Princess Cruises will have fewer ships in Europe in 2016. What does this mean for cruisers ?

Reported by CruiseIndustryNews:

Princess Cruises will have five ships in Europe next summer instead of six this year. With three ships sailing from Northern Europe for the summer season, the Emerald Princess will sail cruises to the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands with British passengers, while the Caribbean sails around the British Isles and the Regal sails alternating cruises to the Baltic and Norway.

The Pacific Princess will sail from ports both in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

Only the Royal Princess will spend the full summer in the Mediterranean. However, Princess will have fewer berths in Europe in 2016 than in 2015.

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What does this mean for cruisers ?

One less ship in Europe will mean a higher supply and demand !  Not only for Princess, but for the entire Europe cruising market.

Less space, less sailings, less itineraries !
One might not think one ship can make a difference, but it most certainly can !

Europe will sell up faster for 2016.  And the more full the ships get, the higher the price will get !

Folks are already talking about next years vacation !  Usually agents don’t hear the talk till end of April … But this year, lots of chatter, already began in February !

Folks are already on my calendar, patiently waiting for itineraries and pricing to surface, so they can confirm their plans !  And those, where the opportunity has already arrived, are booking now for  2016 !

Yes, some of these folks are those who didn’t get to plan a cruise in 2015.  Yet many, are cruisers who already have a cruise or two booked in 2015 !

Lots of talk for 2016 in reference to Alaska and Europe !

Wonder which will end up being the most popular destination for 2016 ?
Which will you choose ?
Will you book early while you have options, or will you wait too late in 2015 for booking 2016 ?

Currently I am anticipating May as a hugh booking month for 2016 !

But folks may fool me and try and get a jump on others, by booking instead, in April !
Especially those folks who’ve got an eye on the cruise lines, just waiting for itineraries/rates to post !

2015 Wave Season is almost over !  Barely in time to change course and concentrate on 2016 !

Some folks don't realize, 70% cruisers have already booked their next years vacation BEFORE DECEMBER !  WAVE SEASON (Jan-midMarch) is last minute bookers for me  - about 20% more book !  And anyone who books after is truly LATE (10%) !

And this year ... I'm anticipating that these 70% will be booked by September ... And won't dare wait through till December !

There's already lost of group space already sold out in 2016.  I checked on Carnival Vista for December 2016 and it's GONE !

Did you know ... There are cruisers who buy cabins, price unknown !  That's right. Their agents write letters to the cruise lines, and put down a deposit, without knowing the rates !  That's why, when rates come out, you wonder why select type cabins, already gone ? !

My suggestion ... Put 2016 on your calendar now !  Talk to your family.  When you want to go ?  Who wants to go with you ?  Then start looking to see what options are already available !  If not yet there, try and find out, "when" might it be available, so you too, can be one of the 1st to jump onboard.


PS.  Folks who are use to booking next January for their upcoming vacation, may want to consider changing their way of thinking for 2016 vacations !  Will there still be space next January for 2016 ?  That's the mystery question that none of us can answer !