i don't know why i thought this might be interesting, but with such a diverse group here career wise atleast, i thought i would ask...... if you were Marc Conroy, what would you change/do to make Radisson even better than it is???? You know they pay people for this kind of stuff.....

i would...... clear up this mailing list snaffu, there has got to be a way to make sure everyone gets EVERYTHING.
if this has been posted before forgive me, just thought it might be fun.....
Cindy

I'd put Brown & Keene in charge.

---------

Eugene

I wonder--I used to get all kinds of mail from RSSC, on my yahoo mail account. I went there and checked just now, and my Seven Seas Society mailing were there, but were marked as Spam, so were put into the Junk folder. Are you all sure that some Spam filter is not working too hard for you?

If I were Mark Conroy, I'd be on MUSH! What a ready made group of RSSC devotees who are perfect for a focus group.

he will be on the PG repositioning cruise as you know. i wish more of you were going........

If I were Mark Conroy, I think I would branch out to some more interesting itineraries, for the summer cruises. More Med, but not the same old ports, for example. Maybe a cruise around the British Isles as a change from the Baltic? And for winter, more Central America, Costa Rica, Belize, places like that.

If I were Mark Conroy I'd make every Radisson cruise liquor all inclusive 24/7 so there weren't so many of us contemplating/planning to cruise on Silversea when deep down we love Radisson.

Good thread Cindy!

Absolutely..........if they can do it for even the segments on the WC, maybe it IS possible?????
Cindy

If you make it liquor inclusive, it should be all inclusive...including excursions, spa, laundry and caviar with a credit of a certain amount to be spent individually. It would be great to have NO bill at the end. Some passengers drink, some spa, some caviar, some like to get off the ship and do things. By offering only one of these options, you would not satisfy all.

You'd still have to sign, but it would be offset to a credit.

I would clarify Radisson's positioning. If Radisson is truly "luxury goes exploring", the company ought to develop more interesting itineraries with more multiple overnights in the particularly interesting locations. In addition, I'd look into offering more 10-12 night itineraries. And of course, they need to make up their minds on whether to go truly all-inclusive. Radisson is going to get crushed in the middle. Oceania is solving a number of interesting problems from beneath (not the same level of luxury and service but better itineraries in terms of destinations and length) and Silversea is going to come in from above with a more luxurious product that goes to the same places. Being in the middle is a terrible place to be as the consumer markets become increasingly "hour-glass" in configuration with consumers looking for either the best value OR the best product. I think this is pretty much common knowledge to most people at this point. As others have said, Oceania and Silversea right now look like very good alternatives because Radisson's attempt at a "goldilocks" positioning is not scratching the most urgent itches that a lot of people probably have.

Sedona,
With regards to Marcies post, in going just all inclusive liquor, they would be in direct competition with silverseas, as Silverseas does not offer spa or excursions at no additional charge. The caviar on SS is nice, but it's hard for me to imagine this alone being a deal breaker. It is nice though!!!

Also adding to MArcie's post. For us, all inclusive would be nice. However, it is not a deal breaker or maker. We chose Silversea next year because of the locations visited.

I would do as Lawrence suggested and improve the locales visited.

Anthony

You're right, Lawrence. More longer stays in interesting ports with two days to explore!

Yes, itinerary is the main thing we look at. Liquor just isn't that important in our lives. The 2007 WC is offering some new and interesting ports with three being virgin to Rad.

I agree with Lawrence - but I am all for all inclusive too- frankly, for what we all pay for a Radisson cruise I think drinks should be included - good thread Cindy!!!

The all-inclusive aspect of cruising is important to us, it seems. One of the reasons why the Song of Flower (in my mind) is still my favorite ship. (Her small size is also special.) I agree with Lawrence that longer cruises should be investigated along with overnights in spectacular cities. One more thing: love those sea days. On my Baltic cruise this summer I had to come home to rest. Port intensive cruises wear me out.

If I were Mark Conroy I would:

1. Be sure to have my marketing/sales directors read the LCT Board every day.

2. Pay B & K for the free advice.

3. Add more 10-12 day itineraries.

4. Add more interesting routes (Less repeats of the same itinerary.)

5. Add the ability to book Bon Voyage gifts on-line prior to departure.

6. Make the one of the SSS benefits the ability to upgrade your suite (similar to FF miles).

7. Figure out a way to do weddings at sea.

That's it.

Excellent thread by the way!!

1. Be sure to have my marketing/sales directors read the LCT Board every day.

Great suggestion and that is why I thought Lawrence's post was so good -

agree with Island Girl's #5. Last year when Gil went on mint, I had the darndest time trying to figure out how to send a bon voyage gift to him. I had to finally call Julie.

it is hard to believe someone wouldnt' atleast check in occasionally.....if i had a way to listen to my customers talk about me????? i would consider it a gift. wow... i loved Lawrences post as well. so well said.

Good thread Cindy and I am sure that someone at RSSC is reading this. They do read it quite frequently. My list.

1. All inclusive of alcohol.

2. Add more new ports. Even one new port can make an itinerary more appealing even if you have done most of the ports before.

3. Less changes - more consistency. Onboard booking policy changes so much you cant keep up.

4. Get a company to straighten out the mailing list. Better communciation through RSSC web site of upcoming events.

5. Speed up brochures and upcoming itineraries (delighted with the world cruise coming out early maybe a sign of good things to come)

6. GREAT idea on the bon voyage gifts on line.

7. Yes, more 10 - 12 day itineraries. 7 is short but 14 can be too long.

8. On 10+ night cruises an overnight stay for the first day and/or the last day of the cruise is a real plus. Allows you to see the two ports without the hassle of a hotel stay. Plus takes all the stress out of having to fly in a day early and on disembarkation you can catch a plane home EARLY the day of departure. Often making getting home in one day feasible.

