Cruise Talk: EMPRESS OF THE SEAS -- Final Sailings

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»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Ships » EMPRESS OF THE SEAS -- Final Sailings

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Topic: EMPRESS OF THE SEAS -- Final Sailings

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 06-29-2007 07:54 PM

I've just received a flyer from Royal Caribbean announcing the final sailings of EMPRESS OF THE SEAS, which is leaving the RCI fleet in March, 2008. "Be a Part of History--EMPRESS OF THE SEAS is celebrating her final months in the Royal Caribbean fleet!"

In an obvious attempt to imitate Cunard's recent success in selling out QE2 for most of the next 17 months, this flyer is promoting the final sailings from Norfolk, Philadelphia, and San Juan.

Even with artificially created nostalgia and sense of history, I just don't think there will be quite the sentimental demand for the last sailings of this ship!

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

Jekyll
First Class Passenger
Member # 1878

posted 06-29-2007 08:51 PM

[ 06-29-2007: Message edited by: Jekyll ]

Posts: 1524 | From: Nowhere | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 06-30-2007 12:42 AM

My best bet is that she will go to Pullmantur?

I am a bit shock how quickly and close together cruise companies are announcing the departure of these small-midsized ship from the US market.

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

SalamisFiloxenia (Tom...)
First Class Passenger
Member # 6702

posted 06-30-2007 04:48 AM

i would like to see it go to thomson or another small company, ,many louis should start getting big ships now

Posts: 338 | From: weston super mare | Registered: Jun 2006 | IP: Logged

cruceromania
First Class Passenger
Member # 5195

posted 06-30-2007 05:21 AM

26.3.2007: RCI's Empress of the Seas to join Pullmantur fleet

Royal Caribbean International plans to transfer Empress of the Seas to Pullmantur, the Madrid-based cruise and tour operator that parent company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. purchased in November 2006. "Empress of the Seas is a wonderful ship that has served our brand well," said Adam Goldstein, president, Royal Caribbean International. "Thistransfer will help to increase Pullmantur's capacity and meet demand for its distinctive style of cruise holidays in the European market." The last voyage of Empress as part of the Royal Caribbean International fleet will be March 7, 2008. Guests booked on all sailings after this date will be contacted by Royal Caribbean International representatives to transfer existing reservations to similar accommodations onboard other Royal Caribbean ships. Empress of the Seas joined the Royal Caribbean fleet in June 1990 and was built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in St. Nazaire, France. She was refurbished in May 2004. The 48,563 gross ton ship has a double-occupancy guest capacity of 2,020.

Cruisebusiness

Posts: 91 | From: Spain | Registered: Nov 2004 | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 06-30-2007 07:04 AM

I've been getting lot's of "final farewell" emails lately. QE2, EMPRESS OF THE SEAS, and MARCO POLO. Cruise lines love to capitalize on beginnings and endings.

Ernie

Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

Rego007
First Class Passenger
Member # 4632

posted 06-30-2007 07:24 AM

Am I alone in thinking this could be bad news for Oceanic?

Rego007

Posts: 106 | From: Daytona Beach, FL USA | Registered: Apr 2004 | IP: Logged

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 06-30-2007 09:25 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Rego007:
Am I alone in thinking this could be bad news for Oceanic?
Rego007

I think this is paving the way for her departure--she'll only have a couple of years of service left before SOLAS 2010, and in spite of her popularity, she's more expensive to operate than the newer ships, which are also larger and bring in more revenue.

It'll be purely a business decision, but I hope that decision is delayed as long as possible. I'm booked to sail on OCEANIC this November and I'm dreading the notice that my booking will be transferred to a newer ship in her place!

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

Matts
First Class Passenger
Member # 4120

posted 06-30-2007 09:42 AM

Pullmantur have told the OLS that they expect Oceanic to be sailing next year. Along with Sky Wonder and Pacific. We await news of Oceanic II.

Posts: 829 | From: London, United Kingdom | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

soundsailor
First Class Passenger
Member # 4164

posted 07-01-2007 09:49 PM

I had the pleasure and certainly was honoured to be able to work aboard the beautiful ms Nordic Empress. It will be sad to watch her leave a successful cruise line just to join a lesser but popular outfit. At least she will live on and will continued to be loved by passengers and crew.

[ 07-02-2007: Message edited by: soundsailor ]

Posts: 150 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

mike sa
First Class Passenger
Member # 5957

posted 07-02-2007 03:17 AM

It is interesting to see how some companies treat 2nd hand tonnage, Fred Olsen for instance really brand the ships as their own spending a good amount refitting and refurbishing to achieve their own image, Pullmantur don't even change the name (with the exception of Oceanic II) they just seem to go with what is already on board and give them a quick paint job externally, thus there is no real brand image, you could wander through any of their ships and as long as you didn't go ashore and look back at her you wouldn't know you were sailing on a Pullmantur ship, while in the short term this will of course save money in the longer term when there is more direct competition this may prove to be a false saving, as competition increases you need to present the market with a product that is distinctive and that the public can buy into, they will not be the only Spanish cruise line for long.

Posts: 2272 | From: Durban, South Africa | Registered: Sep 2005 | IP: Logged

r.fiebig
First Class Passenger
Member # 5240

posted 07-02-2007 03:34 AM

quote:
Originally posted by mike sa:
Pullmantur don't even change the name (with the exception of Oceanic II)

Mike,

well, with the exception of "Oceanic" and "Zenith" they did rename all of their ships.

Best,

Raoul

Posts: 775 | From: Paderborn, Germany | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 07-02-2007 10:30 AM

quote:
Originally posted by soundsailor:
[...] It will be sad to watch her leave a successful cruise line just to join a lesser but popular outfit. [...]

Why lesser?

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

soundsailor
First Class Passenger
Member # 4164

posted 07-02-2007 11:28 PM

Originally posted by Ernst: [QB] Why lesser?
Sorry, bad choice of words. I should have noted that I am sad to see her leave the Caribbean, as now, I probably will not see her again.

Posts: 150 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

Fairsky
First Class Passenger
Member # 781

posted 07-03-2007 09:51 AM

Ok, let's take a look at the Pullmantur fleet for a second and the origin of their ships:

Oceanic (former Premier/Home)
Holiday Dream (former Star)
Sky Wonder (former Princess/Sitmar)
Zenith (former Celebrity)
Pacific (former Princess)
Empress of the Seas (former Royal Caribbean)
Pacific Sun (former Carnival)

That has got to be the most ecclectic fleet in the industry. Its a dumping ground for older ships rivaled only by Alang.

With Carnival Corp moving into the Spanish market RCI has its work cut out for it with Pullmantur. They need a unified brand identity starting with consistant ship names, iconography, and onboard service.

Posts: 1685 | From: Chicago, Illinois | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 07-03-2007 10:19 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Fairsky:
[...]
That has got to be the most ecclectic fleet in the industry. Its a dumping ground for older ships rivaled only by Alang.[...]

Only rivaled by Alang? There are some quite nice ships in this fleet. Zenith and Holiday Dream ex Europa are not bad at all. Not the freshest ships - but e.g. the standard cabins of Holiday Dream are still amongst the best in the industry. (...beside that they do not have balconies...)

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

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