Early Del Rio Legacy vs the Sheehan Legacy

[newmexicoNita]

I have a different take. You CAN evoke change. Ultimately the consumer has all the power and they decide what works and what doesn't. NCL's reversal of the no food outside the buffet policy is a perfect example. The consumer spoke up and essentially forced NCL to retreat on that policy.

 

I also don't think people are complaining for the sake of complaining. NCL has given people a lot to complain about lately. Change is not evil and can be a great thing, but most all of the changes NCL has implemented recently are not consumer friendly and only have one objective ... increasing profitability. I'm all for NCL being profitable, but there has to be a balance. Lately its been all one sided and that is where the issue lies. I've seen very little that actually enhances the customer experience.

 

I'm glad people are not passive and actually speak up when they are not happy with something. If they didn't nothing would ever change for the better. I'm not one to be walked all over, at least not without a fight!

 

people do have a right to peacefully protest and that is what they did about the "no food" policy. I agree with you there, but it has become a "what can we bitch about now" generation. When I see things like people griping because the port times were changed, or itineraries are being change 18 months from now and the gripe about no fireworks, I have always beleived in choosing your battles; many here do not seem to see it that way, including you. From what I am seeing it does appear people want it all. This isn't only with cruising, NCL or any other line, it is about life in general. It has truely become a "me" world. And yes, people do have trouble with change. Were you around when Sheehan took over? I have to think most of you were not. As for allowing people to walk all over me, I agree with you; for people who know me, they know how pasionate I can be about what I believe in, but I also have learned there are many things that are just plain nit picing.

Edited August 3, 2015 by newmexicoNita

[eroller]

It is always amazing what ideas some people get, by only knowing a part of the story. thanks for clarifying this for all of us.

 

 

Not sure an entry quoted from Wikipedia clarifies anything but I guess so if that is what you rely on for factual information. To each his own I guess.

[weelv2cruise]

not true, Sheehan took them away and replaced them with a pasta topped with a piece of Lobster or about 1/2 small tail plus a couple other types of fish. And there was never a free bag of laundry,where did you get that idea? Of course platinum members still get thiers

 

I already addressed the lobster "issue". As for the laundry, I got a free bag.

[newmexicoNita]

I already addressed the lobster "issue". As for the laundry, I got a free bag.

 

Yes, I saw you did, but that was before I posted I think. As for the laundry, if you got a free bag it was a special of some kind. I was an agent for 15 years and have been sailing NCL since 1995, never was there an automatic free bag of laundry. There have been discounts on pressing the first day, there are free bags of laundry for platinum member which still exists and there used to be free laundry "do it yoursefl" on a few of the Jewel class ships, which Sheehan stopped, but no automatic free bag. I certainly am not going to say, you didn't get a free bag, only you know, but it was not standard, that is for certain.

[eroller]

people do have a right to peacefully protest and that is what they did about the "no food" policy. I agree with you there, but it has become a "what can we bitch about now" generation. When I see things like people griping because the port times were changed, or itineraries are being change 18 months from now and the gripe about no fireworks, I have always beleived in choosing your battles; many here do not seem to see it that way, including you. From what I am seeing it does appear people want it all. This isn't only with cruising, NCL or any other line, it is about life in general. It has truely become a "me" world. And yes, people do have trouble with change. Were you around when Sheehan took over? I have to think most of you were not. As for allowing people to walk all over me, I agree with you; for people who know me, they know how pasionate I can be about what I believe in, but I also have learned there are many things that are just plain nit picing.

 

 

Yes I agree with some of what you say especially about the "me mentality" of today's generation, but as I mentioned before NCL has given people a lot to complain about. They are making a lot of unpopular decisions in a very short time period. I think a lot of the complaining is warranted but do agree some people complain as a sport.

 

My first NCL cruise was on the NORWAY in 1980. I've been here long before Sheehan and will be long after. I've seen more management changes at NCL then I care to recall, but Sheehan's leadership at NCL was the real turning for the line. Not perfect but good enough to put NCL back on track after many years of floundering.

