Is Celebrity actually trying to run off us its loyal customers?

[Suzy Smith]

We have thoroughly enjoyed all our cruises with X (first started cruising with them in the nineties) but we are also feeling it might be time for a change. The only other line we have tried is Cunard and we didn't care for the "class system" of different dining rooms for different cabin categories, but now with Blu being exclusively for Aqua class and the various speciality restaurants charging a fee, we feel X has lost the classless feel that first attracted us. Also, the live music that we used to enjoy so much has definitely declined in recent years.

 

We have one more cruise booked and I am really looking forward to it. We got a great price by booking early, which is what we always do, but now I can't make head or tail of all the different promotions, the various restrictions, etc and although we would normally have booked next year's cruise by now, we have just decided to wait and see what happens with the prices and book a last-minute deal next year with whichever line has the best package to offer.

 

It is not that we are totally disenchanted with Celebrity, but just feel this might be the right time to try something new.

[Christine Frances]

We are 65 & 70 and love the Celebrity vibe. We are not ready to go to HAL or Princess yet - maybe in 10 -15 years:D

[Cruising89143]

There are a variety of cruise lines out to meet just about everyone's needs. If X is no longer that fit then a line find that is.

[CABINET]

For goodness sake I don't think anybody wants there to be NO music or only music of a certain kind but surely it must be obvious that cruising is a social holiday.

 

If the music is so loud that conversation is impossible then it is too loud. The place for that volume of music is in a nightclub.

 

Two years ago the Martini Bar on Eclipse played music and conversation was possible. Why did the volume need to increase to a level that requires a person to shout to be heard.

 

I am not an old person (I am 55 years old). I love the look and ambience of the Martini Bar (and the martinis obviously) but I would like to be able to talk to someone other than my husband!

[Cruising89143]

For goodness sake I don't think anybody wants there to be NO music or only music of a certain kind but surely it must be obvious that cruising is a social holiday.

 

If the music is so loud that conversation is impossible then it is too loud. The place for that volume of music is in a nightclub.

 

Two years ago the Martini Bar on Eclipse played music and conversation was possible. Why did the volume need to increase to a level that requires a person to shout to be heard.

 

I am not an old person (I am 55 years old). I love the look and ambience of the Martini Bar (and the martinis obviously) but I would like to be able to talk to someone other than my husband!

 

Some have stated that the music is loud. Others have stated that it hasn't been an issue. Some state that the food is not up to par. Others state that the food is just fine. Some state that the entertainment is not that great. Others post that the entertainment is great. It's all opinion. For me the music was just fine. There will be no clear cut winners in this situation. Someone is not going to be happy.

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

OP.....after just completing our first X cruise, we don't have anything to compare it to other than our past history with RC and that is not comparable.

 

In talking with a few people from our cruise who were Elite, they had some of the same thoughts as you have posted. Perhaps X is going that direction.....but by then their loyal customers will have moved on and it will take a lot to bring them back.

 

***

[ORV]

My current problem isn't the noise, the food quality, the availability of wine stewards, their web site or any of the other items we have mentioned in these forums recently.....my problem is that I have now received so many different offers for cruises in Europe this summer that I've given up trying to even figure out if any are really a good deal for us. The marketing department, in their exuberance with 1-2-3 now has sent me offers for:

 

pick any 2 of 1-2-3

get all three of 1-2-3

pick 2 of 1-2-3 and get free excursions

Pick 2 of 1-2-3 and get an additional bonus OBC

 

and I've received offers from TA's offering me a discount if I book flights through ChoiceAir or 2 free specialty dinners if I book through ChoiceAir.

 

There also seem to be various guarantee rates on some of the cruises....I've seen guaranteed balcony, guaranteed Concierge and Guaranteed Aqua. Do I know if any of the four options above apply to any guarantee rate...nope.

 

There are really too many options to consider since we are flexible and would cruise to iceland, norwegian fjiords or the baltic.....so I have essentially given up....

 

My travel agent tried to sort it out...and the sort of did, but even they were confused because they don't have all the offers e.g. captains club excursions.

 

I guess for us, Celebrity marketing shot themselves in the foot....I wonder if we're alone?

 

This gave me a good chuckle as it pretty much mirrors my thoughts lately. We do like Celebrity, despite some things not perfect, but the promotions have me confounded. We have a couple of cruises booked, and maybe would book more, but we're kinda frozen thinking that it might be better to wait and sort out the promotions, especially as the ones we are looking at are too far in the future for the promotions to apply. If we wait maybe there will be a good promotion for the ones we want to book. On the last 3 cruises we've booked we've changed the promotions at least 2 or 3 times to take advantage of the best deal.

