Do Cruise Ships Always Sail Full?

Cruise ships are generally expected to sail at full capacity, even during the shoulder season. However, some sailings may not be completely booked up, especially if there are last-minute cancellations. It is important to expect that your cruise will be completely sold out by the time you sail, as it is the exception to having ships sail with empty rooms.

Historically, most cruise ships operated by major cruise companies such as Carnival Corporation have sailed at occupancies close to 100%. The industry has traditionally followed a business model built around managing bookings to ensure ships are always full. In 2019, the last full year of sailing was the last full year of sailing. Ships do not always sail full, but it is all about supply and demand.

When sailing at full capacity, it is important to keep in mind that full equates to 2 passengers per cabin, and many cabins are booked with 3 or 4 people in them. Cruise ships make zero money on a cabin unsold, making them a perishable item. However, there are some times of year when ships sail more full than others. Larger ships (more than 4,000 passengers) can feel more crowded for this reason.

The concept of ships traveling full is fascinating, as airlines have high margins and are a key part of cruise lines’ profits. Lines always try to sail full for that reason. On other occasions, a cruise ship is perfectly safe and comfortable at sea but must stay away from shore due to a storm or hurricane that has affected the ship.

Cruise lines operate their ships almost constantly, and some itineraries are harder to fill than others. Some older ships compete against newer ships, making it difficult for them to maintain their operations.