Ethanol95

5 hours ago, twangster said:

I think Utopia was destined for China but they are rethinking that based on geopolitical factors. 

 

Royal knows if they send Utopia to Florida that guarantees a certain response.  No matter when they announce such a deployment the market response it all but guaranteed.  Consequently that is there fallback position.  Meanwhile they can wait to see if geopolitics change. 

 

If a non US deployment was the plan there would be no reason not to announce that and commence taking bookings and using that much needed cash infusion.  Icon is selling extremely well.  If Utopia wasn't coming to the US why not announce it and get on with it?

 

A Europe start would have minimal impact to Icon bookings.  A Singapore deployment would have minimal impact to Icon bookings.  They are waiting to see if there is any way to make China work.  Beyond that anything is possible with Florida or Texas being the safety net.    At the moment it's undecided.   Or, they've decided and like Wonder they are scrambling to find a shipyard to modify her once they take delivery.

 

 

 

I'm thinking if it is indeed a Singapore or China deployment, they usually release these itineraries much closer to the sail date, and hence, will be in line with the deployment release culture for the region. Also I have a feeling, they are scrambling to rethink their strategy with Singapore at the moment because Anthem can't fight a mega DCL ship. Anthem seems like a step down from Spectrum so that's an issue.

23 minutes ago, little britain said:

Definitely agree. I felt something was definitely lacking in Wonder, and she felt like a “cheaper” build.   No magnificent stairwell artwork like on Symphony for starters. 

That would have been nice to have had a 'grander' first experience of an O class ship. Wonder was my first and I can say i marvelled like a little kid in a candy store at everything she had to offer. Of course the only thing odd to me was the hanging dragon's in the lift atriums. Sometimes, depending on the angle, they looked like intestines with cones as noses at the end. 

6 hours ago, twangster said:

 

DCL doesn't compete with RCI.  What DCL does has limited or no impact. 

 

Show of hands.  How many gamblers sail DCL?   Wait.   Oh yeah.  Right. 

 

New to cruise who are not Disney fans aren't going to be stolen by DCL in Singapore. 

 

Cruisers who want the Disney experience and have the money for it book DCL. 

That is what I also believe, but at this point in time. Singapore only has Spectrum and Genting Dream. 

If DCL comes, its too big a ship to not take over market share regardless of the different target market. I would say most people who cruise don't only fit one characteristic. IE. are only gamblers. Or only families. etc. 

So i expect to see DCL eat up both the other player's shares. 

3 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

Do you think anthem would be suitable for Singapore?

It’s a bit of a step down from Spectrum and it’s a cool climate ship.

Spectrum is also mostly a cool climate ship. Other than that, it's roughly the same as Spectrum, and I feel like Anthem would do okay for one season without a major refurb to cater to the Chinese speaking guests from Singapore.

With the announcement of Disney homeporting a brand new Disney ship and the largest in the region. Royal is definitely going to lose up by sending Anthem for the coming season, maybe if it's still early they might revise these plans and send Wonder or another O class ship to fight the 208K GT Disney ship.

6 minutes ago, springaussie said:

Thanks

So those port schedules around Oz look right.

Just 2 ships for Australia.

Big question will Anthem go to Alaska 2025? 
 

That's a question for another thread! 😂

4 minutes ago, cruiseboy89130 said:

Thanks! I guess they are still riding on the Icon hype....before they switch to Utopia...

Not really interested in Utopia as I suspect the same low quality as Wonder - but think it might have influence on Anthem which we love....

Icon's inaugural is Jan 2024, few months before Utopia's arrival. 

Why do you think Utopia will influence Anthem? How so?

1 minute ago, cruiseboy89130 said:

what is the current time line for her first month in service?

Royal hasn't confirmed any launch dates yet, only the given time frame of a spring 2024 launch. They should release more info on Utopia very soon, given its now a year away.

1 minute ago, cruiseboy89130 said:

Which is?

Just around a year from now.

1 minute ago, cruiseboy89130 said:

What's the ETA for Utopia?

