Positive changes

[Husker Mike]

Considering that Disney charges about twice as much as the other lines, I suspect that they could break-even at low occupancy levels. If you are planning for fewer passengers for an extended period of time, your staffing levels drop significantly. 50% occupancy for months means half the cabin stewards and food service people, which lowers the cost levels. Base infrastructure, such as kids clubs and entertainment doesn't scale up or down nearly as much, to be sure. But I don't think you approach the next two years as trying to make a lot of money as much as trying to cut your losses and stay in business for a post-COVID world.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Rotating between 4 restaurants won't work for 3-night cruises.

I don't understand why not? Yes, some guests won't get to dine in all 4, but what other things would not work?

 

[Primeval Princess]

I don't understand why not? Yes, some guests won't get to dine in all 4, but what other things would not work?

That guests wouldn't get to dine in all four. I guess most wouldn't care if the one they missed out on was Cabanas, but most wouldn't want to be forced to miss one of the main three.

 

[CaseyCruiser]

With the current situation changes will come, here are some changes that I would't mind:

Dining:
Shorten the length by combining courses, ordering desert upfront, and less chit-chat, not mentioning the survey for example.
Remove the shared tables for smaller groups. Forcing people to be near each other every night is a bad idea.
With more tables needed, they will have to add a 3rd dining time, many will be eager to sign up for the earliest time.
Cafeteria style buffets aren't bad either.

Shows:
They could add a 3rd time with each groups having an empty seat between them.

Pools:
No saving chairs, unattended items and towels will be immediately removed. Not sure how this is virus related but we can come up with something.

Others?

I love to relax and take my time during dinner on a cruise. If they speed it up you might as well stay home and get some fast food. I agree about the chairs.

 

[Karin1984]

That guests wouldn't get to dine in all four. I guess most wouldn't care if the one they missed out on was Cabanas, but most wouldn't want to be forced to miss one of the main three.

Only returning cruisers will notice that. The majority of new cruisers probably didn't do the research to that detail.

And for the returning cruisers would it be a huge issue? I doubt it. It is a temporary change, not indefinite. Most likely for this group there is 1 maybe 2 restaurants they have on their favourites list, and they know they can request a specific rotation. And it can be easily avoided by not doing a 3 night cruise, but chosing a 4 night.

I think it is one of the most likely changes we can expect, add a 3rd optional seating and/or add Cabanas to the rotation. Both options will reduce the guests per seating.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

add a 3rd optional rotation

What do you mean by this? There are already 3 rotations for dining. For example, on the Fantasy the rotations are
1. Enchanted Garden, Royal Court, Animator's
2. Royal Court, Animator's, Enchanted Garden
3. Animator's, Enchanted Garden, Royal Court

Now, within that formula, there could be repeats:
RAERAAE
AERAEER
ERAERRA

but the order remains the same.

 

[Primeval Princess]

Only returning cruisers will notice that. The majority of new cruisers probably didn't do the research to that detail.

I think it's the other way around. As returning cruisers, we know which restaurant on the Dream we wouldn't mind skipping (AP). But as new cruisers, we'd want to experience all three. Disney hypes their rotational restaurants- it isn't a hidden perk that few new cruisers know about.

Even being okay with missing one MDR can be problematic, though, as we really want to experience the other two, so the rotation would have to be just right for us to be satisfied.

All of this is why DCL has 3 MDRs. They sell so many 3-night cruises, which are very profitable to DCL in terms of the cost per night, that they need those guests to be happy.

 

[Karin1984]

What do you mean by this? There are already 3 rotations for dining. For example, on the Fantasy the rotations are
1. Enchanted Garden, Royal Court, Animator's
2. Royal Court, Animator's, Enchanted Garden
3. Animator's, Enchanted Garden, Royal Court

Now, within that formula, there could be repeats:
RAERAAE
AERAEER
ERAERRA

but the order remains the same.

Sorry wrong word, I meant seating. It is not ideal to gave one seating at 5, another at 6.45 and last one at 8.30, but as a temporary solution i can see how it could benefit.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Sorry wrong word, I meant seating. It is not ideal to gave one seating at 5, another at 6.45 and last one at 8.30, but as a temporary solution i can see how it could benefit.

OK, got it.

 

[tvguy]

Considering that Disney charges about twice as much as the other lines, I suspect that they could break-even at low occupancy levels. If you are planning for fewer passengers for an extended period of time, your staffing levels drop significantly. 50% occupancy for months means half the cabin stewards and food service people, which lowers the cost levels. Base infrastructure, such as kids clubs and entertainment doesn't scale up or down nearly as much, to be sure. But I don't think you approach the next two years as trying to make a lot of money as much as trying to cut your losses and stay in business for a post-COVID world.

