What Do You Miss About Celebrity?

[chrisandkaryn]

We miss enough that we just booked a Princess cruise this summer and are cancelling an asian celebrity cruise earlier in the year. Given the changes on Celebrity, it's time to see if Princess is a good alternative for family/friend cruises. We've already started to book on Oceania and other lines when we cruise alone and we just completed a 2 week river cruise (obviously not on Celebrity). Yes Celebrity, we have heard your message....we aren't important to you. We're happy to let those young wealthy folks, your current target audience, book the aqua cabins we would have booked.

 

It's not one change...it's the sum total of the changes we've seen over the years. Probably the final nail was the change in the aqua class water policy.

 

We haven't completely abandon Celebrity...we're just putting our toes in the water with HAL (given their new smoking policy) and Princess....and those are $10K toes.

 

After our annual cruise with friends in December, it will be the first time in many years that we won't have a single Celebrity cruise booked. Oh, we're still cruising but those $'s are going elsewhere.

 

I don't think we're alone.....

 

We are huge fans of Celebrity (Solstice) but we tried Princess (Diamond) last year and found much to love about Princess as well. I'm sure you will find things to love about Princess also :)

[GUT2407]

Our first Celebrity cruise was in 1999. I remember being escorted to our cabin. It was a special touch.

 

 

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Ours was a touch later on a different line, but yep I thought it was special people don't believe me when I say we were guided to our room, I think the last time it happened to us was 2007.

[GUT2407]

We are huge fans of Celebrity (Solstice) but we tried Princess (Diamond) last year and found much to love about Princess as well. I'm sure you will find things to love about Princess also :)

 

Agreed I think there as much difference between two ships from either line than between a ship from each.

[excitedofharpenden]

Looking back usually makes things appear better than they actually were. I'd rather focus on the present and the future. We still have pillow chocolates. Never visited the florist. Can easily find my cabin without help. Much prefer the expansion of dining options; adding levels to Loyalty Program; Michael's Club and improved internet. I'm happy as long as they continue to employ outstanding staff.

 

Totally agree.

 

Phil

[davekathy]

Couple of things. Used to get peanuts in all the lounges. Now you get this mixture of strange looking and tasting things.

 

Starting to see more "DJ" music in some areas where there used to be live music. Not in all cases but concerned this might be a trend.

 

At least Celebrity offers a bar snack. Subject to change. RCCL offers nothing even on request.

[warmwinds]

It is funny how we used to be escorted to our cabin, no matter how early we boarded - all the staff would line up to take the lady by the arm - now we are chased away if we go near our cabin before the 1:00 opening (how did they get them cleaned so early before?).

 

Besides the classical harpist/trio I also miss the a capella groups.

 

And I miss the hole in the floor on the M class so you could look down at the dancers dancing on a real dance floor.

[wendychloecruiser]

I remember the first few times we went to Chops. Just incredible. That "death by chocolate cake" was amazing. Not so much anymore.

[mcrcruiser]

For all of the above reasons & Xs higher pricing policies ,we are looking to other cruise lines ,regardless of being elite + perks (not worth the changes & price increases):eek:

[lvz2cruz]

I miss the 3:00 sorbet parade around the pool deck on sea days and the ice carving they would do at the pool.

They were little but fun traditions you only found on Celebrity.

[elena7seas]

I miss the "Gourmet Bites" that were served throughout the public lounges later in the evening.

[npb]

The old Chef in charge of dining on all the ships, Michel Roux and the MDR experience in the early 90s. The Service and Food every night in the MDR was better than that which you get in the Specialty Restaurants currently and it was all part of the fare. Would like to stress this was every night.

 

Exactly. Also miss the free watercolor classes.

[Tenderpaw]

I miss the ocean liners restaurants on the Millenium Class. They were beautiful and special. In my opinion, replacing them with the generic Tuscan Grill was a great loss. For some reason, the bone headed cruise line execs think all the ships in the company must be the same. No they don't!

 

Dave

Edited October 6, 2016 by Tenderpaw

[SusieV]

I miss the "Gourmet Bites" that were served throughout the public lounges later in the evening.

 

Oh wow I forgot about those! Yes I loved that.

[bbeltmom]

Michael Bailey. He seemed to get it...

 

 

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[JFontaine]

When the ship left a port, they would play What A Wonderful World over the loudspeaker. These were perfect moments of gratitude for me.

