CruisinForABruisin 397 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 https://www.tradewindsnews.com/cruise-and-ferry/royal-caribbean-sells-empress-of-the-seas-to-undisclosed-buyer/2-1-860002 cruisellama and DunkelBierJay 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jjohnb 88 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 Hmmm, and yet on July 31st, Royal Caribbean, when asked about the Empress responded "Empress is not headed to the scrap yard, she’s still a part of the Royal Caribbean fleet." The responses we get from RC's public relations department and on their earnings call may not always be 100% accurate. Greg787 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FManke 2,608 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 If this is true, it will be interesting to see when she leaves the fleet, since you can still book a cruise on her through Dec 2021. ehw51 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedNoodles 4,692 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 I refuse to believe it until @Matt can confirm it. #totaldenial Ogilthorpe, Matt, ehw51 and 3 others 4 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CruisinForABruisin 397 Posted August 19, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 3 minutes ago, FManke said: If this is true, it will be interesting to see when she leaves the fleet, since you can still book a cruise on her through Dec 2021. In the fine print, it says the cruise will be virtual RickinSTL, ehw51 and coneyraven 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WAAAYTOOO 11,981 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 I just booked an Empress cruise yesterday (Nov 2020) with the intent of L&S it to Odyssey in Dec. 21. Guess I'll find out soon how that works out !! ehw51, SpeedNoodles and DunkelBierJay 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FManke 2,608 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 7 minutes ago, CruisinForABruisin said: In the fine print, it says the cruise will be virtual What is that supposed to mean? How can you sell a virtual cruise? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedNoodles 4,692 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 2 minutes ago, FManke said: What is that supposed to mean? How can you sell a virtual cruise? I think he's kidding. ehw51, WAAAYTOOO, Jjohnb and 1 other 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CruisinForABruisin 397 Posted August 19, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 5 minutes ago, FManke said: What is that supposed to mean? How can you sell a virtual cruise? When you're losing $300 million a month, you do crazy things Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FManke 2,608 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 3 minutes ago, SpeedNoodles said: I think he's kidding. With the state of affairs lately, who knows? Income is income! As can de attested here, there are some pretty desperate cruisers! ehw51 and SpeedNoodles 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FManke 2,608 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 If that's the case, I'd like to book the virtual UDP, please! ehw51 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Greg787 18 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 I'm trying to come up with how to pull that off: All entertainment shows would be via a private Zoom link. All meals are preshipped to your house a la Blue Apron You receive bedding, toiletries, and chocolates for the pillows each day via UPS. You also get an inflatable pool sent to your house that you have to fill up. What else can everyone come up with... RickinSTL, ellcee, Kayleigh and 1 other 2 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FManke 2,608 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 6 minutes ago, FManke said: If that's the case, I'd like to book the virtual UDP, please! I know that they only have Chops, but I'm going to virtually add other restaurants! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FManke 2,608 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 6 minutes ago, Greg787 said: I'm trying to come up with how to pull that off: All entertainment shows would be via a private Zoom link. All meals are preshipped to your house a la Blue Apron You receive bedding, toiletries, and chocolates for the pillows each day via UPS. You also get an inflatable pool sent to your house that you have to fill up. What else can everyone come up with... Getting to and from the ship should be easy enough. Greg787 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twangster 26,691 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 44 minutes ago, Jjohnb said: Hmmm, and yet on July 31st, Royal Caribbean, when asked about the Empress responded "Empress is not headed to the scrap yard, she’s still a part of the Royal Caribbean fleet." The responses we get from RC's public relations department and on their earnings call may not always be 100% accurate. On July 31st that was an accurate response. It's now almost three weeks later. Even if they had ongoing negotiations with a potential buyer on July 31st they wouldn't release that news publically, that's pretty standard in the corporate world. What if the buyer and seller couldn't come to terms? They would never state something that isn't a completed deal. Until the ink has been signed to paper it isn't a completed sale and should the deal never materialize they wouldn't want to influence the industry or a competitor also negotiating a sale of one of their own ships. RCVoyager, Greg787, Matt and 3 others 5 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jjohnb 88 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 47 minutes ago, FManke said: If this is true, it will be interesting to see when she leaves the fleet, since you can still book a cruise on her through Dec 2021. Carnival continued to accept bookings on the Fantasy right up to the ship arriving in Aliaga, Turkey to be scrapped. The unfortunate truth is it's liquidity for the cruise companies, they'll accept you cash deposit as long as they can and then hope you choose to accept a future cruise credit after they admit the ship is no longer in the fleet. crisgold52 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
