Do 3/4 day cruises fill up faster than 7 day?

[JerseyGirl66]

Do 3/4 day cruises fill up faster and sail more at their capacity than say a 7 day cruise? I'm thinking since the cost would be less for 3/4 day then those ships would fill up quicker and sail at or near capacity? Just curiuos???

 

And from experience do you feel capacity has anything to do with upgrades? Meaning if the ship is less full, would you see more people being upgraded?

[TwoTravelin]

I would guess it is quite the opposite. There is much more planning for a 7 nighter compared to a shorter 3 or 4 night. Deals always seem easier to get last minute on the shorter cruises!

[negc]

I think the best answer to your question is that "it depends" - itinerary, time of year and price being the most significant factors. With the reported trend towards shorter vacations, many cruisers are taking three and four night cruises where in the past they might have taken longer ones. However,the ships doing those itineraries are also a factor that people consider when they deciding whether to take a shorter cruise instead of a longer one. For the most part it still seems that most cruises, regardless of length, are cruising at, near, or slightly above capacity. What the lines have to do to achieve those capacity levels may mean the difference between a profitable cruise and one that barely breaks even. When the lines publish their annual reports they usually include figures which indicate whether they are continuing to sail with a full complement of passengers. It might be interesting to review those documents to determine what is actually happening in the cruise industry during these economic hard times. I am sure tht the cruise line executives have taken a careful and comprehensive look at booking trends and have adjusted their ship deployment accordingly.:)