Is Celebrity Running out of Money?

[dkjretired]

4 hours ago, Denny01 said:

I think this is my favorite part of this thread! Celebrity started these restaurants 20+ years ago with a fee many felt wasn’t ‘minimal’. Heck, there were almost as much grousing about the cost of the specialty restaurant on the Mercury 21 years ago when we first cruised as here. You can’t believe all the complaints about how much X was gouging us. And tons of very similar threads to this when I first got on CruiseCritic.

 

Den

 

The fee when they started was for capacity control only and was the tip.  Now it is more than that.  

 

Also, who pays the regular price.  

Edited July 21, 2019 by dkjretired

[bcruiser1]

1 hour ago, Denny01 said:

What was posted by the OP in post #64?. Their initial post starting this thread had: “Today, they told me that my deposit is non-refundable.  REALLY???” and in post #64 they state they changed their reservation from a refundable to a non-refundable knowingly because they didn’t want the upgrades. 

 

I give up. That’s what I get for joining this thing. 

 

Den

 

 

Hey Den,

 

Don't give up on me.  I don't think you understand what I was saying:  Briefly, when I originally posted, yesterday, I was told that my deposit was non-refundable, when I changed an existing reservation.  I had a refundable deposit.  EVERYTHING CHANGED EQUALLY, except the deposit, and it was not knowingly, I was surprised when my travel agent told me.  I was however, told yesterday that I could keep my refundable status if I would purchase "free perks" for approximately $1000 each. If I took two perks, I could keep the refundable deposit status.   It had nothing to do with the upgrades, that was additional information that I was sharing.

 

The "new" tactics to  increase revenue by Celebrity  was what I was talking about.  I've been cruising for many years, and this  was a "new low."    

 

Don't give up!

[KarlGermany]

Totally agree, celebrity is getting more and more expansive with less service. We are currently booked on a cruise to Hawai where the ship was not at all fully booked. So they started to give away upgrades for no or minimal fee. Many other cruisers took advantage of this, as we could see on cruise critics. However, when we tried to get an upgrade we found out they only offer this to those guest where they have to do due to local regulation (matching special offers for new guest). We would have to pay for the upgrade plus rebooking fee plus loosing our free perks.

So bye bye celebrity. This will be our last cruise with them, unless a really good offer comes. We canceled two cruises booked with them for 2020 and 2021, where we had free cancellation. And rebooked with carnival and Tui. Other mothers have nice daughters too.

[yorky]

7 hours ago, ak1004 said:

To be fair, all mass market lines charge more and more for things that used to be free or much cheaper. But it feels like Celebrity is taking it too far sometimes. $320 for internet? It was $100 on our last Princess cruise, and the Internet was much faster. $4 for a small bottle of water?? $50 for a specialty restaurant? Yes, some things are choice, like specialty restaurants, but internet is a necessity for many people. Plus sometimes I have a feeling that their food in MDR is so mediocre on purpose to encourage you to book specially restaurants.

 

So yes, we all have choices, and many of us making a choice to move to a luxury line like Oceania or Crystal. Yes, it is more expensive, but the difference might be less than you think. And at least you don't have this constant dime and nickel feel.

The internet prices are crazy, they charge more for a one week cruise than we pay for a year, and our speed is 100 times faster. I’m amazed anyone pays it but I guess plenty do. While people pay it they will keep charging at that level. As sales drop off a cliff edge they will drop the price to a level most will pay.

[JBare]

7 hours ago, oneputt18 said:

Mercury is TUI - Mein Schiff 2.

Off topic but not any more. Its Mein Schiff Herz.  Mein Schiff 2 is now a new much bigger ship.  Galaxy and Century are with Marella Cruises (part of TUI) as Explorers 1 & 2.

Edited July 21, 2019 by JBare

[Mynki]

43 minutes ago, yorky said:

The internet prices are crazy, they charge more for a one week cruise than we pay for a year, and our speed is 100 times faster. I’m amazed anyone pays it but I guess plenty do. While people pay it they will keep charging at that level. As sales drop off a cliff edge they will drop the price to a level most will pay.

 

The yanks pay way more for their internet access than we do in the UK. I was amazed when I saw internet pricing in the US so the pricing aboard the ship looks a lot more horrendous to Brits than Americans. Even with 30% discount it is ridiculous though. Sadly running my own business these days I'm forced to keep in touch so have no choice but to buy internet onboard. 

[villauk]

4 minutes ago, Mynki said:

 

The yanks pay way more for their internet access than we do in the UK. I was amazed when I saw internet pricing in the US so the pricing aboard the ship looks a lot more horrendous to Brits than Americans. Even with 30% discount it is ridiculous though. Sadly running my own business these days I'm forced to keep in touch so have no choice but to buy internet onboard. 