[cantthinkofanythingfun]

DelRio did not implement the choice promo. He diluted it. I had the same perks last year (under Kevin) with the exception that everyone in the cabin received the UBP (5 ppl in an H4) and the UDP, (2 ppl received the OBC and DSC). There was no 18% added to anything.

 

So no you are wrong in your assessment of Delrio doing you a favor with the choice promotion.

 

 

I didn't know that. If I'm being honest, I typically have no clue who the CEO of a cruise line even is. I knew it was the Irish guy because they played that episode of Undercover Boss on a loop in the cabin. I typically start reading these forums a couple months before going on a cruise for research. That's when I found out some guy named FDR was CEO. I was on a Carnival cruise last month and I have no clue who their CEO is. I think most people are like that, with the exception of most people don't check this forum. Most people just book their cruise that they take every 5 years and go with the flow. It's my opinion that cruising is a great value even with the changes. I base that on what I have paid for land vacations. Having been on 3 lines, NCL is my favorite. I still want to try RCI, but every time I look they are quite a bit more for similar sailings.

[eroller]

I didn't know that. If I'm being honest, I typically have no clue who the CEO of a cruise line even is. I knew it was the Irish guy because they played that episode of Undercover Boss on a loop in the cabin. I typically start reading these forums a couple months before going on a cruise for research. That's when I found out some guy named FDR was CEO. I was on a Carnival cruise last month and I have no clue who their CEO is. I think most people are like that, with the exception of most people don't check this forum. Most people just book their cruise that they take every 5 years and go with the flow. It's my opinion that cruising is a great value even with the changes. I base that on what I have paid for land vacations. Having been on 3 lines, NCL is my favorite. I still want to try RCI, but every time I look they are quite a bit more for similar sailings.

 

 

You are absolutely right! Most people don't get so involved. They book a cruise, usually enjoy their vacation, and go on with life. Half the time they don't even remember the cruise line or ship they sailed on. Some may even come to CC for a little research beforehand.

 

There are others (myself included) who are much more passionate about the cruise industry. Some only follow a specific line and others such as myself follow them all and the industry as a whole. My interest in ships and the industry started as a young child and its grown into somewhat of a hobby. I find the cruise industry fascinating and really enjoy staying current. Unlike many I'm not loyal to any one line and enjoy the variety of many. They each seem to offer something. Anyway everyone has their own reasons for their interest, be it just extreme brand loyalty or a fascination with ships and the industry that go beyond just a vacation option.

 

So that may help explain why some of us seem to get pretty intense and passionate about what is happening at cruise line x, y, or z. We may disagree on things but hopefully we all care which is why we take the time to express our opinions.

 

If nothing else I hope you find it interesting and perhaps even learn a useless tidbit or two! Best not to take it all too seriously. LOL

Edited August 3, 2015 by eroller

[cantthinkofanythingfun]

You are absolutely right! Most people don't get so involved. They book a cruise, usually enjoy their vacation, and go on with life. Half the time they don't even remember the cruise line or ship they sailed on. Some may even come to CC for a little research beforehand.

 

There are others (myself included) who are much more passionate about the cruise industry. Some only follow a specific line and others such as myself follow them all and the industry as a whole. My interest in ships and the industry started as a young child and its grown into somewhat of a hobby. I find the cruise industry fascinating and really enjoy staying current. Unlike many I'm not loyal to any one line and enjoy the variety of many. They each seem to offer something. Anyway everyone has their own reasons for their interest, be it just extreme brand loyalty or a fascination with ships and the industry that go beyond just a vacation option.

 

So that may help explain why some of us seem to get pretty intense and passionate about what is happening at cruise line x, y, or z. We may disagree on things but hopefully we all care which is why we take the time to express our opinions.

 

If nothing else I hope you find it interesting and perhaps even learn a useless tidbit or two! Best not to take it all too seriously. LOL

 

I think where cruise lines fall short is in catering to the cruise "fanatic". I think they should have a separate rewards program for cruise fanatics that would make all of these little changes less of a big deal, because it's really just the fanatics that are harming the brand's online reputation over these changes.

