Volunteers of the Seas - Royal Caribbean Test Sailings

Royal Caribbean (NYSE:RCL) has launched a website where you can volunteer and apply to be a passenger on an upcoming test sailing in preparation for the relaunch of cruising in the U.S.. Over 20,000 people signed up in the first 24 hours to assist the company in earning their ‘conditional sailing certificate',

Cruise ships haven't been sailing since March 14th, 2020, but the CDC officially lifted its ‘no sail order‘ on October 31st, 2020 and implemented a strict ‘conditional sail order' which gives cruise lines permission to sail again in U.S. waters if they meet all safety requirements. 

As of this post, no official date has been set for the trial cruise/s but according to the Royal Caribbean website, the cruise line has scheduled their first real cruises starting in January, 2021. This means that the test sailings could come as early as December giving the cruise line enough time to for its voyages to be given the green light by the CDC. 

The trial cruises are expected to sail to Royal Caribbean's private island of Cococay which will allow the cruise line to strictly control the voyage conditions. Onboard the simulation cruises will be CDC officials, cruise line officials and an unbiased third party auditor.

COVID-19 prevention protocols passengers can expect during the test cruise and real cruises once they start are mandatory Covid testing and temperature checks before boarding, face coverings in public areas of the ship, reduced ship capacity, socially distanced dining and shorter voyages. 

A simulated voyage must meet the following requirements:

• The cruise ship operator must design and conduct a simulated voyage insofar as practicable to test the efficacy of the cruise ship operator’s ability to mitigate the risks  of COVID-19 onboard its cruise ship.
• Volunteer passengers are to be told in writing of the "inherently risky activity" of their test sailing.
• All volunteer passengers must be at least eighteen years old or older.
• All volunteer passengers must have a written certification from a healthcare provider that they have no pre-existing medical conditions.
• Royal Caribbean must conduct any simulation on a consensual basis.
• Royal Caribbean must embark additional crew members beyond safe minimum manning levels only as determined through CDC technical instructions or orders.
• The cruise ship operator must conduct a monitored observation period and laboratory testing of volunteer passengers, as directed in CDC technical instructions or orders, prior to embarking volunteer passengers on a simulated voyage.

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MGM Las Vegas Casino and Resort Opening Announcements

Las Vegas Casino and Resorts were shut down back in March as part of Governor Steve Sisolak’s mandatory closure of non-essential Nevada businesses.

MGM Resorts has since announced return of some of it's Las Vegas hotel-casino operations:

Starting on June 4 with the reopening of the Bellagio, MGM Grand and New York-New York.

Excalibur is set to open on June 11

The Luxor will reopen on June 25th.

Followed by Aria, Mandalay Bay and Four Seasons Las Vegas on July 1.

The upcoming reopenings will come with several new safety protocols to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19. These include screenings and temperature checks for employees, who will be required to wear masks. Social distancing also will be implemented, with plexiglass barriers to be installed where distancing restrictions are more difficult.

MGM Resorts will also offer free parking when it's properties reopen.

CDC - Cruise Line No Sail Order Extended

Cruise ships haven't been sailing since March 14th, 2020, and that means a lot of refunds being issued by Carnival (NYSE:CCL), Royal Caribbean (NYSE:RCL), and Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:NCLH).

On Thursday April 9th, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced an extension of a No Sail Order for all cruise ships for 100 days. This means Ships won't sail til at least mid-July.

The highly leveraged cruise lines are attempting to retaining the funds already paid to them for Spring and Summer bookings and encouraging guests to accept 125% credits toward a future cruise and/or large amounts of on-board credit to rebook a future date.

Even those booking new cruises are getting great deals. For example, I checked today on a Cruise to Mexico and the cruise, taxes, fees and gratuities add up to less than the onboard credit Carnival offered, meaning I would make $6.78 on taking the cruise.

All 3 cruise lines have taken steps to slow spending, but cash flow is still needed.

As the cruise lines are not registered in the US, they may not be eligible for US Government loans and assistance from the Stimulus. Carnival is incorporated in Panama, Norwegian is incorporated in Bermuda, and Royal Caribbean is incorporated in Liberia.

Royal Caribbean has recently accessed approx $3.5 billion from existing credit lines.

Carnival has shown that at the right price, the cruise industry can find the money it needs amid turmoil caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) panic. Carnival initiated an effort to raise over $6 billion to shore up liquidity. Approx $4 billion was raised by selling its debt by way of secured bonds (secured by a first-priority claim on the company’s assets). The three-year bonds have a yield of just under 12%. Information released during the bond offering: Carnival has received 39,000 bookings since it stopped sailing, and 45% of customers whose cruises had to be canceled/rescheduled chose credit for future trips as opposed to cash refunds.

