Real Reason for Quantum Class Based in Asia

[mc-cruiser]

It is pretty obvious Royal Caribbean is not interested in providing the opportunity for US based loyal RCCL guests to sail aboard a new, different class ship. It seems perhaps the main reasons are NOT simply because Asia is a up and coming market but FIRST they won't have Crown & Anchor benefits for most of the guests as they are first time cruisers thus more profit. I get it, they are a business but there is also don't cut your nose off to spite your face. Second, the regulation are very lax in Asia.

 

Maybe it will be good to work out the kinks but since they had built up the arrival of Quantum in the US and changed that to ultimately end up in China makes me wonder if they really care much about C & A members with more than 2 -10 cruises. Its disappointing that they are flooding the market with two new ships and waiting for the third to possibly be home ported in the US. Many of us have been on Oasis and Allure many, many times and a new ship would be motivation to sail more often to get used to and enjoy the newer ship layout.

Edited March 26, 2015 by mc-cruiser

[setsail]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2187101

[Big_G]

[cruisegirl1]

 

Couldn't have said it better myself!

 

M

[PennStateFan123]

Uhhhhh. It's a for-profit business [emoji15]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Stateroom_Sailor]

Personally I think RCL has made some bad decisions recently, including Quantum. They didn't spend all this money promoting the hell out of the new class of ship to hold it back for no reason. Judging by the reviews, 46% positive, this dynamic dining model has been a disaster. Better to send these problem ships off to a place where people don't know any better, and avoid losing current customers. :eek:

[Rocket3D]

DW watched a TedTalk show recently about China economy.

 

One animated graphic showed their economy slowly

engulfing the US economy. Metaphorically, it

looked like a sea slug moving over a small shell.

 

Picture that.

 

$$

[Wilda]

Anthem will be based here in the US.

[Realtor at Sea]

Quantum, with the disastrous Dynamic Dining and need for so many entertainment reservations, is not such a wonderful experience. We were on it twice and we much prefer ANY other RCCL ships. The company is going to add more gambling sites on the Quantum, tearing brand new venues apart to install these new gambling areas which will make a fortune for the company or so they hope!!! They will also benefit from the duty free shopping in the upscale shops which exist or will be added.

[waterbug123]

It is pretty obvious Royal Caribbean is not interested in providing the opportunity for US based loyal RCCL guests to sail aboard a new, different class ship. It seems perhaps the main reasons are NOT simply because Asia is a up and coming market but FIRST they won't have Crown & Anchor benefits for most of the guests as they are first time cruisers thus more profit. I get it, they are a business but there is also don't cut your nose off to spite your face. Second, the regulation are very lax in Asia.

 

 

I don't think you get it. Royal isn't cutting off their nose to spite their face. They are simply going where the money is.

 

For any company with a loyalty program, their responsibility isn't to cater solely to the most loyal pax; it's to continue to grow their business by reaching out to new clientele, while simultaneously offering some perks to their existing loyal customers. The C&A program is designed to offer some benefits to loyal pax, but no where does it say that one of those benefits will be a promise to make sure they have first dibs on all new ships. To that end, your benefits haven't changed. You can still sail on Royal and get your balcony discount, your electronic coupons, your priority boarding etc. But Royal sees a huge potential market in China, and with the Asian's love for gambling, Royal obviously feels that sending some new ships over their with big casinos will be a big win.

 

Besides, given the plethora of complaints about Quantum....who could blame them for taking their brand new toys and leaving the sandbox?!

[Guest maddycat]

The main reason that Quantum is being moved to China is that Bermuda is not ready for a Quantum class ship at this time (the channel must be dredged). Ships that sail out of Bayonne, NJ visit Bermuda during the spring and summer. The channel dredging in Bermuda will not start until sometime this summer.

 

Liberty of the Seas will take over the spring and summer sailings from Cape Liberty. Hopefully, the dredging will be completed in time for Anthem to sail to Bermuda in 2016.

 

http://www.caribbeannewsdigital.com/en/noticia/dredging-bermuda%E2%80%99s-shipping-channels-start-soon

Edited March 27, 2015 by maddycat

[Biker19]

Ah, isn't it wonderful to have all of these keyboard CEOs who think they know how to a run a business better than the 20+ year veterans.:rolleyes:

[gaylemh]

I really believe the Quantum was supposed to stay in NJ. It wasn't until they realized that Bermuda wouldn't be ready for the Quantum ships, that they decided to move her to China. I don't think they would build a ship and then months later have to spend a lot of money to redo areas to get ready for another market. I think the original plan was to have Quantum in NJ and Anthem going to China.

