Where Did Everyone Go?

[CHRIS WONG]

15 hours ago, At 5920 said:

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, and Miha always makes it fun 

THANK YOU!

[Cruise Pirate]

On 9/3/2021 at 3:10 PM, CHRIS WONG said:

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

Any news now on the Sept 11th sailing on how many passengers you expect?

[CHRIS WONG]

13 hours ago, Justwanttocruise said:

Any news now on the Sept 11th sailing on how many passengers you expect?

Right now, I see 1000.

[Chawkjewel]

9 hours ago, CHRIS WONG said:

Right now, I see 1000.

Seems odd that the 8 night cruises seem to have less people than the 6 night cruises.  I would have thought it would be the other way around.  

[KLA]

Wow - that’s crazy!! 1000 passengers?! 

Speculating that it will likely be similar for our Oct 3rd sailing - with the time of year I’m not entirely surprised. Looking forward to our cruise on Odyssey in a few weeks @CHRIS WONG! 

[CHRIS WONG]

16 hours ago, Chawkjewel said:

Seems odd that the 8 night cruises seem to have less people than the 6 night cruises.  I would have thought it would be the other way around.  

 

14 hours ago, KLA said:

Wow - that’s crazy!! 1000 passengers?! 

Speculating that it will likely be similar for our Oct 3rd sailing - with the time of year I’m not entirely surprised. Looking forward to our cruise on Odyssey in a few weeks @CHRIS WONG! 

 

I think maybe flying out to join the ship on Sept 11th may have turned some people away. Understandable.

[CHRIS WONG]

828 onboard this week on Odyssey.

[steverk]

On 9/11/2021 at 9:23 AM, Chawkjewel said:

Seems odd that the 8 night cruises seem to have less people than the 6 night cruises.  I would have thought it would be the other way around.  

I booked independence on October 3 for 6 nights because it was a great deal.  Odyssey was traded out for Indy,  and now I have a 6 night Odyssey cruise.  Hard to say how common that was

[KLA]

8 hours ago, CHRIS WONG said:

828 onboard this week on Odyssey.

Quick math says that this is just under 20% full by passenger capacity. 

Any idea what it might be for the October 3rd sailing? We'll be there that week! 

[KLA]

1 hour ago, steverk said:

I booked independence on October 3 for 6 nights because it was a great deal.  Odyssey was traded out for Indy,  and now I have a 6 night Odyssey cruise.  Hard to say how common that was

Oh, we'll be on board with you! Odyssey 10/3! 

[CHRIS WONG]

8 hours ago, KLA said:

Quick math says that this is just under 20% full by passenger capacity. 

Any idea what it might be for the October 3rd sailing? We'll be there that week! 

I will keep you posted.

[rtread]

We have been trying! We have had 5 cruises cancelled in the last 2 years.....2 Greek Isles, 2 Alaskan, 1 Caribbean. We now have 2 cruises booked, this Christmas on Allure to Caribbean and July on Ovation to Alaska. If the ships are only half full.....great! From a passenger standpoint it would be great. I can understand how it wouldn't be so great for RCL. It will get better.

[Christie]

I wonder if it would have been better to restart half the fleet and grow as demand did… much like Disney did with their hotels. 

[twangster]

24 minutes ago, Christie said:

I wonder if it would have been better to restart half the fleet and grow as demand did… much like Disney did with their hotels. 

That was Carnival's approach.  Fewer ships but operating at 75-100% capacity.  

I prefer the reduced capacity approach.  I didn't feel safe on Carnival.  

[Christie]

15 hours ago, twangster said:

That was Carnival's approach.  Fewer ships but operating at 75-100% capacity.  

I prefer the reduced capacity approach.  I didn't feel safe on Carnival.  

I just think about the millions of dollars it costs to sail and think surely they aren't even breaking even with current capacities.  

[Ampurp85]

They might be breaking even but not making a profit. I think they are selling CP purchases like crazy, they are saving on waste by not having a fully open buffet. All these things can add up. If it wasn't working in some capacity they would not be adding ships back like they currently are.

[teddy]

After being on Adventure with less than 500 guests, I feel like they are probably still losing, but losing less than having no paying customers.

