Celebrity, MSC, and Royal Caribbean news. www.CruiseAficionados.com
10 views
Skip to first unread message
NWLB
Aug 6, 2008, 4:04:15 PM8/6/08
to Celebrity Fan
Cruising Asia on Legend gets easier.
Royal Caribbean will deploy Legend of the Seas to Asia year round,
starting in 2009. Royal Caribbean has had its return to the Asian
market underway for nearly three years now, and with the successful
placement of Vision class ships in the market, they are stationing one
there permanently. The move makes a great deal of sense. Obviously,
the Asian market is already large, and well accustom to vacation
cruises. However, it is a market that should prove a fine home for
older ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. With the move of the
Sovereign out of the fleet, and shifting Empress as well, the six unit
Vision class are the smallest vessels remaining. Additionally, they
are now the most “dissimilar” to the emerging standard of Royal
Caribbean, seen with the Voyager family of ships.
The Vision class are held in very high regard for their design. They
are a significant refinement over the earlier Sovereign class they
followed, and have many years of life remaining in the Royal Caribbean
fleet. But the change in feel and experience a passenger coming from
one or more cruises on a Voyager class would be dramatic. Especially
if the itinerary is in the same area. Asia however is an “exotic”
region, the culture sharply different, and that aids the transition
for people cruising in the region. The expectations are very
different from the start.
Trust that future years will see all of the Vision class sail to the
edges of the Royal Caribbean markets.
Royal Caribbean is holding its own in rough economy.
Royal Caribbean, like the cruise industry at large, has been holding
its own during what is either technically or effectively a recession
in the U.S. Despite substantially higher fuel costs, which have risen
over 55%, the line managed a modest boost in yield. Overall costs
were up 6.7% but only 2% if you discount fuel from the numbers.
The end of the Olympic building boom in China, a U.S. recession, and
likely slow-down in Europe and Asia, should help stun the oil markets
back into submission. And those who can afford a cruise, are
generally not proving the same as those who are being most hurt by the
global economy. This is bad if one is hoping for deeper discounts on
fares. But if you follow the industry at all, you know we are most
likely going to see a steady increase in fares over the years to
come.
MSC sends more tonnage to Florida.
Medeterranian Shipping Corporation (MSC) is sending a pair of 89,000
GRT ships to sail from Ft. Lauderdale in the next few years. The MSC
Poesia and Magnifica will do 7 and 10 night itins starting in late
2009. Its another sign that Miami proper, has lost its crown as the
capital of the cruise industry. Virtually all the newest and biggest
ships are porting in the sprawling Ft. Lauderdale area.
Diamonds are a Celebrities best friend.
Celebrity is getting into designer diamonds. They will offer an 86
facet diamond onboard the Solstice. Needless to say, it will sparkle,
cost a lot, and represents part of the move among lines to make ship
stores more relevant to passengers. Especially passengers with lots
and lots of money!
Speaking of stores…..
Solstice will not have the grand promenades of the Voyager family of
ships. However the line is not choosing to repeat the normal deck of
stores seen on most modern ships either. On the Celebrity Solstice,
you will have three decks of stores, likely connected by a massive
Centrum. Among the names being promoted are The Lawn Club,
Exquisites, The Showcase, Pieces of Time, The Artisan Store, The
Solstice Shop, Adagio, Serendipity, Jasmine, Moda, The Collection, The
Men’s Store, Glitz, Travel Made Easy, Sol Y Mar, Spirits & Such, and
The Sundialer. What does it all mean Alfie? I’ll cover each in
greater detail over the next few months.
***************************
Reading this on Blogger, or by RSS? Visit the original at
http://www.CruiseAficionados.com
Royal Caribbean will deploy Legend of the Seas to Asia year round,
starting in 2009. Royal Caribbean has had its return to the Asian
market underway for nearly three years now, and with the successful
placement of Vision class ships in the market, they are stationing one
there permanently. The move makes a great deal of sense. Obviously,
the Asian market is already large, and well accustom to vacation
cruises. However, it is a market that should prove a fine home for
older ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. With the move of the
Sovereign out of the fleet, and shifting Empress as well, the six unit
Vision class are the smallest vessels remaining. Additionally, they
are now the most “dissimilar” to the emerging standard of Royal
Caribbean, seen with the Voyager family of ships.
The Vision class are held in very high regard for their design. They
are a significant refinement over the earlier Sovereign class they
followed, and have many years of life remaining in the Royal Caribbean
fleet. But the change in feel and experience a passenger coming from
one or more cruises on a Voyager class would be dramatic. Especially
if the itinerary is in the same area. Asia however is an “exotic”
region, the culture sharply different, and that aids the transition
for people cruising in the region. The expectations are very
different from the start.
Trust that future years will see all of the Vision class sail to the
edges of the Royal Caribbean markets.
Royal Caribbean is holding its own in rough economy.
Royal Caribbean, like the cruise industry at large, has been holding
its own during what is either technically or effectively a recession
in the U.S. Despite substantially higher fuel costs, which have risen
over 55%, the line managed a modest boost in yield. Overall costs
were up 6.7% but only 2% if you discount fuel from the numbers.
The end of the Olympic building boom in China, a U.S. recession, and
likely slow-down in Europe and Asia, should help stun the oil markets
back into submission. And those who can afford a cruise, are
generally not proving the same as those who are being most hurt by the
global economy. This is bad if one is hoping for deeper discounts on
fares. But if you follow the industry at all, you know we are most
likely going to see a steady increase in fares over the years to
come.
MSC sends more tonnage to Florida.
Medeterranian Shipping Corporation (MSC) is sending a pair of 89,000
GRT ships to sail from Ft. Lauderdale in the next few years. The MSC
Poesia and Magnifica will do 7 and 10 night itins starting in late
2009. Its another sign that Miami proper, has lost its crown as the
capital of the cruise industry. Virtually all the newest and biggest
ships are porting in the sprawling Ft. Lauderdale area.
Diamonds are a Celebrities best friend.
Celebrity is getting into designer diamonds. They will offer an 86
facet diamond onboard the Solstice. Needless to say, it will sparkle,
cost a lot, and represents part of the move among lines to make ship
stores more relevant to passengers. Especially passengers with lots
and lots of money!
Speaking of stores…..
Solstice will not have the grand promenades of the Voyager family of
ships. However the line is not choosing to repeat the normal deck of
stores seen on most modern ships either. On the Celebrity Solstice,
you will have three decks of stores, likely connected by a massive
Centrum. Among the names being promoted are The Lawn Club,
Exquisites, The Showcase, Pieces of Time, The Artisan Store, The
Solstice Shop, Adagio, Serendipity, Jasmine, Moda, The Collection, The
Men’s Store, Glitz, Travel Made Easy, Sol Y Mar, Spirits & Such, and
The Sundialer. What does it all mean Alfie? I’ll cover each in
greater detail over the next few months.
***************************
Reading this on Blogger, or by RSS? Visit the original at
http://www.CruiseAficionados.com
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages