Upsell! Upsell! Upsell!

[jollyrhino]

Hi All,

 

Currently on my 3rd Celebrity Cruise. 1st was Alaskan Cruise about 5 years ago. 2nd was Caribbean last year and my current one is 14 night Baltic/Russian Cruise. The one thing I've noticed progressively getting worse is the amount of upselling Celebrity is doing.

 

Here are some examples:

 

1. Quietly eating breakfast with DW. Waiter comes up and starts chatting us up and asked if have been on Sushi on 5. We said not yet. He started telling us about that night's special dinner. We said we weren't interested and he kept insisting we should try it.

2. I'm on the treadmill and as I'm running and pop-up message comes up on the treadmill screen trying to upsell therapy services! I just want to run man.

3. As soon as the nightly shows are over I notices all of the shop sales people hurry out into the main hall telling people they should come in and see their stuff.

4. Just getting on the ship, not 5 minutes after we are relaxing on the benches by the pool, a waiter comes up and asks us if we want to upgrade our beverage package. I have had no less than 4 other waiters ask me this since.

5. I am enjoying some quiet time in the casino with the DW and a gentleman comes over 4 times!! asking us if we want to buy lotto tickets.

 

 

Now I know they are a business and they are looking to make $$, but it seems to be getting ridiculous. They seem desperate at times.

 

Anyone else noticing this?

 

Paul

[timtrek]

I feel your pain. We are a few months away from our first Celebrity cruise, but I think this is a something that happens across the mainstream lines. We have cruised mostly Princess and have noticed more and higher pressure sales pitches for the same type of things you have noted. I was hoping Celebrity would be a little less intrusive, but I guess not. Still very excited about our first Celebrity cruise.

[lovemylab]

We experienced the same thing on the Reflection last fall.

 

This constant upselling was the main reason we stopped cruising with Royal Caribbean in 2011 and were saddened to see that Celebrity is now doing the same thing.

[Deeliteful]

Hated this on last couple of RCL cruises, you could barely walk the centre of the ship for the number of "market traders there." Will see how it goes on my cruise next week on Infinity.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[weregoingcruising]

not use the public announcement system to upsell like other cruise lines. It is one of the many reasons we like Celebrity and one of the most important ones.

[MANTOBAR]

me and my mrs 1st timers soon.shall i get a tshirt printed saying NOT UPGRADING? or will that get me thrown off?

[Chunky2219]

First time ever on a cruise, 15+ years ago with Carnival. We dump the bags, go out on deck for a look at this new world of wonder and a waiter comes up with some big plastic glasses full of coloured jollop with an umbrella on top. So we take two, he waits for us to take a sip then asks for the sea pass card.

 

I learnt a lesson that day.

 

 

,

[ECCruise]

They all do it, but the level varies alot.

 

We've sailed =X=, RCL, NCL, HAL, Oceania, Azamara, Carnival, Ponant and Princess.

 

Celebrity is the worst, especially in the last year. Totally agree with the OP, we could have written every word. And since we did a Celebrity cruise and 2 NCL cruises in a 3 month period a couple of months ago, found the NCL experience FAR superior. And no, we would gladly trade a couple announcements per day for the constant huckstering we found on Celebrity.

 

Sadly, like their hokey marketing and "sales" and "free" promotions, these are all targeting the unaware and newbies. Bush league and frankly, sad. Not even remotely resembling "luxury" of any sort, modern or otherwise.

[ghstudio]

I do one of two things when someone tries to upsell me on board. I either say no (or sometimes just walk by saying nothing) or I say "make me a deal I can't refuse". That has worked on specialty restaurant prices....I offered 1/2 price (BOGO) and was refused. The next day, the guy remembered me and said...OK, I can do that deal.

 

As long as they aren't in my face or blocking my path and I don't hear a PA announcing the special of the minute...I'm OK.

[dkjretired]

not use the public announcement system to upsell like other cruise lines. It is one of the many reasons we like Celebrity and one of the most important ones.

 

Amen, on NCL it seemed like they were selling bingo cards every five minutes with an announcement. Same in the theater while waiting for the show.

[dkjretired]

They all do it, but the level varies alot.

 

We've sailed =X=, RCL, NCL, HAL, Oceania, Azamara, Carnival, Ponant and Princess.

 

Celebrity is the worst, especially in the last year. Totally agree with the OP, we could have written every word. And since we did a Celebrity cruise and 2 NCL cruises in a 3 month period a couple of months ago, found the NCL experience FAR superior. And no, we would gladly trade a couple announcements per day for the constant huckstering we found on Celebrity.

