Mariner leaving :( West Coast is sad

[cruzingthebriny]

This really saddens me and then on the other hand it erks the heck out of me. RCI should be careful that this decisions doesn't come back and bite them. At the present time I feel like ditching my loyalty to them. Living in Long Beach, CA I check cruise prices all the time, atleast weekly and I really don't think that the Mariner discounted their cruise fare much at all, except during the period of the swine flu scare. My nieghbor is going on the Mariner this Aug with her 4 kids and it is costing her approx. $800 p/p. for an inside. I was on her in May and June of 2009. June was cheaper because they had just started to return to Mexico. Drinks were flowing on deck out by the pool and in lounges. I don't think they were hurting in alcohol sales. As far as their outragous price for bingo, I think they would get more to attend if they lowered the prices down some but they still had a good amount of people attending. The jackpot on the last day was somewhere around $7000. The Casino was full all the time. Yes times are tough in California these days, but still us "loyal royals" would manage to save enough to sail on her and the others when they were here. Now we have none (RCI). I don't know, it's hard to believe they didn't profit any with all the cutbacks they have made. The food is of a lesser quality, (yes they make it look good) but nothing like it use to be. (Chops is an exception) I just don't get it, I know I'm just ranting now, but that's what happens when your heart is broken. 2 X now, 1st with the Monarch. Funny how we take this personally.

[critterchick]

Vision had one year of being in LA for the summer as well as the winter. Then she headed out and Mariner came in, in the teeth of a horrible recession. Every cruise we've been on has either been discounted or we've gotten upgraded to a full suite. And the loyal passengers who sail her often don't spend a dime onboard. It's really no wonder that she failed out here - timing is everything and RCI's was horrid.

[skandls]

The MR Mariner cruises were fun. But if Royal leaves California - we will be spending our travel dollars on other choices. We looked forward to many more sailings on the Mariner - no flights - just a short drive to the port. But it looks like its time to build 'loyalty' points on other cruise lines. Since Royal changed the C&A program . we have sailed other lines and found a lot of plus points. We are booked on the Oasis - and that maybe our last RCI sailing for a long while.

 

We now have many more choices. I love the promenade ships but other lines offer other 'better' perks.

 

And maybe we will try Carnival - the only permanent ships from the West Coast.

[bonnie&clydecruzers]

Is this just a coincidence that Mariner is leaving the same month that Disney is making their MR debut? I wonder if this has something to do with the decision to move out Mariner?

[CptSticky]

The MR Mariner cruises were fun. But if Royal leaves California - we will be spending our travel dollars on other choices. We looked forward to many more sailings on the Mariner - no flights - just a short drive to the port. But it looks like its time to build 'loyalty' points on other cruise lines. Since Royal changed the C&A program . we have sailed other lines and found a lot of plus points. We are booked on the Oasis - and that maybe our last RCI sailing for a long while.

 

We now have many more choices. I love the promenade ships but other lines offer other 'better' perks.

 

And maybe we will try Carnival - the only permanent ships from the West Coast.

Sadly, I have to aggree with you and just as we are about to make D+. It will take a long time to build points somewhere else, but what choice have they left us? I don't know about Carnival though, but then again, it's been many years so maybe they will not be so bad after all. And again, what choice has RCI left us.

[Capn Cabo]

Is this just a coincidence that Mariner is leaving the same month that Disney is making their MR debut? I wonder if this has something to do with the decision to move out Mariner?

 

I wondered the same, though I think the Disney ship will be sailing to Alaska? My family and myself may be looking into that cruise a couple of summers from now. Disney is spendy, but their ships are beautiful.

 

As far as Mariner, yeah it sucks but it's a business decision. In the current economic climate in California, and specifically Los Angeles, I am not entirely surprised. Though I never had confirmation, I suspect that just about every aspect of operating cost for a ship sailing from San Pedro is higher than just about any other U.S. port, from wholesale costs for all manner of foods, fuel, a whole host of fees for everything from waste disposal to docking to local to god knows what else.

 

Look over the rail the next time you disembark and you see money moving, on forklifts and clipboards, and these sorts of things are more expensive in California than almost anywhere else, because the State and it's leadership, from top to bottom is hopelessly screwed up. RCI's math did not add up somewhere. They have an obligation to their bottom line, just like we have an obligation to our own.

