Most cabins not available 16 months out

[SamfromOz]

I apologise if this has already been covered, I did search this board to no avail.

I’m booking three cabins on the Constellation, sailing from Venice on September 12th, 2019.

I was planning on “sweet sixteen” cabins. I checked a couple of weeks ago, and I swear they were almost all available.

Now, however, only the three aft cabins (the less desirable ones) are showing as available. On BOTH sides.

In fact, the whole distribution of bookable cabins looks suspiciously symmetrical all over the ship.

So, Celebrity must be withholding unbooked cabins for reasons I can’t really fathom. I haven’t come across this before, but then, I don’t usually book this far in advance.

Do you think Celebrity would release three cabins if my TA called and requested it? I’m worried about ending up with cabins we really don’t want. So much so that I would rather book a different cruise or cruise line than have dud cabins.

[Beanb41]

What maybe happening are the larger US travel agencies both on line and ashore who do a lot of bookings with Celebrity have block booked cabins which they will onsell to their customers as part of a package. What cabins haven't been presold by final payment will be released and put back on the open market by Celebrity.

[SamfromOz]

Possibly, but that’s an awful lot of cabins.

90% of verandah staterooms are unavailable.

[jkgourmet]

I'd call one of the 2-3 big box travel agencies and see what they have available. It may blocked by them or a smallish group.

[Beanb41]

It maybe partially chartered. We had a large group I think from Mexico on last years April cruise on the Connie. They were everywhere and because of their large number they had staff specially to look after them. Strangely though they didn't complete the whole cruise.

[Kiwifromkiev]

We had a similar experience booking for Sept 2016 on the Constellation. Most of verandas were gone. Our TA was adamant it was a block booking which would be released. We booked a nice verandah out of those few available. No cabins have been released. It was a very popular cruise. Totally sold out a year or more in advance

 

 

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[Kiwifromkiev]

I'd call one of the 2-3 big box travel agencies and see what they have available. It may blocked by them or a smallish group.

 

 

 

I am not sure non US travellers can book with US agencies

 

 

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[cruisestitch]

"Do you think Celebrity would release three cabins if my TA called and requested it? "

 

 

What's the downside of having your TA make that call?

[jelayne]

I just checked 4 large on-line TA/clubs and all are showing the same handful of cabins available that are also showing on the Celebrity website. About a dozen standard verandas available. Some C3s and quite a few A2s.

 

It looks to me like this cruise is selling very well, which out of Venice is not unusual.

[Fogfog]

FWIW I noted that our big box TA website had cabins showing open that on X were shown as not available.

Had not thought about this issue before until this thread. TY . Very helpful

[Kiwifromkiev]

What does a “big box”TA means?

 

 

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[Wine-O]

What does a “big box”TA means?

 

 

It's a U.S. term for one of the Wholesale Warehouse outlets here in the States.

[Kiwifromkiev]

It's a U.S. term for one of the Wholesale Warehouse outlets here in the States.

 

 

 

And wholesale outlets sell to public, not other TAs?

 

 

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[Mr. Click]

These warehouse clubs are open to the public, sort of. You have to buy a membership. They sell stuff in larger lots but not the vast quantity you would expect to see from a real wholesaler. Think buying 3 boxes of Cherrios in one package vs a real wholesaler selling 3 cases of 24 boxes....The one we deal with has "warehouses" all over the world but I am not sure if they have travel agents outside the US.

 

Anyway, Venice cruises do sell very well, very quickly. We did one last year and it was one of the few we have been on in the past 4-5 years that never saw a price drop, in fact the price went way up after we booked.

[sleepless]

I m booked on th Equinox for June 29, 2019. I wanted to try to change my balcony cabin. I am cu currently on port side, and wanted to change to starboard side. I noticed the same thing. Most balcony cabins are already booked. There is nothing in my category available to change to.

[neenee61]

These warehouse clubs are open to the public, sort of. You have to buy a membership. They sell stuff in larger lots but not the vast quantity you would expect to see from a real wholesaler. Think buying 3 boxes of Cherrios in one package vs a real wholesaler selling 3 cases of 24 boxes....The one we deal with has "warehouses" all over the world but I am not sure if they have travel agents outside the US.

 

Anyway, Venice cruises do sell very well, very quickly. We did one last year and it was one of the few we have been on in the past 4-5 years that never saw a price drop, in fact the price went way up after we booked.

Mr Click the 'big box warehouse' all over the world does not have a travel agency here in Australia. In saying that I used to always book my cruises online thru US travel agent with no probs. Now I go thru Blue Chip (casino) for all bookings.

[NantahalaCruiser]

I m booked on th Equinox for June 29, 2019. I wanted to try to change my balcony cabin. I am cu currently on port side, and wanted to change to starboard side. I noticed the same thing. Most balcony cabins are already booked. There is nothing in my category available to change to.

What category? Both Celebrity's website and my "big box" warehouse store TA's website are showing many balcony cabins from deck 6 to deck 12, port and starboard available from 2D through A1!

Edited May 30, 2018 by NantahalaCruiser

[Kiwifromkiev]

These warehouse clubs are open to the public, sort of. You have to buy a membership. They sell stuff in larger lots but not the vast quantity you would expect to see from a real wholesaler. Think buying 3 boxes of Cherrios in one package vs a real wholesaler selling 3 cases of 24 boxes....The one we deal with has "warehouses" all over the world but I am not sure if they have travel agents outside the US.

 

Anyway, Venice cruises do sell very well, very quickly. We did one last year and it was one of the few we have been on in the past 4-5 years that never saw a price drop, in fact the price went way up after we booked.

 

 

 

Thank you [emoji120] our cruise which was sold a long time ahead was ending in Venice

 

 

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[sleepless]

What category? Both Celebrity's website and my "big box" warehouse store TA's website are showing many balcony cabins from deck 6 to deck 12, port and starboard available from 2D through A1!

 

Deck 7 category B balconies were not available when I checked over the Memorial Day weekend.

[UKPete71]

I am not sure non US travellers can book with US agencies

Yes they can. :cool:

[NantahalaCruiser]

Deck 7 category B balconies were not available when I checked over the Memorial Day weekend.

There are currently 29 starboard 2B cabins available on deck 7 and 10 starboard 1B cabins available on deck 8.

 

Best of luck; enjoy your cruise.

[sleepless]

There are currently 29 starboard 2B cabins available on deck 7 and 10 starboard 1B cabins available on deck 8.

 

Best of luck; enjoy your cruise.

 

Thanks, I will try again. May have been a web site glitch. All cabins were showing to be not available over the weekend. I even tried searching by room numbers.