cruiseflyer38

On 11/17/2020 at 12:44 PM, C-Dragons said:

Oh, I know.

But this isn’t the first time that X has missed the mark with marketing, and it probably won’t be the last. We've been through this before.

Hopefully X will have some success with this current “metamorphosis”. I wish them luck.

Celebrity Cruises has never been the same since the current president took control. She sees a very different world then most common seniors do.

The Cruise lines had better require vaccines or it will take them ten years to recover.

We certainly will not cruise in the next two years if they let unvaccanated pax onboard.

On 3/28/2019 at 9:17 PM, crusinthrough said:

 

I agree. I appreciate the program as it now. 

 

Combining RC and Celebrity programs would cause major problems for RC especially in the suite lounge.  Currently, Pinnacles (RC highest tier) have access to the suite lounge and Coastal Kitchen (Lumaine equivalent) and suite guests complain that they should not.   I cannot imagine how crowded the lounge and CK would be if Zenith members are added.  There will be no incentive to book a suite.  The suite product would be diluted and worthless. 

On our last cruise (Feb 17) I was told there were app. 230 Total Zenith members. When we gained Zenith in 2015 we were told we were 87/88. That number spread over 12 ships would not imply any overload that would make the suite guests suffer.

16 minutes ago, C-Dragons said:

Sorry, you are VERY mistaken. My response was a reaction to the anger implied by many of your posts on this subject.

You needn’t worry about my state of mind, I'm quite happy, thank you. 😊

And I'm certainly not as upset with X's “loyalty” program.

Btw, my dragons aren’t angry. 😎

Wherever you cruise, X or otherwise, "Happy Cruisin".

12 hours ago, C-Dragons said:

Please provide proof that the high end suites are often filled with high end “gamblers”. The “Bid Up program” has nothing to do with gambling, anyone can bid on a higher cabin category. You also seem to be implying that X should fill these unsold higher suites with Zeniths booked in lower cabin categories. What would be the justification? 

Well C-Dragon I would have to get a court order to provide proof. My statement was based on the information provided me by Celebrity in Miami.  I did not associate the "Bid upgrade" , both could be happening at the same time.The justification is the dozens of new clients I have brought to Celebrity over the past 23 years. I did that because Celebrity used to recognize satisfied customers as great for publicity.  I sense a bit of anger in your questions.  Relax, be more like a happy dog then a angry

dragon.

3 hours ago, jcpc said:

In my opinion, there's no need for Celebrity to "woo her back".  She hasn't left Celebrity but has rather sailed on MSC in addition to sailing on Celebrity.  She's stated that she's got 28 days booked in Celebrity PH next year, in addition to other Celebrity cruises from now until her 28 days in the PH.  Plus my guess is (and this is just a guess) if she were to cancel her PH booking(s) Celebrity already has someone wait-listed for that PH cabin.  Hard to believe but Celebrity has no problem filling those "high-end" suites.  If she decides to sail exclusively with MSC the hard cold truth is that I'm guessing Celebrity won't even know she's gone.

 

These high end suites are often filled with high end gamblers.  I have often checked Edge cruises and found that only a week before departure there is often 20+ suites available including the Iconic Suite.  As of this time the Edge sailing on April 7 has 23 suites available including 4 Edge Villas.  They may well be filled on departure with up-sold clients who love to gamble. (Certainly not non-suite Zeniths.)

If I was to go on a "Sail with the CEO'", L.L.P. would surely have me removed from the ship.  I might hand her back my Zenith pin and tell her I no longer have a reason to cruise with a second rate cruise line. Twenty great years followed by three lousy ones. (And I only see downhill from here.)

On 3/24/2019 at 5:49 PM, MizDemeanor said:

 

The decline in ambiance may be due to the passenger and the airlines making it costly to travel with checked baggage and baggage within their limits, I think to the days of the fuel embargos and surcharges that are not so stunning at this point in time but that they became business as usual for the airlines to justify a contol of costs and revenues. In any event the baggage fees are here to stay for now.

 

What impacted the evening formal dress may be more in part of those on this site that demanded that the tux and gown remain on the entire entire evening while out an about the ships. This became a highly contentious debate for years and the cruise line even went as far as to enforce it in deference to those long term geusts who demanded it. Because they said so, because it was said so. Like a 55 mph speedlimit is adhered to as strictly as the dresscode was being demanded to be adhered to. 

 

But what was occuring when everyone was focused on what everyone was wearing, along with why there should no longer be Baked Alaska in the MDR, were the cutbacks. And I guess some said this was a 'duming down' that was casued by the passnegers who didn't want to dress up, who wanted a new kind of casual, by the passengers who enjoyed a big fat steak in a specialty venue, and so as long as there was an alterantive for that segment who wanted what that big fat steak, there was an impetus for the cruiseline to do their thing and take it away, because still to his today there are those who will share that they will not pay a penny more than they did 10 years ago for their cruise fare.

 

And while they are dug in and really aren't paying more, alot has changed economically in that timeframe and the costs of virtually everying has gone up and the Retirement Funds are slipping because the market stinks and the people who want to control the future of this line that are on fixed incomes, and of course won't pay a penny more. 

 

So while you were sleeping...the retirees got all up in arms, the cruise line said we are going casual, and Kelly Hoppen ran wild. LLP is the energizer bunny, and the cruisline as anyone once knew it is a like a Football team that is rebuilding, but it is not clear what that future is and what segments it reaches out to. Its a very, very tough buy in right now.

 

The Season Ticket Holders' or 'Faded Fans' are just saying what is going on...

