Shockingly low passenger numbers on the Dream

[OhioWDWDuo]

We were on the 9/11 Fantasy cruise and we had 950 guest. One main restaurant was closed each night and cabanas only served breakfast and lunch. (No dinner). On castaway days only quick service and cabanas was opened for lunch While all 3 bbq locations were open on the island. We were on both the august 30th Dream and the 9/11 Fantasy and 11 days in wdw. The cruises were good, but very strict protocol on the Fantasy compared to the Dream (expected since it was the first Fantasy cruise)

Would you mind elaborating on the differences in protocol between the Fantasy and the Dream? I was also on the 9/11 Fantasy cruise. I thought both ships have the same safety protocols, but I could be wrong. Thanks!

 

[orum]

We just got off our Fantasy cruise and we had about 1100 passengers. The amount of passengers really upped the experience, but especially on Castaway Cay. As the sun shifted in the afternoon, we just moved to a different area to get shade. There were times when we were the only people anywhere near us in the water.

Our price was the 7 day price per day, so we got a little better deal than people that booked after the itinerary change. We also got an on board credit due to the change, but I would still pay regular prices for what we got (especially with these reduced crowds). It didn’t feel like a reduction in experience for us. (Note- we were not traveling with children, so I can’t comment on the kids club experience.) There were 4 different shows (3 in the theater and one up on deck for Halloween). The mask wearing didn’t seem to bothersome. Some of the new additions (appointments for guest services, and virtual queue to leave the ship at castaway) seemed like enhancements.

If the number of passengers were to increase it would be problematic because the venues could barely accommodate anyone who wanted to enjoy them. Aladdin reached capacity the first night so they added a matinee of Frozen the musical for day 2.

And I will also say that the staff was beyond happy to have passengers back. I am sure it was hard on them not working for so long and multiple cast members thanked us for coming back to sailing with them.

 

[n2mm]

Would you mind elaborating on the differences in protocol between the Fantasy and the Dream? I was also on the 9/11 Fantasy cruise. I thought both ships have the same safety protocols, but I could be wrong. Thanks!

on the Dream we had to stand in line to get in the store, social distancing. On the fantasy it was shoulder to shoulder everytime we went. On the Dream we could sit in the back of the theater and not be assigned seating, on the fantasy we were told every seat was assigned. For castaway the Dream didn’t enforce the QR code to get off. On the fantasy they did. I’m sure the fantasy was overly strict since it was the first cruise. But the crowded store really surprised me and on more than one occasion. btw, I did do the QR code on the Dream, but no one asked about it and there was at least 30 people waiting to get off.

 

[OhioWDWDuo]

on the Dream we had to stand in line to get in the store, social distancing. On the fantasy it was shoulder to shoulder everytime we went. On the Dream we could sit in the back of the theater and not be assigned seating, on the fantasy we were told every seat was assigned. For castaway the Dream didn’t enforce the QR code to get off. On the fantasy they did. I’m sure the fantasy was overly strict since it was the first cruise. But the crowded store really surprised me and on more than one occasion. btw, I did do the QR code on the Dream, but no one asked about it and there was at least 30 people waiting to get off.

Thank you! I was also surprised about the crowds in the stores.

 

[spiders]

I think numbers will steadily increase now they have resumed. I was going to go in November on a 7 night but there were too many uncertainties leading up to it that we decided to postpone. We were committed to the backup plan of a WDW only trip a few months ago and there is very resort availability left for our week so I think it was a good decision. However, I will also add that had we known the vaccination requirements that would be in place by The Bahamas back in early summer when we decided to abandon ship (pun intended) that we more than likely would sail this November as originally planned. Anyway, such is life and we are booked for the same itinerary next year. On the positive side -- I did manage to score a Space 220 reservation so that wouldn't have happened had we sailed...

 

[DCLMP]

There are a lot of discounts available to Florida res, military and travel industry. I think they would like to sell more rooms. I don’t think the could fill a ship even if they offered 50% off. People don’t want to cruise for a variety of reasons. The reasons are pretty obvious.

 

[sethschroeder]

I think this is great, maybe Disney will realize that they can't charge full price for half of the experience.

Only double for the normal experience right?

 

[DCLMP]

I don’t think cruises lines will be profitable until all the mandates and testing is gone.

