phoenix_dream

I have sailed Alaska a couple times since Starlink. Honestly I've had mixed results.  Sometimes it was awful. Strangely enough, in port it was often worse. Much better than my sailings there pre-Starlink but can't 100% guarantee no issues 

On my two Apex sailings the bars were jammed and noisy. The martini bar was never available and the area around it was very, very full also. Eden had seats if you were willing to sit very far away or upstairs. That said, I just booked her again for next year primarily due to the itinerary and somewhat lower suite prices than newer E class ships 

Sorry not familiar with that port

And as a side note, many of the pictures on their website of verandas show loungers.

3 hours ago, ggo85 said:

On our current cruise, yesterday, someone fell off a horse on a shore excursion.  Two days earlier, someone slipped on the ice during a shore excursion and broke her wrist.  The horse person is in a wheelchair and the wrist person was taken to a hospital in another part of the country-- her cruise is over. 

 

That's 2 SERIOUS shore excursion incidents on a single cruise (that isn't over yet) -- and those are just the ones that I know about.  Imagine the number fleet wide -- probably 50 per week! 

 

Using X's logic, they definitely need to ban shore excursions!

 

Of course they won't, b/c shore excursions generate revenue.   

Excellent point!

4 hours ago, 1Virgo said:

wonder where those 50 documented incidents happened.   the loungers on decks around pool and track, are jammed together.    suspicious. We ve never seen or heard of anyone hurt by a lounger on any of our cruises.   Another cookie gate

Exactly.  If there were so many of these supposed incidents the Cruise Critic boards would be blowing up. And let's say it's true. 50 incidents out of hundreds of thousands of passengers?! Come on. Why should we all have to suffer. 

4 minutes ago, pattyj 1204 said:

Thanks for the additional information-I've been to Alaska several times and didn't suffer with seasickness like I did on our Australian cruise. That was miserable.  Guess we won't be changing cabins as we are midship on deck 7. 

The Bay of Alaska can be very rough on some sailings.  Make sure to pay attention to the Captain's sea forecasts.

My favorite production show of all their ships is Rockumentary.

1 minute ago, Surfgirl said:

I’m sorry if this has been asked a million times before, but I couldn’t find the answer to my question. I even did a search on the Celebrity website.

I drink bottled water at home and Body Armor electrolyte  drink. Both are in plastic bottles. Can I bring them in my carry on? Both come in plastic containers. I know that some cruise lines only allow you to bring aluminum cans on board. I don’t drink alcohol or soda so the drink package isn’t worth it to me, and I know the cruise water is potable, but I prefer my brand of bottled water. Thank you in advance for your guidance.

Which port? On some I've seen signs prohibiting it.

4 hours ago, RichYak said:

Personally, I would never book a Retreat Guaranty for fear of being assigned an accessible Sky Suite. It's just not worth the risk to me.

Our relatives booked an accessible suite on Apex because they need one, and there were many things I loved about it.  It was 1/3 larger than our SS, including a bigger balcony.  The bathroom was huge and had an actual shower rather than the awful bathtubs.  My only issue with it was that the TV was at a weird angle from the bed IMHO.  Otherwise I'd be very happy to be assigned that type of suite!  To each their own I guess.

23 hours ago, paulh84 said:

Times change. Sooner than later the current loyalists, Zeniths, special people, whatever they title themselves will be washed out and replaced with a different segment of people. Just like the current crop replaced the ones that were the loyalists in the 80’s and 90’s who wore their dinner jackets and recycled mother of the bride dresses. That group has expired and so will this one. But now Celebrity tries to shift focus and gives the complainers some white haired people in the photos that represent them and it’s pandering. I think this group may be most content with having something to complain about. 

No need to be so rude about it, just because I disagree with you (which unlike you I did politely)

1 hour ago, hcat said:

If the X perks are not as good as ones on  Royal, curious why so many are Crossing over? 

 

Maybe it's something  beyond the perks that really count?

I can tell you at Zenith level, versus the matching Pinnacle level, the perks are WAY better on Celebrity.  I think a lot of the people you hear about switching over are at Pinnacle level, and there are a heck of a lot more of them than there are Zeniths.

1 hour ago, Jeremiah1212 said:

 

Not correct. They aren't going to do anything on this board to appease everyone (or anyone?) Too young, too old. The entire brand campaign and focus was revamped in April. 

 

 

 

Not that it matters but the lady is 67 and quite an accomplished photographer herself. There is no 'max age range'.

We can agree to disagree.  I definitely think they are trying to overcome their accusations of pushing out all of us very loyal (and mostly older) customers.  They have had a lot of complaining, not just on these boards, but on other sites like Facebook, in onboard conversations with management, with letters and emails to the CEO from people (particularly but not exclusively Zeniths and Elite Plus cruisers).  As a Zenith (and I only note this as it is pertinent to my point) I have seen, heard, and heard of many conversations going on of that type with ship's senior officers.  They are trying to throw us a bone so to speak with this and a few other minor changes meant to pacify our frustration.

2 hours ago, canderson said:

It took Celebrity a couple of decades to finally realize what most of us had known for years -- the FV was the best value in terms of space and location available on a Celebrity ship.  I remember that they would occasionally run up an "FV Guarantee".  I never booked one for fear that I might get upgraded to a Sky Suite - assured to be less space, and not in as nice a location!

