Richard,

When I was on Navigator this past summer they would charge in the bars $7 for a generic white wine. Their cost for that glass of wine was probably around $1. There were days( I must confess :D ) that I had a couple of glasses of wine after dinner. That's $12 profit right there.

The new ship will have 700 passenger capability, not rooms. Mr. Conroy mentioned one of the issues was the exchange rate with the Euro. Previous ships have been built in Europe but the exchange rate was previously more favorable. Currently the $ to Euro is not as good which adds more $ to the ship price. This is partially responsible for the delay for the new ship.

One more point Mr. Conroy mentioned, fuel costs have tripled recently ($100 per ton of fuel to about $300), this is the reason for the fuel surcharge. He said fuel previously accounted for 3% of their operating costs and in 2005 it was 8%.

David and Cindy (this is a David post) hey i've got him on!!! -C

We're going to be on Navigator March 7. I'm picturing us dropping anchor mid-ocean so a barge can pull up and paint over the name on the hull.

I didn't feel like a 'guest' on Crystal when I had to sign chits for drinks. It was particularly annoying because I was sailing with a group of twelve. They also had obnoxious plastic drink advertisments on the tables on the deck and the Lido grill a la Dennys. This is why I have never went back on Crystal and have yet to sail Radisson. Although I really want to try Radisson, I like the ambience of all-inclusive, so I'll "vote with my feet" and stay with Seabourn and Silversea for now.

Cindy and David, Can I ask for a comment on what has taken place in the refurb, how do you rate the changes? Did you get to inspect the new aft cabins on 7 deck re size etc. Thanks in advance.

If you go to www.regenthotels.com and look
at the hotel chain's logo, that will probably
be what the new RSSC cruiseline logo will be.

Just guessing.

see sic (Randy)

Don,
No, we've not been able to see the cabins as the ship is full. We can't compare really, as this is our first time on the PG. The new carpeting and softgoods are really nice. If we get to see them, we will let you know!!!
cindy and David

I'm with you, Marcie, I don't understand the need to change the harp logo. I really like it. And, believe it or not, after our first Radisson cruise, we came home and realized for the first time that our dining room chairs (antique) have the harp logo on the chair back! So, cruising is ALWAYS on my mind, now!

Charlene

The buz is that ALL RSSC ships on all cruises (not just the WC) will be all inclusive beginning 2007. Guess we'll find out if this is fact or rumor??

Maybe I should start a petition to keep the Harp logo :D ....I could sure get a lot of supporters here on the Mariner right now!

please do. as an artist the R logo is just plain bad design

Marcie, start another petition to change the all inclusive policy when they change the name, I don't want to wait til 2007!!

Hi all,
One more thing we discovered. It would appear that the new rooms added on 7 aft are single rooms specifically for single travelers. I think staff are staying in them now and possibly entertainers. We have also heard from people in the know (over coctails of course) that the line will almost certainly go all inclusive. We have had so many coctail parties, it almost seems like it is now. Having a great time. We are celebrating our second Thursday, as we crossed the dateline after Tonga. Talk to you soon!!
Cindy and David

Good to hear from you, Cindy and David. thanks for the extra info & enjoy Thursday the second time around! Cheers, Anne

Cindy and David: Keep having fun - I am just catching up - we, too, had parties BUT it still annoyed me to pay $7 for a drink considering what we had spent for the cruise - Joanna

Joannapv:

I read it that Cindy and David are writing about "open bar" cocktail parties -- of which the PG has always had more than the other Radisson ships. And I do feel some comfort in Cindy and David's accounts of the investments being made on the PG, even though I don't really agree with some of changes to the ship. It may mean that the PG will be around for a while, and that is good!

And I totally agree that Radisson should adopt "open bar" rather immediately.

Thanks,
Richard