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#131
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In article . net,
Benjamin Smith wrote: There are long-term cruise fans that aren't satisfied with today's generic product or are tepid to it. Carnival is going to do what it takes to make maximize profit. Carnival markets to the mass consumer market. That is who they will attempt to satisfy the most. Not folks who are interested primarily in the ships over the cruise experience, or those who want the cruise experience to be like it was ten or fifteen years ago. Given the current system, you can just sit in an armchair and whine about the way things were and how you dislike how they are now, but it isn't going to change anything as long as the cabins are selling. The only thing that may move Carnival or RCI is if the cabins stop selling. -- Charles |
#132
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Charles wrote:
Given the current system, you can just sit in an armchair and whine about the way things were and how you dislike how they are now Analysis, critical thinking forming an opinion equals whining. I think not. Ben S. |
#133
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"Benjamin Smith" wrote in message ink.net... Charles wrote: Given the current system, you can just sit in an armchair and whine about the way things were and how you dislike how they are now Analysis, critical thinking forming an opinion equals whining. I think not. Ben S. Well put Ben. Just because we don't like some of the turns the cruise industry is taking, we are supposed to shut up and drink the coolade like everyone else. Or better yet ... we are labeled "whiners". Sounds like the same rationale many have regarding our current administration, except in that case you are "unpatriotic" if you don't support our current President as the knowing, all being ... basically God! Sorry, but it doesn't work that way. I have a vested interest in the cruise industry and after almost 60 cruises I consider myself a pretty good customer. Damn straight the cruise lines should listen to what I have to say. My business is probably more important than Joe Blow that takes one cruise every 10 years. Thank God there are people willing to speak out for what they believe in! Ernie |
#134
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In article . net,
Benjamin Smith wrote: Analysis, critical thinking forming an opinion equals whining. I think not. What critical thinking? You keep harping on the cruise line not satisfying a group of people they are not trying to satisfy. People to whom ships are a hobby are not their market. Their market is the average Joe Blow who does not do ship tours, know the quality of furnishings and probably won't remember the exact name of the ship in a year. The market is for those who are booking a cruise vacation and don't care that all those balconies make the ship look like somewhat like an apartment block. -- Charles |
#135
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In article , E.k.R.
wrote: I have a vested interest in the cruise industry and after almost 60 cruises I consider myself a pretty good customer. Damn straight the cruise lines should listen to what I have to say. My business is probably more important than Joe Blow that takes one cruise every 10 years. Joe Blow's business is more important than your business to the cruise lines. They have to fill all those cabins. There are many more Joe Blow's than hobbyists. -- Charles |
#136
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"Charles" wrote in message d... Joe Blow's business is more important than your business to the cruise lines. They have to fill all those cabins. There are many more Joe Blow's than hobbyists. -- Charles You don't think my business helps to fill cabins? It most certainly does, and much more often then Joe Blow. I don't ever remember having my business as a "hobbyist" as you call it, turned away from any cruise line. Besides having an interest in ships, I am a regular cruise passenger just like everyone else. I enjoy cruises for the same reasons that many of us on r.t.c. do .... and fortunately I get to take more than the average person. Since I cruise on all the cruise lines usually multiple times, I probably have a better understand of the industry and the direction it's heading in then the person who sails one line, maybe a couple times every 10 years. I would say it's only natural my observations are a little more in depth and passionate than the average cruiser. Besides, if cruise lines were not interested in my thoughts, then why have I been invited to participate in panels by several cruise lines regarding my opinions on a wide range of cruise related topics? Ernie |
#137
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In article , E.k.R.
