Royal Caribbean Ships in San Diego and Los Angeles

[norcalemt02]

My dream is for a quantum class ship to sail out of San Francisco to Alaska. How awesome would it be to be up on North Star seeing all the glazers. But it's only a dream.

[travelgoddess1]

They don't. October 2014 on Vision, those trips sailed only half full. The line listed it as sold out, but they gave the cabins away last minute to a casino - and no one showed up. I see this going the same way.

 

For Empress, there will be a flood of bookings, forcing the price up...we'll just have to wait and see what they eventually want. I was all ready to spend my money for a canal trip and then some. Not now. DW is talking about sailing with Diego again later next year....so we'll wait.

 

 

 

All isn't golden with Princess out of LA right now on the short trips. My February 9th trip is less than half full 50 days out. They have already pulled a ship out and sent it to Australia.

 

I think that was my point. :D :D. Put a ship in an already-crowded market, offer short cruises (RCI has repeatedly stated they do not want to be in that market) and wait for the money to roll in? I think not. :rolleyes:

[travelgoddess1]

Not my circus, not my monkee

 

And your point is ????:confused:

[John&LaLa]

And your point is ????:confused:

 

I don't run the company, I'm sure they have business reasons that we as consumers don't understand

[rubrrick]

And, to top it off, while Royal Caribbean truly does not care about the West Coast market, Carnival, on the other hand, while still running out of California, is now in the process of building a dock and terminal in Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point), Mexico.

 

This will allow many of Carnivals different cruise lines to have a run down the Sea of Cortez to still do the Mexican Riviera, without the cost that California imposes on passenger ships.

 

We now sail half the time on Princess, out of the West Coast, because we can drive to the port, and when Rocky Point opens up, it will only be a few hour drive.

 

And, to top it off, Royal Caribbean and Princess are more similar than different, IMHO.

 

Rick

[travelgoddess1]

I don't run the company, I'm sure they have business reasons that we as consumers don't understand

 

LOL, given that, then most of the Cruise Critic threads would shut down for lack of anything to question and pick apart. We as consumers have been questioning RCI's decision to abandon the West Coast for 5 years, admittedly with no success, but I don't see the issue going away.

[Paulette3028]

Michael Bayley is aware of them, as I made it a big point in my post-cruise letter to him. (we were on Oct 3 sailing with you). He seemed open to the idea of non-repeating cruises that would cover just about everything without the need to home port a ship in California.

 

Please let us know the meaning of your term 'non-repeating cruises', for those not as savvy as others.

[travelgoddess1]

Please let us know the meaning of your term 'non-repeating cruises', for those not as savvy as others.

 

I may be wrong, but I interpreted it to mean not doing the same itinerary every week -- Mexican Riviera one week, Pacific Coastal one week, Hawaii two weeks.

Edited December 22, 2015 by travelgoddess1

[Piepkorn]

Please let us know the meaning of your term 'non-repeating cruises', for those not as savvy as others.

 

I may be wrong, but I interpreted it to mean not doing the same itinerary every week -- Mexican Riviera one week, Pacific Coastal one week, Hawaii two weeks.

 

That is the correct interpretation.

[suzyluvs2cruise]

I may be wrong, but I interpreted it to mean not doing the same itinerary every week -- Mexican Riviera one week, Pacific Coastal one week, Hawaii two weeks.

 

Exactly what many of us have been suggesting. :)

[John&LaLa]

Exactly what many of us have been suggesting. :)

 

It's a shame they don't listen

Edited December 23, 2015 by John&LaLa

[gkbiiii]

Some of us were hoping that Empress would end up for a few trips on the West Coast.....but we have learned today what we all feared (and just what is needed)....another 'GD' ship in Florida. :mad:

 

 

Well, We Floridians Need a Special Ship, For RCCL's Future Miami--Havana Sailings!!

Edited December 23, 2015 by gkbiiii

[wblynch]

Well, We Floridians Need a Special Ship, For RCCL's Future Miami--Havana Sailings!!

 

Florida NEEDS? Ah, now you're just being greedy. :D

[Sunkissed Mommy]

Here's my perspective of the California Coastal cruises.

 

I am a Floridian and we were on the Jewel October 3rd of this year. We loved the cruise BUT- the shore excursion options offered my Royal were AWFUL! This stood out to me more than anything. Thankfully we made our own adventures in each port because I did some research and some serious planning.

 

BUT for the typical cruiser, they may look at the excursion options and think there is nothing to do! I actually used the Princess website to look up what excursion options they had in the same ports. Completely different offerings. Royal was offering wineries and trolleys at every stop and not much else.

 

Yes, the ship was full and it was one of the most expensive cruises we've taken. We paid the same, if not more, for the California Coastal as we paid to go on the Allure Christmas week a few years ago. I didn't have a problem with it because it was unique. But California was definitely a very expensive trip for us. Hotels, food, and car rentals all ran high compared to our other vacations. I can see how it deters some people.

 

I like the idea of non-repeating itineraries. I love the round trip Hawaii cruise that Princess offers out of L.A. My in laws have done it twice. If Royal offered it, I'd strongly consider it. (We stick with Royal because of their nursery and children's programs). I think it would allow a nice presence on the west coast and possibly catch some new cruisers who may otherwise go on other lines.

Edited December 23, 2015 by Sunkissed Mommy

[John&LaLa]

Florida NEEDS? Ah, now you're just being greedy. :D

 

Probably, but Havana has size restrictions due to a harbor tunnel. Not even sure if Empress meets them. Personally, I can't see any reason to sail her other than going to Cuba

[wblynch]

My sister and her husband recently sailed round trip from Los Angeles to Tahiti, Hawaii and back on the Pacific Princess, close in size to Empress. I could see similar use for Empress out of California.

 

Or even 9-nights to Manzanillo and Acapulco against 5 nights to Cabo San Lucas and La Paz out of San Diego.

 

Possibilities are endless if they cared to try.

[John&LaLa]

My sister and her husband recently sailed round trip from Los Angeles to Tahiti, Hawaii and back on the Pacific Princess, close in size to Empress. I could see similar use for Empress out of California.

 

Or even 9-nights to Manzanillo and Acapulco against 5 nights to Cabo San Lucas and La Paz out of San Diego.

 

Possibilities are endless if they cared to try.

 

You don't think the tiny cabins would be a negative on a long cruise like that?