What would make you leave Celebrity?

[NLH Arizona]

And so perhaps Celebrity's new focus on the 'suite' experience is to try to keep this particular group of customers loyal to X.

Or trying to bring on new Celebrity customers who are accustomed to the enhanced "suite" experience from other cruise lines.

[Jane2357]

What would make us leave:

More children - we haven't any grand children ourselves (yet) and try to minimize sailing with anyone else's. ;)

 

A further decay in the dress code. I like formal nights, if they do away with those or totally stop any enforcement - then the romance factor of cruising is gone. Might as well be driving around in an antique winnebago.

 

One thing would make leaving harder would be if the entire ship went smoke free - that would be hard to walk away from.:eek:

[ghstudio]

This isn't an all or nothing question.....many of us cruise multiple times a year. In the past two/three years we have been cruising exclusively on Celebrity in aqua cabins. With all the changes over that period of time (almost all negative), few new itineraries and a generally unchanging menu in Blu, we now have booked cruises on other cruise lines but we've still booked one B2B on Celebrity in 2016 and 2017. Sorry Celebrity, no cruises booked with you in 2015.

 

So the the changes, or lack of changes have cost celebrity three aqua cabin cruise bookings this year and probably the same in the next two years. Of course, we can be won back...once the seeming "blinders on" focus on suite passengers abates and perhaps with some changes to menus and new itineraries.

 

It hasn't been any one thing...it's been the erosion of the experience to the point where we started to look around.

[tip]

What would make me leave?

 

1) If they allowed smoking on the balconies again.

 

2) If they stopped sailing out of Fort Lauderdale. We love the pre and post cruise experiences in Fort Lauderdale!:D

 

3) If members of the "Clothes Police" on these boards were given badges and allowed to pass judgment on the ships like they do on Cruise Critic!

[C-Dragons]

Absolutely nothing, we're in it for the long haul.

 

Although Orator did have a point (about death)... :eek:

[flyingv4me]

I love Celebrity. What would make me leave? I'm not a suite passenger, but I am a concierge class passenger. When the Celebrity experience for non-suite passengers becomes an afterthought to Celebrity, I'll move on. We're not there yet, and I'm hopeful that once the buzz subsides on the flurry of new suite perks they will remember that the other levels produce quite a bit of revenue as well.

 

Given that hope, I expect to be a Celebrity cruiser for many years to come.

[Kevnzworld]

We like Celebrity but don't have any cruises booked right now. We are trying Oceania because we want to experience a small ship and especially the food. We have liked Blu but the menus are boring after couple of longer cruises. They need to change the menus and the entertainment too. It seems like the staff are working (too?) long hours and are more tired than before.

I agree...

I returned today from my first Oceania cruise. It was nice to be able to sit in nice padded lounge chairs by the pool, and eat lunch in a civilized environment with tables easy to come by.

The food is also SIGNIFICANTLY better.

The suite restaurant might get me back on Celebrity, but at the current suite fares the higher end competition is more attractive.

[rua642]

Dynamic Dining.

[Phxazzcruisers]

We are diehard fans of Celebrity and Azamara, and have not yet found anything that would make us leave. As one poster above said, if we had to make up our own rooms, cook our own meals, we would probably leave, otherwise, we are very happy with the product and as cle-guy said, a cozy sail lined coffin....

[omeinv]

Another thread that invites the negative.

Ok.my answer: My death would end my Celebrity cruising.

 

I have been treated really well and have met some fine crew along the way. I find that the passenger mix, especially on longer cruises,matches my interests. I recognize that each cruise is a unique experience and there may be some hits and misses along the way. I understand that Celebrity is a for profit business and will adjust according to market trens and conditions. I've tried most of the mass market lines and have found nothing thats a better fit for me.

 

So I assume when you do die, you'll switch to HAL to maintain the experience of cruising with your peers? :)

 

Harris

Denver, CO

[Adammara]

We have had to leave.......

 

We had a couple of disappointing cruises on Celebrity in 2012, and decided to take a sabbatical from cruising. When the new suite 'deal' was announced, we decide to book a Royal Suite on Eclipse in May to celebrate our Golden Wedding.

 

Just before Christmas I had a health scare, which had to be reported to our Travel insurance company. Result, they withdrew our insurance, even for UK travel, my wife had cancer 10 years ago and insurance has always been a problem, adding my issues seems to have made us uninsurable for travel.

