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Royal Caribbean Extends Suspension of Cruising to June 12.

Per Royal Caribbean:

"Given global public health circumstances, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has decided to extend the suspension of sailings of our global fleet through June 11, 2020.

We are working with our guests to address this disruption to their vacations, and we are genuinely sorry for their inconvenience.

We expect to return to service on June 12."

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Royal Caribbean To Update Suspension Dates

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During a webconference with travel agents today, Vicki Freed, Senior VP of Sales, said that although Royal Caribbean has already suspended sailings through May 11th, there would be news this week about that. Other cruise lines are already starting to extend cancelation windows deeper into the summer. Logically the coming news will likely see RCI mirror its industry peers and extend the brands suspension of sailings this year.

The Centers for Disease Control has issued an additional 100 day no-sail directive already. However several cruise lines including Royal Caribbean, are pushing back on the suggestion of not cruising that long. It remains that 80,000 crew members are on over a hundred ships across the industry. Sending crew members home is difficult due to travel restrictions in their home countries. The want to send them home is questionable as well since re-crewing ships after they have left the ship would be expensive and exceedingly hard.

Europe, select regions of the U.S. and other areas where the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus is peaking are starting plans for relaxing travel and economic restrictions. Johnson and Johnson is starting production of a non-approved vaccine in anticipation FDA approval and global distribution in early 2021. However the crisis the pandemic represents and the impact on cruising is far from over.

From the Blogs

Travel Prizes: An Unlikely Give-away.

Not So Subtle Suggestive Marketing

Caveat Emptor. If something seems too go to be true it is. When somebody offers free travel the wise consumer assumes the worst and usually gets it. At a bridal fair my fiance and I took a trip down the rabbit hole that are the travel giveaways. Instead of a giveaway people are lured to pay a deposit to attend a marathon sales pitch for a dubious package of discount travel options costing over twelve thousand dollars, protected by a virtually unbreakable contract. The travel given away is virtually impossible to access, not remotely free and ultimately not even a bargain compared to options available without hours of hassle. I took a trip down the rabbit hole so you won’t have too.

First, the booths. You have seen them. Booths at malls, bridal and county fairs. They offer you a chance to play a game, scratch off a ticket, spin a wheel, tap a button on a computer. Seemingly as often as not you “win.” A delightfully friendly person takes you to a waiting table to discuss what you have won, which is usually a nondescript cruise or trip. In this case the event was a bridal fair at TPC San Antonio with my fiance. I knew there would be a host of travel promotions there and I was not disappointed.

There were four types of travel booths at the bridal fair. One was a legitimate travel agency another an independent agent. The agency was a well known company in the area and was offering a traditional raffle for a honeymoon cruise which was awarded at the end of the days bridal show. The independent agent was promoting her services. However the other two types of booths were the ones you need to be leery of.

The booths “giving away” travel are not travel agencies as a rule. Rather they are marketing companies seeking to use their games to lure you into paying typically $20 per person to attend “appointments” for sixty to ninety minute sales presentations. The booths featured either a classic “spin the wheel” or a game run on a tablet.

My fiance and I tried two booths. The first was “giving” away a cruise, the other a “trip.” I won my game for a trip, my fiance her own for a cruise. Both booths worked identically in every detail. Those we saw not winning the games were given the same spiel we were. The only difference was the introduction leading to the same goal of securing a deposit for an appointment. The staff at the booth will make a very big point to tell you that they are not selling timeshares. You will absolutely NOT receive anything at the time you play. And you will only receive what you are promised, and the $20 per person refunded, if you attend and IF you stay for the entire presentation. Some booths suggested you will get other rewards at the end of the presentation as well but the booths we tried made no mention of that.

The presentation my fiance and I attended was tied to the cruise won at the bridal fair. The location was an office with a different business name than that of the brochure the appointment setter provided at the bridal fair. From the moment we entered the lobby every moment of our time, conversation, and environment was carefully managed. Absolutely everything inside the office is calculated for effect, tightly choreographed and controlled. Starting just inside the front door and coating seemingly every square inch of the office were color photos. In each photo was a smiling couple standing before a colorful background, holding a portfolio. My fiance and I were ushered into a room with several other couple, a white board, and a sign saying to turn off our cell phones.

There were three other couples and a single male attending with us. A sales person began the hour of what I’ll just call “sales washing” the people there. He walked through it deftly with a casual touch that did not trigger unease and never dwelled on any detail long enough to allow those listening to consider them. A wall of numbers were presented on the whiteboard
to support the “value” of the travel club’s cost. From time to time the salesperson would preempt skepticism by offering limitations, such as dealing with taxes, or booking in and out of peak season.

On Wednesday, we continue deeper down the rabbit hole.

Do you have experiences with travel prizes and timeshare presentations? Share with us in our forums!

Norfolk (Port Talks)

Ships are again porting out of Norfolk, with Royal Caribbean and Carnival lines originating Bahamas and Burmuda itineraries out of the city. The Silver Shadow, AIDA Luna and Carnival Splendor will run regularly from the port. Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas sailed from Norkolk on May 7th but the line does not expect regular service to return until November. Other ships such as “The World,” a ship whose passengers are actually full-time residents and the Insignia from Oceania Cruises.

Norfolk is an obvious choice for cruise lines but the complications of air travel and lack of easy drive-and-cruise support has hindered the ports development. That aside, the actual cruise terminal is among the most beautiful and boasts the rare sight of cruise ships docked next a massive battleship. The U.S.S. Wisconsin was permanently docked next to the terminal as the anchor of a museum, shopping and eating complex. One of the four Iowa class battleships the “Whisky” served in World War II, Korea and the Gulf War. Until 2009 she was kept in reserve in the event her dozen massive sixteen inch guns were needed again. Cruise aficionados will find it interesting to note that the historic ocean liner, SS United States shares the same basic hull design and propulsion plant as the Iowa class battleships. This was long a closely held secret when the long inactive ocean liner was technically a possible troop ship.

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