Renaissance Cruise Line - 'Back from Vacation' ???

[albiats]

I just received an email notification that Renaissance Cruise Line is 'back from vacation' and will be starting up again soon. It's the first time I remember seeing Chapter 11 being described as 'being on vacation'.

I wonder if any of the cruisers that were transported back to the home port by bus or plane when they went into Chapter 11 would get on one of their ships again?

I registered on their old website (when they were in business) to get emails about upcoming specials.


Here's the copy from the announcement:
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Privileged Communication
To: Friends of Renaissance Cruises

From: Renaissance Cruises

Re: Renaissance Cruises is Back from Vacation!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Friend,

We are thrilled to announce that after a year's sabbatical, we are back in Ft. Lauderdale and are putting the Renaissance Cruises family back together. We've spent the time wisely - inspecting cruise ships and exploring new ports of call for our loyal customers.

While we put our house in order, we welcome your comments. Our new reservations center isn't complete yet, but please visit our new website at www.RenaissanceCruises.cc. We have an online form for your feedback and suggestions.

As you know, we have always brought you innovative cruise products by constantly reinventing ourselves, and this time is no different. You can rely on Renaissance Cruises to continue to deliver incredible vacation values, unique itineraries, and fabulous ships.

Look for additional communications from us as more plans are put in place, and thank you in advance for your comments!

************************************************

 

[Michelle]

LOL, now THAT is some of the most creative SPIN I have ever heard!

Uh, most of us don't consider bankruptcy a "vacation"...

Thanks for sharing, Al!

 

[taswira]

Hee-hee! I like the "constantly reinventing ourselves" reference! Shouldn't they have said REINCARNATING?

 

[albiats]

Originally posted by WebmasterMichelle
LOL, now THAT is some of the most creative SPIN I have ever heard!

Uh, most of us don't consider bankruptcy a "vacation"...

Thanks for sharing, Al!

I am curious if Bank of America will allow me to skip three or four mortgage payments so I can 'be on vacation'

I could book the Walt Disney Suite if they would go for that one!

 

[BeanoC]

Well, where their accounting and management depts. may have failed in the past, their marketing and P.R. depts. seem to be working fine!

I'm glad to hear of this. We were seriously considering one of their Tahitian cruises. We SO want to go to Moorea! Cruising would be the way to do it!

Thanks for this post.



'Beano'

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by taswira

I like the "constantly reinventing ourselves" reference! Shouldn't they have said REINCARNATING?

<i>Clever!!!</i>

 

[edith76]

We went on one of their Tahitian cruises 13 months ago and loved it. The ship was beautiful and our fellow shipmates some of the nicest people I have ever met However, I had heard that some of their ships were sold - so how do you come back from "vacation" with no boat... ? Personally, I 'd love it if they got their act together and restarted the line. Their itineraries were great and as much as I love Disney, it was nice to be on an 18 or older/ no smoking cruise.

 

[Lisa F]

My parents were on one of their mediterranean cruises having the time of their lives when they were put off in Rome and had to get on a plane in coach class (even though they had paid for business) to get home. They had completed about half of a two week cruise. Although Renaissance was cheaper than the rest, it was still a $10,000 or so trip of a lifetime for them and they were VERY disappointed to have it cut short before making it to Venice and the second half of the itinerary. Thank goodness they had trip insurance (Travelguard I think), which paid their claim promptly and without any hassle so they got back a fair chunk of their money. On the cruise before that, my parents went to the Bahamas and my father broke his foot so badly in a motorbike accident that he spent the next year having surgeries done on it. Needless to say, my parents are not eager to cruise again any time soon. I hope that when grandkids are in the picture I can convince them to try DCL!

Lisa

 

[randytenn]

Interesting website and address. http://www.renaissancecruises.cc./ versus the http://www.renaissancecruises.com , which still lists all the bankruptcy information, and the fact that the are not giving anyone refunds.

I would definately not think about crusing them.

Reminds me of our first Disney Cruise. We pulled into Nassau next to the "Big Red Boat". That night, the "Big Red Boat" went into receivership, and the customers were kicked off the boat. The crew, knowing they were not going to be paid, broke into the liquor storage, and had a heck of a party onboard (we could see them from our porthole).

I definately felt sorry for those cruisers who had to find a way home.

 

[Señor Ferrari]

This is interesting in that industry news has them just about finished in bankruptcy court and in the final stages of liquidation. Most creditors will only get pennies on the dollar of what they are owed. The following was posted today on the CruiseCritic news page:

Renaissance Cruises is in the final stages of sinking into the sea. The company's liquidation plan has been approved by Miami's bankruptcy court, the contract of its former CEO Manfred Ursprunger, who had stayed on until the company was formally unraveled has ended, and attorneys for the company's unsecured creditors will start paying out what's left.

Speaking of Renaissance, P&O Princess seems to have taken a liking to its R-class ships. The line has agreed to operate R3 and R4 in Tahiti and has assigned R8 to its Swan Hellenic. Otherwise, the remaining five are lined up, sadly, at a pier in Marseilles.

The P&O/Princess story of them operating R3 and R4 in Tahiti has been a rumor for a while, but P&O hasn't confirmed it yet. You can sometimes see the two ships in Papeete (Tahiti) harbor at:

http://www.borabora.com/webcam/index.htm

BeanoC,

If you're really interested in a Tahitian cruise, Radisson's Paul Gaughin and Windstar's Wind Song currently sail 7-day trips there. Windstar is now offereing free air for cruises through the middle of December.