[bonnie&clydecruzers]

I wondered the same, though I think the Disney ship will be sailing to Alaska? My family and myself may be looking into that cruise a couple of summers from now. Disney is spendy, but their ships are beautiful.

 

No the Disney Wonder will be doing MR - PV, Cabo, Mazatlan. Thats why I wondered if RCI decided to abandon West coast completely due to them(Disney).

[spencercoop]

No the Disney Wonder will be doing MR - PV, Cabo, Mazatlan. Thats why I wondered if RCI decided to abandon West coast completely due to them(Disney).

 

But in the winter the Disney Wonder will be going up to Alaska.

[Loyal2RCCL]

Where do some of you get your info....You say in the off season, was the off Season....Alaska....Is that not where the Vision went every summer.

The crew gets added pay....how do you know this? We were Monarch guys and nobody lrft that ship who worked her because the crew made soooo much money...Yes i know because we knew a lot of the crew and still have contacts with a few.....so if you are correct, I apoligize but somehow I do not beleive so.

Mike

 

Actually the last season the Vision spent in LA it was there year round and did not go to Alaska in the summer. It was a struggle for RCCL to fill the ship year round without deeply discounting the fares. That being said, why they decided to put a larger ship on this route doesn't make much sense.

 

As for the crew getting guaranteed pay on the Mariner, I know this for a fact because I have several friends who work onboard and they told me this. I have several friends that were able to transfer off to more profitable ships and others that want to leave but can't get transferred off. I've also lent a few of them money so they were able to help their families back home since their earnings are so low with the revenue being so low. I also have a lot of friends on the Monarch, and there was never any need for RCCL to subsidize their pay as the onboard revenue on that ship was very high and the crew made good money from those tips. Actually, Monarch and Majesty are 2 ships most crew want to be on beacuse the money is so good for them.

 

RCCL offers guaranteed pay (I'm not going to state the amount as it's really nobody's business) on ships where the onboard revenue is down to a point where the crew can't earn enough money to live on. They did this for the crew during the Mariner's 46 night repo to LA, and on a few other ships/routes. The guaranteed pay is nowhere near what the crew can earn on a ship that is doing well with onboard sales.

[jldev]

Oh dear I'm so disappointed! To be honest, we are saving to go to Disneyworld next October and then do a Caribbean cruise out of Florida. I really want to experience one of these mega ships as I know we will never get any of them visiting New Zealand and even probably not even Australia. I was so pleased Mariner was cruising out of L.A. just in case we don't save enough to get all the way to Florida and we went to Disneyland Anaheim instead and then cruised on Mariner :(

[ladyselene]

This is very disappointing news, first the Monarch then the Diamond benefits. Now there is no ship on the West Coast :confused: I am glad I cruised 4 times on the Monarch, on the Vision twice, the Mariner 3 times and the Radiance most recently. We love going to Mexico, the PNW last year was great, we've been loyal to Royal including purchasing stock. Of course they took that perk away too when they changed the combinability of benefits. Flying across the country to cruise we can't afford more than once a year. It looks like I will need to switch lines or join Cruiseaholics Anonymous to get over my addiction to RC...

[Jolimont]

It's amazing that RCI is going to have 11 ships cruising from Europe next year. That doesn't even include that all four Solstice class ships from Celebrity plus a few more and Pullmantur will also be there. I guess Europe is really hot and RCI is planning to take so much inventory out of the U.S to bring the demand up along with the rates.

Yes, that is surprising. But honestly it makes sense:

-Europeans have a lot more cash right now because the recession didn't hit them as hard

-European professional families have 5-7 weeks of vacation time each year

-Europe is a fast growing cruising market, especially in the age range RCI is hoping to attract

 

So, while the change is coming on quite fast and quite decidedly, it may turn out to be brilliant for RCI as a company, time will tell.