I don't think the timeline for Utopia's inaugural has been delayed, so as projected currently.

18 minutes ago, springaussie said:

Any updates on Utopia!

 

Last i heard, Utopia will debut in UK when she launches initially, not sure for how long though, taking over Anthem. Plans might or might not have changed.

17 minutes ago, cruiseboy89130 said:

That should be a nice repo from SOU to SIN!

What's SOU?

18 minutes ago, springaussie said:

So Spectrum for Oz? 

Spectrum will go back to China/HK

5 minutes ago, springaussie said:

Anthem could do Tokyo or Hong Kong!

Another possibility is Australia if the Private Island opens late 2024.

 

Heard from my own sources she's confirmed in SG for the 2024/2025 Season

6 hours ago, broadwaybaby123 said:

I'm a Content Creator too and will gladly pose for the camera if I'm ever on a cruise with you.  I'll be on the Summit in October, Venezia in April, and Solstice in October 2024.

Sure of course! Come say hi if you ever see me onboard!

6 hours ago, Fla Mike said:

 

The defense rests...

I mean I don't really need to say anymore. If you still believe the way you do that's your perogative and you're entitled to that. My goal wasn't to change your perspective, it was to educate you that we try to be as considerate as we can to cruise passengers with every opportunity we have. If your mindset is set so far as to be following only one perspective and not being influenced by what others tell you then that's fine. I'm not going to tell you how to think or feel. But in the end, you lose having a great chat to any one of us onboard which may provide invaluable information about your next cruise and that's on you. Happy Sailing 🙂

5 hours ago, Fla Mike said:

 

So if there is no other way, you have no problem disturbing others?

Largely depends on the situation each time and on a case-by-case basis. If it's not time-sensitive then we can always come back and do it another time if there's too many guests. But then that begs the question: we can come back another time of day or when the ship is in port and less crowded, but even if there are still people there, we still have to get footage of those venues etc.  

44 minutes ago, zitsky said:

By sharing your experience do you mean posting the video somewhere or asking people to get out of your way?

I meant sharing our perspective of what we think when we film, all our mannerisms and actions. We as a team also have an image, and disrupting guests from a vacation that they've waited a life time for and paid up is something we of course never want to disturb if there are other ways to achieving our tasks. We are always mindful of what we should and shouldn't do, what is okay and what is less okay. What is invasive and what is acceptable from being just another cruiser on a ship-perspective. 

2 minutes ago, Juni2106 said:

 

It's fine, carry on doing what you do, ignore us grumps

 

as long as you're not all in people's faces or being entitled about it, then it's all good

 

Thank you. 

1 minute ago, Juni2106 said:

 

 

typo is another of those aforementioned words, it is short for typing error, not short for using the wrong word

i was thinking of something else when i wrote it, yes its a misunderstanding. 

1 minute ago, Juni2106 said:

 

In the context of 'media' curating content means gathering stuff from other sources, so I think they might mean creating content, not curating

 

 

Yes had a typo.

6 minutes ago, Mark_K said:

It’s a pretentious way of saying he’ll be filming and editing.

didn't have to label me as pretentious.. guess sharing my experiences with you all is not so valuable after all with that kind of attitude!

I'm part of a content creator and do this exactly for the reasons mentioned above, sharing what cruise ships have to offer and share our passion of cruising to the community. I can say from experience that we don't try to get in the way of others, unless they seem very receptive to wanting to be filmed and join in the fun. Otherwise, most of the times, we will just try to be as discrete as possible for a not very discrete activity. 

We are also nice people, or at least i hope we come across as that XD. 

I'll be curating content on Beyond in June when i'm on her in the Med. I hope the passengers onboard I bump into won't be annoyed whilst filming and taking pictures 😅 

10 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Here's an example of what it looks like:

 

 

How i'm envying your $500 OBC haha

6 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Yes, it provides a running total of how much you have left to spend if you haven't used it all up yet.

That's odd i have nothing showing, thought I had been given $100 for Shareholder benefit 

Does anyone know if you have OBC does it show up in the top right of your account like Royal whilst in the cruise planner page?