Big Announcement - Quantum of the Seas

[Neil Down, Southampton]

Why move at all in those circumstances. .the ubiquitous "cruise to nowhere"
Regards
Garfield

No Garfy, you miss the point.....

This is a money making proposition and even if you include the cost of fuel there are too many penalties, both tax and legislative to stay in one port; this particularly applies to ships sailing from the USA by the way.

And just to be pedantic.... how can you have a cruise that goes nowhere? That surely would make the vessel an hotel and hotels do not cruise. That one would probably fail on the "ubiquitous" front too.

I think another trend may be, and we see it already across the pond, cruises will have a max length of 10 days?? except RTW or repos.

However the possible flaw in the ointment may be they have to find lots of new passengers. I regards a cruise length of 7 days as a mini cruise.

Annie

Have you noticed that so many cruises are of 7 or 10 days now? My theory is that apart from lowering the price of a cruise as things are not at their best in the USA, the American worker does not have the same long holidays that we have so to gain maximum passengers they have shortened many cruises.

Just a thought. ......Neil

[annie, Glasgow]

No Garfy, you miss the point.....

This is a money making proposition and even if you include the cost of fuel there are too many penalties, both tax and legislative to stay in one port; this particularly applies to ships sailing from the USA by the way.

And just to be pedantic.... how can you have a cruise that goes nowhere? That surely would make the vessel an hotel and hotels do not cruise. That one would probably fail on the "ubiquitous" front too.




Have you noticed that so many cruises are of 7 or 10 days now? My theory is that apart from lowering the price of a cruise as things are not at their best in the USA, the American worker does not have the same long holidays that we have so to gain maximum passengers they have shortened many cruises.

Just a thought. ......Neil

Hi Neil

It will come as no surprise to you that GH of MSC views cruise ships as 'floating hotels'. If I understand Garfie correctly, the new ships could sail up and down the English Channel only - would not suit me- what's new

Re the 7 day cruise length, I think there are several possible reasons. Yes the USA does not have the same generous holidays as some UK workers enjoy. However in the UK more people are self employed and I know of several local businesses who prefer their staff not to take 2 weeks summer break.

The cynic in me thinks yes shorter cruise length = lower headline price initially but how many years will it be before we are charged the equivalent price of a 2 week cruise for a 1 week cruise ? These new ships don' t come cheap and there will be pressure from shareholders to recover investment cost a.s.a.p.

However I don't believe the cruise market in the UK will ever reach the levels they want. RCI and NCL have both expressed concern about their ability to fill the berths recently. Compared to many on this forum, I am a novice cruiser and after this year plan to take no more cruises for the next 3 years??

Annie

[Garfield, Waterlooville]

Hi Annie
Round and round the IOW...although to open the shops and casino they'd probably have to move outside the 3 mile limit..🚢
Regards
Garfield

[annie, Glasgow]

Hi Annie
Round and round the IOW...although to open the shops and casino they'd probably have to move outside the 3 mile limit..🚢
Regards
Garfield

Hi Garfie

I think you may have a point - exact routing don't know but for a 7 day duration, it can't go far unless they go at max speed and that costs money and gives the bean counters heart attacks.

I always ask myself 2 questions before I book any holiday:

1. Is it on my bucket list (thankfully getting shorter)??
2. Can I obtain better value elsewhere??

Travelling to SOTON to join a cruise ship sailing short cruises fails test 1 and I don't even want to think what they would charge me as a solo I can book many a land holiday without a solo penalty but it is near impossible on a cruise ship currently.

Annie

[andyn, Bucks]

It would need to be a fly cruise, if you are going to cruise to nowhere it needs to be sunny

[Garfield, Waterlooville]

It would need to be a fly cruise, if you are going to cruise to nowhere it needs to be sunny

Surely a cruise to nowhere should be preceded by a flight to nowhere...✈..
Regards
Garfie..

[andyn, Bucks]

Okay, I'll post it.............

thats after you've been on the 'Road to Nowhere'

Well, we know where we're goin'
But we don't know where we've been

Talking Heads

[annie, Glasgow]

Okay, I'll post it.............

thats after you've been on the 'Road to Nowhere'

Well, we know where we're goin'
But we don't know where we've been

Talking Heads

Well Richard Fain, CEO, has said they are targeting he millennial generation i.e. those born between 1982 and 2000's ....... well that let's me out. They apparently want to let people know that cruising is not sedentary.

Annir