Cruise expectations

[dolson367]

Hi,

**With one crewmember to nearly every two guests our staff prides itself on knowing what you want, a nanosecond before you even knew you wanted it.

 

This one cracks me up when on hold via phone. They have 3 short commercials that loop endlessly. Whenever this one played, I thought..."No, because I wanted you to answer my call 20 minutes ago."

 

I agree with the sentiment of keeping expectations in check. I'd rather be pleasantly surprised (or even blown away) by service than go in with too high of an expectation only to be disappointed by what really was good service.

[MTemple212]

Going on my first cruise with X this summer but have been planning it for well over a year. In my constant monitoring of the countless threads here in the X forum I have come to the same conclusion that many of the problems or complaints--certainly not all--are the result of unrealistic expectations. If you are expecting a ultra high end cruise with you're every wish granted I think going on a X cruise will sorely disappoint. I find it amazing how well almost every "big ship" cruise line manages to take care f 3,000+ passengers. It a huge task. Celebrity does it better than most from what I've read. I'll find out for myself this summer!

 

Cheers

 

Tommy, I think you hit the nail on the head with your comments!! We have been on all of the mass market cruise lines and Celebrity is one of those lines! And I think they do the best compared to the rest. And it is amazing how they handle all of those passengers and I would think they score very well against their competitors in overall satisfaction.

[cpj]

I'm especially flummoxed by "foodies" who go on a cruise and are shocked that cooking for 3,000 doesn't equal some "Chez Louis" 5 star restaurant...

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

Your right. But the quality has decline and has nothing to do with how many people there serving. It's about cost cutting and getting you to go to a specialty restaurent. They have many cabins to fill today and there forced to keep the price low. I now sail on oceana and pay more but I get better quality.

[surus]

We have only taken three cruises, two on Oceania and one on Azamara. We didn't feel our March 2013 Oceania cruise lived up to the rates we paid and decided to give Celebrity a try. We have two cruises on Celebrity ahead, Summit to Bermuda in June and Silhouette to the Adriatic in September. I would be interested in hearing from people who have sailed on the not quite luxury lines as well as Celebrity as to what differences we should expect.

[rebeccalouiseagain]

I did the Oceania Regatta and enjoyed the padded chairs by the pool, the food was excellent and I LOVED the afternoon tea and made sure to get there early to secure a good spot. I was with family and we had a wonderful time. I liked getting on and off the ship easily. I spent quiet time in the library each day too. I see why people like Oceania but I prefer Celebrity because there is just more to do.

 

The Celebrity cruises are very warm and welcoming. The service is very good- excellent. I like Summit and think you will too- although my parents felt the ship was too big. They prefer the smaller vessels for getting around. There are more activities on Celebrity and more nightlife. The casino or course is much bigger on Celebrity (although I don't gamble- so don't care).

 

The spa is nicer on Celebrity. I felt the spa staff on Oceania was not happy and there was a bad vibe there. I did like the steam room on Oceania more than the one on Summit, which is not free. The steam room on Silhouette looks lovely though- and probably worth the $25 a day or $99 per week they charge to use this feature.

 

On Summit- I love Bistro on Five ($5 pp) and Qsine ($45 pp) and the Spa Quisine (free) by the indoor pool and Buffet (free), Cafe al Bianco for finger sandwiches and dessert (free), Gelateria and Coffee (small fee) Coffee and juices are free in the buffet.

 

On Silhouette- you have Bistro on Five( $5pp), Qsine ($45pp), the Lawn Club ($40 pp) and Murano ($45 pp) and Spa Quisine (free), the buffet(free) and Finger sandwiches and desserts at Cafe al Bianco (free) and the Gelateria and Coffee (small fee) coffee and juices are free in the buffet.

 

I like the MDR on Summit. I did not like sitting on the upper level of the MDR on S-class- it is cramped and the ceiling is low. Request a table on the lower level if possible when sailing on Silhouette or do Select Dining and go when you want and ask to sit on the main floor.

 

The pool is nice on both Summit and the Silhouette. Summit has a heated indoor Therapy pool and the Silhouette has a slightly heated but still cool indoor pool. Celebrity has added some nice padded chairs in these areas and little hammock type beds on Silhouette- that we like (but are hard to get out of!)

 

The library is just ok on Celebrity- bring your own books.

 

I think the decor is very pleasant on Celebrity.

