Signs of Recession: Empty cabin, hotels room and cabanas

[bryanjaync]

Sure signs that times are bad for many. I am cruising on HAL in December, amazed at the number of cabins still available. Also the hotel rates in Fort Lauderdale are dropping, with lots of vacancies, and finally.....cabanas are STILL available on HMC. I remember just a couple of years ago, they would sell out the first day available. Just thankful that my partner and I can still go and take my parents along too.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I have looked at our Oct cruise -- and all cabin categories still have available cabins.

Times are tough every where.

[Sissy Ruth]

Originally Posted by Krazy Kruizers

I have looked at our Oct cruise -- and all cabin categories still have available cabins.

Times are tough every where.

Hi KrazyKruizers,
We're booked on Statendam departing 10/30 SD and one on our roll call
says her TA says our ship is sold out, but when I check other resources,
it looks a though cabins are available in all categories??? How do you
know ??
Cindy

[airlink diva]

I know that last year when I was on my tour in St. Lucia, my tour guide was telling our group how the drop in tourist have effected the island.
Our guide was telling us that fewer Americans were visiting the island and the resorts were often at half or less. He was telling us about one of the well know hotels were cutting the staff by more than half due to less then 20 guest with bookings. This was a common story all around the island.
Now I also notice more sales on ships around the 90 to 75 days to sailing mark. This is likey to people changing their mind before final payment. I know that my brother and his wife cancel their upcoming cruise as a way to cut back.
As for hotels, I know in the New Orleans area for my first cruise next year, the pricing is more than what I paid for a room this year. I can't say about Fort Luaderdale because the pricing for rooms for December 2010 are not out yet.
Out of all my cruises, I've only sailed on one ship that was half full. I was on the Fascination sailing on September 14,2001. This was the Friday after September 11th. Alot of people on this sailing took the option to rebook a later cruise. There were so few cruisers on this sailing, that they only offer one dining time at 7:00 p.m. instead of two and only one Captain's ball. All other ships that I've sailed on where always full.


----------------
Now playing: Spyro Gyra - Cockatoo
via FoxyTunes

[jjb415]

I am hoping that things can get back to normal soon for all of us and those who work in the cruise industry.

On the other hand, it has been good getting away from the Fuel Surcharges of last year & seeing some great rates for single travelers.

[nchank]

Just got a note from our TA about a rate reduction on our May 15 rt Seattle-Alaska booking.

[NHRedSoxFan]

There are amazing deals out there and sailings that have had price reductions as they get closer, but my upcoming cruise - Oosterdam 10/5 has been sold out for 2 months. All that's left is the Penthouse. I have friends who thought they would wait for some specials and offers to come out but instead are left with no cabins available. So they aren't going after all. There's a wait list but they were told it was quite long. It's strange that some Med cruises are sold out and others sail with empty cabins. I don't get it.

[Taxguy77]

We're in a resort area. This year the hotels and motels were full, but trafic in the restuarants (sp?) was down. Hard to get into the grocery store. More cars from Texas and fewer from out-of-state.

[Roz]

There are still vacancies in most of cabin categories for the upcoming World Voyage in January. My theory is that mostly retirees go on such a cruise, and retiress are very dependent on investment income. With the stock market and retirement funds still shaky, people either don't have the money, and/or are being conservative with what they do have.

Roz

[Signor John]

Depends on the itinerary. My wife and I were on a summer cruise from Rotterdam that was fully booked. I believe the following cruise was sold out, too.

[Jemima]

We booked our cruise in April and there have been no price drops. The cruise closed about a week ago which is 3 weeks before sailing.

[ekerr19]

The only bargains I've seen lately are on hotel rooms. Flights certainly don't seem to be any cheaper - neither do cruises...

[COP]

Originally Posted by bryanjaync

Sure signs that times are bad for many. I am cruising on HAL in December, amazed at the number of cabins still available. Also the hotel rates in Fort Lauderdale are dropping, with lots of vacancies, and finally.....cabanas are STILL available on HMC. I remember just a couple of years ago, they would sell out the first day available. Just thankful that my partner and I can still go and take my parents along too.

Both of the Hawaiian 15 Day Cruises in Oct 2009 are sold out. I'm booked on the Oct 8th cruise which has been sold out since July and the Oct 23rd cruise is also sold out. RCCL and Celebrity stopped its West Coast sailings except I believe RCCL has a one way (each way) from Baha Mexico.

COP

[pipedreams62]

My indicator of the times is how cheap the Holiday cruises are (xmas and New Years). These were always premium,and for the Holidays I would say they are still cheap.

[Oceanwench]

I got an e-mail today from our TA showing some of HAL's 7-day fall cruises for less than $400 for an inside or oceanview cabin [plus taxes and port charges].

Can someone explain to me the whole single supplement thing? My sister was thinking of sailing solo.

[RuthC]

Originally Posted by Oceanwench

Can someone explain to me the whole single supplement thing? My sister was thinking of sailing solo.

For an inside or outside cabin, she should figure 150% of the per person, double occupancy fare. She will have only one payment of port charges, so it won't be exactly 150%.
And she'll get the whole cabin to herself!

[sail7seas]

We haven't gotten any bargain on "S" cabins. Our August 29 cruise on Maasdam was very pricey..... but wonderful!

[Steve Q]

We recently returned from a Baltic cruise aboard the Prinsendam. Not only was the ship sold out, HAL was offering a full refund plus a free future European cruise to anyone that would cancel their cruise. We received this offer via e-mail two days before our departure. I cannot speak for other cruises, but there were few signs of a recession aboard the Prinsendam.

[Roz]

Pipedreams,

Interesting information about the holiday cruises. I suspect that since those cruises attract a lot of family groups, and the price is multiplied over several people, families may be re-evaluating that option for the holidays if things are financially uncertain or tight for them.

Roz

[pipedreams62]

Originally Posted by Roz

Pipedreams,

Interesting information about the holiday cruises. I suspect that since those cruises attract a lot of family groups, and the price is multiplied over several people, families may be re-evaluating that option for the holidays if things are financially uncertain or tight for them.

Roz

My Christmas cruise price dropped 3 times after I booked it. I can't believe what I paid for a Christmas/New Years cruise (not that I can afford it)