Frank,
I agree with everything you said.
I also feel that Apollo doesn't really get the concept that Radisson had a few years ago.
Wendy, i feel the rates are going up at an alarming pace, yet when I went on the Baltic cruise in August, there was no single supplement in any category (relatively last minute promotion.)
Obviously, those two things contradict each other.
What Apollo has to realize if, indeed, it has to be proven that profitability targets have to be met, they must figure in that the multi-million dollar renovations should be prorated over the length of time before they are needed again.
I would love to sail with them again, but at the rates (single) that they are presently charging for the services and product that is being offered, it is not worth it to me. Any cruise I have looked at for 2010 works out to between $800-11,000 per diem for a single at the lower end categories.
Lynn
PS I know this is rambling, but i couldn't get it to sound coherent.