When are unsold cabin blocks released?

[Canuker]

About when (days ahead of sail date) are unsold cabins released that were previously block-reserved by TAs?

Are there any general rules that apply here?

I ask because knowing when these unsold cabins 'flood' back on tho the market may be an advantage (price-wise) for someone considering a cruise.

[Hlitner]

31 minutes ago, Canuker said:

About when (days ahead of sail date) are unsold cabins released that were previously block-reserved by TAs?

Are there any general rules that apply here?

I ask because knowing when these unsold cabins 'flood' back on tho the market may be an advantage (price-wise) for someone considering a cruise.

This is not how things work, for most (if not all) cruise lines.  Yield Management schemes are more complex and what you think of as "blocks" is now a myth.  Cruise lines use various methods to reduce their inventory, and this is a continuing process.  If there are a lot of unsold cabins, there are many ways used to try and use that inventory.  Casino specials (for gamblers), interline deals (for those in the travel industry), internal deals (for employees), etc.  Last minute specials do happen, but that will usually be shortly after the final payment period.  '

 

There are times when some unsold inventory is quietly sold by certain cruise agencies or consortiums.  In the past we have snagged some of these deals, but they were last minute (within a few weeks of sailing), through a few cruise agencies from which we get direct e-mails, and we had to book very quickly (within hours).  The best deals were on some more complex itineraries where we also needed to find last minute deals on international flights.  

 

You should understand that we are in the age of large agency consortiums (some with hundreds of member agencies).  The era when a few agencies would unload "blocks of cabins" is mostly in the past.  But there are last minute deals, and we think the best way to learn of these deals is to be on the private mailing lists of multiple high volume cruise agencies (preferably those in large consortiums),   I should also mention that some cruise lines would rather sail with empty cabins then unload them at a big discount.  In the past couple of years we have been on several luxury cruise lines that had many empty cabins.  

 

Hank

 

 

[leaveitallbehind]

Depending on cruise lines, unsold group (or blocked) staterooms held by TA's are generally released back to the cruise line's inventory about 120 days prior to sailing.  But this can vary.

 

Once back in inventory the cruise lines will release them for general bookings directly and through TA's. The stateroom fares at that time will be dependent on their algorithms in use measuring demand and sales trends.

Edited May 23 by leaveitallbehind

[Mike981]

I wonder what other industries use this business model? If it is as simple as a travel agency blocking X amount of rooms and then if they are not being able to sell them, then just give them back without any cost, it seems like a strange relationship.

 

Granted I am assuming that there is no cost to the agency.

[CruiserBruce]

3 minutes ago, Mike981 said:

I wonder what other industries use this business model? If it is as simple as a travel agency blocking X amount of rooms and then if they are not being able to sell them, then just give them back without any cost, it seems like a strange relationship.

 

Granted I am assuming that there is no cost to the agency.

It's done by Convention and Events agencies in cities quite frequently. Like when the Super Bowl is in town.

[leaveitallbehind]

34 minutes ago, Mike981 said:

I wonder what other industries use this business model? If it is as simple as a travel agency blocking X amount of rooms and then if they are not being able to sell them, then just give them back without any cost, it seems like a strange relationship.

 

Granted I am assuming that there is no cost to the agency.

There are terms and conditions regarding securing blocks of rooms.  Certain programs require a small deposit amount due on all staterooms booked within a certain period of time, sold or not.  Others require only the full deposit as sold, but at a different timeframe. There are also guidelines on how many can be held. 

 

If the T's & C's are not met by specified date they are taken back by the cruise lines and all unsold staterooms are returned at a certain date as well. Another "cost" with unsold staterooms is lost sales for the TA's.

 

So they are not secured without cost or risk. Cruise lines promote group blocks as a way to help assure full cruise sales. But with as many cruise ships as there are sailing each week with as many staterooms as there are available, it is a win-win. 

Edited May 24 by leaveitallbehind

[Mike981]

Thank you @leaveitallbehind.

[slidergirl]

Brand name hotels I've worked for still do a kind of blocking for those famous 3rd party vendors.  That's why you see the "only 1 left" on their website even though the hotel has 50 left.  It was allocating those vendors a certain number of rooms at the little discount (usually no more than 10%).  It's kind of virtual - they can sell x number of rooms but the hotel itself also had access to those rooms to sell themselves.  It wasn't the physical rooms like cruise companies did.

Edited May 25 by slidergirl