The good ole' days?

[richsea]

This is a very depressing thread. :(

 

I'm almost happy that being new to Celebrity that I really don't miss these things. I guess this is why they are looking for new blood. What you don't know won't bother you.

 

That's exactly it! And why some newer cruisers think the long time cruisers are old fogies. If you never experienced it, you can't possibly miss it. The gradual erosion of the little things becomes death by a thousand cuts.

[TeaBag]

Back in the early 90's on Formal Night's they requested that pax remain dressed up all evening. Then again it might have been called Chandlis instead of Celebrity.

J.

It was Celebrity. I never sailed Chandris.

[richstowe]

This is a very depressing thread. :(

I guess this is why they are looking for new blood. What you don't know won't bother you.

Please don't interpret this thread as depressing. There are many many nice amenities on the currently Celebrity line that did not exist in the past. While I would like to see some of what has been listed return, there is many positive things to say about Celebrity cruising today.

Exactly . I know this is off topic but overall things are better then in the past even if some things have been sacrificed . Just to list my 4 favorite improvements , better bigger cabins (with balconies) , much less smoking , more dining options (especially non-fixed dining times), and lower base cruise prices (especially balconies) .

I am sure many will disagree with my positives especially the last one but overall it is better .

Now back to listing the negatives .:D

[FlorenceItaly]

This is a very depressing thread. :(

 

I'm almost happy that being new to Celebrity that I really don't miss these things. I guess this is why they are looking for new blood. What you don't know won't bother you.

 

I agree, it is depressing! I had one earlier Celebrity cruise(Horizon) in 2005, then most recently Mar of this year on the Constellation. I am leaving on the Constellation again next week, and booked for a TA in April. Now, I am beginning to wonder if it is all a mistake. However, it seems if you go on ANY of the cruise line boards here, everyone is saying the SAME thing. We have friends cruising with us on the TA. They are new to Celebrity, but, not new to cruising. I hope they will have a good cruise. They have mainly cruised Princess and RCI.

[dkjretired]

It was Celebrity. I never sailed Chandris.

 

That actually ended only a few years ago. Also, up until we had Specialties, everyone dressed up because if you didn't you had to eat in your room. There was no buffet for dinner for many years and of course no specialties. Should also 'be pointed out that this concept was enforced throughout the entire ship.

 

I am only bringing this up in the spirit of this thread, not advocating anything

 

Richstowe:

 

You are so correct, there have been many changes which have been for the good and I think many forget that.

Edited December 15, 2015 by dkjretired

[1SGCruiser]

I remember a lot of things that have been listed. Some were nice to be sure. However, I still very much like the Celebrity experience and believe it provides good value. When compared to, 'The good old times', my current favorites are (all IMHO of course):

 

• Better/larger staterooms
  
• More balconies (making them more available)
  
• More dining rooms and options
  
• More available dining times - not just early and late options
  
• More dressing options (less formal)
  
• Lower base cruise pricing (for the most part)
  
• Nicer ship décor than other lines
  

 

YMMV

[Ma Bell]

I remember a lot of things that have been listed. Some were nice to be sure. However, I still very much like the Celebrity experience and believe it provides good value. When compared to, 'The good old times', my current favorites are (all IMHO of course):

 

• Better/larger staterooms
  
• More balconies (making them more available)
  
• More dining rooms and options
  
• More available dining times - not just early and late options
  
• More dressing options (less formal)
  
• Lower base cruise pricing (for the most part)
  
• Nicer ship décor than other lines
  

 

YMMV

 

Most of these were available during the "good old times"

[neverbeenhere]

$ 2 suggested tip per person trainees dinner in the buffet.

[shipfriend_max]

I personally miss some extra culinary events, such as tea time on Princess or a chocoholic night on NCL. Tea time on Celebrity is just offered for Elite members.

Or does Celebrity offer anything similar, which is INCLUDED in the cruise fare?

[neverbeenhere]

Okay, so the list is quite long. Read through them all and rank the four (4) you would most like Celebrity to bring back. I'm sure(?) Celebrity will read this and bring back what we want.