 

One thing I didn't like about Oceania is that the specialty restaurants were at the back on deck 10. This really effected me and I was a bit motion sick there. That's just me. I did like the buffet on Oceania though- it was really fresh and lots of yummy choices. I think Celebrity has a wider selection but the food tends to be a bit bland in general in the buffet. Bread and rolls are excellent and the hot cinnamon rolls at breakfast are very good (but they don't serve them every day).

Edited January 29, 2014 by rebeccalouiseagain

[CathyCruises]

 

and whether their room steward left mints on their peoples.

 

 

I tried to read this out loud to DH who is driving the car--I started laughing so hard I cried, and every time I tried again I cried again! Took me two full minutes to get it out! Thanks for the best laugh I've had in weeks!::p

[philham]

I have cruised on Regent twice, Princess, more than a dozen times and Celebrity last May and again this May. Luxury cruising has its good and bad. At least on Regent, there is no all day buffet. When you come back from a tour and the MDR is closed, you have to order from the Room Service menu. It is fairly limited. I like to shoot craps, but there is no 12 or 14 foot table. Only a smaller one, which is not the same thing.

 

Luxury ships are smaller. I do not believe they are as steady or stable in rough water as is a larger ship. It all depends on what you want of the cruise.

[jackdiamond]

I have cruised on Regent twice, Princess, more than a dozen times and Celebrity last May and again this May. Luxury cruising has its good and bad. At least on Regent, there is no all day buffet. When you come back from a tour and the MDR is closed, you have to order from the Room Service menu. It is fairly limited. I like to shoot craps, but there is no 12 or 14 foot table. Only a smaller one, which is not the same thing.

 

Luxury ships are smaller. I do not believe they are as steady or stable in rough water as is a larger ship. It all depends on what you want of the cruise.

You are totally correct vis-a-vis the stability question.

[Tommy3putts]

I have cruised on Regent twice, Princess, more than a dozen times and Celebrity last May and again this May. Luxury cruising has its good and bad. At least on Regent, there is no all day buffet. When you come back from a tour and the MDR is closed, you have to order from the Room Service menu. It is fairly limited. I like to shoot craps, but there is no 12 or 14 foot table. Only a smaller one, which is not the same thing.

 

Luxury ships are smaller. I do not believe they are as steady or stable in rough water as is a larger ship. It all depends on what you want of the cruise.

 

 

Ooops you are absolutely correct on two points; adding to my X expectations list

 

10. Good dice table and cold beer

11. Stable ship in rough water and cold beer.

 

Thanks

[Jane2357]

I'm especially flummoxed by "foodies" who go on a cruise and are shocked that cooking for 3,000 doesn't equal some "Chez Louis" 5 star restaurant...

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

I totally agree with this, cruise ship dining is really glorified cafeteria food. You cannot please 3,000 people. Everything is massed produced - my expectation in the dining room is pretty low. My wish is for my food to arrive HOT. Not almost hot, not warm, but hot - even the most average food tastes better hot.

 

The problem comes with people thinking that their order is handled like at a land restaurant - this isn't the case. This food, unless you have a special dietary situation - is mass produced. The waiter or assistant runs down and the food is like a conveyor - they grab what you ordered as it is already plated. Your medium rare steak is stacked 8 deep. This is why if you say that you don't want the veggie or would like extra - it takes time. There are several books written by ex- cruise ship employees that will debunk some peoples thinking.

[turning46]

Johnny Heedless, I think that was an exceptionally insightful post.

 

One thing I noticed on our cruise (our first!) last fall is that everyone is on vacation, smiling, relaxed, and out to have a nice time. People were polite, out-going, and friendly. If there was scowling or tut-tutting, or if someone was being put off by any of the things we read about on here, I certainly didn't notice it.

 

I went to the roll call get-together, and all of the people there were gracious, friendly, and helpful. There were a few people (not in the roll call group) that I probably wouldn't want to spend a lot of time with, but the ship is so large and there are so many things to do, it's easy to remove yourself from any unpleasant person or situation.

 

One really lovely thing, and something I think sums up the good, happy vibe on the ship: on formal nights, and as we sailed through very picturesque areas, everyone was MORE than happy to take hold of each other's cameras and snap a few nice photos for their fellow travellers. It was nice!

[Cruising89143]

In my opinion, celebrity is not a luxury cruise line, but on the higher end of mass market. If you are looking for "luxury" you may be disappointed. With the right attitude and expectations, you will be pleased.

