poffles

I think this might be more of their challenge area, filling the longer itineraries. Seeing them doing the shorter cruises and moving ships around to the Caribbean would indicate where they are best able to fill the ships. Seems to work for them and it is definitely a specific target market. I have not gone to the future desk in a long time, it doesn't even enter my mind. Not entirely due to Celebrity's changes (some I shrug off, others possible deal breaker), having to consider flight costs against the perceived value of a cruise is a big factor. I think many can get over change, we might grumble a bit, but the way they've been doing seems to lack transparency. That said, I'm sure many have heard of the changes on Princess recently with their Plus packages and now charging for things that were once included (Alfredo's), no cruise line seems immune to change and poor methods of implementing. Removing things and cost remaining the same just sucks. For me personally, at a point in time it comes down to whether cruising is still the vacation I've come to expect or if maybe something else is an option and it's of course all with the mighty poor CAD$ leading the way.

You could be right but I wouldn't bet money on it (see what i did there 🙂) because I know many smokers that won't smoke in their own house or car 🤔 I smoked many years ago and I can't see me doing that but it's different times.

From the canned response I received with regards to the 'test'. "This test is currently taking place on the Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Eclipse through August 20th."

I guess I've always been old all my life because my tolerance level for stuff like this has always been low. I really mind someone unnecessarily playing music/videos out loud, or having video calls on speaker phone. Yes it can be comparable to what might be heard from live chatter but there is no reason to not consider others nearby when playing music in a closed space and using a headset. I have not necessarily noticed it on Celebrity like that but in general this practice is definitely more prevalent. I think the quieter a venue is the more intruding this would feel so that would definitely make a difference and the Solarium is often a quieter area. Sign of the times.

When (and why) did this thread spin to comparing smoking to vaping? The Celebrity casino is going from nothing to vaping so the comparison at hand for this venue should be smoke free to vaping. Vaping being safer than smoking should not enter into Celebrity's decision and don't we all know it won't since this is about profit margins.

... and should also include Alaska if they sail from Vancouver (BC Canada).

OH ... ya mine is carbon copy of yours so I guess a 'little' than the first ones sent out but like you said it's pretty much more of the same. They are crafting the responses better based on feedback LOL

I emailed July 3 @ 5pm, finally got my (scripted) response last night July 5 @ 11pm so it was two days for me. I don't consider myself a big spender but this is of course a relative reference 😉 I clearly don't matter enough to warrant a phone call LOL .

Ignore some of my prior 'response' to this as I crossed two posts and realize this was not for me ... LOL. Can't delete or edit ... carrying on now 🤪

Thanks ... I actually did send an email to the executive email last evening, no response yet but I'm telepathically 🔮 guessing what it might say if/when it arrives 😉 Still have my cruise in November but I can envision this going in many directions with none of them being a total pull back of the idea. They could decide to 'implement' this on select ships much like Holland does where select (not the newest) ships are non-smoking in the casinos. Holland could be my leap if I don't look venture away from cruising entirely.

... and THIS ! I wish this didn't get me so bothered. The decision to consider this is bad, 'piloting' is worse, making up verbiage in response is the ultimate.

Seriously! What guest feedback ... I've never been asked have you? I just sailed in April on a Blue Chip free cruise, sailing this November on a discounted cruise, scheduled (almost to be cancelled) on a free stateroom cruise next spring. One would think opinion from those who spend time (and money) in the casino would matter even if not the highest roller. I would have believed the part about people wanting to be able to vape (just like many would like to smoke cigarettes) but the response went to stupid by adding the feedback from guests who do not vape ... come on. Off to work on my feedback on dinner in the buffet and option to wear shorts to dinner in the MDR 🙂 .

Ditto this! The end result of a mediocre (perhaps now misleading) product might circle around to 'cost them' but cross that bridge when they get there mentality. I think one 'cost' to them will be passenger loyalty but I guess as long as they fill their ships all good, business 101 🤑 Maybe I needed my eyes to be opened a bit more to look around 🤩 Thanks Celebrity ???