 

Sadly, like their hokey marketing and "sales" and "free" promotions, these are all targeting the unaware and newbies. Bush league and frankly, sad. Not even remotely resembling "luxury" of any sort, modern or otherwise.

 

Not my experience in NCL, they were far worse in the hallways and with the announcements.

[NJ Fred]

I abhor the "Upsell" when it becomes obnoxious. And while I understand that a crew member is following orders when they do it, I confess to having told two: "what part of NO don't you understand?"

 

Candidly, I have purchased once or twice when an option is presnted via Upsell. But the constant hawking by Centrum photographers, art auctioneers, wine stewards, et al., is the surest way to close my wallet tight.

 

We brought our business to Celebrity years ago because we no longer fancied the Upsell epidemic of other cruise lines. Hell, it really intruded on the peace and tranquility of the voyage.

 

Notwithstanding, prices for many items (especially perfumes, jewelry and clothing) can be had far, far cheaper back at home or online. If I want street peddlers, all I have to do is walk outside New York City's Port Authority Bus Terminaland I will be surrounded.

 

I make a conscious choice when I spend my money. When it comes to cruising (we sail at least three per year), I know what "packages" meet my needs and I don't climb the gangway to get a massage, acupuncture or have my teeth whitened.

 

If Celebrity wants to mimic the intrusiveness of MSC, Carnival and others, it sounds like they are sailing the right course.

 

And choices in cruise lines abound. My loyalty to a brand revolves around more than a token onboard credit, a free bag of laundry, etc.

[Bo1953]

Easy enough to ignore or just pass by... just smile. I have found that they figure out that you are not interested..

 

Well, at least for me they know. Especially if they ask twice and I have said no twice... then the deals, for us, come quickly and easily.

 

Usually, no real challenges after a few no's.

 

bon voyage

[NordicPrince]

I find it to be of no use to get annoyed at stuff like this. You have to expect it. Otherwise you could let little things like this ruin your experience. So chill out. You think the staff wants to do this stuff? No, they get incentives in order to do it and since they don't get much pay and extras in the first place every little bit helps them. I often laughingly admire their tenacity in trying to reach their goals.

 

Like being on the beach on some of the islands. People come up and offer to sell you jewelry. Understand they are trying to make a living. If you were in the same position you would too. Beats being a thief.

 

It's not like we don't do this in our own jobs. Many of us have to offer additional services in order to build sales. Just relax and don't get defensive. Just be pleasant about the whole thing.

 

Enjoy your next cruise.

[DYKWIA]

Upselling is part of modern life!

 

When I buy my morning paper at the station EVERYDAY I'm offered chocolate for a £1 (even though I've never brought in two years); Poppadums whilst I wait for the starter, coffee after a meal, an extended warranty on a television, upgrade to First Class on the train for an on board fair of £x, the Duty Free trolly on the plane, "do you want to go Max"?, jump the queue fees at theme parks and so on

[chemmo]

First time ever on a cruise, 15+ years ago with Carnival. We dump the bags, go out on deck for a look at this new world of wonder and a waiter comes up with some big plastic glasses full of coloured jollop with an umbrella on top. So we take two, he waits for us to take a sip then asks for the sea pass card.

 

I learnt a lesson that day.

 

 

,

 

We did exactly the same! We were even talked into buying a 'virgin' one for our little boy. You know I remember bringing those ridiculous plastic glasses all the way back to England! Come to think of it they are probably still in the loft somewhere!

 

As others have said a firm but polite 'no thank you' usually does the trick. We have not found the Celebrity staff themselves too bad....it is the shop staff that put me off! Ironically, if they would just let me browse in peace I might just buy something!

[Deeliteful]

I agree it is more the shop and spa people and I gully accept any business has to sell to be in business, but there are ways and means of doing this. IMO blocking the main thoroughfare with "market style traders" is not a good way of selling on a cruise. It's far too intrusive. Having said that there are people all around them looking at what tat they can buy do maybe it works, just not for me thanks.

[dkjretired]

We did exactly the same! We were even talked into buying a 'virgin' one for our little boy. You know I remember bringing those ridiculous plastic glasses all the way back to England! Come to think of it they are probably still in the loft somewhere!

 

As others have said a firm but polite 'no thank you' usually does the trick. We have not found the Celebrity staff themselves too bad....it is the shop staff that put me off! Ironically, if they would just let me browse in peace I might just buy something!

