Stock Obc Not Combinable Anymore

[dak_friendly]

Once again "Gonzo" we believe you are hopelessly wrong. Just ask Mr. Fain if he believes stockholders who own 100 shares are not really "stock holders" and are insignificant.

 

People that buy exactly 100 shares are less interested in the investment and more in the freebies.

 

This being mistreated as a stockholder business is sounding more and more like RCCL got wise to another way people have been abusing policies to pocket some $$$ ...

 

When you read on CC about people stacking on multiple **ONBOARD** credits, avoiding the 3% charge at the casino by withdrawing at the purser's desk, and then bragging about pocketing the cash, you figure RCCL is going to catch on eventually.

[Hypo]

If RCCL wants to reduce their exposure to the $100 SBC, they can simply change the requirements to be a holder of 500 or 1000 shares. Then folks would truly be purchasing the stock for its fundamentals, not for the SBC.

 

We cruise 3 to 4 times a year, and the $100 SBC is a significant positive return on our investment.

 

Hypo

[land lover]

So many posters who a few months ago were claiming the praises of the stock owner ship are now going to dump, it????........well if I am a company and you only want me for my freebies I would say good riddens. Loyalty should not be because of the money saved, but because of the product the company is providing.

 

It is unfortunate that many "perks" are changing and like many of you I have benefited greatly....but I am just pleased that I was able to take advantage of them......

 

I left RCI for 10 years and came back in 2006 the reason was customer service, flexibly and it is a perfect match for my teens...I love getting a D discount, etc...RCI has treated me more fairly than any cruise line or travel company I have dealt with and I appreciate that and will not scorn them for changes in policy, it is disappointing yes, but life if full of disappointments.

[Jeka]

When you read on CC about people stacking on multiple **ONBOARD** credits, avoiding the 3% charge at the casino by withdrawing at the purser's desk, and then bragging about pocketing the cash, you figure RCCL is going to catch on eventually.

 

If at the end of the cruise I have left over OBCs from BofA and TA and am told to cash it out at the pursers desk, what exactly is RCCL catching onto? There's no bragging involved, it's the cruiselines policy.

 

To those who don't use or transfer to a TA, you might want to give it some consideration. There are some really nice OBCs out there.

[dak_friendly]

If at the end of the cruise I have left over OBCs from BofA and TA and am told to cash it out at the pursers desk, what exactly is RCCL catching onto? There's no bragging involved, it's the cruiselines policy.

 

To those who don't use or transfer to a TA, you might want to give it some consideration. There are some really nice OBCs out there.

 

From the Investor Relations site:

 

8. Are there any restrictions?

Benefit is non-transferable and not available to employees, or agents of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. or its subsidiaries and affiliates, travel agents and tour operators. Shareholder benefits onboard credit is not combinable with other onboard credit offers, general loyalty offers, “dollars off” promotions and savings certificates. Guests have the option to choose between the shareholder benefit or the other offer. The Shareholder must own the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. stock at time of sailing. Onboard credit is calculated in US dollars except on sailings where the onboard currency used is a foreign currency (in which case the onboard credit will be converted at a currency exchange rate determined by the cruise line) and is not redeemable for cash. Certificate value credited to onboard account at time of sailing. Any unused credit shall be forfeited. Credit is applied on a per stateroom basis; double occupancy. Single guests paying 200% of applicable fare shall receive full value of certificate. Only one shareholder credit per stateroom. Only one credit per shareholder on any one sailing. Other terms and conditions may apply.

 

----

 

I truly think Royal Caribbean's intentions are for and have always been that people actually spend their onboard credit ... well, you know ... onboard.

[jerick]

People that buy exactly 100 shares are less interested in the investment and more in the freebies.

 

This being mistreated as a stockholder business is sounding more and more like RCCL got wise to another way people have been abusing policies to pocket some $$$ ...

 

When you read on CC about people stacking on multiple **ONBOARD** credits, avoiding the 3% charge at the casino by withdrawing at the purser's desk, and then bragging about pocketing the cash, you figure RCCL is going to catch on eventually.

 

Why be critical about something you know nothing about? Stock is frequently bought and sold in 100 share increments. Yes, I own exactly 100 shares of RCCL stock. I also own exactly 100 shares of other stocks. Just because that is the amount of stock I need to own to get the OBC does not mean I am mistreating anything. Yes, I do take advantage of the privilege, because it is an intentional incentive the company chose to provide. If they choose to no longer provide that incentive, that is their business and is of little concern to me.

