SS Future Re-Open Plan: Timing, Testing Needs??!!

[TLCOhio]

On 11/28/2023 at 3:48 PM, Will Work for Tiramisu said:

As they say, "A fool and his money are soon parted."   I'm sorry for those that took the plunge, but methinks a dose of caveat emptor was in order.  

 

Appreciate these wise follow-ups.  Yes, consumer caution and care are vital.  There is another old saying about "Look before you leap" that has some solid wisdom, too, when considering options that might sound "too good to be true".  On such new, potentially innovative offerings, looking at the financial depth of the company making such a "pitch" would be smart and safer.  

 

From the Reuters newswire and MSN News yesterday, they had this headline: “Travelers ready to set sail on cruises at record levels next year” with these highlights: “Next year is looking like a banner year for cruise vacations, as travelers across all income and budget levels have been booking voyages at greater volumes than even before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to U.S. cruise operators and travel agents.”

 

Here is more from this report: "Travelers are looking to cruises in 2024 because they are still cheaper than land-based alternatives. With occupancy levels approaching pre-pandemic levels, operators plan to hike prices in coming months.  Even as travelers have canceled or postponed planned vacations to the Middle East, cruise bookings will still hit record levels in 2024, said Truist Securities analyst Patrick Scholes.  Prior to the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, industry-wide bookings for 2024 were about 25% higher than in 2019 for bookings in 2020. Bookings in November for 2024 were about 20% higher than the same period in 2019, Scholes said."

 

Full story at:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/travelers-ready-to-set-sail-on-cruises-at-record-levels-next-year/ar-AA1kZbOf

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Early 2020, many visuals and details from New Zealand/South Pacific in going from Auckland to French Polynesia.  This includes Bora Bora, Fiji, NZ experiences, etc:  Live/blog:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2735732-live-terryohio-“new”-regatta-south-pacificnz-pix’s/

[TLCOhio]

Here is another interesting "twist" as to how the cruise lines attempt to return back to "normal".  Marijuana provides another, somewhat new "detail" to consider for ship executives and passengers.  

 

From the Wall Street Journal yesterday, they had this headline: “Cruise Ships Are Kicking Off Passengers With Pot" with this sub-headline:  "As state drug laws loosen, travelers run into restrictions on board, as well as drug-sniffing dogs and possible lifetime bans.”

 

Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Cruise travelers wanting to smoke pot or chew gummies are running into a problem: cruise lines trying to eradicate all types of cannabis products on board.  Cruise lines say they are simply following federal law, and that marijuana is illegal in many countries they sail to. They say that they also want to create a comfortable experience for nonusers.  The companies are warning passengers not to sail with cannabis products and ratcheting up efforts to identify people flouting their rules as their ships swell with travelers.”

 

This includes Carnival using drug-sniffing dogs to search for prohibited po during the boarding processt.  What's next?

 

Full story at:

https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/cruise-ships-marijuana-policies-pot-0efa83c7

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Canada 2022/2023: Scenic visuals, details from Canada Maritimes (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island).  Plus, new from Aug. 2023, exploring historic/charming Quebec City.    Visual/Info Summaries:

www.flickr.com/photos/196555480@N08/albums

[TLCOhio]

From the Miami Herald and MSN News yesterday, they had this headline: “How the cruise capital of the world came back from COVID-19. What it means for Miami port” with these highlights: “The cruise capital of the world is showing no signs of relinquishing that distinction.  PortMiami, Florida’s largest port, set a record for passengers served in one year, according to new data on Monday. The port said that 7.3 million passengers traveled in and out during the 12-month fiscal year 2023, which for the cruise industry began October 1, 2022, and ended September 30, 2023. That was nearly twice the four million passengers seen the prior fiscal year.  Port travel exceeded by 7% its previous record of 6.8 million passengers set in fiscal year 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted one of the most popular vacation industries.”

 

Also of interest that was shared in this reporting: "PortMiami’s growth is consistent with global numbers. The Cruise Lines International Association’s 'State of the Cruise Industry' report, released in September, projected 31.5 million passengers will sail in 2023, a 54% increase from 2022. That would beat the previous record of 29.7 million passengers in 2019. The growth is expected to continue through next year, with 36 million travelers anticipated aboard cruise ships."