Love to book at their books. But I had always thought the biggest expenses on a cruise were fixed costs. Most of the positions you mention get a small salary, with the bulk of their income coming from tips. I think what would hurt them would be fewer passengers purchasing extras.

 

[tvguy]

And I love that you don't have to make reservations or wait for a table on a Disney cruise. When it's your time, you just show up and eat. That's much easier than freestyle.

Other than NCL, a set dining time is the norm on cruise lines, not just Disney.

 

[tvguy]

No idea what Disney will do, but apparently RCL is backing away from statements that buffets would go away.
https://www.cruise.blog/2020/05/roy...moving-buffet-after-all-once-cruising-resumes

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Other than NCL, a set dining time is the norm on cruise lines, not just Disney.

There are cruise lines that have it as an option, however. Both fixed and anytime (some have different names for it).

 

[Primeval Princess]

No idea what Disney will do, but apparently RCL is backing away from statements that buffets would go away.
https://www.cruise.blog/2020/05/roy...moving-buffet-after-all-once-cruising-resumes

Not surprising. Most cruisers like having a buffet option. You have to wonder if they bothered to do any market research before publicly announcing that their buffets might be a thing of the past.

A ship is not a hospital. There are going to be crowds. There are going to be germs. People who find that too unsafe shouldn't cruise. Those who do feel safe cruising don't want the vacation experience they paid for to be diminished.

 

[brianvdb]

So they decide to start off at a reduced capacity. Considering most sailings probably have more bookings than the arbitrary xx% limit, who gets to decide who DOESN'T get to sail? How long does this go on for? How much revenue risk/loss does this add on top of existing issues? How much demand to the brand is acceptable because of this?

I don’t know for sure, but I’m guessing that there have been a large number of cancellations/reschedules as a result of COVID. You wouldn’t kick anyone off the cruise. The idea would be to cap new reservations based on a lower ship capacity.

Right now, the line’s revenue is zero. I’m sure that someone with a corner office knows the “break even” capacity for each sailing. Set the maximum capacity accordingly. Sailing with a lower load comes could some cost savings as well.

As far as “how long does it last,” the same question is being asked already... how long will cruises *not* sail because of COVID. Answering these sorts of questions is well within the purview of DCL senior management to decide upon.

 

[tvguy]

Not surprising. Most cruisers like having a buffet option. You have to wonder if they bothered to do any market research before publicly announcing that their buffets might be a thing of the past.

A ship is not a hospital. There are going to be crowds. There are going to be germs. People who find that too unsafe shouldn't cruise. Those who do feel safe cruising don't want the vacation experience they paid for to be diminished.

Well, I don't think Disney ever had the traditional cruise Midnight Buffet, I suspect because THEIR research indicated their passengers wouldn't use it. Other lines have phased it out, however it was a disappointment to my kids after cruising HAL to go on Disney and not being able to hit the buffet at 1 am.

 

[John VN]

PAY ME, in the form of $$$ reduction for cruise, to NOT DINE in a MDR. Each night has a $$ value = say $100 - $200 off per night. No MDR Dining = 3 nights = $300 to $600 off per cabin or person. For a night take a one night out of 3 night cruise dining and receive $$$ off the 1 night yet still experience the other 2.

Add a 3rd time dining option to thin crowd? Say 3:30 - 6:00 - 8:30 with complete menu order at seating.

Apologize if already mentioned since I'm not reading here.

 

[soundnew]

PAY ME, in the form of $$$ reduction for cruise, to NOT DINE in a MDR. Each night has a $$ value = say $100 - $200 off per night. No MDR Dining = 3 nights = $300 to $600 off per cabin or person. For a night take a one night out of 3 night cruise dining and receive $$$ off the 1 night yet still experience the other 2.

Add a 3rd time dining option to thin crowd? Say 3:30 - 6:00 - 8:30 with complete menu order at seating.

Apologize if already mentioned since I'm not reading here.

That's more a Carnival approach. Would not at all work for a Disney Cruise as this would impair the overall cruise experience Disney stands for.

 

[John VN]

That's more a Carnival approach. Would not at all work for a Disney Cruise as this would impair the overall cruise experience Disney stands for.

Point is that we have DCL enough enjoying as others have with our last 2 being 1BR Concierge so a reduced rate could bring us back. We cruise other multiple lines now, e.g. --MSC where Yacht Club is far fewer $$$ compared to DCL Concierge with immensely greater advantages that DCL can not match.

 

[soundnew]

On the little value of concierge level I absolutely agree.