 

Why are anybody elses investing practices any of your concern? Perhaps you are merely jealous that others have benefited from something that totally ethical and above board and you missed the boat (so to speak)?

[critterchick]

I think they should disallow the transfer of the booking to a TA. Most people do that right before final payment, JUST to get the OBC, which as you've said, causes RCCL to have to pay that TA commission. That TA did NONE of the work for the reservation, they just reap the benefit (as does the customer).

 

I am one who, for the most part, books directly with RCCL and DOES NOT transfer my booking from RCCL to a TA. I'd much prefer to have total control over my reservation when I call RCCL than to have to go thru a TA. The only time I've booked with a TA is when the TAs used to offer cruises for less than what you could get from RCCL. Since RCCL put a stop to that, I just book directly with them now, knowing I've got the best price available.

 

I don't own RCCL stock and am a Platinum Crown and Anchor member. I just look for the good deal and if I do get some OBC (as I will on my upcoming Liberty cruise from my B of A Visa), that's an added bonus. I do think that RCCL has always been VERY generous with allowing the reservation to be transferred to a TA; giving price reductions, even after final payment; allowing OBC to be combined; C & A discounts/coupons and other OBC opportunities. Frankly, I'm surprised their generosity has lasted this long.

 

I will continue to sail RCCL regardless of their changes. I LIKE their ships and their product. I've only ever sailed RCCL and have no plans to try other lines.

 

Although RCI has to pay the TA a commission, the OBC you refer to comes out of that commission, not as an extra cost to RCI (and they pay it to RCI, so it's not as if RCI is losing any onboard revenue on the deal). RCI would have to pay the same commission whether you booked initially or later with the TA. As for "most people" doing that, I doubt that you have any statistics to back that up (and I don't have any to prove that you are mistaken;) , but I think you are).

 

In the "raging" debate over whether RCI or Princess have the better loyalty program, I've always come down on RCI's side, mainly because of this issue. Now I'm thinking I'll chase Princess' Elite status, because the tide has turned on that issue. I like them almost equally, so it's not exactly a hardship.

 

I will continue to sail with RCI in the local market (if and when they come back to LA for the short cruises) and I think I am actually doing what the parent company wants me to do, which is try Celebrity and Azamara. They do not offer a balcony discount to P/D members, and their onboard booking credit is based on the cost of the cruise, not the number of nights, so unless you've booked something over $2000 per person or so, you won't see more than $50 in OBC anyway. So the shareholder benefit still carries some clout on those two lines.

 

But as SilentBob said, booking onboard may (MAY) become far less attractive, especially for the longer cruises, where the shareholder credit of $250 trumps the OBC of $200. If this comes to pass, I'll feel badly for the Loyalty Ambassadors, whose income is dependent on those bookings.

[jmraggs]

Thank you for posting this info.

 

So what combinations would be allowed if any...

 

Shareholder with Platinum/Diamond Discount...yes or no?

 

I understand that savings certificates, NC Booking or just onboard booking S/B credits are NOT with shareholder with this new 'rule'

 

My issue with this new rule is that there needs to be consistency. I don't want to come back here 1 year from now and have someone say " I was able to combine" If they are going to impliment it then be consistent with this rule and the others that are out there.

 

Example of inconsistencies... 3 people in my family booked a cruise this last month all using next Cruise bookings... 2 were before the Nov 16 fuel surcharge date...1 had no fuel surcharge added, 1 had the full $10. added and the other had only $8. per day added since she did hers when it was $8. per day.

 

I just hope that when and if this rule goes into effect they are consistent in enforcing it.

 

On the website, Platinum/Diamond discount is a benefit along with Premium Savings Certificates and are not offers since it's listed under benefits for that level (you can combine those two). No mention of OBC's, so I guess that they treat those as offers?:confused: But now at this point you can't combine an offer (OBC) with the Savings Certificate (benefit), but there is no mention about not combining an OBC (offer) with the Platinum/Diamond (benefit) discount.

 

My head is spinning now, time for a drink!;)

[cruisegirl1]

“When you read on CC about people stacking on multiple **ONBOARD** credits”

 

I see nothing wrong with “stacking” OBC. If I book on board have a coupon and also own stock why should this be frowned upon. By booking on board RCCL has my deposit for (sometimes) more than a year. The coupon was a result of being a loyal customer and the stock ownership is an independent investment choice. If they are no longer combinable I will most likely not book on board and keep my money in the bank longer.

