phoenix_dream

totally agree. I've been on several cruises recently with stagnant roll calls and full ships. My opinion is that a lot of people booking cruises this year are new to cruising, and don't even know about Cruise Critic.

yes, my point was that they have not eliminated the "on request" option. In your post I was referencing you said it was up to the individual hotel managers if they wanted to offer daily housekeeping. In the paragraph you posted you are assuming that means not all properties even will provide it on request. I interpret it to mean some may still offer daily housekeeping without the need to request. But enough Hilton debate. Let's get back to complaining about Celebrity lol

And which crystal ball did you use to determine that? Maybe you're not aware but oftentimes they do some updates while they are sailing. For example, on our last cruise we left one day to old balcony furniture and came back to brand new. I understand they can't do a significant update while at sea, but they can make more changes than you would think, I sailed Eclipse about 9 months ago and while it was certainly not perfect, I would not have described it as sad. We were in an Aqua Class cabin.

Here's a direct quote from their website: Housekeeping Hilton continues to offer daily housekeeping to our guests, free of charge, across all of our hotels around the world. It goes on to say that the higher level properties provide it without the need to request it. I can't speak to your experience. Maybe you were told otherwise but the website says differently. All I can say is that I have been to many of their properties, at all levels up to Hilton, and except for early on during Covid restart I have never had an issue requesting housekeeping, nor ever had anyone ask me for a tip. There have been some occasions where we requested extra pillows or whatever and did not get immediate service, and sometimes have to call more than once. So i do certainly agree that service is not what it used to be.

Yes, you have some excellent shows. Two of my faves are Love, and The Bronx Wanderers.

I am also a Hilton Diamond member who has traveled extensively since the pandemic, in Embassy Suites, Doubletree, Home2Suites, Hilton, Hampton Inn etc. in multiple locations. Have not experienced any of the issues you mention except at the very beginning of restart and have never, ever had anyone ask me about a tip. We ask for daily housekeeping when we register and get it every day. No issue. Is it really that big a deal to ask at the front desk for housekeeping or perhaps pick up a phone the night before and make a quick phone call?. Yes, it’s a cost saving measure but as long as I can get it by asking I just don’t see why it’s such a big deal.

I used to love Las Vegas. Have relatives living there and have been going for literally 40+ years. If “normal” means the casinos are recently raking in tons of $$ then you could say it is. Or you could say that last time I visited service everywhere was awful, hotel prices were much higher than last year, airfare that used to be $300 or so is now $500-$600, I had $200 dining credit and still owed $50 more for a nice dinner at Mirage/Hardrock, and as a final insult the blackjack odds were just changed to grab more $$ from visitors. If that’s normal I want no part of it.

You do realize that contracts for these new ships were already signed which makes them legally obligated to adhere to their commitments? And at this point it’s not wholly a matter of growing the business but rather of recouping millions of dollars lost. Of course any business ultimately wants to grow but it takes a long time to make up for all those losses.

Back to normal in the US? You’ve got to be joking or you live in a far different area than I do! Is it better than it was? Definitely. Back to normal? No way. There are help wanted signs everywhere, especially for service jobs. Tons of seniors who used to work lots of those jobs are aging out and/or decided to retire earlier than planned. For reasons I can’t figure out teens and younger adults either aren’t working service jobs or are finding other ways to earn $$.

I just had filet in Le Petit and it was great. They vary the menus - perhaps they had other offerings other nights?

Why am I adjusting my expectations you ask. The reason is that the world has changed. All companies are struggling with supply issues, difficulties hiring staff, training new staff, etc.. Cruise lines lost millions of dollars from the shutdown. In order to survive they need to make cuts and raise prices. Only a clueless person expects life to be the same as before because it just isn’t. To expect it to be is just a recipe for disappointment. Doesn’t mean one can’t or shouldn’t address important issues when/if they happen. But it will take time for things to get back to normal.

