conquesodor

I agree 100%. I'm not really sure why we can't get responses that are more like what you suggest. I'm sure they do listen to feedback and even convene focus groups to test some ideas, but how interesting and engaging would it be for a company to float major design decisions to a wider audience? "Hey, we're thinking about giving you all new balcony furniture across the fleet! Which of these three designs would you choose? Click here to take our survey." How cool would that be?

I too wish that Ms. Bethge was a little more forthcoming in her replies, but I still appreciate that she's taking these questions at all. I agree with all of you that the changes to the balcony furniture is a downgrade from what we had before, but I think her answer - despite being cloaked in highly polished corporate speak - acknowledges that a lot of people are unhappy and that they are looking at how they can remedy it. Hopefully we'll see proof of that soon.

This was more or less what I was going to say. If you don't want to link reservations, you could simply have each couple book Eden for the same night and time, and then once you are onboard I'd head to Eden to make sure they know what your dining preference is.

I agree that @LoveChops experience was inexcusable. I get that staff are busy and that Champagne or any other sparkling beverage is going to be more challenging to deal with, but that is an issue that the beverage managers should be expected to handle. The price we pay for a drink package should have the cost of pouring flat bottles down the drain in the equation. I can accept that a particular bar on a certain night might not have a particular bottle on hand, but at worst they should be up front about it. I also can accept that the bars are better equipped to handle cocktails and have a limited stock of other beverages, but I have found that if I'm polite, tip well, and make my preferences known, that the bar will be sure to have what they need for me going forward. That doesn't excuse being treated the way @LoveChops was one bit and I hope it was an anomaly of that ship and sailing.

That sounds great. A renewed commitment to offering quality wine service is welcome news. This is an area that Celebrity has always distinguished itself from other cruise lines and one of the reasons that I prefer to sail with you. Also, how do I get a job in your Wine Division? That sounds like a great job! 😄

For goodness' sake, this board never fails to find people who will complain about anything. The benefit is having additional itineraries and classes of ships on Royal that might suit someone's needs better than what Celebrity has from time to time even if that someone isn't you. Just because you choose not to take advantage of this or can't appreciate how it's a win-win for most people, doesn't take anything away from you.

We can agree to disagree, none of us has to like the same things, but it sure is difficult to figure out your argument. You don't seem to like Coco Cay or Royal Caribbean and their "demographic," yet you recently sailed on Royal Caribbean to Coco Cay. Huh? The only thing I can think of is that you don't want to be on a Celebrity cruise with people who want to go to Coco Cay.

Well said. My view is very similar to yours.

I agree that The Key is a much better value and I'm disappointed that Premium Pass offers so little.

Exactly, it's less fun to keep an open mind.

The status match has no benefit to you, but it certainly is a benefit to many of us and I don't see how it takes anything away from anyone.

Nicely said.

Good grief you are a cynical bunch.

Those are all perfectly valid points and preferences. I'm guessing that Coco Cay or not, you probably are relatively selective in the Caribbean itineraries you choose because Mayan ruins and jungle river trips are not available at Nassau, St. Martin, or many other common Caribbean destinations. I respect that your preferences don't align with what Coco Cay offers, but I also think that it is a smart addition to a wide portfolio of itineraries that Celebrity offers in the Caribbean.

You have a good point about 3 and 4 night cruises, which I agree have a very different character than longer itineraries. That is something new from Celebrity and I would not choose one either. However, those short cruises are like that whether they stop at Coco Cay or not.

I truly don't understand why some people object so strongly to the fact that Celebrity is now offering a select number of sailings that stop at Coco Cay. Celebrity also stops at more or less the same ports around the Caribbean that other cruise lines do, so it's baffling that stopping at Coco Cay somehow diminishes the brand, but stopping at other islands does not. If you don't want to go there, choose one of the many more itineraries that don't stop there. Personally, I think Coco Cay is a great destination that does offer something for almost everyone, which is why my family is looking at doing a Celebrity cruise in 2025 that includes Coco Cay.

Thank you for fielding our questions. I have noticed and really appreciate the effort you and your team have put into engaging more with your customers. There are some cynics around here, but I believe you are listening and take this feedback seriously.

Tipping is such a hotly debated topic, so I'm not going to try to change anyone's mind. I just don't understand the preference for all-inclusive pricing because one way or another you are paying the same amount for your cruise. I like the way things work currently because it gives us the choice of paying up front or later.

My wife and I have often found that the smoking that is permitted on the port side of the Sunset Bar area creates an unpleasant secondhand smoke experience for us. The Mast Bar is already designated as an area for smokers, so why is it necessary to for non-smokers to share a space with those who smoke? I appreciate that opinions probably vary on this issue, but perhaps this could be studied? Thank you.

What are the long-term plans for Celebrity and the Galapagos? Why did you decide to sell Celebrity Xpedition and Celebrity Xploration? Thank you.

I appreciate that Celebrity wants to survey customers on their cruise experience, but the pressure that crew evidently feel around this is getting out of hand and is probably skewing results. It seems that it has become standard practice for crew to tell passengers that being rated anything below a 10 out of 10 is viewed as a failure. There is no point in having a survey designed around a 10-point score if this is how crew and their managers interpret the surveys. I value the opportunity to provide feedback and to praise crew who go above and beyond, but the way the current system is working - even if unintentionally - is flawed. Passengers certainly should not be getting coached by crew on how to answer the survey. I hope the process can be redesigned to work better for everyone. Thank you.

Such a poorly worded question, so it's no surprise that people are answering differently. Celebrity is my favorite cruise line, but I don't sail Celebrity exclusively. I have sailed on a few other cruise lines for one reason or another, and enjoyed those cruises, but I still look to Celebrity as my first choice.

I'm happy to say that those email addresses worked and that my issue was resolved to my 100% satisfaction. Thanks again!

Thank you, both. Very appreciated.

With the exception of special needs, flights, and media relations, it looks like cxc@celebrity.com is now the only address we can use to contact Celebrity. I have a long email I composed that I hope will be seen by the right person and not get lost in customer service limbo. Does anyone have the email address for an actual person at Celebrity? I wrote "Attention Laura Hodges Bethge, President" at the beginning of my message, but I don't know if that will just be laughed at. Has anyone successfully escalated a customer service issue recently? Thanks, Ken