Can the Cruise Industry survive ?

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. WH. "...blow out the walls of the small cabins and make bigger apartments." What a wonderful idea. Such a vessel might easily fulfill the wants and desires of a fair number of those who want the "live-aboard" experience.



Just think, you could get TWO surplus cruise vessels. Expand the "apartments" on one for the well off folks and leave the other as is for subsidized housing for the less fortunate.


PERFECT business opportunity for, say...Savannah? Brunswick?

 

[Dougcole]

Another cruise ship denied entry, this time in Thailand. An Italian liner with 2000 aboard.

The question about this industry is are they too big to fail? Do they owe so much money to a few creditors that foreclosure would take the lender down too? That may be all that ends up saving them.

This.


How in the heck do you run a mature business with a 97% debt load? Or run so close to the bone that a one week interruption in business could put you under?


I have worked in the Outdoor and athletic footwear industry for thirty years. One thing that has really hurt my industry is all the retailers who built too many stores in too many places and built them way too big. The decision to add doors became based more on one upping competition rather than the ability to turn a profit. This strategy has been fatal for quite a few big retailers in the last decade or so. It has also left many cities with big, ugly, empty box buildings, eyesores, that are unlikely to ever be filled.



As an outsider looking in, it seems to me that the cruise ship industry has been doing a similar thing.

 

[Northern Spy]

I hope not troop ships, that would imply more foreign wars for our grandchildren to die in. I don’t want that.

Maybe they could blow out the walls of the small cabins and make bigger apartments. Realistically they probably will just be scrapped.

Speaking of troop ships...

The real news is the Turkish (NATO) Syrian (Russia) conflict which gets no press because of the FUD associated with the COVID-19 story.

Best idea is to get medical advice from medical practiciners and not journalists who get paid by the advertising revenue that their company receives.

 

[mcboatface]

Greetings,
Mr. WH. "...blow out the walls of the small cabins and make bigger apartments." What a wonderful idea. Such a vessel might easily fulfill the wants and desires of a fair number of those who want the "live-aboard" experience.



Just think, you could get TWO surplus cruise vessels. Expand the "apartments" on one for the well off folks and leave the other as is for subsidized housing for the less fortunate.


PERFECT business opportunity for, say...Savannah? Brunswick?

Can we get rid of the ship we have first?

 

[AlanT]

The question about this industry is are they too big to fail? Do they owe so much money to a few creditors that foreclosure would take the lender down too? That may be all that ends up saving them.

IMO they are not too big to fail. They are a small sector of the entertainment/vacation industry and will be allowed to refinance or consolidate commercially - unlike the banks which of course were rescued. Of course if banks with exposure to the CruiseShips also have massive exposure to other elements of the economy that may be poised to suffer also, than that's a different story/outcome. ~Alan

 

[Jeff F]

IMO they are not too big to fail. They are a small sector of the entertainment/vacation industry and will be allowed to refinance or consolidate commercially - unlike the banks which of course were rescued. Of course if banks with exposure to the CruiseShips also have massive exposure to other elements of the economy that may be poised to suffer also, than that's a different story/outcome. ~Alan

Agreed. What about insurer liability? I would think that lots of potential claims could come out of a Grand Princess type event, no?

 

[OldDan1943]

Convert to independent and assisted living apartments?
There will be excess docks to they can tie up or perhaps anchor out and rely on helicopter for transfer to a hospital
All that space maybe convert some of it into a hospital too.
Alas, limited underground parking LOL

 

[PM]

The problem with repurposing these behemoths is that they are still overpopulated centers of humanity.

When/If the virus becomes rampant or pandemic the hardest hit segment of society will be the elderly, then the poor (which includes overcrowded areas like tent cities and housing projects) Will not matter if the boat is out cruising the high seas or tied up in some port. The closeness of the living situation will cause shared sicknesses.

What to do with these monsters? How about artificial reefs, the fish will love them.

pete

 

[Al]

Good Riddance, I say.

pete

A bit harsh, much as the Democrats are feeding off this virus in hopes of hurting Trump. which seems harsh reflecting Pete's term
I only use this as a example of what "Good Riddance" means to some in a mean way.

