Conspiracy Theory

[billyvegas]

After the recent change to the dress code,I think I may have come up with the reason for the change.

 

Regular Cruisers with Cunard get rewards such as Free Internet, Cocktail parties, wine tasting, cheap laundry, even lunch in TE or V. They keep coming back to Cunard for the Formality of the Cruise.

 

Peter Shanks has worked out, by getting rid of said formality you lose these customers, so no more Freebies. Start with a new generation no freebies and Cunard save a fortune.

 

Of course he is wrong, but just a thought!

[Germancruiser]

You really thing anyone would consider switching curie lines because one now has the option of wearing a tie? ( Well one still can wear one right??!!) Well if I would be in charge of Cunard I would say- Good riddance!

[Salacia]

After the recent change to the dress code,I think I may have come up with the reason for the change.

 

Regular Cruisers with Cunard get rewards such as Free Internet, Cocktail parties, wine tasting, cheap laundry, even lunch in TE or V. They keep coming back to Cunard for the Formality of the Cruise.

 

Peter Shanks has worked out, by getting rid of said formality you lose these customers, so no more Freebies. Start with a new generation no freebies and Cunard save a fortune.

 

Of course he is wrong, but just a thought!

 

Hi billyvegas. That's an interesting theory. And of course, new cruisers have no past experience of Cunard ships, so they aren't likely to complain about changes. Only time will tell if they return as repeat customers. It's expensive for cruise lines to lure in new passengers, especially if they are attracted primarily by reduced fares.

 

By losing loyal repeat customers, cruise lines loose the the benefit of recommendations by repeat passengers to other potential customers; no more free word-of-mouth advertising from disenchanted experienced passengers.

 

I was thinking about how much revenue was generated by Cunard having more formality than most other cruise lines, for example: the hair salon was very busy with women getting their hair and nails done. Formal and Semi-formal nights seemed to be most popular nights for photographs. The casino seemed to be busier when passengers were dressed up. My guess is that more champagne was consumed on those nights -- certainly the bars (not so much the Pub) were popular for pre-dinner cocktails. A empty table in the Queens Room was hard to find on Formal & Semi-Formal nights, and the servers seemed to be busy filling drinks orders. And then there was the business the shops did during the day with those looking for that "extra something" to compliment their attire.

 

I have a theory that many of us used our OBC derived from future cruise credits and CCL stockholder credits to go towards paying the discretionary Hotel and Dining charge, and that having known staff members from previous voyages were more inclinded to leave the H&D charge in place (and perhaps supplement it). Will first time Cunard cruises have the same appreciation for the staff they are seeing for the first time and might never see again?

 

The question that remains to be seen is how the change in dress code affects on-board spending and future bookings because that is all that really matters to any cruise line. But I think you might be right in that Cunard will save on loyality rewards. Penny wise and Pound foolish perhaps, but either way, it's one hell of a gamble Peter Shanks et al are taking.

[curlyQ]

You really thing anyone would consider switching curie lines because one now has the option of wearing a tie?

 

Yes! I think it's disgusting what Shanks has done to Cunard.

[Salacia]

You really thing anyone would consider switching curie lines because one now has the option of wearing a tie? ( Well one still can wear one right??!!) Well if I would be in charge of Cunard I would say- Good riddance!

 

 

Yes, I think that is exactly what Cunard is saying, but what you suggest as being the reason some might have for leaving Cunard has not so much to do with the option of wearing a tie as it has to do with the ties that bind: an enduring appreciation for making the effort to be social, dress nicely, and step out of our everyday day life for a special time at sea - a choice for which we have been willing to pay for, often to direct our discretionary spending, and limited vacation time in that one direction. It has far more to do with whether a man wears a tie or not, and I believe that will be evident by the end of this year.

[turquoise 6]

After the recent change to the dress code,I think I may have come up with the reason for the change.

 

Regular Cruisers with Cunard get rewards such as Free Internet, Cocktail parties, wine tasting, cheap laundry, even lunch in TE or V. They keep coming back to Cunard for the Formality of the Cruise.

