Is it reasonable to have to vacate cabins at 7am on disembarkation?

[shipshape sam]

If the ship will depart mid- or late-afternoon for its next cruise, say 3-5 p.m., I can see getting people out of their rooms early to get ready for the next passengers.

 

However, if the ship won't leave until evening for the next cruise, I see no point in dragging people out of their rooms by 7 a.m.!

 

We're scheduled for a Millie Alaska cruise this summer. The northbound cruise leaves Vancouver at 4:30 p.m., while the southbound cruise leaves Seward at 8 p.m. I see no need for those arriving in Seward from Vancouver to vacate their rooms by 7 a.m., if the new passengers won't be leaving until 8 p.m.

 

I agree in general with you. I do not think it is the departure time by itself that is driving the issue. It is the time needed to give a good cleaning to all the cabins before the next sailing has access to the cabins.

 

On an Alaskan cruise with passengers getting access to cabins at 1 pm, the departure time becomes secondary, I think.

[Hlitner]

The policy on Celebrity (and some other lines) is not our favorite. And one wonders how in the world HAL can have a policy of last morning breakfast room service, staying in your cabin until its time to leave the ship....and then newly embarked passengers are allowed to go immediately to their cabins (usually by noon). If HAL can pull it off, so can Celebrity.

 

Hank

[Pushka]

Princess had 8am leaving cabin and access to cabins at 12 noon. One attendant but I don't know how many cabins he had to service. I've printed off the booking page that says 8.30am departure from cabin for the extended stay and will stick it on the wall.

[lvz2cruz]

The policy on Celebrity (and some other lines) is not our favorite. And one wonders how in the world HAL can have a policy of last morning breakfast room service, staying in your cabin until its time to leave the ship....and then newly embarked passengers are allowed to go immediately to their cabins (usually by noon). If HAL can pull it off, so can Celebrity.

 

Hank

 

That's what is crazy to me about Celebrity's change. They were already way behind the competition and now they have taken a step further behind.

We almost always board at 11:30 on HAL--once it was 11:45--and cabins are always ready. We stay in our cabin till we leave which is between 8:30 and 9.

That's at least 3 hours more efficient for HAL; three hours more we all get to enjoy our vacation.

Why can't X keep up?

[H2OH!]

this is not that hard to figure out since HAL and Carnival have figured this out.

 

hire some process engineers and batch people off the ship then dispatch teams of cabin stewards to each deck. celebrity would need to study to understand the most effective and efficient way to do this....and keep on budget. :rolleyes:

[AnOnymously]

this is not that hard to figure out since HAL and Carnival have figured this out.

 

hire some process engineers and batch people off the ship then dispatch teams of cabin stewards to each deck. celebrity would need to study to understand the most effective and efficient way to do this....and keep on budget. :rolleyes:

That would imply they had some interest in the guests more than just being milch cows.

 

They just want the money and as much as possible only giving the minimum to get the maximum it seems to me.

[Germancruiser]

AnOnymously- as sad as it is- it looks that way- more and more so. Well it doesn´t take a genious to figure THAT out- first the offer from enlonged stay and the vacate your rooma time put back one hour....!

[AnOnymously]

It is very clear also to me, that many of the people who object to this are not first time cruisers or first posting on these forums, but seasoned cruisers and seasoned Celebrity cruisers.

 

Perhaps only Celebrity will really see if this has any real effect, because they will still sail with close to full quota, but only they will know how many cabins they had to fill with rock bottom and below prices.

[Banjo]

Our last cruise was in early November was TA on Equinox. They had that new 7am rule. For me that is unreasonably early. Normally when I finish breakfast on the last day which is around 8am, I like to return to my room, get my carry-ons and brush my teeth. Also, in the winter months it's still dark out.

 

My guess is if they allow going to the rooms by 1pm it will help with the Ocean View Buffet congestion on embarkation day. Many times I seen buffet supervisors kindly ask guests if you are finished eating would you please go to one of the other lounges around the ship.

Edited January 13, 2017 by Banjo

[Flafun888]

It is very clear also to me, that many of the people who object to this are not first time cruisers or first posting on these forums, but seasoned cruisers and seasoned Celebrity cruisers.

 

Perhaps only Celebrity will really see if this has any real effect, because they will still sail with close to full quota, but only they will know how many cabins they had to fill with rock bottom and below prices.

