Dear Celebrity, you really don't want us in our staterooms, do you?

[Shaco]

4 hours ago, Miaminice said:

 

If that was supposed to touch me in any way, you should actually find a tune that doesn‘t match just about everyone posting here including yourself.

 

Everyone assumes his perceptions are accurate and applicable to anybody. Everyone thinks his priorities are the highest.

 

FYI: if Celebrity should cut something I really care for or just loose its appeal, we will simply look for a different cruise line. Without drama here or any expectation that they would change just for me. We are not forced to cruise with them. 

 

If we don’t find a better alternative, Celebrity can’t be that bad.

Really? You just don’t get it, and you never will. 

[the_dylaness]

I think the point is really that we want options.

Maybe we watch a movie or maybe we don't.

Maybe we go to a production show, or not.

Maybe MDR, buffet, room service, or Murano.

Maybe we'll get off in Nassau this time... or maybe not (again.)

 

Part of what I love about cruising (well, vacation in general) is the sense that I can kind of do what I want, when I want.  I might choose to do something I don't normally do at home (like watch a movie) just because I can.  I may, on a whim, go to a production show (hardly ever do... but it's nice to know the option is there.)  When we all only focus on the options WE like, we forget that part of the enjoyment might be the feeling that we have so many choices... even if every single day we make the same choice, we know we COULD choose something else.

 

I personally have no interest in gambling (not against it, just not interested.)  However, I see this is a huge draw for many people- good, it keeps them out of the lounges where I like to listen to live music 🙂
 

On a X ship, nearly any night, you'll find me following live music acts here and there, and eventually eating dinner, then back to a bar for a cocktail and another band.  I do the same thing almost every night.  That being said, I love knowing that I could just as easily go for a late swim, catch a show, go shopping (OK just kidding I hate shopping), go to see a comedian, go the casino, read a book on the deck or my balcony, or put on my pjs at 700 and watch movies until I fall asleep.  

 

Part of the fun is that you get to choose, at almost any moment, what you want to do.  I don't know about you but that is certainly not how my day to day life is!

[cgolf1]

I find this an interesting thread having just done our first Celebrity cruise this year after many cruises on Disney and a couple on RCCL and where very impressed With Celebrity. For us after having done Concierge to an inside room on Disney we came to the conclusion that for Us anything more than an inside room or a forward facing oceanview is a waste of money. 

 

We have never watched a movie in the room and don’t plan to in the future. I think we have ordered room service maybe 3 times. We happened to think the inside room on the Edge was the nicest we have had with the most storage. I have no clue how anyone could use up the storage space. The cheap furniture was very nice looking, and we look forward to sailing on the Apex. For what we paid, booked early, we got a our monies worth. So for us the E class is a great fit. Still not convinced the other ships will work for me. 

[bikerunner]

It’s all perception of value. The market evolves as does the cruise lines.  When on vacation I disconnect from the outside noise.  Probably why I tend to go on 11+ day cruises. I like visiting different places and been to most of the Caribbean. I’m just as content with chaise sun and a drink. I do get balcony rooms and it’s usually just for the 30 or so minutes I sit out there away from everything. Otherwise I think I will start looking at ov and inside eventually. For me they haven’t taken away anything I ever used if anything have added more value to my experience. I can see how for others these things are important and annoying that there not there. I enjoy meeting new people seeing different acts playing in casino finding an out of way place to take a siesta, hating with the sommelier about wines.  I usually end up waking early seeing the sunrises and enjoying looking out at the sea.    

[ECCruise]

32 minutes ago, bikerunner said:

 For me they haven’t taken away anything I ever used if anything have added more value to my experience. 

Curious what that would be.

[Iamthesea]

the_dylaness

Best post I have read on CC in a long, long, time! 

 

Thank you for expressing how so many of us feel about the direction that Celebrity is taking.  DH and I have spent the last week looking at Viking Cruises and Viking or AMA River cruises.  Even the new 4 perk program is not swaying us toward Celebrity this time.  They are great, but not at the expense of the cruise fare going up to compensate for freebies. 

 

And might I add that by this time of the year, we usually have at least 2 future cruises booked.

Edited September 13, 2019 by Iamthesea

[goofysmom99]

Chicagopaul, who is doing a "live from" on the Millennium Transpacific right now, showed a pictures of the free movies still available on his TV today.  Removal seems to be somewhat piecemeal.

[villauk]

3 hours ago, Iamthesea said:

And might I add that by this time of the year, we usually have at least 2 future cruises booked.

 

 

We’re the same: 3 placeholders and nothing booked for next year as of yet.

