Celebrity-not selling many cabins sold recently

[Dabu17]

We're booked on the Constellation January 12, 2009 and it's all sold out except the Royal Stuites. We were able to upgrade from CC to SS for additional $$90 pp when they had a special Senior Rate jusst two weeks ago.

 

I'm rather surprised that it's filled because that's the day most kids go back to school.

[Veronica13]

Guys, its real simple.

 

Go to celebrity.com and go through the initial booking process for a particular cruise. You don't need to give any info - just get to the part where you choose you cabin. All available cabins will show up, right up until sailing date.

 

THAT will tell you how empty they are.

[BEAV]

Guys, its real simple.

 

Go to celebrity.com and go through the initial booking process for a particular cruise. You don't need to give any info - just get to the part where you choose you cabin. All available cabins will show up, right up until sailing date.

 

THAT will tell you how empty they are.

 

Celebrity's website will only display 3 cabins per available category, however it doesn't mean those are the only 3 cabins available.

[BEAV]

Where does one find a "happy hour sale?"

 

 

Type in "happy hour" in the search forum on this board and you'll get links to a gazillion different threads on the subject.

 

Happy Hour (or "Exciting Deals" as they're now called) are restricted to "new bookings only" meaning a pre-existing booking cannot be re-priced to the one-day sale fare. However all is not lost if you monitor the pricing of your category and sail date on Celebrity's website (non Happy Hour sale). If/when you find lower pricing for your category and sale date, Celebrity will generally allow the price change, even after final payment. Also, if anyone in your cabin is over 55, be on the lookout for senior specials and also resident rates.

[cruisinfanatic]

Guys, its real simple.

 

Go to celebrity.com and go through the initial booking process for a particular cruise. You don't need to give any info - just get to the part where you choose you cabin. All available cabins will show up, right up until sailing date.

 

THAT will tell you how empty they are.

if that were the case, then there might be 100's in some categories when the first itinerary booking dates come out. And there's not!

[benbess]

We are booked on the 1/31 Panama Canal sailing on Mercury. Reserved a Sky Suite on the Sky Deck. Received notice two weeks ago that we had been upgraded to a Royal Suite. So apparently it does happen.

 

Valerie

 

You were upgraded for free???

 

If so, that's absolutely terrific. Congrats!:D:D

 

The upgrade fairy exists!

[SGilly]

I seriously stalked the Celebrity website before our 12/24 Century cruise. I was able to get a refund of $100 per person from my original cost (I originally booked 1 month out.) My oceanview Christmas cruise cabin ended up costing me only $599 per person for the best oceanview floor available! What I did see was that 2 weeks before the cruise ALL the available cabins (yes, there were many of them) just disappeared one day. I did see many family members of the Officers and workers onboard travelling with us. I wonder if Celebrity opens up these unsold cabins at a great discount to the people onboard the ship and to RCCL employees?

[LateStart]

You were upgraded for free???

 

If so, that's absolutely terrific. Congrats!:D:D

 

The upgrade fairy exists!

 

Yes, there was not charge. It was noted in the edocs of the upgrade. I have no idea why or what for.

 

Valerie

[benbess]

Yes, there was no charge. It was noted in the edocs of the upgrade. I have no idea why or what for.

 

Valerie

 

You must have been very, very good this year.;)

[Andy]

We are booked on the 1/31 Panama Canal sailing on Mercury. Reserved a Sky Suite on the Sky Deck. Received notice two weeks ago that we had been upgraded to a Royal Suite. So apparently it does happen.

 

Valerie

 

Hi LateStart !

 

I'm happy to hear you recieved a free upgrade. Just to clarify.... I didnt say it was impossible, I said it is rare. Good for you ! Enjoy your Cruise.

[rjg41]

A site shows all cabins available in each catagory.

 

Your conclusion that they have sold no cabins may be right but it is based on a grossly false assumption.

 

NO WEB SITE SHOWS ALL AVAILABLE CABINS. Unless you have somehow gained total access directly into Celebrity's secure data base, you will never see all available cabins. Even travel agents do not have such access.