[KLA]

16 hours ago, twangster said:

That was Carnival's approach.  Fewer ships but operating at 75-100% capacity.  

I prefer the reduced capacity approach.  I didn't feel safe on Carnival.  

 

1 hour ago, Christie said:

I just think about the millions of dollars it costs to sail and think surely they aren't even breaking even with current capacities.  

I mean even if it is reduced capacity and they're losing a bit (and exactly to the point that @twangster  has made) - Royal is building a marketing story as cruising as a fun and safe vacation. Royal putting effort in to safety protocols and having people come back and say "that was great and the protocols were a minor inconvenience and I felt safe and wow that new muster function was awesome no one else is doing that" is a win for them and I think that people are starting to notice that cruising is back. Big picture, I believe. 

[CHRIS WONG]

756 passengers onboard Odyssey this week.

[steverk]

On 9/25/2021 at 8:47 PM, CHRIS WONG said:

756 passengers onboard Odyssey this week.

I'm on starting Oct 3.  Any idea how many will be on board?

[CHRIS WONG]

34 minutes ago, steverk said:

I'm on starting Oct 3.  Any idea how many will be on board?

I will keep you posted.

[KLA]

40 minutes ago, steverk said:

I'm on starting Oct 3.  Any idea how many will be on board?

Less than a week!  

[PG Cruiser]

On 9/25/2021 at 9:47 PM, CHRIS WONG said:

756 passengers onboard Odyssey this week.

I'd like to have one deck all to myself please.

[FManke]

I know it's only speculation, but how long will this last? Just until the end of 2021 and then ramp up as usual next year?

 

Happy Cruising!

[KLA]

57 minutes ago, FManke said:

I know it's only speculation, but how long will this last? Just until the end of 2021 and then ramp up as usual next year?

 

Happy Cruising!

I'm speculating that part of the problem is the number of people who may not be aware of current cruising protocols or considered a vacation and unable to book at short notice with the re-start. Less of an issue of capacity and more of an issue of 'able to book'. I suspect going in to next spring/summer is when some of the real big increases happen. What's happening now is the marketing story of how Royal took care to bring cruising back safely. 

[FManke]

5 minutes ago, KLA said:

I'm speculating that part of the problem is the number of people who may not be aware of current cruising protocols or considered a vacation and unable to book at short notice with the re-start. Less of an issue of capacity and more of an issue of 'able to book'. I suspect going in to next spring/summer is when some of the real big increases happen. What's happening now is the marketing story of how Royal took care to bring cruising back safely. 

I think you're right. I think RC is counting on it looking at current bookings and prices next year. I feel people thoughts are it's still too early to cruise given the whole Covid situation and another 6mos to a year will improve that situation. After 2 L&S we are getting a pretty good deal for next Oct over current pricing. Currently, although there is a bigger inventory of JS on our cruise, GS are actually $400 pp cheaper. Crazy!

[PG Cruiser]

One other thing is the testing requirement for cruising.  It takes a really avid cruiser to be willing to book testing appointments 2 days before a sailing.  Maybe cruising will pick up more when the regulations are relaxed.

[emmef]

42 minutes ago, PG Cruiser said:

One other thing is the testing requirement for cruising.  It takes a really avid cruiser to be willing to book testing appointments 2 days before a sailing.  Maybe cruising will pick up more when the regulations are relaxed.

I don't understand why this is a hurdle.  Testing is fairly easy now that they have allowed the at home proctored test over conf call. Being able to use the rapid test in the U.S. also is a huge benefit.  I have tested a number of times for work and for other events and appointments aren't all that hard to get if you put in a small effort. 

[PG Cruiser]

18 minutes ago, emmef said:

I don't understand why this is a hurdle.  Testing is fairly easy now that they have allowed the at home proctored test over conf call. Being able to use the rapid test in the U.S. also is a huge benefit.  I have tested a number of times for work and for other events and appointments aren't all that hard to get if you put in a small effort. 

I haven't tried the proctored tests from Royal but I've been reading about shipping delays, failed tests, and expiration dates.  In my city, there was a shortage of rapid test kits and difficulty booking appointments. With the 2-day time frame, it can become very stressful.  For the avid cruiser that would not be much of an issue, but for the casual cruiser, it would be a hurdle.