[gilladj]

My father-in-law used to say people who talk about the good old days, don't really remember what the old days were like. Now he was talking about growing up in northern Wisconsin as one of 11 children born to Swedish immigrants. Sleeping with his brother not because there were not enough beds but rather to stay warm.

 

OK what has happened to cruising isn't the same thing but... There are very few things that cost the same thing I paid 15 years ago. Cruising is one of those things. With everything costing more why should I be surprised when quality erodes as prices remain flat.

 

I frankly am glad for many of the changes. No midnight buffet, smaller portions, plenty of adequate food available with the option to upgrade if I am willing to pay more. Our culture is more casual so the new dress code is to be expected and X is one of the last mass market lines to go this route.

 

Every cruise line has to figure out ways to increase revenue because the base price of a cruise simply will not provide profitability.

 

Having just gotten off a 31 day NCL cruise with a 35 day cruise on X in 9 weeks I already have noticed how the different lines differ in approach.

 

NCL has low speciality dinning costs $20 - $30 but their cocktails and shore excursions are exorbitant. On X specialty dinning is priced higher I think up to $45 but drinks are more reasonable and shore excursions too.

 

Then there is bingo and art auctions and fitness classes. All of these profit centers are required because the base price of a cruise is still a bargain.

 

If you want the "finer" things or the things you miss I am sure there is a cruise line out there who still has it but the base price will be higher often much higher.

 

Keeping the lower base price allows the customer to control what and when they will upgrade their experience. So to me the good old days were nice but the realities of cruising today ain't bad either.

[Ma Bell]

My father-in-law used to say people who talk about the good old days, don't really remember what the old days were like. Now he was talking about growing up in northern Wisconsin as one of 11 children born to Swedish immigrants. Sleeping with his brother not because there were not enough beds but rather to stay warm.

 

OK what has happened to cruising isn't the same thing but... There are very few things that cost the same thing I paid 15 years ago. Cruising is one of those things. With everything costing more why should I be surprised when quality erodes as prices remain flat.

 

I frankly am glad for many of the changes. No midnight buffet, smaller portions, plenty of adequate food available with the option to upgrade if I am willing to pay more. Our culture is more casual so the new dress code is to be expected and X is one of the last mass market lines to go this route.

 

Every cruise line has to figure out ways to increase revenue because the base price of a cruise simply will not provide profitability.

 

Having just gotten off a 31 day NCL cruise with a 35 day cruise on X in 9 weeks I already have noticed how the different lines differ in approach.

 

NCL has low speciality dinning costs $20 - $30 but their cocktails and shore excursions are exorbitant. On X specialty dinning is priced higher I think up to $45 but drinks are more reasonable and shore excursions too.

 

Then there is bingo and art auctions and fitness classes. All of these profit centers are required because the base price of a cruise is still a bargain.

 

If you want the "finer" things or the things you miss I am sure there is a cruise line out there who still has it but the base price will be higher often much higher.

 

Keeping the lower base price allows the customer to control what and when they will upgrade their experience. So to me the good old days were nice but the realities of cruising today ain't bad either.

 

I don't know how long it's been since you have taken a Celebrity cruise but part of the problem with Celebrity is they took away the lower base price and for the last couple of years have been including too many things in the price of a cruise. It used to be that you could decide which things were important to you and purchase them. I believe the reason they have had to raise the prices and decrease amenities substantially is to cover the inclusion of these costs.

Edited December 15, 2015 by Ma Bell

[1SGCruiser]

Most of these were available during the "good old times"

 

I guess I'm not sure how most of the things I said fit into your statement:

 

Better/larger staterooms

Either the rooms are bigger now or they were bigger before.

 

More balconies (making them more available)

Again, either there were more then or now.

 

More dining rooms and options

There are certainly more specialty restaurant options now.

 

More available dining times - not just early and late options

There is my time dining now when their wasn't before.

 

More dressing options (less formal)

Although formal dressing has been declining for years, it's now official.