 

If someone were to take two seven day cruises within a year they should automatically become platinum. If they take two more seven day cruises the following year they would get some kind of elite diamond status. It would be a whole new level of perks. Let's say they would always get free drinks, a couple specialty meals, concierge service, upgrades, etc.. Something pretty enticing. As long as you continue with the two 7 day cruises a year, you keep that status. If you drop to one cruise, you go back to platinum. If you drop to zero, you start over. With a system like this, you know that those people you are rewarding are spending a majority of their vacation time loyal to your brand. They should have rewards that overcome any nuisance changes that typically go unnoticed by the typical cruise vacationer. Casinos offer a similar rewards system. You have to maintain a certain level of play year to year to keep your status.

[SuiteCruiser]

I think where cruise lines fall short is in catering to the cruise "fanatic". I think they should have a separate rewards program for cruise fanatics that would make all of these little changes less of a big deal, because it's really just the fanatics that are harming the brand's online reputation over these changes.

 

If someone were to take two seven day cruises within a year they should automatically become platinum. If they take two more seven day cruises the following year they would get some kind of elite diamond status. It would be a whole new level of perks. Let's say they would always get free drinks, a couple specialty meals, concierge service, upgrades, etc.. Something pretty enticing. As long as you continue with the two 7 day cruises a year, you keep that status. If you drop to one cruise, you go back to platinum. If you drop to zero, you start over. With a system like this, you know that those people you are rewarding are spending a majority of their vacation time loyal to your brand. They should have rewards that overcome any nuisance changes that typically go unnoticed by the typical cruise vacationer. Casinos offer a similar rewards system. You have to maintain a certain level of play year to year to keep your status.

 

 

That's perhaps the difference. No point in complaining perhaps if you take a cruise every 2 or 3 years? For those of us that cruise a lot more often than that, every single cruise is worse than the one before due to new fees and issues due to unmanaged perks like restaurnants full due to UDP. Why would we keep throwing money at a company that keeps delivering an inferior product to the one offered two months earlier?

 

This past year I cruised in the Haven Penthouse on Gem and had a great cruise, the Sky in September was also good, October the TA on the Epic in the Haven was really great, ate in specialties whenever we were hungry, I love that aspect of Freestyle. January I cruised alone in the Haven on Epic, ate in sushi and O'Sheehan's mostly. In March back on the Epic in the Haven with my staff and the Concierge couldn't get us into any specialty after 6:30 or before 9:00 on the very first day. Very frustrating. In June back on Epic in a balcony and we booked every meal 2 months out. Totally ruined the Freestyle experence. In that time fees went up, rules changed, service declined due to fewer servers dealing with more people on UBP. Prices increased, CAS comps declined, Suite discounts disallowed. This is why I am complaining.

[mianmike]

Mr. Del Rio, a CPA and financial officer, was named as co-CEO for the express purpose of turning those finances around.

 

Andy Stuart, as President of the cruise line, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of NCL. I'm certain any of his decisions have to be run past Del Rio, but as the NCL expert, I'm equally sure Mr. Del Rio believes and approves Mr. Stuart.

 

I'm continually amazed at the hatred for Frank Del Rio on this forum, when most of the anger (if it's deserved) should be directed to Mr. Stuart.

 

Good post, although I disagree with your premise that Del Rio has given Andy Stuart carte blanche control over the strategy and direction NCL undertakes. As CEO, the buck stops with Del Rio, he is ultimately responsible for the macro business model of NCLH.

 

Del Rio has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and he is a CPA. Not surprising the current changes are more about bottom-line maximization of profit. The company is being run by an accountant and it shows. I suspect virtually every change is born and justified on an accounting spreadsheet.

