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Topic Title: Let the Cruise Lines sink, , , , ,
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Created On: 03/20/2020 04:26 AM
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 03/20/2020 04:26 AM
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dingpatch

Posts: 19032
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Let the Cruise Lines Sink

As you walk through empty aisles in the grocery store worried that your hours might be cut back at work and wondering how you'll manage to keep paying your bills, it might seem preposterous to think that anyone in power would be worried whether you'll be able to still go on a cruise. Luckily, the political class is on it. On Thursday, March 12, Wells Fargo recommended that investors buy stock in Carnival Cruise Lines, the embattled company facing a potential existential crisis due to the coronavirus outbreak. Carnival is "almost 'too big to fail,'" argued Wells Fargo, and "there probably will be broad . . . government support." The analysts probably got that idea after President Trump repeatedly mentioned aiding cruise lines and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin was reported to have asked Congress to extend loans to the industry.

In 2008, we were told that banks needed to be bailed out to prevent the end of the global banking system, and automakers needed it to prevent mass unemployment. Now investors are banking on the idea that governments are so sensitive to the economic well-being of corporations that they will bail out a luxury industry built on the promise of gluttony for retirees floating off the coast of Florida. Should cruise lines be rescued, any remaining illusion that America remains a competitive, capitalist economy will be broken. Not every company is worth saving, and especially not Carnival.

Carnival is a Florida-based company that, as of 2018, employed 12,000 corporate employees and another 88,000 crew. Of those 88,000 working on Carnival ships, only 4.4 percent come from North and Central America (they don't specify the number of Americans). The ultra-loose monetary policy unleashed by the Federal Reserve in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis has been particularly good to Carnival, which used the resulting low-interest-rate environment to load up on debt. And while it borrowed a lot, Carnival is actually the least indebted of the major cruise lines: At the end of 2019 it had only twice as much debt as it earned in a year before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, compared with about 3.5 times for both Norwegian Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean. Last Saturday, Barron's noted that if Carnival's earnings decrease by 20 percent this year, that "leverage ratio" (debt to earnings) would increase from 2 to 3. A Morgan Stanley analyst thinks Carnival will be able to weather the coronavirus so long as its revenue doesn't decrease by more than 21 percent this year.

At this point, a 21 percent decrease in revenue seems optimistic. Two of Carnival's ships have been quarantined, older passengers disproportionately account for cruise-ship passengers, the U.S. government has advised older people not to get on cruise ships for the foreseeable future, Carnival has already suspended all cruises from North America for 30 days, and virus cases in the U.S. are likely to rise exponentially in the coming weeks. It is quite possible that all of the major cruise operators will need to declare bankruptcy. While Carnival's stock has dropped almost 80 percent since January, it still could go a lot lower. All the way to zero, in fact.


And yet, at least one well-informed bank analyst now believes that Carnival is undervalued because it is too big to fail and will be thrown a giant buoy to stay afloat. The moral hazard created by the bailouts of a decade ago are undeniable in the hubris of this note, which suggests that investors can ignore bankruptcy risk for virtually any stock in the economy, even one premised entirely on luxury, because the government won't let anything fail.

To be sure, some companies might warrant a bailout during an unprecedented crisis of a global pandemic. The U.S. relies on a robust domestic airline network to help power the economy, and the airline industry employs over 740,000 full and part-time workers, according the U.S. Department of Transportation. Perhaps airlines, which are also heavily indebted, need to be helped, however bitter that pill is to swallow after years of consolidation and profits. But policymakers need to draw some lines as to which companies must survive. Carnival, which employs few Americans and is of no strategic economic value, is not one of those companies. But if we are not careful, they may be rescued. Some policymakers may be persuaded that if the cruise-line operators were to default, then credit markets could dry up, and no one would be willing to issue the debt necessary to help other over-leveraged companies that would fail without new injections of cash. This alone may be enough to justify cruise lines being considered too big to fail.

