Comments on: Dan Hanrahan Leaving Celebrity

By: Kenneth Eden

Kenneth Eden — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:19:30 +0000

Just a quick aside for Greg & dobbs

You do know Rick is president and ceo US for MSC Cruises.

By: Kenneth Eden

Kenneth Eden — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 13:47:55 +0000

Tis interesting to sail on another line, the competition, as it is, to think their food is better – I beg to differ, as we were loyaists to said above line and left it many cruises ago, for the MDR and auxiliary venues as they were inferior. Our mantra, once burned we sail on…… Its just a matter of taste. I am delighted to know of chef Suley and his association with Celebrity.

By: Kenneth Eden

Kenneth Eden — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 12:15:25 +0000

And, that is what it is all about, change and perfecting the cruise line product as a whole, not as a mere bandaid.
My partner and I just booked another Celebrity cruise, and am most anxious to taste the efforts of chef Suley.

By: Greg & dobbs

Greg & dobbs — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 13:23:10 +0000

Mr. Eden, we’re thrilled to hear you’re, once again, enamored with Celebrity. As brand-loyalists, we’ve also observed a number of changes since Rick Sasso departed following RCCL’s acquisition in 1997. Cost-cutting resulted in our having to lower expectations, particularly when it came to the MDR experience as noted in our previous contribution to this blog. While Chef Van Staden was able bring some fresh and innovative ideas, we were constantly reminded that the dining experience simply wasn’t what it was under Chef Roux and some friends even went so far as to stop sailing Celebrity in favor of Princess, a Carnival brand. Naturally, we felt if Carnival could allow Princess to concentrate on its culinary offering, why couldn’t RCCL do the same for Celebrity? Now, however, there’s a change in the wind! Chef John Suley has recently and quietly replaced Chef Van Staden and is the Director of Culinary Operations at Celebrity. Like Van Staden, Suley comes to the fleet with an impressive resume for one so young. We’re excited to see how things go, but one thing’s for certain. If the budget doesn’t support quality, it won’t be there. We pray the bean counters at RCCL understand this and allow Celebrity to operate with greater autonomy facilitating the rebirth of a once glorious dining reputation.

By: Kenneth Eden

Kenneth Eden — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:43:20 +0000

Over the years many high up execs have been hired to “run” cruise lines that have had absolutely no cruise experience with cruise lines, say, perhaps they have cruised. Without naming anycruise lines or people, I have seen hotel, car rental and others not involved in any sort of tourism take the helms of a cruise line, as CEO and/or president. Most never stayed with the line(s) and others have made a success.of their positions. Major hotetl corporations have also tried to run cruise lines, mainly with dire results.

I was once very enamoured with Celebrity, and lost interest in it for personal reasons over the years, only to have rediscovered it and have truly enjoyed it again. I remember how wonderful the product was during its infancy with Chandris calling the shots, and Celebrity was the perfect New York vibed replacement for beloved Home Lines.

I think it will a tough time ahead for any cruise line to top the Solstice Class ships. Breath taking these ships are, with ques from this esteemed class now retrofitted into the entire Celebrity fleet, except Celebrity Xpedition, and that may change, since Silver Sea will break into the Galapagos market, and a new competion in that market will begin.

The dining has become very much important on Celebrity once more, with master chef, and James Beard nominated chef, Jaques Van Staden, with his superbly trained on board chefs.

As for pricing, it just goes to show that lower fares does not mean an inferior product, and Celebrity offers a high premium product, while others in the main stream category may charge more and give less. Remember, Celebrity is a stepping up line from their parent, Royal Caribbean, not that that is a bad thing.

By: Greg & dobbs

Greg & dobbs — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 00:11:09 +0000

We wish Michael Bayley the very best as President and CEO of our favorite line, but agree with Doug Ward that the product is under-priced. If Celebrity hopes to maintain its reputation as the finest “premium” cruise line, it will need to focus on a culinary experience once highly regarded in all venues when Chef Roux reigned. Yes, Chef Van Staden was at the “helm” when QSine rolled out, but patrons have generally been critical of MDR cuisine since Michel Roux departed simply because he set such high standards. We believe Celebrity is attempting to spend more on quality food as the economy struggles to right itself and the line reacts to harsh criticism from loyalists regarding MDR cuisine since Royal Caribbean intervened, but to truly succeed, pricing has to adequately reflect costs. We ARE willing to pay more for what Celebrity stands for, was once, and can become, again.

By: Kenneth Eden

Kenneth Eden — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 12:39:05 +0000

I think the new placements of key personnel will benefit Celebrity.

By: Kenneth Eden

Kenneth Eden — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:03:35 +0000

These are my own thoughts regarding Celebrity and the opertaion they offer.

First, they belong to a main stream entry level cruise line, Royal Caribbean, and the same format for the cruise RCI offers seems to be what is good enough for Celebrity. It is a pity, but with a new President and CEO maybe that will change.

As for the food, it has inmproved dramically, and stands out on Celebrity, along with service, these two things alone make them truly viable in the “Premium Cruise Line” category.

Not to mention gorgeous ships. I would be hard pressed to fault the “Solstice C;ass”, and the trickle down effect it has made to the entire fleet through enhancements and rennovations, save for the Xpedition vessel.

By: Paul Motter

Paul Motter — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:14:01 +0000

By the way – Royal caribbean reported earnings today and I was pretty accurate in my predictions about Europe. Unfortunately, the company reported a loss, largely because European sales were down 10% (a significant amount).

But here is the good news – Dan will be guaranteed a much better salary than previous CEOs at his new job with Regis, and is being given obvious incentives to stay with the company. It only begs the question of why inside people were not good enough for the board – but an outsider will be paid so much more, when the he has not yet proven anything. I do not have any answer to that question, except to say it doesn’t say much good about the current management. Here is the news release:

Regis paying Hanrahan millions as new CEO

Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal by Ed Stych, Web Producer
Date: Tuesday, July 17, 2012, 7:42pm CDT

Daniel Hanrahan will be paid an annual base salary of $850,000 as the new CEO of hair salon operator Regis Corp. — plus he’ll be paid millions in incentives and stock awards over the next year.

Edina-based Regis (NYSE: RGS) said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Tuesday that the former Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. executive will be paid the base salary annually through June 30, 2014. After that his salary will be subject to an annual review by the company’s board.

The SEC filing also laid out these terms of Hanrahan’s employment:

He’s eligible for an annual incentive award equal to 125 percent of his base salary ($1.06 million based on his current base) for achieving performance targets. But Hanrahan has been guaranteed the $1.06 million incentive award for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013.

Hanrahan will receive stock awards valued at $2.25 million for fiscal 2013.

He will receive two “special equity awards” when he starts his job Aug. 6. The first is $2 million worth of stock, which will fully vest after five years. The other is 20,000 shares of stock that will vest if the company’s stock trades above $35 a share for 20 consecutive trading days sometime over the next five years. Regis’ stock closed at $17.60 per share on Tuesday. At $35 per share, 20,000 shares would be worth $700,000.

Regis also will pay up to $100,000 of any loss Hanrahan suffers when he sells his current home.

By: aspengal

aspengal — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 15:12:37 +0000

As a long time cruiser with X my favored line, I feel change is needed. X now has too many ships doing same old itins Food quality has really gone down.I did hear they have worked on menus.I know there are too many new ships, econYou can get on Celebrity for same or less than CCL.Best Europe fares ever. Personally I wish they would do some new longer routes ala HAL and Princess.