All Spinnakers in jeopardy?

[swedish weave]

It sure is, and I find it fascinating to watch all the different changes they try and the response to those changes that we see here on CC. People will go along happily accepting a lot of changes until you hit an area that they have used in the past and suddenly they are up in arms...there was a thread not too long ago about a new 3% fee for taking cah out in the casino and the cry of 'voting with their wallet's was raised over that by some posters, who are casino frequenters, while the majority of the posters here didn't appear to care less. So with the forward lounges those who used them and liked them are upset abpout this while others aren't.

 

I find it interesting that "voting with their wallets" doesn't appear to have much impact on NCL's ability to sell their product. The ships are sailing at capacity (or near capacity) in these times of financial turmoil. Those who don't like the changes and are going to other lines are being replaced by those who accept the changes or haven't experienced the ship previously.

 

Life goes on !!!! I am happy to see NCL making steps to pull themselves out of a financial hole so they will be available for me for future cruises.

[swedish weave]

So presumably, to that conceirge you, as an inside passenger, do look different from one of the high rent pax who he or she would allow into the special areas. I am sure however that the concierge would deny you enterance with a smile. :D

 

The concierge would not have to deny me entrance, because I respect the restricted areas. If invited to go there I would consider it an honor ( and that has happened).

[tallyho8]

The Spinnaker on the Star was always crowded while cruising Alaska on my cruises. It was a great place to see the scenery on a cold day while enjoying your favorite drink. I will miss it. :(

[sunshine 229]

I find it interesting that "voting with their wallets" doesn't appear to have much impact on NCL's ability to sell their product. The ships are sailing at capacity (or near capacity) in these times of financial turmoil. Those who don't like the changes and are going to other lines are being replaced by those who accept the changes or haven't experienced the ship previously.

 

Life goes on !!!! I am happy to see NCL making steps to pull themselves out of a financial hole so they will be available for me for future cruises.

 

I would expect that the cruises would be sailing at near capacity since I am sure that most cruise lines have a model which let's them know what percentage of the ship should be sold at a given time out from the cruise...if they are not at that level they will play with prices, resident specials and deals to move those unsold cabins. Ships sailing at much below capacity are a disaster for a line I'd guess. However sailing full, at greatly reduced prices is not going to be a happy situation for a line either.

I don't follow all the NCL cruises and price changes closely enough to know if they are selling enough cabins at high enough rates or making enough off other profit centers to be in a financially sound situation or not.

I do remember that when NCL launched it's NCL America venture in Hawaii they weren't able to make a profit and did eventually cut back on that whole endeavor,not sure if you would call that pax voting with their wallets not to accept the level of service NCL provided on those cruises or just NCL not doing their financial sums right before starting that endeavor.

[ilovelucy]

Don, I believe that the Star will continue in Alaska, it is only the Mexican Riviera part that has been changed.

I didn't think the Star was going back to the west coast. I could be wrong:confused:

[stegosaurus1]

The Dawn will go in for her Star-ification in May. :(

 

PE

They will lose a lot of cruisers, the experienced ones, if they do this for the fast buck. I for one will not book the Star and I guess I've seen my last Dawn as well. Barb:mad:

[swedish weave]

I am sure if NCL were to build new ships to replace the Star and Dawn they would be built with more family suites. NCL is losing business to other cruise lines because these two ships in their markets don't have as many family suites as other ships. The bottom line is that NCL needs these family suites on these two ships far more than they need a forward observatory...

 

Its that simple and logical... NCL is only attempting to rectify that problem. Unfortunately to do so they have to lose the forward observatory lounge...

 

I would not be surprised to also see the new ships with more singles cabins. They are very well received on the Epic and solo cruisers like the idea of not having to pay double for their cruises. NCL may have discovered a new source of revenue that will attract solo cruisers from the other lines.

[Jerseyboy1]

They will lose a lot of cruisers, the experienced ones, if they do this for the fast buck. I for one will not book the Star and I guess I've seen my last Dawn as well. Barb:mad:

 

I agree....and I loved (past tense) the Dawn.

 

On NCL's website, the Spinnakers is one of the things highlighted in the Dawn slideshow. Mixed messages....??:confused:

[swedish weave]

I am sure if NCL were to build new ships to replace the Star and Dawn they would be built with more family suites. NCL is losing business to other cruise lines because these two ships in their markets don't have as many family suites as other ships. The bottom line is that NCL needs these family suites on these two ships far more than they need a forward observatory...