But that would be a mistake. There have been warning signs even before the coronavirus that corporate debt was at unsustainable levels, and cruise lines were already aware that publicity related to viruses on ships could significantly decrease demand. Carnival and its investors knew they were taking risks in order to boost their returns. They should have to pay for that risk-taking behavior, even in the face of a black-swan event. And if Carnival is too big to fail, then surely so is Hilton, and any other big tourism company.

What message would it send to Americans being furloughed from their jobs to see the government issuing interest-free loans to ensure that 180,000-ton pleasure palaces stay afloat? Before Congress rushes to save any corporation that comes begging, it should consider if it's right to bail out companies while Americans will be still expected to pay their mortgages, car loans, and credit-card debt. It's looking increasingly likely that Americans may get a check in the mail, but that's hardly the same as a loan to cover all their debts. Why should corporations get different treatment?

It would be a shame and a shock if cruise-line operators were to go bankrupt. And yet that is the nature of capitalism. Perhaps companies will learn to be less risky with debt. Perhaps in the age of global pandemics, cruise ships aren't a great idea, or perhaps some new, better form of tourism will take their place. We accept the negative consequences because of the innovation that competition can create. If we start bailing out cruise lines, it's more like socialism with none of the benefits of free stuff or guaranteed jobs. In a time of crisis, when events overtake rational thinking, it's important to step back and take stock of which industries are worth saving and which, however sad, should be allowed to sink.

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 03/20/2020 05:35 AM
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johnnyboy

Posts: 25071
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The socialism for the rich has always been chocked with euphemism and hard sells. Those boats aren't going to disappear because the companies that are currently going bankrupt cannot weather this storm. They get more sympathy and charity from our government than our millions upon millions who can't afford to even see a doctor when they stare at a thermometer and pray that fever is just the flu.

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"One of the reasons why propaganda tries to get you to hate government is because it's the one existing institution in which people can participate to some extent and constrain tyrannical unaccountable power." Noam Chomsky.

 03/20/2020 05:51 AM
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dingpatch

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It would be one thing to say that the cruise workers need help, etc. . . . . But, I'm not too sure about keeping all the "money changers" happy in the "market".

Then again, yes, perhaps the cruise lines really do need some help but, I'd say to hold off and see what their future expectations really look like. After all this COVID-19 crap clears, , , , how many people are still going to want to cruise?

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 03/20/2020 05:54 AM
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RustyTruck

Posts: 33298
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If public money is used to bail out private business, the public should take a stake of equity and move them one step closer to public ownership each time they collapse.

In the good times they pocket the cash, in the bad times they come to the people asking for a hand out. There has to be some incentive for them to make solvency a priority.

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Capitalism is based on the ridiculous notion that you can enjoy limitless growth in a closed, finite system.

In biology, such behavior of cells is called "cancer".
 03/20/2020 06:06 AM
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StirfryMcflurry

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Originally posted by: dingpatch Let the Cruise Lines Sink It would be a shame and a shock if cruise-line operators were to go bankrupt. .
FALSO & more horseshyt. It would be one of the best things ever to happen. They are gonna end up as floating hospitals, anyway.
 03/20/2020 06:28 AM
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tpapablo

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Well, I don't know about all that, but I did buy a bunch of Carnival shares the other day. No guts, no glory, fellows.

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 03/20/2020 06:37 AM
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Cole

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The public will fall in the streets before they let this industry die. Which is bullshit since they sail under flags of convenience.

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 03/20/2020 06:47 AM
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tpapablo

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Originally posted by: Cole The public will fall in the streets before they let this industry die. Which is bullshit since they sail under flags of convenience.
I wasn't counting on that. Thought the potential reward outweighed the risk. Figured that I'd either triple my investment or lose it all. Personally, I have never been on a cruise and most likely never will. Don't see myself enjoying the experience. But others do. We shall see what happens

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 03/20/2020 06:49 AM
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RustyTruck

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You don't want to be on a floating Petri dish Pabs?


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Capitalism is based on the ridiculous notion that you can enjoy limitless growth in a closed, finite system.