 

Edited to say: maybe this was on Crystal? Either way - great idea!

Edited October 6, 2016 by JFontaine
Senior moment

[dkjretired]

I remember the first few times we went to Chops. Just incredible. That "death by chocolate cake" was amazing. Not so much anymore.

 

Don't believe Chops was ever on Celebrity

[ISABELLA]

Don't believe Chops was ever on Celebrity

 

Chops is on Royal Caribbean ships

[BEAV]

Pity this thread isn't on X's FB page. Would get so much more exposure over there.....

[spearmint]

I miss the ocean liners restaurants on the Millenium Class. They were beautiful and special. In my opinion, replacing them with the generic Tuscan Grill was a great loss. For some reason, the bone headed cruise line execs think all the ships in the company must be the same. No they don't!

 

Dave

 

I have been away! You mean no Olympic on Millennium, no Normandie on Summit, no Ocean Liners on Constellation etc.? We were on Silhouette b 2 b last fall, and went to Murano both times. The first cruise, Murano was like the old days, in service personnel and food. The second time was as if we were on a different, much cheaper line... think tramp steamer and here's your stuff, the people next table have much more money than you do! That will be the last time, for sure, even in the unlikely event that we go back to Celebrity. So, have all these fabulously styled restaurants been turned in Tuscan Grilles? Who in hell is running Celebrity now anyway?

Edited October 6, 2016 by spearmint

[ECCruise]

I have been away! You mean no Olympic on Millennium, no Normandie on Summit, no Ocean Liners on Constellation etc.? We were on Silhouette b 2 b last fall, and went to Murano both times. The first cruise, Murano was like the old days, in service personnel and food. The second time was as if we were on a different, much cheaper line... think tramp steamer and here's your stuff, the people next table have much more money than you do! That will be the last time, for sure, even in the unlikely event that we go back to Celebrity. So, have all these fabulously styled restaurants been turned in Tuscan Grilles? Who in hell is running Celebrity now anyway?

 

All gone except Ocean Liners on Constellation. They realized the made a mistake.

 

Absolutely knuckleheaded decision to replace those wonderful venues with, IMHO, Olive Garden of the Seas, Tuscan Grille.

 

Worse of all, we've had a couple of waiters tell us that the change was made to accommodate "the American's more casual eating desires" and yet after conversion the restaurants were still empty.

 

The solution was simple: Price those restaurants at the former $35 (worth it), promote them, have no need to discount and go. Unfortunately, all that beautiful design of those restaurants is gone and replaced with boring decor and an even more boring menu.

[wendychloecruiser]

Don't believe Chops was ever on Celebrity

 

 

Oops. Me bad. Sometimes one forgets where they are reading! Sorry.

[downsmead]

They had great authentic island bands..our fav was Opus...stolen by another cruise line n!

 

I remember Opus, they were a great band and certainly set the atmosphere. The sail always were so memorable with the band playing around the pool.:)

[jmdlv1]

They had great authentic island bands..our fav was Opus...stolen by another cruise line.??,.Also Flare...still enjoy the CD..now on our ipod. They then went to a solo steel drum player who could sing island songs...as budgets reduced so did live performers. A tape does not have to be paid much, fed or housed but does not do much to get a party started!

 

The Party bands were also much better..Onyx was great. Now we get a good one every so often..same for the guitar players...acoustic and classical....Also great jazz groups..

 

Now at certain bars they play loud recorded stuff you have to scream over to be heard. The times they are a Changin!

 

The lack of live music on the Silhouette last year was almost shocking.

No island band.

At the pool there was a top 40/club band that was weak and had limited performance time.

That was one of the joys of cruising with the band on the deck at sailaway.

 

Also miss the food quality and service in the MDR.

Very noticeable decline.

I have the Summit booked for next fall.Despite elite status, I'm considering canceling and trying Princess if I can find the right itinerary.

[hcat]

I remember Opus, they were a great band and certainly set the atmosphere. The sail always were so memorable with the band playing around the pool.:)

 

The band members were great musicians and very nice people. They not only played great music but added a touch of island culture to our cruises with them! All their sets were well attended. Thanks for sharing the memory...

[warmwinds]

When the ship left a port, they would play What A Wonderful World over the loudspeaker. These were perfect moments of gratitude for me.

 

Edited to say: maybe this was on Crystal? Either way - great idea!

 

I recall berthing next to a Carnival ship that left just before us...they played "YMCA".