So Where are the Other Cruise Lines in N.O.???

[JesterPlaying]

I've been reading this board for the last two years and have always noticed a trend in thinking. People who sail on the other cruise lines look down at Carnival. Well I think its time they re-evaluate things at start looking up to Carnival.

 

As a passenger and stockholder I am so damn proud of this company. They are stepping up to help. Foregoing potential profits for three of their ships they have chartered them to the government for Disaster relief. Yes they are being paid, but it is no where near what they would have made if those ships were doing their scheduled sailings. Not to mention the potential impact on future customers that had to be re-scheduled.

 

Carnival has recognized that the bottom line of a company is more than dollars. It is what they are worth to the community and country they live in.

 

So where are the ships from the other cruide line? Is their part of the relief effort filling up thier vacancies with displaced Carnival passengers? Those full casinos are going to be so much help to others. I guess they are the better line for passengers than Carnival, because clearly their passengers come first.

 

I am sorry many of you have been inconvenienced, but couldn't be prouder of my Carnival.

[wwinfl91]

I would beg to disagree that Carnival is going to be losing money on their deal to lease 3 ships to the government. I have seen figures that estimate that even if the ships sailed full for the time involved they would be generating $120-150 million. They are receiving $249 million from the government for use of the ships. Since I own Carnival stock I'm glad to see that the company isn't doing this as a charity but rather as a business decision.

 

Also although I have seen some news where the ships will be used to house refugees I have also seen plans on government sites that these ships will be used to house workers who are doing the work in New Orleans and the Mississippi gulf coast.

 

Again I'm not trying to start a big fight here but I think both sides of the issue need to be addressed on this forum and not just be a "carnival is great" forum.

 

Hopefully we are all doing what we can to help those who have been affected by this disaster. Donating money to the Red Cross, Salvation Army and others who are there on the ground helping the refugees is one of the best ways to help.

[tam-tam]

I am curious, though. Where are the other cruise lines in this disaster? I don't see them helping out or at least have not seen it covered on the news.

[GoinCruisin]

Those figures don't seem correct at all... Kevin T Brown posted the post below which makes MUCH more sense, and the average cruise price he is using is low, considering shorter cruises seem to have larger bar/gambling tabs...

 

First of all, port charges are a contract. They're paid for well in advance.

 

Second of all, they will be using some fuel just to remain in port. They use the engines to power certain parts of the ship.

 

Third of all, Carnival is "losing money" in not getting the TAs to refund their commissions. Not quite sure how much money we're talking there though, but why hurt them when there's no need to do so.

 

Now then, to the math. Based on an average of $700 per person per ship per cruise (which I think is rather low) just for the cost of the cruise. Carnival is losing 108 potential cruises (each ship averages 6 cruises a month) because of this. So assuming they max out each ship, that's 7,000 people combined for the 3 ships, that's a potential of 756,000 passengers. That means, just on the cost of getting on the ship, Carnival is losing approximately $529,200,000.00. How much more money are they losing in excursions, alcohol and soda sales, et al? When you see those figures, the $249,000,000.00 doesn't look all that grand now, does it...?

 

So if you want to complain about Carnival getting paid this huge sum of money, look further to see what they're giving up. Then look further to see that they're stepping forward to HELP PEOPLE IN NEED!!

 

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Carnival will also need to pay their employees, more than the normal $40/month salary because they will not be getting tips. Carnival has a contract with these people... so even if they paid them slightly below average, that is $1500/month, and there are about 2200 employees being employed on these 3 ships...

[JesterPlaying]

I would beg to disagree that Carnival is going to be losing money on their deal to lease 3 ships to the government. I have seen figures that estimate that even if the ships sailed full for the time involved they would be generating $120-150 million.

 

So if it is such a good deal why isn't the other Major cruise line stepping up and demanding their share of the Government pie? The reason they don't is because it is not such a good deal business wise. Your figures are way understated. They make more reaping a windfall from the displaced Carnival passengers.

[CruiseIsGood]

You may be forgetting that Carnival owns the majority of cruise ships with their six cruise lines (including Princess, HAL, etc.).

[wwinfl91]

As a Carnival stockholder I hold your numbers for potential losses of revenue are wrong although the cruise line will undoubtably also be taking tax write-offs for any additional money they lose above the $249 million they are receiving for leasing the ships.

 

I just don't believe this decision was made by Carnival strickly because it was a "GOOD" thing to do. I don't think people who run big corporations make their decisions that way.

 

That is my opinion and I still stand by it.

 

Have a nice day.

[tomc]

I don't think simply running cruise ships in there is an automatic problem-solver. It might be like having too many Boy Scouts at intersections to help old ladies cross the street.

 

What type of assistance is needed and what kind of things (hotels, cruise ships, busses, etc) will provide this? Are three ships just right for the need? Would eight ships be an overload? In terms of medical care, would Carnival have the best overall facilities for the greater age range? Better ability to quickly feed a lot of people (remember, we are used to lengthy meals on cruises).

 

They should be able to recover their costs, if they so desire. We're not talking a truckload of water or 500 cases of Spam. Even commercial tv stations that run a popular fundraiser can choose to take their expenses and profit off the top (I'm a broadcaster).

[GoinCruisin]

I don't think simply running cruise ships in there is an automatic problem-solver. It might be like having too many Boy Scouts at intersections to help old ladies cross the street.

