Half full ships?

[newmexicoNita]

How do you get interline rate?

they are special rates for people in the travel business, both Airline employees and TA.

[uavshadow]

We have not sailed MSC but have booked a spring 19 transatlantic on Divinia and two northern Europe on Meragavilia. Prices were very good, we are looking forward to having another option. As retirees cost is an important consideration and our first choice Celebrity is running away from us.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[padcasino]

How do you find out what capacity your sailing is at?

[CruisinHarvey]

How do you find out what capacity your sailing is at?

 

You can get an idea by doing mock bookings and seeing the number of cabins available. But the only way to find out for sure is on board. They post all kinds numbers in the crew area on I95 each cruise. Total passengers, children of different ages, etc. Obviously they know before hand, but they won't tell you. As one of the head chefs told us once, if I've got a lot kids on board, I know to order a lot more fries. After you board, just ask one of the bartenders or wait staff for the count. They all know.

[TFLG]

The ships should be sailing full right now since these cruises were probably booked a year or two ago, before the prices started shooting up. The higher prices will start affecting cruises next year, and if they are not selling you'll see the prices drop. If the prices stay high, then people are still booking. I know I probably won't be booking any NCL cruises at the prices I'm seeing. There are some itineraries where the prices are still ok, but the ones I'm looking at are stupid expensive.

[BirdTravels]

You can get an idea by doing mock bookings and seeing the number of cabins available. But the only way to find out for sure is on board. They post all kinds numbers in the crew area on I95 each cruise. Total passengers, children of different ages, etc. Obviously they know before hand, but they won't tell you. As one of the head chefs told us once, if I've got a lot kids on board, I know to order a lot more fries. After you board, just ask one of the bartenders or wait staff for the count. They all know.

Mock bookings will only display the 15 "best" rooms in each cabin class and are not an indication of how full the ship is.

[ano]

It's basic microeconomics. Prices go up as demand increases. NCL is obviously not having a problem filling ships.

I'm not sure that I think this is really true. NCL likely raised the prices because even at these high prices, they see enough people signing up to make it worthwile. Why not milk the top if they can? But maybe only 10% pay these high prices. Just a guess. Then prices are dropped getting as many people at each price level as they can, and if it isn't enough to fill ship, they drop prices again and again. When they are full, they stop.

 

 

To see if they are actually making more money, you have to watch their quarterly announcements to see if they REALLY are making more money. I can tell you NCL hasn't been a great stock to own these last few years, so doubt they are rolling in money. Also when they display higher prices, they risk loosing many people who see these prices and go elsewhere even though prices will drop. In the end, pricing is just a complex game that each cruise line plays against the others for a limited amount of customers. Only when digging into the financials can you really tell if their "game" wins. Just looking at the prices they charge doesn't tell you much because we don't know what people are actually paying.

Edited August 28, 2018 by ano
Addition.

[em-sk]

Over capacity?

Really?

[emoji849]

 

Lots of different words being used.

 

The ship could sell out if all the cabins are sold. NCL likely plays games (either by upgrading for free or offering special deals to upgrade) to free up cheap cabins to sell. I don't think they play with the ultra-high-end cabins. That may be the definition of "full" for some people.

 

If it is school vacation time, then you end up with lots of kids in the cabin. More cabins with 3 or 4 people vrs just two. That can make the ship fell much more full, even if the same number of cabins are sold.

 

Over-capacity where the sell more tickets than beds or life-jackets? I don't think that happens.

[em-sk]

The ships should be sailing full right now since these cruises were probably booked a year or two ago, before the prices started shooting up. The higher prices will start affecting cruises next year, and if they are not selling you'll see the prices drop. If the prices stay high, then people are still booking. I know I probably won't be booking any NCL cruises at the prices I'm seeing. There are some itineraries where the prices are still ok, but the ones I'm looking at are stupid expensive.

 

I get the impression there a good percentage on a "free cruses" thanks to Casino programs. Certain they can play games like that with multiple distribution channels for the cruses while keeping the published price high and still filling the ship.

[DipBrat]

It's basic microeconomics. Prices go up as demand increases. NCL is obviously not having a problem filling ships.