 

M

[jmraggs]

Although RCI has to pay the TA a commission, the OBC you refer to comes out of that commission, not as an extra cost to RCI (and they pay it to RCI, so it's not as if RCI is losing any onboard revenue on the deal). RCI would have to pay the same commission whether you booked initially or later with the TA. As for "most people" doing that, I doubt that you have any statistics to back that up (and I don't have any to prove that you are mistaken;) , but I think you are).

 

That is correct, the OBC is coming from the TA, not RCL. There is no advantage to waiting until the last minute to transfer the booking to your TA instead of doing it initially, and I rather doubt many people do this.:rolleyes:

[FL_Cruiser64]

Thanks. :D

 

I seem to be the whipping boy for people to take their anger out about the new policy since I am one of the few who think that from a business perspective it is a good policy. :eek:

 

Funny, happens to me all the time.

 

:D

 

This thread cracks me up though. Not too long ago I was whipped left and right in one of those "benefit" thread. I lashed out at the general cruising population today and how penny pinching they are, only out for their own benefit from sharing soda cards, smuggling alcohol, bargaining down cruise prices, making false complaints for some OBC, proudly announcing how little they spend.

And of course the best is always how people claimed to beat the loyalty program system and added friends living far away as family members living in the same household thus adding an disproportional amount of Platinum, Diamond and D/P members.

 

Of course a lot of the problems was caused by vague rules and people just took advantage of it which goes back to the lack of business foresight of Mr Fain. But others were clearly rules broken which were not enforced by RCI. I predicted a cut in benefits. What happend to you, happened to me: I got whipped!

I was called a cheerleader. :p

 

Which of course contradicts that I am being called a 'whiner' when I lashed out at Mr Fain and the entire Oasis project. It was just the other side who whipped me. :D

 

And now look.

 

I see something good out of it though. It will sort out "loyal to Royal" because of Royal Caribbean and those who are 'loyal to Royal' which begins and ends at 'free bees' and benefits.

 

I always claimed that I cruise RCI because of ships and services not so much because of the loyalty program. I take the benefits if they come along but I am not all pissy if they are gone.

 

I am not worried about a hundred dollars here or there. I cruise because I like cruising. There was a time when all these benefits weren't available.

 

I wish they would have started this type of change a few years back before Oasis was build. It may have given them a few extra bucks here and there.

 

While I am not too upset about changes I still like RCI to come up with a chart or something like that so we all know what is combinable and what is not.

[jmraggs]

“When you read on CC about people stacking on multiple **ONBOARD** credits”

 

I see nothing wrong with “stacking” OBC. If I book on board have a coupon and also own stock why should this be frowned upon. By booking on board RCCL has my deposit for (sometimes) more than a year. The coupon was a result of being a loyal customer and the stock ownership is an independent investment choice. If they are no longer combinable I will most likely not book on board and keep my money in the bank longer.

 

M

 

Right on! Seems that some people get upset when you actually use the benefits offered to you by RCL. Maybe because they can't do it and get upset they you/we can. We didn't make these benefits/offers up they did, just as they have the right to change them whether we like it or not.

[NCMtnBoys]

If at the end of the cruise I have left over OBCs from BofA and TA and am told to cash it out at the pursers desk, what exactly is RCCL catching onto? There's no bragging involved, it's the cruiselines policy.

 

To those who don't use or transfer to a TA, you might want to give it some consideration. There are some really nice OBCs out there.

 

It's the people who are combining credits - from TA, Next Cruise, B of A, Stock - that RCCL is catching onto and is allegedly trying to change. While I, too, don't like it, sometimes companies are forced to reign in their generous policies when people start finding loopholes to circumvent the intended purpose. I realize that RCCL says they're combinable and no one's doing anything wrong, but maybe now they're realizing just how many people are accumulating the various types of OBC. With the increased number of OBC opportunities, certainly people couldn't expect that ALL of them would be combinable to the point of nearly countering the actual cost of the cruise itself.

 

My seapass bill at the end of the week usually is less than $300. I don't drink, do few if any excursions, don't visit the spa, don't buy art, won't buy a soda card. I go to the casino, buy a few souvenirs, eat at one of the specialty restaurants once, and maybe Johnny Rockets once or twice. Obviously I'm by no means one of RCCL's big spenders during the week. Maybe somehow RCCL should align the amount of combinable OBC with certain spending tiers. Spend X amount of dollars onboard, and have X amount of onboard credit applied. A passenger could have a bank of OBC (combinable) and allowed to use certain amounts based on their spending. The more you spend, the more you're allowed to use. Any remaining OBC would be refunded to you in the form of a check, sent to you after your cruise was completed. Don't know if it'd work, but more of a thought...and a way for RCCL to get people to spend more onboard.

