Does a cruise get cancelled for lack of passengers?

[werpooles]

I love Cruise Critic! I'm addicted, and can't wait to use all of the great tips that I've gotten here................but.........................I'm wondering if Carnival needs a certain number of passengers for a cruise to set sail.

 

We're sailing on the Destiny out of Miami on Nov 17th, plenty of time to get more people on board, but we are almost in double digits, and when I check prices, I can see that the Spa deck is almost empty! Granted, there aren't many rooms on that deck, but to have over half available 103 days out worries me.

 

Can anyone tell me if this is normal?

[OhioJeff]

I love Cruise Critic! I'm addicted, and can't wait to use all of the great tips that I've gotten here................but.........................I'm wondering if Carnival needs a certain number of passengers for a cruise to set sail.

 

We're sailing on the Destiny out of Miami on Nov 17th, plenty of time to get more people on board, but we are almost in double digits, and when I check prices, I can see that the Spa deck is almost empty! Granted, there aren't many rooms on that deck, but to have over half available 103 days out worries me.

 

Can anyone tell me if this is normal?

 

Yes, its normal. What you will see happen around or before final payment a huge price drop if cabins still arent selling. Carnival is very good at filling their ships.

 

Dont worry they wont cancel your cruise

 

Another thing to note, this is the first time Carnival has used a big ship to do 4 and 5 day cruises. So it will be interesting to see how well the balcony and suite cabin sell.

[werpooles]

Thanks for the quick reply! I'll be sure to keep my eye out for the price drop.....final payment is due in 33 days.

[98Charlie]

The Spa deck is also all Cat 6E (OV). It may be that people are taking the balconies.

 

Charlie

[werpooles]

You are right, because we booked a balcony.

[98Charlie]

I just checked and right now I could get an 8D on the Lido for $90 per person less than the 6E OV on the Spa.:eek:

 

That may be a major reason they are not selling.

 

Also found that 6B's can be had for $250 less per person than the 6E's

 

Charlie

[G'ma]

Carnival's historical occupancy rate is 105% year-round on all their ships. This means all lower berths are booked and 5% of uppers.

 

I don't think a cancellation is part of the picture.:p

 

I do think they may have over-estimated the number of people willing to pay for the Spa cabins, however. You'd think they'd be snatched up in a minute by those passengers who are so adverse to smoking...but, so far, that doesn't seem to be the case.

 

As the sailing comes closer, Carnival will no doubt do some pricing adjustments and/or upgrades. They won't sail with empty cabins.

[OhioJeff]

I just checked and right now I could get an 8D on the Lido for $90 per person less than the 6E OV on the Spa.:eek:

 

That may be a major reason they are not selling.

 

Also found that 6B's can be had for $250 less per person than the 6E's

 

Charlie

 

 

I didnt check but it sounds like they have lots of BA cabins available and would rather sell those than 6E cabins.

 

Carnival would probably rather upgrade people into the 6E's if they cant sell them outright, then again 100+ days out is a long time. Lots of cabins will be canceled before final payment.

 

Thats why its so hard to get a handle on cabin availability this far out. People can cancel, guarantee cabins havent been assigned.

[DqALEX]

You are right, because we booked a balcony.

I would take a balcony over the spa deck any day

[big_duck]

 

I do think they may have over-estimated the number of people willing to pay for the Spa cabins' date=' however. You'd think they'd be snatched up in a minute by those passengers who are so adverse to smoking...but, so far, that doesn't seem to be the case.[/quote']

 

It is Spa cabins that are non-smoking, not cabins on the Spa deck.

 

Spa cabins are only available on the Splendor and Dream.

 

ETA. What this really means, is that the upgrade fairy could get a real workout, moving people out of the lower cost cabins to free them up for re-sale.

[werpooles]

Let me see if I understand this......I paid XXX amount for my 6A balcony room, then they come along and offer me an upgrade to the Spa deck, or some other higher deck, so they can resell my original stateroom to someone who most likely will pay the same amount or just below what I paid? I didn't book a guarantee, I picked my room, and unless they want to put me in a suite, I'd rather stay in my 6A.

[big_duck]

Let me see if I understand this......I paid XXX amount for my 6A balcony room, then they come along and offer me an upgrade to the Spa deck, or some other higher deck, so they can resell my original stateroom to someone who most likely will pay the same amount or just below what I paid? I didn't book a guarantee, I picked my room, and unless they want to put me in a suite, I'd rather stay in my 6A.

 

No you will be fine, it is the Guarantees that will be moved up.

 

Let's say that 35% of all OV bookings are guarantee and OV is 100% sold out. Some or all of the 35% will get upgraded to slow selling balconies thereby opening up the cheaper OV's to be resold.

[OhioJeff]

Let me see if I understand this......I paid XXX amount for my 6A balcony room, then they come along and offer me an upgrade to the Spa deck, or some other higher deck, so they can resell my original stateroom to someone who most likely will pay the same amount or just below what I paid? I didn't book a guarantee, I picked my room, and unless they want to put me in a suite, I'd rather stay in my 6A.

 

No, if you booked a specific 6A cabin your chances of getting moved is the same as winning a million dollars in the casino.

[werpooles]

Thank you everyone for the information! Now I just need to wait out these next 100 or so days!