NZ/Aus Cruises - Marketing to Asian Market

[MMDown Under]

Does anyone know whether there has been increased marketing to the Asian Market of NZ/Aus cruises?

 

When the Diamond Princess was in Sydney on Thursday, there were a large number of Asian (non English speaking) tourists around Circular Quay/the Opera House.

 

Passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise from Auckland to Sydney said there were a lot of Asian passengers on board.

 

We think of cruises being scheduled for the US/North American market, (eg to escape the northern winter), but there is a growing well funded Asian market as well.

[OzKiwiJJ]

If it's not specifically marketed I think it is something that will develop naturally from more cruises in Asia during our winter. After Asian cruisers have explored the local options they will look further afield. Since Australian cruising is in their off-season it's a natural for them to try next.

[The_Big_M]

I can't speak for Princess, but that's been a major focus for Royal Caribbean, more than this region, and the primary reason Voyager came to these waters.

 

RCL have been doing significant recruiting of Asian speaking crew, to the extent English is not a priority for them, and see it as a key market.

[springaussie]

I can't speak for Princess, but that's been a major focus for Royal Caribbean, more than this region, and the primary reason Voyager came to these waters.

 

RCL have been doing significant recruiting of Asian speaking crew, to the extent English is not a priority for them, and see it as a key market.

 

Yes Voyager only comes to Oz for pocket money for Royal Caribbean.

The Asians bring the money for gambling. I would love to know how much the Asian groups pay for the cabins. A lot seem to take interiors which suggests it would be a low rate. My guess $40 - $50 each per night for an interior.

[fishtaco]

Yes Voyager only comes to Oz for pocket money for Royal Caribbean.

The Asians bring the money for gambling. I would love to know how much the Asian groups pay for the cabins. A lot seem to take interiors which suggests it would be a low rate. My guess $40 - $50 each per night for an interior.

 

They pay the same price as USA RCI.

 

On my last voyager cruise I logged on to RCI in Singapore Thailand and Cambodia and there is no Geo Blocking and no Asian specific site like Australia and UK .

 

Of coarse there would be local TA special intensives, but most of the cruisers would be Chinese or Chinese origin as the RCI new staff employed were Chinese speaking.

[boeckli]

On our Dec 10 Solstice sailing from NZ, there was also a noticeable Asian contingent (at least some appeared to speak/understand very little if any English)

Edited January 31, 2014 by boeckli

[voyager70]

Not just Aus/NZ cruises. My last couple Med cruises have had significant Asian contingents. Japanese & Chinese to be specific. They had their own guides as most didn't speak English. They are definitely going after the wealthy Asian market.

[OzKiwiJJ]

I wonder if they're also moving into the Caribbean cruise market. Peak time for that is the same as our cruising season, isn't it? US winter?

[voyager70]

On my last Caribbean cruise on the Allure of the Seas there were over 1,000 Chinese pax. Also 1,500 Brazilians, less than half were from North America. Fun mix actually, especially the Brazilians and their next to nothing swim wear lol!

[Kiwi Kruzer]

RCCL are very big in South America. When we did Alaska the majority were from SA.

 

 

[OzKiwiJJ]

On my last Caribbean cruise on the Allure of the Seas there were over 1,000 Chinese pax. Also 1,500 Brazilians, less than half were from North America. Fun mix actually, especially the Brazilians and their next to nothing swim wear lol!

 

That would have been an interesting mix LOL.

 

I don't think the Chinese are quite as relaxed about nudity, or near nudity, as the Japanese who are used to bathing in communal hot baths, segregated by gender of course.

[Purples]

We were on Diamond Princess pre Christmas and there were LOTS of Chinese. Took over many areas. We asked one why there were so many and it turns out that they have an agent who gets VERY good deals. Cheaper than I have ever seen. Only seems to be the Diamond for some reason. I tried to register with the agent but only get Chinese language replies. When I rang they had nothing available - rather odd. They were from Auckland and apparently Auckland is referred to as China's Retirement Home. They love the benefits. We will avoid Diamond in future.

[MMDown Under]

We were on Diamond Princess pre Christmas and there were LOTS of Chinese. Took over many areas. We asked one why there were so many and it turns out that they have an agent who gets VERY good deals. Cheaper than I have ever seen. Only seems to be the Diamond for some reason. I tried to register with the agent but only get Chinese language replies. When I rang they had nothing available - rather odd. They were from Auckland and apparently Auckland is referred to as China's Retirement Home. They love the benefits. We will avoid Diamond in future.