 

No combining means no combining. And if that's what they decide, shareholders can sell their stock or not, and sail with them or not. I wouldn't let it stop me from sailing on a line I liked that provides a product I like. Each cruiseline is different and, while I haven't sailed anyone other than RCCL, I've found nothing about RCCL that would dissuade me from continuing to sail with them.

[impartfish]

All I can say is, "Darn." There goes another perk.

[dak_friendly]

Why be critical about something you know nothing about? Stock is frequently bought and sold in 100 share increments. Yes, I own exactly 100 shares of RCCL stock. I also own exactly 100 shares of other stocks. Just because that is the amount of stock I need to own to get the OBC does not mean I am mistreating anything. Yes, I do take advantage of the privilege, because it is an intentional incentive the company chose to provide. If they choose to no longer provide that incentive, that is their business and is of little concern to me.

 

Why are anybody elses investing practices any of your concern? Perhaps you are merely jealous that others have benefited from something that totally ethical and above board and you missed the boat (so to speak)?

 

That's so happy awesome that you own exactly 100 shares. However, I guess you're the type that would buy 110 shares or 163 shares if that were the minimum requirement. But that's me guessing. :D

 

I do question your idea of totally ethical. Onboard Credit to me means Credit to be used when Onboard for spending Onboard for things/services Onboard. I do not think Onboard Credit means money the cruise line owes me that I can pocket and take home if I want.

 

To me, that smacks of someone scamming the system. But I guess I don't think the way some people do. I don't walk about thinking "how to take advantage" of something.

 

With the re-wording I quoted earlier... it looks like they've clarified their intentions. "Not redeemable for cash" and "any unused credit shall be forfeited" are phrases further spelling out what I'm saying.

 

It's not jealously, it's called being appalled at other's actions.

[jmraggs]

I always claimed that I cruise RCI because of ships and services not so much because of the loyalty program. I take the benefits if they come along but I am not all pissy if they are gone.

 

I am not worried about a hundred dollars here or there. I cruise because I like cruising. There was a time when all these benefits weren't available.

 

Same here as we started sailing with RCL and really liked the ships and crew so we decided to stay with them. Of course, now some time has passed and we are almost D +, we take advantage of what they have to offer (discounts, OBC etc.).

 

We don't cruise with them just for the offers since we didn't start with any benefits from the very beginning, but we cruise with them because we like them. I am amazed to see that people say they are going to stop sailing with RCL because a $14.95 steak was just added to the menu or you can't combine stock OBC with the booking onboard OBC.

 

We go on a cruise to have a good time, not worry about how much OBC we can get. If I get off a cruise owing several hundred dollars on my ship board account, I feel lucky!

[Gonzo70]

Although RCI has to pay the TA a commission, the OBC you refer to comes out of that commission, not as an extra cost to RCI (and they pay it to RCI, so it's not as if RCI is losing any onboard revenue on the deal).

 

You are missing the point here. This is how RCL loses money: When somebody uses a TA RCL has to pay a percentage of the total cruise fare (excluding taxes, port fees, and surcharges) to the TA as commission. When someone books directly with RCL they do not pay this commission. If somebody books directly with RCL and does not transfer to a TA RCL receives significantly more money than if the person transfers the reservation to a TA. Many online TA's are now offering significant incentives to entice people to transfer reservations over to them (or book directly with them) i.e. pre paid gratuities, OBC's, free shore excursion etc. A lot of people (myself included) book direct with RCL (so we can maintain control over our reservation and make any changes, price drops, etc. simply by calling RCL ourselves whenever we want) and a couple weeks before final payment transfer the reservation to an online TA (for my last cruise I received over $300 from the online TA for doing so). If RCL prohbitied one from transfering one's reservation to a TA once a deposit is made they would save massive amounts of money by not having to fork over hefty commissions.

[FL_Cruiser64]

Right on! Seems that some people get upset when you actually use the benefits offered to you by RCL. Maybe because they can't do it and get upset they you/we can. We didn't make these benefits/offers up they did, just as they have the right to change them whether we like it or not.

 

Why does it always have to be about someone being upset? Anybody can rack up OBC. There is no science to it. And the issue is really not about "paid for OBC" like the Visa or a TA but the 'unpaid OBC by RCI'. This is rather limited. What programs are there? NextCruise/FutureCruise? Wow Sale? Stockholder OBC? Am I missing an OBC Program? Oh yeah, the Complainers Program.

