Mary229

Yes, they get some, undisclosed benefit. We buy on ship as there is usually a broader wine selection.

Here it is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viking_(cruise_line) https://www.datanyze.com/companies/viking-cruises/120471635 The needle won’t move for two reasons - trends are the same (high demand and aging down) and their revenue and passenger traffic once averaged is suppressed and perhaps significant is not impactful

If you have sailed HAL’s older ships they had the ideal libraries and still do. I don’t know why they recreated Barnes and Noble on the ships when they could have simply updated the model they already had. I think that is the true consternation among us.

Here is Viking. https://www.vikingline.com/globalassets/documents/market_specific/corporate/investors/financial-reports/pressrelease-220218-year-end-report.pdf if you want to add their sales and capacities everything is there to do so. Of course being a private company those are not publicly audited results. They do not discuss their demographics. I don’t think it will move the needle.

They will simply sail somewhere else. The cruise will likely become another Med cruise in Greece and Italy. It is sad they won’t allow movement of funds.

If they will let you roll your funds to another trip I would definitely do that now. Flight credits/vouchers are usually good for one year.

I always ask them which rooms are available? That is a little different than picking your own but I usually get at least 2 if not more to choose from.

Nothing is going to pass HAL’s lips concerning revenue that isn’t approved by corporate. Most of this data is proprietary and the reports are about as good as the public will get.

Never count out going on the cruise you really want and traveling independently to Normandy before of after the cruise. If independent travel is not for you perhaps a highly specialized bus tour (large or small group depending on budget)

I always check and carry what is appropriate , in Europe I avoid bringing my carryon on wheels.

Here is the list of cruise lines who are members. I think this covers most of us on cruise critic and likely represents the industry as well as any measure https://cruising.org/en/cruise-lines

If this is on the Koningsdam I have read that all of the obstructed balconies are a good value and in a part of the ship that is “safe from noise”. Look at the deckplan, there are just a few obstructed cabins. I actually went from a higher level select cabin down to a guarantee obstructed view once I read the reviews

You may already be aware but here is another website that keeps tabs on the industry. https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/store/

That is not this report, this is the state of the entire cruise industry. You would have to go to the SEC website and read the CCL reports. Or here: https://www.carnivalcorp.com/financial-information/quarterly-and-semiannual-reports

They produce this document annually though it was disrupted by the shutdowns. You can go into their archives and should be able to find previous years. It is quite the treasure trove of data, I agree.

I didn’t do the back research but by recollection the average age of cruisers was in the late 50s just a few years ago. It seems the lines have really made inroads into the family vacation market. They are now competing directly with the large amusement parks and the road trip. Road trips, popular during the shutdowns, will likely start back on the waning track they were on prior to 2020

Demand is high and it appears the average age of cruisers has decreased. CLIA_State of the Cruise Industry Report-Sept 2023 Update Live.pdf

No one knows as they haven’t yet started the registration process

Here is the new Europe Visa page, as Ann mentioned. You will need this and it can be gotten and carried digitally

I agree with most of what you said but this line. The libraries used to be a gathering spot for quiet activities - reading, games, puzzles, crafts. Gathering these activities in a single spot with the coffee bar was ideal in my opinion. Then, they were always full. Now we have the library void of people, a separate craft area used for limited hours, a separate map area and a separate game area. Just combine like activities in one area is my opinion. I would not be adverse to including an alcohol bar in this area as well but please, not another noisy lounge with branded, homogenized, pasteurized overly loud music

I have upgraded on a guarantee after room assignment. It was a poorly positioned room and they offered a few others in that same category for free or for a small fee moving to the next category.

I agree. I didn’t notice any bad weather on this cruise at all. A little occasional rocking is nice to remind you that you are at sea. This was almost placid. I recall carrying a tray with 4 full cups of coffee down the stairs most mornings.

Not really. They start calling for people to check in at muster well before sail away. They want to get underway on schedule. For checkin and boarding I would arrive no later than 90 minutes prior to sailaway. For port visit days 60 minutes will do

Another , yes it can be negotiated. I usually use the tactic of getting a better room than offered for the price offered.

And I didn’t say otherwise. I merely said it does work for families seeking an enriching cruise. Sometimes when we answer the question who is HAL for we forget all of the others who are seeking a quieter, more subdued environment . And perhaps the lack of distractions, like the amusement parks onboard, does help.