Growth of Cruise Industry

In article , ando says...


(Benjamin Smith) wrote:

Anyone else turned off by the growth of the cruise industry? I was
quite excited by the newbuilds and growth of the industry in the mid
to late 1990s, but I'm not into most of the newbuilds, since around
the turn of the century. I'm not into the figures about the growing
industry, the oversaturation of ships at ports, the tacky tourist
feel that's becoming part of Alaska's ports. I feel that a once
special vacation has turned not only ordinary, but a bit tacky.

I'm not trying to be contrarian, I just believe that often too much of
a good thing is not a good thing.

Yes, I am very turned off by all of what you have mentioned, and because the
experience, while still often enjoyable, is rarely unique. It is so boring
to
see all the art auctions on every ship, for example. (When did those
auctions
start, by the way? We cruised a lot and then were away from cruising for
some
years and the next time we cruised, the art auctions were everywhere.)

There is nothing wrong with being a contrarian. It beats hearing a constant
chorus of "me too, me too, me tooooooo."


When I first started cruising in the 1960s, each ship had its own personality.
When you sailed on a German ship, French ship, English ship..., it was like
being in that country. The same thing has happened to cruise ships that has
happened to retail stores and chain restaurants. They are the same no matter
where you go. A mall in Florida is much like a mall in Missouri.

The Luxury lines (SilverSeas, Seabourn, Radisson Seven Seas, Cyrstal) are
bringing their price levels down in an attempt to attract those (possibly
like you) who are no longer happy on the mass market lines, and who are
willing to go up to a new price point to find the cruise experience they're
looking for.


If you don't like what's happened to the cruise lines you used to enjoy,
that's understandable... but maybe that simply means it's time to try some
lines you may not have considered sailing before.


That is why I have moved from HAL and Princess to Crystal. I plan to try
Silver Seas. Adjusted for inflation, the price of the luxury lines is often
less than what I paid for mass market lines in the 1980s.

And yet the stockholders of the two major players, Carnival and Royal
Caribbean, have done extremely well in spite of all of the builds and price
cutting.

Over the past 52 weeks CCL stock has gone from $31 a share to $47, and RCL
has done even better, rising from $22 a share to $47.
--
DG in Cherry Hill, NJ



"StephenM" wrote in message
news:bXnEc.944044$oR5.667116@pd7tw3no...
Kuki,

I think you are right on the mark with this assessment. The major cruise
lines are all competing at a lower cost level (with more push for on-board
revenue).

However, SilverSeas, Seabourn, Radisson Seven Seas, Cyrstal are all
available at about the same real cost as my first Princess cruise in the
1980's.

Stephen


"kuki" wrote in message
news:2fmEc.943148$oR5.231751@pd7tw3no...

The Luxury lines (SilverSeas, Seabourn, Radisson Seven Seas, Cyrstal)
are
bringing their price levels down in an attempt to attract those
(possibly
like you) who are no longer happy on the mass market lines, and who are
willing to go up to a new price point to find the cruise experience
they're
looking for.

Take the value of the $ you were paying for a cruise in the late 80s and
early 90s, convert it to today's dollar; add in the $ value of the cost
of
gratuities, alcohol etc which are included in the luxury line cost...
add
perhaps $300 - 500 /person... and you can sail on one of the luxury
lines,
from 150 - 700 passengers, top quality food & service, and ports many of
the
large ships can't visit.

Regards,
Kuki
Features Editor
http://cruisemates.com
Internet Cruise Magazine
Fun and Friendship= http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/CMcruise

Cruise Crazy wrote:


I enjoy the good changes and ignore those I don't like as much as
possible.

~~DORIS~~ call me Pollyanna

Good attitude, Doris.

Howie

Surfer E2468 wrote:

changed,in cruising not for the better,and the younger generation has no
respect for themselves,or their elders,not all but a larger % of them.
Surfer e2468

You've painted a whole generation with a pretty broad brush, here. Can
you be more specific about this? What would cause you to say that an
individual has no respect for him/herself, no less a whole generation of
individuals? And what do you mean about not having respect for their
elders? Please be specific, here. Thank you.

Howie

Dick, don't forget that 52 wks ago people were still recovering from the
terrorist fears and coming out of a recession. Today people are much more
comfortable traveling and have the financial means to do so. The share price a
yr ago was effected by those factors as well as the war fears.

"Dick Goldhaber" wrote in message ...
And yet the stockholders of the two major players, Carnival and Royal
Caribbean, have done extremely well in spite of all of the builds and price
cutting.

Over the past 52 weeks CCL stock has gone from $31 a share to $47, and RCL
has done even better, rising from $22 a share to $47.
--

Is being primarily geared to stockholder value really what fuels the
nature of products in producing a homogeny of products and values?

Seems to be what it all boils down to.

Ben S.


DG in Cherry Hill, NJ



"StephenM" wrote in message
news:bXnEc.944044$oR5.667116@pd7tw3no...
Kuki,

I think you are right on the mark with this assessment. The major cruise
lines are all competing at a lower cost level (with more push for on-board
revenue).

