Has FDR done anything to benefit cruisers?

[rg24601]

Love People calling others because they support a policy as cheerleaders. The hypocrites are all over these boards.

 

Until now the word cheerleader had not appeared in this thread.

[rg24601]

You just don't get it. A benefit does NOT need to benefit everyone. The splash academy was just an example.

 

 

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A poor example.

 

The OP asked for the cruisers, big picture, not small ball and onesies and twosies.

[luvtheships]

Okay, I also have an example for your scenario then. In June, 2014 we booked the Escape TA. In June, 2015, we canceled and rebooked the same cabin in order to get the free UBP, and saved several hundred dollars. Thanks FDR!

 

 

Ta's are notoriously hard to fill for a cruise line

 

Especially an inaugural one

 

A better comparison would have been one of the milk runs on a ship in service for several seasons

 

That's not to say you didn't get an awesome deal but I have seen tons of deals on Ta crossings on all lines as well as great deals on hard to fill cruises

 

Heck they could give away the cabins on those cruises with so many sea days...so few ports....and so much time for Pax to frequent the casino and bars which equates to $$$$$. However we all know that and we know what the profit margin is on an $11 watered down drink. Lol even with a free ubp on a Ta the ship makes money because of all the time a pax has for the casino.

 

The demographic on a Ta is perfect for that btw

 

You don't have many families with 7 year olds on a Ta

 

Btw a family with a 7 yo is usually not prioritizing drinking and gambling...just a little anecdotal observation that's all

 

The only reason I responded is because IMHO a Ta is so infrequent that its pricing is an outlier and not really comparable.

[MisterFidgetpants]

Maybe a better question is; the service charges have gone up 12.5% (just the daily charged fee, not talking about extras).

 

So for a 12.5% increase in service charges, are people seeing any increase in speed or quality of services?

 

If yes, then there is a benefit. If not, then no. The fact that people are arguing hypothetical scenarios and splitting hairs over word definitions just goes to show that there clearly isn't an obvious "yes" answer to the OP's question.

[rg24601]

But if there was no splash academy then the majority of those kids wouldn't be on the ship in the first place.

 

Are you very sure about that? I think you might not want to bet the farm on that. Kids will be everywhere unless they are not allowed from the get go.

 

The majority of kids never use splash academy. Or use it briefly.

Some plan to use it but don't.

 

No I can't agree.

[duchesslt]

This is just comical. Benefit everyone? Absolutely not. I don't have kids so I don't benefit from splash academy or anything else that are for kids but it is still a feature that many benefit from.

 

 

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I was a product manager for 13 years and can say with some level of experience that benefits don't need to benefit everyone.

 

I think someone else on this thread said that the CEO strategy is to go after a new demographic. That seems to make sense.

 

If the cruise model is to sell cabins/fare at low margin, they likely want a new demographic for high per person spend on the ship - which gets them the most profit. By offering pre paid bundles, they lock in margin upfront and ease the passenger into even more discretionary spending once sailing. At the same time, they will tighten operationg costs for basic services and free up more budget around the discretionary/high margin spend.

 

I'm not an expert in cruise business model - but the above is a fairly common "academic" approach to product management/product marketing.

 

What I tend to think is making a comeback is "class based" sailing. These megaships probably market on a curve - and they are targeting demographics that follow that curve.

 

Think of it in terms of Gilligans Island: Low cost saling/buffet types (Mary Ann), middle range balcony/some specialty restaurant with discretionary spend (Professor), and suite/high discretionary spend types (Ginger, Lovey, and Mr. Howell).

[SuiteCruiser]

Maybe a better question is; the service charges have gone up 12.5% (just the daily charged fee, not talking about extras).

 

So for a 12.5% increase in service charges, are people seeing any increase in speed or quality of services?

 

If yes, then there is a benefit. If not, then no. The fact that people are arguing hypothetical scenarios and splitting hairs over word definitions just goes to show that there clearly isn't an obvious "yes" answer to the OP's question.

 

I think it's safe to say that the service has gone down, at least as far as wait staff go. Far fewer bodies available to serve, not necessarily that the ones serving are not good. Less workers and they're collecting more money. I think that the service from the cabin stewards has remained the same.

 

Definitely far more service complaints, and complaints about rude or disengaged staff than I've ever seen in my 10 years on this board.

