New $9.95 + 18% grat for room service

[NMTraveller]

1 hour ago, cruisemom42 said:

I hate going to the OVC or MDR for breakfast on days with early shore excursions. There is just way too much stress wondering whether I'll be able to get my food and eat it in time to meet my tour, given the crowds and slow service.  But I need to eat some protein in the morning, especially if I think lunch may be late or delayed (which it often is on long excursions).

This.  Early excursions are our number one reason for room service.

Edited January 10, 2023 by NMTraveller

[BazingAu]

I sent an email to the CEO because we we specifically paid more to book with Celebrity to have everything included, and we like having room service in the morning before excursions or at night after excursions…excursions that we booked through Celebrity!! Someone called me (first name starts with M) from the executive office and starts *arguing* with me that there’s “always been a charge with room service of $4.95” and when I explained there is not and that $4.95 fee is only for late night service, she says that I am mistaken. She said they are “only raising the existing fee of $4.95 to $9.95.” I asked to be transferred to someone that knows more about Celebrity since she clearly doesn’t know the prior or current policy! She said no she won’t transfer me, and she claims to have worked for Celebrity for 16 years!?! C’mon, at least do the bare minimum and READ the room service policy before arguing with a customer!

 

Celebrity absolutely DNGAF.

Edited January 10, 2023 by BazingAu

[mpdog42]

Just spoke to my TA about all of this Room Service,Ocean View Cafe cutbacks…Some reports of No Afternoon Tea…Etc…She was on with Resolutions for about 20 Min…

Celebrity states “They would reach out to the ship to see if this was happing on my ship”..and get back to her…within 48 hours

[icemountain561]

Charging for hot breakfast foods is the straw that broke the camels back. If you're not upset you should be. Celebrity has a position called "onboard revenue specialist". This person's job is to literally find new ways of charging/making cuts for things onboard the ship to bring in more revenue for the cruise line. So this, the lobster, and smaller dinner buffet are only the most recent changes. Who knows what's next to be cut or charged for? However, at this rate, it wouldn't surprise me if celebrity started charging to use the elevators by saying the stairs are still free. 

By now charging for room service scrambled eggs or even a slightly warm pancake seems to show Celebrity and the executive team have lost their way. If they are that concerned about money, maybe LLP should fly commercial when traveling to the ships instead of on private jets. 

 

 

[LMaxwell]

1 hour ago, BazingAu said:

I sent an email to the CEO because we we specifically paid more to book with Celebrity to have everything included, and we like having room service in the morning before excursions or at night after excursions…excursions that we booked through Celebrity!! Someone called me (first name starts with M) from the executive office and starts *arguing* with me that there’s “always been a charge with room service of $4.95” and when I explained there is not and that $4.95 fee is only for late night service, she says that I am mistaken. She said they are “only raising the existing fee of $4.95 to $9.95.” I asked to be transferred to someone that knows more about Celebrity since she clearly doesn’t know the prior or current policy! She said no she won’t transfer me, and she claims to have worked for Celebrity for 16 years!?! C’mon, at least do the bare minimum and READ the room service policy before arguing with a customer!

 

Celebrity absolutely DNGAF.

ExecutiveOffice@celebrity.com

[LMaxwell]

15 minutes ago, icemountain561 said:

 Who knows what's next to be cut or charged for?

 

 

Oooh, oooh (strenuously raises hand). 

Not only am I aware of what's coming; I already know the dismissive arguments from the same half dozen people for which every cutback is really just an improvement. 

 

Hint: "Do people really order more than 1 entree? I never have and have never seen or heard of that."

 

 

[omeinv]

7 minutes ago, icemountain561 said:

 Celebrity has a position called "onboard revenue specialist". This person's job is to literally find new ways of charging/making cuts for things onboard the ship to bring in more revenue for the cruise line. So this, the lobster, and smaller dinner buffet are only the most recent changes.

