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#1
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Oceania's gamble pays off
Joe Watters, the Chairman of Oceania cruises took a gamble over Christmas
when he personally organized a holiday cruise on his newly formed Oceania Cruise Line's ship Regatta. Joe, the former head of Princess and Crystal, called in a lot of IOUs and invited the cruising elite to join him and his family for Christmas and New Years on the Regatta. He personally called many of us and asked us all to give his new line a try assuring us that it would be a good experience. Aboard where many old friends and a virtual who's who of ultra-luxury cruising -- regular Seabourn, Silversea, and Crystal cruisers as well as many of the old Royal Viking, Norwegian American and Cunard crowd. (Astoundingly, neither Dick Goldhaber nor his son Mike Cordelli were invited!) This was a gutsy move on Joe's part. He was putting his personal reputation on the line with disastrous consequences if he failed to deliver what he promised. The people Joe invited are a tough, tough crowd. They are the sophisticated season travelers accustomed to the very best. They always stay in the best hotels and dine at the best restaurants. They exceptionally high expectations. They pay for, and expect, exemplary service, the highest quality decor, furnishings, and ambiance, a staff that attends to the smallest details and the very best dining experience possible. When they don't get what they want, they are merciless and do not take prisoners. You won't get a second chance if you don't perform for these people. No surprisingly, Oceania pretty much delivered as Joe said they would. While not a perfect cruise by any means, most aboard agreed that, for a line that's only 6 months old, the cruise was indeed impressive. The line shows a lot of promise and has the potential to become a player in the small, but elite, ultra-luxury cruising category. Additionally, the positive feedback and publicity from this cruise benefited Oceania's reputation immensely. As Joe expected, most of us gave Oceania a thumbs up, and, also as he expected, bookings for the line surged in January as a result (see the attached link). http://tinyurl.com/2azwq Well done Joe. Keep up the good work. We're all looking forward to the next ship this summer. |
#2
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Oceania's gamble pays off
I think this question will be better served if revisited in two years.
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#3
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Oceania's gamble pays off
Paul,
This is the second thread in which you have made it a point to tell us that Joe Watters called you personally to ask you to join him and the rest of the "cruising elite" on the Oceania's Christmas cruise. And you had the gall to comment that I was condescending when I mentioned that I had been on 13 Crystal crruises. You hypocrite!! Are you now a tout for Oceania? |
#4
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Oceania's gamble pays off
"Paul" wrote in
: No surprisingly, Oceania pretty much delivered as Joe said they would. While not a perfect cruise by any means, most aboard agreed that, for a line that's only 6 months old, the cruise was indeed impressive. The line shows a lot of promise and has the potential to become a player in the small, but elite, ultra-luxury cruising category. I have clients who have sailed on the Regatta, they enjoyed their cruise and certianly feel that they got full value for their dollars spent. They did not have an elite ultra luxury cruise category experience, however, as such is reserved for the next higher class, where everything is included and where nothing is left for the nickel and dime approach to accounting. On Regatta one still pays for soft drinks as well as liquor. There are few inclusions that wouldn't be inclusions on mass market lines. Yes the quality is higher, but it is rather a step between HAL and Celebrity and Radisson which is itself a small step below Silverseas and Seabourn. Hype like the above does not serve the line well as it raises expectations to an unrealistic level. Oceania does not try to compete with Radisson, Silverseas and Seabourn. It does attempt to reach Crystal. But if there is any doubt check the per diem and note that it is less costly than the above mentioned. A good price in it's own right. |
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Oceania's gamble pays off
In article , Nona M
wrote: On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 23:19:33 -0500, "Paul" wrote: The people Joe invited are a tough, tough crowd. They are the sophisticated season travelers accustomed to the very best. They always stay in the best hotels and dine at the best restaurants. They exceptionally high expectations. They pay for, and expect, exemplary service, the highest quality decor, furnishings, and ambiance, a staff that attends to the smallest details and the very best dining experience possible. When they don't get what they want, they are merciless and do not take prisoners. You won't get a second chance if you don't perform for these people. Average "Betty" speaking here, but wow, your description of these "sophisticated season travelers" sound a bit scary to be around. This is kind of like the same feeling I had when I was in my late teens and going to a what I considered at that time to an expensive restaurant for the first time and feeling a bit uncomfortable (lol - especially since I way paying). Nona I think you have Paul pegged. If you were to be where he is, you would be able to spot him even if you had never met him. He would be the one bitching the loudest about the most trivial things. When he isn't bitching, he will then snidely make sure all around him know that they are not nearly as good as he is. That is his definition of 'sophisticated', most of us would call it snobbish, and the more crude of us would just call it 'asshole'! Lloyd |
#6
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Oceania's gamble pays off
Today, at last, I received a response to the letter that I sent to Joe
Watters some time ago in which I commented on the lack of evening entertainment on the Regatta. I neglected to mention Paul's name so I didn't get a reply from Joe Watters personally. The reply, which came from a lady in Passenger Services said, "Oceania wishes to have more enrichment programs and solo artists, rather then (sic) the Vegas style production shows." Enrichment? Hogwash!! I didn't feel particularly enriched the two nights that they had bingo or the night that they offered Liars' Club, or the night they showed a movie or the night that they had nothing. If they are going for enrichment why didn't they offer an enrichment program every night....or were they really just cutting corners? Or is Oceania's philosophy as Paul observed, in his post about the Christmas cruise, that the sophisticated passengers who will be sailing on Oceania can entertain themselves. (Possibly getting sloshed at one of the bars) Possibly because I'm just a big rube, I just don't get it. |
#7
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Oceania's gamble pays off
On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 23:19:33 -0500, "Paul"
wrote: Joe Watters, the Chairman of Oceania cruises took a gamble over Christmas when he personally organized a holiday cruise on his newly formed Oceania Cruise Line's ship Regatta. Joe, the former head of Princess and Crystal, called in a lot of IOUs and invited the cruising elite to join him and his family for Christmas and New Years on the Regatta. He personally called many of us.. LOL The Not So Fine Art Of Google - Go To Top Of Thread http://makeashorterlink.com/?E29A321E6 |
#8
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Oceania's gamble pays off
I agree with your comments.
