Ask the Cruise Line CEOs: Call for Questions

[CCAubs]

One of the biggest cruise industry events, Seatrade Cruise Global, is quickly approaching. At the event, cruise line CEOs sit side by side to discuss all things cruising. This year’s esteemed panelists include:

 

•             Frank Del Rio, President and CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

•             Jason Liberty, President & CEO, Royal Caribbean Group

•             Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division, MSC Group

•             Josh Weinstein, President, CEO & Chief Climate Officer, Carnival Corporation & plc  

 

And this year, they want to hear from Cruise Critic members. 

Do you have a question that you’d love to ask a cruise line CEO? Are you wondering what’s ahead for onboard dining and entertainment? Have thoughts on how cruise lines can leverage technology to improve the cruise experience? Do you have questions about cruise line sustainability efforts? We want to hear from you.

 

Share your questions below, and your question might be one asked of the CEOs at this year’s event.

[ontheweb]

Please explain why you have either stayed with the e-muster or gone back to the original muster drill.

[auntmeg]

1. What concrete steps is your cruise line taking to reduce the environmental footprint of your operations?

2. When will internet access at comparable speeds to land-based internet service be widely available (and affordable) on your ships?

[Honolulu Blue]

1. Mr. Liberty, why did you demand that LLP and Celebrity decimate their dinner buffet in the name of cost cutting?  Don't you realize that this is NOT going to help their reputation for quality food?
2. Mr. Vago, why are your booking policies so hostile to solo cruisers?
3. Mr. Vago, how do you intend to achieve your goal of being the world's #1 cruise line?  And how long do you anticipate this will take?
4. (for any and all of this group), do your booking algorithms have a limit on how many cabins can be booked by single travelers?
5. Mr. Weinstein, what is the long-term plan for Costa to return to relevance as a cruise line?  Or is the plan to pray that China opens up soon and MSC stops dealing body blows?
6. Mr. Del Rio, where did the pressure come from to reimplement the massed muster drill?  Did the crew demand better training in emergency procedures?  Are certain governmental authorities whispering that they weren't going to authorize your version of eMuster permanently?  Or was it a general company overview that showed that the eMuster wasn't as effective as it needed to be?

Edited February 16 by Honolulu Blue

[Markanddonna]

Mr. Vago, why does MSC allow far too many passengers on certain sailings when the crew is woefully understaffed? There is a tipping point, and we experienced it on the Divina on the Jan 27 sailing. 

[CJANDH]

My question to each of the CEOs relates to the decision to either stay with the E muster or return to the mass mustering.

 

Based on my experience on four cruises over the past year, the E muster has evolved to a point where the training of passengers in safety procedures, life vest use and the location of muster stations is  far more effective than the mass muster where it is often hard to see the demonstration or hear the presentation over a poor PA system.

 

I recognise that there is also an important need to provide crew training for emergencies that historically has been combined with the mass muster.

 

My question is: Is there a middle ground where passengers can be trained in small groups immediately on boarding the ship and a separate crew training program can be developed?

 

Thank you.

[Markanddonna]

7 minutes ago, CJANDH said:

My question to each of the CEOs relates to the decision to either stay with the E muster or return to the mass mustering.

 

Based on my experience on four cruises over the past year, the E muster has evolved to a point where the training of passengers in safety procedures, life vest use and the location of muster stations is  far more effective than the mass muster where it is often hard to see the demonstration or hear the presentation over a poor PA system.

 

I recognise that there is also an important need to provide crew training for emergencies that historically has been combined with the mass muster.

 

My question is: Is there a middle ground where passengers can be trained in small groups immediately on boarding the ship and a separate crew training program can be developed?

 

Thank you.

I agree. As a person of shorter stature, I always seemed to have trouble seeing with the taller people blocking my view. I prefer the E muster. We are punctual people, and waiting for those who had to be coaxed out of the ship to the muster stations was irritating.