 

Peter Shanks has worked out, by getting rid of said formality you lose these customers, so no more Freebies. Start with a new generation no freebies and Cunard save a fortune.

 

Of course he is wrong, but just a thought!

Hi Billyvegas: You are right on the MONEY! no pun.. but Change ,reevaluate the plan, out with old,out with tradition. These are business concepts and you are correct.

I noticed this change when the world club pin changed to the generic flag style pin.

Cunard wants the best of both worlds:The Cunard name and colors and a newer generation of cruise travelers.

[seasidegal]

Hi billyvegas. That's an interesting theory. And of course, new cruisers have no past experience of Cunard ships, so they aren't likely to complain about changes. Only time will tell if they return as repeat customers. It's expensive for cruise lines to lure in new passengers, especially if they are attracted primarily by reduced fares.

 

By losing loyal repeat customers, cruise lines loose the the benefit of recommendations by repeat passengers to other potential customers; no more free word-of-mouth advertising from disenchanted experienced passengers.

 

I was thinking about how much revenue was generated by Cunard having more formality than most other cruise lines, for example: the hair salon was very busy with women getting their hair and nails done. Formal and Semi-formal nights seemed to be most popular nights for photographs. The casino seemed to be busier when passengers were dressed up. My guess is that more champagne was consumed on those nights -- certainly the bars (not so much the Pub) were popular for pre-dinner cocktails. A empty table in the Queens Room was hard to find on Formal & Semi-Formal nights, and the servers seemed to be busy filling drinks orders. And then there was the business the shops did during the day with those looking for that "extra something" to compliment their attire.

 

I have a theory that many of us used our OBC derived from future cruise credits and CCL stockholder credits to go towards paying the discretionary Hotel and Dining charge, and that having known staff members from previous voyages were more inclinded to leave the H&D charge in place (and perhaps supplement it). Will first time Cunard cruises have the same appreciation for the staff they are seeing for the first time and might never see again?

 

The question that remains to be seen is how the change in dress code affects on-board spending and future bookings because that is all that really matters to any cruise line. But I think you might be right in that Cunard will save on loyality rewards. Penny wise and Pound foolish perhaps, but either way, it's one hell of a gamble Peter Shanks et al are taking.

 

I think you have made a very good point about the spending associated with more formal evenings and also your latter point about Peter Shank's gambling.:eek:

 

best regards,

seasidegal

[seasidegal]

Yes, I think that is exactly what Cunard is saying, but what you suggest as being the reason some might have for leaving Cunard has not so much to do with the option of wearing a tie as it has to do with the ties that bind: an enduring appreciation for making the effort to be social, dress nicely, and step out of our everyday day life for a special time at sea - a choice for which we have been willing to pay for, often to direct our discretionary spending, and limited vacation time in that one direction. It has far more to do with whether a man wears a tie or not, and I believe that will be evident by the end of this year.

 

Salacia....again in full agreeement with you and it's 'just not a tie' issue, it's the the allure of something very special.

 

Pepperrn wrote this in his excellent review of QM2:

 

 

"Just after 6pm the restaurant filled up with guests coming from the Captain’s party, all arriving together. The ladies looked fantastic, wonderful frocks and gowns. A few jewels on display. They had taken great care with their hair and looked really glamorous. The men were mostly in black dinner suits, with a few formal business suits .....To look around the room at us all, dressed for dinner, was wonderful. The whole atmosphere was beyond words. That night, in the Queens Room, it was the night of the “Black and White” Ball. Everywhere around the ship, I saw ladies dressed for this. I wanted to complement all of them for their evening gowns and attire. They looked stunning. They had taken enormous trouble to look breathtaking and had more than succeeded."

 

I bolded his words on the atmosphere because when I read them after our first sailing on QM2, I also thought that the 'atmosphere' in the evenings was so breathtaking. It is that 'beyond words atmosphere' that will be changing....and the lovely lady QM2 deserves such an atmosphere.