In biology, such behavior of cells is called "cancer".
 03/20/2020 06:50 AM
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Cole

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It's probably a good investment. When the government doesn't care about sinking deeper into debt, there is cash to be made, just look at Trump's staff for proof.

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 03/20/2020 06:56 AM
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tpapablo

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Originally posted by: RustyTruck You don't want to be on a floating Petri dish Pabs?
I don't want to be trapped. All this has validated my concerns in that regard. Hopefully, most other people will overlook that in the future.

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 03/20/2020 07:00 AM
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jdbman

Posts: 12159
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How is bailing out the cruise ship industry MAGA? How many of these ships are non US flagged? How many of the crews are US citizens? How much shit do these boats dump into the ocean?

The water quality at the port and JP area look better already.

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So if you are a surfer I wish you the prosperity that allows you more time to pursue the salt water dream, and the true happiness that comes from warm water, clean waves and the companionship of your fellow surfers. If you are an internet troll just spewing bs then f off.
 03/20/2020 07:28 AM
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theglide

Posts: 9422
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Let them sink, but first be sure to pump out the excrement from the passenger gluttony.

Let's keep our ocean clean.
 03/20/2020 07:43 AM
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tpapablo

Posts: 43826
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Originally posted by: jdbman How is bailing out the cruise ship industry MAGA? How many of these ships are non US flagged? How many of the crews are US citizens? How much shit do these boats dump into the ocean? The water quality at the port and JP area look better already.
It isn't. Shouldn't bail them out. No shit dumped I'm the ocean though, except by accident on infrequent occasions.

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 03/20/2020 07:45 AM
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Cole

Posts: 68176
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Originally posted by: tpapablo

Originally posted by: jdbman

How is bailing out the cruise ship industry MAGA? How many of these ships are non US flagged? How many of the crews are US citizens? How much shit do these boats dump into the ocean?



The water quality at the port and JP area look better already.


It isn't. Shouldn't bail them out. No shit dumped I'm the ocean though, except by accident on infrequent occasions.


Where do you think they dump it?



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 03/20/2020 08:00 AM
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SlimyBritches

Posts: 6461
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A few things one should know about cruise ships.
http://www.cruisejobfinder.com...gged-cruise-ships.php

http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2...-dirty-little-secret/

So Fug those death traps.
 03/20/2020 08:17 AM
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tpapablo

Posts: 43826
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Originally posted by: Cole
Originally posted by: tpapablo
Originally posted by: jdbman How is bailing out the cruise ship industry MAGA? How many of these ships are non US flagged? How many of the crews are US citizens? How much shit do these boats dump into the ocean? The water quality at the port and JP area look better already.
It isn't. Shouldn't bail them out. No shit dumped I'm the ocean though, except by accident on infrequent occasions.
Where do you think they dump it?
Pump out the tanks at port.. Now, to be clear, I'm only talking territorial waters. Different 3 miles or more out.

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 03/20/2020 08:38 AM
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Plan B

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Originally posted by: tpapabloPump out the tanks at port.. Now, to be clear, I'm only talking territorial waters. Different 3 miles or more out.
TRUE..... but all it takes is a steady onshore breeze to blow that "shit" into our waters (or anyone elses) regardless of that, it still spreads / contaminates..... we do eat fish from the open ocean ya know
 03/20/2020 08:50 AM
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tpapablo

Posts: 43826
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Well, all cruise ships out of the states (and most other places) highly treat their sewage and don't discharge the solid wastes at all, even when they are outside territorial waters. I wouldn't drink the stuff they discharge, but they treat it pretty thoroughly. It's not like dump raw sewage anywhere anymore. Very bad for the image. If they do it in our waters, it is very bad for their pocket book as well.

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 03/20/2020 09:41 AM
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Cole

Posts: 68176
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There are no pump stations in the port, for the cruise industry anyway. And the ships in Alaska treat their sewage, many out of southern ports do not. Three miles is nothing, the slightest onshore wind puts it right back on our doorstep.

Carnival, the one you invested in, is one of the worst.

http://www.businessinsider.com...to-ocean-report-2019-4

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I was right.
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