 

I remember in the very early days, these were just considered regular balcony cabins!  We sailed in them a number of times,  Then they became FV's which you could only book with at least 4 people I think it was (until right before sailing if they were available).  And now Sky Suites.  Money grab after money grab.  Same reason many of the less desirably located balcony rooms suddenly became Aqua Class so people would pay more and actually book them to get Blu and spa access.  Similar thing that recently happened to create Aqua Sky suites - they are in the best locations compared to being under the buffet in regular Sky Suites, so make them Aqua so you can charge a lot more.  Ugh!!

2 minutes ago, Salf777 said:

Just canceled 3 upcoming Celebrity cruises in a suites. Haven’t liked the changes celebrity has been making and this was just the last thing that made me decide that what they offer now for the suites doesn’t justify the prices they are charging. Trying out a few real “luxury” lines for not much more and/or very close in pricing. 
IMHO Celebrity’s new CEO is making many wrong decisions. But I’m not the CEO. From my discussion with staff onboard recently Celebrity is trying to appeal to a new crowd and become more “Royal”. It seems as if they are tired of existing customer base and finding a new base willing to pay more for less. If it works good for them. However this reminds me a lot of what recently happened with Disney. A new CEO came in and raised the prices on everything. Well for a while it worked everything was consistently packed and they made a ton of money. Eventually the old CEO is back

I hope you will consider writing a letter/email to the CEO advising them of what the impact was to you.  They need to keep hearing this.  

On 6/6/2024 at 10:04 PM, voyager1964 said:

There is no need to reinvent the wheel, really. Happy reading 🙂

and

 

Not sure what your point is.  Apparently at one time Royal had fire safety issues also based on your postings.  But now they do have footstools on their balconies (not sure about loungers) - at least I saw them on Icon a few months ago.  Same cruise line owners; likely same insurance company.

32 minutes ago, George C said:

Bottom line is celebrity perks for elite and elite plus are terrible 

but there suite perks are way better than rccl. 

As are their Zenith versus Pinnacle which is why so many Pinnacles are talking about switching over to Celebrity - a lot easier money-wise to reach Pinnacle and a heck of a lot better perks with their new Zenith match.  We got the short end of that change for sure.

We usually go to the earlier show and then dinner after.  On Eclipse the shows will likely be 7 and 9.  One word of advice - if you don't want to wait in a bit of a line at the restaurant, just leave the show ASAP as soon as it ends while the Cruise Director is wrapping it up with info on what's going on that night (which you can find yourself in the app or the daily planner).

1 hour ago, WestLakeGirl said:

And yet how do explain this model?  She is in current ads

I explain it by calling it pandering as they have been accused many times by their very loyal cruisers for targeting the younger crowd, and many have talked about trying other brands because of it - and have done so.  Nothing they have changed in recent times have been to attract an older crowd.  Putting one picture of an older person in an ad doesn't change that.  I could go on and on and list the changes I mean but not worth it as it won't change anything.

Celebrity is all about marketing towards the younger, more affluent, working crowd so I don't see them adding much in the way of longer cruises or exotic itineraries.  I so wish they would bring back the 14 night Caribbean options but that is just a wish and a dream at this point.  I just don't get it myself.  They are competing against their own brand, Royal, who already appeals to that crowd and has many HUGE ships to fill.  I am no marketing guru but it just makes no sense to me.  People can only carry that huge credit card debt so long so I predict they may come to regret this decision.  But upper management in general in all types of business and CEO's in particular tend to only look a year or two ahead to make sure they get their big bonus so I don't see this changing any time soon as the strategy is working for now.

It is very, very rare that you will not be given a room.  It has happened a couple of times but the internet would be exploding if it happened regularly.  Sometimes people literally get assigned the day of sailing - sometimes even at the gate.  Fingers crossed for you - maybe you'll luck out into something even better!  Let us know what happens.

The insurance explanation makes some sense until one considers the chairs are made of the same material,  as were the footstools.  Plus I would be willing to bet a cruise that Royal uses the same carrier but they have loungers. Still doesn't make any sense

3 hours ago, Torfamm said:

This is what it all comes down to. The latest a ship I’ve been on has been cleared for disembarking at Port Everglades is 8:45. For some that would make them absolutely miserable with stress.

We are in a situation like the OP where there aren’t plenty of flights. It’s usually a choice of cutting it close or sitting around most of the day and arriving home very late.

 

If missing the flight and having to reschedule is less inconvenient than booking the later flight or waiting a day, then it’s fine.

The latest I've been on is 9:30. Would like to know how someone can catch a 10:00 that time! It's happened twice to us.

All cabins have umbrellas, but I prefer smaller ones.  In Alaska it is best, IMHO, to just bring ponchos and other rain wear for walking around town.  

On 6/3/2024 at 4:25 AM, hcat said:

what are less crowded alternatives?

On M class our favorite is definitely the Rendezvous Lounge.  Lots of seating so you can almost always find a decent one.  Live music.  A dance floor if you are so inclined.  Can't get your specialty martinis there but all else is great.  On S class we go to Ensemble.  Similar, although much smaller so sometimes it is also too full to get a seat.