Rumor United Parks, Resorts, And... Cruise Ships?!

[Python_Survivor]

I'm under the impression that United Parks is looking at new business ventures that they can take on to try and generate profit. I don't know a ton specifically, but let's just say it this way:

If you thought the operations at the existing parks were a sinking ship, it would be a metaphor. Now, it'll be literally a sinking ship.

 

[Deleted member 12707]

I'm under the impression that United Parks is looking at new business ventures that they can take on to try and generate profit. I don't know a ton specifically, but let's just say it this way:

If you thought the operations at the existing parks were a sinking ship, it would be a metaphor. Now, it'll be literally a sinking ship.

Too early to tell in my opinion. We don't know what the company has in plans for the future. Things could be bright for them or dark.

 

[tursiops]

I'm under the impression that United Parks is looking at new business ventures that they can take on to try and generate profit. I don't know a ton specifically, but let's just say it this way:

If you thought the operations at the existing parks were a sinking ship, it would be a metaphor. Now, it'll be literally a sinking ship.

Are you implying cruising? That's a totally different beast that they could not accomplish in the current state.

 

[homeboyroy]

Please not a fucking cruise line... carnival already has their potential customers locked down

 

[Le Moose]

I'm under the impression that United Parks is looking at new business ventures that they can take on to try and generate profit. I don't know a ton specifically, but let's just say it this way:

If you thought the operations at the existing parks were a sinking ship, it would be a metaphor. Now, it'll be literally a sinking ship.

If this whole “cut costs and increase profits so investors can buy yacht fuel” joke comes to reality in the sense of them starting a fucking cruise line I’m going to lose my mind

 

[Python_Survivor]

Are you implying cruising? That's a totally different beast that they could not accomplish in the current state.

I am under the impression that they've already started hiring people to work on ideas for this... venture.

Please not a fucking cruise line... carnival already has their potential customers locked down

I agree. I think it's a terrible idea. But, that's what going around the Central Florida professional discussions rn...

 

[Unagi]

For them to attempt going into the cruise ship business they'd have to do a joint-venture with a loaded private investment firm if they wanted to start from scratch. The cost to build one ship alone is astronomical as they can cost up to $1 billion and more.

 

[Zachary]

Could explain why all the park cap-ex completely evaporated and we haven't heard anything about those FL resorts in like a year now...

Do remember, United Parks was allocating like $250 million a year in park cap-ex not long ago—and if I remember correctly, that was a separate bucket from the resort projects and the like. Now, for 2025, the chain is getting a flying theater, a B&M family invert, a Zierer kiddie coaster... And not much else...? And that is after an already relatively meager 2024 for the chain. All that money has to be going somewhere...

I desperately hope that somewhere isn't another shitty budget cruise brand.

Also, isn't the cruise industry like super awful for the environment and, specifically, the oceans...? Seems antithetical to the brand...

 

[Le Moose]

Do I get free admission with my platinum membership? That’s the real question

 

[Unagi]

Could explain why all the park cap-ex completely evaporated all the sudden and we haven't heard anything about those FL resorts in like a year now...

Good point. It's been crickets on that stuff.

I will say this...

If UPR can pull this off then kudos to them. The cruise ship industry is at an all time high right now and demand shows no sign of slowing down. It would be a major revenue stream for the company if they do it successfully. When the Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed and they temporarily re-routed the Royal Caribbean and Carnival ships ported there, to the Half Moone terminal in Downtown Norfolk, so many locals in the Hampton Roads area went online to see if they could book a cruise while those ships were in town and both of them were completely booked.

 

[warfelg]

Ok let me try to spin a positive out of @Zachary ’s point of bad for the environment:
What if instead of big ships this is a smaller sized cruise line? Something smaller that went to educational with the ecology of what you were visiting. Offers of being able to do positive things like beach clean ups, ocean clean ups.

I know that I’m likely hoping for something unlikely here but just trying to think of a way to spin this more positive.

 

[Irishlad]

Gosh, I can’t wait for the quality food and service that this will bring…..

 

[paintervision]

If it's just licensing deals, that's fine. It could make some money for the brand. I could see cross-promotions and package deals, etc.

Anything other than this, sounds way too risky.

 

[CoasterRattler🐍]

I’m sorry, did I hear that right? A fuckin cruise ship?

 

[Python_Survivor]

Also, isn't the cruise industry like super awful for the environment and, specifically, the oceans...? Seems antithetical to the brand...

I'd have to imagine they'd try and brand it completely seperately, no ties to the SeaWorld name at all.

Gosh, I can’t wait for the quality food and service that this will bring…..

This

Anything other than this, sounds way too risky.

It very much so is

I’m sorry, did I hear that right? A fuckin cruise ship?

Possibly?

 

[sotomexx]

Could they do a smaller Sesame Street-themed cruise ship, no alcohol and a price point much lower than Disney. A very specific market but may be a popular way to spend a few days while on a vacation in Florida.

 

[Gavin]

Herschend waiting for the bankruptcy.

 

[kmccarthy27]

Ok let me try to spin a positive out of @Zachary ’s point of bad for the environment:
What if instead of big ships this is a smaller sized cruise line? Something smaller that went to educational with the ecology of what you were visiting. Offers of being able to do positive things like beach clean ups, ocean clean ups.

This is the only way I see that ending up...

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[Unagi]

Could they do a smaller Sesame Street-themed cruise ship, no alcohol and a price point much lower than Disney. A very specific market but may be a popular way to spend a few days while on a vacation in Florida.

This won't work. The Sesame Street brand isn't big enough for any cruise ship company to offer on a regular basis and a no alcohol cruise won't draw in any customers and would be a financial catastrophe. Cruising and alcohol go hand-in-hand and that's a major revenue stream you want to offer if you owned a cruise line. The major cruise companies like Royal, Carnival, NCL and others promote and push their drink packages for their cruises and even Disney makes a ton of money selling alcohol as their ships offer many themed cocktails.

 

[sotomexx]

This won't work. The Sesame Street brand isn't big enough for any cruise ship company to offer on a regular basis and a no alcohol cruise won't draw in any customers and would be a financial catastrophe. Cruising and alcohol go hand-in-hand and that's a major revenue stream you want to offer if you owned a cruise line. The major cruise companies like Royal, Carnival, NCL and others promote and push their drink packages for their cruises and even Disney makes a ton of money selling alcohol as their ships offer many themed cocktails.

Yeah I guess this makes sense. I forgot about that pirate ship cruise I went on in Clearwater Beach where all the parents drank while the pirates did secret activities with the kids, ending with the little ones squirting all the drunk adults with plastic water pistols.