wrote: You don't think my business helps to fill cabins? It most certainly does, and much more often then Joe Blow. I don't ever remember having my business as a "hobbyist" as you call it, turned away from any cruise line. Besides having an interest in ships, I am a regular cruise passenger just like everyone else. I enjoy cruises for the same reasons that many of us on r.t.c. do .... You said ships and cruises were a hobby in one of your earlier posts in this thread. That is where I got that word, from you. In the same post you said the ship itself was more important to you than the actual cruise experience. and fortunately I get to take more than the average person. Since I cruise on all the cruise lines usually multiple times, I probably have a better understand of the industry and the direction it's heading in then the person who sails one line, maybe a couple times every 10 years. I would say it's only natural my observations are a little more in depth and passionate than the average cruiser. Yes, because you get to take more (travel industry rates?) you naturaly become more discerning than the person who only sails a few times every few years. But you are not the average customer, the average customer who makes up most of the market is who they need to fill the ships because there are a lot more of them. If you didn't sail it would make little difference to them. When the Joe Blows don't sail even if it is only a few times a decade they are in trouble. The Joe Blows are the customer base. Besides, if cruise lines were not interested in my thoughts, then why have I been invited to participate in panels by several cruise lines regarding my opinions on a wide range of cruise related topics? So have they taken your opinions into account? You don't seem very happy with the results....... -- Charles |
#138
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"Charles" wrote in message d... You said ships and cruises were a hobby in one of your earlier posts in this thread. That is where I got that word, from you. In the same post you said the ship itself was more important to you than the actual cruise experience. Ships are a hobby exactly as I stated, but cruises are a form of vacation that I have always cherished. I love the sea. The ship itself is the most important thing when I choose a cruise, but none the less if I hated cruising I would not be taking cruises. Most long time cruisers (even those who don't have ships as a hobby) such as myself have become more concerning in regards to what ships we sail on. I am certainly not alone in this regard. The popularity of certain ships such as QE2 is testament to this. Yes, because you get to take more (travel industry rates?) you naturaly become more discerning than the person who only sails a few times every few years. I work for an airline. Sometimes I get Interline rates and sometimes I don't. These days the standard discounted rate is about the same as the Interline rate. The main reason I am able to cruise often is because I have the time. I only work an average of 12 days a month (and that is considered full time as a flight attendant) which enables me to cruise often. The other advantage is I fly free and I can sail at the last minute. A perfect combination for any cruise enthusiast. But you are not the average customer, the average customer who makes up most of the market is who they need to fill the ships because there are a lot more of them. If you didn't sail it would make little difference to them. I agree I'm not average (who wants to be average?), but there are more and more people like me that cruise often. In fact when I attend the past passenger parties I'm rarely the person that has cruised the most. As for you statement that if I didn't sail it wouldn't make a difference ... well probably not, but then I am one person just like you. We are all individuals and if none of us sailed, it would make a huge difference. My money is no different than the average Joe's, and eventually if the average Joe takes enough cruises they may feel the same way I do. There is not an unlimited resource for cruise passengers. Some people will just never consider a cruise and there will never be an attraction. Others will just never be able to afford one, even though I consider them a bargain. The cruise industry MUST court it's past passengers which is exactly why they have past passenger clubs that offer various benefits. If cruise lines didn't care about me as a past passenger, then these clubs would not exist. So yes, my business does make a difference as does any individuals. Every dollar is important to the cruise industry, including mine. When the Joe Blows don't sail even if it is only a few times a decade they are in trouble. The Joe Blows are the customer base. For a line like Carnival, absolutely. What about Cunard, HAL, and Crystal? These lines (especially Cunard) rely heavily on past passengers to fill ships. Likewise for most every luxury cruise line. Even Celebrity promotes heavily to it's past passengers. Princess is probably the most aggressive of all, and probably has one of the largest past passenger databases of any line. So have they taken your opinions into account? You don't seem very happy with the results....... Some of the items I have suggested have been implemented. I don't know if it was because of me (or others) or just because it was going to happen anyway. Of course some haven't and others I was never questioned about. Most of the panels are very specific to a certain idea or operation of the cruise line. They are not a free for all. Ernie |
#139
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I do not base what i said on my going to phila,but on what people tell
me that still live there,and visit me ,and advise me to keep out of philly if i value my life |
#140
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BILL:
That is a good idea,just do not move to jersey,we do not need any more philadelphians here |
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