Steve Q Posted January 19, 2021 #1 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Evidently Azamara is being sold by RCL https://www.marketwatch.com/story/royal-caribbean-to-sell-azamara-line-for-201m-2021-01-19?mod=mw_latestnews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChucktownSteve Posted January 19, 2021 #2 Share Posted January 19, 2021 (edited) I just saw that as a trailer on CNBC. What does private-equity firm Sycamore Partners know about cruising and what the customers want? Equity firms only want one thing. Profits at any cost. There goes Azamara. I wonder how many of the great staff will jump ship, literally? When I worked in radio, a NY financier bought the station. I immediately gave my notice as the top biller. He thought making money was easy without knowing how to do it. Sure enough within two years they had to sell the station at a loss. I fear for the quality of Azamara going forward. This information clinches my decision to cancel our June AZ cruise. I'm wondering if I should take the cancellation penalty for our December cruise as well. No wonder AZ wouldn't issue a FCC for the penalty amount. Edited January 19, 2021 by ChucktownSteve 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatfish Posted January 19, 2021 #3 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Sad Day 😡😡 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tfred Posted January 19, 2021 #4 Share Posted January 19, 2021 well that didn't work out. the question is who can they sell it to after Sycamore is "done". They aren't there for the long term. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgg Posted January 19, 2021 #5 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Here's the link to the PR Newswire release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royal-caribbean-group-enters-definitive-agreement-to-sell-its-azamara-brand-to-sycamore-partners-301210817.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChucktownSteve Posted January 19, 2021 #6 Share Posted January 19, 2021 (edited) 10 minutes ago, tgg said: Here's the link to the PR Newswire release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royal-caribbean-group-enters-definitive-agreement-to-sell-its-azamara-brand-to-sycamore-partners-301210817.html Key takeaway: Sycamore Partners specializes to "improve the operating profitability and strategic value of their business." Cost cutting and higher prices? Now I'm even more glad we booked two Regent cruises for next year. Edited January 19, 2021 by ChucktownSteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheeng Posted January 19, 2021 #7 Share Posted January 19, 2021 So sad. 😰😰😰 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I-Cruiser Posted January 19, 2021 #8 Share Posted January 19, 2021 This is very sad news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgg Posted January 19, 2021 #9 Share Posted January 19, 2021 (edited) I wonder how future cruise credits are handled. Are they simply liabilities on the books? Edited January 19, 2021 by tgg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chromered7 Posted January 19, 2021 #10 Share Posted January 19, 2021 This is not surprising and other cruise lines must be in trouble as the sail dates are pushed further in 2021. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norn iron Posted January 19, 2021 #11 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Not the news I wanted to hear ☹️ 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare travelberlin Posted January 19, 2021 #12 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Time will tell...we will have to wait and see Ivi 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare uktog Posted January 19, 2021 #13 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Could be positive - they will not be competing in a large parent company and may even get new ships 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VACruiser123 Posted January 19, 2021 #14 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Went to the Sycamore Partners website...not encouraging for Azamara. Sycamore has left a trail of ruined businesses and uhappy creditors in the businesses they have "exited"...up to and including trying to force liquidation of assets of Aeropostale. They look like a "rip and strip" gang to me....maybe it will be different here. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belfastman Posted January 19, 2021 #15 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Not unexpected even if it is sad. Could have been seen when Larry left. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skicruiser55 Posted January 19, 2021 #16 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Not happy - they are the equity group that bought Staples (office supplies). Not at all excited about sailing with a company that has no cruise experience. TOTALLY BUMMED. At least we only stand to lose a total of $300 in admin fees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
excitedofharpenden Posted January 19, 2021 #17 Share Posted January 19, 2021 6 minutes ago, travelberlin said: Time will tell...we will have to wait and see Ivi I agree. Just have to wait. I'm very sad to hear this news and am thinking about all the great crew. I hope it all works out for them and that positives can come out of this for all of us. Phil 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azamarian Posted January 19, 2021 #18 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Very interesting... we who know and love the “team” will just have to game it out for a while. If Carl, Johannes, Heike and Eric stay..what the heck. I’m in for 40 cruises, so obviously I’m staying for a good 👀 look at how it goes. I don’t want to change my name after all. 😎 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted January 19, 2021 #19 Share Posted January 19, 2021 As noted in other threads Azamara was the only brand Royal hasn't been investing into so this doesn't come as a surprise. All other RCG brands have orders in for new ships and have new builds in process or took new ship handovers during the pandemic. I suspect RCG has been shopping Azamara for some time and the pandemic only delayed this announcement. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandma Cruising Posted January 19, 2021 #20 Share Posted January 19, 2021 I agree that we’ll just have to wait and see. I’m trying to be positive and hope that things don’t change. As Azamarian says it will be key to see what happens to all the officers and crew we all know and love. If they stay things may not change too much. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belfastman Posted January 19, 2021 #21 Share Posted January 19, 2021 It will be interesting to see how many staff Philip takes with him to his new ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welwyngirl Posted January 19, 2021 #22 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Totally gutted. Such a shame. HAL here we come! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upwarduk Posted January 19, 2021 #23 Share Posted January 19, 2021 (edited) Johannes ‘thinks it’s good news, exciting times ahead,’ according to his FB account. Edited January 19, 2021 by upwarduk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChucktownSteve Posted January 19, 2021 #24 Share Posted January 19, 2021 2 minutes ago, upwarduk said: Johannes thinks it’s good news, exciting times ahead, according to his FB account. Without saying what the exciting times are, I wonder if he's being a good soldier who wants to keep his position until someone offers him something better. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare uktog Posted January 19, 2021 #25 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Whats to say Larry does not re emerge as an advisor to the new owners in a board level appointment..... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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