Where Did Everyone Go?

[CHRIS WONG]

Strange vibes onboard Odyssey Of The Seas this current sailing. Only 542 guests. Ship feels very quiet...

[Linda R]

36 minutes ago, CHRIS WONG said:

Strange vibes onboard Odyssey Of The Seas this current sailing. Only 542 guests. Ship feels very quiet...

gosh.  That would feel like the ship is empty.  

[CJS2766]

This is somewhat of a concern I have for my October cruise on the Symphony. I’m not for big crowds, but there is something to be said for a ship full of happy cruisers with music playing and so on…

Personally, I’d like it at least half full! This virus blows!!!

[HeWhoWaits]

6 hours ago, CHRIS WONG said:

Strange vibes onboard Odyssey Of The Seas this current sailing. Only 542 guests. Ship feels very quiet...

I'm willing to bet that there are still at least 200 who will push in front of you at the Windjammer buffet and/or rush onto the elevator without letting others off first.

[tonyfsu21]

I have to say, it’s really nice having 1+ crew per person as far as service goes. I really don’t mind the lack of crowds at all. I would think that this is going to have a major impact on RC bottom line and my concern would be the overall elimination of the cruise industry as we know it. I suppose it’s better to have 500 people sailing then 0. 

[BrianB]

7 hours ago, CHRIS WONG said:

Strange vibes onboard Odyssey Of The Seas this current sailing. Only 542 guests. Ship feels very quiet...

…and probably every pool chair is reserved with towels and books on them!

[jticarruthers]

Interesting study in the dynamics of safety protocols being strict enough to encourage more people to sail vs so strict that it discourages people.

I have a couple of medium (20+ people) groups that are probably going to cancel based on the requirement that kids 12+ have to be vaccinated for example.

My sailing on Freedom was fun, the mask mandate on board got old fast .. combine that with 100% vaccination and having to chase around jumping through hoops for pre-cruise testing and I am really struggling with whether its worth it for a quick weekend getaway.  

Certainly not all Royal's decision and not their issue alone.

[CrznTxn]

Couple the additional vaccination/testing restrictions, school starting and a short cruise I expect the numbers to be low at the moment. We have an upcoming cruise later this month and I expect that it will also have a smaller number aboard. Not a problem for us but it is certainly more interesting to people watch when there is a larger number of people aboard as your chances of seeing that "odd" character goes up.

[steverk]

4 hours ago, tonyfsu21 said:

I have to say, it’s really nice having 1+ crew per person as far as service goes. I really don’t mind the lack of crowds at all. I would think that this is going to have a major impact on RC bottom line and my concern would be the overall elimination of the cruise industry as we know it. I suppose it’s better to have 500 people sailing then 0. 

I'm doing my part. Indy in September, odyssey in October,  explorer in November,  liberty in December...

What? That's only one per month!

[Dan Curtis]

4 hours ago, jticarruthers said:

Interesting study in the dynamics of safety protocols being strict enough to encourage more people to sail vs so strict that it discourages people.

I have a couple of medium (20+ people) groups that are probably going to cancel based on the requirement that kids 12+ have to be vaccinated for example.

My sailing on Freedom was fun, the mask mandate on board got old fast .. combine that with 100% vaccination and having to chase around jumping through hoops for pre-cruise testing and I am really struggling with whether its worth it for a quick weekend getaway.  

Certainly not all Royal's decision and not their issue alone.

I tend to agree with you, we love cruising, just started cruising about 15 years ago and waiting on cruise 21, we have one in the bank after being canceled twice, just not sure if we will cruise with mask  mandates and etc, no fault of any cruise line, unfortunately this isn’t going away anytime soon and may have to become a land lover again.

[ellcee]

9 hours ago, CJS2766 said:

This is somewhat of a concern I have for my October cruise on the Symphony. I’m not for big crowds, but there is something to be said for a ship full of happy cruisers with music playing and so on…

Personally, I’d like it at least half full! This virus blows!!!

While I agree with you, it's sort of a dream to have a personal bartender at my beck and call, or a fleet of them. I'll stop my dream here before it gets creepy.

[GatorCruiser]

I’ll be on her come December Chris and ready to throw down and mix it up !!!