 

Its that simple and logical... NCL is only attempting to rectify that problem. Unfortunately to do so they have to lose the forward observatory lounge...

 

I also would not be surprised to see more of the solo cabins for singles on the new ships. They are well received on the Epic, and could be a way for NCL to attract solo cruisers from the other lines. Most single cruisers now pay almost double for their cruises and should be very much attracted to cruising without paying the single supplement.

[swedish weave]

I agree....and I loved (past tense) the Dawn.

 

On NCL's website, the Spinnakers is one of the things highlighted in the Dawn slideshow. Mixed messages....??:confused:

 

A lot of the things NCL was doing under the leadership of Quentin Veatch have been changed by the new management of Kevin Sheehan, and are a work in progress.

 

The financial status of NCL is also in transition from a money losing company to a profitable company under the new management, so these changes take time. The upside of this is that NCL will hopefully be around in the future for those of us who like the product they offer us.

 

The changes being made are not acceptable to everybody, and that is normal.

[Jerseyboy1]

A lot of the things NCL was doing under the leadership of Quentin Veatch have been changed by the new management of Kevin Sheehan, and are a work in progress.

 

The financial status of NCL is also in transition from a money losing company to a profitable company under the new management, so these changes take time. The upside of this is that NCL will hopefully be around in the future for those of us who like the product they offer us.

 

The changes being made are not acceptable to everybody, and that is normal.

 

Understood, and I don't have a problem with that, but why highlight something that supposedly very few utilized or cared about?:confused:

[swedish weave]

Understood, and I don't have a problem with that, but why highlight something that supposedly very few utilized or cared about?:confused:

 

 

I don't know the answer to that question. Maybe the prior management was attempting to generate some interest in the Spinnaker to increase the usage. They had a bar there, and possibly thought they could generate interest which would produce revenue from the drinks.It could even be a campaign by the present management. If they haven't officially announced the change for the Dawn, maybe they are trying to see if they really need to make the conversion. I don't know !!

[swedish weave]

This may be unrelated to the discussion about the Spinnaker, but Royal Carribbean announced today that they are considering retrofitting their older ships to add solo cabins for single cruisers. that stems from the acceptance of that type of cabin on NCL Epic.

 

The question is --- Where will the singles cabins go on the RCCL ships? It appears that the conversion of public open space may be eventually done by all cruise lines.

[swedish weave]

I would not be surprised to also see the new ships with more singles cabins. They are very well received on the Epic and solo cruisers like the idea of not having to pay double for their cruises. NCL may have discovered a new source of revenue that will attract solo cruisers from the other lines.

 

I am a step behind !!! Or as the Aussies say " a page late, mate".

 

NCL has already announced that the two new ships will have singles cabins, and RCCL announced today that they are discussing retrofitting their older ships with singles cabins. :o:o

 

I assume the others will soon follow their leader ---- NCL !!!!

 

My source for some of this information is reluctant to post because of situations beyond his control !!

[Smellytoes]

The Dawn will go in for her Star-ification in May. :(

 

PE

 

If this is true why can't I seem to get any pricing for this summer?? (I must be doing something wrong:confused:)

[roxette]

 

I assume the others will soon follow their leader ---- NCL !!!!

 

 

And NCL followed P&O.

[KevinsCruising]

Why would you miss it on the Sky It's called the Outrigger Lounge and it's still there?:confused:

 

 

The Outrigger Lounge is there but it is no comparison to the Spinaker Lounge.

[tigerlilycruiser12]

Apollo now owns half of NCL, Star Cruises don't own all of NCL anymore. Apollo also owns Oceania Cruise Lines as well, an upscaled cruise line with a significant number of family suites. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure with the Star and Dawn they would move to add family suites to NCL ships without them. Cruising is evolving...

 

The most logical place to add such suites to the Star and Dawn is the underused forward observatory lounge, a lounge which does not exist on the new Epic. A lounge which houses a ballroom styled lounge, an item of the past whose patrons are or have died off. Other public spaces can be squeezed for libraries, game rooms, and conference facilities. Todays younger families want larger cabins and are willing to pay for them. Todays younger families want other amenities such as pool slides, climbing walls, and Wifi video gaming screens.

 

Fortunately the Jewel class of ships, the Jewel, Jade, Pearl, and Gem have courtyard family styled suites atop amidships. I doubt whether they will be affected, but the Star and Dawn are or will be...