 

In the last 2 years we have enjoyed luxury holiday cottages and 4 star hotels (with freshly squeezed OJ!), which we shall continue to do whilst we are able.

 

We planned to travel the world when we retired, but after the cancer we could only get cover for Europe. So no more overseas holidays for us. Incidentally. it took the TA 2 weeks to get a cancellation invoice from Celebrity UK!

 

To all poster, if you get the chance, do that special cruise, or item on the 'bucket' list, before its to late. We met loads of great people on our 39 cruises, and just a few we don't want to meet again!

 

Richard

 

ps will still haunt this board!!!

[ECCruise]

To all poster, if you get the chance, do that special cruise, or item on the 'bucket' list, before its to late. We met loads of great people on our 39 cruises, and just a few we don't want to meet again!

 

Richard

 

ps will still haunt this board!!!

 

Thank you. Great post and great advice.

[Shaco]

So I assume when you do die, you'll switch to HAL to maintain the experience of cruising with your peers? :)

 

Harris

Denver, CO

 

Ah, but you would be wrong to switch to HAL when you die. HAL would simply turn the ship around and bring your dead body back to port. A very short cruise for you. Tee hee, you think, I just won't die first, I'll go second when we are a little out to sea. Nah, HAL has that one handled, too. After a short, chilly night spent in the freezerino, along side the chuck roast, you will be dropped off back in port. Would you care to go for three? Yup, you guessed it.

 

After three turnarounds, our HAL finally left Tampa Bay!

 

We are still laughing about that cruise.

Shaco

[NLH Arizona]

Thank you. Great post and great advice.

Totally agree. Maybe if some didn't dwell on the negatives, but looked at the positives, they would have a better outlook. We should all remember there are millions of folks that can't cruise and we are the fortunate ones that can.

 

Adammara, thanks for putting the subject of fresh squeezed orange juice and all the other little things some complain about into perspective; they are just not that import in the scheme of things. People should just enjoy their travels as long as they can.

Edited February 3, 2015 by NLH Arizona

[cpj]

This isn't an all or nothing question.....many of us cruise multiple times a year. In the past two/three years we have been cruising exclusively on Celebrity in aqua cabins. With all the changes over that period of time (almost all negative), few new itineraries and a generally unchanging menu in Blu, we now have booked cruises on other cruise lines but we've still booked one B2B on Celebrity in 2016 and 2017. Sorry Celebrity, no cruises booked with you in 2015.

 

So the the changes, or lack of changes have cost celebrity three aqua cabin cruise bookings this year and probably the same in the next two years. Of course, we can be won back...once the seeming "blinders on" focus on suite passengers abates and perhaps with some changes to menus and new itineraries.

 

It hasn't been any one thing...it's been the erosion of the experience to the point where we started to look around.

I totally understand.

[grandgeezer]

We are probably on our way out, not only from Celebrity, but cruising in general. Several years ago, we were ready to walk away but then we found Celebrity and we were hooked. Over our last three Celebrity cruises, we feel Celebrity has regressed back to the same level as the other lines. Between the cutbacks, and the constant promos, that aren't free, and we don't want, the value for the dollar just isn't there, for us, anymore.

We have two cruises booked on other lines, and if they aren't up to our expectations, we'll go back to spending two weeks at a condo, in Maui, every year. That isn't a bad plan B. Being Elite Plus, with all the percs makes this a tough decision but if the value isn't there, it isn't there.

If it does end now, it's been a good ride, 33 cruises with almost 400 days at sea, over half on Celebrity.

[welshfamily]

We love Celebrity but have just booked our first cruise on Azamara simply down to cost and our perception of value for money. We have bought air fare and a cruise on Azamara in a balcony cabin for just a few hundred pounds more each than a Celebrity cruise in AquaClass would have cost.

We could have saved money by traveling with Oceania.

We think prices for Europe this year have risen considerably with Celebrity mainly due to the 'free ' classic alcohol package, 'included' gratuities and the OBC Celebrity are 'giving' us. ( increase the price to cover everything included in the promotion.)

We still like the Celebrity product but think Celebrity needs to change the production shows and stop making cutbacks whilst thinking cruisers only care about getting an Alcohol package.

This is not our idea of Modern Luxury.

[PORT ROYAL]

Celebrity needs to change the production shows and stop making cutbacks whilst thinking cruisers only care about getting an Alcohol package.

This is not our idea of Modern Luxury.

