I have been a travel agent for 8 years and the first thing I find consumers look at are the deck plans. They want to see where their room or category will be. This even applies to new cruisers.

Not all passengers have access to the internet at all times (some not at all). There is nothing like looking at a printed deck plan at your
convenience, not just when you are sitting in front of a computer.

Bad idea RCI .... sounds like some of your bean counters are at work again.

A crazy idea imho. I part memorise the plans so I know roughly my way about and where things are before boarding, just like I look at a map of any city or town I may be visiting, just so I have an idea of the layout and bearings before getting there.

Penny pinching to the extreme.

IT is not only penny pinching I think, it could also create confusion about the place and quality of cabins, when low fares are more prominently displayed, with, oh so coincidentally, pictures of suites placed besides this.
If this happens of course

Not very wise, I think

J

PS : I have the same problems with the RCI site as with Celebrity : impossibility to enter the site. I can enter the british site, but the link to the american site to "search a cruise" which is done on the american site, is invalid : "cannot find server".

I think it strange

Btw, guests is just one of the other filthy words cruise companies have come up with, what is wrong with calling them passengers, after all that is what they are! It seams cruise companies care less and less about anything nautical it is even still a wonder that they use floating things for housing their products.

If RCI (and other cruise companies) were smart enough to keep themselves busy with marketing their product then they would see the advantage of good deck plans. By sending people good deck plans in advance the cruise company is literally extending the vacation time. People are already enjoying the fun of exploring the ship making schedules with things to do long before their faction starts when they arrive on the ship for the first time.
The cruise product in general is such a fascinating thing that can generate innovative PR if in the hands of professional (graphic) designers.

Loads of people do not want to be too close to an elevator lobby, or under a show lounge, or next to a laundromat, or "across from that blank white space which might be a noisy pantry!" In fact, sometimes people pay more for the privilege of selecting their cabin than if they just chose a "guaranteed rate."

Basically what is happening is that their ships are getting so large, the deck plans cannot fit onto a single page anymore; already the cabin numbers are microscopic. I guess it's too big an expense to create a fold-out plan, so that the decks can be spread across 2 pages!

Rich

[ 07-13-2005: Message edited by: Linerrich ]

For me the deck plans and the photos of the cruise ships, outside and inside, are the most interesting things of a brochure... itineraries and prices apart

I can say that here in Italy RCI changes its " policy " regarding deck plans year after year.

RCI is the only major cruise group to have its own office here in Italy so their brochures aren't published via general sale agents.

They had a general sale agent many years ago, before the opening of RCI offices at Genoa.

In the brochures published in Early Nineties there was a single deck plan for each cruise ship. Only Majesty and Monarch of the Seas shared the same plan. The near sister Sovereign of the Seas had her own deck plans. The same for the former Song of Norway and Nordic Prince. The only disappointing thing was the fact that in those deck plans the upper decks of the larger ships weren't published... so on Sovereign, Majesty, Monarch, Nordic Empress, you missed the pool deck. The layout of the public lounges was showed in detail.

The brochures appeared in Late Nineties were disappointing... the deck plans were complete, but the layout of the public lounges was generic. RCI introduced also very small photos of their ships.

In 2003 RCI published a small brochures with their ships divided in just three classes: Radiance, Voyager and Legend !!! The four older ships in the fleet disappeared. The plans showed just the decks with cabins...

Since 2004 RCI has reintroduced generic deck plans, showing the public lounges, but still divided in classes. The Sovereign class reappeared but Nordic Empress/Empress of the Seas is still missed !

RCI subsidiary Celebrity Cruises had wonderful brochures, when she was still owned by the Chandris family.

quote:

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Originally posted by Onno:

Btw, guests is just one of the other filthy words cruise companies have come up with, what is wrong with calling them passengers,

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Onno, I believe this is a form of political correctness and this is disgusting. Just like in someone's infinate wisdom in trying to erraticate the word "man" from the english vocabulary, the lines now use the word crewmember becuase Mr. or Mrs. political correctness actually thinks the word "CREWMAN" actually is gender specific. The stupidity shows no signs of stopping. Yes...guests and crewmembers. There's a mark of education.

(1) Exterior shots to show that it is a SHIP you are going on and not a hotel or land resort. Some of these ships are actually quite pleasing to look at.

(2) Lots of interior pictures to show all that luxury, beauty, and amenities they brag about and what it is that 'seperates them from the other guys' type of mentality

(3) Pictures of passengers enjoying the shows, their meals, their lounges, having funor relaxing in and around the SHIP.

quote:

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Originally posted by dmwnc1:
Cruise lines have never been in the habit of putting destination pictures in their brochures of what it looks like when it is pouring down rain.

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quote:

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Originally posted by PamM:

It would be amusing to put together a brochure of what it can be in the worst possible cases. I am sure between us we could find photos of the most awful weather in some of the ports. A few pics of wave damage on ships, upturned interiors, heavy seas.. etc.

Pam

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OK, this made me laugh out loud so hard. Too funny!!! And I am sure it would be so much fun putting this brochure together, but we could never show it to potential "GUESTS", could we?

Cruise ships have so much to offer on the inside. When you visit a land-based resort, and it rains the whole week, youre stuck. But on a ship the options can be limitless. Show these options! THAT is what separates cruises from resorts. Use THAT as a marketing tool. Every cruise line can take you to that paradise tropical island, but here is what makes US unique and special. Here is what makes US the ship you want to pick...

SHOW 'Joe Public', the guy that says he 'aint goin on no ship', how incredible they are. Show the casinos, pools, gyms and spas, buffets and restaurants, theaters and bars, cigar lounges and pubs . THIS is what they care about.

I was a travel agent for 8 years and got the drift that 'Joe Public' is pretty much under the impression that one Caribbean island is pretty much like the next, just a different accent. It's the ship that makes the difference. Brand Loyalty is often tied to amenities. Not what the islands look like.

[ 07-13-2005: Message edited by: dmwnc1 ]

Somewhere in the overpaid administrative headshed, someone thought it was a good idea. To save money? how much? Where are the tradeoffs?

I dunno.

[ 07-14-2005: Message edited by: Cambodge ]

Please email me for the fax number if that is better for you.
eroller@msn.com

quote:

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Originally posted by eroller:
I'm actually trying to get a copy of the original fax that was sent from Royal Caribbean about the deck plans. If anyone (the OP or anyone else) could forward me a copy (fax or email) I would greatly appreciate it.

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I received a copy from someone on a different list ... so please disregard.