Rant!!!

[TEXASMUNK]

Insidious!

 

RCI comes to Galveston, gives us Splendor and Rhapsody.

 

Then they entice us with Galaxy.

 

Oh yeah, of course we fall in love with both Rhapsody and Galaxy.

 

Then RCI RIPS Galaxy away from us....leaves Rhapsody for another year, then sends it off to foreign lands, never to grace the shores of Texas again.

 

They then dash all future hopes by selling Galaxy to a new German venture.

 

So they tease us, give us Voyager for 4 months, then dump us like a bad date and take her to Europe!

 

Cruel, so cruel!!!!!!

[crusinmama06]

"dump us like a bad date"

 

LOL!!!!! You have a way with words Texasmunk. I love it! :D

[Little Elm]

I know. I keep looking at cruises for my family for 2010. We have to cruise when school is out, and Voyager will not be in Galveston. It is looking more and more like there will be 10 cabins sold on Conquest.

[maggiecharlie]

I think RCL is making a mistake not having a ship year round in Galveston. With Conquests new itinerary we will be checking out the Conquest next year.

[ccxnola]

How about joining us (all of us!) for a GREAT Mardi Gras cruise on Voyager next February from Galveston!! It will be a fine cruise and I just KNOW the Krewe of RCCL (Revelers of Cruise Criitic unLimited) will make it a Mardi Gras cruise to remember. Voyager Departs Galveston on Feb 22, 2009, for a fun-filled week in the Gulf of Mexico with stops at interesting ports as well. Y'all come along!!!

[SomeBeach]

I can understand Texans being upset with RCI. Always hard to have something taken away.

:confused:

Please, can you explain how RCI ripped Galaxy away? I know that is not an RCI ship so I'm a bit confused.

[maggiecharlie]

I don't know anything about galaxy either. We miss our year round ship it was quite convenient for us Texans.

[Rancher Dave]

I know. I keep looking at cruises for my family for 2010. We have to cruise when school is out, and Voyager will not be in Galveston. It is looking more and more like there will be 10 cabins sold on Conquest.

 

You could always disenroll the kids from school for a week or do a b2b and take them for two...enroll them when they get back so they have no absences...as you know in Texas lately it is all about TAKS testing.

 

3-4 of DD's classmates took 4-8 weeks off during the year to go visit India...when I found out they were doing so by disenroll and re-enroll I was pretty p/o since it is a Vanguard program and there is a huge waiting list of kids who would be there every day unless legitimately sick...who missed out on the program for the year when other kids and their families didn't think showing up was important. :eek:

 

Ya know though the Voyager Horns will rise above the land on Saturday morning again...there will be about 200 there to see it almost 1/2 will be kids from SL/SB...pretty exciting.

 

Will be nice when VOS gets back since that will mark the short count until we board for our NYE cruise. :)

[brn2crz]

Not even a joke what Rancher Dave says...

WE cruised 4 years in a row in Sept 2nd week...We booked one as usual,then went..OH wait....We have a Kindergärtners now...

No prob,plenty of notice,we will just explain things to the teach...We talked to her at registration,and said no problem,but you will need to get the Principals approval....So went to talk to her..She was all for it...Thought it was great...And then "suggested" that we un-enroll him for that week....same thing no absences...She promised he would get his same room back...

2 weeks (give or take) before we sail...Katrina hits...when we return....We have 20 kids in the office registering for school...6 Kindergarteners...We were lucky to get a spot back in school,much less his same room :eek: :rolleyes:

[FloGaleRNTX]

All I want is a RC ship out of Galveston year-round.....I don't care how big or small. I just want to be able to cruise from there in the summer........

 

Barb

[kwbrad]

All I want is a RC ship out of Galveston year-round.....I don't care how big or small. I just want to be able to cruise from there in the summer........

 

Barb

 

Ditto, they got me hooked then took the ship away

So off to Carnival I go. Leaving in a week, I am very excited!!!!

[isujim]

I know it is really bad for Texans wanting to sail out of Galveston........but I understand the economics of it and why RC did it. Doesn't ease your pain any, but I do understand the $$ of it.

[baabtx]

I'm in complete agreement with the OP. I'm looking into a family cruise for about 18 people and the Holiday sailings are out (due to cost) and most of my nieces and nephews are in school - it'll have to be in the summer....which leaves me with only one option...

[Rancher Dave]

I'm in complete agreement with the OP. I'm looking into a family cruise for about 18 people and the Holiday sailings are out (due to cost) and most of my nieces and nephews are in school - it'll have to be in the summer....which leaves me with only one option...

 

 

A friend and I were discussing the one remaining choice in Galveston...and pricing for this summer is getting far more expensive...RCCL could make good money and offer competition, and both ships could likely sail full...

[Philip217]

Rancher Dave,

You figured out the system. Pricing is getting more expensive because they removed the other ships. The cruise industry is in the unique position of being able to control capacity (and price) by relocating ships when necessary.

