The Oasis has the "WOW:

Kurt

Yes this was a sailing of less than full capacity, but they handled
about 3,000 pax in a better and quicker manner than I've ever seen
before.

The big question is whether they will have the hundreds of staff at the
terminal on normal revenue sailings. It does take lots of people who
know what they are doing to turn this big baby around in a few hours.

While other cruise lines use all part time retired people at the port
who are nice and ell meaning but don't know too much and fearful of
loosing this gig, Most Royal Caribbean people at the terminal appeared
to have
their act together.

If the revenue made on this usually thrifty group of TA's, press, and
most traveled C & A members is any indication of the future with less
traveled passengers, The Oasis will break all records for on board
revenue.

Those $28 Oasis and on board venue named T shirts were selling like hot
cakes.

The Oasis appears to be the stimulus of a rising tide of cruise interest
that will lift all ships.

Call it a shopping mall, a theme park, a resort
A convention center. Yes it's all of these things and lots more.

Is it for everyone?

I hope not, but count me in!

Gadget

On Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:12:26 -0500, "Tom K"
wrote:

Huh?

That doesn't make any sense.

Hi Tom,

I am sorry for the confusion that my typo caused. They, of course,
said they would restrict bookings on the first few revenue cruises.
--
Ray Goldenberg 800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
Lighthouse Travel http://www.lighthousetravel.com
Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lighthousetravl
Follow us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ray.goldenberg

In article ,
Ray Goldenberg wrote:

On Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:12:26 -0500, "Tom K"
wrote:

Huh?

That doesn't make any sense.

Hi Tom,

I am sorry for the confusion that my typo caused. They, of course,
said they would restrict bookings on the first few revenue cruises.
--

S, I have been hearing some things that there is still
availability on the first couple of rev. cruises. Does that mean (1).
someone is misinterpreting the planned open rooms as empty rooms or (2)
they are having trouble selling out even the restricted cruises or (3).
I misunderstood something along the way?

--
To find that place where the rats don't race
and the phones don't ring at all.
If once, you've slept on an island.
Scott Kirby "If once you've slept on an island"

On 11/30/09 11:43 AM, in article
, "Kurt
Ullman" wrote:

In article ,
Ray Goldenberg wrote:

On Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:12:26 -0500, "Tom K"
wrote:

Huh?

That doesn't make any sense.

Hi Tom,

I am sorry for the confusion that my typo caused. They, of course,
said they would restrict bookings on the first few revenue cruises.
--

S, I have been hearing some things that there is still
availability on the first couple of rev. cruises. Does that mean (1).
someone is misinterpreting the planned open rooms as empty rooms or (2)
they are having trouble selling out even the restricted cruises or (3).
I misunderstood something along the way?

Publicly RCI CEO Goldstein has said:

"There has been some speculation regarding Oasis of the Seas short-term
booking position. It has always been our intention to carefully ratchet
up her load factor as we acclimate to delivering the wow on such an
unprecedented ship. We are confident about Oasis of the Seas value
proposition at the premium she is commanding and we are not utilizing
the discounting techniques that are apparent across much of the cruise
space."

That is, of course, not the same thing as "restricting". RCI is just not
discounting, just like Rolls-Royce or Apple doesn't discount their products.
You can buy cabins on each cruise through 2010, no cruise is sold out, but
you will pay a higher daily rate than the rate on other eastern Caribbean
cruises.

In article ,
peter wrote:

On 11/30/09 11:43 AM, in article
, "Kurt
Ullman" wrote:

In article ,
Ray Goldenberg wrote:

On Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:12:26 -0500, "Tom K"
wrote:

Huh?

That doesn't make any sense.

Hi Tom,

I am sorry for the confusion that my typo caused. They, of course,
said they would restrict bookings on the first few revenue cruises.
--

S, I have been hearing some things that there is still
availability on the first couple of rev. cruises. Does that mean (1).
someone is misinterpreting the planned open rooms as empty rooms or (2)
they are having trouble selling out even the restricted cruises or (3).
I misunderstood something along the way?

Publicly RCI CEO Goldstein has said:

"There has been some speculation regarding Oasis of the Seas short-term
booking position. It has always been our intention to carefully ratchet
up her load factor as we acclimate to delivering the wow on such an
unprecedented ship. We are confident about Oasis of the Seas value
proposition at the premium she is commanding and we are not utilizing
the discounting techniques that are apparent across much of the cruise
space."

Which doesn't really answer the question of whether they have
been able to sell out what ever inventory is available. Has any other
first run ship recently (say the Solstice or other newbies) not sold out
the first full cruise?



That is, of course, not the same thing as "restricting". RCI is just not
discounting, just like Rolls-Royce or Apple doesn't discount their products.
You can buy cabins on each cruise through 2010, no cruise is sold out, but
you will pay a higher daily rate than the rate on other eastern Caribbean
cruises.

I would say they are restricting the number of cabins
available as they ratchet up. Tomato, Tomahto.

--
To find that place where the rats don't race
and the phones don't ring at all.
If once, you've slept on an island.
Scott Kirby "If once you've slept on an island"

Kurt Ullman wrote:

S, I have been hearing some things that there is still
availability on the first couple of rev. cruises. Does that mean (1).
someone is misinterpreting the planned open rooms as empty rooms or (2)
they are having trouble selling out even the restricted cruises or (3).
I misunderstood something along the way?
Publicly RCI CEO Goldstein has said:

"There has been some speculation regarding Oasis of the Seas short-term
booking position. It has always been our intention to carefully ratchet
up her load factor as we acclimate to delivering the wow on such an
unprecedented ship. We are confident about Oasis of the Seas value
proposition at the premium she is commanding and we are not utilizing
the discounting techniques that are apparent across much of the cruise
space."