 

Full story at:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/how-the-cruise-capital-of-the-world-came-back-from-covid-19-what-it-means-for-miami-port/ar-AA1lnO3b

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio   

 

Barcelona/Med: June 2011, with stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Great visuals with key highlights, tips, etc. Live/blog now at 257,281 views.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1362155-solstice-livefirst-timer-reportspix’s-italycroatian-june-7-19/

Edited December 13, 2023 by TLCOhio

[TLCOhio]

From a Wall Street Journal-connected financial news website two days ago, they had this headline: “Cruises will be super-popular next year. Be prepared to fight for a pool chair.” with these highlights: “Get ready for crowded cruise ships: A trade group expects a 21% jump in passengers from 2019.  More cruise ships will sail fully booked in 2024 than in 2023.  Norwegian and Carnival's parent companies have said they're running low on cabins.”

 

This is good news for the cruise companies and finances, but some passengers might not enjoy these "conditions" and costs as much.  Changing times??

 

Also shared in this report: "If you were hoping for a quiet and peaceful cruise vacation, you might be out of luck — 2024 is shaping up to be the year of mass cruising.   Throughout 2023, demand for vacations-at-sea has been steadily accelerating past pre-COVID-19 levels. And interest has yet to wane: Royal Caribbean Group's 2024 bookings are already outgrowing 2019 levels 'by a wide margin,' Jason Liberty, the cruise giant's CEO, told investors in late October."

 

Full story at:

https://www.businessinsider.com/cruise-vacation-carnival-disney-royal-caribbean-booking-popular-ships-2023-12

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio   

 

Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 249,711 views.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

[TLCOhio]

As to future trends affecting the cruise lines and travelers, from the Wall Street Journal late yesterday, they had this headline: “These Travelers Have a Secret: They Love Cheap Cruises on Old Ships" with this sub-headline:  "Passengers find better deals and blissfully smaller crowds far from the world’s largest cruise ships.”

 

Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Picking an older, smaller cruise might make for less fancy travel, but it comes with obvious advantages. Lower demand for the aged vessels in cruise lines’ fleets can prompt some big-deal savings. Some of these ships sail more exotic itineraries, and passengers enjoy greater attention from crew members without feeling so crowded. A cruise ship can start to show its age at around 15 years.”

 

Silversea has BOTH . . . newer ships and older ones.  How do they adjust for the future?  Here is more from this fascinating WSJ reporting: "Keeping older ships in a fleet enables cruise lines to serve a wider array of destinations. Newer megaships can be too big to dock in certain harbors, including Tahiti.  'We intentionally place our smaller ships in more exotic destinations with longer, port-intensive itineraries that offer a more immersive experience that our guests love,' says David Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line."

 

Personally, we love more exotic destination that offer port-intensive itineraries.  Silversea offers many great options fitting those categories. 

 

Full story at:

https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/royal-caribbean-icon-of-the-seas-cruise-ship-0999d6f4?mod=wknd_pos1

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Sydney to NZ/Auckland Adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling/details with many exciting visuals and key highlights.  On page 23, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings.  Now at 248,212 views.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

[TLCOhio]

Here is another interesting travel trend spotlighted that might fit with Silversea and their future offerings.  

 

From the Washington Post and MSN News yesterday, they had this headline: “Adventure travel is a growth industry thanks to women over 40” with these highlights: “Women comprise 57 percent of travelers who book through global travel companies, according to the Adventure Travel Trade Association. When the travel company is women-led, such as Wild Women Expeditions (WWE), Adventure Women or Sisters Traveling Solo, that number jumps to 64 percent. Estimated to be worth $2 trillion by 2032, the global adventure tourism industry is expanding rapidly, and women are a big part of that growth. They are not afraid to travel alone or to great heights.”

 

Here is more background cited: "Older women, defined as over 65, represent the greatest recent increase in solo travel, going from 4 percent in 2019 to 18 percent in 2022. 'During the pandemic there was so much loss; now there’s this underlying current of ‘Go do things now,’'  says Kristi Marsh, marketing director of Adventure Women, a company founded in 1982 to help women explore the outdoors."

 

Silversea is well positioned to ride this "wave" of added interest for adventure-related offerings.  Right?