 

Outside of the Epic, Star, and Dawn in the future, if you wish to cruise on a ship with a forward observatory, I suggest you cruise on their other ships... The days of ballroom styled lounges have passed...

 

Since the Star is being relocated to Tampa, NCL's remaining Alaskan cruise ship the Pearl will retain her forward observatory lounge. Alaska is probably the best itinerary for forward observatories anyway because of the view. Other itineraries don't have a similar view IMO...

 

Many are carrying on as if the forward observatory lounge was the only lounge aboard the ship. There are many more...

 

Is there something I am missing? I have sailed the Dawn many times and the Lounge was used plenty by passengers. Will there still be dancing? and if so where? How about all the game shows that many go to. Are they going to do away with all those venues? Many people used the lounge day and night. I seen and including myself go there durning the day as well to read and also buy a drink will taking in the view. Like I said maybe I am missing something but this is not good.

[tigerlilycruiser12]

They will lose a lot of cruisers, the experienced ones, if they do this for the fast buck. I for one will not book the Star and I guess I've seen my last Dawn as well. Barb:mad:

 

I agree Barb...I still don't get it...where will they hold all the activities they once had there? Will they do away with them to? I have a cruise booked on the dawn in Oct. This makes me very sad. :( and :mad:

[SeattleCruiselover]

I agree Barb...I still don't get it...where will they hold all the activities they once had there? Will they do away with them to? I have a cruise booked on the dawn in Oct. This makes me very sad. :( and :mad:

 

On the Star all of the activities that were held in Spinnaker on Deck 12 are now held iin Spinnaker on Deck 7. Assume it would be the same on Dawn.

[valleyvillage]

Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.

Robert C. Gallagher

[CruisinMaterial]

And NCL followed P&O.

 

P&O is a British / Australia mass market line. NCL was the first North American line to re-premier single cabins and whenever NCL does something to pioneer in the North American market RCI is soon to follow bc they want to squish out NCL as best they can.

 

RCI is highly annoying lately... Brazilian Churriscaria was copied on Allure from the Epic - a last minute change before the ship was introduced after it was well received on the Epic. Now I completely understand why new ship features are kept under wraps because other cruise lines that don't have an innovative brain in their corporate bodies can't figure out what works or take a gamble on something new. :(

[Jerseyboy1]

P&O is a British / Australia mass market line. NCL was the first North American line to re-premier single cabins and whenever NCL does something to pioneer in the North American market RCI is soon to follow bc they want to squish out NCL as best they can.

 

RCI is highly annoying lately... Brazilian Churriscaria was copied on Allure from the Epic - a last minute change before the ship was introduced after it was well received on the Epic. Now I completely understand why new ship features are kept under wraps because other cruise lines that don't have an innovative brain in their corporate bodies can't figure out what works or take a gamble on something new. :(

 

Neither of those ideas is original....they are only original to cruising.

 

Really, this kind of borrowing of ideas has been going on for a long time. Radio and TV stations/networks have always done it. Automobile makers have used each others body designs and with a little tweaking made them their own and Japan as a nation took some other people's ideas and just improved upon them to become one of the leaders in the electronics industry.

 

With cruising or anything else, it's to be expected.:cool:

[Smellytoes]

I agree Barb...I still don't get it...where will they hold all the activities they once had there? Will they do away with them to? I have a cruise booked on the dawn in Oct. This makes me very sad. :( and :mad:

 

Marie, I wouldn't get too upset yet. Try to book one of the new suites for this summer and you can't. My TA is telling me that the Dawn drydock isn't as long as the Star so she can't see how it is possible to get all that work done in such a short time. NCL is telling her that the Spinaker changes could be delayed until the next drydock but even they weren't sure.:confused:

[wg6530]

Marie, I wouldn't get too upset yet. Try to book one of the new suites for this summer and you can't. My TA is telling me that the Dawn drydock isn't as long as the Star so she can't see how it is possible to get all that work done in such a short time. NCL is telling her that the Spinaker changes could be delayed until the next drydock but even they weren't sure.:confused:

 

NCL started the Star Spinaker changes during dry dock but completed them during cruises.

I liked the Star before the remodel, and I am far less likely to sail her now as the old Spinakers was one of my favorite spots. I hope NCL leaves the Dawn alone, but I suspect they will remodel her. if so, I would think they would try to get the Dawn's shops on the moved during dry dock so passengers could shop on the next cruise. Certainly hope the new Spinakers would be operational on the first cruise. The suites and inside cabins can be built behind closed doors while the ship operates.