Charter Music Cruises selling out

[hattack]

maybe I read the newsletter incorrectly (comes with old age):D I thought the complaints were about the old ship HAL Eurodam, not the new ship Celebrity Summit

[Globaliser]

I thought the complaints were about the old ship HAL Eurodam, not the new ship Celebrity Summit

If only! It would be so much easier to justify booking another ECP charter if the new ship were better than the old ship. But it's the other way around.

[Oshunj]

Saw the email, and thought, well that's a normal "we have a few things to work out" email.

 

reading the one persons critique it seemed only about the food! to be honest i don't like the cruise food either way & im going for the music so as long as there is sustinence i'm good.

 

The other issue noted was the cleanliness of the ship/stateroom! 😡that would irk me too!

 

it is carnival and as i heard they cater to a younger more active crowd (midnight on average carnival ship is more lively,no?) so i'd expect a dingier ship (more warn down).

 

And the service sounds VERY IRRITATING and i would be complaining as well.

 

What i did not read, i think, is complaints about not seeing shows or long lines to enter or reserve seats and then being turned away.

 

and sounds like they are trying to fix these blips. we will see though.

 

 

The company's newsletter last weekend for the three jazz cruises (The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise and Blue Note at Sea) confirms that there were a lot of complaints about the ship. I won't post it again here as I've already quoted it in this post: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=52421797#post52421797

 

There were a couple of snapshots in that thread from people on The Jazz Cruise, and my own potted summary was in these posts on the HAL forum: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=52269639#post52269639 and http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=52277190#post52277190.

[hattack]

thanks for clearing that up for me...I went back and reread the newsletter closely and emailed my friends who were on the Celebrity Summit for the 80's Cruise and Blue Note at Sea to gain their perspective about the non music aspect...sounds like Michael L has a lot of work to do for his guests for 2018....I was on the Celebrity Century in 2009 on the Smooth Music Cruise Charter and even though the Century was an older ship we received excellent service in all aspects of the ship.

 

I do know when Capital Jazz Super Cruise moved from Royal Caribbean to Carnival to NCL in the 1st year of each transition there was a wide range of comments regarding the ship, food & service but it was always overshadowed by the fact that the musical presentation was so outstanding that guests mostly overlooked until this past October on the NCL Getaway when everything (including the music presentations) went 3 sheets in the wind

 

I would suspect that ECP got a significant price break in chartering cost between the older (and smaller) Celebrity Summit and the much newer HAL Eurodam and thought the larger venues with fewer guests formula would work all things considered...glad the music was great...I will say this...when the Capital Jazz Super Cruise was on Carnival for 5 years there was a vocal minority who complained about Carnival (never about the music)...after 1 year on the NCL Getaway those same folks were wishing we were still on Carnival

[oldfolkie]

hattack,

 

I see that you may be taking the 2018 Flower Power Cruise on the Summit. We're also thinking about going next year.

 

After reading the negative info on the Summit here and on the Jazz Cruise thread, I posted some questions about it on the 2017 Flower Power Roll Call thread. So far, the only negatives on that thread mainly seem to be about not being able to see all the acts in the secondary venues (and having to leave shows early to get good seats in the main theater).

 

So I was wondering--have you heard anything more from your friends who were on the Jazz Cruise? Could the Summit have fixed some of the problems already? Or, maybe, there were simply different expectations?

 

We haven't been on either of the Flower Power cruises (or on any of Celebrity ships), but we have been on two of the Malt Shop Memory cruises on the Eurodam. We mainly ate at the buffet, which was fine, so as to see as many shows as possible. It's all about the music!

 

 

Thanks,

 

oldfolkie

[hattack]

one of my friends were on The 80's Cruise and the other on Blue Note at Sea and neither made any negative comments about the Celebrity Summit itself which leads me to believe that it might be different expectations...which is not unusual ...the normal rule of thumb is if the music is great and the ocean is calm and smooth everything else is tolerable ...this was the 1st year of the transition for ECP from HAL to Celebrity

 

really looking forward to the Flower Power Cruise...big change from a Smooth Jazz Cruise

[oldfolkie]

Thanks. I think we're going to sign up.

[Miamichile77]

I do know when Capital Jazz Super Cruise moved from Royal Caribbean to Carnival to NCL in the 1st year of each transition there was a wide range of comments regarding the ship, food & service but it was always overshadowed by the fact that the musical presentation was so outstanding that guests mostly overlooked until this past October on the NCL Getaway when everything (including the music presentations) went 3 sheets in the wind ... I will say this...when the Capital Jazz Super Cruise was on Carnival for 5 years there was a vocal minority who complained about Carnival (never about the music)...after 1 year on the NCL Getaway those same folks were wishing we were still on Carnival

 

I went on my first Capital Jazz Cruise on Carnival, and I agree that it seemed to have the best set-up for that type of music cruise. I wish that they would return to Carnival.

