Explorer leaving NJ?

I read somewhere on these boards that the Explorer of the Seas would not be sailing out of Bayonne after April 2013. Is RCCL replacing it with another ship? Is EoS going in for refurb? With the Celebrity Silhouette moving down to Ft. Lauderdale to winter cruise, what's left out of Bayonne?:eek:

I'm just getting into this cruising out of NJ thing so I don't have to fly. This is a bummer.:(

I read somewhere on these boards that the Explorer of the Seas would not be sailing out of Bayonne after April 2013. Is RCCL replacing it with another ship? Is EoS going in for refurb? With the Celebrity Silhouette moving down to Ft. Lauderdale to winter cruise, what's left out of Bayonne?:eek:

I'm just getting into this cruising out of NJ thing so I don't have to fly. This is a bummer.:(

As long as it is not an official press release from Royal Caribbean you will need to take it with a grain of salt!!

Just a rumor. No one knows for sure what's going to happen. That comes around here a lot; people saying that a Freedom Class is coming up to Bayonne. No one can prove anything though. No need to fret!

Phew!!!!! Thanks:D

Right now there are no plans to replace/remove Explorer out of Bayonne

Once they open bookings past April of 2013 we will all know....

the discussion of replacing EX in Cape Liberty has been going on for years....I would venture a guess that RCI will leave SOMETHING up here in NJ as NCL is going to homeport whatever their new ship is called in NYC....

again, the only person who knows for sure is, well.....who knows!!;):p (the person they lock into a room until they have set up all the ship deployments?:D)

Wife and daughter went to the Portofino lunch excursion and she sat with a certain officer who let's say knew what was going on, as of Jan there was a study to see would if benefit to bring a freedom class ship into bayonne.

So the answer is actually wait and see, be on it this Sunday and will try and talk to that person and see if/what decision has been made

Thanks for the feedback. Considering booking March 15, 2013.

I read somewhere on these boards that the Explorer of the Seas would not be sailing out of Bayonne after April 2013. Is RCCL replacing it with another ship? Is EoS going in for refurb? With the Celebrity Silhouette moving down to Ft. Lauderdale to winter cruise, what's left out of Bayonne?:eek:

I'm just getting into this cruising out of NJ thing so I don't have to fly. This is a bummer.:(

Same rumor was going on a yr ago that the Explorer would be replaced with the Liberty. That was from the captain and the cruise director a week before new itineraries were announced last spring.

See where that went.

We recently were on the Allure and this topic came up during one of those ask the Captain sessions and they said that the lease (for the dock) is good through April 2013. We just got off the Explorer on this past Thursday, and several times we heard that the investment group that purchased the land that the dock is located on does not know what they want to do with the land, but they do not anticipate renewing the lease.

We take the Explorer several times a year and on one of those ask the captain sessions last year they said that she sails full, but they do not make money. Many seasoned cruisers who do not do many excursions, buy pictures, etc. Also in my unscientific review, the casino is usually slow on most of my Explorer cruises (another revenue source). Also, many D plus members so the CL is always packed with people drinking free.

I also wish they would do something, but from a business decision, why would a company bring a bigger ship to a port were the profit is minimal.

 

We take the Explorer several times a year and on one of those ask the captain sessions last year they said that she sails full, but they do not make money.

How can any busines that has a service or product that sells out 100% of the time not make money?:confused:

Makes no sense.

We recently were on the Allure and this topic came up during one of those ask the Captain sessions and they said that the lease (for the dock) is good through April 2013. We just got off the Explorer on this past Thursday, and several times we heard that the investment group that purchased the land that the dock is located on does not know what they want to do with the land, but they do not anticipate renewing the lease.

 

We take the Explorer several times a year and on one of those ask the captain sessions last year they said that she sails full, but they do not make money. Many seasoned cruisers who do not do many excursions, buy pictures, etc. Also in my unscientific review, the casino is usually slow on most of my Explorer cruises (another revenue source). Also, many D plus members so the CL is always packed with people drinking free.

 

I also wish they would do something, but from a business decision, why would a company bring a bigger ship to a port were the profit is minimal.