I agree with you. I am not faulting people for posting bad experiences. I just want to hear some good things for a change. That’s the only purpose of my post🙂

There are so many posts these days complaining about just about everything on Celebrity. I wanted to start one doing the opposite. I have cruised 17 times since the restart (yes, it's nice to be retired!). I've sailed nine different ships, including M, S, and E. I've sailed in various cabins from Aqua Class to suites. Of all those cruises, I can honestly say only one was a bit subpar with service and food and it was not that bad. The rest ranged from very good to excellent overall. I'm not saying everything was perfect, or that there aren't some cutbacks and changes that bother me but overall I would not hesitate to book with Celebrity again if the price is right. I know prices are very high now and honestly that has caused me to cut back a bit on upcoming bookings, but I think that is an issue with all cruise lines right now, as are some of the other challenges they are facing. I've adjusted my expectations accordingly. So how about we have some feedback from those who have had some great sailings in the past few years? Come on, I know you're out there!

I agree 100% that it matters not one bit which side of the ship you are on as regards viewing scenery. On Alaska cruises you are either in the Inside Passage, where each side has a good view, or in open seas where you are far enough away from shore it doesn't matter. At the glacier, they rotate the ship so all sides have views. It may mean you do or don't face the port when docked but that can change by sailing so you can't predict.

I don't even know how to respond to posts like this. I am sorry the OP experienced a cruise they felt was very lacking. It was their cruise and their opinion of their experience. All I can say is that I have sailed a lot since re-start - don't know the exact number but at least a dozen including 6 so far this year alone - in cabins from Aqua to suites on a variety of Celebrity ships, M, E, and S class. Of all those cruises only one was somewhat below par, and far from horrible. So from my perspective, if this cruise really was as bad as advertised, I feel it was an exception.

You're joking, but I love their meatloaf! Enjoy it much more than some of the supposedly more sophisticated offerings, especially in Luminae

IMHO they could have designed it differently. On S class for example there is a dividing wall which helps with the noise and creates a more intimate feel. I know those were remodeled venues, but they could have designed E class venues similarly. Instead they went for the least costly approach which creates noise and ambiance issues.

There really is no way to know. Anything can change from one cruise to another.

You are probably right about that. But I'd rather have people complaining about something that doesn't adversely affect my health rather than something like loud noise, which does.

I have it also - it is definitely nothing to take lightly. No cure and it never ends - non-stop ringing. People who don't have it have no idea how bad it can be. They also don't realize that there are many ways to get it - from a build-up of loud noises over the years to perhaps one loud incident. Believe it or not, mine went from very minor (almost unnoticeable) to moderate and very annoying after attending my dream concert - Paul McCartney. I always carry ear plugs with me and sometimes I find it necessary to use them onboard. That should not have to be the case, but unfortunately it is. In particular I've found the main theater on Apex horrendously loud, as well as sometimes in the bar areas.

I have done this multiple times. They will provide a vase but sometimes it can take awhile for them to get it to you as embarkation day is very busy for the room stewards.

And I see, if someone disagrees with you and dares to say so, they are “deliberately defensive”. You didn’t step on toes. You just complained and many felt your complaints were unwarranted. They said so. Which apparently you translate to them not being friendly. So you disagreed with them some more, again and again and again in post after post after post. One can then only assume that your main intent was for people to either agree with or feel sorry for you, not sure which. But you’re right about at least one thing, enough is enough for this thread.

I would ask for the free meds at guest relations on the first day then buy them in port. They are meclizine. In the US there are generic brands, and also sold as Dramamine ||. The Alaska seas are usually very calm with two potential exceptions. The first is for Seattle cruises heading around the bend to Canada, which doesn’t affect your cruise. The second is sailing across the gulf of Alaska towards Seward. On rare occasions you may encounter some mild movement elsewhere outside of the Inside Passage but it’s not common.

The best place to buy it! Really inexpensive there.

Have you tried asking for a different dessert onboard? I've read reports of chefs making special desserts for these situations. Probably more luck with that if in a suite, the higher level the better.