Will Carnival repeat the Journey itins?

[SadieN]

Wondering if Carnival will repeat the Journey cruises itins. Hawaii is always on the schedule but wondering about the others.

 

We really enjoyed the 13 day Mexican Riviera cruise and haven't seen it in the newly released cruises. We just booked a 10 day on Princess because Carnival isn't repeating this itin (yet).

Edited March 4, 2016 by SadieN

[lazydayz]

Don't know but sure hope so. We loved the Glory 1/23 10 night cruise.

[N2Mischief]

I like the longer cruises and Itineraries too. We have a B2B booked for November, 7 day Mexican followed by 15 day Hawaii. I too wish there were more options, especially from the West Coast. We are looking at booking a Princess cruise for the first time because it leaves from the West Coast, and is around a 30 day cruise. I wish Carnival offered something similar.

[Micahs Grandad]

Seems like they are selling well so hope they continue. Would like to see them start and finish at same port so we can drive.

[vwrestler171]

They have released more. There is another Miracle Hawaii cruise on their site.

[Rosefloater]

They have released more. There is another Miracle Hawaii cruise on their site.

 

There are always Hawaii cruises. The 13 day in January went to the normal Mexican riviera cruise ports plus La Paz and Manzanillo.

[ready2cruzagain]

From what I can tell there are the Hawaii Journeys cruises and then there are the repositioning cruises that are one way that they are calling Journeys cruises. No more are scheduled where you could go b2b like we did in January.

 

I was told that the cruises really did not sell well and that a lot of them were given away as free or discounted cruises through the casino.

[tommytune42]

My observation, having been on several, is that the cruises themselves have sold well, but the prices have been lower than what one would pay on a daily basis for, say, a seven day cruise, which means that revenue is decreased. Also, from observation, it seems as though the longer cruises draw more experienced cruisers (large numbers of platinum and diamond guests) who, because of their experience, tend not to spend as much on general shipboard revenue--the extra things a company like Carnival counts on to be able to keep its basic fares lower--things like shore excursions (most experienced cruisers will do their own thing rather than take ship excursions), specialty restaurants (they've already "been there/done that"), revenue from alcohol (they tend to be older cruisers who simply don't consume as much alcohol), gift shop purchases (do we really need another Carnival t-shirt?), etc.

 

It seems that if Carnival is going to be able to continue the Journeys cruises they are going to have to find ways of increasing revenue, particularly when there are extra expenses (the Academy of Fun lecturers and pins, production costs for the extra show, the onboard local chef, the local entertainment, etc.). They will have to find ways to make the Journeys cruises both popular and profitable. Other cruise lines have a higher cost basis per day and can more easily build these kinds of factors into their regular sailing experience. Carnival will probably need to rethink its pricing model in order to keep these sailings in a revenue positive manner.

[cruzeluver]

Interesting discussion.

 

The general opinions I have seen are that the one-way Journeys cruises have not sold particularly quickly while the round-trip ones have.

 

We are booked on a 10 night Journeys cruise at the end of May. It is a round-trip cruise from Charleston. We booked shortly after the sailing became available. The prices were reasonable but hardly inexpensive. We watched availability go down very quickly and prices go up just as quickly. In fact the cruise has been sold out for a couple of months now and is still almost three months out.

 

On the roll call, so far it is primarily all experienced cruisers and an older demographic than a typical 7 day sailing. No one with kids so far.

 

I hope these cruises do well and they continue. I do know this same cruise is already available to be booked in 2017.

[teaach]

We are booked on a 9 day Journeys cruise out of NYC in August. There are very few cabins left, 6 months out and the cruise rate for a balcony has jumped $700 pp. I am so looking forward to this cruise, just hope there are not too many kids on the ship. School in the north east starts this week.

[Micahs Grandad]

Interesting discussion.

 

The general opinions I have seen are that the one-way Journeys cruises have not sold particularly quickly while the round-trip ones have.

 

We are booked on a 10 night Journeys cruise at the end of May. It is a round-trip cruise from Charleston. We booked shortly after the sailing became available. The prices were reasonable but hardly inexpensive. We watched availability go down very quickly and prices go up just as quickly. In fact the cruise has been sold out for a couple of months now and is still almost three months out.

 

On the roll call, so far it is primarily all experienced cruisers and an older demographic than a typical 7 day sailing. No one with kids so far.

 

I hope these cruises do well and they continue. I do know this same cruise is already available to be booked in 2017.

 

Overall cost is normally a lot cheaper when you can drive to a port and avoid flying.

[thinfool]

As to selling well. Our TA was with us on the 1/23 Glory, Miami to San Juan. Some of our group stayed on for the second half, San Juan to Miami.

