OlsSalt Posted April 24, 2018 #1 Share Posted April 24, 2018 From the LA Times - Princess launches new "celebrity" speakers programs, while we get one-note new age branding queen Oprah: http://www.latimes.com/travel/cruises/la-tr-cruises-princess-new-speakers-series-20180415-story.html (Excuse me while I remind myself I still sail HAL to travel and learn about new places; not to be entertained by those unrelated to the travel experience. How did Debbie Reynolds become a HAL ship "godmother" anyway? ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bEwAbG Posted April 24, 2018 #2 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Oprah is an international superstar (whether you like it or not). Lainie Kazan was recently arrested for shoplifting at a grocery store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlsSalt Posted April 24, 2018 Author #3 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Oprah is an international superstar (whether you like it or not). Lainie Kazan was recently arrested for shoplifting at a grocery store. Oprah's name alone was real star power in her last movie - except it totally bombed. She is only a legend in her own mind. Oprah is now running on fumes of past glories and very shrewd marketing cons. Point is, why has travel now turned into competing "celebrity" showcases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted April 24, 2018 #4 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Oprah is an international superstar (whether you like it or not). Lainie Kazan was recently arrested for shoplifting at a grocery store. Aside from telling the rest of us how to live, what is the basis for her INTERNTIONal stardom? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bEwAbG Posted April 24, 2018 #5 Share Posted April 24, 2018 It's really an apples to oranges comparison. Oprah's name does still mean something to lots and lots of people, arguably more-so than the America's Test Kitchen or B.B. King affiliations. She is still very much a powerful media mogul. People were seriously considering her as a Presidential candidate just a couple of months ago based on one speech. Linda Gray could give the same speech and be met with crickets. The speaker series on Princess is with decidedly much lower-level celebrities who would appeal to a very niche audience that might remember them. I actually would love to hear a Lainie Kazan talk on a cruise, but to compare her or any of the other celebs mentioned in that article to an A-lister like Oprah is a bit of a stretch, to put it politely. And HAL hasn't turned everything into the Oprah Show at Sea. It's an advertising affiliation meant to entice her fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankc98376 Posted April 24, 2018 #6 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Sounds to me like the guest star list for a new Love Boat TV series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 3rdGenCunarder Posted April 24, 2018 #7 Share Posted April 24, 2018 It's really an apples to oranges comparison. Oprah's name does still mean something to lots and lots of people, arguably more-so than the America's Test Kitchen or B.B. King affiliations. She is still very much a powerful media mogul. People were seriously considering her as a Presidential candidate just a couple of months ago based on one speech. Linda Gray could give the same speech and be met with crickets. The speaker series on Princess is with decidedly much lower-level celebrities who would appeal to a very niche audience that might remember them. I actually would love to hear a Lainie Kazan talk on a cruise, but to compare her or any of the other celebs mentioned in that article to an A-lister like Oprah is a bit of a stretch, to put it politely. And HAL hasn't turned everything into the Oprah Show at Sea. It's an advertising affiliation meant to entice her fans. (bold is mine) Thank you! Except for the few O-themed cruises, it's easy to avoid the O stuff on the rest of the cruises. You'd think HAL was painting big Os on the sides of the ships, the way some people go on about it. I bet Lainie Kazan would be very entertaining. None of the Princess celebrities strike me as headliners. But give Princess credit for offering something different for entertainment. Cunard has had guest speakers as long as I can remember. Not all are celebrities. Yes, there are actors and authors, some pretty big names. But also scientists, economists, historians. Usually a nice balance to the slate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickey_mouse Posted April 24, 2018 #8 Share Posted April 24, 2018 From the LA Times - Princess launches new "celebrity" speakers programs, while we get one-note new age branding queen Oprah:http://www.latimes.com/travel/cruises/la-tr-cruises-princess-new-speakers-series-20180415-story.html (Excuse me while I remind myself I still sail HAL to travel and learn about new places; not to be entertained by those unrelated to the travel experience. How did Debbie Reynolds become a HAL ship "godmother" anyway? ) Brings a whole new meaning to C (Sea) List Celebrities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancal Posted April 24, 2018 #9 Share Posted April 24, 2018 This is as much a selling and a marketing opportunity for Oprah as it is a feature for HAL. This is both hands washing the other as it were. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted April 24, 2018 #10 Share Posted April 24, 2018 I hve no plan to spend any of my money on cruises that rave a bout t heir on b oard celebrity They are promoting. I would d resent them an their entourage parading round the ship letting us know how specail they are. Why not fill the cabins with c ruise stsaff that used to provide great fun. Where is . Kirk Lanterman? In stead of giving these full of hemselves celebrities cab ins go sleep in. Why not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJSULIBRARIAN Posted April 24, 2018 #11 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Actually, I heard Linda Gray speak on the Ruby Princess last Fall and she was interesting. Of course, she would appeal to my age group who watched Dallas when ever it was on. The room was packed and of course, she signed her book after her talk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seavoyage Posted April 24, 2018 #12 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Who cares about Oprah - I just wish they would bring back the disco and karaoke - it was fun..