[emmas gran]

Future cruises 3 MSC YC --1 Princess  and 1 Celebrity Solstice

[Michidoeme]

True luxury - modern or not - is to me having enjoyable, comfortable holidays with many different options and a wide variety of possibilities available on the cruise or in the resort, irrelevant whether I choose to take advantage of some or all of them.

And it certainly does not mean having to haul footrests, hooks, curtains, pillows and whatnots along with me !

[blueboro]

Late to the thread, but I go back to our early cruises where there was NO TV, NO BALCONY, outsides cabins with only PORTHOLES, all meals in the Main Dining Room at set times with little or no other options, and limited entertainment options.  So I will take today's cruise experience over that 100% of the time. 

[ECCruise]

14 minutes ago, blueboro said:

Late to the thread, but I go back to our early cruises where there was NO TV, NO BALCONY, outsides cabins with only PORTHOLES, all meals in the Main Dining Room at set times with little or no other options, and limited entertainment options.  So I will take today's cruise experience over that 100% of the time. 

I don't think we want to go back 30 years.

This thread discusses things where you only have to go back a couple weeks. 

[blueboro]

8 minutes ago, ECCruise said:

I don't think we want to go back 30 years.

This thread discusses things where you only have to go back a couple weeks. 

Just a little perspective from the sky is falling crowd and a cruiser since 1978.  Sorry if there is a time frame we are only allowed to discuss.  

[ECCruise]

8 minutes ago, blueboro said:

Just a little perspective from the sky is falling crowd and a cruiser since 1978.  Sorry if there is a time frame we are only allowed to discuss.  

Of course anything can be discussed.

But equating the changes that have happened over 40 years with a change that has happened recently (and will affect the enjoyment of a number of pax) seemed out of left field.

[boscobeans]

5 minutes ago, blueboro said:

Late to the thread, but I go back to our early cruises where there was NO TV, NO BALCONY, outsides cabins with only PORTHOLES, all meals in the Main Dining Room at set times with little or no other options, and limited entertainment options.  So I will take today's cruise experience over that 100% of the time. 

 

Our first cruise was in a suite on Celebrity's Zenith. 

 

We had a well appointed suite, sitting area and a lovely large WINDOW, that didn't open like the new modern IV staterooms. At that time there were no verandas on the Zenith.

 

True there were no "specialty or better" restaurants, BUT who needed them. The service, food quality, presentation and variety was as good as you would find in many land based restaurants serving EXCELLENT cuisine.

 

Your waiter was your WAITER, and he had an assistant. You had a wine steward and a bar steward. 

 

Formal nights made today's "specialty" restaurants look like a Friday's. The special details to ambiance (live music), candles, white glove service, table setting and everything including the menu was a true experience "exceeding expectations". LOL 

 

Gloved waiters in the buffet would direct you to a freshly cleaned table and even carry your meal if you wanted. They would get your drinks and whatever else you might have needed.  It seemed like the Buffet had enough seating for all unlike today.

 

There was no such thing as the "Suite Life" and service at all venues was the same for all. Our Butler, Zenobio, did bring coffee and snacks at 4 pm. and he brought us room service when we ordered it.

 

The bathroom was stocked with some of the finest toiletries and had just about ANY odds and ends you might have in your own at home.

 

Bathrobes were thick in all categories.

 

There were fairly new movies shown in a theater with hot popcorn served.

 

There was never a problem getting served drinks when in a lounge, by the pool, the casino, in the theater or the MDR or buffet. 

 

When boarding you were given your token champagne, mimosa or whatever and were escorted to you stateroom by a steward who would carry your bags. Staterooms were ready when you boarded. 

 

Nightly turndown featured the Godiva chocolates on the bed and printed notices about the next day including the weather.

 

Daily News printed up showing articles of interest from around the world was printed up each day..

 

Yup... We didn't have any verandas back then but it was still OKAY with us.

 

OKAY --before the flames begin this is what cruising was like when we first experienced it.

It was what hooked us into a few decades of cruising the Caribbean.

 

Sure cruising has changed as we all have changed but it doesn't mean that we can't look at how it has changed and maybe express our opinions as to whether the changes are good or bad.

 

 

 

[ebtrip]

I will be leaving on the Eclipse in 44 days, round trip Hawaii.  The ship has not been edgified, so hoping our Aqua cabin has footstools.  We also order room service for breakfast before  an excursion, so having a coffee table is important..As for movies, my DH enjoys relaxing in the cabin and watching movies..I did not know they have been charging.  We have a January cruise to the Caribbean booked, which will take us to Elite Plus. i know the Equinox has been refurbished.  My last two cruises  have been on Viking Ocean..love the small ships, all inclusive type sailing.. we do buy the unlimited drink package, which is at a minimal price, as wine and beer are included with lunch and dinner.  Like the fact there is a shore excursion in each port.  It’s very relaxing, no casino, no scooters, no children under the age of 18.  Don’t get me wrong, we love Celebrity, husband loves the casino, but if they start nickel and  diming us we won’t hesitate to start cruising with Azamara, Oceana, or Viking.