Two things would need to be done to bring it close to the ultra-luxury category. 1. Make it all-inclusive (like Seabourn and Silversea) 2. Improve the service Then I think they'd be a solid #3 (above Radisson and Crystal, but below Silversea and Seabourn. I don't count SeaDream or the World as mainstream cruise lines ). However I don't think that is where the line is headed. They are trying to capture the crowd that wants something more than Crystal, but not a boutique ship -- kinda line the old Royal Viking crowd. It's still an uphill battle "jcoulter" wrote in message 6.16... "Paul" wrote in : No surprisingly, Oceania pretty much delivered as Joe said they would. While not a perfect cruise by any means, most aboard agreed that, for a line that's only 6 months old, the cruise was indeed impressive. The line shows a lot of promise and has the potential to become a player in the small, but elite, ultra-luxury cruising category. I have clients who have sailed on the Regatta, they enjoyed their cruise and certianly feel that they got full value for their dollars spent. They did not have an elite ultra luxury cruise category experience, however, as such is reserved for the next higher class, where everything is included and where nothing is left for the nickel and dime approach to accounting. On Regatta one still pays for soft drinks as well as liquor. There are few inclusions that wouldn't be inclusions on mass market lines. Yes the quality is higher, but it is rather a step between HAL and Celebrity and Radisson which is itself a small step below Silverseas and Seabourn. Hype like the above does not serve the line well as it raises expectations to an unrealistic level. Oceania does not try to compete with Radisson, Silverseas and Seabourn. It does attempt to reach Crystal. But if there is any doubt check the per diem and note that it is less costly than the above mentioned. A good price in it's own right. |
#9
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Oceania's gamble pays off
Robert,
You can certainly tell you're a Crystal cruiser -- bitter, whiney, angry and bitching about everything. Kind of like an upscale Holland America passenger. According to you Crystal groupies, no one can do anything right expect Crystal. Whenever a line offers a program in a manner other than the way Crystal does it, you have to find fault. They're "cutting corners". The people that enjoy low-key entertainment are all "getting sloshed at one of the bar". For heavens sake don't ever set foot on Seabourn, Silversea or Windstar. The entertainment on those lines is even less than that provided on Oceania (and the Casinos are much smaller)! Of course we all know that these lines do this merely to cut corners, it has nothing at all to do with the overall cruise experience they are providing or passenger preference. Further, it is obvious that anyone who doesn't want to sit through third rate productions show or see has-been comedians, singers, magicians, jugglers, etc. has to be a drunk right? I mean, why would anyone want to spend an evening engaging in conversation with fellow travelers or watching a first-run movie -- how stupid can that be! Stick with Crystal Bob -- we don't need you. Paul "Robert "Bob" Edwards" wrote in message ... Today, at last, I received a response to the letter that I sent to Joe Watters some time ago in which I commented on the lack of evening entertainment on the Regatta. I neglected to mention Paul's name so I didn't get a reply from Joe Watters personally. The reply, which came from a lady in Passenger Services said, "Oceania wishes to have more enrichment programs and solo artists, rather then (sic) the Vegas style production shows." Enrichment? Hogwash!! I didn't feel particularly enriched the two nights that they had bingo or the night that they offered Liars' Club, or the night they showed a movie or the night that they had nothing. If they are going for enrichment why didn't they offer an enrichment program every night....or were they really just cutting corners? Or is Oceania's philosophy as Paul observed, in his post about the Christmas cruise, that the sophisticated passengers who will be sailing on Oceania can entertain themselves. (Possibly getting sloshed at one of the bars) Possibly because I'm just a big rube, I just don't get it. |
#10
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Oceania's gamble pays off
Paul,
Spare me the invectives. You said, "WE don't need you"??? Just confirms that you're just pimping for Oceania. Let me cite another area in which Oceania doesn't compare to true luxury lines. Did you ever try to arrange for a special entree such as lobster or a special desert like Salzburger Nockeral on Oceania? We've received such special items without a blink of an eye on Seabourn, Cunard and Crystal. On Crystal I just happened to mention to a waiter in the Lido a special pastry I enjoy in the morning and within minutes the pastry chef was at my table asking for more specifics. From then on that pastry was available every morning. I just didn't see any indication that that level of attention to individual's preferences would be available on Oceania. I will repeat for the last time, Oceania is a good product for the money but it does not approach the level of a luxury line. There's no point in us discussing the matter further because I have my opinion and you have your agenda and never the twain shall meet. |
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