[JDincalif]

For Mr. Del Rio: Please explain what benefits to the environment are gained from the recently announced reductions in Oceania port stay times.

[JDincalif]

On 2/15/2023 at 12:04 PM, CCAubs said:

Do you have a question that you’d love to ask a cruise line CEO? Are you wondering what’s ahead for onboard dining and entertainment? Have thoughts on how cruise lines can leverage technology to improve the cruise experience? Do you have questions about cruise line sustainability efforts? We want to hear from you.

 

Share your questions below, and your question might be one asked of the CEOs at this year’s event.

 

Will Cruise Critic provide a summary of CEO responses to these questions following the event?

[ontheweb]

3 hours ago, JDincalif said:

 

Will Cruise Critic provide a summary of CEO responses to these questions following the event?

Good question, though it is more of a question for those in charge at cruisecritic than the cruise line CEOs.

[JDincalif]

6 hours ago, ontheweb said:

Good question, though it is more of a question for those in charge at cruisecritic than the cruise line CEOs.

Agreed; the question was intended for the Cruise Critic administrator whose original post was quoted to indicate that intention

[Dolphingirl240]

We love sailing on Royal Caribbean but we've seen a decline in service since the start up.  You've cut the menu to save money, you have taken away perks from the Crown and Anchor Society and you nickle and dime the passengers to death which takes away from the overall cruising experience.  At what point does guest experience start to matter again?  With the constant rising costs, we are cruising less often.  

[ddearth1]

Why won't CCL share cruise line days/credits/Mariner status across lines?  If I could use my cruise days on Princess for example I would cruise more, as it is I stick with Holland only.  In reality all I'm getting is free laundry.  But this is enough for me to not bother looking at any Princess cruises at all, when I would easily cruise more if this benefit was usable.

[MasterCoach]

When offering promo drink packages that offer alcohol - why not offer an alternative package with non alcohol for those of us who cannot drink alcohol ( health concerns, medication or alcoholism)?

[MasterCoach]

Why are there not more cruises that coordinate with special events.  For example Celebrity would stay ported in New Orleans during Jazz Fest.  It was outstanding.   I would book it again.   How about Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco as part of a cruise?   

[Weezie100]

Just now, MasterCoach said:

When offering promo drink packages that offer alcohol - why not offer an alternative package with non alcohol for those of us who cannot drink alcohol ( health concerns, medication or alcoholism)?

 

Just now, Weezie100 said:

 

Jason Liberty, love cruising on your line and Celebrity. Since you are both owned by the same holding company, I have a few questions and recommendations for you; 1. How can you speed up and make embarkation day easier for the passengers? 2. The Royal site has a Watchlist of cruises which is great, but the Celebrity web site does not, can they please add it? Expanding the Watchlist to 10 cruises on both sites would be great. 3. Please have Celebrity begin cruising out of Port Canaveral, it is so much easier to get to than Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. This port is constantly expanding, close to Disney and is beautiful 4. Regarding the specialty dining, your website used to have the total fee and now is charging 18% tips on top of the tips for the regular dining and room care. This is double charging for tips so close to 40% for tips which is way too much. Please fix this problem. 5. Please bring back the classic Broadway plays for entertainment.

[RedChilli]

With the LGBTQIA community being embraced in so many businesses across America, the last thing I want to have to deal with on my cruise vacation is having their agendas forced upon me by openly gay cruise directors and assistant directors. Q1: Are you going to allow paying passengers to decide if they wish to sail on a ship with gay cruise directors (publish the orientation of the Directors so passengers can choose)? Don’t forget a large proportion of your client’s are traditional Male/Female passengers.

 

Q2: When I buy a premium drink package I expect water to be included in the package. This is not the case on NCL. Are you going to change this?

 

Q3: Cruise line food quality has been deteriorating over the past 5 years. What is your plan to improve food quality?