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxmantoo Posted April 24, 2018 #13 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Who cares about Oprah - I just wish they would bring back the disco and karaoke - it was fun..... Now Oprah singing karaoke and dancing disco ... THAT would be fun :D:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted April 24, 2018 #14 Share Posted April 24, 2018 I really don't care what personalities the cruise lines have. I rather have better entertainment like Shen Yun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bEwAbG Posted April 24, 2018 #15 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Being an international star does not mean she is known in every country known to man. So let's revise for the pedants: Oprah is much better known in contemporary culture than anyone listed in the news article, including in countries that are not the United States. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT1962 Posted April 24, 2018 #16 Share Posted April 24, 2018 It’s all about advertising and increasing customers and profits. I wouldn’t take a cruise based on a celebrity being on board, but a lot of people do. If it increases business, they will continue to promote and expand it. If it doesn’t increase profits, it will quietly fade away. In today’s world of Twitter, Instagram and celebrity focus, there are a lot more people that will be interested than most people realize. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winddawn Posted April 24, 2018 #17 Share Posted April 24, 2018 We all cruise for our own personal reasons, likes, and preferences. Personally, a particular entertainment personality, celebrity affiliation, or celebrity endorsement holds no value to me. I'll go so far as to express that I do not understand why any cruise line is wasting money on these things when they could otherwise be spending that money on more widely appealing entertainment. IMHO cruise lines are experimenting with ways of saving money by providing cheaper forms of so-called entertainment, and they think by attaching a celebrity's name to it, it makes it attractive to passengers. I do not personally fall into the demographic that values that. This trend cheapens the cruising experience IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 3rdGenCunarder Posted April 24, 2018 #18 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Has she been on dancing with the stars yet?That's when we know that someone's career is over or never got started. Sandra Funny, I was thinking that the list sounded like candidates for DWTS. Linda Gray has not been on it, nor has Oprah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea girl 23 Posted April 24, 2018 #19 Share Posted April 24, 2018 It's really an apples to oranges comparison. Oprah's name does still mean something to lots and lots of people, arguably more-so than the America's Test Kitchen or B.B. King affiliations. She is still very much a powerful media mogul. People were seriously considering her as a Presidential candidate just a couple of months ago based on one speech. Linda Gray could give the same speech and be met with crickets. The speaker series on Princess is with decidedly much lower-level celebrities who would appeal to a very niche audience that might remember them. I actually would love to hear a Lainie Kazan talk on a cruise, but to compare her or any of the other celebs mentioned in that article to an A-lister like Oprah is a bit of a stretch, to put it politely. And HAL hasn't turned everything into the Oprah Show at Sea. It's an advertising affiliation meant to entice her fans. This.Some here(repeatedly) like to make it sound like everything Oprah is In. Your. Face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted April 24, 2018 #20 Share Posted April 24, 2018 (edited) Maybe because some of us m ight think O's style is in our face. and perhaps some of us don't like her style? SOME of us do not find putting celebrities on a HAL ship makes us eager to run to sail with them . We are not all star struck and the Hollywood crowd is no enticement for some of us. Edited April 25, 2018 by sail7seas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinmike Posted April 25, 2018 #21 Share Posted April 25, 2018 Well - they could always bring back the HAL Cats. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocsailor Posted April 25, 2018 #22 Share Posted April 25, 2018 Have been on three different Hal dam ships with 'O' shops and the general opinion is they are too expensive, lack of sales force and people really do not see that this is a betterment for the cruise line, And I am one of those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancal Posted April 25, 2018 #23 Share Posted April 25, 2018 Given a choice, we would be interested in the Princess offering. Not interested in Oprah or her acolytes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue from Canada Posted April 25, 2018 #24 Share Posted April 25, 2018 Who cares about Oprah - I just wish they would bring back the disco and karaoke - it was fun..... I'm with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haladdict Posted April 25, 2018 #25 Share Posted April 25, 2018 Well - they could always bring back the HAL Cats. Sent from my iPhone using Forums I liked the Hal Cats. They drove people out of the Lido area and freed up some chairs. Sandra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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