Letter from Sixthman
Hello Kruisers!
Thank you to those who were a part of the inaugural KISS Kruise: Wet, Wild & Rockin’! The kruise was amazing, and we are always looking for ways to take it to the next level. We sent out a post event survey, and got great feedback from our kruisers. Thanks to you, we’ve identified a few things that we know we can improve upon for next year’s Kruise.
Photo with KISS
Getting a photograph with the wildest rockers out there is important to every KISS fan, and we plan on making it an awesome experience for everyone. This past year, we were faced with limited time, and did not execute the process as well as we could have. We tested out the small group photo with 6-8 guests and many of you were not completely satisfied. We heard your voices, and next year, KISS promises to do a cabin photo for guests. No strangers in your photo, no unfairly uneven groups. It will be just you, your cabin mates, & your favorite band! We also realize we could have communicated the process better, and plan on doing just that- each guest will know without a doubt how the photo is going to work.
Autographs
Our philosophy is to create memorable and unique experiences with your favorite band, and we understand that an autograph from KISS is something you’ve probably always dreamed of attaining. We don’t want guests shuffling through a room where the band has been sitting for hours, but we do want to make sure you get something signed. We can promise a happy medium- every guest will receive a pre-signed, authentic & official autographed kruise print in your cabin upon arrival onboard! This will ensure the band members will have time to be involved in different activities onboard, while still providing each of you with a signed keepsake.
Onboard Activities
When brainstorming onboard activities for The KISS Kruise, the sky’s the limit. We work to add that extra special touch that normal festivals just don’t have. We recognize the ways in which onboard activities can be improved. We will be more thoughtful to the execution of any event that involves prizing and giveaways, and we have already put in place more processes to analyze the events before we sail to ensure proper execution. We promise to set better expectations of activities further in advance, supplying guests with the information they need to enjoy themselves onboard.
Communication
Along with better execution of the onboard activities, we promise to improve upon communication. We do our best to stick to the schedule, but there are always issues that come up that are beyond our control. When we have to utilize a backup rain plan, we can make more ship announcements and post signage in multiple languages for our international guests. We will work to have 3 update stations onboard that will stay constant throughout the event, with those locations listed in your program. We want you to know exactly where to check in for any possible last minute changes.
Pricing & Too Short Sale Time
We heard your feedback about the high prices and short time from when the event went onsale to when we actually sailed. Due to the uniqueness of this type of festival, taking into account the entertainment fees, this type of cruise will always be more expensive then a regular one. But that being said, we are excited to present you with a few ways to make the overall payment process better for you. We will again offer a payment schedule, but this year you will have 9 months to pay off your cruise balance versus the 5 months you had last year. This will allow for smaller amounts due at the payment dates throughout the year. Starting with a much lower minimum deposit due at time of booking. This year we are also excited to offer an auto-billing option to cabins that want to have regular payments in the same amount each time taken off of one credit card throughout the year allowing you to “set it and forget it!” To top it all off, overall the prices per person within all the cabin types are about $100 cheaper. We know many of you wish to bring whole family along, and we hope this allows for just that!
Interaction with the Band
The first time we produce a new event with a new band, it’s a bit of an experiment. Both you and the band are feeling out this new situation. Many of you requested that KISS interacts more, and after this inaugural sailing they are excited to do just that! The most important thing to the band for The KISS Kruise 2012 is to be able to walk around and hang with everyone. After going thru your feedback in the survey, we have a plan we would like to try.
Considering each guest is guaranteed a photo with the band in full makeup AND an autographed item, we ask that you respect the band during their down time. Please understand that extra photos & autographs with KISS will not be allowed. This way, the guys can be more interactive. We believe that this will allow us to create an environment where they can walk around the ship and enjoy the cruise without being stopped for another photo or autograph.
We also promise to create more moments such as Mini Golf with Tommy, the Kasino Tournaments with Eric, or Quarters with Skid Row, where you can interact with the bands in a way that would never occur off the kruise. The band has committed to have each member host an activity onboard in addition to their indoor rock show, unmasked & acoustic outdoor show, Q&A, cabin photos with guests. For more insight about this subject, check out CEO, Andy Levine’s blog.
We hope you keep us accountable to these promises. We want this event to be the best possible experience and we look forward to gathering the KISS Navy together again!
See you onboard,
KISS & Sixthman