Now that we have polling capability with more than five choices, I can ask a question about children. This is just to let us all know a little more about ourselves as a group.

I voted "Kids grown and out of the house, but came back" but this is after she graduated from college in June so hopefully....this won't be forever!

Marcie, We did too. But she thinks we run a free, classy hotel like a RSSC on ground(maid service, free food, beverage, stocked bar, CD player, stereo, DVD, VCR, TV, etc).

Not a bad deal for a kid making almost half of what I'm making!!

Marc,

You left off the choice of having none of my own, but having been married only to "two previously used husbands" - I inherited theirs. And thankfully we moved out of the house and there is no room here for them to return here. Spending their inheritance on RSSC!

I voted not now not ever as I have had that firmly planted in my mind for years. Way too selfish I suppose. But that's not the entire truth as Paul has a son from a prior, shall we say, entanglement. The kid lives in VT but is going thru that rebelious teen thing (and the mother can't cope) so the little urchin may wind up on my doorstep. But that'd be okay. Can you say military school?

We are trying to maintain that delicate balance between offering our two a "safe haven" and still hving them understand that moving out is supposed to be (as my Dad explained to me) a "diode move." ;)

My answer was none not now not ever because I never got around to that when I was young enough to have kids without killing myself. I'm now enough over 40 that I will content myself with a step-daughter, and so far one nephew - to be joined by other neices and/or nephews in the future.....
For those of you with reurning offspring - there is hope! I was a returnee to my folks house at age 30ish - longer story than you want to read. Saved up enough money for a down payment on a house of my own, and thanks to that solid start have never had to move back in since.

I'm another one of those "Not now, not ever" folks. I like children, heck I teach, though I'm not a classroom teacher. Other people's children are better for me, in small doses. It is much better to enjoy them and ship them home. I find it a thrill and an honor to have a student call me "mom".

Beth

Thanks for all the answers. I voted in the not now not ever category. I hadn't realize that so many of us have never had kids. I thought it would be under 25% (I am assuming that those allergic to kids have not had any).

So I again ask, if we are Radisson's bread and butter, why are they going after families with kids instead of more of us?

marc,
I truly don't know the answer to your question, but with the board's indulgence, I'm willing to make a guess.
- There's been a lot of very good discussion about price sensitivity in the luxury cruise business on the cc boards and I suspect most of us have read that.
- With that in mind, it seems reasonable (to me anyway <img border="0" alt="[Hammer]" title="" src="graemlins/hammer.gif" /> ) that RSSC might be trying to capture the "Young Affluents" who still have kids at home. If a sizable share of those in say their 30s could be "captured" now; RSSC would have a cash flow established for maybe 40 years.
- It really is the same marketing strategy pusher/dealers used when I was a kid: give away the nickel bag and you've got a customer forever!
Greg

I agree with your thought process. However, there is another rule of thumb that says how much more expensive it is to get a new customer than to retain an old one. What happens if Radisson goes after these "young affluents" (and not so affluents given the two for one pricing and kids free) and that sends a number of their current bread and butter customers off to SilverSea or Seabourn? I trust that Radisson has done their market research and is not just "trying" this out.

It sure would be nice for the Radisson lurker to speak up. ;)

marc

Marc, your poll results have a lot to do with the demographics of this board group in my mind. Having had four children, I can tell you that the last thing I would have time for if they were still home especially earlier than age 13 would be spending time on this board like I do now. Back then, it was taking to and picking up from after school activities, getting dinner, overseeing homework, etc. No time for hanging out here! But then, I never walked into a travel agent back then and said, we'd like to take a cruise, but we want the best and don't mind paying for it.


Besides, I didn't want to cruise back then. On family vacations, I wanted to go to Disneyworld, and to Florida where the grandparents had condos and there were so many child centered activities we could focus on together as a family, and in the winter we would ski. On the water, we would get together with another family and do a private crewed sail charter in the BVI's. That was my choice of how to start them, as it is totally water oriented, very casual, relaxed, and excellent food. Having done the other things instead of sailing, I still wouldn't start them with cruising on Radisson or any other line for family vacations. But others have different opinions!

Editing to say I agree with USNA about trying to lure in the yuppies and hopefully keep them for life. With the prices RSSC charges, I hardly think it is ever going to be overrun by kids. As for going over to Silversea, well I am trying that, too, and it has nothing to do with kids being on one or the other in small numbers.

Marc,

If we thought RSSC could serve us AND our children well, we would book five passages annually.

Right now, we only book two passages every other year.

And we're just past forty...

Cerinda

Marc:

When Carol and I got together 20+ years ago, I had 2 kids and she had 1 (proir marriages). We discussed the possibility of more, but decided we'd shoot for things more affordable like airplanes, and yachts!! They are grown, gone, and we are glad! I really wish we didn't have to cancel the cruise we had together, as I would have told you of all the stories! The calls from the hospitals and the police stations I wouldn't have missed for the world ----- yeah, right!!

Thanks,

Richard :) :) :)

Having kids at home - ages 12 and 15 I thought I would add my 2 cents. While we have taken our kids on a cruise - Princess - I doubt that we would ever take them on RSSC unless they were in college/high school. Even then it would be a very expensive vacation. We had 2 cabins on Princess and I cannot imagine having them in our cabin so even the promotion that RSSC is offering would not save us any money. I have always had a hard time understanding why you would want to take a small child on this type of trip - it seems to me the kids would be happier at home with grandparents or a nanny. In addition I would have a hard time spending the kind of money that these trips costs to spend so much time in my cabin while a little one naps, goes to bed at 8pm, etc. For us RSSC will be our couples trips and any futher family crusies will likely be on Princess or another mainstream line.

Steph, I agree! It's too much $$ to spend with a small child along.... though I suppose some are able to bring along their own Nanny.

Dolebludger: Oh hospitals police stations...you bring back memories!!!! When the final child left I said now I can hear a siren and not worry it is my child - when a police car pulls in driveway to ask if they can set up speed trap close to our house (our driveway) - I no longer fear which child is in the car????? They weren't all that bad - just some of the time - Joanna

Voted, kids grown and out of the house. Still keeping our fingers crossed that we don't end up in that last category!!! LOL