Celebrity please listen to your loyal customers who cruise 3 times a year, and sometimes more.

 

[cruiselvr04]

 Everything evolves and changes.  Sometimes it’s because the company can save a buck and sometimes it’s due to different direction the company wants to go.  We are just the consumers.  Either you complain loud and hard in big numbers or the cruise line will think the masses are okay with changes. I’m sure they are saving money and that’s the bottom line.

 

We too are looking at the more premium lines but have not taken the plunge yet.  We did take a Viking River Cruise this summer.  It was wonderful but not luxurious.  Wonderful because of the places we went. And we did love that excursions were included.  The other thing we noticed was no ridiculous pricing for extra excursions or drink package.  That was refreshing!

 

 

[blueboro]

1 hour ago, ECCruise said:

Of course anything can be discussed.

But equating the changes that have happened over 40 years with a change that has happened recently (and will affect the enjoyment of a number of pax) seemed out of left field.

Things change and constantly evolve...whether 30 years or 30 minutes.  If I don't like the changes I can choose other options.  And left field was my favorite position in baseball 🙂

[ECCruise]

2 minutes ago, blueboro said:

Things change and constantly evolve...whether 30 years or 30 minutes.  If I don't like the changes I can choose other options.  And left field was my favorite position in baseball 🙂

And one of those options, which many here are doing, is to express their displeasure. 

[hcat]

1 hour ago, boscobeans said:

 

Our first cruise was in a suite on Celebrity's Zenith. 

 

We had a well appointed suite, sitting area and a lovely large WINDOW, that didn't open like the new modern IV staterooms. At that time there were no verandas on the Zenith.

 

True there were no "specialty or better" restaurants, BUT who needed them. The service, food quality, presentation and variety was as good as you would find in many land based restaurants serving EXCELLENT cuisine.

 

Your waiter was your WAITER, and he had an assistant. You had a wine steward and a bar steward. 

 

Formal nights made today's "specialty" restaurants look like a Friday's. The special details to ambiance (live music), candles, white glove service, table setting and everything including the menu was a true experience "exceeding expectations". LOL 

 

Gloved waiters in the buffet would direct you to a freshly cleaned table and even carry your meal if you wanted. They would get your drinks and whatever else you might have needed.  It seemed like the Buffet had enough seating for all unlike today.

 

There was no such thing as the "Suite Life" and service at all venues was the same for all. Our Butler, Zenobio, did bring coffee and snacks at 4 pm. and he brought us room service when we ordered it.

 

The bathroom was stocked with some of the finest toiletries and had just about ANY odds and ends you might have in your own at home.

 

Bathrobes were thick in all categories.

 

There were fairly new movies shown in a theater with hot popcorn served.

 

There was never a problem getting served drinks when in a lounge, by the pool, the casino, in the theater or the MDR or buffet. 

 

When boarding you were given your token champagne, mimosa or whatever and were escorted to you stateroom by a steward who would carry your bags. Staterooms were ready when you boarded. 

 

Nightly turndown featured the Godiva chocolates on the bed and printed notices about the next day including the weather.

 

Daily News printed up showing articles of interest from around the world was printed up each day..

 

Yup... We didn't have any verandas back then but it was still OKAY with us.

 

OKAY --before the flames begin this is what cruising was like when we first experienced it.

It was what hooked us into a few decades of cruising the Caribbean.

 

Sure cruising has changed as we all have changed but it doesn't mean that we can't look at how it has changed and maybe express our opinions as to whether the changes are good or bad.

 

 

 

We started with Mercury.  Cruised 3 or 4 times a year and ran into many other releat cruisers and  "welcome back staff".   It was like a small Country Club at Sea..

 

Things change and once Royal C got hold of things..they did not maintain Modern Luxury as a true standard,  nor do they really exceed expectations anymore. (former tag lines),  We are still with X.. with lower expectations in many areas but we are enjoying  some modern changes too!  It is what it is...

[hulamoon]

I received a reply back from my letter concerning the balcony table and the movies. The author assured me my concerns would be heard. It takes numbers though, please write and post if you want a change.

 

We watch and enjoy the movies, if you cruise a lot you have seen all the shows, I am not interested in evening cable.

 

Secondly that table is a joke, we not only use it for meals we work a few hours on vacation and we set laptops out on the balcony table to be near the ocean.

 

They probably put the table budget in the rocking chairs. 