 

I also must have been very lucky, because on my two sailings on Quantum, I didn't run into any of the problems that I've been reading about. Loved everything about the ship. I'm looking forward to my 3rd sailing on her in a few weeks, and hope my luck holds out.

[Stateroom_Sailor]

Ah, isn't it wonderful to have all of these keyboard CEOs who think they know how to a run a business better than the 20+ year veterans.:rolleyes:

 

Who is claiming to be a CEO? Welcome to "Cruise Critic", what did you expect when you signed up for a new account?

 

Actually lots of experience can create a lot of pride and overconfidence, there's a documentary on Circuit City you might want to watch. In a nutshell, they started building too many stores, in too many locations, wanting to be the biggest and the best. Frantically they started changing stuff, not all of which were good ideas, such as gutting appliances.

 

Frantically changing their mind as to where Quantum and Oasis ships should go, getting 46% positive reviews on Quantum, 2nd guessing it's layout, doesn't fill me full of confidence that they know exactly what they are doing with the bigger ships.

Edited March 27, 2015 by Stateroom_Sailor

[Quince]

I've always thought that the extensive Loyalty perks were a poor idea. (Not that I'm turning mine away.) I just don't think RCI realized how many people would eventually qualify. Not only are they losing income on their alcohol sales with Diamond and above, but those people who have cruised so many times aren't interested in the jewelry sales, the bingo, the port excursions, etc. On some of those sailings with over 1000 Diamond and above, that must really hurt the profit.

[SausPud]

When I first cruised, I bought nearly everything, from all the photographs, souvenirs, drinks/cocktails, excursions on every port stop, specialty restaurants, all the extras.

After the 5th cruise it was alot less expenditure, you know how to get drinks for free to take ashore, you don't need the photographs (unless it's really special and a great picture but then you only get that one and not the whole set), you have tried all the restaurants and only want to book your favourites.

Now after 9 cruises my spending onboard is a lot less, but with my future cruise on Anthem this year, I have booked 5 specialty restaurants, I will buy extra drinks from the bionic bar (I'm on the replenish package so no alcohol but will have a wicked Cuba Libre from the robots), but I always do a shore excursion on every port, for me it's the whole point of traveling. If you click on my signature and look at my ports of call, I like to visit somewhere new every time.

I will probably not be cruising with RCCL next year, but that is because when I am free to travel, the ship's aren't doing the cruises I want. I pick destination before ship. But I will be back the year after, maybe?

 

So what I am saying is cruise companies want the newbies as they spend the most per person on board and they get hooked on cruising, just like all of us and become repeat passengers. But instead of thinking "Why haven't us Americans got our own new ship?", get on a plane and travel to it. We Brit's fly to America to experience Oasis/Allure and I would quite easily fly to China to travel around there. Europe is great and so much to see. We have buildings built in 5 b.c. that are still standing for you to come and see. History started here, expand your views and enrich your life's. It's not all about what is on your doorstep. If it won't come to you, go to it!!!

[138east]

I really believe the Quantum was supposed to stay in NJ. It wasn't until they realized that Bermuda wouldn't be ready for the Quantum ships, that they decided to move her to China. I don't think they would build a ship and then months later have to spend a lot of money to redo areas to get ready for another market. I think the original plan was to have Quantum in NJ and Anthem going to China.

 

I also must have been very lucky, because on my two sailings on Quantum, I didn't run into any of the problems that I've been reading about. Loved everything about the ship. I'm looking forward to my 3rd sailing on her in a few weeks, and hope my luck holds out.

 

Gail - I totally agree with you. We were on the same sailing in Jan and are booked on the same Anthem sailing next year. I liked the Quantum much more than I thought I would and I also didn't experience any issues.

 

What I'm wondering is whether Bermuda will actually be ready for the Anthem and what RCL will do if the the channel dredging is not complete. There are going to be a lot of unhappy people if Bermuda has to be cancelled on the 9 day "summer" cruises and I will be one of them.

[nelblu]

IMHO, I would trade an Oasis class stationed in Jersey for a Quantum class anytime. The Chinese can keep the Q class.

[Biker19]

Frantically changing their mind as to where Quantum and Oasis ships should go, getting 46% positive reviews on Quantum, 2nd guessing it's layout, doesn't fill me full of confidence that they know exactly what they are doing with the bigger ships.

...and yet the ships sail at capacity and the company is generating profits (with sky stock price to go with it).