[Jill]

I just read on the Odyssey facebook group that next week has 3,000 passengers. It was on facebook so it has to be true! If it is true, the crew better rest up! 

[bretts173]

10 hours ago, jticarruthers said:

Interesting study in the dynamics of safety protocols being strict enough to encourage more people to sail vs so strict that it discourages people.

I have a couple of medium (20+ people) groups that are probably going to cancel based on the requirement that kids 12+ have to be vaccinated for example.

My sailing on Freedom was fun, the mask mandate on board got old fast .. combine that with 100% vaccination and having to chase around jumping through hoops for pre-cruise testing and I am really struggling with whether its worth it for a quick weekend getaway.  

Certainly not all Royal's decision and not their issue alone.

And in many facebook groups it is pretty much 50% saying they wont go on another cruise until vaccination rates are up and case numbers are down.

 

[Ogilthorpe]

8 minutes ago, bretts173 said:

And in many facebook groups it is pretty much 50% saying they wont go on another cruise until vaccination rates are up and case numbers are down.

 

Estimate nearly another 50% that won't sail until all the silly rules are gone.... and you might have an explanation for a nearly empty ship.

[cruisinghawg]

53 minutes ago, bretts173 said:

And in many facebook groups it is pretty much 50% saying they wont go on another cruise until vaccination rates are up and case numbers are down.

 

How much is up and how much is down?

[CHRIS WONG]

2 hours ago, Jill said:

I just read on the Odyssey facebook group that next week has 3,000 passengers. It was on facebook so it has to be true! If it is true, the crew better rest up! 

Here on the ship, I'm hearing 1400...so I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

[DJnKy]

9 hours ago, CrznTxn said:

when there is a larger number of people aboard as your chances of seeing that "odd" character goes up.

This odd character will hopefully be on Serenade on Nov 8

half empty ship sounds good to me

[Ampurp85]

Facebook is the biggest source of wrong and right information

I believe when they said 3000pax they actually mean crew as well. I have seen people combine numbers like crazy. Capacity on cruises are a hot button issue, it comes up constantly and people play the telephone game with the numbers. Oasis first sailing is supposedly 3000 people as well, I saw people take that and apply it to Odyssey sailings. I see so much funny math it is a shame.

[bretts173]

2 hours ago, Ogilthorpe said:

Estimate nearly another 50% that won't sail until all the silly rules are gone.... and you might have an explanation for a nearly empty ship.

Yep, that's all the hardcore cruisers but every year a new market tries out cruising, some sign up for life and some say not for me I can try different things. It's this new market that is going to be missing.

 

 

[bretts173]

2 hours ago, cruisinghawg said:

How much is up and how much is down?

I guess it's what individuals find acceptable. 

[JC Pats]

8 hours ago, CHRIS WONG said:

Here on the ship, I'm hearing 1400...so I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

@Matt here’s what we were wondering. See you next week @CHRIS WONG!

[Matt]

2 hours ago, JC Pats said:

@Matt here’s what we were wondering. See you next week @CHRIS WONG!

Can't wait!

[teddy]

I've been hearing sub-500 on Adventure this week.  We board Saturday.  It'll be interesting to see what a ship with that few guests looks like.

[jticarruthers]

1 hour ago, teddy said:

I've been hearing sub-500 on Adventure this week.  We board Saturday.  It'll be interesting to see what a ship with that few guests looks like.

it probably looks like freedom did with sub 800 .. a ghost town with a lot of venues closing early.

[Vancity Cruiser]

1 hour ago, jticarruthers said:

it probably looks like freedom did with sub 800 .. a ghost town with a lot of venues closing early.

That’s my concern. Looking forward to a reduced capacity sailing but worried about things not being open if too few people on board

[cruisinghawg]

Chris are you still aboard for the Oct 31st sailing?

[cruisinghawg]

2 hours ago, teddy said:

I've been hearing sub-500 on Adventure this week.  We board Saturday.  It'll be interesting to see what a ship with that few guests looks like.

Do you think that has more to do with cruises from FL again?

[CHRIS WONG]

42 minutes ago, cruisinghawg said:

Chris are you still aboard for the Oct 31st sailing?