 

When Del Rio saw plates sitting in the hallways and “passengers carrying plates loaded with food, sloshing over the sides and onto the carpet,” he directed Stuart to ban the removal of food from restaurants and thus to be taken into cabins and other areas of the ship. That seemed like a really weak attempt to justify a management decision and on the surface doesn’t seem like an accounting based decision. But did NCL really need to do something about this epidemic of hordes of passengers walking around with plates of food sloughing around and falling on the carpet leaving an unsanitary nightmare? (Apparently not, as NCL reversed that decision) I always felt there was an ulterior motive and it was a cost cutting measure. When an accountant walks the hallways and sees plates on the floors, the accountant sees a cost incurred to clean them up. He may ask what would it take for a cabin steward to clean more cabins per day. An obvious answer would be to reduce the amount food and dinnerware in rooms as it must be quite a chore to clean a cabin where kids ate breakfast in the cabin. Spilt milk, OJ, ketchup on the floors and furniture. How do you reduce food in the cabin? First you ban food to be taken to rooms, and then you implement a charge for room service. NCL makes additional revenue for the new room service charge and a reduction in room service equates to less food in the cabins and thus the cabin stewards are free to clean more cabins or other duties as assigned.

 

The die was cast when the board of directors named an accountant to lead NCLH.

[eroller]

I think where cruise lines fall short is in catering to the cruise "fanatic". I think they should have a separate rewards program for cruise fanatics that would make all of these little changes less of a big deal, because it's really just the fanatics that are harming the brand's online reputation over these changes.

 

 

 

.

 

 

 

While I like the sounds of some of what you say, I don't think it's just the fanatics harming a brands reputation or having a problem with feeling nickel and dimed. Even a novice cruiser can leave a cruise feeling cheated and it not being the value they anticipated. It's called sticker shock and it usually happens the last morning when the bill is delivered. They can do just as much damage online and by word of mouth if not more than the cruise fanatic as you label it. Consumers are fickle and can turn on a dime. This is why any company has to be careful with balancing profits against delivering a superior product or service. Fall short and I don't care how cheap it is the business will suffer.

 

On Cruise Critic some members are known as one-hit wonders. They stop by because they just finished a cruise and are angry about the experience for one reason or another. They leave a scathing review and then are never heard from again. It happens often and yes it can do damage to a brand's reputation, especially if someone reads it who is not familiar with Cruise Critic and how it operates.

 

At the end of the day, both a novice or experienced cruiser can recognize when something is unreasonable, be it a policy or fee.

[Pamcruising]

Good post, although I disagree with your premise that Del Rio has given Andy Stuart carte blanche control over the strategy and direction NCL undertakes. As CEO, the buck stops with Del Rio, he is ultimately responsible for the macro business model of NCLH.

 

Del Rio has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and he is a CPA. Not surprising the current changes are more about bottom-line maximization of profit. The company is being run by an accountant and it shows. I suspect virtually every change is born and justified on an accounting spreadsheet.

 

When Del Rio saw plates sitting in the hallways and “passengers carrying plates loaded with food, sloshing over the sides and onto the carpet,” he directed Stuart to ban the removal of food from restaurants and thus to be taken into cabins and other areas of the ship. That seemed like a really weak attempt to justify a management decision and on the surface doesn’t seem like an accounting based decision. But did NCL really need to do something about this epidemic of hordes of passengers walking around with plates of food sloughing around and falling on the carpet leaving an unsanitary nightmare? (Apparently not, as NCL reversed that decision) I always felt there was an ulterior motive and it was a cost cutting measure. When an accountant walks the hallways and sees plates on the floors, the accountant sees a cost incurred to clean them up. He may ask what would it take for a cabin steward to clean more cabins per day. An obvious answer would be to reduce the amount food and dinnerware in rooms as it must be quite a chore to clean a cabin where kids ate breakfast in the cabin. Spilt milk, OJ, ketchup on the floors and furniture. How do you reduce food in the cabin? First you ban food to be taken to rooms, and then you implement a charge for room service. NCL makes additional revenue for the new room service charge and a reduction in room service equates to less food in the cabins and thus the cabin stewards are free to clean more cabins or other duties as assigned.

 

The die was cast when the board of directors named an accountant to lead NCLH.

Then NCL got back at the passengers for food ban reversal by raising DSC again after the 1st time this year and making some of specialty restaurants that have large portions go a la carte. Those 2 new changes either hurt like a mack truck or it just didn't - sad to say, but all's fair in capitalist markets.....

[newmexicoNita]

Then NCL got back at the passengers for food ban reversal by raising DSC again after the 1st time this year and making some of specialty restaurants that have large portions go a la carte. Those 2 new changes either hurt like a mack truck or it just didn't - sad to say, but all's fair in capitalist markets.....

