WpgCruise

Necessity being the mother of invention, I have used the suspenders from my Tux.

Not much glamor but it worked:)

Hi, I have the same package flying out of Moncton,NB on March 1. I was told by my agent that Canadian North will fly in also any weather. She has never had a plane not take off. I "know" March 1 will be clear and cool. Miami will be hot and clear. All my dreams of a first cruise will be good and life will be great.

Canadian North will fly in also any weather. I would question the credibility of anyone who would make such a statement. Foolish, really foolish statement. Canadian North follows the same flight guidelines as any other scheduled or charter air carrier and I guarantee they will not fly in any weather.

Not to add any anxiety to the O.P. and others who have bought into this All Inclusive Celebrity deal, but the issue I would also have is if the flight goes mechanical out of a small airport, what are the options? Few and none.

Back in the good old days we had a flight with Greyhound when they were in the airline business. The flight went mechanical in Winnipeg, and we sat there through boxing day waiting for it to be repaired. Lesson learned.

On our sailing early dining is locked out, so I can go to the MD and request select dining without paying the ridiculous tip right away?

Sure you can do that.

The only issue might be if Select is also full, which has happened to us when we tried to switch once on board.

I sent an email to him as well with a query about the lack of a bridge director, which in a previous CC question and answer session, he said there would be on cruises with many 'at sea' days. Disappointingly, I didn't even receive a reply other than the automated one. The issue itself wasn't a big deal ie the lack of a cruise director, but it would've be good to have received some reply.

The first time I got a call to review my comments I was thrilled that someone "listened". As time went on and cruises came and went, and I saw no positive changes, I began to realize I was being managed.

Celebrity knows their food quality is not what it was. They know they have cut staff in the dining rooms. My telling them I too knew it and didn't like it over several cruises really has not resulted in change.

I'll not bother writing to them anymore. No positive changes occur so why waste their time having them phone and tell me they value my feedback.

We too have written letters after our past several cruises to Celebrity mentioning what we liked, and what we thought needed change or improvement.

At each letter a nice person from Celebrity has phoned, reviewed with us in detail our letter, acknowledging the "Good" things we mention, apologising for the "not so good"

Not one single change has been implemented as far as we can see from the "Not So Good" comments. Food quality continues to decline, dining room service likewise, as examples of two consistent comments I have been making.

I agree, Celebrity is listening, but we haven't seen any action as the result of the "needs improvement" comments.

I suspect that Celebrity may think that a personal phone call from the CEO's office reviewing our feedback strokes us enough to make us feel "Valued" and we're happy someone listened.

I however would like to see some changes as a result of the "Needs Improvement" comments.

In my experiences, 35 min is not even close to enough time for this connecting flight.

Some things not mentioned. Flights from Bismark N.D. in January will probably require de-icing. That process alone can easily take a half hour.

The flight is not originating in Bismark, therefore the risk of a delay into Bismark and subsequent late departure for Chicago is real. This is January in the North people, stuff usually happens.

The flight is on a smaller regional jet, which terminal is a different one than the departing Florida flight. Getting off the flight and over to the other terminal in under 1/2 hour just won't happen.

If the O.P. does not change their flight, please come back after your cruise and let us know how the flights worked out.

My issue, beside missing the inside passage, was not being given a reason, a true one. We were told so many different things.

Our weather was exceptional, mostly warm , sunny.

And yes, I CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH !!!! Celebrity owes us that !

I think what Celebrity owes you is what is written in the Contract.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Their contract says they can alter the itinerary as they please. How do you see them owing you anything more?

And then I have to wonder why it would matter what the reason was. Nothing really you could do about it unless you're looking to debate with the ships Master his decision vs your interpretation of the Contract.

The O.P. has my condolences on their loss. It is tough to lose someone, tougher when you're away when it happens.

In the O.P.'s situation, how are the people in the line ahead of them to know she and her daughter have lost a loved one? Perhaps from their perspective all they see are a couple of people trying to push their way to the head of the line. I don't know that I would criticise anyone for not being sensitive to my situation if they don't know what the circumstances are.

Could Royal have perhaps made it easier for them by escorting them, sure. Did the O.P. ask Royal for that assistance, and had the request turned aside?

