Why not Majesty of the Seas to Labadee?

[kruzerci]

I dont know if anybody remembers or not but Majesty did do a couple 7 night cruises about two years back over Christmas and New Years that had at least two and a half days at sea each. They may not have had great feedback or had a hard time filling the ship because she hasn't strayed from the same old 3 and 4 night Bahamas since then.

[pseudochicken]

I dont know if anybody remembers or not but Majesty did do a couple 7 night cruises about two years back over Christmas and New Years that had at least two and a half days at sea each. They may not have had great feedback or had a hard time filling the ship because she hasn't strayed from the same old 3 and 4 night Bahamas since then.

 

Those ships of the Sovereign class used to do 7-day voyages all the time back when they were introduced.

[kruzerci]

Those ships of the Sovereign class used to do 7-day voyages all the time back when they were introduced.

 

But that was before people were accustomed to 100,000+ grt ships. There's too much competition now.

[Texas Teen]

Why go to one private island that takes one sea day to get to when you can go to one that's closer and have another port day? I can imagine a ship bypassing Nassau & Cococay to go to Cozumel, even though they lose a port day, since Cozumel is a lot different than either of those ports. However, I can't see a ship skipping Nassau & Cococay for Labadee, even though you lose a port day like you would with Cozumel, because Labadee is already similar to CocoCay.

 

In one hand you lose two ports to go to one port, but in return you see a port that's different than the ones you would have seen. In the other hand, you lose two ports to go to one port, but you get nothing in return because you would go to a port similar to what you would have seen anyway... so you basically just lose a port.

[newbiecruiser09]

I've sailed Majesty (w no sea days) and Monarch (with one sea day) The one sea day was ok but it did seem a bit more crowded when everyone was on board and besides the casino and rock wall, there were not many "activities" to engage in (besides bingo & trivia). Since they are doing this with the larger ships with more "bells & whistles" they may have taken this into account. The trip w the sea day we did not have kids with us and while my DD would have loved AO on that day, I fear my DS would have been a bit bored on a full sea day (there's only so much basketball one can play) WE loved the Majesty but also loved that we had a new port each day on her.

[Aquahound]

I'm having a hard time buying in to some of the ideas on this thread. My first RCI cruise was a 5 nighter on Monarch. The first and last full days were sea days. There was plenty to do. Of course, they are not Freedom Class ships, but they are comparable to other ships of other lines still sailing 5+ night itineraries in terms of available activities.

 

If Majesty began 4 nighters to Labadee, I would book it in a heartbeat. Of course, that's because the Majesty's current 4 night itinerary goes to my home, but regardless, I would still love that route.

[pseudochicken]

Why go to one private island that takes one sea day to get to when you can go to one that's closer and have another port day? I can imagine a ship bypassing Nassau & Cococay to go to Cozumel, even though they lose a port day, since Cozumel is a lot different than either of those ports. However, I can't see a ship skipping Nassau & Cococay for Labadee, even though you lose a port day like you would with Cozumel, because Labadee is already similar to CocoCay.

 

In one hand you lose two ports to go to one port, but in return you see a port that's different than the ones you would have seen. In the other hand, you lose two ports to go to one port, but you get nothing in return because you would go to a port similar to what you would have seen anyway... so you basically just lose a port.

 

For passengers that like port days, which would include myself, then such a cruise would not necessarily be the ideal option.

 

But, Texas Teen, many people (as odd as it may seem to you and me) like sea days and prefer Labadee to Coco Cay. So, if you could consistently fill the ship and you're RCI you have the following:

 

Two sea days (makes the ship more money than Cozumel or Key West since passengers stay on the ship) and a day at Labadee (a RCI run port that makes them even MORE money).

 

The argument against a regular cruise to Labadee, Texas Teen, is that the distance and added fuel cost would prevent such an itinerary from ever being more profitable than the current setup. I am just saying that I am inclined to disagree if RCI has other ships doing the itinerary occasionally and that itinerary could feasibly give RCI an advantage in the short, Caribbean get-a-way cruise over Carnival (which has several short Caribbean cruises to Cozumel).

[Mark_K]

The argument against a regular cruise to Labadee, Texas Teen, is that the distance and added fuel cost would prevent such an itinerary from ever being more profitable than the current setup. I am just saying that I am inclined to disagree if RCI has other ships doing the itinerary occasionally and that itinerary could feasibly give RCI an advantage in the short, Caribbean get-a-way cruise over Carnival (which has several short Caribbean cruises to Cozumel).

Just to clarify, they don't have another ship doing it occasionally, they have another ship doing it once.

 

It appears that Freedom may have been chartered for three days and they made up a four day cruise. The most likely reason it's doing that itinerary is not that it's profitable, or even desirable to them. The most likely reason is that they had few, or no, options for a ship of Freedom's size other than going to the first port it would have visited anyway (Labadee) and then heading back home.

[pseudochicken]

Just to clarify, they don't have another ship doing it occasionally, they have another ship doing it once.

 

It appears that Freedom may have been chartered for three days and they made up a four day cruise. The most likely reason it's doing that itinerary is not that it's profitable, or even desirable to them. The most likely reason is that they had few, or no, options for a ship of Freedom's size other than going to the first port it would have visited anyway (Labadee) and then heading back home.

 

 

What about the Oasis and the Allure Labadee extravaganza cruises?