Edited December 12, 2015 by SuiteCruiser

[NLH Arizona]

I think not.

 

A benefit must benefit everyone.

 

Food is too subjective. But I hope the Mdr quality went up, it needed too.

 

Fares go up and down, so no benefit to everyone there.

 

The SDP seems to be FDR's baby and that also benefits few, it must be purchased, and even on this thread, it has not been universally cheered.

 

Apparently less trays in the hallways. Assuming everyone cared that might be a positive benefit. But if the trays were there then not everyone cared.

 

Not quite sure why a benefit has to benefit everyone.

 

I'm currently on the Dawn and Bamboo has been jammed packed, which I never saw with it was for a fee restaurant, now that it is complimentary. It doesn't benefit me, but obviously this change benefits many others.

[NLH Arizona]

Three cheers for FDR he very well may have helped with the forfeit of the deposit.

It was that way prior to Mr. Del Rio coming onboard, so was it Mr. Sheehan that did this?

[mugtech]

It's been that way for years, but I don't think that was the point of the stunningly witty comment you quoted.

 

Some are more easily stunned than others.

[rg24601]

It was that way prior to Mr. Del Rio coming onboard, so was it Mr. Sheehan that did this?

 

Was tounge and cheek. But in fairness, three cheers for sheehan.

[rg24601]

Not quite sure why a benefit has to benefit everyone.

 

I'm currently on the Dawn and Bamboo has been jammed packed, which I never saw with it was for a fee restaurant, now that it is complimentary. It doesn't benefit me, but obviously this change benefits many others.

 

Why doesn't it benefit you? Can't get in? Other venues will be less crowded, yes?

[rg24601]

Some are more easily stunned than others.

 

Obviously.

[swedish weave]

Your opinion. To me putting trays in the hallway is selfish and the most important thing is that it is not safe.

 

Why do you caLL putting trays in the hallway selfish ?

 

If the room steward asks you to put them out there, is he or she the selfish one ?

[mugtech]

Another great recent improvement, the tv program Dream Quest is on every Saturday on CW for free.

[rg24601]

Another great recent improvement, the tv program Dream Quest is on every Saturday on CW for free.

 

Yes!

 

Undoubtedly if it were available on NCL ther would be a fee to watch it. For your convenience. ;)

[KeithJenner]

It's becoming comical now how you are over-analyzing this. The point I made in my original post was to those who claim that we are all paying more now. I made 2 examples where I am not, simply showing that the blanket statement doesn't apply all the time. You can tear it apart all you want, but that's neither here nor there. I don't give a fat rats ass WHY I got a good deal. The point is that I saved money. End of story.

 

 

Yes, I would mention the ship and routes that I've saved money on, but there is no point as I'm sure there will be some reason why they don't count either, although I believe that the Spirit, Star and Epic are fairly well established.

[Moby0215]

A poor example.

 

 

 

The OP asked for the cruisers, big picture, not small ball and onesies and twosies.

 

 

It was not a poor example as it is a benefit for some and not others. This is not me complaining about it, just pointing out that benefits can exist without being for EVERYONE. And I'm not sure why you are arguing with me other than maybe you just like to argue? All I was pointing out was that a benefit does not need to benefit everyone. Also you are assuming the intent of the OP either the "Big Picture" and are also just giving your opinions about the benefits that others have posted are not considered big picture. It sure is a big benefit to me that the Asian place is now complimentary. The a la carte also benefits me as well as other changes. And lastly if if some people decide not to cruise NCL because of some of these changes...well that is another benefit to me as well.

 

 

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[rg24601]

It was not a poor example as it is a benefit for some and not others. This is not me complaining about it, just pointing out that benefits can exist without being for EVERYONE. And I'm not sure why you are arguing with me other than maybe you just like to argue? All I was pointing out was that a benefit does not need to benefit everyone. Also you are assuming the intent of the OP either the "Big Picture" and are also just giving your opinions about the benefits that others have posted are not considered big picture. It sure is a big benefit to me that the Asian place is now complimentary. The a la carte also benefits me as well as other changes. And lastly if if some people decide not to cruise NCL because of some of these changes...well that is another benefit to me as well.

