How come DCL isn't selling out?

[xiphoid76]

Just an observation...why aren't Disney cruises selling out anymore? There are still tons of availability on all of there summer sailings. I remember just a few years ago when DCL would sell out a year in advance. You used to have to call the day sailings opened to the public and be on hold for hours to get a cabin. Now they are cutting prices on sailings and trying to fill the ship with Florida residents and cast members. Is it due to the economy? Prices of the cruises? Other cruise lines seem to be selling out all the time.

 

[NephieRN]

Price is my guess. Summer sailings are absurdly priced. Even sailings in the cheap months are significantly more than they used to be.

 

[DisneyPandaBear]

Price has definitely increased. There are also more competitive options. And you have an extra ship now. Soon to be two extra. With more rooms on board too.

Their supply has increased but demand has not increased the same amount.

I can tell you that they are feeling that lagging demand. Their advertising has definitely increased. I feel even their CRM comms are more. I’ve received more emails lately about booking holidays cruises than I have in years pass when I was actively searching for holiday cruises compared to now.

 

[cvjw]

They may have too many ships to fill now. And families with kids that I know want to sail on icon of the seas.

The VGT rates for the fantasy for September are amazing. Cheaper than I paid for a similar fall VGT last year.

 

[DisneyPrince22]

Just an observation...why aren't Disney cruises selling out anymore? There are still tons of availability on all of there summer sailings. I remember just a few years ago when DCL would sell out a year in advance. You used to have to call the day sailings opened to the public and be on hold for hours to get a cabin. Now they are cutting prices on sailings and trying to fill the ship with Florida residents and cast members. Is it due to the economy? Prices of the cruises? Other cruise lines seem to be selling out all the time.

Please let me know where these cast discounts you mention are. If anything, this year they’ve been providing less and less opportunities for cast to sail at a discount.

 

[LAS2AMS]

If you do a quick Google search, multiple articles have been published lately about cruise prices falling due to overcapacity. Obviously an industry trend… but I think it’s a solid educated guess that people who would otherwise consider DCL are booking elsewhere due to pricing.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

Pricing. I looked at the top newest ships with RC, Celebrity, and Virgin and they are all cheaper than Disney, yet offer more to do and some have more days on ship. I wish they would drop their prices and I would be more inclined to just book it cause I enjoy it. It's just getting hard to justify prices now a days

 

[cvjw]

I looked at booking 2 verandah cabins on the treasure for early next year. $14,000 for 4 people. The same cruise this year was $9000 for 4 people on the fantasy. January or February is the only time my boys can both take time off due to work deadlines. Not worth it for us. Just too much money.

 

[Carohs]

I recently cancelled a 4 day inside next spring break for a 7 day balcony on Princess with Plus and still saved $700. Hard to justify DCL pricing sometimes.

 

[Stacey25]

There are 23 summer cruises available for the military discount right now! Half of those are on the Wish. They were obviously priced way too high from the start!

 

[happycamper47]

Just an observation...why aren't Disney cruises selling out anymore? There are still tons of availability on all of there summer sailings.

I think the economy is taking it's toll. There are tons of very lucrative offers on numerous CL's for summer cruises.

 

[FastPasser.]

Please let me know where these cast discounts you mention are. If anything, this year they’ve been providing less and less opportunities for cast to sail at a discount.

They’re at the usual website. There are multiple Wish, Wonder and Dream cruises available. IMO, availability has been very good lately.

 

[WB1971]

They have changed the product on the newest ship, and apparently haven’t attracted enough new customers looking for a change. Increased overall capacity, increased prices, and increased compelling competition on multiple fronts may be taking a toll. Add in Disneys foray into politics which undeniably has driven away a certain percentage of customers, and it’s a tougher market for them than it was years ago. I thought they would cancel the third triton ship seeing the reception of the wish and other market headwinds, but they are tripling down. Hopefully they know what they are doing.

 

[Scubadaddy32]

I think the economy is taking it's toll. There are tons of very lucrative offers on numerous CL's for summer cruises.

Bingo... Inflation is hitting hard and people are finally starting to recognize it this year. My wife and I flew to the MCO last Feb. to go on the Wish and our airfare was around $550.00 for the two of us. I looked the other day and the cheapest flight on the same airline to MCO was almost $900.00 for 2 passengers.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

Price. I'm currently shopping cruises and the same itinerary (minus perfect day vs castaway) is 30% cheaper on RC Utopia of the Seas. That is too big of a gap for me to justify.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I looked at booking 2 verandah cabins on the treasure for early next year. $14,000 for 4 people. The same cruise this year was $9000 for 4 people on the fantasy. January or February is the only time my boys can both take time off due to work deadlines. Not worth it for us. Just too much money.

That is insane. I realize I'm talking about 5 years ago but shortly before covid hit, we took our young adult kids with us to cruise Norway on the Magic from Dover that was $4100 per cabin. That's $8200 for our 2 verandah cabins. This is almost double. Sure, some people would still pay it, but not the average family.

When I look for a 7-nt sailing for Feb/March/April there are 16 cruises. All but 3 are on the Treasure, as if to push people toward it. Two of the 3 non-Treasure sailings are from San Diego so those of us on the east coast who don't want to fly 10 hours RT are not left with many choices, except for shorter cruises.

 

[MillauFr]

Bingo... Inflation is hitting hard and people are finally starting to recognize it this year. My wife and I flew to the MCO last Feb. to go on the Wish and our airfare was around $550.00 for the two of us. I looked the other day and the cheapest flight on the same airline to MCO was almost $900.00 for 2 passengers.

$900 for two people is a screaming good deal. We pay $900 each.

 

[toontoy]

I think its price and the newer ships from many lines are more competitive than ever. You have so many options with cruise ships nowadays with so many amenities. Many friends of mine prefer Royal Caribbean with their families over Disney. They like the water slides, the ice skating and all the options. It's not just the price savings.

 

[WB1971]

I think its price and the newer ships from many lines are more competitive than ever. You have so many options with cruise ships nowadays with so many amenities. Many friends of mine prefer Royal Caribbean with their families over Disney. They like the water slides, the ice skating and all the options. It's not just the price savings.

And many parents want the casino and or the drink packages. The competition has generally gotten better over the years, even with their own Covid cutbacks.

 

[juxtapose]

I think travel is down overall but especially the travel that is more of a splurge. I’m in CO and we’ve traveled a bit this summer around here and to New Mexico and South Dakota and things seem a lot less busy here than the last few years.

They also have more ships which means more rooms.