Yes, see you on Halloween!

[CHRIS WONG]

11 hours ago, JC Pats said:

@Matt here’s what we were wondering. See you next week @CHRIS WONG!

See you guys soon!

[JustMeJoe]

2 hours ago, jticarruthers said:

it probably looks like freedom did with sub 800 .. a ghost town with a lot of venues closing early.

Goin on Freedom 17 Sep for 10 nights.   Small crowds are somewhat ok, but wondering what type venues are closing early???

Thanks for your post, take care.

[smokeybandit]

[teddy]

1 hour ago, cruisinghawg said:

Do you think that has more to do with cruises from FL again?

I’m getting info second hand from my wife who’s been reading it on Facebook, so I’m kinda making educated guesses based on this. 
 

So…with that being said, I think the cruises starting in Florida are a big part of the reason.  Less hoops to jump through and easier travel to the embarkation ports.  Also, no concerns with requirements for reentry to the US.  
 

I remember something about people saying that not having to show proof of vaccination was a reason for changing cruises, but that’s kinda moot now. 
 

Something else I read here recently mentioned that this is traditionally a slower time of year anyway what with schools starting back up.  

I believe @dswallow is currently on Adventure and might have more definitive information  

 

 

[columbus_cruiser]

I have a feeling my nine night out of Galveston on Independence will be similar. 

[dswallow]

2 hours ago, teddy said:

I’m getting info second hand from my wife who’s been reading it on Facebook, so I’m kinda making educated guesses based on this. 
 

So…with that being said, I think the cruises starting in Florida are a big part of the reason.  Less hoops to jump through and easier travel to the embarkation ports.  Also, no concerns with requirements for reentry to the US.  
 

I remember something about people saying that not having to show proof of vaccination was a reason for changing cruises, but that’s kinda moot now. 
 

Something else I read here recently mentioned that this is traditionally a slower time of year anyway what with schools starting back up.  

I believe @dswallow is currently on Adventure and might have more definitive information  

 

 

I'm not on Adventure until Saturday, then am on the last two sailings out of Nassau on her.

But yeah, I'm sure that the prospect of US sailings restarting is what kept people booking the later sailings on Adventure, and undoubtedly is involved in any number of people who chose to cancel and rebook on a US sailing. And I'd add one step further is when the masking protocols essentially became similar/identical to the same protocols on US sailings, exactly what was the benefit of not moving the booking to a US sailing, and avoiding the flight?

Some US sailings, like a few on Odyssey sort of are affected in similar ways. Sailings from a different ship were moved to Odyssey, and bookings were never reopened for those sailings, so there wasn't even opportunity for growth in occupancy.

Considering nobody's has started a cruise line from scratch to sailing 26 ships in just a few months, it's understandable it's not going to be a snap-your-fingers and every ship sails at the maximum capacity they've decided to have initially. It's a unique opportunity right now to sail very, very inexpensively, with a high crew-to-passenger ratio, and pretty much still have every amenity available onboard that's there on full sailings. Take advantage, if you can!

 

[teddy]

6 hours ago, dswallow said:

'm not on Adventure until Saturday, then am on the last two sailings out of Nassau on her.

Ahhh

I misunderstood. Sorry about that. 

[Cruise Pirate]

@CHRIS WONG Any ideas, percent or count wise, how full the Odyssey is in its next couple of sailings, are the numbers going up or down or staying steady?

[CHRIS WONG]

7 hours ago, Justwanttocruise said:

@CHRIS WONG Any ideas, percent or count wise, how full the Odyssey is in its next couple of sailings, are the numbers going up or down or staying steady?

I can only see the numbers cruise by cruise. Next cruise I'm seeing 1400 passengers right now.

[RCLRING]

I didn’t see an option to book odyssey in August when I looked for it in July ? Only saw the July 31st one

[At 5920]

Just spent 2 cruises on Odyssey- was great. Our friends tried to book too but it was "sold out"; so we were very surprised by the low capacity. 

A plug for the Odyssey Casino... Although the casino results weren't what i wanted, the overall casino team, friendly dealers and the gaming experience were the best!  Chris, it was nice to see you again, meet the lovely Rafaella and Miha always makes it fun