I wish X would implement some of these procedures found on HAL

[flagger]

I have loved most of my Celebrity Cruises and I know of all people there is a line for everyone, but having sailed two weeks ago on HAL's Eurodam, I wish there were a few things that X would copy, borrow, steal and implement a few procedures we experienced.

 

I still enjoy Celebrity and love their ships and am Elite with them so I am not in a hurry to leave them forever, but these particular procedures were great:

 

HAL has started a new program called Stateroom Direct where all of the guest staterooms are turned within a minimum of 90 minutes. What does this mean? For a guest, it means as soon as you can board the ship you can go right to your stateroom and drop off your luggage. No more carting and rolling around carry-ons until 1 or even 2 pm waiting for the fire doors to be opened and access granted.

 

On the final night, we did not find our robes gone, the fridge/mini-bar locked. In the morning, we ordered room service! Imagine that? Ate it in the comfort of our room and could have remained their until our time to get off the ship which for us was between 9:45 and 10 a.m. At one point, someone was on our balcony straightening everything up having opened the partition. At another someone came into our room after a polite knock to inventory the mini-bar, take notes and replace what had been removed.

 

Finally my daughter just got bored and we started exploring the slowly emptying ship.

 

Least. Stressful. Debarkation. Ever.

[Cruising-along]

I agree with you about the luxury of having a leisurely room service breakfast that last morning on HAL cruises. We haven't sailed with them yet since the new Stateroom Direct program was implemented, but I think it sounds wonderful.

 

One thing I wish Celebrity would do is allow PAX to bring unlimited wine onboard like HAL does. It's really nice to visit wineries in some of the ports and be allowed to bring wine onboard and enjoy it before the end of the cruise.

 

We will be sailing with Celebrity for the first time this October. So they don't have room service breakfast the last morning? :confused:

[excitedofharpenden]

I have loved most of my Celebrity Cruises and I know of all people there is a line for everyone, but having sailed two weeks ago on HAL's Eurodam, I wish there were a few things that X would copy, borrow, steal and implement a few procedures we experienced.

 

I still enjoy Celebrity and love their ships and am Elite with them so I am not in a hurry to leave them forever, but these particular procedures were great:

 

HAL has started a new program called Stateroom Direct where all of the guest staterooms are turned within a minimum of 90 minutes. What does this mean? For a guest, it means as soon as you can board the ship you can go right to your stateroom and drop off your luggage. No more carting and rolling around carry-ons until 1 or even 2 pm waiting for the fire doors to be opened and access granted.

 

On the final night, we did not find our robes gone, the fridge/mini-bar locked. In the morning, we ordered room service! Imagine that? Ate it in the comfort of our room and could have remained their until our time to get off the ship which for us was between 9:45 and 10 a.m. At one point, someone was on our balcony straightening everything up having opened the partition. At another someone came into our room after a polite knock to inventory the mini-bar, take notes and replace what had been removed.

 

Finally my daughter just got bored and we started exploring the slowly emptying ship.

 

Least. Stressful. Debarkation. Ever.

To be fair you are asked not to arrive for boarding until after 2pm. It's just that many of us want to get there early that we have to wait for the cabins to open at 1pm (and they always seem to be). It's been very easy to go to the cabin and drop bags off if necessary, but I understand they don't like you doing this anymore. If you want to get there early then you have to be prepared to wait and carry your hand baggage.

 

I honestly don't get all this stuff about wanting you out of your cabin on the last day. I'm ready to go on that last morning anyway, either stop by the dining room for breakfast which is a nice thing to do on the final day or go to the Elite Lounge for coffee and a danish and wait for my number to be called to debark. It's much better than it used to be. There's a lot of prep work that needs to be done for the next set of passengers.

 

Finally, I wonder how the cabin attendants feel. They work hard enough as it is. Can't imagine turning round a cabin in that time.

 

Phil

[PartyAllDaTyme]

I wonder how they do it in an hour and a half? Maybe they have extra staff at the disembarkation port that comes aboard for a few short hours to help? Maybe the officers and entertainers pitch in?:D

[floridatravelersforlife]

I wonder how they do it in an hour and a half? Maybe they have extra staff at the disembarkation port that comes aboard for a few short hours to help? Maybe the officers and entertainers pitch in?:D

 

Maybe they don't change the sheets or water glasses:eek:

 

Changing 20 or so cabins in such a shorttime is impossible without shortcuts. Unless there is something we are missing.

[bellybutton530]

So, to me, the question is whether you want to embark early or disembark late? You can't do both.

[gracecarmo]

was really a bust for us, on our last voyage on the Summit. (NE, Canada, 2010). There were over 300 Elite (maybe more) and trying to fit in the Specialty restaurant was impossible. We arrived at our appointed time, and there was standing room only, out in the hall.

Previously, we had a nice experience in the lounge....pastries, coffee (and using real china cups too!)

With so many Elites lately, I hope the lounge is changed to the MDR.