 

Unless passengers specifically refer to this change on comment cards or in communications with the company, I doubt the cruise line will have any idea of its effect on their brand or business. There are just too many other variables that affect bookings from the economy to competitive cruise promotions, to land-based vacation appeals...not to mention 1000 other factors shaping a person's impression - the food, entertainment, ports, etc.

 

The only way they'll know is if anyone mentions the extra early cabin departure as a disappointing change. Companies have often reversed or modified unpopular changes (not talking cruise - just in general) when too many customers protested.

 

If most pax don't bother to mention, Celebrity has its answer: it's truly is no big deal to majority of people.

Edited January 13, 2017 by Flafun888

[Hlitner]

That's what is crazy to me about Celebrity's change. They were already way behind the competition and now they have taken a step further behind.

We almost always board at 11:30 on HAL--once it was 11:45--and cabins are always ready. We stay in our cabin till we leave which is between 8:30 and 9.

That's at least 3 hours more efficient for HAL; three hours more we all get to enjoy our vacation.

Why can't X keep up?

 

I seem to recall, that a previous Celebrity CEO (I think it might have been Michael Bayley) did an interview here on CC and was asked about changing the disembarkation policy to be more in align with HAL's excellent policy. He quickly dismissed changes saying that the last morning is already very difficult on the crew. And the current Celebrity CEO seems to have even less interest in pleasing passengers. We suspect Celebrity might soon require passengers to be outside their cabin with their luggage...by midnight!

 

Hank

[boscobeans]

Unless passengers specifically refer to this change on comment cards or in communications with the company, I doubt the cruise line will have any idea of its effect on their brand or business.

 

If most pax don't bother to mention, Celebrity has its answer: it's truly is no big deal to majority of people.

 

On the more than 23 cruises we have been on the last morning has always been an experience we would like to forget, except for HAL where we could actually stay in our stateroom enjoy our last room service breakfast and leave when it was our time.

 

If the crowds of unhappy people with their carry on or roll on bags packed into the theater and other areas where there is hardly a place to sit comfortably while waiting for numbers or colors to be called, is not seen by the entire crew, including officers all the way up to the Captain, as being one big nasty aggravation for people, a note in their suggestion box will have NO impact at all.

 

It is amazing that after a week of what is usually a very pampered experience the passengers are suddenly nothing more than cattle being shuttled from one long line to one crowded pen after another. And NOW the unpleasantness is being scheduled to begin even earlier on the dreaded last day. Soon we will have to bring our own checked bags down to the hold of the ship on the night before.

 

I do not know what the passenger to steward staff, not kitchen or engineering or sales or entertainment, was 15 or so years ago but comparing what service was like then it must be down a significant amount.

 

On our first cruise in 2001 on the Zenith we were greeted given our choice of a drink and a white gloved steward took our bags and escorted us to our stateroom, which was ready. Granted it was a small ship, but if the staff to passenger ratio stayed the same why is there such a problem getting rooms ready? I remember the last morning and aside from people ignoring their assigned times (by color) and clogging the stairwells it was pretty smooth.

 

How much can they save by doing away with the assistant steward? Wouldn't it be better, since a large part of the staff's pay is an added tip, for them to keep the same staff, charge us the additional SALARY that THEY pay and let us have a better experience not jut on the last day but throughout the cruise???

 

Maybe they just don't want to spare the cabin space all those extra crew members would occupy?

 

Maybe they haven't cruised, back only a little over a decade ago, when the benefits of an extra housekeeping person for every so many rooms was so clearly evident?

 

Maybe the current clientele will not go for the extra couple of bucks a day, not having experienced a much better level of service?

 

Maybe the current powers that be know that there are enough people, who haven't sailed when service was a heck of a lot better, to fill the ships and don't really care about what the X line provided in the past?

 

Extra staff in housekeeping as well as in the dining venues would go a long way in solving the major sources of complaints that one can read about every day of the week on the boards.

 

How much more would it cost?????? I don't know but I am sure it would give the passengers a much higher quality experience and still stay out of the "Caviar on the Beach" cruise line's price points.

