How Full Have the Ships Been

[ajmac01]

Our last cruise was on the last sailing of The Dream before everything shut down due to Covid. The ship was only at about 75% full and it was great. No problems getting a deck chair, waiting to get in to restaurants or shows and no lines at the buffet.  What are people finding now since they have restarted cruises? I have been back and forth whether or not to book something. Thanks

[1025cruise]

Ships are sailing around 70%.

[dan4182]

We were on the Mardi Gras 10/9-16/2-21 amd it was about 65-70 %.

[zzdoug]

Just released from the Vista and we were told the cruise had 2800 guests out of a capacity of about 5000, so 56%. People were saying it was nearly cancelled due to low attendance, but that's a rumor I can't verify.  The main pool area was busy and a few comedy shows had to turn away a small number of guests, but otherwise it felt pretty sparse and it often felt like crew outnumbered guests.

Edited October 23, 2021 by zzdoug

[IrritatedEllipses]

Just got off the Magic. We previously sailed a 100% capacity cruise with them.

 

I didn't hear any numbers but, compared to last time, I'd guess somewhere below 66% capacity. We rarely waited in line for any events, never for a drink, and were the last group called for self-disembarkment yet still got off the ship 15 minutes after disembarkment started. The comedy club shows were standing room only, but I blame that on the high quality of comedians we had (Word spread quickly after the first show). 

[j1d1]

Off Horizon a week ago.  I did not get an official capacity number but heard numbers between 40-60% which sounds about right.

[nwcruiselover]

80% on the Miracle in August.

[Badfinger]

Just got off the Breeze on 10/21.  I asked guest services and they said they could book up to 70% capacity and that there were just under 2600 on board.  Compare that to a summer 2018 cruise on the Breeze with over 4400 on board.  But it appeared the number of crew on the ship was pre-pandemic levels.

 

It was nice!  The longest line encountered was the initial security/health screening.  Longest line for food that I waited in was about 6 deep at the lido buffet one night for dinner.  Once I walked up to the Mongolian Wok after 12:00 with no line, and same at an omelet station one morning.  Guys was usually about 3-4 deep.

[Earthworm Jim]

6 hours ago, zzdoug said:

Just released from the Vista and we were told the cruise had 2800 guests out of a capacity of about 5000, so 56%. 

 Don't they measure comparing to capacity at double occupancy, rather than maximum capacity? If so, 2800 out of ~4000 Vista double occupancy would be right around the 70% capacity others have quoted.

 

Similarly, the 2600 guest Badfinger quoted for the Vista would also be right around 70% of Vista's double occupancy capacity.

 

I'm guessing Carnival is generally been able to fill ships to that 70% mark, even if it takes big casino discounts to do it.

[Computer Nerd]

8 hours ago, ajmac01 said:

Our last cruise was on the last sailing of The Dream before everything shut down due to Covid. The ship was only at about 75% full and it was great. No problems getting a deck chair, waiting to get in to restaurants or shows and no lines at the buffet.  What are people finding now since they have restarted cruises? I have been back and forth whether or not to book something. Thanks

My Freedom cruise (the first resailing cruise) was at about 60%.

[Rudyard]

We were on Breeze 10/11 and the CD gave us the numbers. It was roughly 70%. 

[CarolSW]

I am currently on the Breeze.

It feels just as crowded as before the pandemic.  Lines to check in, lines at the specialty coffee bar, lines at Guy’s, long lines to re-embark at the end of our one port of call Cozumel.

To be fair, this is a 4-day weekend cruise, Th - M, which I expected to be more popular right now. 
I have not gotten numbers yet, but the comedy shows were SRO, the casino was full.  
I think cruising is BACK, and that’s a very good thing! 

[AK2CA]

Off of the Miracle yesterday.  It was about 55% capacity.

[matymil]

I dont think youre going to get a standard answer and honestly i dont think there is one. Each cruise is going to be different. Our magic cruise afew weeks ago was allegedly at 60-65% but the real question is what some of these holiday cruises will be at.

[matymil]

12 hours ago, zzdoug said:

Just released from the Vista and we were told the cruise had 2800 guests out of a capacity of about 5000, so 56%. People were saying it was nearly cancelled due to low attendance, but that's a rumor I can't verify.  The main pool area was busy and a few comedy shows had to turn away a small number of guests, but otherwise it felt pretty sparse and it often felt like crew outnumbered guests.

That would have sucked if it was cancelled. I dunno what their break even point would be but Id guess it would have to be alot lower than 2800. Jay from ShipLife on youtube went on a cruise with Bahamas cruise lines that had under 100 ppl on it and that wasnt cancelled

[ontheweb]

12 hours ago, Badfinger said:

Just got off the Breeze on 10/21.  I asked guest services and they said they could book up to 70% capacity and that there were just under 2600 on board.  Compare that to a summer 2018 cruise on the Breeze with over 4400 on board.  But it appeared the number of crew on the ship was pre-pandemic levels.

 

It was nice!  The longest line encountered was the initial security/health screening.  Longest line for food that I waited in was about 6 deep at the lido buffet one night for dinner.  Once I walked up to the Mongolian Wok after 12:00 with no line, and same at an omelet station one morning.  Guys was usually about 3-4 deep.

The Mongolian Wok without a line! That sounds heavenly.😊

[8esther8]

We were on the Elation Oct 11th.  The cabin steward said we were sailing at 42%; the Cruise Director said at "just under 50%".  

[crazy4themouse]

17 hours ago, CarolSW said:

I am currently on the Breeze.

It feels just as crowded as before the pandemic.  Lines to check in, lines at the specialty coffee bar, lines at Guy’s, long lines to re-embark at the end of our one port of call Cozumel.

To be fair, this is a 4-day weekend cruise, Th - M, which I expected to be more popular right now. 
I have not gotten numbers yet, but the comedy shows were SRO, the casino was full.  
I think cruising is BACK, and that’s a very good thing! 

 

We just got off Breeze on Thursday, and that was exactly our experience. If capacity was reduced at all, it definitely didn't show! Not that it was bad -- and we were thrilled to be onboard!! But compared to our 7/29 Breeze cruise, it was very very different. Cruising is definitely back!

 

 

 

[SmoothFlying]

9 hours ago, ontheweb said:

The Mongolian Wok without a line! That sounds heavenly.😊

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh does it  EVER !!! EVERY CCL ship my wife and I have taken (16 out of 20 cruises) If the sip had an MW they'd start lining up at the Wok about 10:15 am, forty five min before they'd even open for lunch ! This every day of the seven day cruise. In fact, it was as popular as the Lido deck buffet.As good as the food is, watching the Wok crew set the station up was especially entertaining. With almost military-precision they had it down to the second, what went WHERE and WHEN, no wasted movement. I surely did NOT envy those poor souls working over those HOT woks. Every man earned their money those 6-7 hours each day at that station. 

 

Mac