IS RCI chaing their name?

[TEXASMUNK]

IS RCI about to change their name to RABTCI?

 

Royal Anywhere But The Caribean International?

 

Seems the are making an effort to put out of every port possible, move as many ships as possible, to Europe and Asia.

 

Disappointing for those of us that love the Caribbean.

[PhoenixCruiser]

Agreed! Especially during the summer months when we can take more time off.

 

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[Cruising89143]

There have been many articles written within the last year about the weak demand for the Caribbean. RCI is just following other cruise lines and moving their ships to where the larger demand is. Right now it's Europe. I don't blame them.

 

Carnival leaves most of it's fleet in the Caribbean year round and have had to price their cruises low to fill ships. I can still find enough ships sailing to the Caribbean if I want to cruise there. Freedom, Liberty, Enchantment, Explorer, Mariner, Adventure, Sovereign and Majesty are still around to cruise to the Caribbean.

[kruzerci]

IS RCI about to change their name to RABTCI?

 

Royal Anywhere But The Caribean International?

 

Seems the are making an effort to put out of every port possible, move as many ships as possible, to Europe and Asia.

 

Disappointing for those of us that love the Caribbean.

 

I have thought of that numerous times :D . We had a really hard time finding a Royal Caribbean cruise that we could work with for July. We couldn't leave out of San Juan, had a set date, and wanted to go Eastern so that really just left us with Freedom. I remember just a couple years ago having so many to chose from. Now its really just Mariner, Freedom and Liberty and Freedom and Liberty's prices are pretty high if you ask me...

[Cruising89143]

I have thought of that numerous times :D . We had a really hard time finding a Royal Caribbean cruise that we could work with for July. We couldn't leave out of San Juan, had a set date, and wanted to go Eastern so that really just left us with Freedom. I remember just a couple years ago having so many to chose from. Now its really just Mariner, Freedom and Liberty and Freedom and Liberty's prices are pretty high if you ask me...

 

 

That's the idea. Lower number of berths available creates a higher demand thus leading to higher prices which means more money for the stockholders.

[kruzerci]

That's the idea. Lower number of berths available creates a higher demand thus leading to higher prices which means more money for the stockholders.

 

You're right. Navigator had some pretty awesome prices last year when Freedom was new. Wish they had just kept her around :rolleyes: .

 

That reminds me, a few years ago we thought we were insane paying $1000 P/P for an inside cabin in the summer on Voyager, that sounds pretty low now seeing that some of the Freedom sailings are going for $1500 P/P with an inside cabin!

[vator90]

Would be nice if just one of the ships out of Florida would do 10/11 night rotations instead of the cookie cutter 7's all the time. The ships in the N.E. at least do the 9 to 5 rotation, but the itineraries stay pretty stagnant. Spare me the number of peopleXnumber of 7 nighters=more shareholder profits. I just personally like the longer cruises. If they would spice up the itineraries a bit that would probably help.

[kruzerci]

Would be nice if just one of the ships out of Florida would do 10/11 night rotations instead of the cookie cutter 7's all the time. The ships in the N.E. at least do the 9 to 5 rotation, but the itineraries stay pretty stagnant. Spare me the number of peopleXnumber of 7 nighters=more shareholder profits. I just personally like the longer cruises. If they would spice up the itineraries a bit that would probably help.

 

I'd like it if they kept a ship doing the 6/8 night Caribbean cruises year round out of Florida. Hopefully the Independence will do that year round, but she'll probably go back to Europe, too.

[crisndeefromde]

And to top that off the biggies are only doing three ports instead of fourth on the seven nighters and the prices are high

[Ocean Boy]

That reminds me, a few years ago we thought we were insane paying $1000 P/P for an inside cabin in the summer on Voyager, that sounds pretty low now seeing that some of the Freedom sailings are going for $1500 P/P with an inside cabin!

Good luck to RCI if they can get that kind of money. There won't be any reservations under my name with that kind of a price.

[kruzerci]

Good luck to RCI if they can get that kind of money. There won't be any reservations under my name with that kind of a price.

 

I didn't think I would either, but we got a residency rate, so luckily, we got a promenade cabin for just over $1200 a person, which is still a little high for an inside cabin.

[dthompsond1]

Living in England,I am glad more big ships are coming over to Europe. Sailed Star Princess last month out of Fort Lauderdale, great cruise round Caribbean but 9 hour flight to get there is not much fun.Sailing on Navigator in October out of Southampton for 10 nights to Canary Islands.Most of the summer she is doing 10 -14 night cruises out of England. A sister ship to Freedom and Liberty will be sailing out of Southampton in summer of 2008 while Navigator will be based in the Med. Can't wait! Dennis

[Rudi610]

It is interesting that there is discussion about $1000 to $1500 per person for a 7 night cruise is high. For our honeymoon in 1995, my wife and I paid $1000 each for a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas on the Nordic Empress (now Empress of the Seas) and we thought we got a good deal with that. My how times have changed (and I would guess for the better in most cases with cruise prices lower than they were 12 years ago).

