The good ole' days?

[Ma Bell]

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.

 

Since most of the new cruisers seem to want every mass market cruise line to be the same, it's not likely. All one has to do is read the "everyone else is doing it " mentality and you'll get the picture.

Edited December 15, 2015 by Ma Bell

[bottomfeeder]

My very first cruise was on Celebrity Century about 15 years ago. Then next we went on Princess (we got a fantastic price on a Med cruise when people were scared to fly post-9/11) and discovered that Princess had anytime dining while Celebrity did not. Princess also had buffet dinners while I seem to remember that Celebrity did not. At that point we became Princess fans just for the dining options!

 

I am very happy that Celebrity now has select dining and dinner offerings at the buffet. I could care less that the midnight chocolate buffets are a thing of the past. The M and S class ships are way nicer (to my tastes) than the Century was. There are many things I like now better than I did back then on Celebrity.

 

Of course, I also agree that not everything is better now. But no need to make it a one-sided discussion--there definitely are positive changes as well as negative! :)

[Mynki]

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....

 

They do this in Luminae now.

[villauk]

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.

 

Yes, remember cleansing my palate with the sorbet ;). Obviously, from the above post, this has been revitalised for suite palates only :D.

[1SGCruiser]

Since most of the new cruisers seem to want every mass market cruise line to be the same, it's not likely. All one has to do is read the "everyone else is doing it " mentality and you'll get the picture.

 

 

I'm not sure if it's true that all new cruisers want every mass market Cruiseline to be the same. But even if it is and the cruise lines fall in line with that, there are always alternatives including land trips, river cruises, etc. I'm sure I'll be OK.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Karynanne]

Yes, remember cleansing my palate with the sorbet ;). Obviously, from the above post, this has been revitalised for suite palates only :D.

 

 

I believe that Muranos serves sorbet also.

[norn iron]

Gourmet Bites. Canapés served at 10:30pm in the good old of Michel Roux

[Ma Bell]

I'm not sure if it's true that all new cruisers want every mass market Cruiseline to be the same. But even if it is and the cruise lines fall in line with that, there are always alternatives including land trips, river cruises, etc. I'm sure I'll be OK.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

I'm sure we'll all be OK. I just hate to see better than OK disappear.

[maggie.1008]

They use to have their florist teach classes. Very fun and free. They would give away a doz. roses to a lucky winner.

[BosoxI]

My offerings.

 

* Breads made on ship - now frozen and ba

 

ABoatNerd

 

Interesting, as I have read this same comment in other threads. So on the Connie last last week, I asked the young lady who seemed to be the head waiter in Blu is this was true. She recoiled at my question and said everything was baked on board. Baked, was her term and I don't consider thawing and heating to be baking. So what is the answer. In several days I'll be on the Eclipse and I'll inquire again. The plot thickens.

 

I first cruised on Celebrity around 1990. I remember little about the particulars, except the shrimp cocktail comprised baby shrimp and that seemed really cheap to me. So back to Princess I went for quite a few years. Still do on occasion

[CruiseLurker]

My top 4 items. (the ones I think could come back)

 

1) Live Entertainers (any types)

 

2) Escort to the stateroom (never used it, but it presented as a cut above)

 

3) A great High Tea

 

4) Quality breads made on ship (though I thought the bread sucked when it was made on ship)

Edited December 15, 2015 by CruiseLurker

[perditax]

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?

 

 

Reporting live from Eclipse, there is "tea time" in the OV from 3:30-4:30, though I recommend getting your tea to go in bacio first, otherwise it's field and select. But the OV offers scones and cream (and some kind of jam), usually a bread pudding with sauce, assorted donuts, and little open faced sandwiches (a slice of bread with toppings like cucumber, turkey, or seafood salad). Obviously this is all self serve; but it's a nice little pick me up and an excuse to eat more carbs.

[Keith1010]

Might have been listed but on Formal nights they would serve a sorbet to cleanse your pallet.

 

OK, the good old days had some items that you don't find today and that is true of all cruise lines and many hotels and all USA based airlines etc.

 

There are things though that you find on ships today that didn't exist back then.

 

For example, more choices in the size of rooms and suites. I remember the Horizon and Zenith and room choices were limited such as suites.

 

I don't think there were butlers on those ships because so few suites.

 

No specialty restaurants.

 

Limited places that the ships sailed.

 

Higher prices to sail with Celebrity when you adjust for inflation.

 

I know we all look back at those good old days. Some of what has changed is to reduce costs/make cruising more affordable for many more people than it was back then. Some of what had changed is due to changes in our society.

 

Twenty years from now, some will yearn for those good old days of 2015.

 

Keith

[richsea]

How times have changed! I remember when cruise lines introduced specialty restaurants, the majority railed that they shouldn't have to pay for food, when it's included already. Now it's considered an improvement. Go figure.

 

Horizon & Zenith had butlers servicing suites.

 

 

A few changes fro mother old days:

 

Sorbet served at the pool

 

Assistant waiter providing fresh cracked pepper

 

The "it's showtime!" dessert tray

 

The Daily contains more line items selling than actual activities

 

Baked Alaska parade ( thank goodness that's gone!)

 

I think the biggest difference is in the lowering of staff levels, particularly the activity staff, waitstaff, & stateroom attendant.

[dkjretired]

How times have changed! I remember when cruise lines introduced specialty restaurants, the majority railed that they shouldn't have to pay for food, when it's included already. Now it's considered an improvement. Go figure.

 

Horizon & Zenith had butlers servicing suites.

 

 

A few changes fro mother old days:

 

Sorbet served at the pool

 

Assistant waiter providing fresh cracked pepper

 

The "it's showtime!" dessert tray

 

The Daily contains more line items selling than actual activities

 

Baked Alaska parade ( thank goodness that's gone!)