princevaliantus 1,376 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 Just goes to show that at this point, you cannot trust Royal Caribbean with anything INCLUDING but not limited to announcing cancellations. I, for one, have joined the growing list of NOT booking any cruises UNTIL it is up and running! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jjohnb 88 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 12 minutes ago, twangster said: On July 31st that was an accurate response. It's now almost three weeks later. Even if they had ongoing negotiations with a potential buyer on July 31st they wouldn't release that news publically, that's pretty standard in the corporate world. What if the buyer and seller couldn't come to terms? They would never state something that isn't a completed deal. Until the ink has been signed to paper it isn't a completed sale and should the deal never materialize they wouldn't want to influence the industry or a competitor also negotiating a sale of one of their own ships. That's exactly my point! I live in the corporate world, what we say on earnings calls, in 10-Q/K filings and via PR responses are always guarded, vague and open ended. All I'm saying is when we saw the Empress sailing to Malta three weeks ago we shouldn't be so naive as to accept RC's response that nothing is happening. princevaliantus 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedNoodles 4,692 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 28 minutes ago, crisgold52 said: He is not an employee and any one of us can have the same access he has by having our own contacts at RCL as well. Really? I had NO IDEA. Thank you for this information. Okgladgal, Lovetocruise2002, Jax and 13 others 16 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lovetocruise2002 11,285 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 22 minutes ago, crisgold52 said: He is not an employee and any one of us can have the same access he has by having our own contacts at RCL as well. If multiple media sites confirm it then it's only logical we go with that. He makes many predictions and informs but so can us on this forum. However it's also a fan forum and many of us can be insiders as much as he can except the general theme is he knows more than we do while in retrospect we can also know as much as each other do. Clearly you are not familiar with @Matt Hochberg in the "cruise world". Perhaps you should get the facts straight before making assumptions. Fuzzywuzzy, ehw51, FManke and 7 others 3 1 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FManke 2,608 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 8 minutes ago, crisgold52 said: He is not an employee and any one of us can have the same access he has by having our own contacts at RCL as well. If multiple media sites confirm it then it's only logical we go with that. He makes many predictions and informs but so can us on this forum. However it's also a fan forum and many of us can be insiders as much as he can except the general theme is he knows more than we do while in retrospect we can also know as much as each other do. I can't believe @crisgold52has such little faith in our Supreme Leader! All Hail @Matt! Jax, ehw51, Lovetocruise2002 and 5 others 8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Matt 11,492 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 15 minutes ago, crisgold52 said: If multiple media sites confirm it then it's only logical we go with that. Not all media sites are the same, and some have no issues reporting on rumors without any confirmation or research. What I post on RoyalCaribbeanBlog reflects on me and my reputation, and I wont post rumors until there is strong evidence behind it. The rumors of Empress may end up being right at some point, but I need more to run on than "unnamed sources" by the same website that said Cunard and Seabourn were sold last month when they were not. Boston Babe, WanderPam, Jax and 19 others 18 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jaredhamburg 232 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 31 minutes ago, Matt said: Not all media sites are the same, and some have no issues reporting on rumors without any confirmation or research. What I post on RoyalCaribbeanBlog reflects on me and my reputation, and I wont post rumors until there is strong evidence behind it. The rumors of Empress may end up being right at some point, but I need more to run on than "unnamed sources" by the same website that said Cunard and Seabourn were sold last month when they were not. I think a lot of cruise sites are publishing anything to get views and keep going. I like your posts lately that keep cruise interest going through history and other information, without publishing vague rumors. Your work is appreciated! Ogilthorpe, JLMoran, Lovetocruise2002 and 8 others 7 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Matt 11,492 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 And the answer is....Empress has not been sold! https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2020/08/19/no-royal-caribbean-still-has-not-sold-empress-of-the-seas cruisellama, Jmccaffrey, Jax and 13 others 8 4 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cruisellama 778 Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 It was still part of the fleet at earnings call. Just need to ink the deal after the call. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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