Bailout for Cruise Companies

[Newleno]

2 minutes ago, leen50 said:

We live 3+ hours from Galveston & cruise often In Feb. my DS & BIL flew in from Long Island, NY to cruise w/us. They took an Uber to LaGuardia & S.W. airlines to Houston. We stayed in a Hotel with them, ate at restaurants, bought gas, paid for port parking, took a tour in Galveston etc. Without having a cruise, we would have done none of these things (all in America).

The American businesses in port cities is suffering as a result.

Not looking to start a 'fight'. It's just my opinion.

Great points, like a domino effect.  be careful what you wish for

[BND]

3 minutes ago, Newleno said:

we are not loyal to any cruiseline, cruised about 50 days since Oct13, we do it because it is cheap, I dont care if rcl is terrible or not.  If cruising is no longer cheap we wont go.  Our last cruise on royal feb 15 msy was cheap and the airfare was cheap.   one night  at the buffet I had over 40 peel and eat shrimp.  Years ago the government gave away free cheese, Cheese I love cheese - hey free or cheap I am all over it.

I wasn't talking just about Royal. If you have the opinion that is stated in the opinion piece, why do you cruise at all?

 

Also, nothing is ever free.

Edited March 19, 2020 by BND

[RoyalC]

4 minutes ago, leen50 said:

We live 3+ hours from Galveston & cruise often In Feb. my DS & BIL flew in from Long Island, NY to cruise w/us. They took an Uber to LaGuardia & S.W. airlines to Houston. We stayed in a Hotel with them, ate at restaurants, bought gas, paid for port parking, took a tour in Galveston etc. Without having a cruise, we would have done none of these things (all in America).

The American businesses in port cities is suffering as a result.

Not looking to start a 'fight'. It's just my opinion.

Some people don't get it. Add taxi's to the list and all the port workers.

[Big_G]

The cruise industry contributed $ 8.49 BILLION to the Florida economy in 2018. This is no different than American companies that shipped their factories over seas. I'm not a fan of bailouts but if they do it for Apple and Coca Cola then I have no problem with the cruise industry.

 

Besides, American workers on cruise ships has been a proven failure.

Edited March 19, 2020 by Big_G

[voyager70]

Don't understand the point of these posts.  Pure speculation.  No one knows what's going to happen.  Sit back, relax, have a drink, and let this whole thing unfold and hopefully get better soon.

 

[leen50]

12 minutes ago, RoyalC said:

Some people don't get it. Add taxi's to the list and all the port workers.

The ripples are far reaching, new clothes, mani/pedi, dog sitters, baby sitters on & on.

[Newleno]

23 minutes ago, BND said:

I wasn't talking just about Royal. If you have the opinion that is stated in the opinion piece, why do you cruise at all?

 

Also, nothing is ever free.

?🤔  hmm cause its cheap? maybe/perhaps?

[rance]

3 hours ago, bala1130 said:

Interesting article below.  It said since Cruise Companies have their ships registered in countries to avoid paying US Taxes.  And they don't follow US employment rules, they should not expect any bailout money from the US Government.  This is probably true.  Thoughts?

 

https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2020/03/17/43175677/struggling-cruise-ship-corporations-should-not-get-aid-from-the-us-government

 

There seems to be alot of posts pointing out that cruise companies  don't pay US taxes. Newsflash most companies don't pay US taxes. States and governments attract companies so they can provide jobs for their states. Throw in the fact that Florida is a huge swing state in the next federal election it is almost guaranteed the industry will get support. Bailout is a poor choice of word, but a credit line with a very low interest rate  is very very likely.

No way Trump leaves the state of Florida without support 8-9 months before they head to the polls.

Edited March 19, 2020 by rance

[Welly9]

They will receive some type or form of a bailout - they have to demonstrate how will it be beneficial to the US and show they will

utilize and employ US citizens. 

Sounds like a plan...

[HicksRA]

But these foreign flagged cruise ships create billions of dollars in jobs and purchases at the US headquarters and ports they cruise from, so they do have a significant impact on the US economy. Thus should be considered for financial aid. 

[NavyCruiser]

1 minute ago, rance said:

 

There seems to be alot of posts pointing out that cruise companies  don't pay US taxes. Newsflash most companies don't pay US taxes. States and governments attract companies so they can provide jobs for their states. Throw in the fact that Florida is a huge swing state in the next federal election it is almost guaranteed the industry will get support. Bailout is a poor choice of word, but a credit line with a very low interest rate  is very very lucky. Look at the money spent in Florida on cruise terminals alone.

No way Trump leaves the state of Florida without support 8-9 months before they head to the polls.

 

Yes. 

I Support with calling it:  "credit line with a very low interest rate"

 

No.

I won't Support with calling it a "BailOut"

 

Just like I only buy "Pre-Owned" vehicles, but never bought "Used" cars....

 

 

 

[Iamcruzin]

 I fly to Florida the same day and don't spend a dime other than transportation to the ship so I'm not contributing to the economy in the Sunshine State. If cruising went away for good there would be more land trips to these port states generating even more revenue especially for the state of Florida who has the most to lose.  New York could stand to lose a few tourists but will probably attract even more. Here in NY the MTA who provides public transportation via buses, subway, the Long Island Railroad and Metro-North are also seeking a bailout . I'm not on board with this either but they are entitled to receive it more than the cruise industry.

[TwoMisfits]

29 minutes ago, Welly9 said:

They will receive some type or form of a bailout - they have to demonstrate how will it be beneficial to the US and show they will

utilize and employ US citizens. 