[Loxie]

This question is for the NCL CEO. Why did your cruise line change the non-smoking policy back to smoking allowed in the casinos now that the COVID pandemic is over?  Damage from smoke has not changed with or without COVID. It is a very disappointing decision to those of us who don't smoke. Thank you

[debbaitinger]

Mr Bayley

 

You announced in December an update to your loyalty programs to combine Celebrity and Royal Caribbean status.  Please provide an update as we have cruised both.

[No1beachjumper]

I sent a message into Carnival reference the following. They never even responded to my message. My wife and I cruised on a 10 day cruise out of Charleston, SC in January 2023. On this cruise we stayed in a Spa Cabin. Our room steward asked us if we needed in the evening on the first day of our cruise. We said we would be fine thinking he meant that evening. We never saw him in the evening again. Also, we ate in the main dining room for breakfast and the food was cool and the service was less than we expected. One morning my wife ordered yogurt, coffee and a roll. I ordered eggs, sausage links, danish, and orange juice. I got the orange juice and never saw the waiter again. WE sat for one hour waiting for my breakfast. The waiters name was Joey. We complained to the Matre' De to no avail. We have cruised Carnival for years. This left a very sour taste in our mouths. Will we cruise Carnival again? This remains to be seen.

[moodyb1]

Why are you reducing the perks in your loyalty program, especially in the highest tier, which affect your most loyal guests?

 

Elite member on Princess 

 

[Chowventor]

To the Ceo of Norwegian cruise lines. I want to inform you how impactful your decision to give a military discount and price break on airfare is to me.

I am a disabled veteran, and have very difficult time living a normal, land based life. I am about to take 1 year worth of my salary I saved up during COVID-19 to board your cruise line. I am looking for a way to find peace, a warm bed, a meal in my belly, and water in my veins. Very basic human needs is all I am looking for, but in a different environment. I'm  basically going to "deploy" myself all over the world with the help of your cruise line.

This endeavor just might save my life.

I'm only able to attempt this new path because of your solo pricing, military discount, airfare discount, and free meals that are included in my ticket.

You may have thought your military program was a way to help veterans have a nice vacation from time to time, but you also gave disabled veterans like myself a way to escape the war still going on within 🇺🇲

 

Thank You. 

Edited February 24 by Chowventor

[debarulz]

Just returned from 8-night cruise on CCL Magic. Had two (2) Spa cabins with $1,100 OBC for both from FCC. Trying to check on expenses was a nightmare. The ship algorithm divided the OBC to both occupants in a cabin and several purchases were assigned to a S nD card not used. At the end of the cruise, the OBC was treated as one per cabin. The folio also did not list excursions and meals charged against the OBC.

Why the change from the older on board folio account management and tabulation? Both cabins had college degree persons that could understand most reasonable financial statements.

[Kiwicruiser25]

Carnival – Princess Cruises

Q1:The to die for Beds and Pillows, on Princess Ships are only available for sale in USA.
Can u find a distributer in Australia – from wharf to store to customers.
Maybe “Harvey Norman Retail Co”
Passengers can preorder & pay for mattress/pillows online from Australia.
Then on your Repositioning Cruises  October each year,
Princess could transport them from USA to Australia for eg: Harvey Norman to
pickup and distribute.

Q2: Can you test the Merchandise waters and try a Basic Plus Size Men’s & Women’s
“Princess Cruises Logo” Tee Shirt & Polo Top in (Australian Sizes (3xl-6xl)
Suggest maybe a Cobalt Blue Colour to start with.

Stock the Princess Cruises Pillows onboard, for passengers to purchase on Australian Cruises.

[Lisamoo]

My question relates to drinks packages and the insistence of most cruise lines to have all members in a cabin have the same package.  My husband and I travel with our adult daughter who has a congenital disability and cannot drink alcohol, but we have to buy her a full package even though she will only drink juice or Coca Cola. We enjoy a tipple especially as we don’t need to be concerned about driving but the cost becomes prohibitive on longer cruises and we don’t receive value for money. If Celebrity cruises can differentiate between the guests in a cabin, why can’t the other cruise lines do the same?