 

Our TA was contacted by Carnival with substantial fare reductions for any of his group that had not previously booked the second half. Apparently there were several empty cabins available.

 

The irritating thing about this is that the second half was always priced substantially higher than the first half. Enough to discourage many from booking it originally. None could change flights, etc, to take advantage of the offer.

 

Had the second half been priced in line with the first half originally, I think they would have sailed full.

 

I have to say that I was glad to leave the ship after the first half...and Eric, the annoying, little boy cruise director was a big part of the reason.

Edited March 4, 2016 by thinfool

[Honolulu Blue]

I'd like them to repeat those Journeys cruises. I was on the one from San Juan to Galveston on the Triumph in February of last year (before they used the Journeys name and perks) and on the one from Galveston to San Juan in January of this year. So far there's nothing new for 2017 or 2018 other than from the West Coast. :(

 

As to selling well. Our TA was with us on the 1/23 Glory, Miami to San Juan. Some of our group stayed on for the second half, San Juan to Miami.

 

Our TA was contacted by Carnival with substantial fare reductions for any of his group that had not previously booked the second half. Apparently there were several empty cabins available.

 

The irritating thing about this is that the second half was always priced substantially higher than the first half. Enough to discourage many from booking it originally. None could change flights, etc, to take advantage of the offer.

 

Had the second half been priced in line with the first half originally, I think they would have sailed full.

I have to say that I was glad to leave the ship after the first half...and Eric, the annoying, little boy cruise director was a big part of the reason.

 

(emphasis mine)

 

I was on the Conquest with Eric in December. I didn't think he was THAT bad. Different strokes for different folks. Anyway, thanks for sharing. I'll put it into my memory bank.

[teddybear231]

We are booked on a 9 day Journeys cruise out of NYC in August. There are very few cabins left, 6 months out and the cruise rate for a balcony has jumped $700 pp. I am so looking forward to this cruise, just hope there are not too many kids on the ship. School in the north east starts this week.

 

We are on this cruise as well! We were so happy the dates worked out on this cruise because when we come back it's labor day weekend (extra day off from work), and the kids go back to school this week. Even the college kids in our group go back that week after we get back. So there may be a good amount of kids.

[cruizinator]

Wondering if Carnival will repeat the Journey cruises itins. Hawaii is always on the schedule but wondering about the others.

 

We really enjoyed the 13 day Mexican Riviera cruise and haven't seen it in the newly released cruises. We just booked a 10 day on Princess because Carnival isn't repeating this itin (yet).

 

I guess Princess will be our choice for longer MR cruises...unless Carnival decides to repeat the 13 day MR cruise next year. The 13 day MR cruise had many cabins still unsold the day before the cruise. So...Carnival might figure it wouldn't be profitable enough..to do it again next year.

We loved the the 13 day MR Journeys cruise...was hoping for a repeat in 2017.

[SadieN]

Our Princess itin isn't as good as Carnival's was but it does go to Loreto.

 

 

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[Micahs Grandad]

In many respects we find Princess to be the experience Carnival used to be.

[ready2cruzagain]

As to selling well. Our TA was with us on the 1/23 Glory, Miami to San Juan. Some of our group stayed on for the second half, San Juan to Miami.

 

Our TA was contacted by Carnival with substantial fare reductions for any of his group that had not previously booked the second half. Apparently there were several empty cabins available.

 

The irritating thing about this is that the second half was always priced substantially higher than the first half. Enough to discourage many from booking it originally. None could change flights, etc, to take advantage of the offer.

 

Had the second half been priced in line with the first half originally, I think they would have sailed full.

 

I have to say that I was glad to leave the ship after the first half...and Eric, the annoying, little boy cruise director was a big part of the reason.

 

I'd like them to repeat those Journeys cruises. I was on the one from San Juan to Galveston on the Triumph in February of last year (before they used the Journeys name and perks) and on the one from Galveston to San Juan in January of this year. So far there's nothing new for 2017 or 2018 other than from the West Coast. :(

 

 

 

(emphasis mine)

 

I was on the Conquest with Eric in December. I didn't think he was THAT bad. Different strokes for different folks. Anyway, thanks for sharing. I'll put it into my memory bank.

Thinfool, I have to agree with you. Eric has to be the worst CD I have ever sailed with. We were on for both cruises and it only got worse. We sat in the theater for almost 3 hours waiting to do the turn around for the b2b and it was a nightmare. Eric did sort of apologize later in the next cruise and Carnival did throw a party for those that were on the b2b with free drinks due to all of the confusion Eric caused.