 

You can't really think the slight raise in DSC was a result of the people winning the food war or even remotely part of that? No, you aren't really thinking that. AS for the a la carte, that was rumored a couple of months ageo, way before the food war started. It just wasn't actually announced until a couple of weeks ago.

[cantthinkofanythingfun]

While I like the sounds of some of what you say, I don't think it's just the fanatics harming a brands reputation or having a problem with feeling nickel and dimed. Even a novice cruiser can leave a cruise feeling cheated and it not being the value they anticipated. It's called sticker shock and it usually happens the last morning when the bill is delivered. They can do just as much damage online and by word of mouth if not more than the cruise fanatic as you label it. Consumers are fickle and can turn on a dime. This is why any company has to be careful with balancing profits against delivering a superior product or service. Fall short and I don't care how cheap it is the business will suffer.

 

On Cruise Critic some members are known as one-hit wonders. They stop by because they just finished a cruise and are angry about the experience for one reason or another. They leave a scathing review and then are never heard from again. It happens often and yes it can do damage to a brand's reputation, especially if someone reads it who is not familiar with Cruise Critic and how it operates.

 

At the end of the day, both a novice or experienced cruiser can recognize when something is unreasonable, be it a policy or fee.

 

This is a problem for all cruise lines though. I hated my first cruise, and it was with Celebrity on what was a new ship at the time, and my company paid for it. I was in my early 30's and I just didn't like the experience. I would have much rather spent that time on a land vacation. Ten years later and I was looking for a cheap vacation. The Carnival Pride was literally 5 minutes from my house, and I really enjoyed it for the cost. After that I went on the Breakaway for the first time and thought it was so much better. The ship was much better. The staff was much better, and I really enjoyed the freestyle thing. Looking back, the reason I hated my first cruise was the absolute structure of the whole thing. I felt like I was in vacation prison.

 

Take a look at NCL's Facebook page. They'll post a random picture of their waterslides. You'll get a bunch of comments like, "WooHoo! I can't wait to be riding that slide next September!" Those people booked their annual vacation and went and liked the Facebook page. After about 15 of those comments you will see a comment about FDR raising the DSC twice in six months. Now all the people who just wanted to ride a waterslide are wondering what a dead president has to do with all of this, and what's a DSC. Then they get Googly and find this site and think they just booked a cruise on the Titanic.

 

A strong loyalty program for people that truly do cruise a lot, like yourself, would eliminate a lot of that collateral damage.

[cantthinkofanythingfun]

That's perhaps the difference. No point in complaining perhaps if you take a cruise every 2 or 3 years? For those of us that cruise a lot more often than that, every single cruise is worse than the one before due to new fees and issues due to unmanaged perks like restaurnants full due to UDP. Why would we keep throwing money at a company that keeps delivering an inferior product to the one offered two months earlier?

 

This past year I cruised in the Haven Penthouse on Gem and had a great cruise, the Sky in September was also good, October the TA on the Epic in the Haven was really great, ate in specialties whenever we were hungry, I love that aspect of Freestyle. January I cruised alone in the Haven on Epic, ate in sushi and O'Sheehan's mostly. In March back on the Epic in the Haven with my staff and the Concierge couldn't get us into any specialty after 6:30 or before 9:00 on the very first day. Very frustrating. In June back on Epic in a balcony and we booked every meal 2 months out. Totally ruined the Freestyle experence. In that time fees went up, rules changed, service declined due to fewer servers dealing with more people on UBP. Prices increased, CAS comps declined, Suite discounts disallowed. This is why I am complaining.

 

You are exactly the kind of person that NCL should be taking extra special care of. I mean that sincerely. You are a very loyal customer that spends an enormous amount of money with them. You should have a special number to call where you get specialized attention, and I'm not talking about a PCC. Someone like a casino host at the big time casinos. You should get dinner when you want it, no matter what. If I'm someone from NCL and I'm reading these forums, like I know they do, and I see that you're unhappy, then I find out who you are and call you. I offer a free cruise and do everything possible to make that the best cruise you've ever had. I have the Captain personally invite you and your guests to join him and the ship's officers for a private dinner. It's people like yourself, and others on here that cruise on NCL multiple times a year in top shelf accommodations, that are the best brand ambassadors that money can buy, and you're paying them. Those people should be taken care of.