 

best regards,

seasidegal

[billyvegas]

Yes, I think that is exactly what Cunard is saying, but what you suggest as being the reason some might have for leaving Cunard has not so much to do with the option of wearing a tie as it has to do with the ties that bind: an enduring appreciation for making the effort to be social, dress nicely, and step out of our everyday day life for a special time at sea - a choice for which we have been willing to pay for, often to direct our discretionary spending, and limited vacation time in that one direction. It has far more to do with whether a man wears a tie or not, and I believe that will be evident by the end of this year.

 

Couldn't have put it better myself!

 

Maybe Germancruiser doesn't like ties:)

[balf]

[quote=curlyQ;

 

Yes! I think it's disgusting what Shanks has done to Cunard.

 

Hi Curly, where have you been all this time.

 

David

[balf]

 

Peter Shanks has worked out, by getting rid of said formality you lose these customers, so no more Freebies. Start with a new generation no freebies and Cunard save a fortune.

 

Of course he is wrong, but just a thought!

 

Simpler to axe the freebies.

 

Give it time.

 

David.

[billyvegas]

Hi billyvegas. That's an interesting theory. And of course, new cruisers have no past experience of Cunard ships, so they aren't likely to complain about changes. Only time will tell if they return as repeat customers. It's expensive for cruise lines to lure in new passengers, especially if they are attracted primarily by reduced fares.

 

By losing loyal repeat customers, cruise lines loose the the benefit of recommendations by repeat passengers to other potential customers; no more free word-of-mouth advertising from disenchanted experienced passengers.

 

I was thinking about how much revenue was generated by Cunard having more formality than most other cruise lines, for example: the hair salon was very busy with women getting their hair and nails done. Formal and Semi-formal nights seemed to be most popular nights for photographs. The casino seemed to be busier when passengers were dressed up. My guess is that more champagne was consumed on those nights -- certainly the bars (not so much the Pub) were popular for pre-dinner cocktails. A empty table in the Queens Room was hard to find on Formal & Semi-Formal nights, and the servers seemed to be busy filling drinks orders. And then there was the business the shops did during the day with those looking for that "extra something" to compliment their attire.

 

I have a theory that many of us used our OBC derived from future cruise credits and CCL stockholder credits to go towards paying the discretionary Hotel and Dining charge, and that having known staff members from previous voyages were more inclinded to leave the H&D charge in place (and perhaps supplement it). Will first time Cunard cruises have the same appreciation for the staff they are seeing for the first time and might never see again?

 

The question that remains to be seen is how the change in dress code affects on-board spending and future bookings because that is all that really matters to any cruise line. But I think you might be right in that Cunard will save on loyality rewards. Penny wise and Pound foolish perhaps, but either way, it's one hell of a gamble Peter Shanks et al are taking.

 

Spot on again! I have been on 5 nighters that have been heavily reduced last minute. To see the looks on peoples faces when they see 15% added to their drinks bill is amazing. Then you hear the discussions about the H&D charge that they are going to remove. There are loads of Cruises to cater for people that don't like dressing up for dinner, but only one for people who do. Why change that one too!

[balf]

e. There are loads of Cruises to cater for people that don't like dressing up for dinner, but only one for people who do. Why change that one too!

 

This is just not true.

 

David

[Thaxted]

Yes, I think that is exactly what Cunard is saying, but what you suggest as being the reason some might have for leaving Cunard has not so much to do with the option of wearing a tie as it has to do with the ties that bind: an enduring appreciation for making the effort to be social, dress nicely, and step out of our everyday day life for a special time at sea - a choice for which we have been willing to pay for, often to direct our discretionary spending, and limited vacation time in that one direction. It has far more to do with whether a man wears a tie or not, and I believe that will be evident by the end of this year.

 

Well said as always, Salacia. I never cease to be amazed at how so many advocates of these changes fail to grasp this simple point.

 

I was touched by the poignant observation with which you concluded your message. I do hope that it may not prove to be so, at least on the transatlantic crossings to which casual cruisers are less likely to be drawn.