 

Lower base cruise pricing (for the most part)

Either the base prices is less now or they aren't. My experience has been that overall the prices are much less now.

 

Nicer ship décor than other lines

Yup. Celebrity décor always was better.

 

So, can you clarify what you meant?

[Ma Bell]

I guess I'm not sure how most of the things I said fit into your statement:

 

Better/larger staterooms

Either the rooms are bigger now or they were bigger before.

 

More balconies (making them more available)

Again, either there were more then or now.

 

More dining rooms and options

There are certainly more specialty restaurant options now.

 

More available dining times - not just early and late options

There is my time dining now when their wasn't before.

 

More dressing options (less formal)

Although formal dressing has been declining for years, it's now official.

 

Lower base cruise pricing (for the most part)

Either the base prices is less now or they aren't. My experience has been that overall the prices are much less now.

 

Nicer ship décor than other lines

Yup. Celebrity décor always was better.

 

So, can you clarify what you meant?

 

Most of the things you have listed here have been available for the last 5 or 6 years and most of the changes have taken place in the last two years. As far as pricing, in my experience the prices have been raised considerably in the last two years, but I very seldom do the Caribbean. I've only been sailing with Celebrity since 1994 and sail about 6 weeks a year.

 

Larger staterooms and balconies began in the early 2000s, beginning with the M-Class ships.

Edited December 15, 2015 by Ma Bell

[I&J Cruisers]

There are cruise lines that provide the kind of quality we all miss but the price is much higher than we pay for an X cruise. I think that in an effort to keep cruise fares down all the special touches have been eliminated. Have to remember this is a business and businesses exit to make a profit. And as one poster said cabins are more comfortable, larger and there are balconies. We travel on more upscale lines when we can, when we can't we travel on X. It's still a great vacation

[Hobbsey]

Most of the things you have listed here have been available for the last 5 or 6 years and most of the changes have taken place in the last two years. As far as pricing, in my experience the prices have been raised considerably in the last two years, but I very seldom do the Caribbean. I've only been sailing with Celebrity since 1994 and sail about 6 weeks a year.

 

Larger staterooms and balconies began in the early 2000s, beginning with the M-Class ships.[/quote

 

I guess we need a solid definition of "good OLD days". 5 or 6 years doesn't do it for me. X could change dramatically over night on some aspect of the cruise experience making the good old days men yesterday - Bottled water in Aqua Class for instance.

 

For me Old has to be at least 10 years ago and more reasonably last century.

[villauk]

Am I imagining it, or was there not a sorbet served between course in the recent past?

[jt1120]

REAL formal nights, where ladies wore lovely gowns (dresses) and men wore tuxedoes (or similar suits).

 

<sigh>

[Ma Bell]

Most of the things you have listed here have been available for the last 5 or 6 years and most of the changes have taken place in the last two years. As far as pricing, in my experience the prices have been raised considerably in the last two years, but I very seldom do the Caribbean. I've only been sailing with Celebrity since 1994 and sail about 6 weeks a year.

 

Larger staterooms and balconies began in the early 2000s, beginning with the M-Class ships.[/quote

 

I guess we need a solid definition of "good OLD days". 5 or 6 years doesn't do it for me. X could change dramatically over night on some aspect of the cruise experience making the good old days men yesterday - Bottled water in Aqua Class for instance.

 

For me Old has to be at least 10 years ago and more reasonably last century.

 

The good old days for Celebrity are recent. Most of the changes have been in the last five or six years. The reason Celebrity was so attractive was that they remained a quality product for a long time. Personally, I've understood a lot of the changes and had no real complaint but the last two years or so the changes are substantial and I've seen a tipping of the scale for many people.

 

For the people with only recent experience, or not much experience, it probably isn't as noticeable.

 

We still have a lot of bookings but it's the first time in a very long time that we are considering other options.

[1SGCruiser]

Most of the things you have listed here have been available for the last 5 or 6 years and most of the changes have taken place in the last two years. As far as pricing, in my experience the prices have been raised considerably in the last two years. I've only been sailing with Celebrity since 1994 and sail about 6 weeks a year.

