So unless the SOLD OUT sign goes up tomorrow (highly unlikely), sales are officially slower than last year.
The cruise selling out or not has pretty much nothing to do with bands being announced.
I really doubt that. You'll get a lot of survivors, but not that many new people. With how slow sales are going now, with these bands announced I say again, I really doubt that.
I feel like this is your first (or possibly second) year on this cruise? Because I've been four time and seen how the sheer reputation of this cruise proceeds itself. There will be people booking for a good time and less because of the bands, hands down. The bands will come - they always do, and people will be drawn to it. This year, because of the late start, newbies and survivors alike dropped out because of frustration, and because life happens and fund were no longer available.cholernik wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2019 7:47 am I really doubt that. You'll get a lot of survivors, but not that many new people. With how slow sales are going now, with these bands announced I say again, I really doubt that.
This thing seems to get the same folk and joke metal bands year after year. I haven't thought of half these bands in over 5 years, and I was surprised to see people even wanting some of these bands. Maybe I just outgrew the viking and battle gimmicky crap in my metal, but it seems to me that whole thing is dying. But it's strong on this cruise, and in this clique. I could be wrong, but it seems like none of those bands in that genre, outside of amon amarth, ever headline their own tours anymore.
Booking you're room on broad 70k for the bands is a really stupid thing to do. If you're going to see this or that particular band and just for that, then there are are ways that would be a lot cheaper.
I like the obscure bands they book (Aeternam, Allegaeon, Wolfheart, etc), usually less interested in super duper headliners. As long as they form the announcements in a balanced way genre and repetition-wise, it is cool.Phoenix wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2019 9:49 am Yes, the genres here are more representative of the client base, because of course they are. People who are on it for a good time don't mind Viking and folk metal, because those bands are fun to be in a pit for. And the thing is, lots of bands on 70k don't headline, because we love the obscure stuff that maybe doesn't get enough exposure. I think it's much more fun that way. Sadly yes, sometimes there's a lack of doom and black, usually the death and thrash flows freely for a time but this year has been a lot of last minute bookings.
Yep. As (un)official statistician I concur you are 100% correct
Absolutely. If announcements had started back in August with Emperor and Devy and the rest, this cruise would have been a FAST sellout. The people at UMC -- Andy, and whoever SHOULD have been designated as his proxy while he was sick -- have no-one to blame but themselves.cowboy71 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2019 5:45 pmYep. As (un)official statistician I concur you are 100% correct
The anticipation after the 2019 edition of something big for Round #10 was huge. I have little doubt that if we had exactly the same bands announced now, in the same timeframe as now, BUT everything started 6 months ago.... it would have sold out in a week.
where are they now? If you're anticipating something in the summer, surely you're still stoked about it in October?
Stoked? Yes. BUT, people tend to get their holidays from work approved AFTER they have their booking confirmation. Some also just don't want to wait that long to spend their money. Or in the meantime other unforeseeable circumstances lead to the fact that they can no longer go.
pool, hot tub whatever. whatever water that isn't the sea
i don't hink there is much real water in the tubs. or did you see anyone leave to go pissing?
Not quite right. There's a small pool in the Solarium. I take a dip every now and then there
Not quite right. There's a small pool in the Solarium. I take a dip there every now and then. You also got the kiddie/water park
Yep, and also, it all gets splashed out.
"They" have made other plans, decided to go to other festivals, decided to commit their paid time off to other things, realized that airfare now is much higher than it was during the summer, etc. They might be regretting that decision now based on the bands that have been confirmed, and they WOULD have been stoked for it, but it's too late.
Yea shorter lines for crap pizza and shorter lines for other things. Can't complain really, although it's bad for people putting this on
Can't see too much in the way of movement now unless they manage to book a drop-dead AMAZING band. We're well into the $100 booking change-fee period, and that goes up to $300/change SOOOOON. So booked pax who need to swap roommates in or out will be more heavily punished.
I'm not getting my hopes up too much on THAT score, either. Even a 70% or 80% full boat will still have substantial lines.Dick wrote: More intimate setting this time around. Lines won't be as long for merch, or the meet and greets. Not exactly a bad thing. I don't even go for the bands, I mostly just go to meet people from around the world and get away from the monotony of my life.
