Dave0311

This used to be a trick but I think Carnival started advertising it more IIRC -- for breakfast I love ordering fried eggs (over easy, sunny side up, etc.) at the omelette station. There is usually someone else in line who is surprised you can do this.

Love the Spirit class! As others have said it's the perfect size for us, great layout, and not crowded.

Our favorite spot to hang out in the evenings was the little bar in the back of the ship next to the art gallery. It's the service bar for MDR but it has seating as well. Small and quiet which means plenty of opportunity to get to know the bartenders and the few other regulars who would frequent this bar.

Looking forward to another bumper boats video with Imagination's beaching.

My theory (and it's just a theory) is that Fascination is tied up until space opens up at Aliaga. I wouldn't be surprised if they already have an agreement to sell her for scrap, but there is currently no room with four cruise ships currently beached. Once at least one of those ships is completely scrapped, Fascination will make her way to Aliaga. Until then, it's probably cheaper to tie her up at Cadiz than to have her out in the water.

I think I figured it out. There's a footnote that says "Due to the three-month reporting lag, we include Silversea Cruises' result of operations from January 1 through March 31 for the quarters ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 and from October 1 through March 31 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019." I bet that's the source of the revenues on the income statement.

I think the first cruises will be short cruises (4 days or less). Those cruises will probably only go to private islands to minimize the amount of cruise passengers mingling with locals (less chance of spreading the virus). I'm not sure if there will be cruises out of ports that could not reach the private islands for a 4 day cruise at first. If things go well, they'll probably expand to short cruises to other ports that will accept cruise passengers. After that they'll return to longer cruises.

I'm curious what the passenger ticket revenues are as well. Since no cruises departed this quarter that I'm aware of, all the money they took in from customers should still be sitting in customer deposits, no?

I'd love to see the old school ships on a stick with the marble bases.

17 minutes ago, HaveWeMetYet said:

I don't think they can get all the ships staffed back up in 4-6 weeks. There has probably been a lot of crew that have left the company and found other jobs. They have quite a chore to get people hired, trained, and sent to the ships. A big expense also.

Probably going to be a lot of work to get one ship ready that fast.

Not to mention that the other cruise lines will probably be hiring around the same time, so they'll all be competing for workers.

Those photos are so surreal. I know the ship is being scrapped; it's just crazy to see them banged together like that. What a sad ending for those ships.

If anyone else is wondering what the Inspiration looked like on the inside right before she was sold, check out this video. These photos were taken the last day crew were allowed on board. I imagine she's even more stripped down now with furniture, etc. removed.

If anyone wants to see the video.

15 minutes ago, cruisingator2 said:

Fascination arriving in Cadiz. 
 

 

So sad to see how poor she looks on the outside. It's like a metaphor for the state of the industry right now. 😢

3 hours ago, DaisyGirl55 said:

I hope they don't post pictures.  I prefer to see them in my mind - all lit up and sailing off into the sunset.

Pictures have been posted in the other thread. There is also a video of a rusted Fascination arriving in Cadiz. I'd recommend avoiding that thread if you don't wish to see them. 😢

Maybe Festivale but I've always loved the name Tropicale so that what I'm hoping for.

3 hours ago, tybrkr17 said:

Any reason why the Fascination might go before the Ecstasy or Sensation? It is three years newer than the Ecstasy and I think it has the same balcony upgrades as those two. 

 

I would have thought the first four Fantasy class ships that would have got sold off first would be:

Fantasy (Oldest and no balcony upgrade)

Ecstasy (Oldest ship with the balcony upgrade)

Imagination (No Balcony upgrade)

Inspiration (No Balcony upgrade)

 

Leaving Fascination, Sensation, Paradise and Elation. (The four newest Fantasy class ships with the upgrades)

My only thought: Ecstasy went through dry dock last year and Fascination is/was scheduled to go into dry dock this year, so they can keep Ecstasy around without having to lay out any money for dry dock maintenance. I've read Sensation is also scheduled to go into dry dock this year too, but they probably needed the capacity of one of the two and they picked Sensation over Fascination.

The refund for our cancelled 8/18 cruise came through today. The refund was requested on May 4th I believe.

4 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

One down, the rest will fail

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-us-judge-dismisses-lawsuits-by-grand-princess-cruise-ship-passengers/

 

 

Good news!

"The couple sought more than $1 million for putting their health at risk and causing trauma."

Seriously? $1 million for being afraid of catching the virus? Apparently they didn't actually get infected, which makes this even more absurd.

For what it's worth, Inspiration and Elation are listed for sale here, based on the years and photos:

https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1996/cruise-ship--2054-passenger-3466280/ - the buffet area photo is from the Inspiration and the last photo doesn't have the ship's name edited out.

https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1998/cruise-ship-2052-2632--stock-no-s2158-3024019/ - the piano bar and buffet area photos are from the Elation

5 minutes ago, chobo2 said:

 

I am not sure what you mean?

Customers who have deposits with NCL are an example of unsecured creditors. A secured creditor has collateral (like a cruise ship) to back up their money that is being held by NCL. If NCL goes into bankruptcy, secured creditors are first in line to get paid back as much as possible. An unsecured creditor does not have any collateral and thus only has a chance to get their money back in bankruptcy after the secured creditors collect their collateral. Shareholders generally are the last to get repaid, if at all.

13 minutes ago, Corliss said:

 

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/

 

You were looking at total tests. It's no surprise that the most populated states in the country (of which Florida is one) have the highest number of total tests performed, so that statistic doesn't really mean much on its own. You need to sort that chart by "Tests/1M pop" to see what proportion of that state's population is being tested. Are they testing a larger or smaller portion of their population than other states? They are in fact 23rd by this statistic, meaning there are 22 states that are testing a larger percentage of their population than Florida. Those states likely have more accurate statistics in terms of positive cases, death rates, etc.

I would love a 6 or 7 day cruise that just goes to HMC and Princess Cays. I don't recall seeing an itinerary that included both of those ports. If they have to throw in another port, give me a throwaway port (in my opinion) like Freeport so I can have the ship to myself😂 or a stop in Cuba would be great.

I do like the new design. I just wish they'd go back to the old style funnels from the Conquest/Fantasy classes.

Curious to see if they switch up the deck plans! Maybe they'll go with a completely new layout. 

Jim, I'm looking forward to your review and videos! You always do a great job with your reviews. :)

Love those old Carnival Capers. Carnival needs to bring back that knobby knees contest! :D