Never on a Celebrity cruise that I have been on since 1996 has dress code ever been a real issue. I would prefer a little more class but if another client is less dressed it really has never been a problem. The clientele has always been mostly intelligent persons. The upper middle class market was always there and still is, the new Celebrity (L.L.P.) has become an "Elitist" orientated organization and has abandoned the very market that made it a great cruise line.  We never needed 1800 sq. ft. suites and dumbing down of service for 90% of the rest. 

Now Bo1953 I think our debate has reached the end point.  I have communicated directly with head office a number of times more then a year ago. It was a senior staff member at head office who informed me that the cheap upgrades to suites were not offered by "the Marketing Department" (and in fact the Marketing Department did not even know who were on the list) but were handled directly by "the Revenue Department".  I had hoped that the parent company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., may hear my concerns through other media and take steps to stop the "self destruction" of a once great cruise line. 

One last ps. 

I suspect it was the Revenue Department that made the (Classy ?) decision to provide free drinks in the Casino.

Well Bo1953 I understand that you are happy with the changes Celebrity has made. All of the Zenith members I have spoken to are very disappointed.  We used to be treated as special people and now we are treated like we are a nuisance. I must say though I am also disappointed that during our 62 Celebrity cruises I never got the privilege of meeting you. I think we both would enjoy that experience. Well maybe that will still happen, hard for me to switch all my cruising when Celebrity is still willing to give us free premium drinks, free laundry and free internet.  Keep on enjoying.  

Well the fact is if Celebrity Cruises need to direct their efforts to the wealthier millenniums I am quite sure they are going to be in direct competition with their sister companies. That being a reality is there any real reason for Celebrity Crises to exist ?  R.C.l., Azamara, or now Silver Seas can provide everything that Celebrity now offer. The financially independent empty-nester now have no where to go to find the cruise experience that Celebrity offered for nearly 30 years.

On 3/20/2019 at 6:22 AM, Bo1953 said:

Very nostalgic for those who sailed in those times, for sure...

 

In 10 - 15 years I will be able to look back think similarly about the current times in which I Am sailing on X.

 

It is very interesting to see how things changed from way back when to now over the decades.

 

Thanks to all for the memories and photo captions, lest we 'newbies' forget.

 

bon voyage

Well I would hope in ten to fifteen years you will be able to say how much better Celebrity is since LLP was sent packing.

It would be really great if some business out there started a new cruise line and copied everything Celebrity did ten years ago.  Giving the old Celebrity Cruises a rating of 9 out of 10 and the new Celebrity 5 out of 10. Just another cruise line now,  as Donald Trump would say " soo  sad".

ps. The new Millennium has about 200 more cabins then the original ship.

Luvcrusin,

I respect your right to an opinion but you seem to miss the entire point. Celebrity and others establish a Loyalty program to entice people to return and also to use as a publicity program. After 62 cruises with Celebrity and having also experienced 14 other cruise lines I believe I know the program quite well. I have no disagreement with the people who pay for a suite. I do however have a problem with an organization that encouraged me to stay loyal and get to the TOP and then shut the door on most of the important parts of that program. It was people like me who made Celebrity the # 1 Premium Cruise Line. Now Celebrity want to use me to sell their suites. Zenith may have been a worthwhile pursuit some years ago but there is no reason now for anybody to be "Loyal" to Celebrity.

Seems like Celebrity cannot sell the Edge to the once very loyal Celebrity cruisers so they are going to try and compete with Disney  !!!    The head office in Miami seems to be in PANIC MODE.

There is absolutely no need for any Loyalty level with the New Celebrity.  Just book a suite and you will be treated better than all the non suite Zeniths on the list.  We have been Zenith now for about four years but we were treated far better on Celebrity when we only had 20 cruises. Celebrities only "Loyalty" now is to those in their precious suites. (And of course those who drop big bucks in the casino.) Oh yes since 1996 I have brought dozens of new clients to Celebrity but that will no longer happen.

You can have my space in any hot tub. Bathing with other people other then my spouse makes my tummy upset.  UGGG.  (Some very entertaining sights there though, I like to imagine what they all looked like 50 years ago.)

Seems to me that is what the great Celebrity of the past used to do. I remember many many such events. Not since the new boss took her axe to the Captain's Club.

Zenith members are not good enough to use the Retreat Deck and the bar is on the Retreat deck.  Wine and drinks are available in the Retreat Lounge.

GottaKnow When , 

  I guess you meant that to be funny.

Well I do like the free drinks, free laundry and free internet that comes with being Zenith. The problem seems to be that Celebrity wish they had never granted these perks. Oh yes, I was told by senior management in Miami that the cheap upgrades to suites were not part of the marketing department and was entirely handled by the "Revenue Department".

B2B on the Edge and after 62 Celebrity Cruises absolutely nothing from Celebrity except the very brief recognition of our #1 status.  Dinners with the Senior staff is only available to those fortunate enough to purchase a suite or perhaps drop thousands in the casino. When they took our picture the Captain was in such a hurry that he didn't wait for us to get the flowers and wine.

Not the wonderful Celebrity of the quite recent past.

2 hours ago, chamima said:

 

Rose is the Captain's Club hostess.

Friends of ours had dinner with an officer (not the Captain but someone high up) and they were invited - didn't pay.

It seems to me that Celebrity is in a state of total confusion.  The Celebrity of the past has been destroyed and the new Celebrity is  schizophrenic.

Well I have to agree that the Celebrity of today is no where near the Celebrity of just five years ago. After 62 cruises and  achieving the hallowed Zenith level Celebrity have more or less convinced me they no longer want me or  my kind of client. Two weeks on the Edge convinced me Celebrity is no longer a place for senior citizens 

I have just cancelled our next two cruises and may also be cruising with another line next time.  Well we did have it good for twenty years.