cruisefam38

Perspective is important, and so are historical facts. On observation, or an event I happened to witness: We sailed on Beyond for a 10 night Ultimate Caribbean this spring, disembarking on Monday, April 1. This was our third cruise with Capt. Kate, and during each cruise we had multiple pleasant, even charming interactions with her. The final interaction this time, as it had been during the other two cruises, was during disembarkation. Near the end of the zigzag gangway, the Hotel Director and Capt. McCue were seeing off passengers. As we walked upon the scene, I saw the mother of a family tell the captain that her son had something to show the captain. Capt. Kate promptly squatted down and focused her considerable energies on the young passenger. He showed her the item and explained its importance. Capt. Kate nodded a couple of times and admired the item, asked a couple of questions, and left no doubt the item was interesting and worthy of attention. I could see that young lad's smiling face before he turned away. I believe today, if you ask him about a ship's captain, he would not describe a 65 year old man, with ruddy, wind blown cheeks, a captain's cap, a pipe and a Hemingwayesque beard. No, he would tell you about the lady with the lively eyes, the big smile, the ponytail, and the quicksilver mind. Call it style, panache, or as other's have, charisma, this person has It. Undeniably competent at the helm, leads by example, and she emphasizes crew accountability and development, the Master of Beyond doesn't just do her job. Only an opinion, but I believe Captain Kate McCue is more than worth her salt.

Logic? Common sense?

Hello RK-NC! I know where Graham is, don't know much about the town. Burlington, Mebane, Graham. The hazards of booking a Spring cruise are Spring Break and religious holidays. Those are going to be very energized cruises. I made hide in the cabin some days. When your time comes, I wish you a most enjoyable cruise

This thread has been timely, we board the Beyond in about three weeks. Thank you for sharing your experiences and perspective.

Also, arid and hot. Nonetheless, Uluru and Kata Tjuta are well worth the time. We hope you and DWAliascheif thoroughly enjoy the trip to the Red Center.

terrydtx, I appreciate your critical reviews, which do include giving credit when and where it is due. We will enjoy our cruise on Beyond next month, and I retain hope for the quality service we have always received from Celebrity shipboard staff.

This bears repeating. I will remember the performance and the theater at Ephesus as long as I live. Another example was the Azamazing Evening last Feb. 1 in Cartagena : Carnaval De Barranquilla at Teatro Adolfo Mejia. The theater was a stellar setting for the performance, such that the same performance could not have been as wonderful had it been aboard the Onward.

Ah. Thank you Phil. A third read through of avw's post could certainly be interpreted otherwise. avw, not OP, author of the article. tgg, I do not retract my positive impression of you.

Having met tgg on a cruise, they gave the impression of a nice, thoughtful person not given to rash or hyperbolic actions. Privately owned businesses have the option to keep their decisions behind closed doors, and generally can play things closer to the vest. I appreciate they shared the info. Sycamore Partners has shown they are comfortable with the strategy of growing a cruise line by purchasing an older ship and refurbishing it, rather than building new ships. That MO fits with the news about Margaritaville at Sea doubling their fleet to two ships.

As of the moment, Sycamore Partners has not updated their website to reflect this cruise line expansion. On a side note, Cruise Hive website is reporting Azamara had a record sales year in the UK : https://www.cruisehive.com/cruise-line-reaches-record-sales-in-the-uk-and-plans-to-keep-it-going/117595

Will the drydock include removing and sandblasting away the Big Orange Barnacle?

We have a cruise on the books for next spring, and we are hoping the poorly conceived and executed changes will be revert back to a quality product grounded in good service. In other words, past the commotions and after the dust has settled, we too hope we still recognize Celebrity Cruise Line.

I was neither edified or entertained by watching that Q&A. However, my thoughts and opinions regarding Celebrity leadership are crystalizing.

Very much our experience in Sky Suites. Except for one notable exception, the butlers assigned to our cabins assisted their co-workers by lending a hand in daily chores, as well as taking care of the chores you listed. We remember a time when there were stateroom attendants and their assistants, that changed. In suites class, there was a time when there was a stateroom attendant and a butler. Now, there is only the stateroom attendant. What's the business take on this? Something like: if you want to increase the work load for an employee, don't give a raise, give them a new title. Presto changeo, the attendant becomes a Retreat Host.

Which is to say that when a guest has a request, the guest will ask the readily available staff for assistance, instead of seeking out the behind-the-scenes staff. The Retreat Concierge is a face-to-face encounter that makes a positive impression on the passenger. Which puts a different light on the claim that a team of fewer individuals scurrying around the ship trying to fulfill requests can or will replicate that the same level services that the group of specifically assigned butlers interacting daily with their guests can provide. Who could have foreseen that outcome?