 

 

Please, at least learn something about what you're commenting on.  The Onboard Revenue Manager specifically has oversight for all the shipboard functions designated as within her span of control.  These are the revenue generating departments such as the onboard shops, the shore excursions department, the casino, the art auctions, etc.  All dining and beverage is not under the Revenue Director, but is instead under the Food & Beverage Director.  Her responsibilities include all restaurants (MDR, Blu, Luminae, all specialty restaurants, Ocean View, etc), and all beverage operations (all  bars, wine service, etc).  Beyond that the Revenue Director is not responsible for finding new ways of charging or making cuts; but instead for managing all those departments and the employees assigned to them.

 

Beyond the above, as a moment's thought should have made clear, changes such as imposing a nominal fee for room service, or right-sizing the evening buffet to properly serve the number of guests partaking is not a ship level change, and thus wouldn't come from the Onboard Revenue Director in any event; but instead are fleet wide, and clearly the corporation decided to implement changes, apparently effective on January 1, of the new year.  Beyond that all the changes that seem to be causing such concern are under the purview of the F&B Department, not the Revenue Department. 

 

Harris

Denver, CO

 

 

 

[LMaxwell]

Just now, omeinv said:

right-sizing the evening buffet to properly serve the number of guests

 

Oh is this the new corporate marketing gobbledygook?  Right sizing.  

 

Wait til they right size what you can get in the MDR.  

[omeinv]

7 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

Oh is this the new corporate marketing gobbledygook?  Right sizing.  

 

Wait til they right size what you can get in the MDR.  

Well, for all the complaining, I've been on a lot of cruises, and have seen the number of people that eat in the Ocean View for Dinner.  It doesn't make sense to have a set-up similar to what they do at lunch for the number off people there for dinner.  If food is consumed - even gluttonously - I'm all for it.  But food prepared, and then discarded because it's not eaten doesn't enhance anyone's cruise experience.  So "right-sizing" the offering makes sense both from an economic stand point, and from a sustainability stand point. 

Similarly, while room service is popular, it's enjoyed by a relatively small percentage of guests on board.  The fee, while clearly unpopular, would seem to be an amount that is more to curtail frivolous orders than to actually be an insurmountable burden to those for whom room service is clearly very important.  I base this on the fact it's a $9.95 + Grat flat fee, rather than an ala carte charge.  I remember when the late night fee - which works on a similar basis - was implemented,  There was a similar hue and cry about the corporate greed, and the potential for starvation of cruise passengers.  But clearly the primary reason was that a lot of late night room service orders went unclaimed, because there was no answer at the door upon delivery, since the guest had either fallen asleep or passed out.  I suspect - nay, I know - a good percentage of the room service orders are just because of the novelty of "free" room service.  I see so few of the people posting here about how absolutely essential room service is, comparing it to their room service experience at hotels.  I wonder what possible difference there could be between ship board room service and hotel room service.  It can't be the cost, because so many here have made it abundantly clear their interest is strictly "not the money, but the principle".  Yet, thanks to either my cynicism, or my lack of imagination, their aversion to paying $9.95 is the only answer I can come up with. 

 

Harris

Denver, CO

[LMaxwell]

4 minutes ago, omeinv said:

  So "right-sizing" the offering makes sense both from an economic stand point, and from a sustainability stand point. 
 

They reduced the quality and variety.  They can right size without being wasteful or reducing quality. They CHOSE to reduce quality to drive people to MDR and specialty dining. They could have had limited selections of high quality food, no??

 

  This is a gift wrapped free pass. Must strongly disagree with you on this 

 

The second part is pure speculation. You have no clue how much was ordered and not received. You are trying to make your statements sound like agreed upon facts based on data, but they are only your opinions and based on no factual evidence. 

Edited January 10, 2023 by LMaxwell

[omeinv]

17 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

They reduced the quality and variety.  They can right size without being wasteful or reducing quality. They CHOSE to reduce quality to drive people to MDR and specialty dining. They could have had limited selections of high quality food, no??

