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Bye bye alaska

Magic Man

By Magic Man,
in Royal Caribbean International

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wrp96

wrp96

Posted
Posted
Dang, we just placed a Next Cruise deposit while we were on the Serenade last week, anticipating booking an Alaska cruise on the Serenade when the 2010 itineraries come out in a few months. The Radiance will still be beautiful, but we really lovethe crew on the Serenade and will miss their familiar faces and service.

 

Eric

 

 

Hey Eric, you might get lucky. One of my favorite people from my Serenade sailing was actually on my Rhapsody sailing this past year.

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alcpa1

alcpa1

Posted
Posted

The soft economy may have a lot to do with RCI's decision.

The other factor that has to have some relationship is the Alaskan taxation of casino revenues. Perhaps these are related issues. I kept waiting for the cruise lines to go to court to get this stopped. That is a chunk of their capitol that they sure need now.

We were not very happy to fork over the extra $50 per person for two Alaskan cruises. We were also there prior to the vote and heard quite a bit of discussion about the three pronged attack on the industry that has done more than any other to open it's state to the masses. The passenger tax was advertised as a way to pay for "port enhancements." For those of you who have been to the major ports you have to wonder if they were going to gild the dock rails with imported gold because the ports were in wonderful shape.

The clean water provision of the legislation was totally valid and if you read the bill, and then the act it was right on.

I have never been able to side with the Alaskan populace who taxed cruise passengers but didn't bother to include air line passengers. I guess they will do that next so that they can replace the funds Ted Steven's raked in all of those years.

It is indeed a shame that they are pulling the Serenade. We were very happy to have included her in our Radiance family of preferred sailing experiences.

I would love to return to Alaska but our pockets are leaner this year than before our last couple of visits to the 49th gem. Sorry Alaska, that's $100 more we will have to support the charities of our state!!!

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Parkay

Parkay

Posted
Posted
This might explain Disney's application to cruise in Alaska in 2010. That would cover the departure of Serenade.

 

I hope is 2010 season and not 2009 since I'm on the same sailing wrp96

 

Disney has two new larger ships on order to take over Caribbean itineraries, so they are sending their older ships to other destinations. The two current ships fit through the canal, and the two new ships will not.

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negc

negc

Posted
Posted

If this action is RCI's reaction to Alaska's latest tax policies and also a reflection of a softening in the Alaska cruise market due to the current economic problems we are all experiencing, I would look for similar moves by some of the other major players in this market and Disney's decision to withdraw its Glacier Bay application may be another harbinger of things to come. We have been planning to do a group cruise to Alaska in 2010. I hope our choices are not severely limited by the withdrawal of more cruise ships from the market.:(

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Pomperaugrr

Pomperaugrr

Posted
Posted

I think that RCI may keep the Serenade in the Caribbean. THey just started the A and B itineraries which are booking fast. She was sold out for our sailing on the 17th too. It may be worth their while just keeping the Serenade in the Caribbean.

 

I've never been on the Radiance, but love that class of ship, so it won't hurt too much to try her out. Plus I like the Radiance's itinerary better with the land tours.

 

Eric

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dutchess43

dutchess43

Posted
Posted

The 50.00 was imposed when cruise tourism was at an all time high, well maybe the state of Alaska should have second thoughts & recind the fee. Not only RCI but Princess as well have dropped their cruise pricing significantly fthis year for some of the sailing to Alaska.

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dutchess43

dutchess43

Posted
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I currently have an E1 balcony for $849 to Alaska. I have had an unprecedented (for me) 5 price drops!:eek: Put in my Diamond discount, and it becomes $749.

 

I wish I was considering an Alaska cruise with some of the pricing I have seen. Usually you never can get a price that low for your E1. Way to go!

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sanjoseca

sanjoseca

Posted
Posted
Both Jewel and Radiance were planned to be on the west coast from January to March, 2010 for the Olympic Games in Whistler, so I was assuming that the JW would be on the West Coast for the Alaska season. It appears that the charters in Vancouver for the Olympics may have fallen through, so who knows at this point.
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cruisnfool

cruisnfool

Posted
Posted
[quote name='critterchick']Radiance herself was built for Alaska sailings. There's a wonderful Totem in front of the Sky Bar that was donated by a local tribe.:)[/quote]

I sailed Radiance and did not hear that about the totem pole.....nice idea!
You gotta love these boards for this type of info.
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Phamer55

Phamer55

Posted
Posted
[quote name='springtxbill']Alaska started charging the extra fee per pax and getting a cut of the casino revenue. Now they are shocked that the cruiselines may cut back on their sailings? Not a surprise to me.:)[/QUOTE]

I'm not surprised either. Actually, I feel pretty good about it. That will teach them for being so greedy!
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eetonaee

eetonaee

Posted
Posted
[SIZE=2]Here is a link to a story in today's Vancouver Sun[/SIZE]


[URL="http://www.vancouversun.com/Travel/Cruise+line+axes+ship+2010/1230485/story.html"][U][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff][URL="http://www.vancouversun.com/Travel/Cruise+line+axes+ship+2010/1230485/story.html"]http:/[/URL][/COLOR][/SIZE][/U][U][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]/www.vancouversun.com/Travel/Cruise+line+axes+ship+2010/1230485/story.html[/COLOR][/SIZE][/U][/URL]
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dirtgirl

dirtgirl

Posted
Posted
[quote name='eetonaee'][SIZE=2]Here is a link to a story in today's Vancouver Sun[/SIZE]


[URL="http://www.vancouversun.com/Travel/Cruise+line+axes+ship+2010/1230485/story.html"][U][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff][URL="http://www.vancouversun.com/Travel/Cruise+line+axes+ship+2010/1230485/story.html"]http:/[/URL][/COLOR][/SIZE][/U][U][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]/www.vancouversun.com/Travel/Cruise+line+axes+ship+2010/1230485/story.html[/COLOR][/SIZE][/U][/URL][/quote]


Hello there! Been to the Black Bear recently?:)
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