[alohadan]

It is sad that this is happening. I have managed to get to platinum status and was looking forward to many RCCL west coast cruises in the future. We were on the Radiance out of San Diego in December on a test cruise with my almost 2 year old DD. She had a blast, so we booked the Carnival Splendor for this past March, since Camp Carnival accepts 2 year olds. She again had a blast, except for Camp Carnival (maybe that is why RCCL allows only 3 year olds and up into their kid's club). I just booked the 2 day cruise to nowhere on the Disney Wonder this week for another trial for DD. Unforunately, I believe that Disney might have been the last straw for RCCL. I thought when DD turned 3 yr., RCCL was going to be my #1 choice in 2011 and beyond but now..? Maybe a Radiance class ship will make San Diego a winter home soon, if RCCL does not want to be in the crowded port of Los Angeles. I enjoyed the Radiance to Cabo in December.

[tray]

Does anyone know when we can book the Mariner for December 2011? I started a new thread before I found this thread.

[caribbeanboy]

Who knows when the repositioning itineraries will be published?

[steponboard]

Actually, RCCL had a hard time filling the Vision year round from LA. In the off season the cabin prices were greatly discounted in an attempt to fill the ship. Since the Mariner's arrival, the ship has not done well, especially with regard to onboard revenue. Most of the crew has been trying to transfer to more profitable ships since her arrival in LA. RCCL is also giving the crew "guaranteed pay" because their sales/tips aren't enough for them to live on and support their families.

 

It just makes sense that RCCL decided to move the ship to another market where they not only can command higher prices and increased onboard revenue, but they can also eliminate having to pay the crew guaranteed salaries.

I think RCL did fine on the west coast and the crew has always loved to give sob stories to those who would listen and give extra tips. As a shareholder I got their propectis and it's really quite good but could be better if the top five directors weren't paid 5 million dollars down to 2 million each . I think Europe just offers more revenue. I think this move will loose a lot of customers of RCL to Princess and Carnival and if RCL comes back to LA they will have trouble.

[steponboard]

Not because they weren't profitable but they can make more in Europe and that's called greed. Loyalty seesm to be a one way street for RCL.

 

 

 

No, it is called good business sense and if they were meeting their targets it would probably be less expensive to leave the ship on the West Coast rather than incur all the expenses involved in moving her to Europe. The repo cruise will probably be as unprofitable this time as it was when they moved her from Florida to California, but even so, they must believe that they can operate in Europe more profitably than they can by staying put.

It's good business sense today but short sighted. If and when they come back they will have a harder time attracting customers who have built up loyalty in other ships loyalty programs. I'm also a Princess cruiser, I enjoy their perks more then RCL's but I still made it to D+ on RCL. Now I'm unlikely to come back to RCL if I've moved up the loyalty ladder of another brand. Alcohol is the number one revenue of a ship and RCL was lienient in enforcing it's policy of not bringing liquor on board. The smugglers had a hand in bring this about. Also I read here on these boards how people save for years for a cruise or can't afford a cruise but go anyway and don't spend enough to keep the cruise operating profitably. BUT the real reason RCL may be hurting is their own fault, they overbuilt! They can't fill 50,000 berths every night but they could have filled 25,000. They took on too much debt with their mamoth sized white elephants.

[negc]

It's good business sense today but short sighted. If and when they come back they will have a harder time attracting customers who have built up loyalty in other ships loyalty programs. I'm also a Princess cruiser, I enjoy their perks more then RCL's but I still made it to D+ on RCL. Now I'm unlikely to come back to RCL if I've moved up the loyalty ladder of another brand. Alcohol is the number one revenue of a ship and RCL was lienient in enforcing it's policy of not bringing liquor on board. The smugglers had a hand in bring this about. Also I read here on these boards how people save for years for a cruise or can't afford a cruise but go anyway and don't spend enough to keep the cruise operating profitably. BUT the real reason RCL may be hurting is their own fault, they overbuilt! They can't fill 50,000 berths every night but they could have filled 25,000. They took on too much debt with their mamoth sized white elephants.

 

Since they couldn't attract sufficient passengers on that itinerary this time, I doubt they will be in a hurry to return and are probably not going to worry about attracting customers if and when they do. The problem isn't filling 50,000 berths every night. They seem to do that very well, so much so that fares are increasing (not only on RCI but other lines as well). The problem was filling the Mariner every week and that is the reason for the move. If onboard revenues are the culprit that seems to be more prevalent on west coast cruises than on any others. Perhaps the California economy isn't recovering as quickly as it is in other regions of the nation. If any white elephant exists it apparently is the limited variety of itineraries possible out of California. :rolleyes:

[xpcdoojk]

Love how people know what people are worth and will happily set salaries.

