The exception that proves the rule

Dhill · #1 (**permalink**) February 5th, 2012, 11:09 AM

Paul I just read your article intiled The Exception that proves the rule. I found it to be an interesting article and agree with alot of what you say. My question is what negative effect all the negative reporting by the media will have on the cruise industry? The article states that millions of people went on a cruise last year. Is a little bad press going to damage the industry that much? I realize that the media should be fair in their reporting but I think we all know thats not going to happen. Just curious as to what you think the effects will be.

Future Cruiser · #2 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2012, 07:55 PM

I think the only "bad press" that negatively affected the cruise industry financially is the Costa Concordia tragedy. After that disaster, Carvinal, which owns Costa, was sued by survivors trying to get their money back and forced to cancel all future Concordia cruise itineraries. Even that is not bad press, just the facts about what many people think is a very similar event to the Titanic sinking. Can you really prove cruise lines are being hurt directly by bad press?

Paul Motter · #3 (**permalink**) March 5th, 2012, 05:23 PM

I am sorry I did not see this was addressed to me - but at least now I can answer the question...

The media has been somewhat negative but it was died down to a large degree.

Unfortunately, this is the year of Titanic and I think we will continue to read bad things about Concordia until the Titanic centennial has passed.

But in the long run this bad news will become a distant memory and people will get back to the business of cruising as usual. The overall safety record of the industry remains excellent despite one bad captain messing things up for everyone.

Manuel · #4 (**permalink**) March 5th, 2012, 05:52 PM

Paul, do you know if cruise bookings have been affected by all the bad news?

TM

Paul Motter · #5 (**permalink**) March 5th, 2012, 06:08 PM

Cruise bookings have been affected - yes, by about 10 - 20% depending on which cruise line (Costa and Carnival got most of the bad publicity), but that doesn't mean vastly lower prices.

It is possible prices will drop in the future, but to date slightly lower is a better description.