Member Info for Bhants

Any bets on what will happen in the next 10 minutes?

B

That is my hope, too, AParky. Provided there are no untoward external factors as mentioned below, I would expect to get to that level by Spring/summer next year, possibly £25.

Fine line between Hope and wishful thinking, maybe. Don’t understand why the drop this pm though. I suspect Topo would put it down to MM’s (is that Mischief Makers?).

B

Only if you’re happy with the roller coaster ride this share will give along the way. Just today, it has fluctuated by 40p or more. Quite a steep drop in the last hour or so for no obvious reason taking it back to close to opening price.

🤯

B

They have already managed significant reductions in interest payments. The $500m note today is at 7% fixed until 2029.

The re-financing of $1bn ditto. Overall result is $120m less interest due annually.

As far as repaying debt is concerned, they have a 5-8 year plan to bring it down to effectively near zero. So, whilst it is “still a highly leveraged company” the debt is all secured and represents less than 50% of net assets.

The Q3 results at the end of next month will continue the trend in improving cash flow and might even show a net profit. If that happens, it will exceed market expectations and the share price will…………. probably drop, because sentiment rules.

Like Bot, I would expect £20 by summer next year, possibly £25 if there are no other adverse conditions, e.g. another pandemic, war in the Middle East, etc.

B

Not on P & O or Cunard, of course………….Oh, wait a minute, but not THAT weird. Just thinking of some of the entertainment.

Anyone ever heard of Fontwell Flax? Brilliant but weird.

Then there’s steak and kidney pie at midnight - only ok if the mash is good and buttery.

B

PS never done Cunard but what don you think of the pairing with Michel Roux and the new eateries for Queen Anne next year?

Also noted the new finance was secured in 24 hours yesterday. Seems like institutions still very happy to lend to Carnival. Must be good news.

B

Well, up 20p already - flummoxing, to say the least.

Thanks Bot for all your input - especially about Topo and his webcams. I did have my suspicions……😎

Trying to persuade other half to do Arvia in September next year for her 75th - OOOPS, I should have said that (as Hagrid says).

Have a good day everyone. More birthday celebrations for me - lunch with friends than a takeaway tonight with family. Have to keep eating loads to stay in form for a cruise!

B

Topo, we all know it doesn’t take much, if anything to depress CCL.

I would just point to their latest refinancing announcement though where Carnival have been able to secure lower fixed rates. However, the MM’s will play it for all they can get out of it, as usual.

BTW, Hargreaves Lansdown issued a note over the weekend saying they liked tge look of NatWest. I suppose that is why the share price dropped a couple of pence. Kiss of death?

B

Actually,Bot, they were X-fronts. A mere technicality, I suppose. What else was I supposed to do on a surprisingly sunny day? Do they have community or town-wide webcams everywhere?

B

SP just about holding its own after the morning rise.

B

Depends on the ship. Certainly Iona and Arvia are completely “Freedom”.

B

Holo, we just got back off Iona. Using the app does make life easier but you can always just queue up at the main dining rooms.

For other venues your best bet would be to go to reception, or phone them, to book a seat. The speciality restaurants fill up very quickly, as do some of the entertainments.

So, you do still have a choice but you are very firmly pushed towards using the app. Crowd management. On Arcadia and Aurora, they are less dependent on the app because they are so much older.

Hope this helps.

B

Our first cruise was Oriana in 2010. We have done pretty much one a year since then so hav3 achieved the Mediterranean tier loyalty, soon to be Caribbean. We don’t fly because other half gets the worst ear problems that will take 24 /48 hours to recover from. So, we get a taxi to Soton. Cheaper than using CPS - the longer the cruise the better the value.

You had me worried when you said the boss was going to be with you or your next. Does that mean you go single sometimes?

Milling I over Arvia to the Med in Sept next year as its other half’s 75th. It was mine last week. Gone are the days when we used to lower the average passenger age when we boarded. I think we increase it now.

Not a bad day today - a small increase not to be sniffed at. Even so, there was a sudden spike around lunchtime. I’m with you on the MM’s Topo.

B

You can get the cream tea on P & O as well - they don’t publicise it though. Would love to indulge but the consequent bulge isn’t worth contemplating!

B

Thanks Mirik, worth knowing.

B

Topo, one other thing, there was no bridge, hosted or otherwise, on Iona but I guess that is because the cruise was only a week.

B

I love to hear about others’ experiences. Until now we have has a suite on Arcadia or Aurora. We had a balcony on Oceana - remember her? Tge rumour was that Arcadia was to be sold, then Oceana went.

I thought I heard somewhere that P & O would not now have any new ships commissioned until 2026. Perhaps we shall try Arvia sometime but it looks like she will spend a lot of time in the Caribbean and we don’t fly (hence cruises from Southampton). So, our chances of that may be limited. Are any of Azura, Britannia or Ventura worth a try? Or even Princess?

Hope we have a stable or rising week to come!

B

Yes, not sure K but both Arcadia and Aurora are scheduled for refits. Arcadia is a dry dock refit in November 2024 and Aurora in April 2025 (extensive refit in 2019).

Paul Ludlow (P&O UK's President) said that Arcadia and Aurora were two of their "most beloved ships in the fleet offering guests a more intimate experience in stylish surroundings."

I hope that means they are keeping them both on. Last time I was on Aurora was pre 2019.

B

Hi Topo and all, first, apologies for the outburst in my previous post. Something got to me!

We had a really great experience, much to our surprise as we had not been on one of these largest ships before. What we came to realise was that where as ships like Arcadia takes you various destinations, a ship like Iona is the destination in itself. It was lovely to see families together and the provision in the various children’s’ clubs seemed to work well. Food was excellent, entertainment varied and good, plenty of venues to choose from and, above all, staff who were happy to be there and wanting to help. Conservatory Mini Suite was a little tight for room and storage in the main area but the “conservatory” and balcony were light and airy. Getting off was one of the smoothest ever. Would we go again? Absolutely yes.

Improvement in the share price will be a bonus!

B

Fordy, I don’t blame you in the least, well not much anyway.

B