 

 

I’m paying $99 for two weeks on Princess for unlimited internet access. I make do on X with my free Elite minutes as the price difference is so great.

[yorky]

8 minutes ago, Mynki said:

 

The yanks pay way more for their internet access than we do in the UK. I was amazed when I saw internet pricing in the US so the pricing aboard the ship looks a lot more horrendous to Brits than Americans. Even with 30% discount it is ridiculous though. Sadly running my own business these days I'm forced to keep in touch so have no choice but to buy internet onboard. 

I can understand if internet is crucial, i’m guessing  though for the vast majority its really not. Anyone remember the days when we all went on holiday to get away from life in general and just relax ?

[villauk]

2 hours ago, yorky said:

I can understand if internet is crucial, i’m guessing  though for the vast majority its really not. Anyone remember the days when we all went on holiday to get away from life in general and just relax ?

 

 

We could, but we travel with our teen kids - different generation to us.

[ak1004]

5 hours ago, yorky said:

The internet prices are crazy, they charge more for a one week cruise than we pay for a year, and our speed is 100 times faster. I’m amazed anyone pays it but I guess plenty do. While people pay it they will keep charging at that level. As sales drop off a cliff edge they will drop the price to a level most will pay.

 

As some people mentioned, for some of us Internet is a necessary. I'm running an online business and have to stay in touch,

 

But you can ask the same question about many things. Why would people waste thousands in a casino when it's a well known fact that casinos have the odds on their favor? Why people would pay for a suite amount of money that most people in the US and Europe don't make in a whole year? Their answer would be "because we can". This is beyond me, but people do crazy things with their money.

 

4 hours ago, villauk said:

 

 

I’m paying $99 for two weeks on Princess for unlimited internet access. I make do on X with my free Elite minutes as the price difference is so great.

 

Yes, and much better speed. Princess proves over and over again that even mass market line can do things differently.

 

Celebrity has a very loyal customer base, and for some people this is the only line they have ever tried. They would pay any price and defend Celebrity in the process because they simply don't know any better.

[Mynki]

4 hours ago, yorky said:

I can understand if internet is crucial, i’m guessing  though for the vast majority its really not. Anyone remember the days when we all went on holiday to get away from life in general and just relax ?

 

I remember those days. :)

 

Running your own company is a double edged sword. Yes you have to check on things whilst on holiday, but we can take between six and ten weeks a year holiday and be very flexible with travel times. So the pros outweigh the cons for us. I couldn't do that when working for HSBC. Ironically when I was a bank employee we were forced to not access work via our laptops or blackberry's for two weeks a year. Trying to do so would have been a disciplinary offence technically!

It's not all bad though. There's good stuff to check up though too, stuff that would only be on my mind if I had no internet access so I'd possibly have it anyway. I agree that the Celebrity internet performance is very poor though. 

[sfaaa]

Unless you need internet 24/7,  there is free wifi in many ports and cruise terminals. 

[Denny01]

Each of us decides what makes a nice vacation, whether it’s staying connected or ignoring the outside world and not looking at the internet. That’s what’s so nice about individual options and not paying for such things that we may not use. As to using WiFi inport - I think I’ll find something else to do after paying all this money to visit these ports instead of hanging out in some Wi-Fi cafe, or as some suggest, doing laundry Ouch - for me!!

 

Enjoy the cruise as you need to and want to. 

 

Den

[Mynki]

25 minutes ago, sfaaa said:

Unless you need internet 24/7,  there is free wifi in many ports and cruise terminals. 

 

Personally I wouldn't want to burn up time in port on the internet. I'm a morning person anyway so would just get up early, use the internet and enjoy an excursion afterwards. 

[JaneAustenCruiser]

On 7/20/2019 at 4:36 PM, Bo1953 said:

Bread cost more today than in 1982 and with more choices too... the point?

 

Times change and either we do or we complain about them changing, sometimes too quickly or not quick enough.

 

Now you must admit that cruising has come a long way since 1982... and not all of it for the worse, either.

 

I understand your upset yet think about all of the choices we have now in cruising, if something upsets us here, then there is there to run to for a new experience perhaps the same as before or better or worse...

 

bon voyage

I was thinking the same thing - how much more is fuel than it used to be, how much extra does the cost of environmental stewardship (worth every penny in my book) add to the cost, wages have gone up, the cost of transporting supplies to the ship cost more. I could go on..

 

Is some of it trying to plump up their bottom line? Oh, indubitably! But it'd be interesting to see how much their expenses have also increased since the OP started sailing.

