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Cruising: Big Money On the High Seans

Chelly

By Chelly,
in Holland America Line

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TLCOhio "Live from...." Rare

TLCOhio

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TV station CNBC is airing a special tonight about the multi-billion dollar cruise industry. Program is entitled, "Cruise Inc: Big Money On the High Seas"

 

From the CNBC website, they note on this show: “CNBC takes you aboard a city at sea where passengers are enticed to spend big money. But can this fast growing segment of the travel industry navigate the rough seas of a slumping economy and stay afloat?

 NBC travel correspondent Peter Greenberg takes you cruising for profits, premiering tonight at 9p, 10p and 1a ET.”

 

They also call this show an “exclusive look inside the $30-billion cruise industry” as the famed travel writer spent seven days aboard the Norwegian Pearl, a 15-story floating city that is called “a destination of its own. It's a hotel, a shopping mall, a casino and full-service Spa - sailing the oceans of the world.” The network’s hype warns: “be prepared to spend on everything from oil paintings to Botox!”

 

From news stories I have read about the is show, it appears very in-depth, but seems to have an "edge" on how cruise lines seek to profit and make money. Enjoy!? Terry in Ohio

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TLCOhio "Live from...." Rare

TLCOhio

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Too bad the travel writer is on NCL and not HAL. I am still looking forward to viewing. Perhaps we'll see a few critiques here.

 

Nearly a full year of research went into this production. His other specials, such as on American Airlines, were very interesting and well done. It seems to remind people to be careful as you "charge it" and spend money while on a cruise ship. It all adds up!!!

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

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ger_77

ger_77

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There wasn't really anything new that I saw on this program. They still have Park West selling art, though - I'm glad HAL decided to discontinue the practice. I wonder what will take Park West's place to replace the lost revenue.

 

Smooth Sailing! :):):)

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hammybee

hammybee

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That's a one hour ad for NCL.

 

I think it may give a lot of people a better appreciation for turnaround day, clarify the norovirus and put some minds at ease about onboard security.

 

I have long admired NCL for their innovation.

 

And at the end of the week, this cruise broke even, probably due to not hitting their mark on shore excursions ( due to weather) and a 92% occupancy rate.

 

The show gave me a better appreciation for how tough it is to make a buck in this business, especially in this economy.

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TLCOhio "Live from...." Rare

TLCOhio

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Interesting show. We saw Peter Greenberg at an innkeeping conference a couple years ago...he's very, very interesting. And very good at what he does.

 

Agree, both interesting and well-done. They covered all of the major aspects of this large industry, raising the right questions about how the current economy affects things. It focused lots on dollars and money, but that is part of what CNBC does as a financial network.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

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hammybee

hammybee

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They still have Park West selling art, though - I'm glad HAL decided to discontinue the practice. I wonder what will take Park West's place to replace the lost revenue. Smooth Sailing! :):):)

 

It's not clear if HAL abandoned Park West or vice-versa.

 

Until very recently, the art auctions were the number one source of onboard revenue.

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vegasgirl00

vegasgirl00

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Darn, I just missed it. I must say though that I think HAL is cheaper than NCL. This is our second HAL cruise in 3 months for a reason. On our NCL cruise we felt like we were being nickle and dimed for everything. At least with HAL we can bring wine on board which may have been part of the savings. Thank you HAL for your liberal wine rules.

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jtl513

jtl513

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Darn, I just missed it.
It will air again at 10:00p your time, and again Sun night at 10:00p Eastern.
Until very recently, the art auctions were the number one source of onboard revenue.
Didn't they say on the show that the ship got just 20% of PW's income? Maybe HAL wanted more of it?
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mr. godfredo

mr. godfredo

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I found the show to be interesting, but I must say there was very few things that were ground breaking news! I really wish that NCL would have shared the actual numbers with us as far as what each area breaks down to, but I did find them to be very accommodating in what they did divulge. The bottom line is that in order for cruieslines to be viable financially, they are almost forced to find ways to either cut back on the quality of product or raise revenue on board. I have cruised with NCL twice, and though I do not prefer to sail with them, I would if the itinerary and price were right. One of the reasons I do not prefer them is that in my opinion NCL does indeed nickel and dime you to death. I realize that all cruiselines do to an extent, but this show really confirms how closely NCL does walk the line between treating you as a passenger as opposed to a revenue generator. From the daily "Resort Charge" to the pay resteraunts, I believe that NCL has indeed cornered the market on stretching the limit. Sadly, it is very evident that in order for any cruiseline to make a profit that they will somehow have to alter the product we once knew and were so fond of.

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cappucino

cappucino

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Did they mention the photo money making opportunities? If so, I missed it. That is also another money maker and it adds up quickly. They are memories forever and I will cherish the pictures of my Mom and daughter together. So they didn't get my $ 7.50 per :p day for a drink to make their quota but they did get a few extra dollars for my memories! Oh well!!I enjoyed the show overall as well.

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Boytjie

Boytjie

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We both hours the same - the 2nd hour just a rebroadcast of the 1st hour?

 

Have them 'both' recorded so we can watch & zip through the commercials. :D

 

It's a one hour show.

 

It was neat that the Pearl's itinerary for the show was the same as our Zuiderdam cruise in February 2008: Roatan, Belize and Cozumel. But we got to go to Half Moon Cay :D

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Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen

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I've recorded this show but haven't yet watched it. I do have more than a fair amount of skepticism about it, having been given Peter Greenberg's Don't go There as a gift. The best thing I can say is that I'm really glad I didn't spend my $ on that waste of paper. Imagine saying that one shouldn't go to San Antonio, TX because the residents are among the highest per capita consumers of fast food. :eek:

 

I also have a problem with his representation of facts in that book. In the discussion of lost luggage and airlines (without a doubt a definite concern) the 10 worst offenders for a specific quarter are listed. About the airline with the fewest lost luggage (of those worst) the book states: “…which mishandled 9.92 bags per 1,000 people. Hey, at least it’s under 10 percent!” Yes, that number is under 10 percent. It is also under 50 percent. Perhaps stating that they were under 1 percent would have been more accurate and informative. Even the worst of the worst mishandled 13.16 bags for every 1,000 passengers. That is even under 10 percent, at 1.316 percent. Ten percent does sound more dramatic though. If Mr. Greenberg and his “team of dedicated staffers” have problems with such basic math, all his other “facts” come into question.

 

I just hope that he was more accurate (and informative) in this TV program.

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