 

So the max OBC provided by RCI I can think of is $450 on sailings/cruise tours of 12 nights or longer without the Complainers Program.

 

Every other OBC is coming from 3rd parties and are paid for. Those are not the issue. Anybody can get those if they choose to.

 

The reason maybe for disallowing stockholder benefits and NC/FutureCruise has something to do with the fact that cruisers boasting the fact that they spend $20 or less onboard per day. If you have $200 OBC from RCI for an NC/FC and stockholder benefits on a 7 Night sailing and people spend $20 or less per day you are looking at no onboard revenue for these cruisers.

 

Can they do it? Sure, by lugging their own sodas, sharing soda cards, smuggling alcohol...just to name a few. I always said that while it may not make a difference individually it is a difference of tripple digit millions of dollars in onboard revenue in the grand scheme.

[jmraggs]

It's the people who are combining credits - from TA, Next Cruise, B of A, Stock - that RCCL is catching onto and is allegedly trying to change. While I, too, don't like it, sometimes companies are forced to reign in their generous policies when people start finding loopholes to circumvent the intended purpose.

 

I do think that RCL is starting to realize how much all of these OBC's are costing them and decided to cut some of them back. If they allowed it, I don't have a problem with anyone doing it. The only loophole I see is allowing people to cash it out at the end of the cruise. I won't care if they changed that policy since I over spend my OBC on every cruise anyway.

 

I think they should change the policy (even thou I read it's not refundable) and enforce it so people can't cash it out if there is a balance.

[NCMtnBoys]

Onboard Credit to me means Credit to be used when Onboard for spending Onboard for things/services Onboard. I do not think Onboard Credit means money the cruise line owes me that I can pocket and take home if I want.

 

To me, that smacks of someone scamming the system. But I guess I don't think the way some people do. I don't walk about thinking "how to take advantage" of something.

 

With the re-wording I quoted earlier... it looks like they've clarified their intentions. "Not redeemable for cash" and "any unused credit shall be forfeited" are phrases further spell out what I'm saying.

 

It's not jealously, it's called being appalled at other's actions.

 

BINGO! Excellent post!

 

I'm not aiming this at anyone in particular, it's just a general statement - but there are a lot of people out there that insist on finding a way to take advantage of or scam the system...another great example comes to mind that has been discussed on CC ad nauseum, but I won't bring that into this thread. ;)

[Gonzo70]

The reason maybe for disallowing stockholder benefits and NC/FutureCruise has something to do with the fact that cruisers boasting the fact that they spend $20 or less onboard per day. If you have $200 OBC from RCI for an NC/FC and stockholder benefits on a 7 Night sailing and people spend $20 or less per day you are looking at no onboard revenue for these cruisers.

 

To take it one step further, not only do they not make money on such a scenario - they lose money. Let's say the person uses a $100 OBC to purchase a $100 shore excursion. RCL maybe marked up the excursion $20, but they are paying $80 to the vendor providing the shore excursion.

 

I have no problem with people taking advantage of combinding different types of OBC's that up to now have been available. But I do have a problem with people claiming that RCL is doing something horrible to their loyal customers by only allowing one discount per passenger. Anybody up in arms about this is not someone that has been "Loyal to Royal" but is merely a fair weathered friend.

[jmraggs]

You are missing the point here. This is how RCL loses money: When somebody uses a TA RCL has to pay a percentage of the total cruise fare (excluding taxes, port fees, and surcharges) to the TA as commission. When someone books directly with RCL they do not pay this commission. If somebody books directly with RCL and does not transfer to a TA RCL receives significantly more money than if the person transfers the reservation to a TA. Many online TA's are now offering significant incentives to entice people to transfer reservations over to them (or book directly with them) i.e. pre paid gratuities, OBC's, free shore excursion etc. A lot of people (myself included) book direct with RCL (so we can maintain control over our reservation and make any changes, price drops, etc. simply by calling RCL ourselves whenever we want) and a couple weeks before final payment transfer the reservation to an online TA (for my last cruise I received over $300 from the online TA for doing so). If RCL prohbitied one from transfering one's reservation to a TA once a deposit is made they would save massive amounts of money by not having to fork over hefty commissions.

 

Ok, so you sound like part of the problem don't you!:p Bidding for the highest OBC.