Enjoy

M

 

I'm especially flummoxed by "foodies" who go on a cruise and are shocked that cooking for 3,000 doesn't equal some "Chez Louis" 5 star restaurant...

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

Agree with both statements. Also I don't think some are happy unless they're complaining about something.

[Cruising89143]

I now sail on oceana and pay more but I get better quality.

 

Well that's usually how it works in the business world.

[phoenix_dream]

In my experience, the actual population that you'll experience on your cruise will be absolutely nothing like the population of people that post to this message board or enter reviews on this site. Frankly, if they were, I doubt I would like cruising as much as I do.

 

First the population on this board much older and a much more seasoned cruiser. We've been on a few Celebrity cruises and I can count on one hand the total number of "Elites" that we've encountered. More proof of the relative lack of "Elites" on cruises can be seen at embarkation where the lines for Elites are nil while the line for the rest of the lowly masses stretches around the block.

 

Why does that make a difference? Many of these extremely seasoned cruisers seem burned out on cruises. So, they constantly complain about the most insignificant things. They complain about ridiculously trivial things like the music, kids onboard, the clothes people wear on formal night, and whether their room steward left mints on their peoples. In addition, they ache for their glory days back when Captain Stubing and Julie McCoy were running the show.

 

Second, the proportion of people that actually enter reviews on this site is ridiculously tiny. Consider the current reviews on the Silhouette -- there are only 420 reviews for that ship. That ship has been sailing for over 2.5 years -- based on its 2,800 passenger limit, there have probably been 350,000 passengers on board that ship. That means that an minuscule 0.12% of the passengers bothered to write a review on the ship.

 

And who writes online reviews? Have you spent much time on Yelp or this CC sister's site, TripAdvisor? I have been to restaurants with 3 Michelin Stars and received flawless service with the best meal I've had in my life. Yet, if you got TripAdvisor you'll find folks that somehow find lots of fault with the restaurant. The same goes for hotels.

 

When you combined anonymity with wildly unrealistic expectations and a grand sense of entitlement, you're bound to see the reviews you've been seeing.

 

I'm not saying that Celebrity (or anyone else) is flawless. But, you have to take all these online reviews with a bit of context.

 

I would put money on a bet that you encountered a bunch of 'Elites' on most of your cruises and never knew it. Contrary to what you apparently believe, we do not all go around wearing our status on our sleeve, talking about how entitled we are, complaining about every little thing, or sitting in our rocking chairs lamenting the loss of the Love Boat days :).

 

There are certainly the snarky comments here and there on these boards, and some people want to blow off steam. But overall, I think people seem way too loathe to give people the benefit of the doubt - it is automatically assumed that intentions are bad. Let's think a minute about how this goes. If I dare to mention I am Elite (even if it is pertinent) I am likely to be accused of being 'Elitest' and thinking I am better than anyone else. If I mention that something has changed for the worst, I am old, inflexible, and of course not the crowd Celebrity wants to attract. If I mention something that went wrong on a cruise, I am too 'entitled', I am a big complainer, my expectations are too high ('wildly unrealistic'), nothing will satisfy me. If I mention Celebrity treats well, but does not cater to, children I am a child hater. Of course the opposite doesn't go over too well either. If I say how much I love Celebrity (which I do, despite the occasional fault) then I get labeled a cheerleader. I think overall people need to chill a bit. I have been on 24 Celebrity cruises to-date and it is very, very, very rare that I encounter anyone who exhibits any of the bad attributes many on these boards get accused of.

 

I do agree that the reviews and posts on this web site represent a small percentage of actual cruisers. But I disagree strongly with your generalization of the posters on this board, and most especially of their intentions and beliefs.

[Cruising89143]

In my experience, the actual population that you'll experience on your cruise will be absolutely nothing like the population of people that post to this message board or enter reviews on this site. Frankly, if they were, I doubt I would like cruising as much as I do.

 

First the population on this board much older and a much more seasoned cruiser. We've been on a few Celebrity cruises and I can count on one hand the total number of "Elites" that we've encountered. More proof of the relative lack of "Elites" on cruises can be seen at embarkation where the lines for Elites are nil while the line for the rest of the lowly masses stretches around the block.

 

Why does that make a difference? Many of these extremely seasoned cruisers seem burned out on cruises. So, they constantly complain about the most insignificant things. They complain about ridiculously trivial things like the music, kids onboard, the clothes people wear on formal night, and whether their room steward left mints on their peoples. In addition, they ache for their glory days back when Captain Stubing and Julie McCoy were running the show.