Our town of 14,000 souls with 50 miles of drivable road miles, are exposed to up to five of these large ships a day (30,000 souls passengers and crew,) .during the season the town belongs to them in the summer and to those of us resiliant enough to suffer with a smile knowing that this is there opportunity to see Alaska. In the fall and winter, the town belongs once again to the "Homiees"
Do we say "Good Riddance" to them as the last ship of the season departs? Maybe a few like Pete, the rest of us take a positive position wishing them God Speed, and return like the wind and tide next season.
Same with this virus situation, We offer prayers for a successful end result.
So to speak, we are all on the boat together that alone is a 'Harsh' reality. Putting in at a negative tone does little to sooth the need to find a solution, nrather create a negative.
Sorry for the rant,the keyboard gives us all a power to be positive or negative.
Al-Ketchikan, Alaska

 

[MurrayM]

Hi Al,

We have pussy willows, some geese flying north, eagles milking thermals again (that’s gotta feel good after 4 months of wing flapping!)and I heard a fox sparrow singing heartily this morning...how’s your spring?

 

[MurrayM]

A bit harsh, much as the Democrats are feeding off this virus in hopes of hurting Trump. which seems harsh reflecting Pete's term
I only use this as a example of what "Good Riddance" means to some in a mean way.

Our town of 14,000 souls with 50 miles of drivable road miles, are exposed to up to five of these large ships a day (30,000 souls passengers and crew,) .during the season the town belongs to them in the summer and to those of us resiliant enough to suffer with a smile knowing that this is there opportunity to see Alaska. In the fall and winter, the town belongs once again to the "Homiees"
Do we say "Good Riddance" to them as the last ship of the season departs? Maybe a few like Pete, the rest of us take a positive position wishing them God Speed, and return like the wind and tide next season.
Same with this virus situation, We offer prayers for a successful end result.
So to speak, we are all on the boat together that alone is a 'Harsh' reality. Putting in at a negative tone does little to sooth the need to find a solution, nrather create a negative.
Sorry for the rant,the keyboard gives us all a power to be positive or negative.
Al-Ketchikan, Alaska

Sorry, Al, but I don’t think people have been harsh enough on your President. Imagine if the Captain of this cruise ship disregarded health officials advice for passengers to self isolate in their rooms, and told the sick crew to keep working? Wouldn’t the Captain be responsible for endangering passengers and the people they came into contact with once ashore? Isn’t your President essentially doing just that?

 

[Giggitoni]

Oh, oh...

 

[BruceK]

It would be dangerous if politics and spin got in the way of dealing with CV the best we can. Surely politics is irrelevant and the current Administration in USA is doing all it can to combat CV.
For a local example,our Govt promised a surplus this year, but what with bushfires, drought, floods, and now CV and the knock on economic effects and need for stimulus, it will surprise if they deliver a surplus.And even more surprising if they get attacked for it.

 

[mcboatface]

Think about this:

3,500 folks being held on the Grand Princess with no end in sight. A small supply boat is currently alongside.

3,500 folks have been sitting in a terminal in LA waiting to board the Royal Princess for seven hours. Cruise cancelled. They have not been allowed to leave. Police were brought in. Why they would want to get on a Princess cruise in the first place boggles the mind. Now being given full refund and free cruise in the future.

5,000 folks have not been allowed to disembark from the Carnival Panorama since early this morning in Long Beach. No clue what’s happening to the passengers waiting to board.

One would have to think that Carnival Cruise Lines is not a fun place to work right now.

 

[Jeff F]

There are credible reports in Canada that Vancouver and Victoria are preparing to receive the Grand Princess.

 

[AlaskaProf]

There are credible reports in Canada that Vancouver and Victoria are preparing to receive the Grand Princess.

I can't imagine why. The U.S. has ports near or actually within military reservations (Port Hueneme, for one) which could serve for containment.

 

[Art]

Rise and fall of over populated, errantly using Earth's ecosystem Humanity: Many factors contribute; much more and way deeper than just the travel industry.

Just how far the fall [stock market would call this oncoming downturn/tumble a massive correction] will descend is unknown. However, it is safe to predict this fall will rock civilization to its bones; before ample corrective measures can be applied that may restabilize societies.

Global eco-systemic failures are reaching their tipping points. Next three decades are super important to see how well civilization handles things - for the good of humanity's future.

 

[FF]

"Global eco-systemic failures are reaching their tipping points."

OOOPS! Wrong direction again?