 

A big dose of macroeconomics as well. We are in the midst of a record long run of good economic growth. We are due for a recession and when it hits with all the new capacity the cruise-lines have added there should be some great deals. Prior to 2015 or so there were usually great last minute deals to fill rooms. Lately I am not seeing it as much and some trips are completely sold-out.

[newmexicoNita]

The ships should be sailing full right now since these cruises were probably booked a year or two ago, before the prices started shooting up. The higher prices will start affecting cruises next year, and if they are not selling you'll see the prices drop. If the prices stay high, then people are still booking. I know I probably won't be booking any NCL cruises at the prices I'm seeing. There are some itineraries where the prices are still ok, but the ones I'm looking at are stupid expensive.

Be honest, how many people do you think book a year of two in advance? Of course a few do, but look at it the other way, more people are inclined to book a few months in advance and may get the luxury of lower rates. The rates shown say 6 months out often will go down, not up. I have to say, I disagree with you on this 100%

[newmexicoNita]

I'm not sure that I think this is really true. NCL likely raised the prices because even at these high prices, they see enough people signing up to make it worthwile. Why not milk the top if they can? But maybe only 10% pay these high prices. Just a guess. Then prices are dropped getting as many people at each price level as they can, and if it isn't enough to fill ship, they drop prices again and again. When they are full, they stop.

 

 

To see if they are actually making more money, you have to watch their quarterly announcements to see if they REALLY are making more money. I can tell you NCL hasn't been a great stock to own these last few years, so doubt they are rolling in money. Also when they display higher prices, they risk loosing many people who see these prices and go elsewhere even though prices will drop. In the end, pricing is just a complex game that each cruise line plays against the others for a limited amount of customers. Only when digging into the financials can you really tell if their "game" wins. Just looking at the prices they charge doesn't tell you much because we don't know what people are actually paying.

are you kidding about a good stock to own? NCL is doing better this year than the other major mass marketed lines. We have owned stock for 4 years and seen our stock on NCL double. That is not doing well? What do you consider doing well? We do not have a lot of investments but the little we have, NCL has given us the best return on our money. Well I think RCI has done about the same as NCL when I think about it. I am only sorry we didn't buy twice as many shares as we did.

[Shawnino]

are you kidding about a good stock to own? NCL is doing better this year than the other major mass marketed lines. We have owned stock for 4 years and seen our stock on NCL double. That is not doing well? What do you consider doing well? We do not have a lot of investments but the little we have, NCL has given us the best return on our money. Well I think RCI has done about the same as NCL when I think about it. I am only sorry we didn't buy twice as many shares as we did.

 

Not true. When I pull up a five year chart of NCLH it's never closed below $30. And usually been much higher than $30.

$53 now.

That's not a double.

I guess if you bought near $30 and sold in 2015 when it was over $60, that'd be double.

Of course anyone who bought it at $60 has had their face ripped off in recent years while the rest of the market continues higher.

[psac]

Not true. When I pull up a five year chart of NCLH it's never closed below $30. And usually been much higher than $30.

$53 now.

That's not a double.

I guess if you bought near $30 and sold in 2015 when it was over $60, that'd be double.

Of course anyone who bought it at $60 has had their face ripped off in recent years while the rest of the market continues higher.

 

I’m with you, I thought about buying NCL stock just for the OBC, but I just took a quick look at the chart and was like nahhh, not sure it’s something I want to be in. It could break out, but I don’t trust it.

[eddeb]

Hello fellow CC'ers,

 

I want to let you know that NCL is offering $199pp Balcony, one freebie,

7 day cruises in Sept including all port fees and taxes.

Two people balcony, w/booze, or food $420 Total.

Please check out our post to share these fares with you at:

NCL Super Offer by eddeb.

We are on the Bliss soon and can't do these great offers.

Hawaii $199pp 7 days? Wow.

 

I have posted the cruise item numbers, hope you can find the link as

these will not last more than a day or two at best. This is not a scam.

Love a great deal as we donate daily to the casino...:D

 

Take care,

We are the Moore's

Tampa Bay :cool:

[newmexicoNita]

Not true. When I pull up a five year chart of NCLH it's never closed below $30. And usually been much higher than $30.

