Is it possible that if Cunard grew enough that they would deploy a ship on the west coast, sailing from LA or San Diego? Do you think Cunard could be succesfull there?

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Originally posted by dmwnc1:
[...]I doubt the QV will ever go to Alaska either since that is the same primetime season for Northern Europe, etc.

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Originally posted by Carlos Fernandez:
[...]Sorry, but I see the crossings as a waste of ship time, time that should be used for other unique itineraries, and I think those crossings never sail at full capacity. [...]

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First, not all Cunard ships will predominately do crossings. (not all will mean QV in the not so distant future)

Second, (fast) crossings are actually a rather unique itinerary. This is what QM2 has been built for. QM2 is actually not so suitable for cruises where she has to be berthed at rather unattractive locations due to her size/draft. I would actually like to see her doing more crossings where she can deploy her advantages.

Besides the obvious crossings and world cruises, she IMO is best on the British Empire tour. QV's reactionary class system makes it perfect.

Crossings do not get the revenue from grossly inflated price shore excursions

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Originally posted by Ernst:

First, not all Cunard ships will predominately do crossings. (not all will mean QV in the not so distant future).................................Third, what makes QM2 not perfect for cruises is actually the reason why Cunard built QV. (e.g. to be able to go trough the Panama canal) and QV is not built for too many crossings (she is too slow) which is why I doubt that she will do that.

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Originally posted by Ernst:

Third, what makes QM2 not perfect for cruises is actually the reason why Cunard built QV. (e.g. to be able to go trough the Panama canal) and QV is not built for too many crossings (she is too slow) which is why I doubt that she will do that.

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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:

QM2 will of course be able to transit the newly expanded Panama Canal which will open up more options for her and other mega cruise ships. On the North Atlantic QV could also act as a '7-day boat' in the tradition of Mauretania II and Caronia during re-positioning crossings.

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It's true that the world of shipping will change soon - this will BTW be great for the cruise industry. Beside that, there are of course shades of grey between black and white.

[ 09-14-2007: Message edited by: Ernst ]

I think it would be interesting to see Cunard on the West Coast however I see why it would be unlikely.
I still would love to see it! It seems as though there would be a market for them here as California and some other place on the WC have many people who are well off and like premium products such as Cunard.

Hmmmm. 39 sailings,...38 cruises and one crossing; the crossing made the others pale by comparison.

I guess I prefer to waste time.

Every crossings on a Queen is a recreation of the great tradition when Ocean Liners were the ‘only way to cross’.

I certainly agree that crossings are not for everyone. Cunard ‘Crossings’ attract like minded individuals with a passion for ships rather than those just looking for a floating-resort vacation. Cunard’s entertainment is geared this way and often features maritime lectures etc.

The QE2 and QM2 were built for crossings and excel at them. Why book a sub-sonic flight on Concord? Why take a cruise, rather than a crossing on the QM2?

I would only recommend a crossing if you are seriously interested in the golden age of ships or realise that ports of call can be a distraction from experiencing a ship itself.

.. and I think those crossings never sail at full capacity.

In reality many cruises do not sail completely full - cruise lines will often sell a three berth cabin for two people or a four berth for three people, rather than hope that they fill every berth. A 90% occupancy rate is very good, 100% is unlikely.

Crossings are still very popular. After all Cunard have increased their Capacity on crossings by replacing the smaller QM2 with the QM2.

[ 09-15-2007: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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Originally posted by Cunard Fan:
Its always confused me why there aren't more cruises on the US West Coast. The only ports I can think of the ship call at are LA, Seatle, San Diego, San Frans and Astoria or Portland.

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I think it's because the itineraries from the West Coast are very limited, only to Mexico and perhaps B.C. in the summer months. Not enough interest and demand to fill very many ships, which is why that market is limited.

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Originally posted by linerguy:
Hmmmm. 39 sailings,...38 cruises and one crossing; the crossing made the others pale by comparison.

I guess I prefer to waste time.

-Russ

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For 2008 there will be 12 crossings eastbound and 12 westbound according to the Cunard brochure. I don't think the ship will be sailing at or near full capacity. I agree that it is nice to keep the tradition rolling, just as with the line. But think about this, how many people who take a cruise take it bacause of the ship, most of us certainly do, but we are just a really small percentage of people. If Cunard would like to grow as a cruise line and as a business, I think that crossings will just take away money from that, is Cunard making any profits with crossings, maybe, but not enough as the other sailings.

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Originally posted by Carlos Fernandez:
...how many people who take a cruise take it because of the ship, most of us certainly do.