[NLH Arizona]

Not sure an entry quoted from Wikipedia clarifies anything but I guess so if that is what you rely on for factual information. To each his own I guess.

And some might rely on a post from an anonymous person as factual information. To each his/her own I guess.

[SuiteCruiser]

You are exactly the kind of person that NCL should be taking extra special care of. I mean that sincerely. You are a very loyal customer that spends an enormous amount of money with them. You should have a special number to call where you get specialized attention, and I'm not talking about a PCC. Someone like a casino host at the big time casinos. You should get dinner when you want it, no matter what. If I'm someone from NCL and I'm reading these forums, like I know they do, and I see that you're unhappy, then I find out who you are and call you. I offer a free cruise and do everything possible to make that the best cruise you've ever had. I have the Captain personally invite you and your guests to join him and the ship's officers for a private dinner. It's people like yourself, and others on here that cruise on NCL multiple times a year in top shelf accommodations, that are the best brand ambassadors that money can buy, and you're paying them. Those people should be taken care of.

 

I agree 100%. I think that's why this is such a big deal to me. I've also steered a lot of people to NCL, and can't do that anymore.

[SAILPRO]

Has Del Rio ever managed a cruise line that turned a profit ????

 

YES, he is now.

 

How?

 

1. raise DSC 2x in 6 months.

2. raise tip to 18% from 15%

3. RS charge

4. 18% fee charge for 'free promo'

5. cut firework

6. longer line for show

7. longer line for dinner reservations

6. etc. (coming soon)

7. etc. (coming soon)

8. etc. (coming soon)

 

:D

[swedish weave]

YES, he is now.

 

How?

 

1. raise DSC 2x in 6 months.

2. raise tip to 18% from 15%

3. RS charge

4. 18% fee charge for 'free promo'

5. cut firework

6. longer line for show

7. longer line for dinner reservations

6. etc. (coming soon)

7. etc. (coming soon)

8. etc. (coming soon)

 

:D

 

Is that putting NCL into the profit column ?? According to the SEC filings, it will take much more.

[eroller]

After about 15 of those comments you will see a comment about FDR raising the DSC twice in six months. Now all the people who just wanted to ride a waterslide are wondering what a dead president has to do with all of this, and what's a DSC. Then they get Googly and find this site and think they just booked a cruise on the Titanic.

 

 

 

I cracked up reading that! Very funny and good point. I've been cruising so much and for so long I sometimes lose perspective of what a first timers or novice cruiser's perception might be reading some of this stuff. You get into discussions on CC with other "fanatics", or lets say "experienced" cruisers who know all the players and you sometimes forget that a lot of people have no clue what you're talking about.

 

One thing I'll say is that we experienced cruisers on CC make up a very small percentage of overall cruisers. Probably way less than 1%. I'm not sure how much damage we can do because of our small number and the fact that most cruisers have never heard of Cruise Critic before or are just not interested. Remember so many cruisers don't even remember the name of the cruise line of ship they just sailed.

 

Anyway your idea is interesting and I can't say I would turn away any special attention! LOL

[swedish weave]

You have that exactly and precisely backwards. The decision to not use travel agents was due to the owner. That decision, and several others (like absolutely no children and no smoking, anywhere on board) are what led to the shaky finances. Mr. Del Rio, a CPA and financial officer, was named as co-CEO for the express purpose of turning those finances around. He was the one who STARTED using travel agents, among other things, and was responsible for stopping the financial drain.

 

In fact, he was so successful he made to company attractive enough to be sold, in May, 2001. The new owners had their own man they wanted to be CEO, so Mr. Del Rio was let go. Then, four months later, the tragedy of 9/11 happened, and all travel basically stopped for a period of time. The new owners of Renaissance were unable to cope with that financial loss and took the company bankrupt two weeks after 9/11.