 

Full story at:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/adventure-travel-is-a-growth-industry-thanks-to-women-over-40/ar-AA1n38c9

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio   

 

Venice: Loving It & Why??!!  Is one of your future desires or past favorites? See these many visual samples for its great history and architecture.  This posting is now at 110,467 views.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

[CardowMD]

Thanks Terry. If they want to keep their ships full, would be good to add more solo cruise deals for us ladies of a certain age😊. Over 30 M single person households just in the US. 

[TLCOhio]

On 1/18/2024 at 10:04 AM, CardowMD said:

Thanks Terry. If they want to keep their ships full, would be good to add more solo cruise deals for us ladies of a certain age😊. Over 30 M single person households just in the US. 

 

Appreciate this great comment and follow-up from our neighbor in Maryland.  Yes, solo deals are an important attraction for many.  In general with many cruise lines, isn't Silversea a little better than average at times with such solo offerings?  Many cruise lines have a solo cost at 200%.  I have seen times when Silversea only adds 25%.  Right or wrong? 

 

From the New York Times Travel Section this weekend, they have this headline: “What Travelers Can Expect in 2024” with these highlights for one trend: “Luxury and Wellness: Is the Boom Real?”  

 

This includes for the NYT citing: "After the travel frenzy of 2023, all signs point to increasing interest in far-flung destinations, villa rentals, private jet bookings and personal pilgrimages in 2024. 'The lust for luxury is real,' said Jack Ezon, the founder of a high-end travel agency. But, he added, mindfulness is poised to replace heedless indulgence. 'Consumers today are focused on sustainability, investment value and craftsmanship when considering a luxury purchase,' he said.  Compared to 2019, 2023 bookings were up 64 percent, and demand remains strong heading into the new year.   This year, travelers are expected to choose faraway places and board small ships, according to Virtuoso, the consortium of luxury travel agencies."

 

This story also noted and detailed for these added potentials: "Biometrics: Will They Replace My Passport?", Airline Prices: Will They Finally Drop? and "Destinations: What’s Hot This Year?"

 

As to this last trend, they shared: "London, Rome, Tokyo, Cancún and Las Vegas, some of the most visited destinations in 2023, are still among the top places travelers are searching to go to this year.  Beach destinations like the Cayman Islands and French Polynesia are also trending destinations for 2024."

 

With the mention of French Polynesia, it brings back great memories from our visit there right before Covid started in early March 2020 to shut everything down.  These three visuals are from my photo files when being in wonderful and amazing Bora Bora.  On a cold, snowy day in the Midwest right now, these past experiences help to warm up the heart and brain.  This includes for our private guide taking us around, performing, etc.  Fun and excitement!!

 

 

 

Full story at:

https://www.nytimes.com/explain/2024/01/18/travel/travel-predictions-vacation

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Amazon River-Caribbean 2015 adventure live/blog starting in Barbados. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, San Juan, etc.).  Now at 73,926 views:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/

[TLCOhio]

From the Washington Post this morning, they had this headline: “More travelers are ‘dry-tripping.’ "  with this sub-headline:  "Zero-proof cocktails are popping up on menus as more people choose sober travel.”

 

Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Mindful drinking or sober curiosity isn’t new. However, what’s different now is a social acceptance — some might even call it a societal embrace — of no- or low-alcohol products available for travelers on menus.  Although there have always been travelers who eschew alcohol for a variety of reasons — perhaps due to an allergy, religious observance or health — the growing 'booze-free' movement has extended into tourism, often as part of a larger trend toward wellness.   Travel booking site Expedia said in its annual travel trend report that more than 40 percent of travelers are likely to book a detox trip in the next year, coining the term 'dry-tripping' to describe the fashion.”

 

I have two reactions:  What's the point for not taking advantage of the alcohol fun/spirits?  Yes, there are some legitimate health, etc. reasons.  AND, if this trends grows significantly, will all-inclusive lines such as Silverseas moderate their prices?  Won't hold my breath for that question!!

 

Good points raised as to if the cruise line bar folks will be creative with names, tastes, styles, etc., for offering and serving non-alcoholic beverages at Happy House and during dinners?

 

Full story at:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2024/01/22/sober-travel-airlines-hotels/

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Athens & Greece: Visuals, details from two visits in a city and nearby with great history, culture and architecture.  Now at 62,019 views.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008

[highplanesdrifters]

17 hours ago, TLCOhio said:

AND, if this trends grows significantly, will all-inclusive lines such as Silverseas moderate their prices?  

 

😂😂😂