[hattack]

would not be surprise to see a change back for 2018..probably both Capital Jazz & NCL want a divorce..Carnival has bigger brand new ships with the same basic layout (only with one more passenger cabin deck) so it could work...I miss the full day at sea noon time concerts on the Lido Deck..never saw 3000+ cruisers packed in one place on a cruise shup having so much fun

[Chyna3032]

would not be surprise to see a change back for 2018..probably both Capital Jazz & NCL want a divorce..Carnival has bigger brand new ships with the same basic layout (only with one more passenger cabin deck) so it could work...I miss the full day at sea noon time concerts on the Lido Deck..never saw 3000+ cruisers packed in one place on a cruise shup having so much fun

 

The most ideal ship for music charters is Royal Caribbean in my opinion. They have more venue's for larger groups of people as well as several smaller venues. I only attend one TJFV cruise on Royal Caribbean, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[hattack]

and yet TJFV has been on Carnival for the last few years...are you ready for your FV next month...my friends did not clear the WL so they are making other plans

[saxpilot]

Hey Hattack! I haven't been on these boards in some time, but I see you are going on the Dave Koz and Friends out of Venice May 17th (is that correct?) My wife and I will be on that one as well with another couple we met on the Alaska cruise. If you don't remember, I'm the Delta pilot who also plays sax and I was asking you about the differences between the SJC and DK before we even did our first one. Now we're hooked and can't wait for our trip in May. Is your son still flying F-22's?

[Globaliser]

one of my friends were on The 80's Cruise and the other on Blue Note at Sea and neither made any negative comments about the Celebrity Summit itself which leads me to believe that it might be different expectations...which is not unusual ...the normal rule of thumb is if the music is great and the ocean is calm and smooth everything else is tolerable ...

Certainly, different people will place different emphasis on different things, and legitimately so. Some of the people we know on TJC are there only for the music, and wouldn't complain if they had to eat sandwiches all week! I suspect that they were happy with Summit, and won't worry about booking again for future cruises.

 

However, there will be others, like us, who aren't quite as dedicated to the music itself (even though we love it enough to go on a specialist cruise). We're there because we like having that music in the context of a week's cruise. But having a decent week's cruise is still extremely important - especially when spending $4,500 per person for that week (even after frequent flyer miles had paid for a large chunk of the long-haul air travel). It's people like us who are wavering. We'll have to see whether and how this affects ECP and its decision-making.

 

It's pure bad luck rather than anything to do with the things that we didn't like, but I did notice that Summit seems to have broken down this week during the Soul Train Cruise (StarVista, not ECP)!

 

The most ideal ship for music charters is Royal Caribbean in my opinion.

One interesting thing that Michael L said was that he thought that the best ships for presenting the music were MSC ships. But he thought that if he took one of them, we'd be throwing him overboard after a couple of days because the product is so spartan.

[hattack]

Saxpilot...I remember you guys :') due to a scheduling issues with my travel partner, we switch to the 2018 Koz charter out of Denmark and I am on stand bye for the 1st week of Koz for an interior..I knew you would become hooked, it's become additive..thanks for asking, yes my Son is still flying the F-22 (but I think he secretly misses flying the F-15) and can retire in 2018 so he is evaluating his options (must be nice)

 

Globaliser...I hear what you are saying ...interesting on the Capital Jazz Super Cruise X on NCL Getaway it was clear before we even sailed, wrong type of ship for that type of charter..it went downhill from there so not only was the presentation of the music 'whacked" (as the young folks are fond of saying), but also the "cruise" presentation was "way out of whacked", so everyone was doubly disappointed..for those reasons we elected not to go on NCL Breakaway for Super Cruise XI and will revisited if cruise lines are changed in 2018

 

Never cruised on MSC but feedback from my friends who haved and have been on a music charter, I think Michael L. is right not to switch...however, if MSC made him a charter discount offer that he could not resist he would switch but he may want to chat with his counterpart at Capital Jazz to understand the implications of doing so...sometimes making more $$$ because the ship can hold 4000+ is not a good thing when you "tick off 4000+, many of whom are voicing their displeasure by not booking the following years

 

I've always thought the Celebrity Summit (or the Century that the 2009 Smooth Music Cruise charter was on) is the perfect fit, but promoters can't resist, bigger ship, bigger profits

[Chyna3032]

and yet TJFV has been on Carnival for the last few years...are you ready for your FV next month...my friends did not clear the WL so they are making other plans

Yes it has...TJFV has made the necessary adjustments to making Carnival work though. I am ready...Hate to hear your friends didn't get called from the waiting list.

