Which Cruises are least Popular - Most Unsold Staterooms

[Andy_P]

I suppose only Celebrity knows for sure and it might seem like a strange question, but when ships are undersold and you're not necessarily fixated on the itinerary, nor the time of year, there are some advantages.  

[dctravel]

Celebrity has a website with "Exciting Deals" The current iteration has cruises through November, broken out by region of the world. I presume that these are listed because they haven't sold out, but I haven't investigated to know how good a deal they are: https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Celebrity/Exciting_Deals/CEL_Exciting_Deals.pdf. 

[canderson]

6 minutes ago, dctravel said:

Celebrity has a website with "Exciting Deals" The current iteration has cruises through November, broken out by region of the world. I presume that these are listed because they haven't sold out, but I haven't investigated to know how good a deal they are: https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Celebrity/Exciting_Deals/CEL_Exciting_Deals.pdf. 

You'll find that there are still quite a few cabins available on those cruises, even for those with near term embarkation dates.

 

For example, take the 9/2/24 Reflection booze cruise (4 night Key West / Perfect Day).  They're asking $453 for a Concierge Class for that cruise, and there are plenty from which to choose.

 

Now look at that same cruise in June 2025 (peak season).  $725 and only somewhat more cabins available.

 

So yeah - the "Exciting Deals" do seem to be 'ship fillers'.  All of them are within the scope of final payment with VERY rare exceptions, and we all know that ships with a lot of unsold cabins see price drops right after final payment is due (to make it hard for existing pax to reprice!)

 

[Jeremiah1212]

Your TA has access to some data showing cruises that may be lighty booked. It's not necessarily all encompassing. 

 

• Most Sept 2024 Reflection cruises from FLL
• All June 2025 Infinity cruises from Athens 
• Most April 2025 Silhouette cruises 3-4 night from FLL (short cruises always sell closer in so this is normal)
• Most May 2025 Beyond cruises from MIA 

 

Some longer cruises:

 

 

Edited August 16 by Jeremiah1212

[Andy_P]

Some very thoughtful and interesting points - thanks. 

[little britain]

24 minutes ago, Andy_P said:

Some very thoughtful and interesting points - thanks. 

Infinity in the Med over this winter is as cheap as chips. 
On our November cruise we have had over $1200 in price drops; and we’re paying $1486 for 11n in Feb in OV. $81.28pppn

[Milhouse]

I would think hurricane season in the Caribbean can be a slightly tougher sell.  

I recall South America having quite a bit of availability when we searched in the past but they may have trimmed back sailings.

36 minutes ago, little britain said:

Infinity in the Med over this winter is as cheap as chips. 

Agree that some of the Infinity sailings during the offseason in the Med can be a deal.  

[barneyboy]

There are some good deals on Eclipse for September 2025. These are the revised itineraries for the cruises which were to visit Israel and Egypt. We booked 11 nights from the 29th September in a guarantee balcony. We wouldn’t usually book a guarantee stateroom but it was too good a deal to pass. 

[the penguins]

7 hours ago, Andy_P said:

I suppose only Celebrity knows for sure and it might seem like a strange question, but when ships are undersold and you're not necessarily fixated on the itinerary, nor the time of year, there are some advantages.  

with Royals last quarter figures showing over 100% occupancy across the fleet I would book a cruise I liked. If you are looking to avoid ships with well over 100% occupancy I would suggest  you exclude:

1) Sailings in holiday periods - not just US holidays but all countries where the ship sails from

2) short booze cruises - generally out of the US

and include:

1) longer cruises - minimum 13 days

2) longer cruises that start in one port and end in another

3) cruises with lots of sea days

All the above are less appealing to families 

 

[NutsAboutGolf]

For the casino lower rollers like myself, they typically offer us sailings under their target occupancy.  I imagine there's a lot of overlap with "exciting deals".  Here's today's casino offer:

 

[D. B.]

There was an Over supply of ships in Alaska this year because a lot of Eastern Med. cruises were cancelled, and ships were Relocated to avoid the situation 

[canderson]

1 hour ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

For the casino lower rollers like myself, they typically offer us sailings under their target occupancy.  I imagine there's a lot of overlap with "exciting deals".  Here's today's casino offer:

 

No, no overlap.  Exciting Deals are all departing in 90 days or less with a single exception.

[jlawrence01]

I go on my favorite corporate TA's website and look at their 90 day ticker.  I sort by price per day and you can generally say that the cruises that are least expensive on Celebrity are the cheapest available.  I will say that the cruise that I booked for about $700 at the end of June is now priced over $1300,

 

Celebrity and RCCL are continuously adjusting the prices upward as a ship fills up as well as dropping prices immediately when the ship is not selling.  I have seen drops of 30% on Icon of the Seas over the course of a few weeks on their December 9, 2024 sailing.

[NMTraveller]

24 minutes ago, jlawrence01 said:

I have seen drops of 30% on Icon of the Seas over the course of a few weeks on their December 9, 2024 sailing.

Bingo!

 

Cruises several weeks before Christmas have very good pricing...

[rcrabb1513]

6 hours ago, Milhouse said:

I would think hurricane season in the Caribbean can be a slightly tougher sell.  

