If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Blech! Nattering Nabobs of Negativity! :+)
"Charles" wrote in message d... : In article , Ray Goldenberg : wrote: : : Some, but fortunately not most, on this news group want to be : nattering nabobs of negativity. Fortunately the real world of : cruising does not agree. As an example, Oceania Cruises floated out : its first newbuild, Marina, at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente shipyard : this morning then surprised attendees by also cutting steel for a : second ship. The newbuild, Riviera, is planned for April 2012 : delivery. This is a very exciting time for all of us that believe in : the cruise industry. : : Of course you believe in the cruise industry. That is your job! I don't : blame you for being an optimist, but naturally your perspective and : interests is different than that of cruise consumers. : : I wish all was roses, employment was going up and people could pay : their mortgages. It is not a matter of being negative. Real statistics : show that the economy is still a mess. I hope things are turning around : and that the middle class can take cruises and pay higher fares. But : the economic figures don't show it. At least not yet. : : As far as Carnival raising prices. That does not prove anything. First : we will have to see if the increases hold. Second even if the increase : holds all that might represent is that prices went down too far. If as : George say it is a 5% increase then I would not be so quick to : celebrate. That would be a small adjustment. : : The Oceania ships were ordered long ago. These are small ships for a : niche cruise line. That is exciting for that niche and the small group : of consumers who book on small upscale cruise lines. Oceania is a small : player in the cruise industry. : : -- : Charles Well stated, Charles. My husband has been employed in the state government sector of unemployment compensation for 30 years. It has been an absolute madhouse at work since Fall 2009, when earnings quarters changed. There had been an initiative by Mr Obama to extend benefit weeks with, yet, another program. Currently, there are up to 81 weeks of unemployment in PA, dependent upon eligibility in programs which are in place for specific claimants. I am not saying each claimant has the opportunity to extend their UC weeks to 81 weeks. I'm saying, depending upon the nature, the field of industry that tanked, there are programs that can pay ~as much as~ up to 81 weeks unemployment. 81 weeks! ...that is a year and a half of UC benefits. Building trades, farming, transportation, many manufacturing industries, all big businesses, faltered or completely closed their doors. It feels like the storyline of "The Grapes of Wrath" is being lived out in all points America. However, this time, there is no booming economy in any US geographical area. Hunkering down and bearing with it is the norm. In recent years, when considering a cruise vacation, it has been bittersweet. The question, "How can you afford to take a vacation?" escapes their lips. We cruise on the cheap. To us, "the real world of cruising" is the more dominant cruise lines. For some, flaunting a vacation while un- and under-employed friends struggle to keep their jobs to pay their mortgage seems inconsiderate. What could be a time to share great memories becomes muted. We go away, we come back, refreshed. My husband and I have both experienced times of unemployment in our careers. We are fortunate to travel today. We understand that. Oceania and other niche lines are on our "dream list". For those who can market and to those who may afford higher-end cruise lines, more power to ya. I don't feel we have any less an enjoyable time on a different line. So, for travel agents who are doing well promoting these markets, I give ya props. If the price point was set too low to keep the cabins filled, the current economy may delay an actual recovery. Western economies are in the tank, Eastern markets are faring better. The lines are moving ships to markets that are doing better than us. My own employment status had changed since becoming physically unable to perform my old job (nursing). At present, I am unemployed until I get medical clearance for a job. I try to counterbalance this quandary by volunteering in church projects for the needy and at the local food bank. Sometimes, I feel the "job" I do simply isn't enough. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Blech! Nattering Nabobs of Negativity! :+)
*muz* wrote:
So, for travel agents who are doing well promoting these markets, I give ya props. Do you honestly think the 2 travel agents who have been touting the cruise industry in an upswing would tell you if they are doing badly? Seriously? We won't know that Ray or George have gone under until well after the event happens, if ever. But for either to be suggesting that they're doing better than they ever did before in the face of current market, employment and housing conditions flies in the face of reality. It would be the same as having a real estate agent tell you they are doing fabulously. Or a head hunter. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Blech! Nattering Nabobs of Negativity! :+)
Borked Psuedo Mailed wrote:
Do you honestly think the 2 travel agents who have been touting the cruise industry in an upswing would tell you if they are doing badly? Seriously? We won't know that Ray or George have gone under until well after the event happens, if ever. But for either to be suggesting that they're doing better than they ever did before in the face of current market, employment and housing conditions flies in the face of reality. It would be the same as having a real estate agent tell you they are doing fabulously. Or a head hunter. I think they may actually be telling the truth! My wife has worked in the airline industry for the last ten years and the last nine months have been some of the busiest she has ever experienced. There are TONS of people that are traveling BECAUSE of the economy. It has been frustrating for both the customers and the agents since economy space just doesn't exist when they call in. And it is amazing how many people will pop for first class when economy isn't available. There ARE a ton of people out of work. But a big percentage of those were working folks that usually don't make up a big part of the travel biz anyway. A BIG chunk of casual to hard core travelers are either well off or retired and are mostly unaffected by the economy. At least that is what it seems like to me. -- Ray ======================= www.compressorstuff.com |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Blech! Nattering Nabobs of Negativity! :+)
On 2/27/10 10:38 PM, RayC wrote:
Borked Psuedo Mailed wrote: Do you honestly think the 2 travel agents who have been touting the cruise industry in an upswing would tell you if they are doing badly? Seriously? We won't know that Ray or George have gone under until well after the event happens, if ever. But for either to be suggesting that they're doing better than they ever did before in the face of current market, employment and housing conditions flies in the face of reality. It would be the same as having a real estate agent tell you they are doing fabulously. Or a head hunter. I think they may actually be telling the truth! My wife has worked in the airline industry for the last ten years and the last nine months have been some of the busiest she has ever experienced. There are TONS of people that are traveling BECAUSE of the economy. It has been frustrating for both the customers and the agents since economy space just doesn't exist when they call in. And it is amazing how many people will pop for first class when economy isn't available. There ARE a ton of people out of work. But a big percentage of those were working folks that usually don't make up a big part of the travel biz anyway. A BIG chunk of casual to hard core travelers are either well off or retired and are mostly unaffected by the economy. At least that is what it seems like to me. They said the airlines have idled a ton of planes. Cruise lines have much more expensive hardware so they never want their ships to be idle. So to keep demand high (and prices up), the airlines can restrict demand. The other thing with air is that a HUGE piece of the cost (especially for international travel) is security and 911 taxes. I saw a cost for a ticket from NYC to London, and over half the cost was Heathrow taxes. So even if airlines cut air tickets, the tax portion can't be cut. --Tom |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Negativity | peter | Cruises | 2 | February 28th, 2010 09:00 PM |
Blech! Nattering Nabobs of Negativity! :+) | Tom K | Cruises | 4 | February 28th, 2010 05:55 PM |
Blech! Nattering Nabobs of Negativity! :+) | Charles[_1_] | Cruises | 4 | February 28th, 2010 01:29 AM |
Blech! Nattering Nabobs of Negativity! :+) | Island Grampa | Cruises | 1 | February 27th, 2010 03:04 PM |
The Evleths: American Expats and champions of French negativity. | PJ O'Donovan | Europe | 23 | July 30th, 2005 03:53 AM |