[barbeyg]

53 minutes ago, emmef said:

I don't understand why this is a hurdle.  Testing is fairly easy now that they have allowed the at home proctored test over conf call. Being able to use the rapid test in the U.S. also is a huge benefit.  I have tested a number of times for work and for other events and appointments aren't all that hard to get if you put in a small effort. 

I think that only the most avid cruisers are not going to let the 2 day test bother them.  

When I tell friends about the great price I got for our December cruise...and that they can join us...there are two reasons they cite for not joining us.  Not knowing for sure until two days before sailing that the vacation is a go, or the fiasco from last year with the Princess ship.   When I tell them about all the changes aimed toward safe sailing, they listen....and still say they aren't interested.  

Me on the other hand?  We already have our tests in hand, ready for the beginning of December.  lol

[steverk]

2 hours ago, emmef said:

I don't understand why this is a hurdle.  Testing is fairly easy now that they have allowed the at home proctored test over conf call. Being able to use the rapid test in the U.S. also is a huge benefit.  I have tested a number of times for work and for other events and appointments aren't all that hard to get if you put in a small effort. 

I've been trying to put together a group cruise with some friends from college.  Very few of them have cruised before.  I get the impression that they are afraid of the "floating petrie dish" reputation. 

If they could be talked in to it, they would love it. 

[teddy]

I was told the "we don't want to be unable to get back into the United States because of an outbreak" excuse the other day from a coworker.

No amount of me explaining what was wrong with that statement was going to change their mind.

[GKMCruising]

6 minutes ago, teddy said:

I was told the "we don't want to be unable to get back into the United States because of an outbreak" excuse the other day from a coworker.

No amount of me explaining what was wrong with that statement was going to change their mind.

Then do an Alaskan cruise. All US ports, no *technical* international travel... win/win.

[Matt]

17 hours ago, teddy said:

No amount of me explaining what was wrong with that statement was going to change their mind.

That's so frustrating, especially because there is no chance of them being "stranded" outside of the country while cruising.

[Jill]

So what I find interesting is Odyssey is 756 this week and Allure is 2400. Allure has been around 2k (give or take) pretty consistently. 
 

So why the big difference? Allure is not Amp’d and odyssey is brand spanking new. You would think everyone would want to be on the newest.  Is it price? Both are Caribbean itineraries. Ports are roughly 2 1/2 hours apart. 

[GKMCruising]

1 hour ago, Jill said:

So what I find interesting is Odyssey is 756 this week and Allure is 2400. Allure has been around 2k (give or take) pretty consistently. 
 

So why the big difference? Allure is not Amp’d and odyssey is brand spanking new. You would think everyone would want to be on the newest.  Is it price? Both are Caribbean itineraries. Ports are roughly 2 1/2 hours apart. 

Allure (and Oasis class in general) have more options with the current vax restrictions. More open air space, more shows, etc. Just my personal thoughts. I've loved both Quantum class ships I've been on, but right now a lot of the activities are suspended due to COVID, so the experience isn't quite the same.

[Ampurp85]

I think Odyssey had some bookings that were just closed and never opened back up; all those Indy L&S. While people, have been able to continue to book Allure. Odyssey sailing from Oct-Dec are within tens of Allure, an extra $60-80. I too don't get it. I would have loved to do Odyssey at the current 23-30% it is sailing.

[fireclan]

5 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I think Odyssey had some bookings that were just closed and never opened back up; all those Indy L&S. While people, have been able to continue to book Allure. Odyssey sailing from Oct-Dec are within tens of Allure, an extra $60-80. I too don't get it. I would have loved to do Odyssey at the current 23-30% it is sailing.

I was wondering about Odyssey's low numbers, too. Does 752 passengers really fall in the 23-30% capacity range? I was thinking even less than that but I found conflicting passenger capacity numbers when I searched.

[Ampurp85]

Its in the 13% range but some sailings have had 1400+. So I decided starting at a 20%-ish average would be okay.

[AshleyDillo]

6 hours ago, Jill said:

So why the big difference? Allure is not Amp’d and odyssey is brand spanking new. You would think everyone would want to be on the newest.  Is it price? Both are Caribbean itineraries. Ports are roughly 2 1/2 hours apart. 

Allure pricing was way cheaper when I looked.