[hattack]

since you will be in town on Sunday returning from the FV, check nola.com on March 21st for the Sunday line up for the French Quarter Festival...most locals think it's a much better Festival than the NO Jazz & Heritage Festival plus it's free...over the 4 day period easily draws over 100,000 so get there early, move around a lot and drink lots of fluids while you are enjoying the great (but not good for you) famous New Orleans cuisine

 

my friend is very disappointed about not clearing the WL...several of her family booked last year and she just waited to long to book and by then the WL was over 50..usually folks drop out for various reasons, but it seems this year everyone paid on time...TJFV was never on my radar because I was a Capital Jazz loyalist but after 'X" I am a free agent

 

have fun..if you get a chance eat at Ms. Leah Chase's place and visit Frenchmen St for the great music and stay off Bourbon St and the FQ

[wwcruisers]

Hey Hattack -- isn't your Dave Koz/Venice cruise coming up soon? You must be getting excited about that!! :cool:

[Chyna3032]

TJFV is a wrap and I must say I didn't think it could get any better but I truly believe it did. I had a ball. My favorite show was Mary J. Blige with the Confunkshun, Barkays, Brick, and One Way running a close 2nd. Also, Fantasia, Anthony Hamilton, and Frankie Beverly and Maze never disappoint! They're already booking for next year, so if you want to go, now is the time because I believe it will sell out again.

[wwcruisers]

Still no wordfrom Hattack? Not like him, not to post, with a big cruise (Koz in Venice) coming up, next month. Hope he's OK.

[zzyx]

Hey All, I'm listening to Rick Braun, packing my bags and stalking Dave Koz's facebook page:D for live updates. I am getting excited for my first Jazz cruise.... Safe travels everyone.

 

Wendy, I hope all is well with Hattack.

 

I purchased tickets for Rick Braun's New years eve getaway in Tucson, AZ featuring Dave Koz, Michael Lington, Johnathon Butler and Lindsay Webster. Any of you jazz fans attending this event?

[Chyna3032]

Still no wordfrom Hattack? Not like him, not to post, with a big cruise (Koz in Venice) coming up, next month. Hope he's OK.

I agree...not like him. I hope he's ok.

[cruiseguyinorl]

One interesting thing that Michael L said was that he thought that the best ships for presenting the music were MSC ships. But he thought that if he took one of them, we'd be throwing him overboard after a couple of days because the product is so spartan.

 

I've sailed on MSC for the past 7 years on JazzFest at Sea and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's not a charter but all the jazz events are in one lounge pretty much dedicated to the group for the duration of the cruise. I wouldn't consider MSC spartan but instead very laid back and very much European in style. Love the idea that I can get jazz for hours every single day plus all the ship's shows and amenities are in place too. Next one is January 3rd. Really looking forward to seeing Houston Person and Harry Allen playing sax together.

 

 

Bret

[zzyx]

I'm back from my first Koz cruise and it was a total blast. Great ports of call, amazing music and fun music loving cruisers made this a trip of a lifetime. I am looking forward to 2018!! I am totally exhausted what a crazy fun vacation. Some of my favorite performances were Rick Braun & Richard Elliot, Gerald Albright & Jonathan Butler, the tribute to Michael Jackson & Al Jarreau and Mindy Abair. There were other awesome performances but I am too tired and jet lagged to recall them at this times. It's going to be hard to go back to a normal cruise after this amazing cruise. Well done Dave Koz!! It's time to unpack, wash the laundry, and get some rest.

[wwcruisers]

ZZYX -- Welcome home, and thanks for the report on your Koz cruise! I'm looking forward to seeing several of those musicians (particularly Rick Braun) on our Smooth Jazz cruise, (part deux), next March! I was lucky enough to see Dave Koz and Rick Braun perform together at Koz's 'Concert for Cancer', in the Seattle area, a couple of years ago.

 

How was the cruise out of Venice? I can't imagine a better setting for a music cruise! :cool:

[SomethingFun!]

Hey guys-- I hope this isn't hijacking this thread-- I started my own, but it hasn't seemed to generate any responses, So I am posting my question here as it seems this thread is pretty active!

--

 

After many years of "wishing," I have decided to get on Board the Sixthman Cayamo Cruise. I've done all the pre-sign-up stuff, but am feeling a bit disheartened, as I have heard it's all but impossible to "get in" unless you have been on a Sixthman Cruise previously (kind of a Catch-22). Today, in reading a review of last year's cruise, I read this and sunk a little deeper:

 

"Cayamo's popularity has grown and now sells out each year. Priority for booking is based on your past 'loyalty’ – bookings start with those with the most consecutive (and current) attendances, followed by those that have sailed some time previously and, finally, newcomers who usually need to know someone to get on to the boat."

So... am I doomed to never check the box beside this particular bucket-list item? :confused: