WBPC 2019 - Why February?

[wilma-bride]

Does anybody know - or want to venture a guess - as to why next year' WBPC is so early compared to the last few years?

I really want to book the WBPC for 2020 but hoping it won't be as early as next year's and wondered if there might have been a specific reason for it that I was unaware of?

 

[Geomom]

I'm thinking it's so they can do 2 months of Baja and Mexican Riviera cruises. Hmmm...maybe it's because the Wonder won't have time to do those in the fall because they're doing Hawaii instead. One can dream...

 

[disneyfaninaz]

The spring in Mexico and on the West Coast is beautiful. The Wonder will be sailing some Mexican Riviera cruises prior to heading north to Alaska.

 

[wilma-bride]

The spring in Mexico and on the West Coast is beautiful. The Wonder will be sailing some Mexican Riviera cruises prior to heading north to Alaska.

Both times we have taken that cruise, the final day cruising up the coast to San Diego was freezing (although, admittedly, Cabo was lovely weather wise). I can't imagine that would be much fun in February.

 

[MelSpees]

Both times we have taken that cruise, the final day cruising up the coast to San Diego was freezing (although, admittedly, Cabo was lovely weather wise). I can't imagine that would be much fun in February.

Southern CA generally has nice weather anytime. That's part of it's popularity. Just like Florida, it does have occasional colder weather.

 

[MickeyEarrings]

Does anybody know - or want to venture a guess - as to why next year' WBPC is so early compared to the last few years?

So we could use our placeholders for an awesome reunion cruise!!

 

[ajmomouse]

I am also "Wondering" whether they will ultimately leave the Wonder on the west coast? Will 2020 westbound be the last PC cruise with the new ships coming out beginning 2021? I can't imagine those cruises are big money makers for them, especially with the cost of going through the new locks

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I am also "Wondering" whether they will ultimately leave the Wonder on the west coast? Will 2020 westbound be the last PC cruise with the new ships coming out beginning 2021? I can't imagine those cruises are big money makers for them, especially with the cost of going through the new locks

I'd be surprised if they didn't make money. The PC cruises seem to always sell out. The price of our cabin from the first day it went on sale to today went up about $5000! If they do leave the Wonder on the coast, I hope they do more West Coast sailings up to San Francisco and Seattle.

 

[ajmomouse]

I'd be surprised if they didn't make money. The PC cruises seem to always sell out. The price of our cabin from the first day it went on sail to today went up about $5000! If they do leave the Wonder on the coast, I hope they do more West Coast sailings up to San Francisco and Seattle.

I agree they do make money but not nearly what they make on other cruises. The population is very low on those cruises, mostly couples not many kids, so the majority of staterooms only have 2 people. And the cost of going through the Canal is huge especially with the new locks

 

[Geomom]

I am also "Wondering" whether they will ultimately leave the Wonder on the west coast? Will 2020 westbound be the last PC cruise with the new ships coming out beginning 2021? I can't imagine those cruises are big money makers for them, especially with the cost of going through the new locks

I'm kind of afraid that they'll stop doing PC cruises before we can do one...my youngest graduates high school in 2022...so DH and I would be looking at going Fall 2022 or later. Maybe they'll stop after they have all 3 new ships in circulation? Oh well...nothing I can do about it...I would have been tempted to do this year's as 1 week of it is during vacation week...but I have a senior that I couldn't pull out of school...plus she wanted a summer European cruise as her 'grad' present and the PC cruise is really just for 'me'.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

I agree they do make money but not nearly what they make on other cruises. The population is very low on those cruises, mostly couples not many kids, so the majority of staterooms only have 2 people. And the cost of going through the Canal is huge especially with the new locks

I think you have to compare the PC cruises with other repositioning cruises. It’s not like they don’t know what the cost of the canal toll will be in advance when they price the cruise. I figured that was factored in when we did the EBPC last fall and for our WBPC next February, particularly when I compare pricing to our upcoming EBTA on the Magic. Same size ship, about same (low) number of children sailing, similar number of ports being visited, and 14 nights for the PC and 13 nights for the TA. For our same category cabins, the basic cruise fare after OBB discount is $206 per person per night for the TA and $209 per person per night for the PC. This represents a 3% increase over 9 months, so not too out of line. However, its $827.14 in taxes, fees, and port expenses for the PC and only $229.88 in taxes, fees, and port expenses for the TA. Five ports of call on each enroute, plus the day going through the canal. I think that the nearly $600 difference in taxes, fees, and port expenses is at least partly a consequence of the PC tolls. They don’t make money on these taxes, fees, and port expenses, since they refund whenever actual cost ends up lower than they estimated (we have received credits back to our credit card more than once after PIF date and prior to the actual cruise as a result of such adjustments).

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I'm kind of afraid that they'll stop doing PC cruises before we can do one...my youngest graduates high school in 2022...so DH and I would be looking at going Fall 2022 or later. Maybe they'll stop after they have all 3 new ships in circulation? Oh well...nothing I can do about it...I would have been tempted to do this year's as 1 week of it is during vacation week...but I have a senior that I couldn't pull out of school...plus she wanted a summer European cruise as her 'grad' present and the PC cruise is really just for 'me'.

This is why we haven't done a PC cruise yet either. Fortunately, our DD is graduating HS this May. Soooo, we are taking her on a European Med cruise for her grad present and then DH and I are going on the EBPC in October when she's in college! Win.. Win!!

 

[darnheather]

As far as cost this 14 night cruise is about the same price as the 7 night Marvel/Halloween/Disney Day we took last fall. It will come out more because of gratuities being higher and we'll need to fly. But still lots of value for us.

 

[BartmanLA]

My feeling is that they're moving the WBPC 2019 trip up (full disclosure we're taking that trip!) by 2 full months is in order to give the Wonder 2 months of itineraries on the West Coast to gauge the ability that DCL can fully book the ship for the 14 itineraries that they have slated for that time from March until she departs for Vancouver and the Alaskan coast season. I'm guessing that they want to see if it will be worth basing the Wonder (or any ship for that matter) on the West Coast permanently and be able to sustain adequate bookings while she is there. In addition, even if they do base the Wonder on the West Coast (either San Diego or hopefully Los Angeles since it's closer to Anaheim and Disneyland) it would give them the ability to do Mexican Coast cruises, or cruises north to San Francisco or even up to Vancouver, as well as doing quick stops in Ensenada and then they could go to Hawaii multiple times. On top of that with the NEW ships rolling out eventually they could still continue Panama Canal crossings since they're a very popular itinerary with one of the Dream Class ships or even one of the new ones. Granted this is all speculation, since we don't really know what their plans are for the new ships, although I have heard from someone sorta connected that has said that DCL is going to design one of the ships for the Asian market. I'm just not sure where and when it will be based.

 

[scgustafson]

My feeling is that they're moving the WBPC 2019 trip up (full disclosure we're taking that trip!) by 2 full months is in order to give the Wonder 2 months of itineraries on the West Coast to gauge the ability that DCL can fully book the ship for the 14 itineraries that they have slated for that time from March until she departs for Vancouver and the Alaskan coast season. I'm guessing that they want to see if it will be worth basing the Wonder (or any ship for that matter) on the West Coast permanently and be able to sustain adequate bookings while she is there. In addition, even if they do base the Wonder on the West Coast (either San Diego or hopefully Los Angeles since it's closer to Anaheim and Disneyland) it would give them the ability to do Mexican Coast cruises, or cruises north to San Francisco or even up to Vancouver, as well as doing quick stops in Ensenada and then they could go to Hawaii multiple times. On top of that with the NEW ships rolling out eventually they could still continue Panama Canal crossings since they're a very popular itinerary with one of the Dream Class ships or even one of the new ones. Granted this is all speculation, since we don't really know what their plans are for the new ships, although I have heard from someone sorta connected that has said that DCL is going to design one of the ships for the Asian market. I'm just not sure where and when it will be based.

The Disney Dream class ships cannot do the Panama Canal because they are too tall to clear the Bridge of the Americas, and unless they make the new class of ships about 30 feet shorter than the newer ships, they will not be able to transit the Panama Canal either.

 

[GPaLarry]

We took the EBPC cruise in 2008 and one of the crew said DCL paid $450,000 to go through the canal...back then!!! Yikes!

 

[BartmanLA]

In 2017 the WBPC trip the Wonder was the first cruise ship to transit the NEW Panama Canal Locks (Due to post drydock refit in Oct 2016 that made her too long to fit into the old locks because of the addition of the "Ducktail" extension to the stern) they paid close to $600,000 for the right to be the first cruise ship, priority placement to be in line at sunrise for the day, Premium for being the first commercial cruise ship to transit the new locks, added even more costs to the usual toll.

 

[darnheather]

We took the EBPC cruise in 2008 and one of the crew said DCL paid $450,000 to go through the canal...back then!!! Yikes!

Wow. Sounds like having the Wonder stay on the west coast would save them a lot of money.

 

[Dug720]

Wow. Sounds like having the Wonder stay on the west coast would save them a lot of money.

In one way - but it would cost them a lot also as the PC cruises are among their top sellers.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Wow. Sounds like having the Wonder stay on the west coast would save them a lot of money.

Except the west coast cruises don't fill as well as the Caribbean ones. So they'd have to balance how much the Panama Canal transit costs vs lower income for west coast cruises year round over Caribbean cruises.