TV Show about how Cruiselines make their most profit

[Rysyonok]

DougK,

 

I think you're right. And I think it's for the better. I would actually like to pay only for what I want to pay, as opposed to getting stuck with the entire package...

[Ma Bell]

We went on our first cruise in 1974. I can't think of anything that was free then that is being charged for today except for some shuttle fees. Liquor, casino games, shore excursions, photos, spa treatments and shopping were separate then too.

 

There are just a lot of things that weren't offered then that are offered today and some of them have an extra charge, but all the basics and more are still covered. There certainly is a lot more free entertainment and activities than there used to be too. There was no internet then and ship to shore phone calls were much more expensive than the internet. So, yes you can spend more on your cruise, but it's for additions to the cruise experience that weren't offered before.

[ma_in_ak]

It is true, how far is too far with the extra charges, but also, what else are they adding? there used to be only 1 dining room and now there are several options. There are more activities than there used to be. I like the options even if I have to pay for them. Same with shows, and whatever else. I've been to several all inclusive resorts, some who charge extra for specialty restaurants or only let you go to them a certain number of times during your stay. some charge extra for some types of booze and for some activities. I don't mind paying extra for what I want because I always research before every trip I go on and know what to expect and what I am paying for, so before I book something, I know what I'll be paying extra for and have decided it is worth it, or I wouldn't be going. And if they changed a 7 night cruise to costing almost nothing and charged extra for everything, I still would go. I would still get to choose what I do and do not pay for. I almost never go to shows, so I wouldn't have to pay for that. If I hear some good music coming out of a club, I'd choose to pay to go in there, but I'd probably never go in the disco so I wouldn't pay for that. In all my cruises I've probably been in the pool twice so I wouldn't have to pay for that. You get what you pay for and can't expect the cruise line to make nothing an stay in business. So wishing that the price is low, everything is included, the food quality high and service impeccable is not going to happen.

[felixdacat]

Although I found the show interesting, I did not like the general tone of the program. To begin with, the title “Cruise Inc: Big Money On The High Seas” along with the type of questions asked showed the overall “Get ya” approach to the reporting. To me, it was as if CNBC was trying to show the cruise line as doing something, anything wrong.

NCL appears to have some strong people working for them because they were unflinching in their explanations. That was a cruise director who knew his job and knew what needed to be done to make his guests happy, which goes hand in hand with making NCL profitable.

All the time, they showed the ship, which is one helluva capital expense. They also showed a ship being refurbished. They showed the security in place, the medical staff, and the behind the scenes for the entertainment. All significant expenses. Costs a lot just to weigh anchor.

I love the dramatic effect towards the end concerning the $21K they need to meet their alcohol sales goals with “just one day left!”

$21K on the Pearl. Running at 94% capacity with an “at Sea” day and night left. Basically, that averages out to 1.5 drinks per passenger. I bet they crushed that number. I would guess they likely did $40K+, maybe even $50K.

But the show did make you aware of how tight the margins are. 94% capacity ended up being a break even cruise.

[Rysyonok]

felixdacat,

 

do you think it was a very smart business move on NCL's part? Showing people just how things are so that there aren't as many complainers in the future? Hoping that people may spend a few extra bucks 'to help the cruise line out'?

[felixdacat]

felixdacat,

 

do you think it was a very smart business move on NCL's part? Showing people just how things are so that there aren't as many complainers in the future? Hoping that people may spend a few extra bucks 'to help the cruise line out'?

 

Always a risk do give that level of access without any control of content. They would probably have been better off if they could have done the same thing with the Travel Channel or even Fox Business News.

But my overal impression about NCL from this report was a good one. But I'm strange, I actually believe in Capitalism.

FX

[Rysyonok]

Always a risk do give that level of access without any control of content.

 

Agreed, I've witnessed some... occasions... when the message relayed to reporters wasn't the message later relayed to the viewers. Ah well.

 

Has travel channel ever done anything on cruising?

[felixdacat]

Travel Channel has had a bunch of cruise programs over the years. There were two Samantha Brown cruises, both on RCL. One was a Mediterranean cruise, and the other was in the Caribbean on freedom of the Seas. They have a Disney Cruise program in semi regular rotation, as well as an Alaskan cruise but I cannot remember the cruise line.

I think Travel Channel has enough material so that once a year they have a Cruise week, which means that all prime time programming is about cruises.

[rool]

I think all the time travellers are forcing down the basic room rate the liklihood of having to pay extra for various items is bound to continue.

 

It's in all the stakeholders interests that the cruise companies stay afloat (did you see what I did there ;)) and it does give the opportunity for people, who wouldn't normally be able to afford a cruise, make the choices in how to manage their spending.

 

I suppose there will come a time when they hit the point of diminishing returns but I think they are a long way off that yet, especially in the mainstream cruising sector.

 

On the whole I'm happy with it I just wish the price of wine wasn't quite so high.

[Rysyonok]

Travel Channel has had a bunch of cruise programs over the years. There were two Samantha Brown cruises, both on RCL. One was a Mediterranean cruise, and the other was in the Caribbean on freedom of the Seas. They have a Disney Cruise program in semi regular rotation, as well as an Alaskan cruise but I cannot remember the cruise line.

I think Travel Channel has enough material so that once a year they have a Cruise week, which means that all prime time programming is about cruises.

 

Thank you. Somehow I've never seen one of those before, so I'll have to check schedules in advance and more carefully :)

[bobbyleduck]

I love to cruise and just wish I could get my wife to go more frequently, but I also enjoy keeping the costs under control. To that end, I prefer that the cruiselines offer low-cost fares and charge for many of the other extras.

 

Why? I don't drink alcohol, so I'm glad that cost isn't factored into the cost of my cruise. I have visited the specialty restaurant once, on Millennium, and didn't find it to be superior to the Main Dining Room, so I'm quite happy to enjoy the MDR, and the many other "included" food opportunities.

 

I just want a cabin that is dark when I want to sleep, so I get the benefit of the lowest cost cabins on the ship. When I go ashore I enjoy getting out on my own, and to that end the excursions don't usually do anything for me. Personally I enjoy the cruising experience, so it doesn't really matter a lot to me where I cruise, just so long as there is a wonderful ship taking me places. I don't have to vacation during "the season," so I can get low prices on a variety of cruising options.

 

Happy cruising to all!

 

Bob

[7leagueboots]

Cruising is slowly moving from an all-inclusive vacation to an al a carte one. For people on a tight budget this is a positive. For people who don't want to worry about every little item this is a negative.

 

Whatever group someone fits into, its a fact of life. Things change. For some the change is good, for others...not so good.

[Rysyonok]

I finally watched the show and it was just amazing. Here's the link to it on the cnbc site:

 

http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1139954767&play=1

 

Does anyone have link to online versions of travel channel's cruise programs?