 

OMO

 

bosco

[AnOnymously]

Unless passengers specifically refer to this change on comment cards or in communications with the company, I doubt the cruise line will have any idea of its effect on their brand or business

 

I think many will comment and certainly I am shocked by the large and overwhelming majority of people who voted the way they did on this poll.

 

WE also know that Celebrity do read these boards only a few weeks ago a member of staff corrected some information that was giving grief.

 

Also wonder how much this will effect extra graitruities. People hurrying our of late dinner, having to get luggage out by 10pm and then up before the crack of dawn will not be in the best mood for leaving money. Even more so if the report of tannoys at 6am and banging doors, seemingly to ensure that people are awake is repeated. And if people stay with or without permission (especially if stewards make it clear they need to be out) that may effect the tips too.

 

I feel sorry for those who say they have a person with disabilities or a frail elderly person to get get ready and then hang about.

 

Departure day is never the best day, but there are ways of making that easier and ways of almost deliberately making it as difficult as possible. Celebrity seem to have found the last option.

[shipshape sam]

I seem to recall, that a previous Celebrity CEO (I think it might have been Michael Bayley) did an interview here on CC and was asked about changing the disembarkation policy to be more in align with HAL's excellent policy. He quickly dismissed changes saying that the last morning is already very difficult on the crew. And the current Celebrity CEO seems to have even less interest in pleasing passengers. We suspect Celebrity might soon require passengers to be outside their cabin with their luggage...by midnight!

 

Hank

 

For Inspection no doubt. Maybe the crew could inspect the room at that time for being clean/ready for next sailing. A transfer of responsibility... like self checkout at stores.

[shipshape sam]

On the more than 23 cruises we have been on the last morning has always been an experience we would like to forget, except for HAL where we could actually stay in our stateroom enjoy our last room service breakfast and leave when it was our time.

 

If the crowds of unhappy people with their carry on or roll on bags packed into the theater and other areas where there is hardly a place to sit comfortably while waiting for numbers or colors to be called, is not seen by the entire crew, including officers all the way up to the Captain, as being one big nasty aggravation for people, a note in their suggestion box will have NO impact at all.

 

It is amazing that after a week of what is usually a very pampered experience the passengers are suddenly nothing more than cattle being shuttled from one long line to one crowded pen after another. And NOW the unpleasantness is being scheduled to begin even earlier on the dreaded last day. Soon we will have to bring our own checked bags down to the hold of the ship on the night before.

 

I do not know what the passenger to steward staff, not kitchen or engineering or sales or entertainment, was 15 or so years ago but comparing what service was like then it must be down a significant amount.

 

On our first cruise in 2001 on the Zenith we were greeted given our choice of a drink and a white gloved steward took our bags and escorted us to our stateroom, which was ready. Granted it was a small ship, but if the staff to passenger ratio stayed the same why is there such a problem getting rooms ready? I remember the last morning and aside from people ignoring their assigned times (by color) and clogging the stairwells it was pretty smooth.

 

How much can they save by doing away with the assistant steward? Wouldn't it be better, since a large part of the staff's pay is an added tip, for them to keep the same staff, charge us the additional SALARY that THEY pay and let us have a better experience not jut on the last day but throughout the cruise???

 

Maybe they just don't want to spare the cabin space all those extra crew members would occupy?

 

Maybe they haven't cruised, back only a little over a decade ago, when the benefits of an extra housekeeping person for every so many rooms was so clearly evident?

 

Maybe the current clientele will not go for the extra couple of bucks a day, not having experienced a much better level of service?

 

Maybe the current powers that be know that there are enough people, who haven't sailed when service was a heck of a lot better, to fill the ships and don't really care about what the X line provided in the past?

 

Extra staff in housekeeping as well as in the dining venues would go a long way in solving the major sources of complaints that one can read about every day of the week on the boards.

 

How much more would it cost?????? I don't know but I am sure it would give the passengers a much higher quality experience and still stay out of the "Caviar on the Beach" cruise line's price points.

 

OMO

 

bosco

 

For sure, they could have land based personnel come onboard and help with the cabin cleaning/turn around if needed.

 

There are ways to skin the cat vs. pushing passengers out at such an early time.

 

It would be interesting to see if anyone knows how HAL does it.

[Hlitner]

For sure, they could have land based personnel come onboard and help with the cabin cleaning/turn around if needed.