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New cruisers and some repeat cruisers have no developed loyalty for a ship brand (may make their decisions based on a TV commercial, bottom line costs, or their TA's advice). Most cruise lines have to worry about filling their megaships every 7 days. Dozens and dozens and dozens of ships. Cunard will have 3 ships for a year. QE2 should sell out her last season no problem. Then Cunard is down to 2 ships again. With Carnival Corps influx of capital Cunard could do crossings year round and probably not have to worry.

I myself prefer a crossing over any 7-night Eastern, Western, or Southern Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, or Mexico's West Coast and Baja (where there are already a traffic jam of ships). The itinerary is much more important to me than the ship, although the ship is a nice added 'plus'. It's nice to have choices.

I'll take 6-days of 100-square mile open ocean emptyness to another carbon copy port of call. Hey Meester wanna buy a watch? I prefer sleeping in late, a comfortable deck chair, a great novel, the sounds of the ocean, and the sounds of bells chiming 'Afternoon Tea'.

[ 09-15-2007: Message edited by: dmwnc1 ]

I think that you are wrong. Cunard are not fools, why do you think they spent 50% more to make the QM2 an Ocean Liner? Carnival are not into 'history' they are into profit!

…how many people who take a cruise take it because of the ship..

Cunard passengers do!

You are missing the point: Cunard aim there product at a ‘niche market’ – people who are interested in maritime history and the romance of Ocean Liners. Just look at the brochure, ‘Tradition’ is their ‘unique selling’ point. If you like it’s their ‘gimmick’.

Cunard are not trying to compete with RCI or Carnival. They are not trying to attarct the masses in the same way that Porsche are not. They are 'Premium Products'.

..I think that crossings will just take away money from that, is Cunard making any profits with crossings, maybe, but not enough as the other sailings.

I believe crossings are very profitable, just look at the fares. They are able to charge twice as much, often more, than many conventional cruises. Just look at the fares, $30k+ per person for a Duplex!

Cunard attract higher income passengers. In fact many very rich people also cross with Cunard. Don't forget that Cunard have a captive audience onboard for six nights. If crossings did not sell out you would see $299 fares and then crossings would be dropped for more cruises.

Yes it's good to keep the tradition, but we also have to think in the future of Cunard.

Cunard have a brighter future than ever with two new ships. Cunard are not trying to be RCI and will never have a fleet of 14 ships. However they did realise that crossings are a limited market, that’s why the Queen Victoria is a cruise ship.

[ 09-15-2007: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

Cunard attract higher income passengers. In fact many very rich people also cross with Cunard. Don't forget that Cunard have a captive audience onboard for six nights. If crossings did not sell out you would see $299 fares and then crossings would be dropped for more cruises.

[ 09-15-2007: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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Originally posted by Carlos Fernandez:

For 2008 there will be 12 crossings eastbound and 12 westbound according to the Cunard brochure. I don't think the ship will be sailing at or near full capacity.

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Oh yes they will. QM2 was built because the demand for crossings was still there and QE2 couldn't continue forever. 24 crossing seems about right to meet the demand. And there will be mant regulars who make multiple crossings per year among the pax.

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Originally posted by Frosty 4:
The Jones Act seems to prohibit inter city West Coast travel. San Diego, LA, San Francisco,Portland and Seattle. Mainly because of the crews.(International) I have not heard any word of repealing this Act as far as the cruise industry is concerned.
The market may be there with the West Coast $$$ but one can drive the coast for probably less than a cruise costs??
Frosty 4

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There was a time when the Cunard Queens did 'T-Atlantic crossings' that allowed (I believe) 1, 2 or 3 week stopovers in either the UK or USofA. Made a lot of sense!

Emigrants, myself included, had friends and family to visit - a week of visiting was often enough! - 5 days at sea to get there - 5+ days visiting and 5 days back on board ship (to recover!) were just the ticket......you, hopefully, could return to work feeling you'd really had a vacation!

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Originally posted by Green:

There was a time when the Cunard Queens did 'T-Atlantic crossings' that allowed (I believe) 1, 2 or 3 week stopovers in either the UK or USofA. Made a lot of sense!

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Those times were not so long ago.

QE2's schedule, at least up until Carnival took over in the late 90's, made such trips easy to plan and their fare discount structures made them affordable as well.

Many people took advantage of the possibilities that included:

Travel one way by sea and get free air travel via British Airways for the other direction.

Travel both ways by sea and get 35% off (Special excursion fare) on selected combinations of sailing dates. On some combinations of dates one-way free was offered. On the few date combinations that did not qualify for one-way free or Special Excursion fares there was still a 15% excursion fare discount.

All of the above were combinable with a cruise out of Southampton for extra discounts for people living in North America and cruises out of New York for people living in Europe.

The discounts after the Carnival takeover became less generous, but the scheduling was still as flexible.

Carlos has no idea what he was/is missing.