9. I definitely think upgrades within the society program is a big plus. Just as the airline FF program works this is a wonderful perk. Possibly confirmation up front for more points or space available for less points.

You all have great ideas.

Wonder if he will be on the entire cruise?? that is a long time, but i guess he needs a break like all of us. i hope he doesn't hang over the balcony with his blackberry like my husband (trying not to get caught) last year he nearly dropped it......
Cindy

You will enjoy meeting Marc Conroy. He is a very down to earth person and very approachable. I have always found him to be incredibly forthcoming and honest.

Like Wendy mentioned earlier, we also like the overnights. 2 days to explore is wonderful. Nice list Ngaire, i don't think you will get ONE person to disagree, and well i guess you would know what we want. We have so many sea days on this Jan cruise we may even kill the room bottles for the first time!!!! that is alot of balcony coctails.
cindy

I hope he reads this thread - we love Radisson but are more than willing to try SS for ports and price and all inclusive !!

once we tried it last year, as much as we are dying for our PG trip, it will be missed!!! you just feel so cheezy signing that chit.........maybe its just me. Reminds me of that 7th ring of hell trip with the boys when they were like 8 on the big red boat.........memories.........

We have several couples going on Mush they are shocked they have to buy their drinks - we'll see how this plays out

Thanks Ngaire, we look forward to it. I have heard good things about him from his employees.
(on the ship).

I have another to add after looking at the new brochure: hang on to the affordable single supplement. There's no single supplement listed for the WC and the South America---and I'm willing to bet it's not because a single just pays the per person price listed! It not only costs them the single cruisers for those big ones, but makes people like me who'd like to do a WC some day feel the need to venture into the competition to sample them to see if I want to eventually commit to a lengthy cruise with them.

Actually Crystal they are showing the single supplement at 30% for 2007 world cruise BUT after 12/15/05 it may become double. It did in 2006. Was available early and then went away.

Cindy,

This is a super thread that has brought up some great suggestions that hopefully RSSC will consider.

I would like to add one, if I may. We all sing the praises of Radisson to our friends and family. I'd like to see our word of mouth recognized by RSSC. If we refer someone, who then books a cruise, I'd be thrilled to receive some kind of reward/incentive for that referral. Maybe a voucher (good for whatever) that could be used on either an existing booking or future cruise.

I would like to add one, if I may. We all sing the praises of Radisson to our friends and family. I'd like to see our word of mouth recognized by RSSC. If we refer someone, who then books a cruise, I'd be thrilled to receive some kind of reward/incentive for that referral. Maybe a voucher (good for whatever) that could be used on either an existing booking or future cruise.

Alleluia Denise!!!!!!

As so many before have stated I would like to see alcohol included. We don't even drink that much. It just seems to make it a happier and more social setting. I prefer all inclusive resorts as well. If it works for Silver Seas it should work for RSSC. Their prices seem to be about the same.We would like to plan a Silver Seas cruise after our PARTY cruise.

Dont think you will ever see a referral bonus situation. The problem lies in logistics and cost of administering something like that and even clearly defining the referring source. Often several people feel they referred someone and in the end it can get to where more people get upset than are pleased.

I used to do that for my personnel business which is a lot easier to manage and far more definable. It became a nightmare. What I thought was a good idea turned into a real problem. Can only imagine how complicated that would be for a big company like RSSC.

EXTRAS :eek: - With fuel prices skyrocketing, supply prices rising, don't be surprised if you don't see fares increasing 100% :eek: in the near future

Great thread Cindy.
I think all inclusive cocktails would be great and definetly longer cruises than 7 days.. who the heck wants to fly all the way to Europe for 7 days?
IMHO ofcourse..

I agree with Lawrence's post, gotta try Silverseas!
But, sort of disagree Lawrence when you say:
"Oceania is solving a number of interesting problems from beneath (not the same level of luxury and service but better itineraries in terms of destinations and length)".

Since I may be the only one who has cruised them alot, and I am sorry I am always bringing them up.. but hey .. I gotta tell you they are very luxurious.. their ships are gorgeous , they have butlers, gorgeous suites, fabulous food.... if they poured wines ( free) at dinner and allowed smoking on their balconies I am sure many of you would agree.. makes me very
curious what you guys define luxury to mean as far as cruise ships.
So perhaps new thread what is luxurious to me re: cruise ship.

If they are going to crate a loyalty program based on sailing days, then one of the choices should be all inclusive. I'd rather have free drinks in the lounges, no in-room bottles, instead of a category upgrade.

Can't disagree with any of the suggestions brought up to date. Love them all! I also agree that 10 day cruises would fit the bill quite nicely for us as well!

Masaki

Well, I'm doing my first 10-day cruise next June, we'll see. I may get hooked on being on board permanently! But a 7-day European cruise is great for us, allows us to use it as "punctuation" for land trips, which we also enjoy.

Cindy, it's not just you--it is cheesey. I remember sitting on deck on the Diamond, docked at Piraeus, relaxing, and David flinching when he had to sign a chit for his beer--in fact he used the same word, "cheesey". I know the non-drinkers will protest, always, but we could do without the in-room setup to make up for it.

I read somewhere that the all inclusive adds to the social aspect of the cruise. i totally agree. OK, it may tax the bartenders a bit more, but i will tell you i spent less time on the balcony ordering shrimp!!!
Wendy, the one that kills us is paying big bucks for a glass of chardonney with our fish buffet lunch, when a few hours later it is being poured.
Cindy