I recall South America having quite a bit of availability when we searched in the past but they may have trimmed back sailings.

Agree that some of the Infinity sailings during the offseason in the Med can be a deal.  

I know this is a Celebrity forum but I think watching other cruise lines that have added so many cabins to their fleet would be the ones to focus on.

[mrgabriel]

Last week we booked a Caribbean cruise in mid-December. Very good prices, and quite a bit of availability. I think those cruises sell less well because it's not yet the winter so people from colder parts of the world aren't ready for a winter getaway.

 

Another time when we've always found good availability is hurricane season in the Caribbean. You take a bit of a risk booking at that time of year, especially if you need to fly. Mid-September, to be precise. And we've also noticed that the Pacific coast sailings (not Alaska - California and Mexico) don't seem to sell as well. 

[jlawrence01]

1 hour ago, mrgabriel said:

Last week we booked a Caribbean cruise in mid-December. Very good prices, and quite a bit of availability. I think those cruises sell less well because it's not yet the winter so people from colder parts of the world aren't ready for a winter getaway.

 

Another time when we've always found good availability is hurricane season in the Caribbean. You take a bit of a risk booking at that time of year, especially if you need to fly. Mid-September, to be precise. And we've also noticed that the Pacific coast sailings (not Alaska - California and Mexico) don't seem to sell as well. 

 

Here is what I have been tracking as economical cruises:

 

1) 1st two weeks in November, December and January.

 

2) Late April sailings in the Caribbean.

 

3) Transatlantic cruises to Galveston.

 

4) East coast cruises with one stop in Canada.

 

5) Mexican Riviera cruises out of LA.

 

The thing you need to watch about on the cheapest cruises is the itinerary.  I saw a 13 day repo cruise that was a non-stop.  Not my cup of tea.

[mrgabriel]

12 minutes ago, jlawrence01 said:

 

 

 

The thing you need to watch about on the cheapest cruises is the itinerary.  I saw a 13 day repo cruise that was a non-stop.  Not my cup of tea.

 

We actually love the repo cruises and a non-stop wouldn't be a deal breaker for us, especially once we retire. We talk about using a TA as the start/finish to a longer holiday in the UK or Europe.

 

But I know they aren't for everyone! Good for there to be choices 😊

[the penguins]

3 hours ago, jlawrence01 said:

 

Here is what I have been tracking as economical cruises:

 

1) 1st two weeks in November, December and January.

 

2) Late April sailings in the Caribbean.

 

3) Transatlantic cruises to Galveston.

 

4) East coast cruises with one stop in Canada.

 

5) Mexican Riviera cruises out of LA.

 

The thing you need to watch about on the cheapest cruises is the itinerary.  I saw a 13 day repo cruise that was a non-stop.  Not my cup of tea.

Just curious we love repo cruises but have never seen one with 13 days non stop - which route was it? Thanks 

[chemmo]

Cruises that have significant changes to itinerary can be a bargain. For example, Infinity in the Mediterranean as the Israel/Egypt stops were cancelled. If you simply wanted a Mediterranean break at a good price….I know several UK cruisers have picked up on these, especially if you are not ‘room faddy’. Suite prices haven’t particularly fallen nor have Aqua but verandas and below have.

[little britain]

2 hours ago, chemmo said:

Cruises that have significant changes to itinerary can be a bargain. For example, Infinity in the Mediterranean as the Israel/Egypt stops were cancelled. If you simply wanted a Mediterranean break at a good price….I know several UK cruisers have picked up on these, especially if you are not ‘room faddy’. Suite prices haven’t particularly fallen nor have Aqua but verandas and below have.

I don’t think a balcony in the Med in Feb would get a lot of use! 🌧️ 💨 🌊 

[cublet]

52 minutes ago, little britain said:

I don’t think a balcony in the Med in Feb would get a lot of use! 🌧️ 💨 🌊 

Hello,

 

Good if you wanted fresh ice?

 

A rather roundabout way of finding underselling cruises is to look for 'single specials' as that's the first act of desperation to off-load inventory.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

[Iamcruzin]

21 hours ago, Andy_P said:

I suppose only Celebrity knows for sure and it might seem like a strange question, but when ships are undersold and you're not necessarily fixated on the itinerary, nor the time of year, there are some advantages.  

I have found that shoulder season which is the period just after a peak period like spring break and just before the next peak period summer vacation is where they run deals to fill the ship. Likewise September, October and early November before Thanksgiving (hurricane season). After Thanksgiving up to Mid December are also fire sales. Reposition cruises also offer good value.

[Iamcruzin]

11 hours ago, jlawrence01 said:

 I have seen drops of 30% on Icon of the Seas over the course of a few weeks on their December 9, 2024 sailing.

7000 passengers is a tall order for that time of the year.

Edited August 17 by Iamcruzin

[Ex-Airbalancer]

5 hours ago, the penguins said:

Just curious we love repo cruises but have never seen one with 13 days non stop - which route was it? Thanks 

I never seen that also 

Notice how most TAs are less than 14 days so Celebrity does have pay the $250 OBC for shareholder credit 🤔🙄😁