jhp:

I don't think you understand my frustration here. I personally emailed Radisson about the cost (lost revenue) to Radisson that would result from all inclusive "open bar". They replied with the figures of $15 per day pp. So I then went on what I will admit was a bit of a "crusade" for open bar at a fare increase of $15 per day pp.

But then, when I finally suceeded (?????) in my crusade for open bar, I find that the cost was FAR more than the $15 per day per person I was quoted. And now, two years later, I cannot find the email where that figure was stated to me. (who keeps such things?) And now, I feel like I was made to be the fool! I feel that a corporation used my zeal and affinity for their product to cause me to mislead my fellow cruisers to endorse a change, on false pretenses, that would ultimately be to their detriment in the form of much higher pricing than what was represented to me.

In '03, I approached the matter of a change to all inclusive with Radisson and on the boards based upon these assumptions: (1) at that time, Radisson was losing money because most of their ships were sailing at less that 1/2 full, (2) open bar would be attractive to cruisers, and an increase of Radisson's stated $15 per day pp would not deter many cruisers and would attract many and fill ships, and (3) Radisson could (regardless of other inflationary factors) always undercut Silversea and Seabourn due to the economy inherent in its larger ships.

I believe we all have to be responsible for what we post on boards. I posted that we could have an "all inclusive" Radisson for an aditional $15 per day pp. That is what Radisson represented to me via email. Now, that has proven to be most untrue, and I feel that I have been left "hanging out on the line" due to what was misrepresented to me. In the end, what we have now is a Radisson that has become unaffordable to many who would have really liked it, as I represented it.

At this point, I feel that my zeal for the
Radisson product, and how it might be improved, was used and abused by Radisson's corporation, so that I would mislead present and potential Radisson cruisers as to what an "all inclusive" Radisson would cost. And now, that the REAL cost has been announced, that corporation has made me look like a fool and a liar. And I do not like that at all.

Here in Oklahoma, I've seen and been a part of $million oil deals consumated by a handshake --- and regardless of the outcome, nobody ever denied that the deal was made. It is in this context that I express my disgust at Radisson's representation to me that all inclusive would cost us only $15 per day pp, and the fact that the corporation he represtented totally failed to live up to the deal, while using me as the "intermediary" to taut this deal to my friends.

I have always tried to avoid posting anything negative about the PERSON of any poster, on this board or any other. I hope I never done so. But suffice it to say that it would not be a wise move for Radisson to come knocking at my front door at this moment. I feel that they have made a misrepresentation to me, and that he has used me. It is best for him that we never meet.

Please understand,
Richard