Now this one made me laugh ! They have to maintain some level of 'class' 😉 The irony of this statement is my first couple cruises were on NCL and I LOVED them for their casual approach of not having to dress 'up' even for dinner BUT I disliked the casino smoke so I tried Celebrity and have only had a tempted glance back, things seem to be turning upside down for me now. My preferred casualness to vacationing finds me spending most dinners in the buffet but we all know how that has been hit lately (experienced first hand in April). Slowly chipping away. Back to the topic at hand ... would love to hear that the 'missing' vape allowed signs mean more than someone is late putting them out. .

I had a conversation with someone about this and a response I got was 'oh well you can't please everyone'. That was their takeaway which made me even sadder.

I didn't pick up on this but I'm another regular veranda passenger and you are right that stateroom has NOTHING to do with any of this. It's about health and finding a fair balance for everyone that spends their hard earned money to cruise and choose to spend it on Celebrity.

Agree ... and i was more so being serious in saying what makes anyone assume it will stop at the casino or that it will even stop with vaping. Why the casino, why not another internal area of the ship (not campaigning for this AT ALL) but this is totally Celebrity money grabbing, there is no other reason for this, and it is at the expense of those of us that have chosen their cruise line for their refreshing interior non-smoking policy. I really mean it when I say reading about this 'test pilot' hurts. If this sticks and moves to all ships I am resigned to cancel my spring cruise with them. I have to add that an almost stealth test pilot on ships where people had no prior insight before booking or sailing on these ships would not reflect the reality of effect so there is a slight flaw in their testing practices. Impact should include booking changes ... good and bad. So this leaves me to think the test is solely about $$ but short term impact vs long term impact might be very different results. Again ... I have no illusion I will be missed but makes me sad.

LOL the best part 'there has been minimal to no impact to our guest experience onboard'. What? How exactly are they measuring this, what a silly statement? I also wrote to them last evening and do not even care if I get a response, I just want to be heard so they can't say 'feedback was all positive'. Some might feel it to be over dramatic but I have one cruise this fall which I'm too invested in now to cancel but another one I have booked for next spring is being given a very serious rethink. I do not expect to be missed. I don't view this as a minimal to no impact decision, and some would say get over it (which I will). I also do not look at changes in isolation, instead I see this as a continuation of stay tuned for more to come in what appears to be Celebrity's quest to be everything to everyone. I wonder what people would think if they also decided to allow the vaping in the theater, it's an entertainment venue much like the casino but ya it's not lost on me that this is a $$$ decision.

Are you seeing vaping?

Of the many changes that happen over time, with many being in recent months, this one is at the top with some others that have been chipping away at my love of Celebrity. I like spending time in the Casino and this just screams of another decision in the wrong direction. I might have to stop shoulder shrugging and move on to different travel options.

Bang on ... I keep looking at the European cruises and flights just kill the thought. Not only the cost which is in the thousands per person from Nova Scotia but also that airlines are streamlining so much that most flights have you fly across country in the wrong direction first before flying back past where you started. WestJet, a major Canadian carrier, is now the worst as Calgary is their home base and they now primarily operate by bringing things back to base to 'fly from' ... almost 5k km in the wrong direction to Europe from where I live so 10k extra flight kms ... good grief.

I was looking into this since this post and that is what I was finding so I was a bit confused. So it is basically the same as some of their other newer ships. Thanks.

NCL Prima has no smoking at all where .. no smoking anywhere inside???

A few Holland ships, though don't look fully non-smoking interior there are a few that do not list the casino as allowed. https://hollandamerica.cruiselines.com/smoking_policies.cfm Referring to this notable on their site. Designated Smoking Areas Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Zuiderdam Sea View Bar area Oak Room (Noordam only, including cigar and pipe smoking) https://hollandamerica.cruiselines.com/smoking_policies.cfm

More likely discount ... 10%, 15%, 20% .