 

  This is a gift wrapped free pass. Must strongly disagree with you on this 

 

The second part is pure speculation. You have no clue how much was ordered and not received. You are trying to make your statements sound like agreed upon facts based on data, but they are only your opinions and based on no factual evidence. 

While I'll confess I may be "assuming facts not in evidence", regarding the amount of room service food ordered and not consumed, I'm guessing you're not aboard now, so your statement that not only the amount but the quality of the Ocean View dinner offering has been reduced would be the same sort of assumption. 

 

I have a suspicion a lot of our concern here will resolve itself.  As others - perhaps you @LMaxwell - have pointed out, people bringing their concerns to the attention of Celebrity's management has been effective in the past.  I can conceive of more nuanced ways to have room service streamlined; and I imagine if I can, my fellow Cruise Critizens will do a fantastic job sharing their thoughts with Celebrity.  We do know from the for-fee pool side burger experiment years ago, or even the greatest indignity ever attempted against the cruising public, the elimination of night chocolates; that Celebrity is capable and willing to revisit these changes. 

 

I'll also confess that I might not have the right frame of mind here, since I very rarely have order room service, and I can't recall the last time I ate dinner in the Ocean View.  This may be a case where I lack appreciation as it's not my ox being gored.  Now I'm hungry for gored ox.  I hope they have that on the MDR menu next cruise. 🙂

 

Harris

Denver, CO

 

Edited January 10, 2023 by omeinv

[iandjm]

2 hours ago, BazingAu said:

I sent an email to the CEO because we we specifically paid more to book with Celebrity to have everything included, and we like having room service in the morning before excursions or at night after excursions…excursions that we booked through Celebrity!! Someone called me (first name starts with M) from the executive office and starts *arguing* with me that there’s “always been a charge with room service of $4.95” and when I explained there is not and that $4.95 fee is only for late night service, she says that I am mistaken. She said they are “only raising the existing fee of $4.95 to $9.95.” I asked to be transferred to someone that knows more about Celebrity since she clearly doesn’t know the prior or current policy! She said no she won’t transfer me, and she claims to have worked for Celebrity for 16 years!?! C’mon, at least do the bare minimum and READ the room service policy before arguing with a customer!

 

Celebrity absolutely DNGAF.

I have had similar experiences when talking to the executive office. They were utterly clueless about Celebrity and its policies and quite frankly made a fool of both themselves and the company. 

[LMaxwell]

4 hours ago, omeinv said:

, so your statement that not only the amount but the quality of the Ocean View dinner offering has been reduced would be the same sort of assumption. 

 

 

No, it is not an assumption.  There are many posts with photos and descriptions. Not having a grill or stir fry is a reduction in quality of offerings. If it was not, they would not have cut them to save money and replaced them with Lasagna. Processed carbs and ground meat is not the same as a steak or fish grilled to order, no matter how much you argue about it.  

 

THen again they could reduce the buffet to grilled cheese and breadsticks and others on here would claim it's as good as its ever been, so at least you recognize a change and can discuss it, although obtusely.

[BermudaBound2014]

1 hour ago, LMaxwell said:

...............at least you recognize a change and can discuss it, although obtusely.

 

I think I love you (no disrespect intended to your wife or my DH of course) 🙂

[natshala]

10 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Their included "Continental breakfast" is woeful. There is virtually no protein included.

 

Even in Europe (the originators of the Continental breakfast), most times things like cheeses, cured meats (salami, ham) and hard boiled eggs are included. 

 

I hate going to the OVC or MDR for breakfast on days with early shore excursions. There is just way too much stress wondering whether I'll be able to get my food and eat it in time to meet my tour, given the crowds and slow service.  But I need to eat some protein in the morning, especially if I think lunch may be late or delayed (which it often is on long excursions).