 

I think the biggest difference is in the lowering of staff levels, particularly the activity staff, waitstaff, & stateroom attendant.

 

Our Butler on Horizon was Nikki, his favorite word was smashing, he was from England.

[Iamcruzin]

Might have been listed but on Formal nights they would serve a sorbet to cleanse your pallet.

 

OK, the good old days had some items that you don't find today and that is true of all cruise lines and many hotels and all USA based airlines etc.

 

There are things though that you find on ships today that didn't exist back then.

 

For example, more choices in the size of rooms and suites. I remember the Horizon and Zenith and room choices were limited such as suites.

 

I don't think there were butlers on those ships because so few suites.

 

No specialty restaurants.

 

Limited places that the ships sailed.

 

Higher prices to sail with Celebrity when you adjust for inflation.

 

I know we all look back at those good old days. Some of what has changed is to reduce costs/make cruising more affordable for many more people than it was back then. Some of what had changed is due to changes in our society.

 

Twenty years from now, some will yearn for those good old days of 2015.

 

Keith

 

I agree. As they build these ships larger and larger the personal service and food quality will surly decline further. Sorry but you can't give personal service and maintain food quality on a 5000-6000 passenger ship unless it's done in a specialty restaurant. Could you imagine what the dining room would be like if they still only had 2 traditional dining times like they did in the past? People complain that the MDR is loud and crowded now.

[Gracie115]

I agree. As they build these ships larger and larger the personal service and food quality will surly decline further. Sorry but you can't give personal service and maintain food quality on a 5000-6000 passenger ship unless it's done in a specialty restaurant. Could you imagine what the dining room would be like if they still only had 2 traditional dining times like they did in the past? People complain that the MDR is loud and crowded now.

 

Actually the "S" class ships hold about 2900 people and believe it or not when introduced there WERE only 2 assigned dining times, no Select Dining except for Blu....that. Select Dining began a year or two after the "S" class were introduced....

[chamima]

What's really incredible is how recent many of these changes are . My first Celebrity cruise was less then 3 years ago and I enjoyed many of these former amenities . A year later some more were gone and now even more cuts . I sense a trend .:D:eek: Perhaps the biggest single change is the gutting of the cruise directors / entertainment staff . There was actually free Zumba . It was seen as an activity not as a profit center .

 

Our first Celebrity cruise was 5 years ago but I second your sentiment.

A LOT of these changes are really recent.

It causes a really negative vibe. :(

[tenmile]

We have only been sailing for the past 7 years, so I am sorry that we haven't experienced some of the wonderful cruise experiences mentioned. With that said, I am surprised at the number of amenities mentioned that we have experienced on several other cruise lines that are now gone on Celebrity. We loved our first Celebrity sailing a year ago; it became our favorite cruise line because of personal attention, cabin size and quality of food and service, so we booked two more Celebrity cruises. It will be interesting to see what has changed when we board the Silhouette in a month. If "traditional" cruising is becoming a "thing of the past," and personal service is no longer what it has been, then we may have to cruise less often so that we can save to have these experiences on a luxury cruise line. In my opinion, these special amenities set cruising apart from land vacations. I hope someone at Celebrity is reading these posts. Please don't become "just another mass cruise line."

[davekathy]

Might have been listed but on Formal nights they would serve a sorbet to cleanse your pallet.

 

OK, the good old days had some items that you don't find today and that is true of all cruise lines and many hotels and all USA based airlines etc.

 

There are things though that you find on ships today that didn't exist back then.

 

For example, more choices in the size of rooms and suites. I remember the Horizon and Zenith and room choices were limited such as suites.

 

I don't think there were butlers on those ships because so few suites.

 

No specialty restaurants.

 

Limited places that the ships sailed.

 

Higher prices to sail with Celebrity when you adjust for inflation.

 

I know we all look back at those good old days. Some of what has changed is to reduce costs/make cruising more affordable for many more people than it was back then. Some of what had changed is due to changes in our society.

 

Twenty years from now, some will yearn for those good old days of 2015.

 

Keith

 

Agree. Another positive (at least from our perspective)about Cruising today compared to the good ole' days is now smoking areas are very limited.

[caladezi]

Anyone remember receiving your cruise docs in the nice leather (later plastic) holder about the size of a legal size envelope. It was delivered from your TA or mailed direct from Celebrity but was definitely from Celebrity and their method of delivering those long awaited documents.

[davekathy]

Anyone remember receiving your cruise docs in the nice leather (later plastic) holder about the size of a legal size envelope. It was delivered from your TA or mailed direct from Celebrity but was definitely from Celebrity and their method of delivering those long awaited documents.

 

Sure do. That's when you did the "Doc Dance".

[chamima]

Anyone remember receiving your cruise docs in the nice leather (later plastic) holder about the size of a legal size envelope. It was delivered from your TA or mailed direct from Celebrity but was definitely from Celebrity and their method of delivering those long awaited documents.

 

This thread is reminding me of all kinds of nice memories, including those envelopes! :D

[richsea]

Anyone remember receiving your cruise docs in the nice leather (later plastic) holder about the size of a legal size envelope. It was delivered from your TA or mailed direct from Celebrity but was definitely from Celebrity and their method of delivering those long awaited documents.

 

Yep, still have two of them, one fron 1996 & one from '97. They stopped using them when Royal Caribbean bought them in '97 or '98. I think they started using the spiral bound books after that.

Edited December 17, 2015 by richsea

[chamima]

Does anyone remember getting a passenger list from your cruise?

(I still have a couple so know it's not just my imagination)