 

I went on my first Celebrity cruise last February 2018 and as someone who doesn't (and has never) made 6-figures in any year I've worked, I was completely blown away by the quality, attentiveness, and cleanliness of the ship and her staff. Maybe some of this is #firstworldproblems?

[Mynki]

7 minutes ago, JaneAustenCruiser said:

Maybe some of this is #firstworldproblems?

 

As many of us have said before, the whole forum is all about first world problems. :) 

[Orator]

Celebrity plugged the leak in the outward money flow by discontinuing the complementary special dinner for the "Top Cruiser", or as I call it: "Top Spender". Giving the home blend wine rather than a brand name wine also added to the balance sheet. They are now in good position to pay the debt on the remodels and new builds.  

[Bo1953]

53 minutes ago, Mynki said:

 

As many of us have said before, the whole forum is all about first world problems. :) 

A fellow passenger after my own heart!

 

Cheers and bon voyage

[Orator]

I for one am pleased to have "first world" problems. I have grandchildren who were adopted from less than the first world and very happy to add them to my family. I am currently involved with a water project in Nepal and aware of the needs. Very glad that I'm in the first world and able to assist in International projects through Rotary International.

[shipshape sam]

On 7/19/2019 at 6:00 PM, cruisingator2 said:

 

Well consider me daft then. I will continue to book the specialty dining when we cruise. It’s called having a choice. 😉 

Agree!  I just hope they do NOT try to create separation of quality between MDR and speciality dining to justify the speciality restaurant pricing.

 

 Our next Celebrity cruise will most likely be without eating in speciality restaurants, but then once onboard, it will be hard for me NOT to want to  go to at least Murano.  🙂

[ak1004]

4 minutes ago, shipshape sam said:

Agree!  I just hope they do NOT try to create separation of quality between MDR and speciality dining to justify the speciality restaurant pricing.

 

 Our next Celebrity cruise will most likely be without eating in speciality restaurants, but then once onboard, it will be hard for me NOT to want to  go to at least Murano.  🙂

 

My feeling is this is already a reality. On our last cruise on Reflection, it was the first time ever that we had most dinners in the buffet and not MDR. The food in the MDR was really not inspiring. I believe the gap between the MDR and the specialty restaurants is among the largest out of all cruise lines we tried. 

 

On the other hand, Murano was among the best specialty restaurants on all lines.

[ghstudio]

58 minutes ago, shipshape sam said:

Agree!  I just hope they do NOT try to create separation of quality between MDR and speciality dining to justify the speciality restaurant pricing.

 

 Our next Celebrity cruise will most likely be without eating in speciality restaurants, but then once onboard, it will be hard for me NOT to want to  go to at least Murano.  🙂

I think they tried that...MDR food really went downhill for a short while...and surprisingly, it has improved quite a bit.

 

Many of us join you in dreaming of going to Murano.....it's been replaced on most if not all the ships with Tuscan Grill....the Specialty Restaurant where, after spending your $50 or so, you can then spend another $10 to get better meat.  No cooking at the table, etc.  Murano must have cost celebrity too much.  

[hcat]

On 7/20/2019 at 4:36 PM, Bo1953 said:

partial quote

 

" I  often get a 'real brochure' in the mail for X. Can I get one at the local TA, not often... when planning our sailing on The Edge there were no brochures to be found anywhere only leaflets...

 

Then I called X and was able to get one..."

 

 

Bo, 

You can order the latest X   print brochures online   from the X website. Includes itins, deck plans,  stateroom info,  lots of  photos etc. They arrive fairly quickly.

 

Royal C only offers them for viewing  online...unless you are  a TA or go to one...kind of annoying!

 

 

 

Edited July 22, 2019 by hcat

[Bo1953]

30 minutes ago, hcat said:

Bo, 

You can order the latest X   print brochures online   from the X website. Includes itins, deck plans,  stateroom info,  lots of  photos etc. They arrive fairly quickly.

 

Royal C only offers them for viewing  online...unless you are  a TA or go to one...kind of annoying!

 

 

 

h - Thank you!

 

bon voyage

[Luckiestmanonearth]

On 7/21/2019 at 3:37 AM, KarlGermany said:

 

So bye bye celebrity. This will be our last cruise with them, unless a really good offer comes. We canceled two cruises booked with them for 2020 and 2021, where we had free cancellation. And rebooked with carnival and Tui. Other mothers have nice daughters too.

 

Seriously. You’re running to Carnival ?

 

I’m running away from Carnival to Celebrity as I’ve grown tired of Walmart style cruising

 

The grass always looks greener on the other side