Royal Caribbean Leaving New Orleans

[curcurt]

Royal Caribbean is leaving the Port of New Orleans once the Serenade leaves in 2015 according to the local news.

[internetwhiz]

Yes, Reba on navigator told us that 2 weeks ago. Sad. :(

 

 

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[nelblu]

Economics?

[dacsmom]

I was wondering why there were no cruises on the Serenade after April 2015. I am looking at that cruise because I really like the itinerary.

[curcurt]

Economics?

Port officials state cruise passenger numbers are up, but Royal Caribbean did state why they were leaving. I know Disney is looking at the port, but no commitment yet.

[caribsun]

Difficulties competing with NCL and CCL. :confused:

[Clarea]

I think with so many ships going to Asia, they just didn't have anything to put in New Orleans.

[SailingSiggy]

Article speculates due to demand for ships in Asia.

 

http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2014/06/royal_caribbean_to_leave_port.html

 

Just move the whole fleet to Asia :mad:

[steveru621]

The politicians can rationalize anything. Where does Serenade end up next year? Fort Lauderdale! FL as you know is starving for cruise ships.

 

Two new ships come online before Serenade leaves. On a tangent it may have something to do with China, but RCI abandoned their least profitable departure port. Just like the west coast.

[Clarea]

The politicians can rationalize anything. Where does Serenade end up next year? Fort Lauderdale! FL as you know is starving for cruise ships.

 

Two new ships come online before Serenade leaves. On a tangent it may have something to do with China, but RCI abandoned their least profitable departure port. Just like the west coast.

That's sort of what I meant. I'm sure Royal has a priority list of ports and itineraries in terms of profit potential. There are more ports on the list than ships, so the lowest ports on the list get no ships. Even lower than New Orleans is Los Angeles, which lost their ships years ago. Royal used to have 3 ships doing Alaska, now only two.

[olcar]

Rci couldn't compete price wise

[BillB48]

I'm sure there are a number of considerations particularly with the Asian shift in deployment leaving more home ports than ships. I looked at the Serenade's prices for this coming January and February, while they looked a little soft, they weren't at fire sale levels either. Probably boils down to they can make more with ship on another itin. Another possibility in Royal's thinking is that NOLA at a 100 miles up river and a large part of the Gulf being within Emission Control Area (ECA) may impact on how long they have to run on low sulfur fuel (low sulfur=more $$). However, I really don't know if that is a consideration with a gas turbine ship such as the Serenade, they do have a number of fuels they can burn in any event.

Edited June 11, 2014 by BillB48

[Clarea]

I'm sure there are a number of considerations particularly with the Asian shift in deployment leaving more home ports than ships. I looked at the Serenade's prices for this coming January and February, while they looked a little soft, they weren't at fire sale levels either. Probably boils down to they can make more with ship on another itin. Another possibility in Royal's thinking is that NOLA at a 100 miles up river and a large part of the Gulf being within Emission Control Area (ECA) may impact on how long they have to run on low sulfur fuel (low sulfur=more $$). However, I really don't know if that is a consideration with a gas turbine ship such as the Serenade, they do have a number of fuels they can burn in any event.

Forgot about that 9 hour trip on the river. I can't remember, but is the casino open during that time? Might be another factor.

[BillB48]

I really don't know... I made the trip during the summer a couple of years ago ( I know... traded with the enemy;)) and except for dinner spent most of the time out on deck taking the trip down river in. If no casino that certainly be another consideration.

[Ocean Boy]

The politicians can rationalize anything. Where does Serenade end up next year? Fort Lauderdale! FL as you know is starving for cruise ships.

Two new ships come online before Serenade leaves. On a tangent it may have something to do with China, but RCI abandoned their least profitable departure port. Just like the west coast.

 

I like the way you put that.:D

[internetwhiz]

Forgot about that 9 hour trip on the river. I can't remember, but is the casino open during that time? Might be another factor.

 

 

Casino is closed when they head down and back up the river.

 

I hate they are pulling out. This was one of two drivable ports we have.

 

 

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[OKC Cruisers]

It seems that China is where the profits are. We booked a Jan 2015 7 day cruise on Serenade. With the discounts available and the BOGOHO sale, we were able to get an interior stateroom for less than $400 per person. With fees, taxes and pre-paid gratuities, total cost of cruise $974! How much profit can there be? Well, they'll make it up on the back end...trust me.

 

But with the newly emerging "middle class" in China, there is a lot of money sailing around there (pun intended). From what I have read, here we have a whole new group of people with money to spend who have never had what we would consider a "vacation." Thus, Quantum gets to show itself off for awhile here before it also heads to where the money is.

 

It's all about profits! But, that's what business is...

[George C]

I like cruising out of New Orleans, great place for a pre or post stay, we are considering it for this November

[FLACRUISER99]

RCI's business plan is to move their assets where they can make the highest profit.

[robtulipe]

Forgot about that 9 hour trip on the river. I can't remember, but is the casino open during that time? Might be another factor.

 

I just checked the Cruise Compass daily planners from our Serenade TA cruise we did this Spring and it indicated that the casino opened at 5:30pm after our 5pm departure from NO on Day 1.

Edited June 11, 2014 by robtulipe

[kruzerci]

Forgot about that 9 hour trip on the river. I can't remember, but is the casino open during that time? Might be another factor.

 

When we were on Navigator in 2012 from NOLA it did not open until we entered the Gulf.

 

OP- We are definitely disappointed that they are leaving NOLA. That was one of our most enjoyable cruises. It's such an short and easy drive to the port for us and New Orleans is fabulous for a pre-cruise stay. Not to mention that trip down the Mississippi on a ship is such a unique experience!

[lady_cruiser]

Our last Royal Caribbean cruise out of NOLA will the week of January 10th. That is when we will become Diamond Plus. After that it will be either cruise out of Galveston (which we love) or try and make it to the Diamond level on Carnival and cruise out of New Orleans.

[Oak Hill Cruisers]

Too bad ---- NOLA is a great port, city as well as port facility.

[Reijo]

I'm sorry to hear that RCCL is pulling out of NOLA. While I really don't care about the city, I did enjoy the cruise on Serenade that we took in February. Also liked Key West and didn't mind Nassau. Strangely, I enjoyed the "cruise" up and down the Mississippi River. Someone needs to go into the new port that was built in Mobile. Access is simple.

[BamaGuy44]

Didn't they pull out of NOLA a few years ago only to return like a year later? Maybe NOLA can entice them to come back in the not so distant future