$53 now.

That's not a double.

I guess if you bought near $30 and sold in 2015 when it was over $60, that'd be double.

Of course anyone who bought it at $60 has had their face ripped off in recent years while the rest of the market continues higher.

Thank you for telling me how much I paid for my stock. I guess my monthly investment statement is incorrect I will let our investment counselor know this. I will add, I was rounding the figure, we actually paid a little over $30 and it has been up above $60 a few times. I am very much aware of what it sells for and am very aware of how it has done compared to other mass marketed lines. I do know how to read. Of course if anyone paid $60 they probably got ripped off, but that can be said about almost any stock, at any given time.

[Shawnino]

I’m with you, I thought about buying NCL stock just for the OBC, but I just took a quick look at the chart and was like nahhh, not sure it’s something I want to be in. It could break out, but I don’t trust it.

 

I really have no idea as to whether it's a good investment or not, with or without the OBC.

 

I just don't think people should be able to post unchallenged nonsense on the Internet about "doubling" or whatever-- because some other people just take it as fact, and get hurt.

[GA Dave]

Hello fellow CC'ers,

 

I want to let you know that NCL is offering $199pp Balcony, one freebie,

7 day cruises in Sept including all port fees and taxes.

Two people balcony, w/booze, or food $420 Total.

Please check out our post to share these fares with you at:

NCL Super Offer by eddeb.

We are on the Bliss soon and can't do these great offers.

Hawaii $199pp 7 days? Wow.

 

I have posted the cruise item numbers, hope you can find the link as

these will not last more than a day or two at best. This is not a scam.

Love a great deal as we donate daily to the casino...:D

 

Take care,

We are the Moore's

Tampa Bay :cool:

 

This is proof of what I had stated earlier in the thread. NCL is getting very desperate to sell cabins on our 9/9 cruise.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=56859347&postcount=29

[PTC DAWG]

This is proof of what I had stated earlier in the thread. NCL is getting very desperate to sell cabins on our 9/9 cruise.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=56859347&postcount=29

 

A balcony with "free at sea choices" appears to start at $799 for this cruise....

[njkate]

Not true. When I pull up a five year chart of NCLH it's never closed below $30. And usually been much higher than $30.

$53 now.

That's not a double.

I guess if you bought near $30 and sold in 2015 when it was over $60, that'd be double.

Of course anyone who bought it at $60 has had their face ripped off in recent years while the rest of the market continues higher.

haha, I asked my financial adviser and he looked at me like I just swallowed the stupid pill. One should never invest for OBC imo

[GA Dave]

A balcony with "free at sea choices" appears to start at $799 for this cruise....

 

eddeb had posted the link to the deals on another post. They had balcony cabins with UBP for $420 total for two.

[Até]

The other thread was deleted. I would avoid these types of discounting sites.

 

https://www.consumeraffairs.com/travel/skyauction.html

[graphicguy]

eddeb had posted the link to the deals on another post. They had balcony cabins with UBP for $420 total for two.

Saw that other post. Was going to comment about the “alleged” auction site, waning against using them based on a previous bad experience I had with them for a vacation they advertised but could not verify.

 

I had to get my credit card company involved.

 

In brief, they can not offer the prices they post, nor are they capable of booking.

[chaywest]

All cruise lines offer deep discounts to airline employees and others in the travel industry. Therefore, most ships sail full but not everybody pays the list price.

Not that deep only very rarely.

[TFLG]

Be honest, how many people do you think book a year of two in advance? Of course a few do, but look at it the other way, more people are inclined to book a few months in advance and may get the luxury of lower rates. The rates shown say 6 months out often will go down, not up. I have to say, I disagree with you on this 100%

 

Just a guess but based on what I'm seeing probably about half the cabins are sold between a year and two out. There are a lot of people that want a specific cabin or type and they book very early. I was looking at cruises for early 2020 and there's a lot more cabins booked than you would think. Sure the better deals are last minute but there are a lot of us that have to submit our vacation requests a year in advance and don't have the luxury of waiting till 3 months out. I typically book about a year to 18 months out and most of the folks I cruise with do the same.