 

"....both ships would likely sail full....." is a nice sentiment on your part, but not quite concrete enough for a cruise line president to gamble millions of dollars in busines.

 

If you were in the cruise industry, would you choose to place 2 ships in a location where the prices would drop and "...both ships would likely sail full..." with very LOW profits, or would you choose to place only one ship there - with a guaranteed full house every sailing, with much higher prices and much higher profits?

 

Seems like a no-brainer to me.

[kwbrad]

Rancher Dave,

You figured out the system. Pricing is getting more expensive because they removed the other ships. The cruise industry is in the unique position of being able to control capacity (and price) by relocating ships when necessary.

 

"....both ships would likely sail full....." is a nice sentiment on your part, but not quite concrete enough for a cruise line president to gamble millions of dollars in busines.

 

If you were in the cruise industry, would you choose to place 2 ships in a location where the prices would drop and "...both ships would likely sail full..." with very LOW profits, or would you choose to place only one ship there - with a guaranteed full house every sailing, with much higher prices and much higher profits?

 

Seems like a no-brainer to me.

 

But they have NO ships here now. Rancher Dave is saying if they returned a ship here, then Carnival and Royal would both be sailing full. Royal pulled out and left Galveston.

[FL_Cruiser64]

I can understand Texans being upset with RCI. Always hard to have something taken away.

 

:confused:

Please, can you explain how RCI ripped Galaxy away? I know that is not an RCI ship so I'm a bit confused.

 

Galaxy is a Celebrity ship therefore under RCCL ownership.

 

RCI (Royal Caribbean International) just signed an agreement with TUI (travel agency and vacation specialist in Germany) for a 50/50 stake in TUI Cruises and transfered the Galaxy as part of the agreement (one transfer and one new build in the next 5 years). I believe the Galaxy is going into refurb either this year or early next year and then takes on a fall schedule under TUI Cruises. I think that is what Texas writes about

[FL_Cruiser64]

Insidious!

 

RCI comes to Galveston, gives us Splendor and Rhapsody.

 

Then they entice us with Galaxy.

 

Oh yeah, of course we fall in love with both Rhapsody and Galaxy.

 

Then RCI RIPS Galaxy away from us....leaves Rhapsody for another year, then sends it off to foreign lands, never to grace the shores of Texas again.

 

They then dash all future hopes by selling Galaxy to a new German venture.

 

So they tease us, give us Voyager for 4 months, then dump us like a bad date and take her to Europe!

 

Cruel, so cruel!!!!!!

 

I tell you what. I feel for you. I am so glad having all these ships at my disposal. I would not know what to do if they'd rip them away from me.

 

Thinking about a move down here? ;)

[pboedeker]

Here was my email to Adam Goldstein last week:

 

Dear Mr. Goldstein,

 

As an avid cruiser from the great state of Texas, I would like to encourage you to re-consider adding a year-round sailing from Galveston. Having sailed numerous times on Splendour of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas, it saddens me to think my only option available 8 months out of the year is Carnival!

(Inserted Cruise History)

As you can see from my cruise history, I cruise often and usually take large groups with me (I use cruises as Christmas presents!)

 

I'm an active member of Cruisecritic.com and know that many others feel the same way about RCCL leaving Galveston for 8 months each year.

 

I currently have booked my family (8 of us) on the Voyager in December when she returns to Galveston...but would really appreciate consideration when working on upcoming sailing calendars!

 

Thanks for you time...and consideration!

 

Here was his response:

 

Thank you Phyllis. Your cruising history (and cruising recordkeeping!) is very impressive. Thank you very much for sailing with Royal Caribbean. We are constantly evaluating our deployment overall and Galveston in particular. Unfortunately in this time frame we cannot justify a year-round presence. This may change as we grow but it could not happen before the winter of 2010/2011. In the mean time, I look forward to having you and your friends onboard with us.

 

Best regards,

 

Adam

 

Adam M. Goldstein

President & CEO

Royal Caribbean International

(305) 539 6082

 

I thought his response was pretty lame!

[EastTexans2]

Whatever happened with the "new" port in Houston. We were hoping that Royal would put a ship there year 'round.

[FL_Cruiser64]

Here was my email to Adam Goldstein last week:

 

Dear Mr. Goldstein,

 

As an avid cruiser from the great state of Texas, I would like to encourage you to re-consider adding a year-round sailing from Galveston. Having sailed numerous times on Splendour of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas, it saddens me to think my only option available 8 months out of the year is Carnival!

(Inserted Cruise History)

As you can see from my cruise history, I cruise often and usually take large groups with me (I use cruises as Christmas presents!)

 

I'm an active member of Cruisecritic.com and know that many others feel the same way about RCCL leaving Galveston for 8 months each year.

 

I currently have booked my family (8 of us) on the Voyager in December when she returns to Galveston...but would really appreciate consideration when working on upcoming sailing calendars!

 

Thanks for you time...and consideration!