You must have misheard. NO way the captain would tell an audience, "They do not make money"

Usually a cruise line get her profit from onboard revenue! what they sell onboard, casino, excursions etc. I have read more than once that the cost of the ticket is for the costs of the cruise. Food, fuel (1 gallon per second)etc. On the inaugural of the Ruby Princess they told us that it costs more or less half a million dolllar per week in fuel! and that was back in 2008.

We recently were on the Allure and this topic came up during one of those ask the Captain sessions and they said that the lease (for the dock) is good through April 2013. We just got off the Explorer on this past Thursday, and several times we heard that the investment group that purchased the land that the dock is located on does not know what they want to do with the land, but they do not anticipate renewing the lease.

 

We take the Explorer several times a year and on one of those ask the captain sessions last year they said that she sails full, but they do not make money. Many seasoned cruisers who do not do many excursions, buy pictures, etc. Also in my unscientific review, the casino is usually slow on most of my Explorer cruises (another revenue source). Also, many D plus members so the CL is always packed with people drinking free.

 

I also wish they would do something, but from a business decision, why would a company bring a bigger ship to a port were the profit is minimal.

How can any busines that has a service or product that sells out 100% of the time not make money?:confused:

 

Makes no sense.

I had a conversation with my Royal Caribbean Rep this week. True - ship sails full - however alot of sailings - no $$ made. You would be surprised how many get off w/o a bill. No drinks puchased - no excursions - no casino $ spent etc etc. Now then again, I always get off with a bill ! Hey Im on VACA! Was also told no plans to remove the Explorer.

I'm taking my first cruise on the Explorer in January; besides price, one of the reasons it appealed to me is because I live in Canada and I could get there by plane, train or overnight bus. It left me with a lot of affordable options, which I liked.

Regardless of ship, I hope they keep something there. Also been thinking of trying the new NCL Breakaway since it will be sailing out of New York.

Maybe if they mixed up the ports a bit there might be people willing to go on excursions. We choose to sail out of Bayonne because it's convenient and is cheaper than having to get on a plane and fly somewhere so if they don't give me and others a reason to book excursions it's not going to happen. They also shoot themselves in the foot by not only showing up at San Juan at 4PM in the afternoon, but they do it on a SUNDAY when most shops are closed! Sunday's a bad day in just about every place except maybe, Labadee?

I would also say that most of the people I met have cruised on EOS many times before and they too do it for the same reason.

Few things.....

It was not the Captain that made the statement, it was the hotel director. We travel from Baltimore to the beautiful port of Bayonne (kidding of course) as the fares are usually better than Baltimore and it is a bigger ship with more things to do than what we have. I agree that mixing up the itinerary would be nice and might improve excursions. Another thing that we were told was that they will not be doing anymore Canada/NE cruises next year as they were particularly money losers. I have not checked the schedules to verify.

We recently were on the Allure and this topic came up during one of those ask the Captain sessions and they said that the lease (for the dock) is good through April 2013. We just got off the Explorer on this past Thursday, and several times we heard that the investment group that purchased the land that the dock is located on does not know what they want to do with the land, but they do not anticipate renewing the lease.

 

We take the Explorer several times a year and on one of those ask the captain sessions last year they said that she sails full, but they do not make money. Many seasoned cruisers who do not do many excursions, buy pictures, etc. Also in my unscientific review, the casino is usually slow on most of my Explorer cruises (another revenue source). Also, many D plus members so the CL is always packed with people drinking free.

 

I also wish they would do something, but from a business decision, why would a company bring a bigger ship to a port were the profit is minimal.

The City of Bayonne owns the port and Royal Caribbean's lease runs another 30 years

http://www.bayonnelra.com/pr/newsscript.pl?record=4

Few things.....

 

It was not the Captain that made the statement, it was the hotel director. We travel from Baltimore to the beautiful port of Bayonne (kidding of course) . . .

"Cape Liberty is an integral part of the multi-billion dollar redevelopment of The Peninsula.

In the early stages of a major transformation by the City of Bayonne and the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority, The Peninsula will be home to new residents and businesses that will overlook a neighboring golf course, marina and park.