[Cybercsp]

There was an article that I read on one of the cruise-themed websites that explained how HAL will achieve this quick cabin turn around. It involves the deployment of other ship personnel to assist the cabin stewards for some of the jobs. I agree that it would be lovely to have immediate access to the cabin.

[Project_gal]

To be fair you are asked not to arrive for boarding until after 2pm. It's just that many of us want to get there early that we have to wait for the cabins to open at 1pm (and they always seem to be).

 

Phil

 

That may be the case but everytime we have had Celebrity transfers, they have got us to the ship before 12 noon. If Celebrity deliver people early, it is hardly surprising that independent guests arrive earlier.

 

Sue

[Project_gal]

So, to me, the question is whether you want to embark early or disembark late? You can't do both.

 

Hear, hear! It is nice to be on board early but why not just enjoy a relaxed lunch and wait patiently for your room to be available?

 

Sue

[discjoker]

NCL is similar when it comes to disembarkation/last day. They make it a point to let you know that even though it is your last day you are still on vacation so enjoy it. You are allowed to stay in your cabin (no vacating at a specific time and waiting around the ship until your color is called), allowed to order room service breakfast, etc. I just find this more civilized and it really does allow you to enjoy your final morning without feeling like you being pushed off this ship. My first Celebrity cruise is coming up (after being an NCL cruiser for all of our previous 4) and this really is the only thing that has me concerned (although it the grand scheme of things it really isn't huge deal).

[wg6530]

I do not mind the delay getting the rooms on embarkation day. I feel lucky to be on the ship early.

 

The first time I found the minibar locked and my personal items on the dresser the last night, I was stunned. But since then, I have come to like the policy. there is no risk that after departure I will find a bill for an item I did not use. As the cabin doors are propped open for extended periods on change over day, anybody could raid an unlocked minibar; I don't want that bill.

 

A limited room service menu might be nice on debarkation day. The buffet and dining room can be crowded and or tense spots.

[bellybutton530]

I actually just had the BEST disembarkation of all... on Voyager of the Seas. The ship was cleared at 8am. Being Diamond, I was in the first group to leave the ship. There was none of that disembarking before your number was called; they simply made those folks remove themselves from the gangway area.

 

By the time we got to the gangway, 3 other numbers after us had already been called. As soon as we got into the terminal, there was our luggage... first. There was a separate line for people who needed porters, and a line for those who didn't.

 

As we made our way towards Customs, there were folks directing us; being in the first couple of groups meant very little congestion.

 

We started our disembarkation odyssey at 8:30. The SUV was picked up, brought back to the pier, loaded, and we were on our way home BEFORE 10am.

 

I will rate that disembark a solid OUTSTANDING.... not at all like the fiasco in November as we left Connie.

 

PS: we could remain in our cabins until we disembarked....

[teajak]

I would much rather have the hall doors locked until 1:00 and give the room stewards ample time to clean the rooms and re-stock them. The last 2 cruises a few minor things were not in our cabins and you don't know if they were forgotten or the steward was running around trying to get everything done and just forgot. Boarding time is set at 2:00 if you want to get on early and remain in the public rooms,eat lunch, check out the ship that is fine, we usually do that. I much prefer giving them time to properly clean and stock the rooms so everything is in place for my cruise. It's a big ship,lots to see and check out or the best thing for me is just people watch. Love it

[excitedofharpenden]

Phil

 

That may be the case but everytime we have had Celebrity transfers, they have got us to the ship before 12 noon. If Celebrity deliver people early, it is hardly surprising that independent guests arrive earlier.

 

Sue

Actually Sue I don't think that makes a difference. It doesn't change the detail in the cruise tickets that ask passengers to arrive after 2pm. That Celebrity got you there early is a bonus, but in my experience with Celebrity transfers it has been at least after 1pm. Besides when travelling independently the reason for early arrival is because of knowledge from these boards or elsewhere, not because people know the X transfers are getting there early.

 

Phil

[Bodger]

So they don't have room service breakfast the last morning? :confused:

 

We just got off the Connie yesterday, and my wife specifically asked the assistant maitre'd about room service for the last morning, and we were told it was not available.

 

I was particularly surprised that the fruit bowl (which was refreshed daily) was still their on the last evening, as well as the robes were still hanging in the closet and the mini-bar unlocked right to the time we left. The only things removed were the flowers on the desk (but not the bathroom) and the beach towels.

 

We go back and forth between HAL and Celebrity and like both. That being said I did notice some of the little differences.

 

On HAL we liked the mints that we always get on leaving the dining room, the far better mattresses (the Connie's mattress was so inferior, after 14 nights I was kind of glad I was going home) and the tiny bathtub (which beats a tiny shower!). On X we like the chocolate chip cookies :D that we have substituted for hors d'oeuvres, the fresh fruit, and the honour system 24/7 library.

 

Lastly I only went to the trivia once on the Connie. People who were on back-to-back got perfect scores as it was the same one! Hardly fair.:mad:

 

Bodger

[Cruising-along]

We just got off the Connie yesterday, and my wife specifically asked the assistant maitre'd about room service for the last morning, and we were told it was not available.

 

I was particularly surprised that the fruit bowl (which was refreshed daily) was still their on the last evening, as well as the robes were still hanging in the closet and the mini-bar unlocked right to the time we left. The only things removed were the flowers on the desk (but not the bathroom) and the beach towels.

 

We go back and forth between HAL and Celebrity and like both. That being said I did notice some of the little differences.

 

On HAL we liked the mints that we always get on leaving the dining room, the far better mattresses (the Connie's mattress was so inferior, after 14 nights I was kind of glad I was going home) and the tiny bathtub (which beats a tiny shower!). On X we like the chocolate chip cookies :D that we have substituted for hors d'oeuvres, the fresh fruit, and the honour system 24/7 library.

 

Lastly I only went to the trivia once on the Connie. People who were on back-to-back got perfect scores as it was the same one! Hardly fair.:mad:

 

Bodger

 

Thank you for the comparisons! We've only sailed HAL (and do love it) but I've heard wonderful things about Celebrity and I'm sure we'll be very happy with them too.

 

Little disappointed about no room service breakfast the last morning though. :( We will have to disembark as early as possible that morning and it's just easier not to have to leave the cabin for breakfast. Hopefully they will leave our fruit bowl too....

[clickmichelle]

HAL has everyone beat in terms of disembarking procedures, IMO. Having a leisurely room service breakfast and waiting comfortably in your cabin is just so civilized. Stumbling around with your carry-on luggage -- not so much.

 

The candied ginger and mints outside of the MDR are wonderful, too.

[bellybutton530]

HAL has everyone beat in terms of disembarking procedures, IMO. Having a leisurely room service breakfast and waiting comfortably in your cabin is just so civilized. Stumbling around with your carry-on luggage -- not so much.

 

The candied ginger and mints outside of the MDR are wonderful, too.

 

I haven't sailed on HAL in almost 15 years. What is the current smoking policy on HAL?

[smtcan]

We have enjoyed several HAL cruises as well as seven on Celebrity, and each has its strengths. On two HAL cruises there were occasions when our cabin was not made up until the afternoon, even though we were out of the cabin early and didn't return until after lunch. This is an annoyance but not a deal breaker. It has never happened on Celebrity. We prefer HAL's wine policy and find their MDR food as good as Celebrity - neither is gourmet, but quite acceptable. We enjoy the Elite perks on Celebrity and that makes it our first choice, but HAL has some interesting itineraries that we plan to try in the near future.

Sheila

[clickmichelle]

I haven't sailed on HAL in almost 15 years. What is the current smoking policy on HAL?

 

Stinky. AFAIK, it's permitted just about anywhere outside, in cabins, on balconies, in the casino... just not in dining rooms or theater.

 

We looked at the Westerdam for our spring break cruise. The itinerary was fantastic, the price for a wrap around aft balcony Deluxe Verandah was right... But I prefer my husband NOT to smell like cigars all the darn time. (I'm a recent quitter, and I'm very sensitive to the odor.) The beverage package and the smoking policy swayed me to the Solstice.

[bellybutton530]

Stinky. AFAIK, it's permitted just about anywhere outside, in cabins, on balconies, in the casino... just not in dining rooms or theater.

 

We looked at the Westerdam for our spring break cruise. The itinerary was fantastic, the price for a wrap around aft balcony Deluxe Verandah was right... But I prefer my husband NOT to smell like cigars all the darn time. (I'm a recent quitter, and I'm very sensitive to the odor.) The beverage package and the smoking policy swayed me to the Solstice.

 

Thanks for the heads-up. I almost booked a 28-day cruise on HAL. Love having tubs in every cabin; but the smoking is a deal-breaker, as I am recovering from viral pneumonia.

 

Actually, every cabin on every ship out there could have a tub in every cabin.

 

http://www.hydrosystem.com/article.php?id=46

 

I'm replacing my 2 bathtubs with these things....

[cruie4ever]

Interesting comments above. We enjoy Celebrity because of the ambiance,service ,quality & of course our elite perks .We have also sailed HAL & find Hal comprable to Celebrity in most things ;but ,not their entertainment quality .In fact our last Oosterdam cruise to the Mexican riviera in Nov 2010 ,the entertainment in the main showroom was quite poor .

[cereus]

the smoke free casinos on the Solstice class ships have allowed me and dh to donate money to the casino again. don't know if thats a good thing, lol, but we do enjoy the texas holdem tournaments

Barb:D

[lvz2cruz]

HAL doesn't service every cabin in 90 minutes. They can start with those leaving early. The last person is probably off about 9:30 and first of the next group on about noon. So they have a few hours to do all the cabins.

My daughter got off Nieuw Amsterdam this morning and carried off their luggage. The announcement they could begin getting off was made at 7:15. When we got off Eurodam at 9:15, we were one of the last ones in our hallway to leave judging by all the cabins with open doors.

They do a great job, but I want to say that they have more time than it appears.

I agree with above posters that I will be content waiting for my cabin if it means I can board early. If everyone waited till 2 to board for a 4:30 departure, the lines would be crazy long.