 

Celebrity, like all cruise lines, cap the number of cabins that they show on their or any web site as well as secure travel agent booking engines such as Amedeus, Revelex, etc. and the travel agent portals on their own web sites.

 

Unless a cruise line booking rep. will tell you the truth, you only can get clues as to amount a ship is sold out. Travel agents can see dining avilability on the lines that confirm dining. One clue that a ship is getting full is when one or both of the traditional dining times are waitlisted.

 

Another clue is when the number of cabins for a category drops below the usual cap. For example, those that show nine cabin per category, when it drops to eight or below, clue. When categories close or waitlist.

 

I will tell you, while there are bargins out there, those that wish to suggest that many ships are leaving almost empty don't know the facts. Try to book a Princess, 7 night Caribbean cruise for Jan., Feb. or March and see what the availability and prices are.

[benbess]

Your conclusion that they have sold no cabins may be right but it is based on a grossly false assumption.

 

NO WEB SITE SHOWS ALL AVAILABLE CABINS. Unless you have somehow gained total access directly into Celebrity's secure data base, you will never see all available cabins. Even travel agents do not have such access.

 

Celebrity, like all cruise lines, cap the number of cabins that they show on their or any web site as well as secure travel agent booking engines such as Amedeus, Revelex, etc. and the travel agent portals on their own web sites.

 

Unless a cruise line booking rep. will tell you the truth, you only can get clues as to amount a ship is sold out. Travel agents can see dining avilability on the lines that confirm dining. One clue that a ship is getting full is when one or both of the traditional dining times are waitlisted.

 

Another clue is when the number of cabins for a category drops below the usual cap. For example, those that show nine cabin per category, when it drops to eight or below, clue. When categories close or waitlist.

 

I will tell you, while there are bargins out there, those that wish to suggest that many ships are leaving almost empty don't know the facts. Try to book a Princess, 7 night Caribbean cruise for Jan., Feb. or March and see what the availability and prices are.

 

Great answer. I thought it was something like that.

 

I've noticed you've cruises an impressive different number of lines over the years. Not meaning to bother you too much, but any chance you've give a quick run down of your favs. Or, to cut to the chase how does Celebrity rank for you compared to other lines? Thanks!

[Andy]

Your conclusion that they have sold no cabins may be right but it is based on a grossly false assumption.

 

NO WEB SITE SHOWS ALL AVAILABLE CABINS. Unless you have somehow gained total access directly into Celebrity's secure data base, you will never see all available cabins. Even travel agents do not have such access.

 

Celebrity, like all cruise lines, cap the number of cabins that they show on their or any web site as well as secure travel agent booking engines such as Amedeus, Revelex, etc. and the travel agent portals on their own web sites.

 

Unless a cruise line booking rep. will tell you the truth, you only can get clues as to amount a ship is sold out. Travel agents can see dining avilability on the lines that confirm dining. One clue that a ship is getting full is when one or both of the traditional dining times are waitlisted.

 

Another clue is when the number of cabins for a category drops below the usual cap. For example, those that show nine cabin per category, when it drops to eight or below, clue. When categories close or waitlist.

 

I will tell you, while there are bargins out there, those that wish to suggest that many ships are leaving almost empty don't know the facts. Try to book a Princess, 7 night Caribbean cruise for Jan., Feb. or March and see what the availability and prices are.

 

Hi Rjg !

 

Excellent Post. I completely agree that while there are bargains around, folks shouldnt assume ships are sailing almost empty. They aren't.... Far from it. If they were, it would be a horrible situation for the Cruise lines. One thing I am often amazed at, is how Cruise lines always find a way to fill the ships.... even in a very bad economy. Of course, last minute discounts help quite a bit. If they dont make it on the fare, they can always look to make it in other onboard revenue areas, such as the Casino, Excursions, Onboard Shopping, Bars etc.

[Brad1185]

On the Mariner, the post said 1,700 passengers out of 3,100. They were also closing the 3rd level on the MDR due to lack of passengers.

[stromer]

I appreciate all the posts. I think no one was saying the cruise lines were sailing almost empty, I think my self and others were saying some are sailing almost full but not 100%. On the Celebrity site I looked at my cruise - Feb 1 Infinity at the CC class-Sky deck. I had to put individually all the CC cabins to see what was available and found 30 availalbe out of 113 total. The vacancy was then about 27%. It sems that is rather high with only a month to sail. It would be very time consuming to all the classes so I just did one.