 

Second, the proportion of people that actually enter reviews on this site is ridiculously tiny. Consider the current reviews on the Silhouette -- there are only 420 reviews for that ship. That ship has been sailing for over 2.5 years -- based on its 2,800 passenger limit, there have probably been 350,000 passengers on board that ship. That means that an minuscule 0.12% of the passengers bothered to write a review on the ship.

 

And who writes online reviews? Have you spent much time on Yelp or this CC sister's site, TripAdvisor? I have been to restaurants with 3 Michelin Stars and received flawless service with the best meal I've had in my life. Yet, if you got TripAdvisor you'll find folks that somehow find lots of fault with the restaurant. The same goes for hotels.

 

When you combined anonymity with wildly unrealistic expectations and a grand sense of entitlement, you're bound to see the reviews you've been seeing.

 

I'm not saying that Celebrity (or anyone else) is flawless. But, you have to take all these online reviews with a bit of context.

 

Another perfect post that is spot on.

[CathyCruises]

I think that expectations in LIFE, let alone in cruise ships, lead to disappointments or misconceptions.

 

I have been on multiple X cruises. I read the marketing materials, but take them with a grain of salt, as I do just about anything of the kind. Yes, they use a lot of superlatives that aren't necessarily warranted, and not very realistic, but so do most companies.

 

And yes, there are things I think they could do better, but overall for my vacation value I think it's money well spent. And I especially appreciate the very hard working staff, who try their hardest, in less than ideal conditions, to make my vacation ideal. That's what keeps me coming back!

[Hawkstar33]

Not everyone is the same..What bothers you may not even phase someone else and visa versa..Some folks are just happy to get to go on a cruise. Others will bitch because out of the 40 cruises that they have gone on, this cruiseline uses scotts toilet tissue instead of charmin ultra soft. Celebrity has not disappointed us..You have to decide which ship is for you. Some are for the older crowd, some for the younger late night stay out crowd..Longer itineraries means less kids etc..Keep reading these posts and try your best to sort out what best suits your idea of a great time..

[Tommy3putts]

I hope there's Charmin Ultra Soft on X!

[surus]

I am not Buddhist but I have heard that the Buddha said the cause of unhappiness is the difference between expectation and reality. I frequently remind my husband of this but it is not well received.

[CathyCruises]

I hope there's Charmin Ultra Soft on X!

 

In that, I do not think your expectations will be met! Might as well start planning your post-cruise complaints now!! ;)

[TheWren]

Oh, don't mention the dreaded toilet paper ! :D

 

 

 

 

 

:eek:

[C&F]

So here are my cruise experience expectations for my June 2014 Reflection Med cruise.

 

1. Cold Beer

2. Daily spot at the Mast Bar and cold beer

3. Good food in Blu. Just bring me a steak or seafood and cold beer and a glass of wine.

4. A spot in the smoking area of the Mast Bar for an occasional cigar and cold beer or glass of scotch.

5. A regular spot at the Mast bar for cold beer and a good hamburger

6. A regular spot at the pool bar and cold beer

7. Nice comfy bead with a working shower and cold beer

8. Spot at Michaels and cold foo-foo beer.

9. Coffee early in the AM followed by an Bloody Mary then cold beer.

 

If X can deliver on these marks I'll be living the dream for 11 nights this summer. Are my expectations for X to high?

 

Hysterical! Love it! And fully agree!

 

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[deise17311]

First world problems -- ;)

 

Celebrity does set the bar pretty high with all the advertising hype

 

 

I love it~

[Cassicruiser]

We've just returned from a Celebrity cruise (Millennium) and I'm not sure how much more luxurious a cruise can get! Having a dedicated stateroom attendant (and assistant) to make my bed and clean my room twice a day, get me whatever I need and look after me, a team of chefs and waiters to cook and serve me beautiful food, activities and beautiful spaces to do as much or as little as I want, with everything organised for me and exotic ports to explore without packing and unpacking and all the hassle of getting there - if that is not luxury then I don't know what is!

Yes I haven't been on the 'luxury lines' but don't want to pay triple the cost of Celebrity, and have a private butler (I don't know what I would do with one). I can't imagine wanting anything more than the wonderful product that Celebrity provides for a spoilt and indulgent vacation. Just my opinion of course - others may expect or want far more :rolleyes:

[rebeccalouiseagain]

Wow- well said!:) I'm planning my third cruise on Millenium and can't wait.