All this flu stuff seems to be a winter hassle , so perhaps the Sky is Falling folks should switch to using man kinds 2% input to switch to assisting global warming .

Endless Summer ,,, great for the air cond industry!!

 

[OldDan1943]

"Global eco-systemic failures are reaching their tipping points."

OOOPS! Wrong direction again?

All this flu stuff seems to be a winter hassle , so perhaps the Sky is Falling folks should switch to using man kinds 2% input to switch to assisting global warming .

Endless Summer ,,, great for the air cond industry!!

This is getting too political for me. Boating is supposed to be fun and even exciting at times. We can sit here, wringing our hands, lamenting how the world is going to hell in a hand basket or we can re-provision, take on fuel and water, then head out on a voyage. Put everyone on half-rations, go real slow and enjoy life.

 

[HiDHo]

Also I will defer to the wisdom of the 125 million voters in November to decide who can best manage the worlds largest business.
If I was inclined to waste my time, I would be actively debating who the next president of the United Nations will be.
As to the Corona Virus impact on businesses it might be interesting to see how much the sales of Corona beer has been effected instead of the cruise ship industry.

 

[Woodland Hills]

I saw that interview. never heard him suggest that people should go to work with corona virus. I did hear him say that there were more cases than reported, and some people with mild cases have probably gone to work. Funny how we hear what we want to hear.

I did not hear him firmly telling the sick to stay home until they recover. Doing that would’ve been leading the nation.

 

[psneeld]

I saw that interview. never heard him suggest that people should go to work with corona virus. I did hear him say that there were more cases than reported, and some people with mild cases have probably gone to work. Funny how we hear what we want to hear.

Just watched the clip....suggest everyone do that before they decide what he really said.....and wonder what was said not in the clip.

News clips like statistics often are twisted or out of context.

I really dont like that politics seem to be dragged into every conversation these days.

 

[CaptTom]

This is getting too political for me. Boating is supposed to be fun and even exciting at times. We can sit here, wringing our hands, lamenting how the world is going to hell in a hand basket or we can re-provision, take on fuel and water, then head out on a voyage. Put everyone on half-rations, go real slow and enjoy life.

Agreed. I'm finding it really, really hard not to debate the distortions coming from both sides of the political aisle, as well as both sides of the optimist/pessimist divide.

The real question is: What can we do about it? I suspect most of us will take reasonable steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones, then hang on for the ride. Just like every other day of our lives.

 

[OldDan1943]

Agreed. I'm finding it really, really hard not to debate the distortions coming from both sides of the political aisle, as well as both sides of the optimist/pessimist divide.

The real question is: What can we do about it? I suspect most of us will take reasonable steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones, then hang on for the ride. Just like every other day of our lives.

Yup, common sense and respect for others.

 

[Woodland Hills]

Back to cruise ships: Dr. Fauci recommended today that the elderly and those with underlying health conditions not go aboard cruise ships and for them to “think twice” before getting on an airplane.

The US Surgeon General today said that the average age of those dying was over 80 and that the average age of those hospitalized was over 60.

 

[FF]

"Dr. Fauci recommended today that the elderly and those with underlying health conditions not go aboard cruise ships and for them to “think twice” before getting on an airplane.


Will be interesting , the FAA tossed out the "cant fly as captain after age 60 rule " a few years back.


At least with a USA air line the co pilot wont have only 150 hours.

 

[FlyWright]

Let's keep the politics out of the Covid-19 discussions. Misquotes and inaccurate reporting does nothing to illuminate the facts. Let's all do our best to spread facts and avoid fiction and fallacies.

Thanks for your assistance in keeping this thread out of politics.

 

[Coyote65]

Have a cruise scheduled for the end of this month to the Gulf of California. Holland America just sent an email stating that we can cancel and get a credit for the cruise amount that can be applied to a future cruise. We will take advantage of that.

Terry

 

[slowgoesit]

Have a cruise scheduled for the end of this month to the Gulf of California. Holland America just sent an email stating that we can cancel and get a credit for the cruise amount that can be applied to a future cruise. We will take advantage of that.Terry

They didn't offer a refund?

 

[Larry M]

They didn't offer a refund?

The cruise is probably still happening but they give you the option to rebook or take another cruise? Similar to what the airlines are doing would be my guess.