 

The ships constructed by Renaissance were repossessed by the French company that financed them and went into mothballs in Marseilles. The following year, 2002, the finance company, remembering what a GOOD job FDR did to turn Renaissance around, offered him the opportunity to charter one or more of the ships. He chartered a ship, started Oceania with the help of friends and relatives, and Regatta sailed her maiden voyage July 5, 2003.

 

The initial capital for Oceania was $14 Million, a pittance for a cruise line. Four years later, Oceania was so successful as a result of FDR's policies he sold 70% of it to Apollo Management for close to $1 Billion! That's a success story unparalleled in the history of cruise lines.

 

Shortly thereafter, Apollo also bought Regent Seven Seas Cruises from the Carlson family, owners of Radisson and Regent hotels. They created a new division, Prestige Cruise Holdings, and placed both Oceania and Regent into that company, under the overall management of their most successful CEO, Frank Del Rio.

 

Of course, at the same time, Apollo also owned a large chunk of NCL, also becoming more successful under Kevin Sheehan. The goal of investment companies like Apollo is to take their holdings public. NCL completed a successful IPO. They were also talking about an IPO for Prestige, when someone figured out it would be less work to roll Prestige into NCL Holdings.

 

They did so in November, 2014, with Kevin Sheehan as the overall CEO of the combined companies. Along the way, Sheehan named some Olive Garden restaurant guy (actually from Darden Restaurants) as the new President of NCL.

 

Then, without warning and for reasons that are still unknown today, Sheehan announced his resignation and Apollo named Del Rio as the new overall CEO of NCL Holdings. One of the first things Del Rio did was get rid of the restaurant guy and name long-time NCL executive Andy Stuart as President of NCL.

 

Andy Stuart, as President of the cruise line, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of NCL. I'm certain any of his decisions have to be run past Del Rio, but as the NCL expert, I'm equally sure Mr. Del Rio believes and approves Mr. Stuart.

 

I'm continually amazed at the hatred for Frank Del Rio on this forum, when most of the anger (if it's deserved) should be directed to Mr. Stuart. After all, it's Andy Stuart who has Kevin Sheehan's job; the idea of NCL Holdings and it's CEO didn't exist until NCL went public.

 

I doubt any of the haters have read this far, and I'm sure it will fall on deaf ears.

 

This rhetoric all sounds pretty good until you add some facts and figures to the sage.

 

Del Rio arranged the same of most of Renaissance for about 80 million before he left. He and others leased some of the Renaissance ships to start Oceania, He sold his interest in the two luxury lines to Apollo in 2007, and that poses the question WHY ??

 

Moving on in time, the NCLH board shake up and the change in management was engineered by Apollo and the purchase of Prestige by NCLH included approx two and a half BILLION in debt that was assumed as part of the purchase. So the successful manager (Del Rio) amassed that much debt in the twelve or so years that he managed the lines.

 

Genting who was a major shareholder in NCLH is divesting their interest in the company as rapidly as they can.

 

Tell me again how good Del Rio is as a cruise line CEO ????

[cantthinkofanythingfun]

It is really difficult to be an armchair CEO of a cruise line. There is so much that none of us really know about. It seems to be a bit of a dream job though. I'd love to throw my hat in the ring, but the fact that I once ran a 26 foot SeaRay into a pier would probably disqualify me.

[swedish weave]

Another little tidbit that caught my eye in the SEC filing was that Prestige lost several million dollars in the three years immediately prior to the sale to NCLH.

 

You may find the SEC filing very informative and it waters down some of the Del Rio praise you see here.

[barnacle_boy]

FDR is absolutely behind the changes that have been taking place. He takes great pride in handling these issues personally.

 

There are more changes coming, unfortunately. Hold on. It won't be pretty.

[motleyfan]

What is harming Norwegian the most are the whiners think about it, imagine you've never been on a cruise before and you're thinking about going on Norwegian and then you come on here and see all the people that are cruising Norwegian whining and complaining about everything. Would you want to go on it? I can tell you for certain, before my first cruise if I come on here and see all the supposedly terrible things people say I probably would not have used Norweigian. So I think it's easy to prove conclusively that the whiners and complainers are what's hurting the brand