Reopening Capacity Question.

[SurfCat]

Has there been anything definitive released by Carnival regarding reduced capacity of bookings when they reopen?  I've searched and couldn't find anything.

 

We're booked on the Sunshine for December and were on it for New Years last year.  It is a very crowded ship.  

 

I'm not one to freak out about the virus, but I'm not sure how this can be done even relatively safely without reduced capacity.

 

 

[Earthworm Jim]

I haven't seen anything definitive on reduced capacity either. There were stories that Carnival was considering doing so a while ago, but I don't recall Carnival ever stating they are indeed doing it or what percentage capacity they are reducing to.

 

Even if they do, it might easily be a shorter term thing that would no longer be in effect in December.

Edited June 11, 2020 by Earthworm Jim

[firefly333]

I saw something that they cut off bookings at 50%. I see many ships with empty cabins no longer accepting bookings. Not sure where I read it.

 

Like I saw in our newspaper yesterday that ccl has turned up temperatures on washers and dryers to cut germs or sanitize whatever... but was in dallas morning news paper I read at my folks.

 

Dont have official source.

[MrsKC08]

It seems right now that they are showing current sailings as "sold out" or not even open on their website for bookings because of what they already have booked on them. For example, we are booked on Mardi Gras for February, and they don't have anything showing until March for that ship. According to those in the TA world and Carnival themselves, it's because they don't want to overbook anything.

[RS182]

38 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I saw something that they cut off bookings at 50%. I see many ships with empty cabins no longer accepting bookings. Not sure where I read it.

 

Like I saw in our newspaper yesterday that ccl has turned up temperatures on washers and dryers to cut germs or sanitize whatever... but was in dallas morning news paper I read at my folks.

 

Dont have official source.

This cut off would make sense.  We booked an August 15th sailing out of Galveston on Tuesday.  When I was booking it there were plenty of room options available.  That evening in a Facebook group for that particular sailing people were reporting that this particular sailing must be sold out because someone's friend that was trying to book couldn't find the sailing and someone else had called and booked, they were only able to get on because someone cancelled.  I couldn't imagine that all of the options I had seen earlier in the day had filled up.  It makes sense now that they may have reached a cut off mark and took all options down.

 

No official information, just an anecdotal observation.

[TNcruising02]

I'm booked at the end of September out of Galveston and there are plenty of cabins still available, so they must be just doing it for August cruises.

[firefly333]

I've also seen where someone wanted to upgrade to a available cabin and wasnt allowed once carnival cut off bookings. They were upset because they could see it was available.

 

I dont know if it's only august or not but see a lot of August sailings marked sold out on big box site.

 

My cruise doesnt even show up to book for august 31st on carnival.com site. It's like it doesnt exist.

 

 

Edited June 11, 2020 by firefly333

[RS182]

6 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I've also seen where someone wanted to upgrade to a available cabin and wasnt allowed once carnival cut off bookings. They were upset because they could see it was available.

 

I dont know if it's only august or not but see a lot of August sailings marked sold out on big box site.

 

My cruise doesnt even show up to book for august 31st on carnival.com site. It's like it doesnt exist.

 

 

Yeah ours doesn't show up either, but I have had that experience BC (before corona) when a cruise sells out.

 

There are also reports in this same FB group, for the August 15 sailing, of upgrade offers going out last night.  I found it hard to understand how there are upgrade offers if the sailing is sold out.  At first I was concerned they were preparing to cancel but the upgrade offers and the random booking made me feel better. (could still happen)

 

A limited number of cabins being sold would make sense for why there are upgrade offers now.

[coevan]

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

Like I saw in our newspaper yesterday that ccl has turned up temperatures on washers and dryers to cut germs or sanitize whatever.

 

 

is there anything hotter than boiling water?   😁

[TNcruising02]

Speaking of upgrade offers, I looked at my 2nd cruise, which is inJanuary, and did a mock booking. I was able to change it to a casino rate and save $225.  This will be the least expensive balcony cabin I have ever booked.

[bury me at sea]

31 minutes ago, coevan said:

 

 

is there anything hotter than boiling water?   😁

 

Lots of things.  Water evaporates at 212 but many things just keep getting hotter.

[salty dingo]

5 hours ago, SurfCat said:

... I'm not sure how this can be done even relatively safely without reduced capacity.

