Recession

[LibraLass41]

Stopgo

Did you buy Carnival shares then in the end?

 

Yes, the shareprice fell, but it has gained by 50p+ in a day as well lately.

The AGM is in March and then shareholders will vote on the obc being given to people cruising on their ships...after loosing the divis for 2009 I do hope we retain the obc....

[Pennysue]

We have just booked a cruise for January 2010 on Oceana. The grade cabin and deck we wanted are sold out, and 2nd sitting is wait listed. Recession? Nuff said!

 

Penny

[stopgo]

Stopgo

Did you buy Carnival shares then in the end?

 

Yes, the shareprice fell, but it has gained by 50p+ in a day as well lately.

The AGM is in March and then shareholders will vote on the obc being given to people cruising on their ships...after loosing the divis for 2009 I do hope we retain the obc....

No I didn't buy any, if they had got to £10 I would have given it serious thought. I don't think they will drop as low as that, not unless fuel costs go through the roof again or Carnival hit serious financial trouble.

More jobs going in the financial sector as RBS anounce 2300 job losses.

[tom_uk]

Is it me, or am I seeing a lot more offers from on-line TAs this year than I was at the same time last year?

 

It's been going on for over a month, which would fit with the final payment deadline for the first set of ex-Southampton cruises in 2009. I suppose that a number of people who booked some while ago have opted out of finalising things. What do others think?

 

And what do we all think is putting people off? - the uncertainty, or the higher costs ashore in €-land and on-board on € and $ ships?

[daiB]

Is it me, or am I seeing a lot more offers from on-line TAs this year than I was at the same time last year?

 

It's been going on for over a month, which would fit with the final payment deadline for the first set of ex-Southampton cruises in 2009. I suppose that a number of people who booked some while ago have opted out of finalising things. What do others think?

 

And what do we all think is putting people off? - the uncertainty, or the higher costs ashore in €-land and on-board on € and $ ships?

 

Your last point is extremely valid. Any holiday paid for mainly in $'s or Euro's will be more expensive this and next year. So that's all package hols and cruises with all except, P&O, Thompsons, Fred Olsen and OV. There may be others.

 

Spain and Islands, Portugal, France, Greece, Italy are all going to look very expensive. Those with money are going to look for value. Holiday at home or cruise with P&O, Thompsons, Fred Olsen and OV.

 

The exchange difference will have little effect if you only buy a few beers or coffee and tend not to take excursions. Oh that's us.

 

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

:cool:

 

 

Dai

[tom_uk]

Holiday at home or cruise with P&O, Thompsons, Fred Olsen and OV.

 

We are certainly doing more of the former this year. The last two years we've had two cruises a year, a 'full' one (well, a bit less than 14 nights in each case, but more than 7) and a short one - 4 nights in each case. But this year we've stopped looking at cruises and instead are having a few weekends away around the country. We went to London just over a fortnight ago and caught a couple of good exhibitions, we've just booked hotel & transport for a couple of nights in Bristol in the spring, and we'll do a couple more through the summer.

 

As far as cruises are concerned, we do have a cruise booked on for late September on Celebrity Solstice..... yes, onboard expenditure in US$, and shore-side expenditure in €. Ouch. I was looking at a bar menu that someone 'helpfully' posted in the Celebrity forum - most wines more than $10 per glass, many considerably more; and then there's the 15% service charge on top of that... I'm hoping that the particular drinks list was from their more select establishment! On the other hand we did get the cruise at a good price, given that it's flight-inclusive (we booked last spring), and we do love the itinerary. But it's possible that if the right offer came along on PandO for the right dates, we might jump ship.

[stopgo]

As anybody seen any green shoots of recovery yet. Or as the credit

crunch turned into a recession ? Well I guess it must have as two months of consecutive negative growth equals a recession. Where I live there is no sign of improvement, with constant shorttime working and of course redundancys the norm. Hotels and restaurant keep closing not to mention local businesses, everybody seems to be expecting the worse. In todays Observer they report an adverage of 10 applicants for every job vacancy, and in some parts of the country 60 applicants for every vacancy. I am expecting a slight improvement in winter as we get to Xmas, which is not saying much as alot of job losses are not on the system yet. So from now for the next couple of months there will be a steep rise has job losses are added to the unemployment totals. I guess its just a matter of hopeing things improve sooner rather than later.

