pros/cons of an empty ship

[florida-again]

I might be wrong but there is no one else on the dis-boards who replied to my post saying they were going on the same cruise as me (09/15).

Also we just got upgraded from a 12 to an 8! so this makes me think the ship may be reasonably empty, maybe because of last years hurricanes.

If this is the case, what are the pros and cons of being an a ship that isn't totally full?

 

[tvguy]

I can't think of any cons to a ship that isn't full.

I would, however be surprised if it wasn't full. Remember, even on last year's Hurricane extended cruises, where people had the choice to get off the ship in Galveston, 70 percent stayed on board.
September is a popular cruising month because the weather generally is warm, rates start to drop as kids are back in school and people are back to work.
Yes, there were problems last September, but hurricane season runs June to November.

I didn't discover this forum until weeks before we left, I think you just don't have many DIS members on your cruise.

 

[JJsmama]

I might be wrong but there is no one else on the dis-boards who replied to my post saying they were going on the same cruise as me (09/15).

Also we just got upgraded from a 12 to an 8! so this makes me think the ship may be reasonably empty, maybe because of last years hurricanes.

Actually, I think the conventional school of thought is that the more full a ship is, the more likely the upgrade. Congrats on your great upgrade and happy sailing.

 

[Kim&Chris]

I would think an emptier ship would be sorta fun. You could bet that the pools would be far less crowded. Fewer guests would mean that the servers didn't have to spread themselves thin, so to speak. Characters would probably be more accessible.

Can't really think of any cons!

 

[rgoofyh]

We are sailing 9/15/05 we are going on DVC points but have not been upgarded hope we will be

 

[bielen]

Are the September cruises much emptier? I assume the lower rates attract more people. It attracted me when compared to July. Since my children are not yet in school, I currently can go on a cruise during Labor Day week.

 

[Rence]

On our first cruise, which was a 4 day on the Magic, before it started 7 day cruises, the ship was less than half full. It was the middle of January and DCL was still new.

Because the ship was less than half full, there was only one seating for dinner (early) and the shows were only done once each night (after dinner). So I supposed if the ship is that empty it could be conisdered a con in the sense that there is no choice in dinner seating times etc.

 

[logan1_2000]

I think the half-empty/half-full (depending upon your view of the world) ship described back when DCL was new, with one show and a single dinner seating, is not going to happen again any time soon; like 79 cent gasoline (maybe that was 3-4 years ago, I guess, here in ATL?), not again anytime soon, if at all.

 

[dairyou]

We usually cruise in Januay or February. Ship is not full at all and it is very nice! Upgrade are available at the ports. It's just a laid back type of atmosphere. People are not scrambling for pool chairs and the laundry room is hardly ever full.

I do see one con. With older kids it is harder to find pals to hang around with since there is not many to begin with. When our kids were pre -3rd grade it was fine. As they get older, there are less kids.

Deb

 

[wheelerkidz3]

good morning! I was wondering is there a month where the ship tends to be less full? Our last cruise was in jan, and i didn't think there was an overabundance of people. We've always pulled my ds out of school and done our vacations to disney in jan. because wdw isn't as crowded then. Unfortunately, it's getting harder to pull him out of school, and we have a dd that is starting school in a few weeks. We are going to have to try to start vacationing over their school breaks, which i think really stinks! I know i don't look forward to going to the "world" over a school break, and i wondered how "full" do the ships really get? Are the pools so crowded you can't stand it? Is it really hard to find a spot at CC? Thanks for any help!
shannon

 

[cruzings]

Are the September cruises much emptier? I assume the lower rates attract more people. It attracted me when compared to July. Since my children are not yet in school, I currently can go on a cruise during Labor Day week.

Yes, the September cruises are not as full. We have been on two, and comparing that to the one we just took last July....the ship was definitely less full in both September cruises. I think that's just advantageous in every way you can think of. There are less people in the pools, less kids in the clubs, less people in the theatres and shops, more empty loungers, less crowded at Castaway Cay, and on and on and on........ Of course, it's the cheapest rate you can get, taking the hurricane season risk of course. Plus, airfares are also cheaper at that time of year. And if you intend to stay at the parks, WDW room rates are value rates, as well.

 

[bielen]

Thanks. Since the cruises are emptier, does Disney more likely upgrade lower category rooms to available higher category rooms?

 

[Cindi0511]

Thanks. Since the cruises are emptier, does Disney more likely upgrade lower category rooms to available higher category rooms?

We went on a Sept. 03 7-day eastern, and we got upgraded from a Cat. 12 to a Cat. 9 -- ALL THREE ROOMS of us. Since it was our first cruise, we just had a ball. Plus, it was a spur-of-the-minute, pull it off in three weeks thing since it was only $599 per adult!

Our assistant server, Manuel, said the week before they didn't have very many on the ship and only had one dinner seating, and that was just two years ago. Of course, I wasn't there to verify, but that is what he said.

 

[rgoofyh]

My wife and I are going 9-15-05 you are the only other people that has said they were going. Congrads on your upgrade we were hoping for one also but not yet