 

C'mon Celebrity, don't cheap out to such an extent. Am I going to have to bring protein bars to supply my own breakfast because there is no other reasonable alternative??

Have you considered the Spa Cafe? They do have protein products and it’s very quick.

[Pinboy]

OH BOY--- 14 pages--going for the " record "--- all over $9.95 for ordering as much as you want, when you want it, having it delivered on time--- Forget it.

You are spending so much money for the cruise, so, what's an extra few $.

Ok, so Celebrity is " beating " me for something that used to be free--- Big Deal.

 

 

[chamima]

25 minutes ago, natshala said:

Have you considered the Spa Cafe? They do have protein products and it’s very quick.

 

It's got very limited hours

Edited January 10, 2023 by chamima

[dodger1964]

11 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

This.  Early excursions are our number one reason for room service.

We (or at least I) just go to the buffet and bring back food (for both of us) to room so can get ready and leave on time.

 

Just like checking into hotel (major brand name) recently and being asked, "do you want maid service during your stay"?...that is coming next to X!

 

[AnnaNicole]

35 minutes ago, dodger1964 said:

We (or at least I) just go to the buffet and bring back food (for both of us) to room so can get ready and leave on time.

 

Just like checking into hotel (major brand name) recently and being asked, "do you want maid service during your stay"?...that is coming next to X!

 

It has already started.   You can sign up for limited housekeeping and receive extra loyalty points for doing so.

[Luvcrusn]

2 hours ago, natshala said:

Have you considered the Spa Cafe? They do have protein products and it’s very quick.

But...one must get dressed to go there eliminating the advantage of multi tasking (eating and dressing) to get to an early excursion. 

[NCteacherlovescruising]

Does this apply to suites?

[cruisemom42]

2 hours ago, natshala said:

Have you considered the Spa Cafe? They do have protein products and it’s very quick.

 

Thanks for the suggestion; I honestly was not aware of Spa Cafe being open for breakfast. I always think of it as a lunch option, since I tend to eat very little at mid-day, preferring a full breakfast and a good dinner. 😉

[cruisemom42]

2 hours ago, Pinboy said:

OH BOY--- 14 pages--going for the " record "--- all over $9.95 for ordering as much as you want, when you want it, having it delivered on time--- Forget it.

You are spending so much money for the cruise, so, what's an extra few $.

Ok, so Celebrity is " beating " me for something that used to be free--- Big Deal.

 

 

 

if you don't want to read about the legitimate gripes and complaints of others, feel free to stop reading this thread.

[Oceangoer2]

On 1/8/2023 at 9:14 AM, LMaxwell said:

Well a week ago you wouldn't have had to allocate 1/3 of it to getting room service delivered.  

Maybe next week you'll have to allocate 1/3 to toilet paper. 

Market choice and all 

 

some people embrace downgrades as gifts 

I really really hate to say this...but after  reading all the posts...you seem to be on a mission...like a cute little puppy with a rag toy...mangle it till it's gone or someone takes it away.  All of us are responding with critiques, mostly negative..but it seems you are determined to keep this going with almost the same cynicism over and over.  I get you're upset, probably more than some of us, but give the posters, who may be able to still enjoy their cruise despite the cutbacks, some slack without coming down so hard on their opinion.  Mind you, the TP crack did elicit a smile...😉.

[Oceangoer2]

10 hours ago, LMaxwell said:

 

 

Oooh, oooh (strenuously raises hand). 

Not only am I aware of what's coming; I already know the dismissive arguments from the same half dozen people for which every cutback is really just an improvement. 

 

Hint: "Do people really order more than 1 entree? I never have and have never seen or heard of that."

 

 

No...we haven't ordered more than one entree...having trouble stuffing in all the foods available during the day as it is....light lunch included.  Guess we're not getting our money's worth.  But, would like the MDR menu to keep escargot and shrimp cocktail, onion soup etc...more items on Luminae menu for choice.  This will probably not happen as it affects the bottom profit line.