 

What type of assistance is needed and what kind of things (hotels, cruise ships, busses, etc) will provide this? Are three ships just right for the need? Would eight ships be an overload? In terms of medical care, would Carnival have the best overall facilities for the greater age range? Better ability to quickly feed a lot of people (remember, we are used to lengthy meals on cruises).

 

They should be able to recover their costs, if they so desire. We're not talking a truckload of water or 500 cases of Spam. Even commercial tv stations that run a popular fundraiser can choose to take their expenses and profit off the top (I'm a broadcaster).

 

It's just a temporary solution until they can find permanent shelters... there are hundreds of thousands displaced, so it will take a long time to do this... everywhere people are going right now are temporary shelters... FEMA will start working on long term housing and the people from the ships will likely move there, along with people from other temporary shelters. They have medical teams that will be staffed on the ships and the ships do have facilities, so it is better than nothing... they have the capacity to cook for thousands at a time, which is good as well... hopefully this will all work out for them, and hopefully all of the others that are homeless right now, will be placed somewhere soon :(

[sls]

Does anyone know where the other cruise lines ships will be sailing out of since NOLA is out of commission?

[KeystoneCruiser]

The Norweigan Sun, scheduled to sail out of New Orleans begining in late October is moving to Houston as a home port.

 

As for the other cruise lines helping, most of NCL's fleet is currently on the west coast and Hawaii. (the Star, Spirit, Sun and Dream are in Alaska, while the Wind, Pride of America and Pride of Aloha are in Hawaii) The Jewel is still enroute from Europe. The east coast NCL ships: Dawn, Crown and Majesty are sailing out of New York, Boston and Philly right now.

 

I would think if the need is still there when the Sun and Dream reposition to Houston in October, they could be used. The Star and the Hawaii ships stay on the west coast and the Spirit is scheduled to enter dry dock. Of course, we are talking about NCL, and even though it is my favorite cruise line because of the freedom of Freestyle Dining, their management company ALWAYS puts the bottom line ahead of everything else. Don't plan on help from NCL.

[JesterPlaying]

You may be forgetting that Carnival owns the majority of cruise ships with their six cruise lines (including Princess, HAL, etc.).

 

I didn't forget that, Carnival is the largest but NCL isn't far behind and they own quite a few cruiselines too. Maybe they can't move three off like Carnival but you would think they could lend a couple.

[arby70]

The Norweigan Sun, scheduled to sail out of New Orleans begining in late October is moving to Houston as a home port.

 

NCL has not confirmed Houston to be the port we will be using. They will let us know next week.

[tam-tam]

You may be forgetting that Carnival owns the majority of cruise ships with their six cruise lines (including Princess, HAL, etc.).

Hi. I did think about that and realize that Carnival is a huge corporation. However, there are other large cruise lines who could help. Again, it may be that these stories just weren't reported on the news.

[Murphey]

Does anyone have any firm information as to what will happen with the ships staff/crew? Loss of tips? Will the crew still be "waiting" on people??

[GoinCruisin]

Does anyone have any firm information as to what will happen with the ships staff/crew? Loss of tips? Will the crew still be "waiting" on people??

 

Nobody knows what they will be doing, I'm sure they will be working, but since the ships are under Government contract, the employees will be paid an hourly wage... and they will probably work fewer hours than they do now. They will pay them a comparable wage to other workers in the field, depending on which job they are doing.

[celbercrz333]

What about RCCL's Grandeur of the Seas? Isn't their home port New Orleans? Or are they off in Europe somewhere right now?

[GoinCruisin]

What about RCCL's Grandeur of the Seas? Isn't their home port New Orleans? Or are they off in Europe somewhere right now?

 

They were scheduled to start cruising from there at the end of this year (or the beginning of next??)....

[sea_u_onboard]

I just don't believe this decision was made by Carnival strickly because it was a "GOOD" thing to do. I don't think people who run big corporations make their decisions that way.That is my opinion and I still stand by it.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion - I have an opinion also. Big corporations DO do thing strictly because it is the good (right) thing to do. My company is large - they are a subsidary of Nestle. They contributed $100,000 right away. Then they went a step further and put out the word that for every dollar their employees contribute to hurricane relief they will MATCH. The company has stock holders and does have to answer to them - I doubt any will complain.

 

Why can't Carnival be counted in with all the other numerous large corporations who are stepping up to the plate. Like WalMart - do you think they donated all the money they did because they think they are going to profit from it?

 

So YES - big corporations do the "GOOD" thing - because it is the "RIGHT" thing to do.

[Checkmate1955]

 

Now then, to the math. Based on an average of $700 per person per ship per cruise (which I think is rather low) just for the cost of the cruise. Carnival is losing 108 potential cruises (each ship averages 6 cruises a month) because of this. So assuming they max out each ship, that's 7,000 people combined for the 3 ships, that's a potential of 756,000 passengers. That means, just on the cost of getting on the ship, Carnival is losing approximately $529,200,000.00. How much more money are they losing in excursions, alcohol and soda sales, et al? When you see those figures, the $249,000,000.00 doesn't look all that grand now, does it...?

 

 

 

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When did ships start cruising 6 cruises a month? 7 days to a week... cruises of one week is 7 days..... 4.22 weeks per month... not 6 weeks a month... Maybe you were considering some ships cruise 3, 4 or 5 days a week, OK... but some ships like the Conquest sail 7 day weeks... maybe you are referring to ships that only cruise short cruises but those ships do not charge the $700 average per cruise

:) QUOTE]