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Everything posted by tfred
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Capt Club email "something big is coming" Nov 6th
tfred replied to NutsAboutGolf's topic in Celebrity Cruises
certainly can see where the money is going - suites. I would hope that Luminae and Retreat deck are bigger than now. Judging by this, the suite bookings must be going well. They wouldn't be adding more hoping that it improves. -
Capt Club email "something big is coming" Nov 6th
tfred replied to NutsAboutGolf's topic in Celebrity Cruises
that is the meat of the cruise market these days. All the profit is there especially with ALL the people who have never cruised anywhere. Big ships=Big ports Other lines with smaller ships can do the more interesting itineraries. -
Capt Club email "something big is coming" Nov 6th
tfred replied to NutsAboutGolf's topic in Celebrity Cruises
Us also. Close to half price. -
During an earnings call RCI said that new cruisers tend to take 3,4,5 day cruises just to see of they like it. CoCoCay is in there for a reason - it allows something familiar for most people (day at the beach) and a cruise. If you never have been on a cruise it is an easy way to see what a cruise is like without committing time and money for a whole week. I think that is why you re seeing short cruises Saturday to Saturday, 7 day cruises are easy to fit into most working people's schedule. Longer cruises are for experienced cruisers.
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they aren't going to say on a video that the onboard food was "low quality". Variety is the only thing that they can talk about Again - it must be enough of a concern that their food was considered to be going downhill enough that it had to be addressed at a high level.
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Celebrity November and Black Friday Event Flyer
tfred replied to mahdnc's topic in Celebrity Cruises
OBC is probably gone. That was literally just giving money (and profit) away There isnt a vacation resort in the world that does that -
Eclipse: Our Celebrity Suite and Aqua Sky Suite Experience
tfred replied to bnurick's topic in Celebrity Cruises
I don't think that one can be a "selective eater" and be in a suite- especially on Edge Class. We have eaten in Luminae and always find something that is interesting and good. The menu is the menu and it generally has an edge to it Luminae is not a "bring me what I want or I only eat what I eat" kind of place. While the service is very personal and attentive, if you are there for only the service aspect you will find Luminae to be a low value. I have seen a few people eating Mac and cheese with well done steak night after night and wonder what they chose a suite since Luminae is a big part of that experience. -
what is the issue you want to address? Just about anything is handled by an admin and it is better to send it to someone who will address the issue quickly instead of being bounced from dept to dept.
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I think they all knew before setting foot on that ship that there was a problem regarding food on social media and cruise reviews. The ship visit (and the just released video) was just a way to publicly say "heard, understood, acknowledged" I dont think that change in itself is a disappointment as hotels and resorts aren't what they were 5, 10 or 15 years ago and they are doing ok. Chocolate fountain and midnight buffet ain't coming back. What they will have to change is offering a few better entree selections and a notch or two up of what is chosen. Tilapia is not a fish to be served in.a restaurant . People buy it and eat it at home but that doesnt mean it is ok to serve on board - especially at the new X prices. In general I think that actual preparation is good, but when combined with lower end cuts of meat it makes the dish look unappealing
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you don't know that yet. Wait until the menus come out
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the video is well done and seems sincere attempt at damage control. For it to get to this point (producing a video) X knows that there was a problem that needed to be addressed Classics are coming back, more variety on the menu and chocolate desert every night. The said by Thanksgiving so that is pretty soon. Not stated is the "where's my prime rib steak and Maine lobster tail" every night crowd. I am afraid that they are SOL. If they are looking for that they should go to Fine Cut
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Your last line probably shows why X added CoCo Cay.
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The meat of the US market is the 7 day Carribbean route. There is no shortage of people who go to the same Florida resort every year because there are no surprises, they like what they like and it is easy to get to. People who are used to land resorts (e.g. JW Marriotts) are the likely targets of X et al looking to replicate that experience on a ship. Other than the Caribbean (especially at a X suite level) I can't imagine taking an X ship. Those trips are mostly port intensive which puts big boats at a disadvantage. Long bus rides to see anything means less time at the site. In general, all you get above Sky Suites is a bigger room. Butler service may be marginally better but you are still eating in Luminae - nice but it is the only restaurant except at the top levels where you can choose specialty. To me the dollars just dont work at the value offering above Sky no matter the route
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We booked a 12 night Med on SSea (includes excursions) for a lower price than X in 2024. Small ship with small ports made it a no-brainer. We like Luminae but we liked the choice on SSea as it is much broader why do people book on X? Easy to get to Florida gateways (not St Martin or Barbados). One week segment that fit into their vacation schedule. Luxury lines have the word "formal" in their brochure. X is somewhat known as a name. Almost 40% of pax dont get off the ship in the Caribbean so the big boat concept of activities is a plus for many
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They would if it is presented as a resort that moves. Looking at X advertising, that is what they are doing.
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Are Celebrity ships sailing at full capacity now?
tfred replied to DimSum's topic in Celebrity Cruises
https://www.travelagentcentral.com/your-business/cost-now-less-important-leisure-travelers-stats then there is this -
Are Celebrity ships sailing at full capacity now?
tfred replied to DimSum's topic in Celebrity Cruises
the other number of interest is what the average extra revenue from the pax on board. Cruise fare and occupancy rates are one thing as it covers the cost but X needs spa, specialty restaurants and other add ons to push profit. -
I would have. CC is a very specific (small) set of people who have very strong opinions. That isn't what you are looking for in a survey although it may be a good idea of what CCers are thinking. Bad news is that no is going to run a business based on what anyone says here Surveys are designed to get a clear(er) view of what are the trends. Survey Questions ask the same thing twice but in a different way to make sure they are truthfully answered
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that was a total softball, underhand throw interview with prearranged questions with a very friendly interviewer. The only purpose was to let people see that she acts like a normal. likable person. Mission accomplished
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then whats the point of your survey - a very narrow group of people with an even smaller subset that replies? You know what the result would be without the poll
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They aren't giving anything away at AI Resorts like Sandals. A quick lookout some of their locations for a week gives a price of $6K. . Looking a 7 night on Edge Class at the same time is $5k in a veranda room with tips, booze and food. My recent stay at a Marriott Key Largo resort for 3 days was about $3k with room, A la carte booze and food. Both AI and X have drinks , snacks, pools, bars, tv - so pretty much the same X's advertising is centered on the resort that sails from island to island. They can give the average vacationer a familiar concept (resort ) that offers a different view every day.
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Only shows the CC people on this site. Not valid for the population including newbs who dont look at CC
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I would love to see the % of pax who are new cruisers now. My guess is that it is higher than you think. I look at X FB pages and there many new cruisers asking the usual new cruise questions X et al are trying to replicate the land based resort experience. That experience doesnt include OBC or free anything. Stay at any Marriott resort and see what the experience is - expensive, no entertainment, with very few freebies unless you are a very high status person (and even then there isnt much) It is easy to spend upwards of $1k/night with just a standard room. BTW - those land resorts are jammed with people Cruise Critic is comprised of long term cruisers who want much of what they had before - way before. New people have no idea of yesteryear and if X can follow the land resort model they won't care or know what it used to be like.