Exclusive lounges = elitism?

[jcpc]

Doesn't bother me in the least. Does it bother you at an airport where people who paid for first glass seating have access to the first class lounge? Or does this concept of "you get what you pay for" only bother you on cruise ships?

[chemmo]

It's probably not specific to Celebrity, but I'll use them as the example: if you pay for a certain category of room you get access to restaurants or lounges that are off limits to the other passengers.

 

Does this rub anyone else the wrong way?

 

I have no problem with paying more for a room or a meal and getting a better room/meal....but getting the privilege of not having to share a space with your fellow passengers bugs me a little. Am I the only one?

 

 

Yes, I think you may be the only one, I think that most of us who are well traveled may have a slightly different perspective......

 

The suite life prevents no one from entering, save up like we did and you can opt in and enjoy Michael’s Club and Luminae....If they are of no importance to you save your money and book another room....end of...

 

 

As young cruisers our holidays were mainly about destinations (cruise or land). We didn’t spend lots of time in our room, if a bar was full we could stand up and drink and if a good restaurant was full we would have a few more drinks and wait....

 

 

As we have matured we spend more time in our room, need a bar with guaranteed (comfortable) seating, need to dine at the time that suits us and we do enjoy a butler and a concierge looking after some of the trivialities of life!

 

 

We have worked long and hard to pay for a bit of luxury....Don’t begrudge those who pay for extras to receive them...On the positives side for you if we are in Michael’s we are not taking up seating in the Sunset or Martini bar!

[laslomas]

I can sort of see what you are getting at. When I have my slightly mathematical head on I think, OK so you buy a week in a standard approx 200 square foot type cabin you pay X amount. If you go for an approx 400 square foot cabin you should pay X (x 2) and for the best suites of 600 square feet or 1200 square feet you should pay for that space in the same way. But why should you also get extra perks and private lounges?? You already have all that extra room so why reduce the rest of the facilities for everyone??

 

But, I get it. It is the way it is. So I accept it.

[Bo1953]

It's probably not specific to Celebrity, but I'll use them as the example: if you pay for a certain category of room you get access to restaurants or lounges that are off limits to the other passengers.

 

Does this rub anyone else the wrong way?

 

I have no problem with paying more for a room or a meal and getting a better room/meal....but getting the privilege of not having to share a space with your fellow passengers bugs me a little. Am I the only one?

 

Of course you are not the only one, there are several posts in this forum espousing the same thoughts...

 

Just like using an airline, everyone has access to lounges, business and first class cabins and all that go along with them for a price! If you pay, then you too, can get access!

 

 

Yet, after you do some research on X's website or here for your next posit, you will find that there are just a few places where those of us who 'choose' or cannot afford or just plain out and out not want to pay extra for these venues find that everyplace else is great!

 

When one is fortunate enough to have 'friends' or family who can afford these 'exclusive' facilities and invite you as a guest, then sometimes, just sometimes we think 'this is just great' or 'what is the big deal'?

 

Yes, there are times when I wish I could stow away for several hours in Michael's Club for quiet and interaction on a low keyed basis with fellow passengers, alas, since I have yet to travel in a suite, my best bet is when invited, I do so... and you know for me, it is GREAT!

 

You may want to seriously consider only patronizing ships which do not have these or greater enclaves for those who pay for them and only use low cost airlines where for the most part, everyone is equal with the exception of those who pay for a better seat...

 

 

bon voyage

[Mynki]

I can sort of see what you are getting at. When I have my slightly mathematical head on I think, OK so you buy a week in a standard approx 200 square foot type cabin you pay X amount. If you go for an approx 400 square foot cabin you should pay X (x 2) and for the best suites of 600 square feet or 1200 square feet you should pay for that space in the same way. But why should you also get extra perks and private lounges?? You already have all that extra room so why reduce the rest of the facilities for everyone??

 

But, I get it. It is the way it is. So I accept it.

 

The cost of those extras are factored into the cost of a suite. That's why you get them. There are still adequate seating in the bars, restaurants and other public areas so it's not an issue.

 

I've done suite life and non suite life and never felt that I was missing out because of suite passengers when in a balcony room.

[Cruise a holic]

Doesn't bother me- if you pay two or three times more then somebody else, you are paying for extra perks. Royal as well as all other cruise lines has special perks for the passengers who are in higher priced accommodations. You can get an inside cabin for around $1500, per week per couple or over $5600 for a sky suite (or more) for a couple- and much more for other suites.

 

You cannot invite friends in Michael's club- you can pay for inviting them into the suite restaurant, depending upon availability. You cannot bring "guests" if you are in Aqua class unless the guest is in Aqua class. You can pay additional and dine in any specialty restaurant suite or not.

[grandmarnnurse]

It's probably not specific to Celebrity, but I'll use them as the example: if you pay for a certain category of room you get access to restaurants or lounges that are off limits to the other passengers.