As far as allowing disembarkation through the crew exit, who knows what that would entail. Perhaps because of liability issues Royal prohibits all but crew from being in that area. I don't know, just speculation on that part. Once again, could the O.P. have asked for that consideration?

Some of us are quick to criticise when we don't know all the facts and the truth is only the O.P. and her daughter were there. The rest of us are only offering an opinion.

I think I am going to take my chances...

 

I spoke with Celebrity via my travel agent, and they said that if you inform them that you have an early flight, they can help you be one of the first people off the ship. Walking off early will probably put me ahead of most of the crowd (it is Saturday, Dec 27, during Xmas break). It's also just my wife and I, and we know how to push our way through an airport in the event that we're a bit late.

 

The airport is evidently only 10 minutes away... I think there is a very good chance I can get to the airport by as early as 8:30, and make it there before 9:30 given anything other than a catastrophic delay.

Good Luck, I hope you make your flight.

I notice you're Canadian, and if so, am guessing you are on a direct flight back to Toronto? Just a heads up but what's the check in time allowed by your airline for International Flights? That additional time has to enter your calculations.

I don't know the last time you were trying to leave FLL between Christmas and New Years, but it can be a struggle. And with a port load of 15,000 plus, you'll really need to use those "push our way through an airport in the event that we're a bit late" skills.

Hope it works out, but I'd suggest a "Plan B".

An interesting thread on the Princess Board

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2101010

Of particular interest are the comments of BruceMuzz, post #30

My understanding is that he is an employee of a cruise line and has been in a Management position for a number of years.

The points he puts forward are probably not what those long time cruisers looking for extra perks are interested in reading, but certainly provides food for thought.

Someday they'll be a point when those who appreciated those things that set Celebrity apart feel that they may as well consider other alternatives & leave Celebrity to those who do not care about those things.

QUOTE]

 

I agree.

 

When the point is reached for us as individuals that we no longer see "value" in the total Celebrity offering then we'll move to other options.

 

What is that point? I think it's different for all of us. I know we moved to Celebrity when Princess no longer provided what we wanted.

 

When Celebrity no longer offers what we want, I would suspect that instead of moaning we'll just move on. Just as we did with Princess.

 

Cruising is not the only vacation option. We've taken many land trips, and if cruising no longer works for us here's hoping we can take many more.

We've noticed an increase in people who were over served on our last two cruises.

Is it a result of a "Package" or were they just people who drank too much?

I have no way of knowing.

I do know after the last instance (that included a young lady who was falling down stumbling drunk with profanity laced nonsense spewing from her) I wrote to Celebrity with my concern that some people were being over served, and provided specific examples. Their response was that they were sorry, they were monitoring the programs, and hoped it didn't impact our decision to cruise with Celebrity again.

I am much more impacted by drunken behaviour than the removal of Q-tips, cotton balls, and no chocolates on my pillow. If it worsens regardless of how sorry Celebrity is these things happen, we're off to the next cruise line.

If we want Carnival we'll go Carnival, but if we're on Celebrity and get Carnival.......not cool Celebrity.

Thank you Joel

You and Azamara have taken some pretty nasty shots over the past few days and it speaks well of you and the organization that you have not sunk to the same level.

The overwhelming majority of us understand business decisions have to be made, and there will always be some that will respond emotionally.

Hang in there and best of luck as you senior management and the Leadership of the company continue to drive the business forward.

Easy. You can ignore their advice and arrive as early as you want at the terminal.

Everybody else does it - why not you?

After all, this is the ME, ME, ME, ME, ME Generation you are cruising with.

Then you can have a nice leisurely wait standing in line for a few hours to check in.

Then you get shuttled to the buffet, because your cabin is not ready yet.

At the buffet you can fight the mobs trying to eat their money's worth on the first day, then get in some exercise trying to find an empty table where you can eat.

That all sounds very relaxing, don't you think?

 

The civilized passengers arrange for a late check out at the hotel, then go to a nice restaurant for a leisurely lunch, stop back at the hotel to pick up their bags, arrive at the terminal after all the mob scene at check-in has disappeared, check-in takes about 2 minutes, stroll aboard with no lines in front of you, cabin is ready, mob scene at the buffet has been cleared up, have a nice snack and a drink, fully relaxed and already in vacation mode.

Too true, except you forgot that Cruise Critic people are "special".