 

[albiats]

Just got a second email from Renaissance Cruise Lines on Saturday, 8/10/02.

This is what it said:
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Dear Friend of Renaissance Cruises,

Wow! The positive response to our last email was tremendous! Thank you to everyone who registered their comments on our website. To see our recent announcement and view a sample of these comments, visit www.RenaissanceCruises.cc, or simply click here.

As you know, Renaissance Cruises has always been a pioneer in the cruise industry.

Here are a few of the features we were the first to introduce on a large scale, and which were embraced by the cruising community:

- Fantastic cruise deals
- Personal Travel Consultants
- Affordable balcony staterooms
- A comprehensive website
- Open-seating dining and dining choices
- Casual-elegant onboard dress
- CruiseTour programs with pre- and post-cruise hotel stays
- Non-smoking, adults-only cruises

In keeping with our history of "firsts," we are about to launch a series of innovative new programs and strategic alliances designed to creatively cater to your immediate cruise travel needs.

Look for more details on the first of our many innovative new programs next week!
***********************************

And the marketing goes on ....

 

[taswira]

So where ARE they getting their ships??? Here went some more!
<B>From Maritime Today:</B>
P&O Princess Cruises announced the acquisition of the former Renaissance vessels, R3 and R4, which will join its North American and Australian fleets. The 684 lower berth vessels, which originally entered service in 1999, will be acquired through a lease purchase structure at a total combined capital cost for the two ships of approximately $150 million. Under the terms of the acquisition contracts, the two vessels are contracted to be deployed in the Pacific Ocean region for at least the first two years of their operation by P&O Princess. R4, which will be renamed Tahitian Princess, is expected to continue to be deployed in French Polynesia for a further three years.

 

[albiats]

Now it appears that they are taking reservations, but the reservations are NOT for their ships.

This is the email I received on Sunday 8/11 -
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Dear Friend of Renaissance Cruises,

Cruising is a passion. We know that. We also know that once you start cruising, you never want to stop. Some of us take one cruise a year, some take as many as ten. Whatever your preference, we know that you are probably itching to plan your next cruise, right now!

You have also probably been missing those phenomenal Renaissance Cruises deals we used to email out. Well, while we continue making our plans, we are going to extend to you one of the fabulous Renaissance Cruises deals you remember, on select Summer 2003 sailings, on a variety of cruise ships.

We're calling this our "Friends of Renaissance Cruises" deal, and it's our way of welcoming you back to the family.

How will it work? Well, we've made arrangements with Online Vacation Center, a leading American Express Travel Services Representative, to act as our Reservations Department this summer. Simply call 800-329-9002 to book your cruise and take advantage of our $200 per cabin Friends of Renaissance Cruises shipboard credit, which is available from now through August 31, 2002.

And as an added bonus, if you pay for your cruise with an eligible American Express Card, you may receive an additional credit of up to $150 per cabin. That's a total savings to you of $350 per cabin, on top of the already discounted cruise fares we've specially negotiated for you!

We've also asked Online Vacation Center to enroll you in the Cruise Specials Email Club, so that you will receive email notification of cruise deals as they become available. Should you wish to unsubscribe from the Cruise Specials Email Club at any time, simply click on the link included at the bottom of each email.

So...need some help choosing your cruise? Click here to check out our suggestions! You'll be amazed at the great deals you'll see. Then call 800-329-9002 for your $350 deal!

Happy Cruising!

Renaissance Cruises
*****************************************

What a marketing department they must have hired! It actually seemed like they were taking reservations on Renaissance ships, when it really is on most of the other lines.

 

[taswira]

Yes - I saw that on their site yesterday and clicked to discover it went to ads for a variety of other cruise lines, but NO Renaissance. Maybe they are so disorganized they didn't check the (outside) link to see what was posted. Maybe their "specials" <I>will</I> be posted there eventually (along with all the competition ;-), but meanwhile it promotes other lines. You would think they would have a Specials page on their OWN site though, wouldn't you? It all seems like a BIG mess. My question is still: WHERE are they getting their ships, if they're going to have any???

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Since all of the assets of the former Renaissance are gone... it seems that the name was the only tangible asset left for sale. And the former CEO purchased the name. But it's definitely <i><b>only</b></i> the name that resembles the former cruise line.

Kinda' reminds me of attempts at resurrecting the former airlines named <a href="http://www.braniffinternational.com/"><font color=blue><i>Braniff</i></font></a>, <a href="http://www.nationalairlines.com/"><font color=blue><i>National</i></font></a>, and <a href="http://www.flypanam.com/"><font color=blue><i>PanAm</i></font></a>.

 

[albiats]

here's the latest one -


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The R4 Cruises Tahiti
The wait is finally over! You can once again cruise Tahiti on Renaissance Cruises' R4, now rechristened the Tahitian Princess. We have arranged special discounted pricing for Friends of Renaissance Cruises who book their cruise on the Tahitian Princess through our friends at Online Vacation Center, a leading American Express Travel Services Representative.

Although not available for these Tahiti cruises, don't forget about our $200 Friends of Renaissance Cruises Shipboard Credit on select Summer 2003 cruises, available now through August 31st through Online Vacation Center. Click here to view a sample of the cruise discounts available!
10-Night Tahiti Cruise
w Balcony Stateroom from $999 pp
w Mini-Suite with Balcony from $1,199 pp
w Select Sailings January - June, 2003



To book your Tahiti cruise, call our friends at Online Vacation Center, a leading American Express Travel Services Representative, at 800-329-9002.