Well that's interesting. New markets... I saw a "RCCL" sign last time I was in Shanghai coming out of customs at the airport. Wanted so badly to act like I was the one they were waiting for and follow them... but at some point they would have asked for a boarding pass...
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================================================== ========== Carnival Cruise Lines:
Fantasy 90, Celebration 95, Victory 05, Conquest 05, Spirit 6/06, Freedom 6/08, Holiday 7/08, Victory 6/09, Valor 9/09, Dream 6/10, Splendor 8/10,Conquest 8/11,Magic 11/11,Triumph 4/12,Spirit 7/12,Freedom 11/12, Triumph 2/13 - The fire cruise
NCL Dream October 2006, RCCL Mariner OTS June 2007
I know two things this will cause to happen - first, all the cabins will have tea kettles added, and second, the casino will be doing land-office business.
It should do well. Asia is very popular and everyone is always looking for new destinations. The river cruise ships have been doing extremely well on the Mekong River. Sailings are selling out over a year in advance. In 2001 I did my Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand cruise on NCL. I'd love to do another one in Asia.
RCI President Adam Goldstein has further announced that they will NOT be replacing the Voyager in Europe with another ship. So in the end, Europe loses one ship although RCI will still have 11 vessels deployed there.
A significant point here is that the U.S. and Mediterranean markets are declining while the Asian cruise market is likely to soon explode. You go where the money is, and China seems to have no ceiling on their growth.
I just read where the Voyager is going to Austraila for 5 months along with the Radiance and Rapsody.First they open a new office there and then they take Celebrities Solstice and Radiance and now Voyager?. Do they feel this is the last untapped market ? I wonder if Tahiti ,Figi and New Zealand really want 5000 people a day going to there islands. Soon they will all look St Thomas.
Casey & Kathy, you are spot on! Every island the cruise lines visit become another St. Thomas. It's such a shame, too. I think that's why I enjoyed St. Vincent and Dominica so much. I haven't been to Dominica in a few years, so it might be St. Thomas by now. Roatan sure has changed.
Voyager going to China
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