 

Larger staterooms and balconies began in the early 2000s, beginning with the M-Class ships.

 

I thought we were comparing what we got from Celebrity in the 'good old days' versus what we get now. Many (most?) of the items listed by others in this thread are older than two years. Taking that into consideration, I was talking about things that are more like 5 or 6 years old, or older versus what we get in 2015. It appears that we are not talking about the same timeframe. If that's not the case, I'm even more confused.

 

In any case, I listed things that I value which have been implemented over a longer period of time. Many (not all) of the things that are listed as losses in this thread, are much less important to me.

Edited December 15, 2015 by 1SGCruiser

[Ma Bell]

I thought we were comparing what we got from Celebrity in the 'good old days' versus what we get now. Many (most?) of the items listed by others in this thread are older than two years. Taking that into consideration, I was talking about things that are more like 5 or 6 years old, or older versus what we get in 2015. It appears that we are not talking about the same timeframe. If that's not the case, I'm even more confused.

 

In any case, I listed things that I value which have been implemented over a longer period of time. Many (not all) of the things that are listed as losses in this thread, are as much less important to me.

 

Each of us have things that we value and we can only make decisions based on what is important to us. I know I have a very unique cruising profile that would be difficult to explain. I like to participate in a lot of activities. I'm not a sit on my duff and drink kind of a person. I'm Zenith with Celebrity, a Blue Chip Club member (Casino), sail in Sky Suites and seldom take Caribbean cruises. I end up paying inflated prices for cruises that cover amenities that are included with my loyalty status or Blue Chip membership, which makes these benefits worthless.

 

I've sailed a lot with Celebrity and probably notice the changes more than most people would. That being said, my cruising experience is always good, and I'm sure it would continue to be, but I really hate to see what is happening with the average cruiser. Too many pricing games are being played and too many little things that made a Celebrity cruise special for the average cruiser are being diminished.

 

Have you ever heard the saying "It depends on who's ox is being gored", hopefully you won't wake up one day and find out it was yours after all.

[Gracie115]

Am I imagining it, or was there not a sorbet served between course in the recent past?

 

Not in the recent past to my knowledge but I DO remember that back around 1999 - 2001 on Mercury and then Summit, before the entree was delivered in the MDR....

[Hobbsey]

I thought we were comparing what we got from Celebrity in the 'good old days' versus what we get now. Many (most?) of the items listed by others in this thread are older than two years. Taking that into consideration, I was talking about things that are more like 5 or 6 years old, or older versus what we get in 2015. It appears that we are not talking about the same timeframe. If that's not the case, I'm even more confused.

 

In any case, I listed things that I value which have been implemented over a longer period of time. Many (not all) of the things that are listed as losses in this thread, are as much less important to me.

 

One of the things I most liked about Celebrity when I booked with them the first time (1998) was the space and crew to pax ratio - which has eroded. I also miss the escort to the room, but the size of the ships these days make that impossible.

 

What I continue to like about them is the understated elegance of the spaces, the lack of annoying announcements on the PA and the Thalassotherapy pool in the Solarium. I remember having to pay extra to use the pool in the Century Class ships, now it seems to be free to all, at least on M Class.

 

I am glad to see more dining options and less structured "formal" evenings. I see those as improvements.

 

In my book Celebrity still offers a great vacation experience and a wonderful value.

[Hobbsey]

Not in the recent past to my knowledge but I DO remember that back around 1999 - 2001 on Mercury and then Summit, before the entree was delivered in the MDR....

 

When the whole dining room was on the same schedule it was easier to do this kind of service. I guess some could be served frozen sorbet to cleanse the palate while others would be lime flavored soup.

Edited December 15, 2015 by Hobbsey

[1SGCruiser]

Have you ever heard the saying "It depends on who's ox is being gored", hopefully you won't wake up one day and find out it was yours after all.

 

If that ever occurs with Celebrity (or any vendor of any kind), I'll choose a vendor that more closely meets my wants and needs.