 

We certainly don't feel the sky is falling though.

[CPT Trips]

Martini Bar is too loud . . . Michael's is too quiet.

 

Music is too modern . . . Music is too old fashioned.

 

Paging The Three Bears . . . BOLO little blonde girl in old fashioned dress. She will lead you to the cruise line that is "just right."

[wwcruisers]

Having seen some drastic changes (and not for the good) in the food, service, and overall ambiance on Celebrity in the past year -- I have to agree with the general sentiment of this thread. For whatever reason, it is starting to look like X is marketing to a different demographic -- younger, hipper, whatever....:rolleyes:

 

A decade ago, we were "loyal Royals", and couldn't imagine sailing any other line. As time went on, RC made no secret of the fact that they were changing their marketing strategy to appeal more to families with children. In doing so, they pushed many of us (who do not travel with children) toward X. When we took our first X cruise, it reminded me of the good things we used to enjoy on RC -- excellent food and service. From what I have read on these boards, we were not alone in our exodus from RC. Now, the writing on the wall is that X doesn't want our demographic (retired couples) either. :(

 

So, my question to Mr. Fain is: where do we go now? The only other option in the RCCL family is Azamara. Although I'd love to try that line, it is quite a bit more expensive, and only has two ships with limited itineraries. I have to admit that Princess and HAL are starting to look more and more attractive.

[bplazo]

The one think that I enjoyed about our first Celebrity cruise was that it was an older crowd. I stopped cruising with RCCL because I do not want to cruise with Shrek, Barbie, children and bumper cars. We need more adult cruiselines.

[C 2 C]

Perhaps it is time to look at a December thread that outlined Celebrity's new direction:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1747933

 

and

 

the latest news about the affluent:

 

http://www.seatrade-insider.com/news/news-headlines/study-finds-affluent-less-likely-to-cruise-during-next-12-months.html

[LeftcoastBC]

I kinda agree with Bob. I used to keep the line financially stable with my bar bill and now do not drink alcohol. My fou fou water bill still helps but not near as much :D My partner doesn't drink as much as she used to either. :(

 

X has all those RCL Diamond types coming over and it's clearly a plan to get those long time RCL cruisers as our social hour beats theirs hands down on the cross over. Going the other way ! Not so much... as we can't get into their highest Diamond level. period.

 

The S class ships seemed to me to be a souped up RCL ship right from my first week on the Solstice. The Martini bar and the farting chairs with the loud music in competition with the sound of the strings up a few decks...... Just didn't seem to be the same to me. Those ships were built to catch the now childless cruisers in their late 40's and 50's maturing off RCL ships I think. It's part of the plan.

 

But I don't think they want us to leave. Maybe move onto Azamara or something ??

 

Having listened to Bob rave about & while being confined to his room through the cabin walls of the Zenith during his lock down a few yrs ago I do believe this is the first time I have agreed with him on anything. BUT

 

You know there are a lot of long time X cruisers that are way younger than a lot of us. I don't think you have to go as far as telling someone to go cruise on another lline though. There is still the Century (for a while anyways) and the M class (minus holes to the Rendez vous) that offer lots of options. The infinity still has the best Tpool that I have found.

 

As a cruise line that I can afford X is still #1 with me. I don't feel driven away but they sure are trying to capture people that spend more on board than me. I hope they do as it helps keep my budget needs happier.

[boogs]

Every cruise line has had the same compliants. The line is trying to appeal to younger cruisers and alineating the past cruisers....

 

RCI, HAL, etc.... they all evolve. The only constant is change....

 

Or could it be that time doesn't stand still and as we are getting older we are getting further away from the what could be called the "average" cruiser? We understandably want our favorite things to age along with us so that they are constantly perfect for us. But that won't happen if the cruise lines want to stay profitable.

 

It isn't only the cruise lines that are doing the alienating - it's also us because our tastes and preferences also change as we age.

[KaththeTaff]

Or could it be that time doesn't stand still and as we are getting older we are getting further away from the what could be called the "average" cruiser? We understandably want our favorite things to age along with us so that they are constantly perfect for us. But that won't happen if the cruise lines want to stay profitable.

 

It isn't only the cruise lines that are doing the alienating - it's also us because our tastes and preferences also change as we age.

 

I think it's a bit of both - people do change as they get older, or more experienced cruisers, it is natural to look back with a little rose tint on the glasses (our first cruise together was on NCL, and we tend to remember the good things with much greater clarity than the thinks we weren't fussed on!).

 

But cruising is changing, and all of the mass market lines are constantly refining their style within their broad 'vision' to try to appeal to a broader cross section of people and attract new customers, both to cruising and to their own ships.

 

Part of this is also a reflection of the changes in society as a whole.

 

As a couple who have tried P&O, NCL and Princess as well as Celebrity, we find the latter to be the best fit for us at present. If we feel that it no longer delivers the sort of experience we are looking for, we will try another line!

[Christine Frances]

c (retired couples) either. :(

 

I have to admit that Princess and HAL are starting to look more and more attractive.

 

What about Princess and HAL is attractive to you:confused:

[Johnny Heedless]

Come on guys....

 

Celebrity has it figured out. They know very well that the grumpy old fogies with Double-Secret Elite status don't spend a dime once on board (other than buying a few bingo tickets).

 

They don't buy booze (Elite vouchers/happy hours ensure that). They don't drop huge loads in the casino (except at the penny slots). They don't go on excursions (been there, done that). They couldn't imagine dropping $45 extra on the specialty restaurants. And, they certainly don't spend $20 on dirty pay-per-view movies in their rooms.

 

At the same time, they're constantly griping about how food, service, and entertainment have declined since the days when they started cruising (back when Love Boat was still on Saturday night during prime time). I'm sure it gets tiresome listening to endless complaints about loud music, missing escargot, obnoxious children, and their fellow passengers' attire.

 

They would much rather replace the crotchety I-have-been-on-84-cruises crowd with a younger, free-spending, less cantankerous crowd.

 

They've seen the success of W Hotels and are trying to replicate it.

 

They want a crowd that drinks (see the 1,2,3 promotions or the Sam Adams Craft Beer cruise). They want a crowd that likes louder techno mood music. They want a crowd that isn't going to be offended by a little foul language (see Sin City Comedy). They want the LGBT crowd and those that welcoming towards them.

 

And, I imagine this isn't as much of an age thing as implied by my post. Just look at this thread; there are plenty of older folks that are still fun, hip, and not quick to complain. At the same time, there are plenty of Gen X'ers that think a little loud techno is going to burst their eardrums. Based on the W Hotel model, I can guarantee that the prior group is a lot less tightfisted than the latter group.

[Christine Frances]

Like!!!!

[Cruising89143]

Come on guys....

 

Celebrity has it figured out. They know very well that the grumpy old fogies with Double-Secret Elite status don't spend a dime once on board (other than buying a few bingo tickets).

 

They don't buy booze (Elite vouchers/happy hours ensure that). They don't drop huge loads in the casino (except at the penny slots). They don't go on excursions (been there, done that). They couldn't imagine dropping $45 extra on the specialty restaurants. And, they certainly don't spend $20 on dirty pay-per-view movies in their rooms.

 

At the same time, they're constantly griping about how food, service, and entertainment have declined since the days when they started cruising (back when Love Boat was still on Saturday night during prime time). I'm sure it gets tiresome listening to endless complaints about loud music, missing escargot, obnoxious children, and their fellow passengers' attire.

 

They would much rather replace the crotchety I-have-been-on-84-cruises crowd with a younger, free-spending, less cantankerous crowd.

 

They've seen the success of W Hotels and are trying to replicate it.

 

They want a crowd that drinks (see the 1,2,3 promotions or the Sam Adams Craft Beer cruise). They want a crowd that likes louder techno mood music. They want a crowd that isn't going to be offended by a little foul language (see Sin City Comedy). They want the LGBT crowd and those that welcoming towards them.

 

And, I imagine this isn't as much of an age thing as implied by my post. Just look at this thread; there are plenty of older folks that are still fun, hip, and not quick to complain. At the same time, there are plenty of Gen X'ers that think a little loud techno is going to burst their eardrums. Based on the W Hotel model, I can guarantee that the prior group is a lot less tightfisted than the latter group.

 

I think you hit the nail on the head. Of course you stated it a little more blunt than I would have.

[wallie5446]

 

We also keep getting tons and tons of promotional material from Princess. Maybe it's time for a change. I'm not sure.

 

Been there, sailed that! Went on the Ruby Princess last Nov, currently the newest Ship they have. Was it bad, no, was it great, no. Enought so that the wifester would not cruise if Princess was the only option open. 1st Princess in 1993, 1st X in 1992, 7 diff lines, so we are not green peas.

[dread_pirate]

When all you double Elite cruisers started cruising Celebrity, you were much younger than you are now.

 

Maybe the problem isn't that Celebrity is changing so much; maybe it's that you are.