Cape Liberty...Your Closest Point to Sea." --From cruiseliberty.com

I drove around last week to look at the area and the golf course looks like it's built on a land fill and the parking lot of the new shopping center is filled with seagulls but it's quite the beach scene. The new residences are beautiful and have incredible views of NY harbor. It really isn't as bad as everybody makes it out to be. It's New Jersey, the Garden State!!!!

I guess time will tell. RCCL has on obligation (like any public corporation) to be profitable and I am sure that will guide their decisions.

I guess time will tell. RCCL has on obligation (like any public corporation) to be profitable and I am sure that will guide their decisions.

I believe the port is part of the Bayonne Point district.

http://www.bayonnelra.com/point.htm

The City of Bayonne owns the port and Royal Caribbean's lease runs another 30 years

 

http://www.bayonnelra.com/pr/newsscript.pl?record=4

I also have heard this about a 30 year lease.

With NCL having Breakaway ported in NYC in 2013 - doing Bermuda - I believe you will see Royal doing Bermuda as well. Probably Explorer

We recently were on the Allure and this topic came up during one of those ask the Captain sessions and they said that the lease (for the dock) is good through April 2013. We just got off the Explorer on this past Thursday, and several times we heard that the investment group that purchased the land that the dock is located on does not know what they want to do with the land, but they do not anticipate renewing the lease.

 

We take the Explorer several times a year and on one of those ask the captain sessions last year they said that she sails full, but they do not make money. Many seasoned cruisers who do not do many excursions, buy pictures, etc. Also in my unscientific review, the casino is usually slow on most of my Explorer cruises (another revenue source). Also, many D plus members so the CL is always packed with people drinking free.

 

I also wish they would do something, but from a business decision, why would a company bring a bigger ship to a port were the profit is minimal.

Returned from the 11/20 sailing and the Capt. pretty much said the same thing about the investment group that owns the land and that they have not made any decisions (at least publicly) of what their intentions are. Considering that NJ Transit has a new railroad station there and there are new condos very near the port with lots of land still vacant, a school, an expanded shopping mall, chances are there is more profit to be made by building more residents.

The only thing that the Capt. did say for certain is that unless some dregging is done, neither the Oasis or the Allure can sail under the V. Bridge so don't look for them to come to NJ!

Also, the Capt. said that no decision has been made as yet on the EOS after 2013. Seems only time, the economy and the financial state of RCL will tell.

Our sailing had a lot more Europeans that previously sailings around this time of the year. RCL loves them over the Americans since they buy more alcohol, pay in Euros!

The shops were hopping towards the end of the sailing especially with such promotions as the "black Friday" specials the day after Thanksgiving, the ever popular $10 items, blown glass figurines.

The casino came out ahead on our sailing since they weren't paying out big money. Bingo was also popular.

Now it they would just do away with the $3.95 plus 15% gratuity for Ben & Jerry's one scoop of ice cream and replace it with some decent gelato and not charge the 15% gratituity more ice cream would be sold!

Not too many people realized that the good munchies (chocolate, bagged items, etc.) were for sale in the liquor store tucked away in the corner. Poor placement on RCL's part.

Also, no longer are they providing classes on using digital cameras even though they are selling the cameras on board. Classes would encourage more sales if people knew how to operate the cameras.

MARAPRINCE

very interesting thread!

we live in NJ and sail out of NYC/NJ all the time.

Explorer is a great ship, but I can certainly see how these cruises may not be as profitable as there are many seasoned cruises [like us] who have already visited all the stops and know where to go and what to do.

I did just check out the Canada sailings, and it's true! - GASP - no more Canada for Explorer. Truthfully, we did Canada once and I have not had the want to return there. But Bermuda, Caribbean - I want to come back and back and back.

We are booked on Explorer end of 2012 to Caribbean and on brand new NCL Breakaway in 2013 to Bermuda. Can't wait for these vacations.

I read on adam goldsteins blog that the explorer is due to get refurbished in 2013 / maybe that's why there are no itineraries.