Will Hal end the World Cruise like Princess?

[bcnvcanada]

I am wondering if HAL will give up on the World Cruises like Princess has? They cancelled their 2014 cruise from the United States, though will do one from Austrialia round the world. I understand that World Cruises are not a big money maker. Any thoughts?

[Krazy Kruizers]

Interesting

Yes -- I can understand why Princess has cancelled their world cruise.

We have noticed that on longer cruise -- for instance -- 21 day repositioning cruises through the Panama Canal -- people are not spending the money like they do on short cruises. People are not buying wine -- why should they when they can bring on cases and drink in their cabins?? The bars are not crowded. These people are spending on the cruise fare itself and not spending on the ship.

[startwin]

Interesting

 

Yes -- I can understand why Princess has cancelled their world cruise.

 

We have noticed that on longer cruise -- for instance -- 21 day repositioning cruises through the Panama Canal -- people are not spending the money like they do on short cruises. People are not buying wine -- why should they when they can bring on cases and drink in their cabins?? The bars are not crowded. These people are spending on the cruise fare itself and not spending on the ship.

 

 

Why does it always come back to people bringing their own wine onboard, for you? Not everyone drinks, not all the spending is alcohol-based. It is not a pre-requisite that only drinkers go on cruises, and if HAL is relying on people consuming so much liquor they need another business plan. However, I think they are doing quite well and are not obsessing about the wine policy.

[sail7seas]

Unless we have an 'insider snoop', we are only speculating what HAL will do re: World Cruise

I have no idea if they are even considering discontinuing a U.S. departure World Cruise.

 

[JimnKaren]

A sound business decision is based on many things. If they are not filling the cabins, that can make a big difference. They typically utilize smaller ships, but even if they sell out one segment and not the rest, it ends up being non-profitable.

 

If the cabins are not full, then all things are reduce in dollar volume, from the shops to the spa area, bars and lounges to bingo! Many variables.

 

And, it just might be that the cruise lines make more money on a per day basis from 7 - 14 day cruises. We are not in their accounting office, all we can do is speculate. Money must be the reason!

 

Jim

[sail7seas]

A sound business decision is based on many things. If they are not filling the cabins, that can make a big difference. They typically utilize smaller ships, but even if they sell out one segment and not the rest, it ends up being non-profitable.

 

If the cabins are not full, then all things are reduce in dollar volume, from the shops to the spa area, bars and lounges to bingo! Many variables.

 

And, it just might be that the cruise lines make more money on a per day basis from 7 - 14 day cruises. We are not in their accounting office, all we can do is speculate. Money must be the reason!

 

Jim

 

Aren't all cruise line decisions based on $$ ? :)

 

[arzz]

We booked the 2013 Grand Asia cruise in November of 2011. It is possible we may have to postpone this trip for a year so I have been waiting anxiously to see the 2014 Grand Asia itinerary -- it is not out yet and compared to when they offered the 2013 itinerary -- it is rather tardy to say the least.

 

Your guess is as good as mine as to the future of HAL's Grand cruises -- they have been some of our most incredible vacations and we are anxious to repeat them.

 

And for the record -- for those of us who book half or all of the Grand itineraries the per diem is noticeably higher than those in the 7 to 14 day market. I cannot speak to whether or not they are filling cabins. The folks on board still consume alcohol and the percentage of what is carried on board versus what is purchased is probably not that much different than on any other cruise.

[DFD1]

I would suggest that part of the reason may be the economy in general. The lack-luster economic situation eventually affects most everyone, whether we like to admit it or not.

 

Even people who have the resources and time to take these very long cruises may look at the over all economic situation and think..."Maybe we ought to wait and see how things go for a while".

 

Just MO

[Maryandi]

The Princess website shows the 2014 World Cruise and the Inside cabins are sold out.

 

Where did you see the cancellation ?

[kazu]

We booked the 2013 Grand Asia cruise in November of 2011. It is possible we may have to postpone this trip for a year so I have been waiting anxiously to see the 2014 Grand Asia itinerary -- it is not out yet and compared to when they offered the 2013 itinerary -- it is rather tardy to say the least.

 

Your guess is as good as mine as to the future of HAL's Grand cruises -- they have been some of our most incredible vacations and we are anxious to repeat them.

 

And for the record -- for those of us who book half or all of the Grand itineraries the per diem is noticeably higher than those in the 7 to 14 day market. I cannot speak to whether or not they are filling cabins. The folks on board still consume alcohol and the percentage of what is carried on board versus what is purchased is probably not that much different than on any other cruise.

 

very good points. The per diems are higher. My experience on longer cruises is the same as yours. I don't see a difference in spending - in fact I would hazard that some spend more;) (We certainly seem to;)) Going on a longer cruise does not mean you are not going to order wine packages, drinks, play bingo, shop, hit the casino, whatever:)

[jakkojakko]

If onboard spending is less then on 7 days cruising and if the reason is the permission to take wine on board for free, the solution is simple.

Do not allow it anymore.

