commodore2010

On 11/1/2018 at 5:49 PM, Keith1010 said:

I am not sure how long you plan to say in Europe but can't imagine how you could fit all of your items in a carry on bag, particularly if you are cruising.

 

For us we check in luggage and also take carry ons.

 

Whether or not you have to claim your luggage if you are on two flights really comes down to how the airline flights were booked.

 

Keith

I pack pretty light, but how in the world do you pack enough clothes for at least a seven day vacation in a carry-on?  Especially a cruise vacation.   

You would need to wash and wear the same clothes in a 2-3 day cycle. Not that there is anything wrong with that.  The last time I did something similar I had a backpack and stayed in hostels.

On 10/31/2018 at 2:18 PM, Zqueeze1 said:

Sheltieluv:

Sitting on Mario’s station, we have a direct view of the Commodore/Captain. He is a spry individual. Would love to talk to him but it is a little intimidating. 

Z and TB

Captian Jablin is a great guy. He used to have Dover Sole almost everyday. Wonder if he's still doing that?

Former captain in the USN, I believe.  Regent gave him the honorary title Commodore.

On 10/25/2018 at 6:43 AM, BigNance said:

We embarked from Piraeus yesterday (Wednesday Oct 24th) at 6 PM.

Our pre stay at the Grand Bretagne was amazing. The rooftop bar and the view of the Acropolis at night was phenomenal (drinks were great also, although pricey). We REALLY liked this hotel. It is beautiful, the service was great, and the location was outstanding. It overlooks Syntagma Square and the Hellenic Parliament. 

 

LOVE the Grand Bretagne.  Only place I stay in Athens. That rooftop is amazing. 

I think the OVERALL product now is better than it was in the mid 2000's.

I believe you can still take a boat trip around the Arizona Memorial. I recommend that you visit the Missouri, the Pacific Air Museum, and particularly the submarine USS Bowfin tour.

 

You can just take a taxi (or Lyft/Uber if they have that) from and to the pier...

Yes, this is the easiest and most practical way to go. You can spend as much or little time as you want.

You can buy all the tickets online.

We did this in April and it was great.

This will be a boring financial post. I just listened to the RCCL investor conference call recording, which is available through the RCCL investor relations website. This adds some new information, which is interesting because AFAIK it has not previously been exposed here.

 

The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2018. There is about $500m of net debt in the [silversea] business. The multiple of normalised EBITDA [for the acquisition] was about 14x. However, this is expected to be less than 11x after taking into account the "at least" $50 million a year synergies that RCCL anticipates, after completion. Most of the synergies are expected to come from cost reductions, though they were careful to highlight areas such as insurance, office costs and credit card fees. They declined to answer two questions about whether there was an option (or puts/calls) to acquire the rest of Silversea, so that seems to mean "yes"; not surprising.

 

We already know that the purchase price was $1 billion for 66.7%, plus performance-related (up to) 467,000 shares, today worth just over $500 million if you could sell them.

 

Now my financial arithmetic is a bit rusty, but IIRC, Enterprise Value (EV) includes net debt, and the deal was based on a $2 billion EV. But we already have $1 billion cash, $0.5 billion paper and $0.5 billion debt. So that is $2 billion EV for 67% and that makes EV for the whole of Silversea $3 billion, based on this deal.

 

If EBITDA was 14x a $3 billion EV, that would be about $215 million a year of cash flow. Revenue might be around $600 million, but this is based on RCCL's financials, so it is guesswork. (But it suggests revenue of about $500-$550 per guest per day if every ship were full, all year round, which may be in the right ball park.)

 

In the context of that much cash flow, $500 million of debt doesn't look dangerously high.

 

In summary, Silversea's owner seems to have done a brilliant deal for himself. As for the rest of us, we'll see.

Brilliant Deal is an understatement. RCL overpaid in a big way.

Silversea was the only luxury brand left without a corporate owner, so maybe that is why they took the deal.

I think your enterprise value may be a little high, but only because no one knows all the details of this transaction.

Not sure you can put the performance related payments in the EV as we don't know the metrics of the performance or future performance and how many years that performance metrics are required. Also, I thought I heard on the call that RCL took on 100% of net debt ($500m) and if that is the case it should not be increased 33 % to get EV.

EV could be as low as $1.8 or as high as $3, as you suggest, depending on the details of the transaction.

