2chiefs

Actually I've read and seen several articles to the contrary, one of which I've posted in post #37 above.

Thanks!!

I agree with you. We have booked two group cruises since. Thanks for a nice response.

For everyone asking for citations, here's one and you'll have to take my word for it that there are many more (or look for yourself). I've read somewhere that RCL is actually booking at 109% as of this month!! (sorry you'll have to find the citation yourself). Flame on...... ‘Too Crowded’: New Data Shows Cruises Are Being Overbooked at Alarming Rates. Two major cruise lines have been overbooking cruises, according to a new report May 26, 2023 The cruise industry has made a staggering comeback after pandemic-era restrictions and distancing protocols were lifted. But now, it appears that the industry might be too popular. According to data obtained by the Wall Street Journal, two of the biggest cruise lines — Royal Caribbean Group (RCG) and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCL) — reported over 100% occupancy rates during Q1 of 2023. RCG saw average occupancy rates of 102.1% while NCL saw 101.5%, according to the report. Full story https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/cruises-are-being-overbooked-at-alarming-rates-report/452929

There're several articles here on Cruise Critic as well as many articles elsewhere. This has been happening a long time see: Just like Airlines, Cruise Lines Overbook – and It’s Nothing New. | CruiseHabit but has increased a lot lately due to the supply/demand issue folks are talking about. They want to keep the ships full. Hence overbooking, and bidding up etc... The list goes on. As far as cruise lines overbooking more now, there are lots of articles about it. Check Internet Search Engines, YouTube, TikTok, Cruise web sites etc.. I'm not going to cite everything I've seen here. I was just starting this thread to see if others are seeing the same. Instead, I get attacked and am told to cite references. I'm not writing a dissertation, just posting an observation. I give up and will never start a thread again.

Please cite your source

I didn't say anything about other people getting bumped at the pier. Did you not read "weeks in advance"? Seems you just want to initiate arguments. Is that your hobby?

You win.

I guess I wasn't clear enough. The people getting bumped at the pier brought to light that the cruise lines are over-booking a lot more now. People are getting bumped more often than previously thought but since they are notified weeks in advance, it hasn't been in the news so much. I've read (and watched cruise news on YouTube) that this practice is more common that people realize. I didn't mean to over-state anything. What I do know based on my own experiences is that the charge to pick your own room has gone up significantly.

You call it a discount, I call it an extra fee. Same thing. What's your point? My point was that it costs a lot more now to pick your own room.

I'm pricing cruises all the time and I see significant differences. I have a spread sheet with all the cruises we've taken with all costs. And now, more recently I'm seeing a big jump to be able to pick your own cabin. Quite a few people are now getting bumped from their cruises (not picking their own cabin), according to cruising news sources and RCI seems to have more than other lines. Evidently this happens quite often in the weeks leading up to a cruise but was brought to light when the group of folks got bumped from their cruise in Australia last minute. Aussie couple's 'holiday ruined' as they're bumped from cruise just before departure (yahoo.com)

Agree

Fares are already really high now! Now they're throwing gasoline on to the fire. I've been pricing cruises online for the 2025 season and have noticed the remarkable increase in price to be able to pick your own room. For instance today I mock-booked a balcony cabin on Adventure for May 16, 2025 and the price is $395 higher to be able to pick your own room. That's a lot of "insurance" to ensure you are not bumped from a cruise from the rampant over booking that cruise lines are doing now. I guess it's time to look at other alternative vacations to do. Hopefully all this price gouging the cruise lines are doing will reduce demand, so the prices come back down.

I haven't seen a mystery dinner in many years. Do they still do them?

The Radiance class ships are all up by the Viking Crown Lounge. Most on the Voyager and Freedom class are up there as well (Voyager & Navigator moved to lower decks). The only good ones left in my opinion!!

Agree. I'm looking at other lines and while some may be lower than Royal, they are high too. I may just stop cruising for a while.

True. And their inside and OV's suck. Odd that people are paying so much for a balcony on the Enchantment. I guess the demand is what's causing it.

I'm already walking!

I liked the cruises out of there because they were very port intensive to the Southern Caribbean. The lower cost also offset the cost of airfare. We hadn't booked any recently due to the fact that they were using the exact same itinerary every week whereas previously, they altered the itinerary every other week which made it ideal for a B2B. Flying down for a B2B really reduces the cost (on a per day basis) but for us, it's not worth it to repeating the same itinerary.

We are sailing her this March 11. We may be some of the last folks to see the old furnishings!!

I suppose this could be possible if Celebrity needed to attract more repeat cruisers. Since the cruise industry is booming right now for all cruise lines, I wouldn't think loyalty programs are on the top on anyone's priority list. Like others have said, they would probably convert the space into something that generates immediate income.

I was looking at booking a 2025 cruise out of San Juan but there aren't any showing up on the website. Seems the last cruise scheduled out of there is December 2024. Does anyone have any information concerning San Juan and Celebrity? Thanks

Does anyone know when or if the Constellation is going in for a refurb? If so, any details?

Not quite. I don't see anywhere for adding drink packages or wifi after checking "simply sail". You have to buy them at published prices in the app. Much more than what they are charging now up front. I can purchase the all inclusive package which includes wifi (which I don't use) cheaper than simply sail and then adding the drink package. At least that's what I'm seeing on all the mock bookings I've been doing.