 

You asked the right question. Nobody is sure. Cruise lines have a business model that depends on filling up ships to capacity. Deck, club, and bar space is limited, and spacing must increase. Lots of people who want to do what they want, when they want, will not be able to.

 

What will be the answer? I'm waiting on shore to see. I won't even consider a cruise until I know what the deal will be, and we probably won't know that until after the reviews of the "new cruising world order" are.

Edited June 11, 2020 by salty dingo

[coevan]

1 hour ago, bury me at sea said:

 

Lots of things.  Water evaporates at 212 but many things just keep getting hotter.

 

 

many things, but not water

[NCbmwmom]

6 hours ago, RS182 said:

This cut off would make sense.  We booked an August 15th sailing out of Galveston on Tuesday.  When I was booking it there were plenty of room options available.  That evening in a Facebook group for that particular sailing people were reporting that this particular sailing must be sold out because someone's friend that was trying to book couldn't find the sailing and someone else had called and booked, they were only able to get on because someone cancelled.  I couldn't imagine that all of the options I had seen earlier in the day had filled up.  It makes sense now that they may have reached a cut off mark and took all options down.

 

No official information, just an anecdotal observation.

We are on this sailing as well and I hope you are right! I would love an uncrowded ship. 

[john91498]

There was a thread asking what will be different when cruising starts up again. Someone posted that there could be 50% reduced capacity and it was repeated so many times, that people thought it would be true.

[Chief93]

4 hours ago, coevan said:

 

 

many things, but not water

 

Steam.  Which is water.  Boyle's Law.

[bamaone]

4 hours ago, coevan said:

 

 

many things, but not water

Water under pressure can increase above 212 degF 

[hurricane0226]

My wife is hotter than boiling water lol  😉

[coevan]

we are talking about washing clothes folks, not a science lesson. water boils at 212 when the steam evaporates, the water is gone

[firefly333]

Just to put the subject to rest ....

[Tapi]

Not Carnival, but Bahamas Paradise Cruise Lines is scheduled to restart on July 25th. In their website, they have listed all the Covid protocols, including that capacity will be limited to 50% with entire decks of cabins blocked. It’s not far fetched to think that Carnival may do something similar. 

Edited June 12, 2020 by Tapi

[RWolver672]

17 hours ago, RS182 said:

There are also reports in this same FB group, for the August 15 sailing, of upgrade offers going out last night.  I found it hard to understand how there are upgrade offers if the sailing is sold out.  

 

A limited number of cabins being sold would make sense for why there are upgrade offers now.

 

If they are in fact limiting the number of cabins sold, upselling is a perfect way for the cruise companies to make more money.  Move as many people to higher priced cabins and leave the cheaper ones empty.  

[rolloman]

9 hours ago, Tapi said:

Not Carnival, but Bahamas Paradise Cruise Lines is scheduled to restart on July 25th. In their website, they have listed all the Covid protocols, including that capacity will be limited to 50% with entire decks of cabins blocked. It’s not far fetched to think that Carnival may do something similar. 

As I have mentioned  previously, the local casino ship (Port Canaveral) is only sailing at 35%. It would be absurd to think when Carnival starts up they will not have social distancing protocols in place. CCL will have to submit a plan for approval prior to be given a green light for restarting its operations and in order to be approved it will undoubtedly include reduced capacity.  Now what that "initial" figure will be?.....50% sounds about right.

[RWolver672]

At what point will it not be feasible to operate at a reduced passenger limit and still make a profit?  Many restaurant owners have said that operating at 50% capacity will mean they can't cover costs let alone make a profit.  Granted, cruise lines make money on things other than the cost of the cruise itself.  Still, at what point will it become not worth it for them to continue to sail.

 

Will this virus rear it's ugly head again once cruising starts?  Will the passengers keep a distance from each other or will it be like the beaches that have already opened where people are not distancing themselves from each other.  I guess it's all going to boil down to wait and see.

[LillyBucket]

Usually most cabins are booked by couples meaning 2 people in a cabin. 

Majority of the cabins can hold 4 or more people so if you cut off bookings at 50% capacity. Chances are you won't see less people on the ship than normal. 🤔

 

Edited June 12, 2020 by LillyBucket