[maggiecharlie]

We really like RCI but with their prices continuing to rise we might have to give Carnival a try; Carnival’s prices are lower and they don’t appear to be leaving Galveston, TX. I was pricing a cruise on the Voyager of the Seas for my husband and I and our son for my son’s spring break in 2008 price was 3600.00 for 3 now it is over 3700.00. We also like to sail out of Galveston, TX for convenience purposes no airfare involved. We were so excited to learn that the Voyager of the Seas was coming to Galveston our son has not sailed before and I think he could find lots to do on a Voyager class ship, the Voyager Class ships are awesome. Now we are hearing RCI might not return to Galveston after April 08. We have sailed twice on the Rhapsody of the Seas out of Galveston, which we enjoyed very much. We also recently sailed on the Navigator of the Seas out of Miami but it is quite expensive to fly these days. We did love the Eastern Caribbean but frankly we don’t really care where the ship goes we just love to cruise.

[cruiseman_tx]

I was also looking at the Caribbean offerings for next year, and took advantage of some good pricing on the Mariner of the Seas for next October. Balcony cabins start at $797, insides at $599. Snagged a corner-aft D-1 for a total of $1800 for me and DW, and I'm well pleased. It's a good ship, great crew with four ports and two sea days. Looking forward to it already.

[PhoenixCruiser]

There have been many articles written within the last year about the weak demand for the Caribbean. RCI is just following other cruise lines and moving their ships to where the larger demand is. Right now it's Europe. I don't blame them.

 

Carnival leaves most of it's fleet in the Caribbean year round and have had to price their cruises low to fill ships. I can still find enough ships sailing to the Caribbean if I want to cruise there. Freedom, Liberty, Enchantment, Explorer, Mariner, Adventure, Sovereign and Majesty are still around to cruise to the Caribbean.

 

Good point G, no Radiance class ships, however :(

 

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[kruzerci]

Good point G, no Radiance class ships, however :(

 

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I doubt there ever will be. They weren't designed for year round Caribbean cruises, they were made for Alaska and Europe.

[Mrsg324]

What I don't understand is why RCI is pulling out of the Houston market when they are building a new port. Unless I heard incorrectly, RCI has also contributed a large sum to this port.

[Ericknow32]

Have you cruised the Caribbean during the summer. I for one have and will most likely never do it again.

 

It is hot.

 

It is hurricane season.

 

 

It is hot.

 

and

 

It is hot.

[Firefighterhoop]

I love the caribbean, but have to agree with the above during the summer, they run a very high risk of disrupted cruises due to hurricanes, and often have to bare most of the costs themselves.

 

If people can't get to a ship, they can't spend money on board. Therefore, the more they move ships elsewhere, the less the chance of a cruise being interrupted by a hurricane...

[isujim]

I started a thread about 3 weeks ago when the first itinearies were released about higher prices for the new cruises being released. In most cases (not all mind you) prices were up from 10 to 30% depending on ship and itinerary.

 

Gordon is right about supply and demand.........but RC IMO helped create a supply shortage by sending so many ships to Europe this year. If you are a stockholder you can applaud their decision. Europe is the new Caribbean and hot spot that the Caribbean was 20 years ago.....

 

If you are a consumer........you are scurrying around trying to find a way to continue to cruise at a price we got used to after 9/11........and it isn't going to happen.

 

For what it is worth......what few Celebrity itieraries and Princess itnieraries that have been released........they are up there in price as well......somebody was watching RC release prices from what I have seen and don't be surprised when ALL are released.......many follow the leader, creating further shortage and demand.

[Ocean Boy]

IFor what it is worth......what few Celebrity itieraries and Princess itnieraries that have been released........they are up there in price as well......somebody was watching RC release prices from what I have seen and don't be surprised when ALL are released.......many follow the leader, creating further shortage and demand.

 

But don't forget that you can still get some good discounting on Princess if you have the right TA. On RCI you will be paying what RCI says you are going to pay. So even if the pricing looks close the final result can be substantially different.

[Elizanessie]

I am delighted that Royal Caribbean have 7 ships over here in Europe/Med/Baltics next year...that leaves-14 for the US/Caribbean etc...so not too bad I would say :D

 

Although I am not happy that cruises here are a heck of a lot more expensive than Caribbean cruises :eek: But hey we cant have it all our own way.

[negc]

Would be nice if just one of the ships out of Florida would do 10/11 night rotations instead of the cookie cutter 7's all the time. The ships in the N.E. at least do the 9 to 5 rotation, but the itineraries stay pretty stagnant. Spare me the number of peopleXnumber of 7 nighters=more shareholder profits. I just personally like the longer cruises. If they would spice up the itineraries a bit that would probably help.

 

Check out the new itineraries for the Jewel of the Seas in 2008/2009. Looks like your wishes have been fulfilled. You may not want to hear about the numbers which dictate the ratio of 7 night cruises versus longer ones, but you have to recognize that RCI and other lines are in business to make a profit and to satisfy the largest number of its passengers. If there was a preponderance of cruisers who wanted, and were able to take, longer cruises, that is what they would offer and then we could read the posts from all of those who can't, or won't, take 10 night cruises, complaining about the lack of cruises that meet their criteria.

I believe that if you check out the cruise schedules you will find that RCI and Carnival both keep more of their ships in the Caribbean during the summer months than any of the other major cruiselines.

[SherriZ366]

Lots of discussion during the last quarterly corporate meeting about weak demand in the Caribbean and good demand in Europe. Should be interesting to see what is said at the May 1 meeting. As noted by the linked press release, one can listen in during or after the event.

 

It will be interesting to see what transpires over the next few years with RCCL moving its ships to where they can make the most money. They company may have less ships in Alaska in coming years because of the tax --not the $50/head tax but taxes on casino profits, shore excursions etc. that would be added into the cruise price. A higher cruise price in Alaska could depress demand.