 

Pretty much reflects the doo doo we are in.

 

JC :(

[negc]

Love how people know what people are worth and will happily set salaries.

 

Pretty much reflects the doo doo we are in.

 

JC :(

Not only that but they want to convince us that those people, many of whom are doing jobs that most of us wouldn't even consider, are really rolling in dough and living the lush life. :rolleyes: I think that the phrases: "Figures can lie, and liars can figure," and "the grass is always greener" may apply.;)

[Cuizer2]

But in the winter the Disney Wonder will be going up to Alaska.

 

As what - an ice breaker? No major cruise ship goes to Alaska in the winter.

[jhurtt210]

We just found out that they are moving Mariners in January 2011. We made reservations to cruise in February 2011 while onboard Mariners in 2010. Seems like they really have no loyalty to anyone if they were willing to take our money and reserve our handicapped room for us knowing they were leaving in January 2011. What about the $100 onboard booking discount they gave us? Are they going to honor that on the new booking we have to make now? And then to top it off, when we called the number they referred us to yesterday to make new reservations, we got someone who didn't know anything about the new itinerary. Spent 30 minutes on phone directly her to her own RC website so she could read the news. Talk about poor communication. Really frustrated that all of the cruises are gone from the west coast. Guess it doesn't matter if you're a diamond plus member or not. I feel like telling them that I booked my room on Mariners in Feburary 2011 so where are they taking me (at the price I booked at). Hope they come to their senses soon. They are losing a valuable market. But as was said earlier, it's all about the bottom line.:mad:

[Cuizer2]

We just found out that they are moving Mariners in January 2011. We made reservations to cruise in February 2011 while onboard Mariners in 2010. Seems like they really have no loyalty to anyone if they were willing to take our money and reserve our handicapped room for us knowing they were leaving in January 2011. What about the $100 onboard booking discount they gave us? Are they going to honor that on the new booking we have to make now? And then to top it off, when we called the number they referred us to yesterday to make new reservations, we got someone who didn't know anything about the new itinerary. Spent 30 minutes on phone directly her to her own RC website so she could read the news. Talk about poor communication. Really frustrated that all of the cruises are gone from the west coast. Guess it doesn't matter if you're a diamond plus member or not. I feel like telling them that I booked my room on Mariners in Feburary 2011 so where are they taking me (at the price I booked at). Hope they come to their senses soon. They are losing a valuable market. But as was said earlier, it's all about the bottom line.:mad:

 

The employees are always the last to know. Nothing new there.

[Bobal]

Well, as a European who was booked on this cruise and really looking forward to the whole trip - couple of days in LA beforehand and Vegas afterwards, I can tell you that we are majorly disappointed. I still wouldn't even know about this cancellation if it weren't for Cruise Critic, other than the fact it's disappeared from my RCL page.

 

What I don't understand is how they can only offer one cruise on our sailing date, from Galveston, as an alternative.

I had to change the date of my Med cruise this summer because of a clash with a trip may son is making. I booked the same cabin on the same ship only 1 week later and RCL charged me £150 ($200) for the privilege. They completely scupper my plans for next Easter and offer me onboard credit but only on 1 sailing from a port on the opposite side of the country :mad:.

 

I won't be taking an alternative cruise with RCL but will take the cash and spend it elsewhere.

[Cuizer2]

Well, as a European who was booked on this cruise and really looking forward to the whole trip - couple of days in LA beforehand and Vegas afterwards, I can tell you that we are majorly disappointed. What I don't understand is how they can only offer one cruise on our sailing date, from Galveston, as an alternative.

 

I had to change the date of my Med cruise this summer because of a clash with a trip may son is making. I booked the same cabin on the same ship only 1 week later and RCL charged me £150 ($200) for the privilege. They completely scupper my plans for next Easter and offer me onboard credit but only on 1 sailing from a port on the opposite side of the country :mad:.

 

I won't be taking an alternative cruise with RCL but will take the cash and spend it elsewhere.

 

Texas is not on the other side of the country, it is about mid way. But I agree with you, the limited alternatives was of no interest to me either. I have asked for a refund and will book with HAL.