We don't wait in line with the "Wee People" and if we do, you can bet your bippy we'll scream from the highest rafters about it.

Those taking the "Pledge" really are not the people who need to, and the ones who should be, won't be taking the "Pledge"

Fortunately the "Ignore" feature works very well.

Rather than trying to change the behaviour of those posters who frankly won't change, why not simply ignore their posts?

From the Lawn Club

Maho Beach, St Maartin

Constellation Cayman Islands

Leaving Fort Lauderdale

Celebrity "No Longer Brunch"

Almost Night, Cozumel

Not Smoking..a good thing.

Not sinking the boat, a better thing.

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Star Princess leaving Fort Lauderdale

Island Princess leaving Cartagena

Constellation, at dock in Grenada

Constellations Life Boat test, St Lucia

H.A.L. Amsterdam in Aruba

San Juan

Bridge of the Americas, Panama

On the way home from the Caribbean

Sunset Barbados

Sunset Aruba

Cabo

Confucius say: "Grass not grow on playground".:eek::D:D

And it will not grow in cement either.

No ships have sound proofing.

 

We often hear our neighbors having relations in the middle of the night.

Seriously ?? Often !!!

On Holland America ??

In Your Dreams :)

So if everyone boarding the ship ignored their suggested time and all arrived at the dock between 10:00 and 11:00, you'd be waiting in line with 2500+ folks - not my idea of fun!

The rules are for the "wee people", certainly not for us Cruise Critic folks.:rolleyes:

To my way of thinking the guidelines are to facilitate the process for all of us. When "Some" decide to show up when they feel like it, the potential is for the boarding process to slow down for everyone.

So, how fair is that ?

Re: the Dude and his ruined anniversary the man has not been born who could speak to me like that.

But, NCL is letting their people down by forcing them to put up with that type of nonsense. By making their people put up with that type of bullying it only tells idiots like the fellow they can abuse the staff and get away with it.

The impact on staff morale must be grim, plus of course the other customers who witness this behavior are no doubt put into an awkward position.

I am convinced the proper response would be to apologize to the Customer (as was done) offer to replace the cake (which was done) and if the nonsense continued refer the fellow to senior staff. Senior staff need to explain to the Customer he either gets an attitude adjustment, or the next port he leaves the ship. If the next port is the home port, he is confined to his cabin until he can be disembarked.

If NCL did this to the next several people who act out, the problem would be solved.

We've done the full transit twice. We'd do it again in a heatbeat. Why?

-We like sea days, and this cruise was almost 1/2 sea days.

-The Canal itself is a great experience for us. The history, the scenery, the sights are wonderful.

-Given the length, 15 days, it allows us to truly unwind and relax in the way a shorter cruise can't.

-In addition to the Canal itself, the other ports offer a difference from the so often visited Caribbean stops. Depending on the itinerary you can get some seldom visited port visits.

-An interesting option is a Princess itinerary which overnights at Panama allowing for tours of the City. We have called at Panama many times and it has lots to offer in addition to the Canal.

Our experience is "It Depends"

When booking on board we have always gotten an O.B.C. and if there is a Pick Your Perk, or 1-2-3 Program at the time we have booked, we have been able to get perks from that package as well. So it depends if there is a promotion running at the time you book on board. If there is no promotion, then the O.B.C. is the best we have been able to do.

We last booked on board in January and got $250 O.B.C. for booking on board, then as a 1-2-3 Program was running got to choose one of the options and we chose the Beverage Package. We left the booking with Celebrity, and when we got home we shopped the cruise to a number of Travel Agents and moved the booking to the one that offered to pay our Gratuities.

If you go this route the only caveat I would suggest to be aware of is that some T.A.'s will charge a cancellation fee if you have to cancel, so be sure you check out the terms and conditions the Travel Agent has.

Here's how I look at this.

I haven't been on a Celebrity cruise in the last few years they haven't given me a nice O.B.C. for booking on board plus a free beverage package, a gratuities package, or O.B.C

In the "Good Old Days" they gave me chocolates and no OBC, and no beverage package, and I paid my own gratuities.

I can buy a lot of chocolates with the OBC they give me, and probably still have cash left over.

Sometimes maybe some of us focus a little too much on the negative, and overlook the positives. A bit of balance can be a good thing.