The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season caused nearly $300 billion in damage, included 17 named storms, 10 hurricanes, and 6 major hurricanes. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria wreaked havoc on the Atlantic and Caribbean and lasted for a long 5 months that killed more than 3,300 people and destroyed businesses and livelihoods.

It also destroyed major cruise ports, closed all ports in Florida, and led to cancelations and changes to at least 136 sailings. This caused a deep drop in cruise prices as customers thought twice about setting foot on a boat.

But what it took a season of hurricanes to do to the cruise industry in 5 months, the Coronavirus pandemic has done in less than two months, at least at Carnival Cruise Line ($CCL), the largest operator in the industry.

Toward the end of 2017, where our data begins and when hurricanes had already disrupted the industry, Carnival Cruise Line prices on average tumbled from an average of more than $720 per cruise to less than $700 and a one-day drop to  $656 in early December. This came as the industry offered incentives and price drops as a way to fire up interest and bookings.

As of this week, though, prices have dipped below those 2017 numbers, and they appear to be here for some time. This comes as the cruise line announced plans to cruise again in August. 

Interior staterooms have dipped the deepest, with average prices dropping more than 17%. Even suites, usually kept as halo products for high-paying customers and as upgrade incentives, have dropped an average of more than 2%. Until as recently as March 28, suite prices were still holding steady and even rising.

On the cheapest end, our data shows a 4-day cruise that leaves Long Beach, CA in December for just $99 for an interior room. We've included the 10 least-expensive sailings below.

Name

Price (Min)

Carnival Imagination departing from Long Beach (Los Angeles), CA, Room: Interior

$99.0

Carnival Inspiration departing from Long Beach (Los Angeles), CA, Room: Interior

$99.0

Carnival Ecstasy departing from Jacksonville, FL, Room: Interior

$104.0

Carnival Inspiration departing from Long Beach (Los Angeles), CA, Room: Ocean View

$109.0

Carnival Conquest departing from Miami, FL, Room: Interior

$109.0

Carnival Sensation departing from Miami, FL, Room: Interior

$109.0

Carnival Liberty departing from Port Canaveral (Orlando), FL, Room: Interior

$109.0

Carnival Imagination departing from Long Beach (Los Angeles), CA, Room: Ocean View

$109.0

Carnival Fantasy departing from Mobile, AL, Room: Interior

$114.0

Carnival Conquest departing from Miami, FL, Room: Ocean View

$119.0

About the Data:

Thinknum tracks companies using the information they post online - jobs, social and web traffic, product sales, and app ratings - and creates data sets that measure factors like hiring, revenue, and foot traffic. Data sets may not be fully comprehensive (they only account for what is available on the web), but they can be used to gauge performance factors like staffing and sales. 

Further Reading: 

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