 

My original post was not accurate because I said the site I used gave all the cabins available. Actually they only gave a max of 15 per catagory where I came up with at least 30. So there are a lot more availble than my orignal post.

Rick

[rjg41]

Great answer. I thought it was something like that.

 

I've noticed you've cruises an impressive different number of lines over the years. Not meaning to bother you too much, but any chance you've give a quick run down of your favs. Or, to cut to the chase how does Celebrity rank for you compared to other lines? Thanks!

 

I don't know about impressive, We have met people who have been on Celebrity alone, over 50 times.

 

Of the mass market lines, Celebrity is our cruise line of choice.

[PSP]

I was on the 14 day Australia/New Zealand cruise 11/23/08 and noticed that many cabins were available as well. I was booked in a CC cabin and got an upsell to a Sky Suite for $400.00 for two. When we got onboard, the ship was just over 1/2 full.

[stromer]

Reading these posts and others, it appears that even though sailings may not be sold out, complimentary upgrades are rare. Several have said they could buy an upgrade for a cost and others have said they have got free upgrades. I have been on Princess and have gotten several free upgrades. I guess I will have to rely on the "Upgrade Fairy".

[tally10]

In reading some Cruise Critic posts, there are supposed to be some GREAT deals out there in regard to filling up empty ships. We are finding the prices for Europe and transatlantics have really skyrocketed, rather than the opposite (and this is for all lines). Then, unless you book air through a consolidator, that is sky high, too. If there are deals, we aren't finding them.

[BEAV]

Reading these posts and others, it appears that even though sailings may not be sold out, complimentary upgrades are rare. Several have said they could buy an upgrade for a cost and others have said they have got free upgrades. I have been on Princess and have gotten several free upgrades. I guess I will have to rely on the "Upgrade Fairy".

 

Although we always book the category we'd be content to sail in, we've had good luck on several occasions upgrading for $$$ aboard ship at embarkation.

[Riksha]

Although we always book the category we'd be content to sail in, we've had good luck on several occasions upgrading for $$$ aboard ship at embarkation.

 

I didn't know you could ask for an upgrade - we're in a balcony, but I wouldn't mind getting a suite if the price was right. Where do you ask - is it where you register in?

[Spender Nui]

Just notice that my March Constellation cruise dropped the CC rate about $250/PP from what we paid last September on their Tuesday special. Unfortunately it was for new bookings only.

[BEAV]

I didn't know you could ask for an upgrade - we're in a balcony, but I wouldn't mind getting a suite if the price was right. Where do you ask - is it where you register in?

 

With regard to suite upgrades, I always keep a close eye on available inventory right up until Celebrity pulls the sailing off sale (48-72 hours before departure?). I write down the cabin number(s) of the open suites. On our most recent cruise, we upgraded from SS to RS, and I simply called Guest Relations from our SS and inquired about RS suite number ####. But before I called Guest Relations, I confirmed with both the Butler and Cabin Attendant that the RS was in fact still vacant (which it was). I've found this to be the most effective way to upgrade aboard ship as opposed to having our names added to a long list of people looking for upgrades. This also worked aboard Royal Caribbean when a suite next door to our balcony cabin was vacant. Despite Guest Relations saying over the phone no upgrades were available, the story changed when I asked about the specific suite number that the Stateroom Attendant had already confirmed to me was vacant.

 

Do your homework before you leave home -- and good luck!

[rolfecms]

On our most recent cruise, we upgraded from SS to RS, and I simply called Guest Relations from our SS and inquired about RS suite number ####.

 

Did they quote you an upgrade price or did you offer one?

[BEAV]

Did they quote you an upgrade price or did you offer one?

 

They quote you the upgrade price. In our experiences, it's never been a barter/offer type system. They appear to have a price sheet of upgrades from one category to another for each sailing. And I believe the prices are determined by various factors, such as length of sailing, number of cabins available in a given category, etc. I don't believe the upgrade prices are standard across-the-board.