However, SilverSeas, Seabourn, Radisson Seven Seas, Cyrstal are all
available at about the same real cost as my first Princess cruise in the
1980's.

Stephen


"kuki" wrote in message
news:2fmEc.943148$oR5.231751@pd7tw3no...

The Luxury lines (SilverSeas, Seabourn, Radisson Seven Seas, Cyrstal)
are
bringing their price levels down in an attempt to attract those
(possibly
like you) who are no longer happy on the mass market lines, and who are
willing to go up to a new price point to find the cruise experience
they're
looking for.

Take the value of the $ you were paying for a cruise in the late 80s and
early 90s, convert it to today's dollar; add in the $ value of the cost
of
gratuities, alcohol etc which are included in the luxury line cost...
add
perhaps $300 - 500 /person... and you can sail on one of the luxury
lines,
from 150 - 700 passengers, top quality food & service, and ports many of
the
large ships can't visit.

Regards,
Kuki
Features Editor
http://cruisemates.com
Internet Cruise Magazine
Fun and Friendship= http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/CMcruise

Odysseus wrote in message news:SbpEc.1951$7t3.1739@attbi_s51...
The Luxury lines (SilverSeas, Seabourn, Radisson Seven Seas, Cyrstal) are
bringing their price levels down in an attempt to attract those (possibly
like you) who are no longer happy on the mass market lines, and who are
willing to go up to a new price point to find the cruise experience they're
looking for.


If you don't like what's happened to the cruise lines you used to enjoy,
that's understandable... but maybe that simply means it's time to try some
lines you may not have considered sailing before.


That is why I have moved from HAL and Princess to Crystal. I plan to try
Silver Seas. Adjusted for inflation, the price of the luxury lines is often
less than what I paid for mass market lines in the 1980s.

My position is not a personal one or a mass market vs. luxury one. It
is more of recognizing oversaturation. The port situation will be what
it will be and the ports, reacting to the loads of people coming off
of ships, will change their character. It's in line with things like
--too many "reality" shows: at one point there were too many talk
shows. Talk shows have faded out. At one point too many game shows
modeled on "Who wants to be a Millionare" were broadcasted. To top the
model shows, the subsequent shows became more sensational, flashy,
and ultimately, tacky. There is a point where oversaturation is
recognized and rejected, or simply goes out of fashion, and then
people's interest go elsewhere. If it doesn't go out of fashion it
then has a danger of becoming a stagnant, run-of-the-mill entity
losing its vibrancy. Growing in size, but not necessarily scope.

Some ports resemble picnic areas where bus loads of people get out to
go to campgrounds. That's where I'm going when I say cruising is
becoming tacky. The nature of ports, the nature of travel, all of
this will take on a certain amount of volume characteristics. Doesn't
matter whether you get out of a luxury ship, premium ship, or
mainstream ship.

There is a principle being missed here. Some measure of exclusivity,
not necessarily priced-based but volume-based, can be a most desired
quality, and one that makes a product or lifestyle stand out from
others. I fully realize it may not be the strongest money-making
business model.

Ben S.

(Cruise Crazy) wrote in message ...
Hi Ben,
Cruises aren't the only industry suffering from 'Too Much'. Lots of
exclusive resorts have gone the same way. Restaurants, too. Once a good
thing becomes affordable for many, the industry will cater to the many.
It's inevitable.

Exactly, the true nature of "industry".



You need not feel like a snob. Your taste just doesn't
match up with the masses. I also think society as a whole has changed a
great deal. I am 76 and have seen manners change drastically since I was
a youngster. Casual is the word of the day. In dress, speech and
manners. I don't know how old you are, but probably old enough to
rmember a more polite society.


Somewhat, I grew up in the 60s and 70s. I think "casual" should have limits.

I enjoy the good changes and ignore those I don't like as much as
possible.


As possible.


Ben S.

~~DORIS~~ call me Pollyanna

Our first cruise was in 1995 so we are rookies. But we have seen lots of
change. The ships are bigger with more passengers. It must cost less per
passenger to haul more people. The saddest thing to me is the desire to be
casual. There was a lengthy discussion here the other day about someone who
did not want to pack a jacket. Dressing up is part of the fun and excitement
on a cruise. I remember when they would request that on formal nights,
everyone remain formal throughout the ship for the entire evening. Now
people get into their casual clothes right after dinner or they go to the
buffet dressed like beach bums. I call it the dumbing down of cruising. But
we are still hooked.
Don



"Benjamin Smith" wrote in message
om...
Anyone else turned off by the growth of the cruise industry? I was
quite excited by the newbuilds and growth of the industry in the mid
to late 1990s, but I'm not into most of the newbuilds, since around
the turn of the century. I'm not into the figures about the growing
industry, the oversaturation of ships at ports, the tacky tourist
feel that's becoming part of Alaska's ports. I feel that a once
special vacation has turned not only ordinary, but a bit tacky.

I'm not trying to be contrarian, I just believe that often too much of
a good thing is not a good thing.

"No one goes there anymore, it's too crowded." ---Yogi Berra

Ben S.