Jim_Iain – Silhouette Live Post April 8, 21, 30 - B3B - TransAtlantic, Portugal Spain, France and the Norwegian Fjords

[Ex-Airbalancer]

6 hours ago, Benthayer Gonbak said:

what a nightmare.  I can’t even imagine how I’d react although I’d probably start with the embassy!  
 

I’ve even worried about a May cruise, next year, being too close to the next cruise and not being negative when I need to enter Portugal. 

Lol what would an embassy do lol 

when we got back to hotel , beside the cruise terminal , Apex was still there , we went and told GS staff working the terminal they sent us to wrong location , she said we were lying 

A complete ***** show by Celebrity 

[Benthayer Gonbak]

The US Embassies are capable of quickly replacing lost or stolen passports.  It’s more difficult when you don’t have any ids as can happen with a fire, that’s why a copy in the cloud etc is valuable.

 

As for the ground crew in the terminals, they seem to be contractors and more than useless.  I had an asthma attack in Vancouver, while they kept insisting I wait, in smoke, outside for a bus!  When I couldn’t breathe much more I was told that I was making a scene.  I’ve not used cruise transfers since then, but then again I’ve only been on Celebrity once since then.  Celebrity was losing a lot of their quality around that time.  I have one cruise that has a unique itinerary, next year, to try again.  I, fortunately, won’t need much of their ground help.

 

from what you are describing, I need to set my expectations lower yet. That is truly a sad turn of events.
 

 I’m looking forward to seeing the changes that are being promised that give us back cruises without drink packages.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

3 hours ago, Benthayer Gonbak said:

The US Embassies are capable of quickly replacing lost or stolen passports.  It’s more difficult when you don’t have any ids as can happen with a fire, that’s why a copy in the cloud etc is valuable.

 

As for the ground crew in the terminals, they seem to be contractors and more than useless.  I had an asthma attack in Vancouver, while they kept insisting I wait, in smoke, outside for a bus!  When I couldn’t breathe much more I was told that I was making a scene.  I’ve not used cruise transfers since then, but then again I’ve only been on Celebrity once since then.  Celebrity was losing a lot of their quality around that time.  I have one cruise that has a unique itinerary, next year, to try again.  I, fortunately, won’t need much of their ground help.

 

from what you are describing, I need to set my expectations lower yet. That is truly a sad turn of events.
 

 I’m looking forward to seeing the changes that are being promised that give us back cruises without drink packages.

We spoke to Celebrity Guest Relation Office in the terminal ! Not Terminal workers 

 

[Benthayer Gonbak]

6 hours ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

We spoke to Celebrity Guest Relation Office in the terminal ! Not Terminal workers 

 

okay.  I was told that those wearing celebrity badges in the terminals and at the airports were contractors, several times.  The attitude you got matches what I’d experienced with those at an airport. 

 

 

Edited June 13, 2022 by Benthayer Gonbak

[GottaKnowWhen]

13 minutes ago, Benthayer Gonbak said:

okay.  I was told that those wearing celebrity badges in the terminals and at the airports were contractors, several times.  The attitude you got matches what I’d experienced with those at an airport. 

 

 

My primary experience with contracted shoreside personnel was in Quito, on the way to/from Galapagos in 2016. Absolutely top quality service and support, at the airport and in the hotel lobby where the Celebrity rep had his own desk set up off to the side of the hotel concierge.

[Benthayer Gonbak]

14 hours ago, GottaKnowWhen said:

My primary experience with contracted shoreside personnel was in Quito, on the way to/from Galapagos in 2016. Absolutely top quality service and support, at the airport and in the hotel lobby where the Celebrity rep had his own desk set up off to the side of the hotel concierge.

I would have to agree that group was superb!  As was the escort to Machu Picchu.   Thanks for pointing out at least those involved in land tours with transfers are quite good. I remember the bus from the airport but not the logistics of how we got on the bus.  To me that means it was quite efficient!