 

Reminds me of my grandparents complaining about all the "youngsters" at their Florida condos who don't want to hang around them, and how the place isn't "friendly" any more.

 

Me: How old are they?

Grandpa: Late 50's, early 60's.

Me: How old were you when you moved there?

Grandpa: 57.

Me: Did you want to hang around with the 80 year olds when you moved?

Grandpa: No, but this is different.

 

etc.

etc.

 

Celebrity may still be trying to attract the same crowd they tried to attract when you started cruising; you may just no longer be part of that crowd.

[City_Woman]

Little things are adding up.

 

The much publicized (and criticized) music type and volume. The consequent change in ambience. Ships with bells and whistles which cater to a younger crowd. Drink package promotions. These and other changes seem to be targeting a younger population.

 

I suspect that Miami knows they are alientating their traditional bread and butter, and that they are doing it deliberately. Perhaps the bean counters have thoroughly analyzed spending patterns and determined they just aren't making enough money off us oldies. They might be right.

 

We have 25 credits and more cruises booked. You would think that would make them happy. But, there are a lot of factors that suggest otherwise. First, we are Elite which means we are entitled to expensive perks. As seasoned cruisers, we are familiar with most of our destinations and are more likely to book non ship excursions. We don't stay up as late [spending money]. We are more likely to use TAs, thus reducing their profit. And so on.

 

I believe Celebrity is knowingly attempting to reinvent itself and have calculated that they will be better off with a new demographic even if it means losing some of their faithful.

 

Maybe they are not trying to run us off, but it sure seems they will be happy to see us go. I have always described Celebrity as a perfect fit for us, but it may soon be time for some alterations.

 

Happy Sails to You

 

OOOEEE :D:D Bob and Phyl

 

 

I'm loyal and don't feel at all like I'm being run off.

 

J

[uktog]

Come on guys....

 

Celebrity has it figured out. They know very well that the grumpy old fogies with Double-Secret Elite status don't spend a dime once on board (other than buying a few bingo tickets).

 

They don't buy booze (Elite vouchers/happy hours ensure that). They don't drop huge loads in the casino (except at the penny slots). They don't go on excursions (been there, done that). They couldn't imagine dropping $45 extra on the specialty restaurants. And, they certainly don't spend $20 on dirty pay-per-view movies in their rooms.

 

At the same time, they're constantly griping about how food, service, and entertainment have declined since the days when they started cruising (back when Love Boat was still on Saturday night during prime time). I'm sure it gets tiresome listening to endless complaints about loud music, missing escargot, obnoxious children, and their fellow passengers' attire.

 

They would much rather replace the crotchety I-have-been-on-84-cruises crowd with a younger, free-spending, less cantankerous crowd.

 

They've seen the success of W Hotels and are trying to replicate it.

 

They want a crowd that drinks (see the 1,2,3 promotions or the Sam Adams Craft Beer cruise). They want a crowd that likes louder techno mood music. They want a crowd that isn't going to be offended by a little foul language (see Sin City Comedy). They want the LGBT crowd and those that welcoming towards them.

 

And, I imagine this isn't as much of an age thing as implied by my post. Just look at this thread; there are plenty of older folks that are still fun, hip, and not quick to complain. At the same time, there are plenty of Gen X'ers that think a little loud techno is going to burst their eardrums. Based on the W Hotel model, I can guarantee that the prior group is a lot less tightfisted than the latter group.

 

 

Well said!

[wwcruisers]

What about Princess and HAL is attractive to you:confused:

 

Valid question. Since I have not sailed either line, most of my info comes from here on CC. Sounds like Princess has the better smoking policy -- no smoking in staterooms or on balconies. There are devoted HAL cruisers who say that (other than the smoking policy) it's superior to Princess. Also, both lines still have a decent presence on the West Coast -- a nice alternative to always having to spend our first vacation day on an airplane. :cool:

[Christine Frances]

Valid question. Since I have not sailed either line, most of my info comes from here on CC. Sounds like Princess has the better smoking policy -- no smoking in staterooms or on balconies. There are devoted HAL cruisers who say that (other than the smoking policy) it's superior to Princess. Also, both lines still have a decent presence on the West Coast -- a nice alternative to always having to spend our first vacation day on an airplane. :cool:

 

Celebrity by far has the better smoking policy!! No smoking anywhere inside the ship. Princess still allows smoking in the interior of their ships - biggest turn off for me is the Casino where the smoke travels to other areas - same with Hal.

[Miss SeaBee]

Celebrity may still be trying to attract the same crowd they tried to attract when you started cruising; you may just no longer be part of that crowd.

 

Bingo!