 

 

 

Does this rub anyone else the wrong way?

 

 

 

I have no problem with paying more for a room or a meal and getting a better room/meal....but getting the privilege of not having to share a space with your fellow passengers bugs me a little. Am I the only one?

 

 

 

No. I don’t like it either. Kind of makes me think we are in steerage, like the poor folks in the Titanic movie, and the others are elitists. Lol! I love NCL, but was upset to find that they had an adult area (the Vibe) that you had to pay $100pp to use! Really?? That’s nuts! At least RCCL has the Solarium and Carnival the Serenity area that are adult only and free. And, yes, I know that NCL has Spice H2O on some ships that all adults can use, but why charge for people to use the Vibe?

 

 

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[Bo1953]

I expected to be in the minority (my wife thinks I'm crazy :) ) I was just curious by how much. Like I said, I have no problem with getting a better room or better service or a better airline seat by paying more. The part that bothers me is the "nyah nyah...you can't come in" feature.

 

I assure you, I usually do not take that tackj because my spouse would make sure that I get back to my 'humble' roots, yet they cannot really divine what I Am thinking after all, or can they?? Then they always insist on business or first class air when we travel...

 

But you can't come in, not by my say so, just the transport company say so... Do not blame those who can go for this.. LOL..

 

bon voyage

[Bo1953]

So I'm now wearing my devils advocate hat.

 

Do you think those people who are rubbed up the wrong way by this are being petty?

 

m - being? To Be or Not To Be, Was That Ever The Question, Really?

 

bon voyage

[Bo1953]

Where have you ever seen this?

 

 

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Just a projection on others, then again??? :halo:

 

bon voyage

[RetiredCruiser2015]

I expected to be in the minority (my wife thinks I'm crazy :) ) I was just curious by how much. Like I said, I have no problem with getting a better room or better service or a better airline seat by paying more. The part that bothers me is the "nyah nyah...you can't come in" feature.

 

 

 

So I guess you have the same emotions when you want by the airline clubs at the airports? [emoji3][emoji3][emoji3]

 

 

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[ronews]

It's probably not specific to Celebrity, but I'll use them as the example: if you pay for a certain category of room you get access to restaurants or lounges that are off limits to the other passengers.

 

Does this rub anyone else the wrong way?

 

I have no problem with paying more for a room or a meal and getting a better room/meal....but getting the privilege of not having to share a space with your fellow passengers bugs me a little. Am I the only one?

 

I may eat in a different restaurant or have other amenities (that I paid for) But to say Elitist ? I share space with my fellow passengers...it's called the ship! If I have a premium drink package and you have a Classic package am I an elitist?

There are many poor, hard working people that would love to be in your shoes on a beautiful cruise ship. But they can't. afford it. To them you are an Elitist! Don't let things like this "bug" you. Your glass is half full not half empty. You are complaining that your glass is not made out of fine crystal!

[Cruise a holic]

No. I don’t like it either. Kind of makes me think we are in steerage, like the poor folks in the Titanic movie, and the others are elitists. Lol! I love NCL, but was upset to find that they had an adult area (the Vibe) that you had to pay $100pp to use! Really?? That’s nuts! At least RCCL has the Solarium and Carnival the Serenity area that are adult only and free. And, yes, I know that NCL has Spice H2O on some ships that all adults can use, but why charge for people to use the Vibe?

 

 

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Ncl also has the haven. That is very exclusive and if you want to sail in it it is super expensive

if somebody has saved money and decides to spend it on upgraded accommodations why not? Other people IMO waste money in the casino and buying prints of paintings . fortunately they have the right to spend their money as they please

[laslomas]

The cost of those extras are factored into the cost of a suite. That's why you get them. There are still adequate seating in the bars, restaurants and other public areas so it's not an issue.

 

That is how I was thinking. But I have now looked at the pricing on my next cruise. I have a balcony cabin at just over £2000 p,p. there is a Royal suite available at £5200 p.p. Considering the suite is more than 3 times the size, those booking the suite are actually paying less for their space, getting extra perks and lounges and dining too. Bargain. I wish I could afford to test it out. - one day maybe if my numbers come up.

[SbbquilterUT]

I sometimes think of it differently - if they are paying so much of a premium for the suites but still share most activities, why not go on a luxury line?

[Mynki]

That is how I was thinking. But I have now looked at the pricing on my next cruise. I have a balcony cabin at just over £2000 p,p. there is a Royal suite available at £5200 p.p. Considering the suite is more than 3 times the size, those booking the suite are actually paying less for their space, getting extra perks and lounges and dining too. Bargain. I wish I could afford to test it out. - one day maybe if my numbers come up.

 

 

You think pricing is that simple? :)

 

Investigate how computer algorithms affect pricing between release date and final sail date. Then you'll understand how you'll see anomalies.