 

 

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Way to wordy. :D

 

Glad you have a benefit or two. :confused:

[KeithJenner]

If the cruise model is to sell cabins/fare at low margin, they likely want a new demographic for high per person spend on the ship - which gets them the most profit. By offering pre paid bundles, they lock in margin upfront and ease the passenger into even more discretionary spending once sailing. At the same time, they will tighten operationg costs for basic services and free up more budget around the discretionary/high margin spend.

 

 

I pretty well agree with all of this. By increasing base fares but including the packages, I assume NCL are hoping that people will forget that increased initial spend once they are onboard and then budget the same sort of amount onboard that they would have originally spent.

 

That way they sell more to each passenger. I assume that it will work for a lot of the less savvy and experienced passengers. However, it does open up opportunities for those of us who don't spend that extra.

[Loonbeam]

It's true the CEO gets the blame, but if he is really micromanaging that much, the COO and the board should be getting involved, because time spent worrying about silverware means he's not doing his job as regards the other lines he oversees (or if he does it for all lines he is focusing on the wrong things).

 

For things like trays in hallways, I would think, no I would hope that it would go something like this. CEO spots an issue they don't like. They tell line management, make people stop leaving trays in hallways. Line management decides how to accomplish that. Same for M'ville, etc.

 

Now as to approving the Escape, a billion dollar build, and the plans for that, that IS in his purview. Service charge and DSC changes, yeah I could see that coming from head office.

 

And even if he is micromanaging, its the job of the line manager to push back when necessary on operational decisions, which means Stuart is not doing his job if he just lets suggested changes through.

 

That said, my overall point still stands, its not just FDR who should be blamed for changes, it's the line management team, either for rolling over on changes or backing them, regardless of source.

[LrgPizza]

I think not.

 

 

 

Irrelevance is not an option. Her original response was an answer to the op. Thus by correlation she is responding to the op. Incorrectly again, unfortunately.

 

 

Since you're being anal, I will too, and I'll point out that my "original" response mentioned the SDP. Try to keep up.

Edited December 12, 2015 by LrgPizza

[rg24601]

Since you're being anal, I will too, and I'll point out that my "original" response mentioned the SDP. Try to keep up.

 

Absolutely.

 

I will try.

 

The SDP - great!

[SuiteCruiser]

It's true the CEO gets the blame, but if he is really micromanaging that much, the COO and the board should be getting involved, because time spent worrying about silverware means he's not doing his job as regards the other lines he oversees (or if he does it for all lines he is focusing on the wrong things).

 

For things like trays in hallways, I would think, no I would hope that it would go something like this. CEO spots an issue they don't like. They tell line management, make people stop leaving trays in hallways. Line management decides how to accomplish that. Same for M'ville, etc.

 

Now as to approving the Escape, a billion dollar build, and the plans for that, that IS in his purview. Service charge and DSC changes, yeah I could see that coming from head office.

 

And even if he is micromanaging, its the job of the line manager to push back when necessary on operational decisions, which means Stuart is not doing his job if he just lets suggested changes through.

 

That said, my overall point still stands, its not just FDR who should be blamed for changes, it's the line management team, either for rolling over on changes or backing them, regardless of source.

 

I think you still underestimate the amount of micromanaging that goes on, and I agree if I were on the Board I would prefer that the CEO be dealing with big picture, visionary type work.

 

Regarding the decision about the food ban, this is what Andy Stuart said:

 

"In fact, the decision to ban food came after Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. President and CEO Frank Del Rio sailed a Norwegian ship and noticed numerous dishes in the hallways, as well as passengers carrying plates loaded with food, sloshing over the sides and onto the carpet, Stuart said. When Del Rio returned from his cruise, he spoke with Stuart, and they decided to ask passengers not to transport food.

 

Stuart said the conversation lasted about 2 minutes. There was no motive, he added, except "how do we fix this issue?"

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6382

[sparks1093]

It's becoming comical now how you are over-analyzing this. The point I made in my original post was to those who claim that we are all paying more now. I made 2 examples where I am not, simply showing that the blanket statement doesn't apply all the time. You can tear it apart all you want, but that's neither here nor there. I don't give a fat rats ass WHY I got a good deal. The point is that I saved money. End of story.

 

I believe I was the first to mention high fares but I did not say that everyone is paying more now, there are still good deals to be had (at least up until now) but I haven't seen them on the cruises that I've priced.