Ipeeinthepools

It doesn't have to be that way, small improvements to the website would allow those changes. Several years ago I was booking direct on RCL's website and I could change cbins or categories without any help. Upgrading internet or beverage packages online should not be an insurmountable problem. Maybe things like shareholder credit, which doesn't affect a lot of people, may require a request to be submitted. These are not insurmountable problems especially when your company has significant financial problems. There need to be some significant changes that do not negatively affect the customer experience and TA commissions are a huge expense that must be reduced. An alternate approach might be to drastically slash commissions that would eliminate kickbacks to the customer. Perhaps this means that only Big Box TAs will survive. Perhaps it drives a pay per service TA industry. I don't know the solution but I do know that the commission expenses must be reduced.

This makes perfect sense to anyone that has worked for a large company with a new CEO. The new CEO wants to reduce costs so he/she sends out an order for every department to reduce costs by x percent. The new CEO doesn't take the time to figure out the impact of the cuts. These cuts were probably the least impact of any that could be made in the Food and Beverage Department.

Did you check to see if meals were included at that rate?

Current actions suggest otherwise.

I didn't think the corkage fee applies to screw-off bottles.

This is tough to believe. Who can be more interesting than the people on CC that sail on Celebrity?

That works for me

I suspect the Gelateria gets a lot of use because my favorite flavors are gone by the end of the cruise.

Or Kobe Beef Burgers

I'm not a suite guest, so I'll be looking at HAL

Yep, I agree. Celebrity made an extra 14% on your reservation. Why should Celebrity pay 14% to a TA only for the TA to give a kickback to another passenger. Not fair to you and Celebrity is leaving a lot of money on the table.

If they stop filling the pool that will be a huge problem.

Somehow the airlines figured it out and there are a lot more airline passengers each day compared to cruise passengers. How about hotel reservations? Why should cruise reservations be different. You don't need an army of new people. The website needs some improvements but it's really not bad to book on-line. It's not uncommon in other industries but perhaps you pay extra to work with a live person.

I agree, but Celebrity has done both. They've raised the prices and cut back on the quality of dining. So now what will you do?

There's no doubt that the changes are Celebrity's idea of a new normal

Me too. Lot's of money to be saved by modifying TA commission structure or eliminating TAs.

Not saying that the TAs don't work for the commission, but perhaps cruisers will need to start doing this for themselves or the booking software needs to improve. Your numbers don't seem to make much sense given a lot of the incentives that some TAs kick back to the clients. Yes, the passengers won't get the OBC from the TAs but that money is probably better spent where they need to provide incentives for certain cruises. It's also not completely fair to the passengers that they get different deals or no deals from some TAs. Again those funds are better spent by the cruise line where they need to offer incentives. No need to offer incentives where the cruise sells out.

Peer reviewed by peers of Greenpeace? LOL

Cancel upcoming cruises and send LLP a note telling her why you cancelled.

Really? The commission on a recent cruise was about 14%, seems like a large chuck of money to me.

Here's one with some big potential. It's time to eliminate the TA's and move to all on-line booking or direct sales with their own reps. Celebrity wants to target a younger demographic and they are probably more comfortable booking a cruise from the App on their phone than working through a TA. Spend some additional money now in marketing but the potential is huge. Or at least perhaps it's time to drastically reduce commissions to the TAs. I think other cruise lines will be more than happy to follow RCL's lead on this procedure.

Given all of the cutbacks in menu selection and virtual elimination of the evening buffet and increase in prices, I can't imagine booking a Celebrity cruise at this time. Right now they can't give me a deal good enough that I would consider cruising with Celebrity.

I didn't think they were having any meet and greets, I must have missed it. But yes, that's my name. 😃

😃Thanks. BTW, my friends just call me Pee

Looks to me like you need to have your large meal of the day at lunch in the OVC and then grab a hamburger at the Mast Grill before it closes in the evening and maybe a salad from the OVC. No need to go to the MDR with these selections.