Sounds like a plan...

 

Seems like Carnival has beaten Royal to that plan with the hospital ships offer...if there's a bailout, I'm assuming it's gonna go that path (pay to keep Carnival running while Carnival does something nice for the US)...RCCL should probably get their offer in for the same work from the US or Europe...

[Iamcruzin]

3 minutes ago, TwoMisfits said:

 

Seems like Carnival has beaten Royal to that plan with the hospital ships offer...if there's a bailout, I'm assuming it's gonna go that path (pay to keep Carnival running while Carnival does something nice for the US)...RCCL should probably get their offer in for the same work from the US or Europe...

Their stock just jumped 70 cents. Even $10 now. Someone must have read your post.

[LMaxwell]

Why is everyone acting like cruise lines are offering use of ships to the US govt for free?  There will be a charter contract just like any time a cruise line has provided beds. That is why the prices jumped. That's guaranteed cash flow 

[TwoMisfits]

5 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

Why is everyone acting like cruise lines are offering use of ships to the US govt for free?  There will be a charter contract just like any time a cruise line has provided beds. That is why the prices jumped. That's guaranteed cash flow 

 

Yes - it's a win/win...which is what we should be looking for right now.

 

US gets badly needed expanded temporary medical possibilites at any coastal city that needs them...

Carnival gets paid...at cost still means they bill for everything INCLUDING FIXED COSTS that it costs to bring this service to the US government...the ultimate way to stay afloat.

And the US, therefore, doesn't have to provide a direct bailout, likely to piss off US-based companies and US taxpayers...

 

 

Edited March 19, 2020 by TwoMisfits

[FLACRUISER99]

4 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

Why is everyone acting like cruise lines are offering use of ships to the US govt for free?  There will be a charter contract just like any time a cruise line has provided beds. That is why the prices jumped. That's guaranteed cash flow 

You have proof of this? 

[MightyMike]

Why should any corporation receive a bailout?

 

As citizens, we are told again and again to stow away 3 to 6 months of wages in an emergency fund just in case. Yet less than a week ago (yes, it was that recent) Royal Caribbean suspended cruises for 30 days. 

 

What about the massive profits and bonuses Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines have made these last few years? They've had a great run. So all the beneficiaries of that get to keep their gains, but us American taxpayers pay for their rainy days? 

 

I get it that these corporations provide jobs for people and losing them would create hardship, but I'm sick and tired of any and every government social program that helps individuals being labeled evil socialism, while the first hint of trouble for any industry immediately triggers bailout talk.

 

It just seems unfair how it always seems to end up that the profits, bonuses and stock price increases are treated as water under the bridge while the first hint of losses somehow becomes my (a taxpayer's) problem.

[sfaaa]

2 hours ago, rimmit said:

 

 

“They aren’t American,” Rep. Peter DeFazio, an Oregon Democrat and chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, told Roll Call. ”They don’t pay taxes in the United States of America.”

 

 

If all the cruise ships start to make port calls to Astoria, I wonder if DeFazio will suddenly have a change of heart on this.

[sfaaa]

1 hour ago, RoyalC said:

Some people don't get it. Add taxi's to the list and all the port workers.

Add port and other tourism related taxes that are used to fund local social programs. Yeah, the naysayers don't get it.

[lbjen]

Disappointing that all the replies that mention this being politically motivated are being removed. 

[Mapleleafforever]

2 hours ago, BND said:

On large corporations that trade on the US Stock Market.  There's more to this than just taxes.

 

And, all of you that have a problem with RCI's practices, why do you cruise with them?  If they're so terrible, don't spend your money on them.

This has been on my mind the last few weeks. We are diamonds and have a cruise booked for January 2021 on Indy and we're keeping it as we got an amazing deal on a JS but after that we will be reconsidering where we spend our budgeted vacation funds. There is quite a lot of the US and Canada that we haven't seen yet and have been thinking about keeping our money in North America for the next few years. Our economies will definitely be needing the lift. 

 

 

[ONECRUISER]

1 hour ago, TwoMisfits said:

 

Seems like Carnival has beaten Royal to that plan with the hospital ships offer...if there's a bailout, I'm assuming it's gonna go that path (pay to keep Carnival running while Carnival does something nice for the US)...RCCL should probably get their offer in for the same work from the US or Europe...

Carnival has offered up older ships few times for things like Workers after Katrina... Cant see them used as Hospitals, not set up right. Cost more get them that way then just build Temp Buildings

[Iamcruzin]

2 hours ago, rance said:

 

There seems to be alot of posts pointing out that cruise companies  don't pay US taxes. Newsflash most companies don't pay US taxes. States and governments attract companies so they can provide jobs for their states. Throw in the fact that Florida is a huge swing state in the next federal election it is almost guaranteed the industry will get support. Bailout is a poor choice of word, but a credit line with a very low interest rate  is very very likely.

No way Trump leaves the state of Florida without support 8-9 months before they head to the polls.

While that may be true and certainly not most companies, The employees of these companies are paying at the very least federal taxes as well as contributing to social security and medicare tax.  Those auto gratuities , the extra tips on top of, the base salary isn't  taxable income for the United States. To add insult to injury they send the money home to their third world countries.  

[jndsilver31]

cruise ships cant be register in the usa because our laws require a ship to be built in the usa if it us yo be register in the usa. this is also true for container ships. but the cruise lines are incorporated in the usa, so in fact they are american companies.