RCL was not forthcoming on the details at all. They skirted all the detail.

RCL could have easily bought out 100% of Silversea. No problem. Easy peasy. Why not? Very interesting.

To me it makes sense for them to buy Silversea, but why only 67%? Now RCL has to "deal" with a partial owner. These arrangements are often troublesome. Would have been better to just purchase 100% and run it without any interference.

Sailed on NCL twice. Most recently this past May on Pride of America for the Hawaii Itinerary. Also sailed on Regent many times.

There is really no comparison. Yes, you are on a cruise but it is a totally different vacation.

The basic stateroom on Regent would be like a mini-suite on the Escape

Its like having a UDP and UBP but the drinks and the food are much much better. MDR on Regent is better than Specialty on NCL.

Excursions are pretty much the same but included on Regent.

Service level is incredible compared to NCL

NO CROWDS. A truly relaxing atmosphere.

In the hotel world think Four Seasons vs. Holiday Inn.

In the car world think Rolls Royce vs. Toyota.

NCL is a good cruise line, however it is just hard to find luxury and a resort type atmosphere on a 4,000 pax ship.

Well, we've given up. We will never get back the suitcase with all our things, it's extra hard from another continent.

DHL and other shipping companies can not transport the suitcase to Stockholm without paperwork on site with customs clearance and shipping notes. Our insurance company will replace at least some of the economic value.

Why SAS was involved I do not know. They might be contacted by LA airport to give us information.

The lady who took the bag flew with Air France from Barcelona to LA. She took our suitcase despite the red band around the bag and left a similar one in Barcelona.

Of course, we had current medication in the hand luggage and only reserve medicine in the suitcase. Otherwise, we lose travel memories, glasses and exclusive clothes and shoes.

We travelled with MS Riviera in the Mediterranean in April and arrived at Barcelona April 21. Wonderful cruise, but memories are darkened by the disembarcation process, when we lost a suitcase. Even though the suitcase had a red belt and labeled with our name, another passenger made a mistake and took it. It contained souvenirs from the trip, exclusive shoes and clothes, glasses and prescription drugs etc. In Barcelona we wrote a report to Oceania and were promised a copy sent to our home address which has not happened. We were delayed by a couple of hours. At home we were contacted by the woman in US who took our suitcase, and were told that the suitcase had been left at LA airport to be sent to us. It was wrong, the bag is still in Los Angeles.

We also contacted our TA in Stockholm who has helped us with contacting Oceania. Today they got this response which made me furious: "I have spoken to our Guest Relations department and unfortunately as the luggage was taken by another guest and not lost during our handling we are not able to assist in calling the airport. They also said the airport might just have to verify what is in the bag and this needs to be done by the person who sends it and unfortunately cannot be done by us." .

This lady has contacted you via phone from your post above. I would suggest calling her back and tell her to get her A$$ back to LAX and get your bag. Not sure why you didn't do this the first time she called. Leaving that bag at LAX is inexcusable.

She is an absolute idiot for:

1) Taking the wrong bag

2) Leaving that bag in LAX

Intercontinental is a good choice. Very close to the port and if you get a hater view you'll be able to see your ship.

Intercon is great.

I like your "hater" view room. Made me laugh. Oceania should have a Hater Suite.

The Olympic is still the grandest hotel downtown a short taxi to the terminal

I second the Fairmont Olympic

I think it is on a 2 or 3 night Travel Agent/PR Cruise

Never OK under whose rules? The cruise lines don't have any rules preventing it.

 

I do all my own research for our cruise vacations. The TA I choose to use has nothing more complicated to do than the simple mechanics of being my intermediary with the cruise line. I've already chosen the cruise line/itinerary/cabin category/often the cabin itself.

 

I'll pick the agent based on a combination of my prior experience with them and the incentives they offer. It's not uncommon for me to book with the agent I'm most comfortable with rather than the agent with the absolute best incentives as long as the agent I'm most comfortable with is offering something reasonably close to what other agents are.

 

It's a normal everyday common business practice.

 

Some years ago one of the businesses I owned and operated was a travel agency. Cruise clients did business with my agency the same way I do business today a client. There were any number of my clients who didn't book with me because I offered the best financial deal. They booked with me because they were happy with the service I provided.