 

That would explain why I saw advertisements for Southern Chinese Airlines in Auckland, well before they were advertised here.

[Thorpe]

I'm on the Diamond in October and can't wait for the mix of different cultures on and off the ship.

 

 

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[3littlepigs]

When we were in Asia on the Millennium last year I expected to see a large Asian contingent but there were very few. There was a huge mix of nationalities which made for a fun cruise. I was surprised at how many Russian passengers there were!

[fishtaco]

I wonder if RCI will allow smoking on Balconies with Asian marketed cruises?

 

On my Voyager cruise there was no smoking allowed in the casino on the 14 night Perth to Singapore leg but on the last few days they were putting out the ashtrays everywhere for the Asian cruises, I asked about this and was told smoking in the casino will be allowed for the huge number of Chinese gamblers or they wouldn't make any money .

[fishtaco]

I'm on the Diamond in October and can't wait for the mix of different cultures on and off the ship.

 

 

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Not if you take offence to queue jumpers chain smokers public spitting public nose picking and coughing without covering the mouth :p

[Gold Coast Cruisers]

I can't speak for Princess, but that's been a major focus for Royal Caribbean, more than this region, and the primary reason Voyager came to these waters.

 

RCL have been doing significant recruiting of Asian speaking crew, to the extent English is not a priority for them, and see it as a key market.

 

That reminds me of our cruise on Voyager's maiden voyage from New Orleans to Singapore when they had employed dozens of Asian crew. Well what a fiasco that was, lots of hoyking and sniffing going on in the public areas. Their English really wasn't up to a standard for working in a public area at all. They even put one poor girl on to do the Trivia one day, what a hoot, absolutely no-one could understand the questions she was asking....thankfully we all saw the funny side, including her.

The Management on board soon taught them all what to do and what not to do, and I'm sure their English improved as time went by because they needed to speak it all the time.

 

Jill:)

[icat2000]

There were quite a few Asian on the cruise I just got off. They seem to be having a good time.

[The_Big_M]

I wonder if RCI will allow smoking on Balconies with Asian marketed cruises?

 

On my Voyager cruise there was no smoking allowed in the casino on the 14 night Perth to Singapore leg but on the last few days they were putting out the ashtrays everywhere for the Asian cruises, I asked about this and was told smoking in the casino will be allowed for the huge number of Chinese gamblers or they wouldn't make any money .

 

I wasn't going to mention it as it's a bit esoteric, but their new smoking policies have exceptions for the Asian/Chinese market. Balcony policies are the same, but cruises on Mariner and Voyager have indoor spaces where smoking is still permitted, and indeed the casino does not have any non-smoking section there.

[timtam2]

Yes, I avoided the casino totally on Mariner - it was like an indoor smog cloud :mad: I can't recall there being a problem anywhere else inside though - I'll soon find out again in a few weeks.

[fishtaco]

There were quite a few Asian on the cruise I just got off. They seem to be having a good time.

 

Lol :D:D:D

[fishtaco]

I wasn't going to mention it as it's a bit esoteric, but their new smoking policies have exceptions for the Asian/Chinese market. Balcony policies are the same, but cruises on Mariner and Voyager have indoor spaces where smoking is still permitted, and indeed the casino does not have any non-smoking section there.

 

Funny how genuine health issues and the danger of second hand smoke can be flaunted by a company in the name of sales/ profits just by changing a cruise demographic!

 

Just goes to show cruise lines do not care about people no matter what some think.

[The_Big_M]

Funny how genuine health issues and the danger of second hand smoke can be flaunted by a company in the name of sales/ profits just by changing a cruise demographic!

 

Just goes to show cruise lines do not care about people no matter what some think.

 

There is some care, such as when RCL and other lines made the donations for the Philipines disaster recently. They also gave other support to crew members.

 

But yeah, the profit motive often overrides other long-term issues... though that's not isolated to the cruise industry.

[icat2000]

RCL had a fun raising walk for making a wish foundation on the cruise I was on they were selling t shirt's for $10 and I believe proceeds went to the foundation.