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I would like to see Sabbatini's appear on the SUN-class ships, too. They have no real alternative restaurant, amazing considering the last one was delivered in 2000 (but she is not with Princess any more, of course).
The GRAND-class ships lack very little in comparison with their newer sisters.
Anyway, Carnival still has DREAM and MAGIC to go - it's not as though there will be a lack of newbuilds for Carnival for a few more years. Princess is different as we will see RUBY delivered this year, and then nothing.
But HAL has sunk an incredible amount of money into its ships - even ones that are pretty new - and I am not sure we will see that replicated at Carnival or Princess.
Gordon
I think Princess are unlikely to make major changes to the fleet, I would very much like to upgrade all to Crown/Emerald level but I can't see that there is market preasure for them to do so. Even if they did the Sun class won't get much done especially those that are no longer based in the US. I would like them to Princessify the Royal, Pacific and Ocean.
It is more likely that Carnival will revamp the Destiny class etc.
S&P downgraded RCI shares to non investment grade or junk status yesterday reflecting the higher risk. They project that with the level of debt they have or will have they will generate negative cash flow in 2010 & 2011.
Of course we could all get a surprise and Princess may make an annoucment that takes us all by surprise ! Are all the building slots at Fincantieri booked, no they are not. You can stil get your ship delivered in time for the world cup with your choice of colour schemes !.
Mind you, if the US economy recovers sooner than expected, we might see orders sooner than expected. But given the potential for rough economic times ahead and the fact that Princess already has a very large fleet of very modern ships, I don't see any hurry for a newbuild.
The upside of this is that if we go some years without a Princess newbuild, we should be guaranteed a new design when we do get one. That would be refreshing!
Arison confirmed that they will be no new orders for Carnival, Princess or HAL until the economy and dollar recovers.
As for Princess remember the days when they had only three ships-all under 22,000 tons? The Island, Pacific and Sun Princess sailed for over a decade w/out a newbuild joing the fleet.
quote:Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:We have become use to a non-stop building program for cruise ships and like the super-heated housing market in some parts of the U.S. [...]
I also do not understand why new ships are soooooo important. It's not that we are running short on passenger ships. (one could say that we are running short on nice ones but I guess building more ships would not necessarily change much about that)
quote:Originally posted by moodus2:i believe the next big challenge willbe developing a more fuel effiecentpropulsion system.
This is not the 'next' challenge insofar as the efficiency of the propulsion system is always an issue when a new ship is built. Also, modern passenger ships are already quite efficient.
[ 04-11-2008: Message edited by: Ernst ]
quote:Originally posted by mike sa:In an interview with Micky Arison he commented that in RCI's latest report to the Securites & Exchange commission that the cost per berth for Solstice has gone from $230,000 to $320,000, potentially the return on the investment is below the cost of the debt Arison confirmed that they will be no new orders for Carnival, Princess or HAL until the economy and dollar recovers.
IMO Royal Carribean failed to see that there is an upcoming world recession. Ship programs take 5 years or so and certain economic cycles do not correlate. They cannot stop production and unbuild the ships, nor can they sit idle, rust away and take the berth that can be used for profit.
I think we will see more fare giveaways and onboard extras, nickel and diming, pushing frilly drinks will be far worse than already.
If McCain is elected in the USA, 100 years of war with Iraq, and business free for all continues, many economists believe the hangover will be worse than the 1930's depression.
quote:Originally posted by desirod7: If McCain is elected in the USA, 100 years of war
If McCain is elected in the USA, 100 years of war
We have a friend who is high up in the oil business and according to him (and many others) we're not leaving Iraq regardless of who is in power next year.
There is NO way the oil companies (or multi-national US and foreign business) will allow Iran to take over the huge Iraqi fields if we leave. What McCain meant was we will be there (like we are in Korea and Europe) for an extended period of time to protect the flow of oil-that is transported Worldwide-little of which actually ends up in the States at this time. We get the vast majority of our oil from domestic, Canadian, Mexican and South American production.
Like it or not all three candidates will do the same regardless of what they are saying now will do the same-stay put.
P.S. there also won't be a National health care program either. Like California, there is'nt enough money to pay for it w/out raising taxes a miniumum of 50% on EVERY American.
quote:Originally posted by Frosty 4:I wonder how many CTers have only cruised on various cruise lines ships just once.
I've only repeated one ship and that was a special one, the QM2.
As a child I sailed twice in HORIZON and NORDIC EMPRESS.
If the US does have an extended ression it will effect other parts of the world, vacations are always one of the first things to get cut, so yes lower potential fares but with costs going up there is only so far you can go especially if you are paying huge credit payments. And of course on board revenue will be even more important. Of course the reverse can be true as lines give away more and include more in an attempt to attract cruisers to fill capacity - this has happened before where the product was up graded in order to fill cabins.
Fine some of the older ships can be transfered to other companies to reduce capacity but there again there is only so much they can take, if you had a 15% reduction in volumes we are going to have a lot of empty ships sitting around. NCL and RCI are especially vunerable, they both have considerable tonnage to be delivered all at significantly extra cost compared to Carnival's, they have very limited ability to remove capacity from the fleets. Also some of the recent tonnage introduced was also very expensive. I am sitting on my Carnival shares, I sold RCI nearly 2 years ago and happy I did. If there is a 15% downturn both companies but especially RCI is going to be in trouble.
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