 

Did the same thing over a quarter century ago on th Big Red Boat, thought they were free. Seems some things never change no matter what cruise line.

[vuildog]

I must give off a don't try and upsell to me vibe. :D

 

Now the photographers, and characters, trying to get your picture while getting off the ship are obnoxious. The pirate character accosted us all the way to the transit office when getting of the ship in Bermuda one day. Like someone else, i had to ask him what part of no, did he not understand. Just thinking about it, gets me all riled up!

 

I understand they are just trying to do their job, but it is obnoxious.

[Husky61]

Personally I ignore it and enjoy my cruise.:)

[Mr. Click]

No thank you seems to work well for us....except for the time in the dining room we told a photographer "no thank you" when she wanted to take our picture and she broke into song with "don't be breakin my heart". She did the same thing the next day was we were leaving the ship in a port....when it came to survey time the photographers got a well deserved 0 with a summary of what happened......never had that happen again. In general the upsell is annoying but it is just part of the game. A game that ends when they get in my face.

[twopats]

As you can see by the listing of our Celebrity cruises, this is our very favorite cruise line and actually we have NEVER had the experiences related on this posting happen to us. We are now limiting our cruising to the Solstice class, as these ships are so beautiful and the crews seem to be happy in their work, they are very friendly, and the food is head and shoulders above RCL. We are

Elite + so the nightly cocktails are taken care of, and often 3 vouchers for drinks at any bar are offered. It really pays to stick to one line, use their credit cards, and get OBC on every cruise, especially the new Celebrity Visa card!!

Trish

[DrivesLikeMario]

I feel your pain. We are a few months away from our first Celebrity cruise, but I think this is a something that happens across the mainstream lines. We have cruised mostly Princess and have noticed more and higher pressure sales pitches for the same type of things you have noted. I was hoping Celebrity would be a little less intrusive, but I guess not. Still very excited about our first Celebrity cruise.

 

Totally agree with that. On Princess the first day, we get asked at least 5 times if we want the soda package. Usually, it's closer to 10 times. Gets old but you get used to after so many cruises.

[Gracie115]

Hi All,

 

Currently on my 3rd Celebrity Cruise. 1st was Alaskan Cruise about 5 years ago. 2nd was Caribbean last year and my current one is 14 night Baltic/Russian Cruise. The one thing I've noticed progressively getting worse is the amount of upselling Celebrity is doing.

 

Here are some examples:

 

1. Quietly eating breakfast with DW. Waiter comes up and starts chatting us up and asked if have been on Sushi on 5. We said not yet. He started telling us about that night's special dinner. We said we weren't interested and he kept insisting we should try it.

2. I'm on the treadmill and as I'm running and pop-up message comes up on the treadmill screen trying to upsell therapy services! I just want to run man.

3. As soon as the nightly shows are over I notices all of the shop sales people hurry out into the main hall telling people they should come in and see their stuff.

4. Just getting on the ship, not 5 minutes after we are relaxing on the benches by the pool, a waiter comes up and asks us if we want to upgrade our beverage package. I have had no less than 4 other waiters ask me this since.

5. I am enjoying some quiet time in the casino with the DW and a gentleman comes over 4 times!! asking us if we want to buy lotto tickets.

 

 

Now I know they are a business and they are looking to make $$, but it seems to be getting ridiculous. They seem desperate at times.

 

Anyone else noticing this?

 

Paul

 

#2 & #3 have been happening for years, #3 I remember back as far as 1st X cruise in 1998.....

 

The push for beverage packages has noticeably increased especially on those cruises that don't offer them as part of a fare incentive(like TA's) but we just "say no" and go on.....

 

Royal is far worse than X in this regard.....in our experience anyway...

[kencr]

I have been on 4 Celebrity cruises. Last May Silly to Baltic. I have not been bombarded on any of our cruises. Never any while dining , photographers yes but I say no continue on my way. Never purchased a photo on any of the cruises. Never pushed for beverage pkg. or dining pkg. I wonder if it is a ship based or all Celebrity ships. I have only been on Solstice

and Silhouette 2x each. I am going on Solstice in 12 days.

The reason I say ship based is some of us cruisers have had complaints on other ships about service, food, rooms which I have never seen.

Last cruise my wife told waiter nothing interesting on evening menu. Within 5 second a Maitre D was at our table. All complaints are taken care quickly on our cruises.