My only $.02 is to please remember the protocols. We regularly get posters here complaining about either lack of direct service from O customer service or being redirected to their TA to handle certain affairs. In their minds they want to deal with Oceania direct in all manners and only use the TA for kickbacks and benefits. Not the protocols Oceania established.

 

I always, when not aboard, book with my TA. Any and all financial arrangements between us have already been established.

This is exactly why travel agents are marginalizing themselves out of existence. In reality they don't "STEER" many customers to a certain cruise line. Like you all, most customers now do all the due diligence on-line and just transfer the booking for a good "Kickback".

I'm fairly sure that we just heard that they are ripping the R ships down to the studs, one by one, starting with Insignia.

Here is all the information you need and more about NCLH and the three brands including the future.

They laid it all out in the investor conference a couple weeks ago. $100m in drydock for the 4 ships. Not quite down to the studs but a good chuck of money per ship.

227 powerpoint slides - Oceana Fleet enhancement are slide 144-145

http://www.nclhltdinvestor.com/events/event-details/2018-investor-analyst-conference

I would assume that NCL charges a per person port tax of $325 to cover this amount?

The breakout of the cruise fare would have the numbers. I would think that overall, this cruise is charging around $700 pp for port tax/fees.

Thinking about bringing my oxy acetylene welding torch to do some metal sculpting in the cabin during my down time.

This is probably a tour operator requirement rather than a Regent requirement. I think it is reasonable.

I would agree.

I have done this tour. you dont really have to be in good shape. The water is shallow and you just need to climb down a ladder from the boat

Is there benefit to the stock owners as far as OBC or a discount? If so how many shares are needed? Thanks

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Yes Only 100 shares

www.nclhltdinvestor.com

Bottom of page is stockholder benefits

I was aware of Genting but not Apollo. In your opinion, what do you think that this means for Regent? I know that the history is long and complex but how do you see the future? From what I've seen, NCLH is doing quite well and our hope is that the "key" Regent and Oceania advocates remain on the Board.

Apollo was one of the largest holders of PCH(Regent and Oceana). They also owned a large piece of NCL. So when NCL and PCH combined they owned a large percent of the combined NCLH.

NCLH is a public traded company that was recently included in the S&P 500. They are doing quite well financially and that speaks well for the future of all three cruise lines.

Regardless of how you have described Apollo and Genting, they are both getting out of NCLH. Research and you will see that they have been selling shares and will continue to do so.

NCL, PCH, Regent, Carlson, Genting, et al. Its a long history, much to long to get into here.

Regent excursions

Iguazu Falls - Breathtaking

Hiroshima - Emotional

Xian - Terracotta warriors

Halong Bay

Pompeii

Ephesus

There are soooo many Non Regent experiences. Here are a couple

Running with the Bulls in Pamplona - twice

Deserted island near PHI PHI Thailand

Night in the Desert near Dubai

Taj Mahal

Great Wall of China - Asked my wife for her hand in marriage here.

French Polynesia and Bora Bora - Amazing natural beauty

We have been blessed to be able to enjoy these and other great experiences. Its been a passion of ours to see and participate in the wonderful cultures of our world.

I am wondering if the shower curtain has to do with the cabin being handicapped accessible. I was in a handicap accessible hotel room once because it was all they had, and the shower was certainly totally different than the ones in the other rooms. And I seem to remember Orpington (Tom Noon, RIP) telling me that their handicapped cabin had a shower curtain.

If it is a handicapped cabin, then yes it would have a curtain. I remember seeing one once. Can't remember the ship but was made so a wheelchair could access shower.

Thanks to everyone for the info.

We are on the upcoming 4/28 cruise. Here is our basic itin.

We are in Maui for 4 days prior and are doing:

Whale Watching with Ultimate Whale Watch

Sunrise bike down Haleakala with Bike Maui

Fly to Honolulu for 2 days

See Pearl Harbor - Arizona and Missouri

On Cruise

Maui - Renting a car and driving Road to Hana on our own

Hilo - Circle of Fire Helicopter

Kona - Zodiac Snorkel Dolphin

Kauai - Private Surf Lesson with TBD

Kauai - Mokihana Helicopter

I'll report back and tell you all how they were.

We are on the Dec 14 Rio - Santiago cruise. We are considering driving over the Andes Mountains to Mendoza Argentina and spending a few days in this wonderful wine country. Its supposed to be an amazing drive and a bucket list for many

Has anyone here done this drive and any tips?