[Gerrym]

As anybody seen any green shoots of recovery yet. Or as the credit

crunch turned into a recession ? Well I guess it must have as two months of consecutive negative growth equals a recession. Where I live there is no sign of improvement, with constant shorttime working and of course redundancys the norm. Hotels and restaurant keep closing not to mention local businesses, everybody seems to be expecting the worse. In todays Observer they report an adverage of 10 applicants for every job vacancy, and in some parts of the country 60 applicants for every vacancy. I am expecting a slight improvement in winter as we get to Xmas, which is not saying much as alot of job losses are not on the system yet. So from now for the next couple of months there will be a steep rise has job losses are added to the unemployment totals. I guess its just a matter of hopeing things improve sooner rather than later.

 

 

 

Well I feel so much better now LOL

 

 

 

:D

 

 

 

:D

[stopgo]

It's not a laughing matter Gerry, alot of people are worried or effected by the economic situation. It a real concern paying for the basics not to mention keeping a roof over your head, it can be and will be a disaster to some family finances.

[Gerrym]

It's not a laughing matter Gerry, alot of people are worried or effected by the economic situation. It a real concern paying for the basics not to mention keeping a roof over your head, it can be and will be a disaster to some family finances.

 

 

 

I agree, but your reporting style is!

 

 

:p

[stopgo]

Its hard to get over the effects of the recession, for people that aren't caught up in it. I was just putting how I felt and how the sitituation is on myself and the people I know. Its quiet an emotive subject with the upset and hardship involved, and not a subject for glib one liners.

[Cymro1953]

Has anyone actually been affect by the recession of downturn in trade?

 

The shops seem full of people. Not just the 'essential' food shops but the 'non essential' such as the Graden Centres, Clothing stores, Bedding stores etc

 

The only place I have seen 'rather empty', was a Travel Agent I went into yesterday to get a brochure, 'BUT', it was one of the run of the mill High Street TA's and not the specialist/private type I use.

 

Recession? Point it out to me :-)

 

Mike

 

As far as our local T/A is concerned I asked about it when we were booking our next cruise :D. And was told that they were just as busy as ever. And today when I went in for our Euros before they dropped below £1 :eek: it was as busy as usual.

As far as the cruises being discounted because of the recession, you usually see them reduced just towards the sailing date.

For example the Thomsons Red Sea magic cruise is going at present for £450 at the end of March. Instead of the usual £700+.

But this has been at a similar price for the last couple of years last minute

[stopgo]

Mikes O/P was end of October so I would expect T/A to be quiet at that time of year. At this time of year trade should be picking up, even in these turbulant times. I guess it also depends which area you live in and how bad its been effected.

[ovccruiser]

This recession is a direct result of the credit crunch. The banks stopped lending money for major purchases, houses, cars and as a result sales of these two items has almost stopped. New houses are now sold complete with washing machine, fridge, freezer etc etc However, where no credit or low credit is required, sales are doing well. I, as well as cruising, am also a caravanner and at present, new caravan purchases are at a high and second hand caravans are selling above book price. The high street shops seem quite busy, indeed, Morrisons has recently anounced record profits. The FTSE appears to back on the way up, 200 points last week, and I am sure the comments made by a US banker or senator, not sure, will not go unnoticed that the US economy is now on the up and climbing out of recession. I am sure, this recession is a question of trust, the banks were hit hard and learned some tough lessons and called crees for a few months. Norther Rock has started lending again, and I am sure others will follow. I hope I am right, I want to carry on cruising:D:D

[balf]

But it's possible that if the right offer came along on PandO for the right dates, we might jump ship.

 

How much would you lose on the cancellation?

 

David.

[stopgo]

This recession is a direct result of the credit crunch. The banks stopped lending money for major purchases, houses, cars and as a result sales of these two items has almost stopped. New houses are now sold complete with washing machine, fridge, freezer etc etc However, where no credit or low credit is required, sales are doing well. I, as well as cruising, am also a caravanner and at present, new caravan purchases are at a high and second hand caravans are selling above book price. The high street shops seem quite busy, indeed, Morrisons has recently anounced record profits. The FTSE appears to back on the way up, 200 points last week, and I am sure the comments made by a US banker or senator, not sure, will not go unnoticed that the US economy is now on the up and climbing out of recession. I am sure, this recession is a question of trust, the banks were hit hard and learned some tough lessons and called crees for a few months. Norther Rock has started lending again, and I am sure others will follow. I hope I am right, I want to carry on cruising:D:D

Its no suprise that banks are starting lending again, the goverment are major shareholders and they want them to start lending. Supermarkets always do well, I don't know off any that went bust. Though Safeway hit financial trouble from not being big or competitive enough. The US will come out of it first, as they have pumped more billions into the recovery than anybody else. It will be interesting to see if last weeks rise in the FTSE is the start of a steady growth or a flash in the pan.