I don't know how ticket sales were but it there was a very obvious difference in crowd size. Also a bit tough to compare since it was on a smaller boat to begin with and the venues were set up different then on the current class. It felt like it was a lot easier to find a good spot at each venue, the buffet was easier to navigate and I don't recall a horrible wait for cruise merch, at least at the spot that was selling 70K branded only merch.
I like Judi Priest. His version of WIld World is really good.alex_canada wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2019 10:07 pm I am definitely a fan of Judas Priest too, his solo material after leaving Maiden has been really good
No changes to the sold out categories IN WEEKS. Not even those categories we know for fact only have 1 or 2 cabins left.metalforever wrote: ↑Tue Dec 03, 2019 8:01 am trying to figure out , with limited information available , I would think that the cruise is roughly 75% sold out .
If it is only 75% sold out that is going to be devastating to their bottom line. That's probably a million in lost money. That may impact the cruise going forward. They aren't going to sell that many more cabins at this point. I hope it isn't that bad, because I want them to be successful for years to come. I wouldn't expect any bigger bands being announced either. They are going to have to cut costs one way or another.cowboy71 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 03, 2019 3:13 pmNo changes to the sold out categories IN WEEKS. Not even those categories we know for fact only have 1 or 2 cabins left.metalforever wrote: ↑Tue Dec 03, 2019 8:01 am trying to figure out , with limited information available , I would think that the cruise is roughly 75% sold out .
So yeah - I reckon 75% at most.
We've been saying for years that UMC will never change until people start voting with their wallets.SavaRon wrote: ↑Tue Dec 03, 2019 3:25 pmIf it is only 75% sold out that is going to be devastating to their bottom line. That's probably a million in lost money. That may impact the cruise going forward. They aren't going to sell that many more cabins at this point. I hope it isn't that bad, because I want them to be successful for years to come. I wouldn't expect any bigger bands being announced either. They are going to have to cut costs one way or another.cowboy71 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 03, 2019 3:13 pmNo changes to the sold out categories IN WEEKS. Not even those categories we know for fact only have 1 or 2 cabins left.metalforever wrote: ↑Tue Dec 03, 2019 8:01 am trying to figure out , with limited information available , I would think that the cruise is roughly 75% sold out .
So yeah - I reckon 75% at most.
They really need to look at their practices going forward. Too many mistakes this year.
I definitely think having the cruise so early in January is a huge problem for a lot of people. It is for us and we live in Florida! The prices going up and the announcement process hurts as well. The other thing is people just get bored and move on. Progpower kind of went through this around year 10 or so. You have to bring in new blood to replace the people that drop out. Plus there is a ton of competition compared to 10 years ago. It is a perfect storm...of shit.cowboy71 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 03, 2019 5:25 pmWe've been saying for years that UMC will never change until people start voting with their wallets.SavaRon wrote: ↑Tue Dec 03, 2019 3:25 pmIf it is only 75% sold out that is going to be devastating to their bottom line. That's probably a million in lost money. That may impact the cruise going forward. They aren't going to sell that many more cabins at this point. I hope it isn't that bad, because I want them to be successful for years to come. I wouldn't expect any bigger bands being announced either. They are going to have to cut costs one way or another.
They really need to look at their practices going forward. Too many mistakes this year.
Guess what? UMC shot themselves (and I'm being polite here saying "UMC". We all know I mean the skipper) in the foot SO BADLY this time around that people have voted with their wallets.
From that perspective it has been the perfect storm to screw them up - the late commencement any other year could still have been salvaged. But combined with being forced to move the cruise to an incredibly inconvenient (and more expensive!) time of the year means that people just cannot afford to go.
Users browsing this forum: Ahrefs [Bot] and 149 guests
70000TONS, 70000TONS OF METAL and the 70000TONS OF METAL logo are registered trademarks of Properties of Metal Ltd. and are used under license.
© 2009-2023 UMCruises International Ltd. All Rights Reserved.