 

There are ways to skin the cat vs. pushing passengers out at such an early time.

 

It would be interesting to see if anyone knows how HAL does it.

 

Actually, that would be very difficult, to impossible, in a US Port. The US CBP folks insist on a "zero out" policy which essentially means that all passengers much be off the ship, and all crew accounted for, before anyone can board the ship. So just getting a shore-based cleaning service/staff on a ship would not even be possible until mid-morning (at the earliest).

 

Hank

[chamima]

Actually, that would be very difficult, to impossible, in a US Port. The US CBP folks insist on a "zero out" policy which essentially means that all passengers much be off the ship, and all crew accounted for, before anyone can board the ship. So just getting a shore-based cleaning service/staff on a ship would not even be possible until mid-morning (at the earliest).

 

Hank

 

But they could easily have on board personnel with other responsibilities help that morning.

On Princess we sometimes use that morning to "check out" cabins we're thinking of cruising in and see personnel in other uniforms in the hall.

 

 

Even without that, why did they used to be able to get the rooms clean and can no longer do it?

(And why can Holland America do it?)

It's obviously a cut back in personnel and, considering we're told that the bulk of their salary comes from tips, this much be major penny-pinching!

[klfhngr]

Is 7 AM reasonable? My boss wants me to come in at 6 AM.. it doesn't sound reasonable to ME, but I still do it...... as much as I want to sleep in ;)

[nparmelee]

Is 7 AM reasonable? My boss wants me to come in at 6 AM.. it doesn't sound reasonable to ME, but I still do it...... as much as I want to sleep in ;)

 

The difference is that your boss pays you to be there, you aren't paying your boss to be there... ;)

[Pickels]

I will hate having to rush so much on the last morning.

 

Is 7am reasonable?

 

The last time they wanted me off the ship, I tried a couple of things... I stole a cabin steward's jacket, that didn't work, I tried hiding in one of the lifeboats, that didn't work, I grabbed a chef's hat and hung around the MDR, that didn't work, so I had to leave, LOL, :D

[boscobeans]

For sure, they could have land based personnel come onboard and help with the cabin cleaning/turn around if needed.

 

There are ways to skin the cat vs. pushing passengers out at such an early time.

 

It would be interesting to see if anyone knows how HAL does it.

 

A hundred or two land based housekeeping staff, be it in New York, Florida or most U.S. ports, at local land based salaries would make the beancounter's heads explode compared to what the ship's crew is paid.

 

bosco

[boscobeans]

The last time they wanted me off the ship, I tried a couple of things... I stole a cabin steward's jacket, that didn't work, I tried hiding in one of the lifeboats, that didn't work, I grabbed a chef's hat and hung around the MDR, that didn't work, so I had to leave, LOL, :D

 

Try the hard hat and clipboard method. Wander everywhere taking notes.

 

bosco

[Ozzmund]

First off, I respect the opinions of those who find 7:00 am too early. I also understand that for some with mobility and medical issues that time creates a greater hardship.

 

What I don't respect nor understand the "I will vacate my cabin when I am good and ready mentality".

 

Share your concerns with Celebrity and if that doesn't create the change you want, then vote with your feet and choose a cruise line with policies and procedures more to your liking.

 

But stamping Your feet and saying "I won't do it"? Come on, don't be that person.

[kerryincork]

Why not, you are in fact voting with your feet if you stay in your cabin till 8am. The company will sooner get the idea that people are unhappy especially as they seem to ignore any complaints.

Besides we have heard someone who has recently been on the ship told by an officer that 7am is a suggestion.

 

There are always cruisers who want to get off the moment the ship docks and others who want a more relaxed morning. There's enough of a mix in anyone zone that an hour isn't going to make much of a difference. It's not as there is an individual steward standing out each cabin ready to clean it the moment it's 7am.

 

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

[Orator]

I haven't heard reports of anyone being tossed out of their cabin. Why not just remain there until someone in authority asks you to leave? I suggest that you inform your stateroom attendant if you plan to leave after 7:00AM. The average Attendant has about 15 cabins to service and there should not be a problem if a few are occupied after 8:00 AM or a bit later since they can't turn around all cabins at the same time.

There could be an advantage for a 7:00 AM departure time for those who need to switch cabins between a B2B since they will most likely be able to make the switch before 9:00AM.