On 4/6/20, a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission shows that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) now owns an 8.2% stake in Carnival. Saudi Arabia’ PIF held no stock in the cruise line at the start of 2020.

The same day, Carnival director Randall Weisenburger paid $10 million for a large block of shares at $8 a share. He now owns 1.38 million Carnival shares,  he had last bought Carnival stock on July 3, 2019, when he paid $930,000 for 20,000 shares, a per-share average price of $46.50.

Swiss bank USB report issued March 31, found that 9% more cruises have been booked for 2021 than were being booked the same time last year. This does include people using credits for canceled cruises, but the increase still shows many have the desire to book a cruise and the industry will bounce back when restrictions are lifted. How soon will you plan your next cruise?

Carnival Cruise Line

Customer service: 1 (800) 764-7419
Reservations: 1 (800) 327-9501
Headquarters: Miami, FL

Norwegian Cruise Line

Customer service: 1 (866) 234-7350
Reservations: 1 (866) 234-0292
Headquarters: Miami, FL

Royal Caribbean International

Customer service: 1 (800) 256-6649
Reservations: 1 (866) 562-7625
Headquarters: Miami, FL


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Make your Casino Comp Offers Work For You With URComped

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The first, were the players that wanted to try different cruise lines and casinos, but they ended up with the same company on the same ships on the same old comp offers over and over again because they were already getting comped through their current player club and were not willing to pay full price to try a different cruise line or casino.

The second type of players he saw, were players that walked into a casino or went on a cruise and gambled as much or more than the comped players. However since they were not members of that casino's player's club or previously cruised with that cruise line they had no way to show they were comp-worthy players before their trip and paid full price for rooms.

To retain players, casinos do not share play information with other companies. This creates a catch 22 for players receiving comp offers from the companies they have played with before but want to try other places.

URComped's mission is to help casino players discover new casino offers and casino comps by helping players easily qualify themselves using your current freeplay and casino offers. They help you find and enjoy comp experiences at new places, which include some of the finest casinos and cruise lines in the world.

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Sirens of Treasure Island - Pirate Show Permanently Closed

The Sirens of Treasure Island show is closed but the Pirate Ships will remain after the area in front of TI (Treasure Island) is remodeled.

Most of the Las Vegas Casino Resorts have an attraction to draw crowds in. For example, the Volcano at the Mirage, the Fountains of Bellagio, the Fall of Atlantis at Caesars Forum Shops or the Circus Show at Circus Circus.

In 1991, Wynn announced plans to create an extension of The Mirage; a Resort and Casino to be known as Treasure Island.

On October 27, 1993 canon fire signified the opening and birth of the $430 million, 2,891 room Treasure Island Hotel Resort and Casino.

Treasure Island opened offering a free family show with the HMS Britannia sailing around the corner at Skull Point to confront pirates from the Hispañiola. They ordered the pirates to surrender, the pirates refused and defended their ship in a swashbuckling battle.

In 2003, the show was rewritten (loosely based off of Homer's "Odyssey") targeting a more adult audience  and called the Sirens of TI. This show entailed a group of sensual and tempting sirens engaging with a band of pirates led by the infamous Blackbeard.

On October 20, 2013, the show was halted for what was said to be a temporary closure until December 26, during construction of retail space.

But this week, Treasure Island announced that the closure was permanent.

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Las Vegas Attractions: The Evolving Entertainment Capital of the World

Las Vegas is constantly evolving, with its iconic casinos and resorts reinventing themselves to stay ahead of the curve. Over the past two decades, several major attractions have closed, been revamped, or replaced with new high-profile experiences. Along with the permanent closure of the Sirens of Treasure Island show, other significant changes include the demolition of the iconic Stardust (2006) and Riviera (2016) to make way for Resorts World and the Las Vegas Convention Center expansion. The beloved Mirage Volcano is set to be removed as the resort transitions into the Hard Rock Hotel, featuring a massive guitar-shaped hotel tower. Meanwhile, Caesars Palace has undergone multiple renovations, and the Fountains of Bellagio continue to mesmerize visitors. Additionally, MSG Sphere at The Venetian—a next-generation entertainment venue—debuted in 2023, redefining immersive experiences with its state-of-the-art LED display and 4D effects. Whether it’s the transformation of classic casinos or the rise of new entertainment hotspots like AREA15, The LINQ Promenade, and Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas remains a must-visit destination, offering a unique blend of nostalgia and modern innovation.