 

[squirk]

This just appeared in my FB feed. I know DCL has always offered discounts to help “top off” cruises, but I am fairly certain I have never seen a 25%-off GP promotion advertised so broadly in a FB ad. Least of all for sailings out of Port Canaveral.

 

[DCLMP]

This just appeared in my FB feed. I know DCL has always offered discounts to help “top off” cruises, but I am fairly certain I have never seen a 25%-off GP promotion advertised so broadly in a FB ad. Least of all for sailings out of Port Canaveral.

View attachment 606715

It was always the off-season cruises out of Galveston, NYC, Europe, San Diego, and some random cruises out of Florida usually the Fantasy or Magic where you saw the discounts. Discounts on the Dream were very rare. The short cruises of PC have always been their money maker. I would expect that to continue with the Wish. I'm expecting to see a lot of Discounts on the Dream out of Miami next year. I don't think it will be able to compete with the new ship.

 

[squirk]

It was always the off-season cruises out of Galveston, NYC, Europe, San Diego, and some random cruises out of Florida usually the Fantasy or Magic where you saw the discounts. Discounts on the Dream were very rare. The short cruises of PC have always been their money maker. I would expect that to continue with the Wish. I'm expecting to see a lot of Discounts on the Dream out of Miami next year. I don't think it will be able to compete with the new ship.

Right, but it seems like those Dream/Fantasy discounts were always kind of on the down-low? Through travel partners and listed on the DCL site, but never shouted from the rooftops.

Maybe the FB ad algorithms just didn’t align for me in the past, but, again, I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen an active solicitation on FB for a steep discount on PC cruises.

 

[Timandalicia]

I asked our head server on the 9/17 Dream cruise how many passengers were aboard and she said 1,002 and there were 1200 crew. Areas of the ship were almost ghostly empty at times. DCL must be hemorrhaging money now, how long do you think they can keep this up?

Shocking to who? There’s a global pandemic.

 

[MomOTwins]

When you read the details, the “25% off” is just VGT rates. Those have always been offered in the off season—disney is just advertising them differently.

 

[n2mm]

I’m surprised that dcl hasn’t offered a dvc discount yet. I’ve jumped on those rare opportunities in the past. Funny that they can offer the 25% off, but if you put DVC member in front of it, people will jump on it. My first 7 night cruise was a dvc discounted cruise and they offered 30% off. i was allowed to book 2 cabins and had to fax a copy of my DVC card to dcl. That was in 2014, so a long time ago.

 

[squirk]

When you read the details, the “25% off” is just VGT rates. Those have always been offered in the off season—disney is just advertising them differently.

That was (partly) my point - the discounts have been offered in the past, but why are they being advertised on FB now?

Are they just trying something new, or are they needing to get the word out to more ppl?

Or have these always been advertised in FB feeds, but just never appeared in mine until yesterday?

 

[KantLose]

That was (partly) my point - the discounts have been offered in the past, but why are they being advertised on FB now?

Are they just trying something new, or are they needing to get the word out to more ppl?

Or have these always been advertised in FB feeds, but just never appeared in mine until yesterday?

I noticed them in my feed recently, but have been spending a lot of time on DCL related sites, so assuming it might just be targeted advertising. I've also been getting more RCL ads lately as I've looked at their sites to compare itineraries.

 

[dclpluto]

I have been on 22 Disney cruises. I will not go how things are now on the ship. I’m not afraid of covid been on 4 vacations since covid. I don’t mind wearing a mask when I have to. Don’t want to go on a cruise now. Less entertainment. I will do it for the new ship going on that a couple months after it opens. Doesn’t matter how covid is at that time or entertainment onboard. I will do it for the new ship. Only been on 2 short cruises one was to try out the wonder another one the dream.

 

[MomOTwins]

That was (partly) my point - the discounts have been offered in the past, but why are they being advertised on FB now?

Are they just trying something new, or are they needing to get the word out to more ppl?

Or have these always been advertised in FB feeds, but just never appeared in mine until yesterday?

I see what you're saying. I've seen DCL ads in my faceboook feed for years, but can't recall if special rates were advertised or if they just advertised disney crusies generally. There's some algorithm I'm sure that decides who sees what ads.. I do think they are sailing under their target guest count based on recent reports, so I guess it doesn't surprise me that they are trying to make it sound like abetter deal than it really is.