always fill every ship, even DCL. They may try, but rarely happens.

Not to mention is how you define *capacity*...all cabin occupied?....full fares?.....discounted fare?, empty berths?

Of course I was referring to cabin sold in the range where they are making money. Giving a cabin away at $389 per person may help pay the staff and operation, and basically some income is better then none, but they are not making a profit.

Before you ask, no I cannot prove it, its just known in the industry.

I also know Disney has better bookings then the other lines because they are Disney, and no those figures are not released, but its known in the industry.




AKK[/QUOTE]

 

[rastika]

I have a subjective question for you! I live in Columbia, SC which is even hotter than Atlanta where I grew up. I'm used to humidity and heat, but I've never been to the Bahamas, nor on a cruise ship before. How is the temperature indoors? Do they have icy cold ac? Will I be more comfortable in a sleeveless short dresses or capris and long pants? Is there a separate room thermostat in the cabins?

Did you participate in the Rainforest room or saunas while on board? Are they stifling given how hot it is in the Bahamas or are they cozy because the rest of the ship is cool?

My cruise is a little under 20 days from now! September 25th. Thank you for all your help!

 

[gumbypee]

Actually, it is "always to capacity". But the same is true for every other ship out there as well. Cruise lines do not allow ships to leave port with empty cabins even if they have to practically give them away. Capacity isn't the issue. It is: "What do they have to charge to fill the ship". I got a last minute offer to sail on DCL for a week-long cruise for $389 per person for a cruise leaving in 10 days. They weren't going to let that bed stay empty.
See page 6, bullet point 10 of this...http://www.f-cca.com/downloads/2013-cruise-industry-overview.pdf

When was this and how did you get an offer for $389?

Thanks

 

[JimmyV]

I also know Disney has better bookings then the other lines because they are Disney, and no those figures are not released, but its known in the industry.

Perhaps based on profit, but not in terms of capacity. 100% is 100%. And every ship is sailing at 100%. While $389 may just barely cover costs, they know that I am going to buy excursions and drinks and so forth. Cabin fare can be a loss leader to get you on the ship. Remember that the crew works largely for tips, and every passenger is going to pay a set amount (or recommended amount) in tips irrespective of what they paid to get on the ship. So filling every stateroom is done as much for the benefit of the crew as it is for the cruise line. The cruise line knows that its crew will quit if they aren't getting paid. So they stick people in cabins to get the $12 per person per day tips out of them to keep the crew happy. If you do a mock booking of any ship leaving port in 7 days or less, you will be hard pressed to find a handful of empty cabins. If it is "known in the industry" that Disney is the best, I would submit that they lead by numbers that appear to the right of the decimal point.

 

[JimmyV]

When was this and how did you get an offer for $389?

Thanks

My brother was working at an "on property hotel not owned by Disney" and was friends with the DCL representative who was stationed at the hotel. She asked him if he would ever be interested in taking a last minute cruise to fill an empty cabin if they ever had one. He said yes, as long as his work schedule would permit. He got an offer one day for a last minute cabin at that price, per person, based on double occupancy. He called me and offered me the second bed in the cabin. I couldn't go, but he found someone else who could.

 

[gumbypee]

My brother was working at an "on property hotel not owned by Disney" and was friends with the DCL representative who was stationed at the hotel. She asked him if he would ever be interested in taking a last minute cruise to fill an empty cabin if they ever had one. He said yes, as long as his work schedule would permit. He got an offer one day for a last minute cabin at that price, per person, based on double occupancy. He called me and offered me the second bed in the cabin. I couldn't go, but he found someone else who could.

so this isn't something"regular" people can get. bummer

 

[gumbypee]

I wish we could have let OP keep this as a happy, positive, fun post. Sigh.

 

[JimmyV]

so this isn't something"regular" people can get. bummer

Not typically. If such deals do open up to the public, they would be limited to the best past customers, the best customers of the highest yielding agents, and the best customers who live close to the port of departure. A cruise line might do some targeted marketing and a "blast" email to that subset. But the general public would never see it.

 

[DCLBACH]

I would just like to follow-up with my question about sea weed: How was Castaway Cay?

We never noticed any at all. Water was a little cloudy close to shore but clear further out. Even saw a sea turtle while snorkeling.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Perhaps based on profit, but not in terms of capacity. 100% is 100%. And every ship is sailing at 100%. While $389 may just barely cover costs, they know that I am going to buy excursions and drinks and so forth. Cabin fare can be a loss leader to get you on the ship. Remember that the crew works largely for tips, and every passenger is going to pay a set amount (or recommended amount) in tips irrespective of what they paid to get on the ship. So filling every stateroom is done as much for the benefit of the crew as it is for the cruise line. The cruise line knows that its crew will quit if they aren't getting paid. So they stick people in cabins to get the $12 per person per day tips out of them to keep the crew happy. If you do a mock booking of any ship leaving port in 7 days or less, you will be hard pressed to find a handful of empty cabins. If it is "known in the industry" that Disney is the best, I would submit that they lead by numbers that appear to the right of the decimal point.

We will have to disagree.....AKK

 

[JimmyV]

We will have to disagree.....AKK

Again. Page 6. Bullet point #10.

• From a capacity standpoint, utilization is consistently over 100%.

You aren't disagreeing with me. You are disagreeing with an industry publication.

 

[mevelandry]

We never noticed any at all. Water was a little cloudy close to shore but clear further out. Even saw a sea turtle while snorkeling.

Thanks, I will update the thread.

 

[jenny105]

Gonna be on the Dream in 8 days. Can't wait!

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

Thanks for the post, sounds like you loved it as much as my wife and I. DW and I will be revisiting the Disney Dream, next year ( for over a year out we still are cruising the Dream).
We said we would never cruise less than seven nights again, because anything else it just too short. Can't wait for our second (short) cruise on the Disney Dream.

 

[shelbell77]

I wish we could have let OP keep this as a happy, positive, fun post. Sigh.

me too. this makes me sad.

 

[thumpie's mom]

I wish we could have let OP keep this as a happy, positive, fun post. Sigh.

Me too