 

But you are not the new demographic, with no experience history, that Celebrity wishes to attract.

[varoo]

We would not "leave" Celebrity.

Even though we like Celebrity a lot and have taken many Celebrity cruises, we are not married to Celebrity and have not taken any "forsaking all others" vows to Celebrity. :D

 

We cruise on different cruise lines, or take different types of non-cruise vacations as they suit us at different times, for any number of reasons.

 

It is much the way that we do not "leave" Macy's when we shop at other department stores.

 

But if you want to call it leaving, my answer to the question

"What would make you leave Celebrity?"

would be a more appealing vacation opportunity elsewhere.

 

[villauk]

We have had to leave.......

 

We had a couple of disappointing cruises on Celebrity in 2012, and decided to take a sabbatical from cruising. When the new suite 'deal' was announced, we decide to book a Royal Suite on Eclipse in May to celebrate our Golden Wedding.

 

Just before Christmas I had a health scare, which had to be reported to our Travel insurance company. Result, they withdrew our insurance, even for UK travel, my wife had cancer 10 years ago and insurance has always been a problem, adding my issues seems to have made us uninsurable for travel.

 

In the last 2 years we have enjoyed luxury holiday cottages and 4 star hotels (with freshly squeezed OJ!), which we shall continue to do whilst we are able.

 

We planned to travel the world when we retired, but after the cancer we could only get cover for Europe. So no more overseas holidays for us. Incidentally. it took the TA 2 weeks to get a cancellation invoice from Celebrity UK!

 

To all poster, if you get the chance, do that special cruise, or item on the 'bucket' list, before its to late. We met loads of great people on our 39 cruises, and just a few we don't want to meet again!

 

Richard

 

ps will still haunt this board!!!

 

Thank you for putting everything into perspective and I totally agree ;). Do it while you can because no one knows what's round the corner! So many people we know have said they are waiting until they retire to see the world and then never get the opportunity.

 

We started cruising a little younger than retirement age :), and obviously our kids even younger still: aged 12 and been to every continent except Antarctica (on our bucket list though :))! How lucky we are as a family to enjoy all these special experiences together ;). Which is why it's so sad to read posts here complaining and threatening to leave X because of families with children cruising :(.

I have said to my DH that whenever I leave this planet, at least they'll be able to say in my eulogy, 'She saw the world' (even if I never make it to Zenith :D).

[flames9]

Only reason we sail Celebrity is for BLU......We are not huge cruisers (3 so far, 4th in August) Living in Quito, we get plenty of fresh OJ, even subway provides that,lol Seriously we just enjoy being able to eat in a smaller, relaxing atmosphere....So if they took that away, off we go.

[junetraveler2014]

Another thread that invites the negative.

Ok.my answer: My death would end my Celebrity cruising.

 

I have been treated really well and have met some fine crew along the way. I find that the passenger mix, especially on longer cruises,matches my interests. I recognize that each cruise is a unique experience and there may be some hits and misses along the way. I understand that Celebrity is a for profit business and will adjust according to market trens and conditions. I've tried most of the mass market lines and have found nothing thats a better fit for me.

 

Ditto, ditto and second that!

[blindrid]

You are assuming that some of us are truly loyal to a line - we're not and book each cruise based on pricing, itinerary, length and the ship. I actually prefer NCL but I have zero commitment to them either.

 

Celebrity, as the other mainstreams, have their inadequacies. AND fresh OJ is not a concern to me:).

[nekzaadvakil]

The BIG things that would definitely make me switch:

 

1. If they allowed Smoking in more places.

2. If they started charging for the MAST GRILL Burgers :D

3. If the prices keep going up the way they are

 

The smaller things which may make me switch:

1. Silly new dining changes like dynamic dining

2. Rude staff that were not corrected (However I must say I've never had a rude person on a cruise except for 1 in the casino)

[Project_gal]

Quite honestly, if it becomes any harder to contact Celebrity UK AND get them to do the simplest things, we will HAVE to stop sailing with Celebrity because, if it gets any worse, it will become impossible to book a cruise.

 

e.g.: When I wanted to pay the final balance on our next cruise about a week ago, I had to explain to the person on the other end of the 'phone how she needed to do it. OK, the outstanding balance was above the limit that the Celebrity system allows to be taken in one payment but I still do not understand why I have to provide the training!

 

It has reached the stage where I NEED a cruise to recover from booking one.