Which doesn't really answer the question of whether they have
been able to sell out what ever inventory is available. Has any other
first run ship recently (say the Solstice or other newbies) not sold out
the first full cruise?


The only way you are going to know that is if someone at RCL says
something like "We are going to run 85% occupancy for the first two
sailings, then 90% for the next two, then 95% for the next two and then
100%.

No one at Royal Caribbean is going to tell you those numbers.... and
frankly, what does it matter? They built a ship, they have a marketing
plan that 1) involves ramping up capacity and 2) tries to avoid discounting.

So far, they seem to be doing both, but it is impossible for people
outside RCL to know exactly what their goals are and if they are
achieving them.

The bottom line is.... the bottom line. They will do whatever they can
to sell this ship profitably in the long run. So far, that seems to
mean that they are willing to take short term lower occupancy rates to
keep fares higher. That is also happening during a time when they are
ramping occupancy levels up. With both things happening at once, it is
hard for people outside RCL to know which factor is more important.

--

George Leppla

Countryside Travel http://www.CruiseMaster.com
Blog http://cruisemaster.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CruiseMaster

In article , George Leppla
wrote:

No one at Royal Caribbean is going to tell you those numbers.... and
frankly, what does it matter? They built a ship, they have a marketing
plan that 1) involves ramping up capacity and 2) tries to avoid discounting.

And part of that marketing plan is to get Travel Agents and people like
Gadget onboard the free pre-inaugurals cruises who will come back
positive about the ship and sell the cabins. I think the pre-inaugurals
are good marketing.

As far as avoiding discounting I think the price has to come down. I
want to sail on Oasis but I am going to wait until the price comes
down. It is too high for what you get. I understand the food was not
that good and there were lines at some venues to get in.

From what I have heard about the bookings so far Royal a scuttle I have
heard is that Oasis has not attracted new customers. People have booked
Oasis instead of Freedom class or Solstice. Bookings on those have gone
down.

--
Charles

On 11/30/09 2:56 PM, in article
, "Charles"
wrote:



As far as avoiding discounting I think the price has to come down.

As far as avoiding discounting, you want them to give you a discount. You
don't say.

I
want to sail on Oasis but I am going to wait until the price comes
down.

And then, when you're ready to book .... all cabins are sold out. You've
been had. A victim of yield management. Another reason to complain. Life
doesn't treat you right, does it?


It is too high for what you get.

You have no way of knowing.
I understand the food was not
that good
But then again, you never like any ship's food.


and there were lines at some venues to get in.

That's because people liked the food so much.

From what I have heard about the bookings so far Royal a scuttle I have
heard is that Oasis has not attracted new customers. People have booked
Oasis instead of Freedom class or Solstice. Bookings on those have gone
down.
All bookings have come down, but sure, some regular cruisers can't be on two
ships at the same time.

"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message
...
In article ,
peter wrote:

On 11/30/09 11:43 AM, in article
, "Kurt
Ullman" wrote:

In article ,
Ray Goldenberg wrote:

On Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:12:26 -0500, "Tom K"
wrote:

Huh?

That doesn't make any sense.

Hi Tom,

I am sorry for the confusion that my typo caused. They, of course,
said they would restrict bookings on the first few revenue cruises.
--

S, I have been hearing some things that there is still
availability on the first couple of rev. cruises. Does that mean (1).
someone is misinterpreting the planned open rooms as empty rooms or (2)
they are having trouble selling out even the restricted cruises or (3).
I misunderstood something along the way?

Publicly RCI CEO Goldstein has said:

"There has been some speculation regarding Oasis of the Seas short-term
booking position. It has always been our intention to carefully ratchet
up her load factor as we acclimate to delivering the wow on such an
unprecedented ship. We are confident about Oasis of the Seas value
proposition at the premium she is commanding and we are not utilizing
the discounting techniques that are apparent across much of the cruise
space."

Which doesn't really answer the question of whether they have
been able to sell out what ever inventory is available. Has any other
first run ship recently (say the Solstice or other newbies) not sold out
the first full cruise?



That is, of course, not the same thing as "restricting". RCI is just not
discounting, just like Rolls-Royce or Apple doesn't discount their
products.
You can buy cabins on each cruise through 2010, no cruise is sold out,
but
you will pay a higher daily rate than the rate on other eastern Caribbean
cruises.

I would say they are restricting the number of cabins
available as they ratchet up. Tomato, Tomahto.
SNIP

Seems pretty obvious they're just adjusting the spin so they will look good
whatever happens. Actually, they should be pleased from the preponderance
of good comments from our regulars who were impressed with the test cruise.

Harry Cooper

In article , peter
jerked off:

And then, when you're ready to book .... all cabins are sold out. You've
been had. A victim of yield management. Another reason to complain. Life
doesn't treat you right, does it?

Life treats me pretty good. I have used almost all my vacation time on
cruises this year, 22 days so far this year with another 7 days coming
next week. Never had a problem with cabins being sold out. You are a
know it all who knows nothing.

But then again, you never like any ship's food.

I have liked the food on most ships. Out of 32 cruises there were only
two where the food was not very good. I am easy to please. But if it is
bad I am going to tell, unlike you "positive thinkers".


All bookings have come down, but sure, some regular cruisers can't be
on two ships at the same time.

I know this is hard to comprehend from a "positive thinker" like you
but they need to attract new customers, either first timers, or from
other cruise lines, not cannibalize bookings from other ships of their
fleet.

--
Charles