 

Here was his response:

 

Thank you Phyllis. Your cruising history (and cruising recordkeeping!) is very impressive. Thank you very much for sailing with Royal Caribbean. We are constantly evaluating our deployment overall and Galveston in particular. Unfortunately in this time frame we cannot justify a year-round presence. This may change as we grow but it could not happen before the winter of 2010/2011. In the mean time, I look forward to having you and your friends onboard with us.

 

Best regards,

 

Adam

 

Adam M. Goldstein

President & CEO

Royal Caribbean International

(305) 539 6082

 

I thought his response was pretty lame!

 

Two things to the response:

 

This may change as we grow

 

I am now getting my hopes up that they may be build new Vision and Radiance Class ships. :D

 

In the mean time, I look forward to having you and your friends onboard with us.

 

I would have send the response:

 

Onboard? Out of Galveston? On what ship? A rubber boat? Or CARNIVAL!!!????

 

:D

[madforcruising]

Galaxy is a Celebrity ship therefore under RCCL ownership.

 

RCI (Royal Caribbean International) just signed an agreement with TUI (travel agency and vacation specialist in Germany) for a 50/50 stake in TUI Cruises and transfered the Galaxy as part of the agreement (one transfer and one new build in the next 5 years). I believe the Galaxy is going into refurb either this year or early next year and then takes on a fall schedule under TUI Cruises. I think that is what Texas writes about

 

It might be nitpicking but the misunderstanding here is that it´s not RCI that signed an agreement with TUI but it´s RCCL that signed the agreement. Galaxy is a ship from the Celebrity Fleet which is owned by RCCL and not RCI.

 

RCI = Royal Caribbean International (the cruise line)

RCCL = Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. (the mother company of Celebrity, RCI, Azamara, Pullmantur and Croisieres de France)

[FL_Cruiser64]

It might be nitpicking but the misunderstanding here is that it´s not RCI that signed an agreement with TUI but it´s RCCL that signed the agreement. Galaxy is a ship from the Celebrity Fleet which is owned by RCCL and not RCI.

 

RCI = Royal Caribbean International (the cruise line)

RCCL = Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. (the mother company of Celebrity, RCI, Azamara, Pullmantur and Croisieres de France)

 

You are correct:

 

Initial it was supposed to be RCI and TUI Reisen who were supposed to sign the agreement (as two operating companies) and RCCL was, since it owned Celebrity and RCI, to transfer the ship (at that time unnamed). So it was reported in the german media.

 

In the end, you are correct, RCCL and TUI AG as parent companies signed the agreement.

 

Sorry. Thanks for keeping me on the right track. :D

[Cruising Greek]

Here was my email to Adam Goldstein last week:

 

Dear Mr. Goldstein,

 

As an avid cruiser from the great state of Texas, I would like to encourage you to re-consider adding a year-round sailing from Galveston. Having sailed numerous times on Splendour of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas, it saddens me to think my only option available 8 months out of the year is Carnival!

(Inserted Cruise History)

As you can see from my cruise history, I cruise often and usually take large groups with me (I use cruises as Christmas presents!)

 

I'm an active member of Cruisecritic.com and know that many others feel the same way about RCCL leaving Galveston for 8 months each year.

 

I currently have booked my family (8 of us) on the Voyager in December when she returns to Galveston...but would really appreciate consideration when working on upcoming sailing calendars!

 

Thanks for you time...and consideration!

 

Here was his response:

 

Thank you Phyllis. Your cruising history (and cruising recordkeeping!) is very impressive. Thank you very much for sailing with Royal Caribbean. We are constantly evaluating our deployment overall and Galveston in particular. Unfortunately in this time frame we cannot justify a year-round presence. This may change as we grow but it could not happen before the winter of 2010/2011. In the mean time, I look forward to having you and your friends onboard with us.

 

Best regards,

 

Adam

 

Adam M. Goldstein

President & CEO

Royal Caribbean International

(305) 539 6082

 

I thought his response was pretty lame!

 

I think its kinda harsh to characterize his response as lame. This is a business, and the overall good of the company is what he is charged with dealing with. It may very well be that it does not make any financial sense to be in Galveston year- round.

 

Living in Boston, I am in a similar situation. I would definitely prefer to cruise out of the Boston pier, but there are only a few months (Sept., Oct.) in which RCI does so. I can understand this, however, as it is more expensive for RCI to cruise out of here for any Caribbean destinations, as additional fuel and time are needed to get down to the Caribbean.

 

Things change all the time in business, and there is a constant re-assessment of business strategy. I think he is being truthful as much as he can be, without giving away any details of future planning to their competition.

[04cruises]

We feel your pain. We were on the last cruise in August on the Rhapsody and seen how the locals felt.We our also seeing a problem for us in Florida who don,t like to cruise on the mega ships. By the 2010 season, it seems there will no longer be any 7 days from Fl. unless on the mega ships.We are going to do the two we have booked and then start doing other lines. It is just the way they have decided to go,so we have decided to go.