[jmraggs]

Why does it always have to be about someone being upset? Anybody can rack up OBC. There is no science to it. And the issue is really not about "paid for OBC" like the Visa or a TA but the 'unpaid OBC by RCI'. This is rather limited. What programs are there? NextCruise/FutureCruise? Wow Sale? Stockholder OBC? Am I missing an OBC Program? Oh yeah, the Complainers Program.

 

So the max OBC provided by RCI I can think of is $450 on sailings/cruise tours of 12 nights or longer without the Complainers Program.

 

Every other OBC is coming from 3rd parties and are paid for. Those are not the issue. Anybody can get those if they choose to.

 

The reason maybe for disallowing stockholder benefits and NC/FutureCruise has something to do with the fact that cruisers boasting the fact that they spend $20 or less onboard per day. If you have $200 OBC from RCI for an NC/FC and stockholder benefits on a 7 Night sailing and people spend $20 or less per day you are looking at no onboard revenue for these cruisers.

 

Can they do it? Sure, by lugging their own sodas, sharing soda cards, smuggling alcohol...just to name a few. I always said that while it may not make a difference individually it is a difference of tripple digit millions of dollars in onboard revenue in the grand scheme.

 

Your out of the ball park on this one!

[FL_Cruiser64]

Same here as we started sailing with RCL and really liked the ships and crew so we decided to stay with them. Of course, now some time has passed and we are almost D +, we take advantage of what they have to offer (discounts, OBC etc.).

 

We don't cruise with them just for the offers since we didn't start with any benefits from the very beginning, but we cruise with them because we like them. I am amazed to see that people say they are going to stop sailing with RCL because a $14.95 steak was just added to the menu or you can't combine stock OBC with the booking onboard OBC.

 

We go on a cruise to have a good time, not worry about how much OBC we can get. If I get off a cruise owing several hundred dollars on my ship board account, I feel lucky!

 

Very well said.

 

RCI used to be a step above Carnival. Once they acquired Celebrity, Celebrity took on that position and Mr Fain took RCI mass market. The ships should make a difference getting cruisers not the bottom price and how much people can save onboard. Building 13 mega ships beginning in 1999 and dumping all the smaller ships increased passenger capacity. They needed to be filled. How do you do that? You offer benefits and a price strategy which literally bottoms the prices out. With that you open the flood gates. You invite the vacationers whose sole purpose is to penny pinch, cruise as cheap as possible and if given the chance walk home with money.

 

RCI and RCCL as a whole was neither prepared to be a mass market line nor did they have a strategy to become one. Now we are reaping the 'winnings' of that failed strategy.

 

In order to get some cash flow they dump smaller ships, cut the loyalty program but they make no changes in the cruise fare. Oasis is coming to early, way to early. The cost outweight the benefits. The only thing what keeps RCI afloat is the productivity of Pullmantur and Azamara who bring in profits and keep the overall revenue of RCCL in the positives. If RCI would be a stand alone company it either be bankrupt or swallowed up by Mr Arison.

 

But just as you do, while I am concerned about RCI I keep on cruising and do my share on every cruise to reduce the losses - benefits be damned - because I like the ships. :D

[jmraggs]

Very well said.

 

RCI used to be a step above Carnival. Once they acquired Celebrity, Celebrity took on that position and Mr Fain took RCI mass market. The ships should make a difference getting cruisers not the bottom price and how much people can save onboard. Building 13 mega ships beginning in 1999 and dumping all the smaller ships increased passenger capacity. They needed to be filled. How do you do that? You offer benefits and a price strategy which literally bottoms the prices out. With that you open the flood gates. You invite the vacationers whose sole purpose is to penny pinch, cruise as cheap as possible and if given the chance walk home with money.

 

RCI and RCCL as a whole was neither prepared to be a mass market line nor did they have a strategy to become one. Now we are reaping the 'winnings' of that failed strategy.

 

In order to get some cash flow they dump smaller ships, cut the loyalty program but they make no changes in the cruise fare. Oasis is coming to early, way to early. The cost outweight the benefits. The only thing what keeps RCI afloat is the productivity of Pullmantur and Azamara who bring in profits and keep the overall revenue of RCCL in the positives. If RCI would be a stand alone company it either be bankrupt or swallowed up by Mr Arison.

 

But just as you do, while I am concerned about RCI I keep on cruising and do my share on every cruise to reduce the losses - benefits be damned - because I like the ships. :D

 

We'll just have to eat more food to make up for it!;) A couple more ice cream cones should do the trick.