Ship Very Empty

[espmass]

I'm on the Island Princess 3/4/16. When checking cabin availability (for possibility of switching cabins) I see this cruise is very empty with loads of cabins of all types still available. The roll call has only a handful of passengers registered. It's not all that far off now. It's doubtful that I'd change our plans since we're going with a few others, but out of curiosity, does anyone find this a bit odd? Should I be concerned that there is a reason? Thanks.

[BillB48]

Nothing to worry about whatsoever. The fact that cabins are available is not a good indication as to how full the ship is. I would be willing to bet dollars to donuts that the ship will be at 100% capacity or above by the time you slack the lines.

[MCC retired]

Many now book Category Guarantee's which when assigned , will fill those cabins .

[CruiserBruce]

You can't tell how full the ship is, because you can't tell how guarantee bookings there are.

[moki'smommy]

I'm not aware of any line where the general public can research a cruise and determine how booked it is or is not. There are sites that show how many categories of cabins are available, and often the line's own site will allow us to see which cabins are not yet spoken for. This data does not make an allowance for how many people may have booked cabins that are not yet assigned to a location.

 

In addition, most lines have ways of filling ships thru a "behind the scenes" method when cruises aren't booking with normal sale prices. These include marketing thru discount TAs as well as selling to "friends and families" of employees or offering special rates to employees of the parent company or to TAs.

 

An empty cabin is a loss to the line. A cabin that is sold at the "break even" point can still generate a profit as it is likely that person will buy a T-shirt, a photo, a trip to the spa, an adult beverage, drop some money in the casino, or use any other profit generating aspect of the ship.

Edited December 14, 2015 by moki'smommy

[GUT2407]

You can't tell how full the ship is, because you can't tell how guarantee bookings there are.

 

So true.

[masterty]

You can't tell how full the ship is, because you can't tell how guarantee bookings there are.

 

This ^^

[TracieABD]

Also, if the ship is not sailing at capacity, Princess will offer flash sales to induce people to book!

:)

[espmass]

Thanks for the responses. I honestly hadn't thought about the guarantee cabins.

[SadieN]

And if the ship does sail empty enjoy it. We once sailed on the HAL Amsterdam with 188 pax onboard.

[Baatman]

Many now book Category Guarantee's which when assigned , will fill those cabins .

 

I agree...I think that is the answer...the cabins have just not yet been assigned.

[fishywood]

With all the threads bemoaning how Island increased capacity by nearly 250 passengers with the added cabins, interesting to see someone worried about their cruise on Island being undersold :rolleyes:

 

This is a 10 day cruise during the spring vacation season when most people are looking for 7 day or shorter cruises. Once those fill up--or Princess drops the price of this one to the same (or less) than a 7 day cruise--this one will sell out too.

Edited December 14, 2015 by fishywood

[Colo Cruiser]

I'm on the Island Princess 3/4/16. When checking cabin availability (for possibility of switching cabins) I see this cruise is very empty with loads of cabins of all types still available. The roll call has only a handful of passengers registered. It's not all that far off now. It's doubtful that I'd change our plans since we're going with a few others, but out of curiosity, does anyone find this a bit odd? Should I be concerned that there is a reason? Thanks.

 

Not even close to being odd......

 

3 months out!! You have a long way to go. Fear not the Island will sell out, Princess cruises always do.

[Go-Bucks!]

Fear not the Island will sell out, Princess cruises always do.

 

 

Not always. My last cruise, the one on the Grand where we had the fire, did not sail full to start with. Of course, after 500 people left it was much more comfortable. You could really tell in the dining room (many empty tables).

 

But . . . . it wasn't full to start with. CC posters often say the ships are "always full", but that's a generalization. Each sailing is different. :)

[Colo Cruiser]

Not always. My last cruise, the one on the Grand where we had the fire, did not sail full to start with. Of course, after 500 people left it was much more comfortable. You could really tell in the dining room (many empty tables).

 

But . . . . it wasn't full to start with. CC posters often say the ships are "always full", but that's a generalization. Each sailing is different. :)

 

 

So that "This sailing is full" sign glued to the passenger services desk is a lie??

 

I am crushed........

Edited December 15, 2015 by Colo Cruiser

[PescadoAmarillo]

CC posters often say the ships are "always full", but that's a generalization. Each sailing is different. :)

That's definitely been our experience also.

[Cruisin' Chick]

If it's not yet final payment time, there could be some TAs holding cabins, I thought.

 

The one cruise we have been on that wasn't full or close to it, was when about 200 passengers didn't make it on board due to a major snowstorm in London and a major rainstorm here in L.A. As it was a Hawaiian cruise, even if they flew to the first port in Hilo, they would have missed five days of the cruise (never found a passenger that said they were from this group).

[Colo Cruiser]

But . . . . it wasn't full to start with. CC posters often say the ships are "always full", but that's a generalization. Each sailing is different. :)

 

Hmmm...not a generalization in our experience. :(

[CruiserBruce]

When we sailed on Dawn Princess in August, we were told we had 1910 people on board. The rated double occupancy is 1998, so the ship was not full. First of our 18 cruises (5 on Princess) where we were aware the ship was less than rated double occupancy.

[SadieN]

When we sailed on Dawn Princess in August, we were told we had 1910 people on board. The rated double occupancy is 1998, so the ship was not full. First of our 18 cruises (5 on Princess) where we were aware the ship was less than rated double occupancy.

 

 

But it's possible that the ship is sold out. Many of those could be sailing solo.

[CruiserBruce]

But it's possible that the ship is sold out. Many of those could be sailing solo.

 

So that would mean approximately 40 solo cruisers on board. We saw no evidence of that many solos.

 

What we did have is some locally sold segments. This was a sailing from Perth to Sydney, around the "top" of Australia. A number of people got off in Darwin. A number got on in Brisbane.

Edited December 15, 2015 by CruiserBruce

[Colo Cruiser]

So that would mean approximately 40 solo cruisers on board. We saw no evidence of that many solos.

 

 

How would you know?

[Mapu]

There is a new sale that targets Panama Canal as well as other cruises. It will fill.

Select Spring 2016 Panama Canal Voyages on Sale! (December 7 - December 21, 2015)

You can discover one of history's biggest modern marvels, the Panama Canal! And for a limited time only, you'll receive Onboard Spending Money to use however you please onboard - from rejuvenating and relaxing spas to immersive DiscoveryTM Recommended shore excursions, the options are endless! Hurry, ends December 21!

 

Up to $400 Onboard Spending Money!

Edited December 15, 2015 by Mapu

[CruiserBruce]

How would you know?

 

Socializing around the ship.

[AKman2495]

The only time I sailed with notably less that full load was a 4 day "Cruise for Veterans". I was on the Caribbean Princess and I had booked it before it became the Cruise for Veterans. I had also booked the 7 day cruise following it.

 

Anyway, they had about 1,500 passengers on that 4 day cruise and it was wonderful. No long waits for anything, and no big lines. We also had some big shots-including the then CEO of Princess aboard and the crew was especially sharp.

 

The next cruise, the 7 day was full and BOOM! was that a change!!!

 

But it was still a great cruise!