 

In my opinion this is not the reason. The general demografic on world voyages seems to be vastly different compared to the shorter ones.

Onboard spending on short cruises will always be higher I think.

[1of4]

I really hope not! As someone who has their eye on a few of these longer cruises, but is not in a position (yet) to book I would be so disappointed to hear that they are discontinued.

 

I am not a big spender on board so I wouldn't help the bottom line too much, but I would pay my fare and fees and enjoy every second of the experience.

 

It seems to me that the WC have been selling well with lots of repeat cruisers over the last 2 years. I have no inside info, just what it seems to me by reading the boards.

[bishop84]

I thought Princess had only been doing World Cruises fairly recently and leaving that to their sister company of P&O? I agree that they probably think they can make more elsewhere with the ship that was assigned.

 

As for HAL discontinuing the Grand Voyages that would be a pity but I gather that the Amsterdam was only 50% sold for some segments of the 2012 Grand Voyage so maybe they will have to rethink the voyage.

[bcnvcanada]

Last week Princess sent out notice to all that book the World Cruise. The ship that was to do the world cruise is now going to Austrialia and doing the South Pacfic. Deposit has yet to be returned.

[cruz chic]

Why does it always come back to people bringing their own wine onboard, for you? Not everyone drinks, not all the spending is alcohol-based. It is not a pre-requisite that only drinkers go on cruises, and if HAL is relying on people consuming so much liquor they need another business plan. However, I think they are doing quite well and are not obsessing about the wine policy.

Why wouldn't they include alcohol? My guess is that would likely be a fairly significant source of income for them. If you think it wouldn't be I'd like to hear what you think would be.

[cruz chic]

very good points. The per diems are higher. My experience on longer cruises is the same as yours. I don't see a difference in spending - in fact I would hazard that some spend more;) (We certainly seem to;)) Going on a longer cruise does not mean you are not going to order wine packages, drinks, play bingo, shop, hit the casino, whatever:)

I've had several bartenders tell me that folks on shoter cruises spend a lot more on alcohol.

[kazu]

I've had several bartenders tell me that folks on shoter cruises spend a lot more on alcohol.

 

Well, I won't argue with the bartenders. I can only go by what I see on the longer cruises. The sidewalks are not rolled up at night:) The Crow's Nest on my last cruise had quite the crowd as did the Explorer's lounge and other venues. My tablemates had wine with their meal every night (as did we) I noticed your other post on this thread re profitability - I believe that Bruzz Muzz has said that the highest profit for ships is the shore excursions (but I could be wrong). Longer cruises tend to have more sea days. More sea days means spending money on board for some (shops, alcohol, bingo, whatever)Again, this has only been my experience:)

[HALrunner]

Maybe this will be good for HAL. The Princess World Cruisers have to go somewhere (literally).

[Boytjie]

Is it no longer a World Cruise just because it doesn't start or end in the USA? :confused:

[kazu]

Is it no longer a World Cruise just because it doesn't start or end in the USA? :confused:

 

Now THAT'S a good question:):D

[DFD1]

I believe that Cunard and perhaps some others originate an around-the-world cruise from SouthHampton.

 

I would guess that there may be one or two out of Europe as well.

[Esri]

Is it no longer a World Cruise just because it doesn't start or end in the USA? :confused:

 

I don't know whether I looked at Princess's world cruise for 2014, but I looked at Cunard's (and a couple of others) and what they were calling "World Cruises" were not complete circumnavigations of the globe. If it starts in Australia and circumnavigates the globe before ending in Australia, I would call it a "World Cruise". I would NOT call 1/3 of the globe a World Cruise...

[Boytjie]

I don't know whether I looked at Princess's world cruise for 2014, but I looked at Cunard's (and a couple of others) and what they were calling "World Cruises" were not complete circumnavigations of the globe. If it starts in Australia and circumnavigates the globe before ending in Australia, I would call it a "World Cruise". I would NOT call 1/3 of the globe a World Cruise...

 

Were you perhaps looking at segments of a world cruise? World cruises tend to be about 100+ days and they usually start and end in the same place.

[Esri]

Were you perhaps looking at segments of a world cruise? World cruises tend to be about 100+ days and they usually start and end in the same place.

 

I'll have to stand corrected as the World Cruises now on Cunard's web site ARE circumnavigations, but the brochures they sent me earlier were not.... *shrug* I guess they didn't want my business. ;) The agent who called asked which cruise I was interested in and I said "a world cruise". He asked "which one?" and I said I was looking for a complete circumnavigation and he didn't seem to know what I meant.... Oh, well, people say they get wrong information from HAL all the time on these boards. I'm quite happy with the itinerary on the Amsterdam.

[DFD1]

Bill and Mary Ann are reporting in their blog post today that the Amsterdam is carrying 1100 passengers from Fort Lauderdale to Hong Kong, and 1300 from Hong Kong to Cape Town.

 

Those are excellent numbers for a World Voyage, and would seem to indicate HAL's longer voyages are doing quite well.