Just in from RCCL Investors

Just received from RCCL Investors site:

http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1467809&highlight=

Probably a smart move.

Hmmm...

Just as they've discontinued the Mexican Riviera route (having previously ended the 3/4 night Baja cruises as well)...

Over our years of cruising, we've done lots of those routes...and have met many a Mexican national who'd fly up to LA just to cruise back down to the Mexican Riviera ports...

I remember having a comedian on one of those cruises who, when he asked the audience where people were from and there was a contingent from Mexico, he looked puzzled and said something to the effect of "Huh? Why didn't you just stay home?...that's where we're going!"

Cruising is world wide. How far would you go to enjoy a cruise? Having an office in your home country manned by people who speak your language is nice. That our company sees this as a part of the future is beneficial to us the shareholders.

The stock is down big time today, as is the Dow, so hopefully this announcement will help to bring it back up.

Duh! Why would RCCL only market it's three English speaking cruiselines in Mexico when it already has it's Spanish subsidiary Pullmantur's ships already sailing from Mexican ports? They speak Spanish on board, after all.

IMHO, NOT a good move...:eek:

Stock moved DOWN $1.41. Not a sign that the market approved; however, most things were down today so difficult to know for certain.

Maybe I misread the article, but as a previous poster mentioned they were going to "ONLY (caps are mine) market it's three English speaking cruiselines in Mexico...." I read it to be a dedicated RCCL office in Mexico. Did it say they were ONLY marketing the lines in Mexico? That seems highly unlikely as well as highly foolish.

To save people waiting for the link to load, the notice is about/begins:

Royal Caribbean to Open Office in Mexico and Enters Preferred Distribution Partnership With American Express

MIAMI, Sept 07, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced today it will establish a dedicated corporate office in Mexico City in response to the increasing interest in cruising in Mexico. The new office will open in December 2010 to support the Sales, Marketing and Commercial Operations for the company's three cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises.

I have lived and traveled around the world extensively and consider myself an accepting and open person. This announcement makes me stop and take pause if I want to put myself on this cruiseline again.

3 years ago my family of 6 all booked a Nothern European, Nordic cruise on the Millenium class ships. It was in July, great itinerary, lots of ports, museums etc. We were all over 21 and looked forward to our two weeks. We had booked suites and looked forward to our luxurious Celebrity cruise.

Needless to say, the cruise was a mess. Celebrity sold all the higher priced cabins to the Americans and the Europeans. Then (we found out onboard) they offered 1 free child for every paid adult in Mexico to fill the rest of the cabins. This meant upon boarding, we were met with 700+ non english speaking children wreaking havoc on the ship. Oh yes, have I mentioned that Celebrity had 9 childrens councellors on board, of which TWO spoke spanish. There were children in the casino.....running, screaming up and down the hallways, pool area and dining rooms constantly. The attitude of the parents was...."where are they going to go?" Enjoy it's vacation. It was a madhouse. Add to this that they smoked everywhere and Celebrity had to put signs up and announcements that ashtrays must be used as they were putting out cigarettes on the carpets. By mid cruise, there was a mutiny onboard and people were angry, Celebrity started to put things in the daily paper saying please control your children, and parents are responsble for the behaviour of their children and would be liable for damages. Then they starting making announcements on the loud speakers in Spanish saying same. Oh yes...it was a great cruise.

Worst though was the dining rooms. The Mexican group did not understand the early seating/late seating dining room times. When they realized they would be eating at 6:30pm they were very upset. So our first night of late seating was lovely and quiet with excellent service. Night number two they had packed an additional 30 tables in the downstairs dining room alone.upstairs was even worse. Waiters didn't speak spanish, and for the 8:15PM seating....the group were still arriving at 9:00pm. Our next 13 nights in the main dining room were terrible. Lastly, the group did not tip, nor had been informed this was not included. The staff knew this was going to happen from the cruise before and were beat down and very upset.

Ultimately, this group was different from the standard American cruise crowd and perhaps I should be more culturally accepting of just a different way of doing things. However I was quite angry at Celebrity at the time for allowing this and handling this poorly. My letter of complaint got me back a response praising their "cultural diversity" and giving us all significant vouchers for future cruises.

Now Celebrity is going to actively move into and sell the Mexican Market cruises. I hope they educate them on what to expect prior to coming onboard. More "butts in bunks" means more money for the cruiselines and I understand everyones money is green. Mexico has a rising middle and upper class of large proportions. That said, after our experience I would hope Celebrity is more on top of these "cultural differences" or else their American Customers will go elsewhere. I would not wish our experience on anyone.

Happy cruising to all!

Then (we found out onboard) they offered 1 free child for every paid adult in Mexico to fill the rest of the cabins. This meant upon boarding, we were met with 700+ non english speaking children wreaking havoc on the ship. Oh yes, have I mentioned that Celebrity had 9 childrens councellors on board, of which TWO spoke spanish. There were children in the casino.....running, screaming up and down the hallways, pool area and dining rooms constantly. The attitude of the parents was...."where are they going to go?" Enjoy it's vacation. It was a madhouse. Add to this that they smoked everywhere and Celebrity had to put signs up and announcements that ashtrays must be used as they were putting out cigarettes on the carpets. By mid cruise, there was a mutiny onboard and people were angry, Celebrity started to put things in the daily paper saying please control your children, and parents are responsble for the behaviour of their children and would be liable for damages. Then they starting making announcements on the loud speakers in Spanish saying same. Oh yes...it was a great cruise.

 

Worst though was the dining rooms. The Mexican group did not understand the early seating/late seating dining room times. When they realized they would be eating at 6:30pm they were very upset. So our first night of late seating was lovely and quiet with excellent service. Night number two they had packed an additional 30 tables in the downstairs dining room alone.upstairs was even worse. Waiters didn't speak spanish, and for the 8:15PM seating....the group were still arriving at 9:00pm. Our next 13 nights in the main dining room were terrible. Lastly, the group did not tip, nor had been informed this was not included. The staff knew this was going to happen from the cruise before and were beat down and very upset.

 

Ultimately, this group was different from the standard American cruise crowd and perhaps I should be more culturally accepting of just a different way of doing things. However I was quite angry at Celebrity at the time for allowing this and handling this poorly. My letter of complaint got me back a response praising their "cultural diversity" and giving us all significant vouchers for future cruises.

 

Now Celebrity is going to actively move into and sell the Mexican Market cruises. I hope they educate them on what to expect prior to coming onboard. More "butts in bunks" means more money for the cruiselines and I understand everyones money is green. Mexico has a rising middle and upper class of large proportions. That said, after our experience I would hope Celebrity is more on top of these "cultural differences" or else their American Customers will go elsewhere. I would not wish our experience on anyone.

 

Happy cruising to all!

I find it hard to believe that they were Mexican, I cannot see families travelling across the Atlantic from Mexico. The cost would be astronomical.

I would bet that the kids were Spanish,my brother had a similar experience

on RCCL last summer.

600 screaming kids for a 7 night cruise to hell.

Kind of puzzling in light of all the problems in Mexico right now.

Yes, and I loved the Pacific cruises. I have a certain amount of trepidation going out and about in October on a Western caribbean route and its not like that came out of nothing.