 

Please write CelebrityOneTouch@celebrity.com

[Straughn]

6 hours ago, boscobeans said:

 

Our first cruise was in a suite on Celebrity's Zenith. 

 

We had a well appointed suite, sitting area and a lovely large WINDOW, that didn't open like the new modern IV staterooms. At that time there were no verandas on the Zenith.

 

True there were no "specialty or better" restaurants, BUT who needed them. The service, food quality, presentation and variety was as good as you would find in many land based restaurants serving EXCELLENT cuisine.

 

Your waiter was your WAITER, and he had an assistant. You had a wine steward and a bar steward. 

 

Formal nights made today's "specialty" restaurants look like a Friday's. The special details to ambiance (live music), candles, white glove service, table setting and everything including the menu was a true experience "exceeding expectations". LOL 

 

Gloved waiters in the buffet would direct you to a freshly cleaned table and even carry your meal if you wanted. They would get your drinks and whatever else you might have needed.  It seemed like the Buffet had enough seating for all unlike today.

 

There was no such thing as the "Suite Life" and service at all venues was the same for all. Our Butler, Zenobio, did bring coffee and snacks at 4 pm. and he brought us room service when we ordered it.

 

The bathroom was stocked with some of the finest toiletries and had just about ANY odds and ends you might have in your own at home.

 

Bathrobes were thick in all categories.

 

There were fairly new movies shown in a theater with hot popcorn served.

 

There was never a problem getting served drinks when in a lounge, by the pool, the casino, in the theater or the MDR or buffet. 

 

When boarding you were given your token champagne, mimosa or whatever and were escorted to you stateroom by a steward who would carry your bags. Staterooms were ready when you boarded. 

 

Nightly turndown featured the Godiva chocolates on the bed and printed notices about the next day including the weather.

 

Daily News printed up showing articles of interest from around the world was printed up each day..

 

Yup... We didn't have any verandas back then but it was still OKAY with us.

 

OKAY --before the flames begin this is what cruising was like when we first experienced it.

It was what hooked us into a few decades of cruising the Caribbean.

 

Sure cruising has changed as we all have changed but it doesn't mean that we can't look at how it has changed and maybe express our opinions as to whether the changes are good or bad.

 

 

 

I absolutely loved this post. Our first cruise was on Sovereign of the Seas, when it was still the largest cruise ship afloat. We were in a suite and, while many of the details you outlined above, were not on that ship, we had a glorious, glamorous time aboard. No, we did not have a veranda, but we had four floor to ceiling windows with an unobstructed view down. No butler, but a cabin steward and  assistant who viewed anything we asked for as possible. “Specialty Dining” was being invited to the Captain’s Table  on formal night, which we were. I look back on that and miss so many of the “finer things” that are no longer available and how much cruising has changed in 25+ years. Life goes on and not having to pack evening clothes isn’t so bad! 😉

[K.T.B.]

Call me crazy, but I like having many options to choose from, even if I decide to choose none of them.  Just because I choose none, that doesn't someone else will as well. They could be taking full advantage of free movies, etc.

 

Now I could understand if the "perks" they eliminated cost Celebrity tons of money and they felt it wasn't worth the cost, but movies definitely do not (costs them next to nothing basically).  Removing furniture and replacing it with smaller, unusable pieces (or not even replacing them at all!) costs them money, whereas if they just didn't remove/replace them it would cost Celebrity....  hmmm, let me see.... oh yes, nada.

 

As I said, I like having options.  I may or may not opt to use them, but I might. Like the OP, I rather enjoy relaxing in my cabin and/or balcony and reading a book.  Making it uncomfortable won't have me going to other parts of the ship, it'll just have me seeking out another "go to" cruise line.

[Pushka]

On 9/13/2019 at 12:14 PM, Iamthesea said:

the_dylaness

Best post I have read on CC in a long, long, time! 

 

Thank you for expressing how so many of us feel about the direction that Celebrity is taking.  DH and I have spent the last week looking at Viking Cruises and Viking or AMA River cruises.  Even the new 4 perk program is not swaying us toward Celebrity this time.  They are great, but not at the expense of the cruise fare going up to compensate for freebies. 

 

And might I add that by this time of the year, we usually have at least 2 future cruises booked.

I’ve just returned from a Viking Cruise. Yes the ships are lovely. As are Solstice Class. Yes there are no kids, photographers or casinos. But we found they expected people to do everything as Viking wanted and we like a bit more independence. Their included tours in most places were very ordinary. When there were real issues their Customer Service vanished. Consequently we are back to Celebrity next trip and cancelled one on Viking. 

[varoo]

Of course we all realize that things change, but it seems only reasonable to expect the changes to be improvements, not downgrades.