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I hope that prices will stay down. Usually after a merger in any other segment of the coporate world, prices will go up with the service/product produced by the merged companies to make up for merger costs. But that would be "ill advised" in this time when people are reluctant to travel and people have less money to travel due to the recession. I also wonder with the coming post merger job cuts if service on ships will decline.
Would like to know what you guys think.
quote:Originally posted by hhornblower:What impact will this merger have on the cruise industry? I hope that prices will stay down.
Stay down? P&O prices are pretty high in my opinion. You mean USA prices? I suppose it depends on what the various markets can sustain.
If we get two giant super-cruise lines, P&O/RCI and Carnival/NCL they may well indulge in a spot of Price fixing i.e. if you raise your prices by 10%,we will raise ours!
Green, I am not sure what you mean but priced for "everybody". I am a teacher and I work extra jobs and save up so I can cruise every year. My job is secure, but I know several people who have lost theirs. We are in a recession plus a war. I talk to friends and relatives across the US and many people are afraid to fly, too poor to travel due to the recession, or afraid of something else happening and just want to stay close to home. If the travel industry wants people to travel, they must keep their prices down. I will not cruise if prices go up - I can travel other ways.
quote:Originally posted by hhornblower:Malcolm, I occasionally saw 7 day cruises for $399 - $499 per person US - yes, 7 day!
We don't see prices that low for sailings from UK ports!
There will always be a range of cruise products from 'Budget' to 'Exclusive' on offer!
Although I would like to see cruising opened up to Mr & Mrs Average in Europe, I think it is unlikely that cruises will ever offer cheaper prices than land based holidays.
quote:Originally posted by Malcolm:We don't see prices that low for sailings from UK ports!
But they are bottom line ex taxes and 'non-commissionable charges'[aka bumped up port charges]. I just looked at some below, and they say 'taxes and port charges may be additional'.
I don't think we do too badly, maybe not quite as cheap, but I don't think the 'penny pinching' is as bad from what I read. Mind you P&O have started turning that way I hope they do remain a separate entity, but with another '2nd hand' Princess Ship on the way one wonders.
Pam
quote:Originally posted by Malcolm:I think it is unlikely that cruises will ever offer cheaper prices than land based holidays.
Maybe not, but I am willing to pay that bit more, for not having to hire a car, being able to have a wine or two with my evening meal as I'm not driving, and most of all not having to cook or even think about where the next meal is coming from Between the 4 of us we always want to go to 4 different places..argh..the problems it causes..not on a ship though, relief
quote:Originally posted by PamM:Maybe not, but I am willing to pay that bit more, for not having to hire a car, being able to have a wine or two with my evening meal as I'm not driving, and most of all not having to cook or even think about where the next meal is coming from
I do agree Pam, but of course land based vacations can also provide many of your requirements i.e. all inclusive resorts, coach tours etc.
I was trying to say that in the UK cruise holidays represent 5% of total holidays, it's unlikely to ever be 75%.
quote:Originally posted by PamM:Mind you P&O have started turning that way I hope they do remain a separate entity, but with another '2nd hand' Princess Ship on the way one wonders.Pam
It looks as if we will lose the historic P&O name, forever!
P&O's 'Arcadia' was of course 'Second Hand' from Princess and was transfered in 1997.
quote:Originally posted by Malcolm: It looks as if we will lose the historic P&O name, forever!
No you won't because P&O is a huge organization, it partly owns at least these companies:
P&O Nedlloyd P&O Scottish Ferries P&O European FerriesP&O North Sea Ferries P&O Irish Sea Ferries P&O PortsmouthP&O Stena Line
AJL
quote:Originally posted by hhornblower:[qb]Malcolm, I occasionally saw 7 day cruises for $399 - $499 per person US - yes, 7 day!Green, I am not sure what you mean but priced for "everybody". /qb]
Green, I am not sure what you mean but priced for "everybody". /qb]
hhornblower - I did word that badly………what I was thinking was that all Lines (and their ships) should not be priced to suit everybody. Like Malcolm says, I hope there 'will always be a range of cruise products from 'Budget' to 'Exclusive' on offer'.
You are very fortunate to be in a secure job - many others are not so lucky. We too have to save for our trips - no lottery wins or market gains have put us in the Exclusive class but we can dream/aspire to making it one day.
In Canada many people are afraid to fly, too poor to travel due to the recession, or afraid of something else will happen and, of necessity/choice, stay close to home - with our CA$ your $400/$500 cruises cost us close to double that.
I venture to say that posters on this board are not doing too badly -one way or another, we rack up a lot of sea miles.
Happy cruisin'
[ 11-26-2001: Message edited by: Green ]
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