 

It's more complicated than charging $xx per square foot as you seem to imply.

 

I've booked 14 nights in a suite for £1600 not too long ago, so based on your figures you might not have to wait for your numbers to come up.

[dkjretired]

Never jealous of what other people pay for and get. Object should be to strive to achieve that yourself.

[Silkroad]

No, it doesn’t bother me in the least. Based on desires and holiday budget at the time of each booking, I’ve sailed in Verandas, an Aqua cabin and a Sky Suite (pre-Luminae). Though none were perfect, I’ve loved every cruise, and have never begrudged Aqua, Concierge or Suite benefits being allowed to only those who paid for them. I know I can enjoy those benefits any time I’m willing to pay for them.

[lisiamc]

The cost of those extras are factored into the cost of a suite. That's why you get them. There are still adequate seating in the bars, restaurants and other public areas so it's not an issue.

 

I've done suite life and non suite life and never felt that I was missing out because of suite passengers when in a balcony room.

 

But that is an issue, at least for me. They remodel the older ships and add more cabins, they carve out two dining rooms and four or five premium restaurants, and all that space comes out of what the rest of us would like to use. For example, on Millennium class ships they took about a third of the main dining room space away. But the passengers who are using it are not a third of the passengers, it’s a smaller number, using more space and more waiters per passenger. But the amount of space overall and the number of waiters can’t increase, since space on a ship is pretty fixed. So the main dining room becomes more crowded, with fewer waiters, sommeliers, etc. I don’t begrudge suite passengers their extra perks that they’ve paid for, I begrudge them the space and the staff - the extra shares of a finite resource - that they’ve taken from the rest of us.

[DENIE]

I agree with other posters....it doesn't bother me at all. When one looks at the amount of the ship available to all passengers versus what is available to those in suites, etc., it seems fair. We've only cruised with standard verandas or ocean view, and have not felt we have had any less experiences or options. Some day it would be fun to try a suite, but for now we are content with what we book. The bottom line....we are on a cruise ship going someplace fun, so the glass is definitely full.

[Mynki]

But that is an issue, at least for me. They remodel the older ships and add more cabins, they carve out two dining rooms and four or five premium restaurants, and all that space comes out of what the rest of us would like to use. For example, on Millennium class ships they took about a third of the main dining room space away. But the passengers who are using it are not a third of the passengers, it’s a smaller number, using more space and more waiters per passenger. But the amount of space overall and the number of waiters can’t increase, since space on a ship is pretty fixed. So the main dining room becomes more crowded, with fewer waiters, sommeliers, etc. I don’t begrudge suite passengers their extra perks that they’ve paid for, I begrudge them the space and the staff - the extra shares of a finite resource - that they’ve taken from the rest of us.

 

Luminae on M class ships is tiny. It's not even close to a third of the original dining room space. :)

 

I'm curious, how is this relevant to suite class onboard a Celebrity ship :-

 

"They remodel the older ships and add more cabins, they carve out two dining rooms and four or five premium restaurants".

 

It reads as if you're suggesting that four or five restaurants have been added to a ship at the detriment of pax.

[NLH Arizona]

I love NCL, but was upset to find that they had an adult area (the Vibe) that you had to pay $100pp to use! Really?? That’s nuts! At least RCCL has the Solarium and Carnival the Serenity area that are adult only and free. And, yes, I know that NCL has Spice H2O on some ships that all adults can use, but why charge for people to use the Vibe?

 

 

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They charge so that they can keep the numbers down, otherwise it would be a hot mess like the pools.

[Mynki]

Right now, Celebrity sky suite 15 nights £1392 ($1949) + taxes and port fees for those bothered to go and look and find the itinerary.

 

How many people have paid more for verandas, OV and inside cabins historically.

[ambrtonj]

I'm in the camp with the "Doesn't bother me" as well. I look at things from a slightly different point of view. I don't travel in Suites. I don't suppose I ever would. Not that I couldn't afford to do it, I just choose not to. For ME... there is no value added. What some people might consider "Privilege" others might see it as "Elite" while choose to look at it as a choice somebody made for something they wanted.

About thirty years ago I saw a guitar hanging in a guitar shop for $2,000 and I remarked that I thought it was foolish for someone to spend that much money on a guitar. Within the next three years I had purchased about three of them. So as you can see, I could be considered fickle when it comes to money.

[clanger]

That is how I was thinking. But I have now looked at the pricing on my next cruise. I have a balcony cabin at just over £2000 p,p. there is a Royal suite available at £5200 p.p. Considering the suite is more than 3 times the size, those booking the suite are actually paying less for their space, getting extra perks and lounges and dining too. Bargain. I wish I could afford to test it out. - one day maybe if my numbers come up.

Just wondered which cruise/ship uou are referring to.