[tom_uk]

How much would you lose on the cancellation?

 

David.

 

I think we paid £240 in deposit, and we'd lose that.

 

But since I posted that earlier comment, we have taken a firmer hold of the tiller and have decided that we'll go ahead with the Solstice cruise as planned. Yes, on-board expenditure will not be cheap but that's encouragement to not go mad. We'll spend what we need spend ashore; we'll avoid expensive excursions; in fact, all-in-all we'll be exactly the kind of skin-flint passengers that the cruise line don't want!

 

In fact, that's probably our response to the recession: we'll look for keen prices when we book, we'll make sure we're happy with what we're offered and then lock it in at a fixed price, and then when the cruise comes we won't spend money on unnecessary things.

[davecttr]

I have just returned from a Thomson cruise to the Canaries and the ship was full but the recession is impacting on the islands. One of the tour guides told us that the number of passengers taking shore excursions has dropped significantly. For example a year or so ago a particular tour might involve 3 or 4 coach loads but this year the same tour is only 1 coach half full! It appears that many passengers are either doing their own thing or not even bothering to leave the ship, except perhaps for a stroll into town.

[stopgo]

Metro reporting today that British Airport passenger numbers fell last year for the first time in eighteen years. It seems that trend is continueing this year as well, if it continues it will be the first time since W/W2 that passenger numbers have fallen for two consecutive years.

[Nippy Sweetie]

I agree that it is a serious matter however, its also a question of consumer confidence. There are many people in secure jobs (teacher, nurses etc) who just might be having extra money at the end of the month due to mortgage reductions, petrol, gas, electricity etc being cheaper. These people just might have been considering buying a new car or even moving house but one glance at the gloom & doom headlines makes them think again thus continuing the downward spiral.

Bad news is good judging by our media.

Alll the balconies have sold out on our cruise in August. That tells a tale

[Gerrym]

I have just returned from a Thomson cruise to the Canaries and the ship was full but the recession is impacting on the islands. One of the tour guides told us that the number of passengers taking shore excursions has dropped significantly. For example a year or so ago a particular tour might involve 3 or 4 coach loads but this year the same tour is only 1 coach half full! It appears that many passengers are either doing their own thing or not even bothering to leave the ship, except perhaps for a stroll into town.

 

 

Dave, I can relate to that. Last year we took a tour at almost every port. This year it is the exception if we do an organised tour. We are DIYers this year!

 

:o

[stopgo]

I agree that it is a serious matter however, its also a question of consumer confidence. There are many people in secure jobs (teacher, nurses etc) who just might be having extra money at the end of the month due to mortgage reductions, petrol, gas, electricity etc being cheaper. These people just might have been considering buying a new car or even moving house but one glance at the gloom & doom headlines makes them think again thus continuing the downward spiral.

Bad news is good judging by our media.

Alll the balconies have sold out on our cruise in August. That tells a tale

Oh Nippy, your not one of these who blame the media for the economic situation, and that its a figment of Fleet Street and TV. I think those that are not affected are putting off big purchases till they see positive indications of an upturn. The rest of us are clinging on by our finger nails.

[MattyBarlow]

Oh Nippy, your not one of these who blame the media for the economic situation, and that its a figment of Fleet Street and TV. I think those that are not affected are putting off big purchases till they see positive indications of an upturn. The rest of us are clinging on by our finger nails.

 

 

But what is one of the major factors in consumer confidence...the media! Too many people do not understand what is going on so they rely on what the media tells them. The media have no morals. Where i work has made some changes, good and bad...the media only reported the bad! The internet has allowed information to flow much quicker than before and can therefore cause damage quicker.

[stopgo]

Yes Matty but the media didn't cause the banks to crash, in fact you could argue it the other way if the media hadn't got involved things may have been considerably worse. I don't believe the goverment would have acted so quick to bale the banks out, if the media hadn't pushed them too it.

[ovccruiser]

Yes Matty but the media didn't cause the banks to crash, in fact you could argue it the other way if the media hadn't got involved things may have been considerably worse. I don't believe the goverment would have acted so quick to bale the banks out, if the media hadn't pushed them too it.

 

The various governments had not option. Had the banks failed and gone under, we would probably be paying for our cruises by bartering as the £/$ would have no value:D