The Cruise Junkie

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2020/09/11/odyssey-of-the-seas-construction-photo-update-september-11-2020
 

Aqua Theater Emoji Sunset picture...at 5 o'clock

There's only one ship that still offers the AquaTheater Emoji Sunset picture. 

Still 5 o'clock...

This is exactly what I needed.  

A couple of sea days to relax and unwind on a transatlantic on the way to Spain.  
I think it's 5 o'clock.  

This stop in Juneau has been great but exhausting.  I think I need a few sea days to recover.  Let's see what the Royal transporter crew can come up with.  
Until then here are some final visuals of Juneau from various stops there:





Explorer of the Seas in Juneau.






Radiance departing Juneau.

Updated as of today.

As we approach the crowds thicken and the weather starts to improve.

Time to hop into NorthStar.

Coming out of warp... 

... we find ourselves approaching Hubbard Glacier.

Has anyone seen/heard any updates or info from the Health Panel?  I thought there was supposed to be something "delivered" in late August?

Here is a in depth look at the interesting agreement form the government of St. Kitts to two vison class ships.
https://zizonline.com/the-government-of-st-kitts-and-nevis-approves-safe-harbour-for-two-royal-caribbean-vessels/
 
 

Pictures are great but here is a quick video.
 
 

The main purpose of tonight's trip up the extinct volcano is for the sunset.

Today's excursion will involve heavy winter coats in Hawaii: 

But it will be worth it.

We have arrived in Maui.




I spotted a place to quench my thirst.

It was after all... 5 o'clock.

Sunset as we make our way to Maui tomorrow.

I'm on one of my favorite ships! It's Ovation of the Seas and I'm in Hawaii!

I did get some rather strange looks from fellow guests when I asked where we were.  We're sailing past Hawaii's Nā Pali coast and I arrived just in time.
 

I usually like to do check out the nature walks.  I see they added hand washing stations like on CocoCay.



This is where I get the best pictures of the ship du jour.

Continuing on...


Looks like they are set up for a ceremony today.

Not really sure. Different fleet size is definitely a factor but so is median age.  Much of Carnival's fleet is smaller and older.  
With the introduction of mega sized ships Royal grew more efficient in terms of revenue per passenger carried.  Smaller fleet but with bigger ships, Royal has been achieving better revenue performance on a relative basis.  For every mega ship Royal has at sea, Carnival needs somewhere between two to three ships to carry the same numbers, passengers and revenue.
Now remove the guests and move into a mode of maintaining and operating a fleet at reduced crew levels.  That's still a Captain per ship, a senior bridge crew per ship,  marine departments per ship, security teams per ship.  Dock fees, fuel minimums, operating certificates, etc. all on a per ship basis.  The highest paid crew positions are still required while many of the lowest paid positions have been sent home. 
The cost to maintain a smaller ship during these times may be slightly lower that the cost to maintain a mega sized ship but at absolute minimums there is a floor that is reached, a minimum operating cost that any ship requires regardless of size.  That extra two to three ships per million in passenger revenue starts to bite them very hard. 
There are also fewer brands so fewer high priced executive teams running each brand.   Royal Caribbean International, the flagship brand operates around the world.  Carnival as in the red whale tail brand that is the flagship primarily operates only in North America.  Carnival Australia is a completely different organization from a corporate structure perspective sharing only the name and whale tail, it's almost like yet another Carnival brand.  For other regions Carnival operates another brand such as P&O, AIDA, Costa for example.  Like ships there are floor costs to operate each brand using the corporate structure that Carnival uses.   For each brand there are presidents and senior vice presidents, etc. - the highest priced positions.
I also think corporate culture starts to creep in as a factor which underlie the revenue performance and revenue efficiency that was experienced during the good times in the decades leading up to this point.  That's hard to quantify in exact numbers.  During the good times the cost of Carnival's corporate culture and inefficiency was masked by the fists full of dollars coming in.  Stripped of passenger revenue and forced to operate at minimums we see it more plainly.   

Here is a in depth look at the interesting agreement form the government of St. Kitts to two vison class ships.
https://zizonline.com/the-government-of-st-kitts-and-nevis-approves-safe-harbour-for-two-royal-caribbean-vessels/
 
 

Sounds like they found a place for a form of cold layup for these two ships.  This was eluded to recently during an investor's call.  Park the ships with minimum crewing to support the basic ongoing upkeep while minimizing demand on ship systems.  
The ship and crew effectively become part of the local society like they are in a building.  This greatly reduces operating costs over the months to come which further helps the company make it even longer.
Great news.  Let's hope for no tropical systems for them to deal with.

Here is a in depth look at the interesting agreement form the government of St. Kitts to two vison class ships.
https://zizonline.com/the-government-of-st-kitts-and-nevis-approves-safe-harbour-for-two-royal-caribbean-vessels/
 
 

Down the hill to my destiny.

Sneak peak through the trees.  Even with the clouds Alaska is beautiful.

Who needs coffee in the morning?

The bus ride up the mountain starts with seeing some local deer right outside the port.


It didn't take long for the pavement to end and the free back massage began (a.k.a. dirt road in an old bus).

With my head above the clouds our driver stops to take in the majestic vista.

What a great view!  At least I imagine it could be on a nicer day...

On this chilly and misty morning I decided the forgo the coffee and wake up with adrenaline.  My morning shot awaits at the other end of these zip line cables.