Do you Feel X is Cheapening their Product

[Fatfish]

22 hours ago, LMaxwell said:

Yes, they are clearly cheapening the product offering, while not lowering cost or increasing value to the paying customer. The most rabid loyalist could not come to a different objective conclusion. 

After 4 Celebrity M class cruises within a year I totally agree with you..

[ABoatNerd]

The downgrading of the Celebrity product commenced in 2015 and accelerated quickly thereafter. The fabulous open face sandwiches in El Baco were devine and disappeared in 2017, never to return. 

This is simply more of the same - flash is more important than substance and seems to appeal to many obedient consumers in every business sector.

Given the debt load of the cruise lines, the downgrading will move quickly but will be covered up as much as possible via distractions and mis truths of all sorts. Considering 80+% of the cruise beds are controlled by 2 big corporations, there is 0 competition in cruising, that alone should ring bells for consumers.

The land based travel options will reap benefits from savvy cruisers who are looking for more bang for their buck. 

The old saying "Flash Vs Substance" indeed.

[NorthStarStateCruiser]

15 minutes ago, ABoatNerd said:

Considering 80+% of the cruise beds are controlled by 2 big corporations, there is 0 competition in cruising, that alone should ring bells for consumers.

It's closer to 65% controlled by the big 2. And neither of those two having the majority of the cruise market segment in passenger load or revenue. There's still favorable competition for consumers.

 

21 minutes ago, ABoatNerd said:

The land based travel options will reap benefits from savvy cruisers who are looking for more bang for their buck. 

Possibly, but I know there's a huge opportunity to appeal to the millennial and gen Z population in the US that Celebrity is aiming at. Most notably with the Edge class of ships.

[LXA350]

I fully agree with you, everything has gone down, starting from amenties to the food quality and choices. Given they are charging always higher prices and providing their passengers less value it makes me think twice now if it's time to try a different company, and we are not speaking of Royal Carribbean...

 

[NMTraveller]

Duplicate

Edited January 8, 2023 by NMTraveller

[mahdnc]

Here is another area that Celebrity has been cutting corners.  In this case it is with their complimentary playing cards available at Guest Relations.

 

 

[BazingAu]

I have sailed on Princess (my parents’ preferred cruise line) pre-pandemic, but convinced them to try Royal Caribbean for all the family and kids activities after the restart. RC was not for us - went on 2 sailings and felt very nickeled and dimed. So we booked with Celebrity under their “Always Included” plan for an upcoming 2023 cruise. As I’m seeing all the changes unfold, it seems like I would have been better off booking a similar cruise on RC instead of X to save several thousand dollars upfront because it’s the same nickel and diming on board now. $9.95+gratuities for room service, $16.95 for extra lobster, scaled down dinner buffet, what’s next? What am I gaining for taking a X cruise over RC? Where is the value proposition?

[davekathy]

42 minutes ago, BazingAu said:

I have sailed on Princess (my parents’ preferred cruise line) pre-pandemic, but convinced them to try Royal Caribbean for all the family and kids activities after the restart. RC was not for us - went on 2 sailings and felt very nickeled and dimed. So we booked with Celebrity under their “Always Included” plan for an upcoming 2023 cruise. As I’m seeing all the changes unfold, it seems like I would have been better off booking a similar cruise on RC instead of X to save several thousand dollars upfront because it’s the same nickel and diming on board now. $9.95+gratuities for room service, $16.95 for extra lobster, scaled down dinner buffet, what’s next? What am I gaining for taking a X cruise over RC? Where is the value proposition?

Cruise on over to the RC forum and find out for yourself. A lot of the same complaining about RCs changes. I even read on the Princess forum that some aren't happy with Princess and changes and considering jumping ship.

Edited January 8, 2023 by davekathy

[LGW59]

1 hour ago, davekathy said:

Cruise on over to the RC forum and find out for yourself. A lot of the same complaining about RCs changes. I even read on the Princess forum that some aren't happy with Princess and changes and considering jumping ship.

considering jumping ship.  Well if they do jump ship, I hope they are on the Beyond with Captain Kate at the helm, she's getting good at the at sea rescues.

[mcrcruiser]

The cruise industry needs to be aware than adding costs ,cutting corners may  decrease their bookings going forward especially while the USA is heading into recession  .Yes there are other forms of vacations available 

[davekathy]

14 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

The cruise industry needs to be aware than adding costs ,cutting corners may  decrease their bookings going forward especially while the USA is heading into recession  .Yes there are other forms of vacations available 

...🙄

 

Chief Executive
Lisa Lutoff-Perlo
President and Chief Executive Officer
1050 Caribbean Way
Miami, FL 33132
lLutoff-Perlo@celebritycruises.com

Edited January 8, 2023 by davekathy

[mcrcruiser]

3 minutes ago, davekathy said:

Chief Executive
Lisa Lutoff-Perlo
President and Chief Executive Officer
1050 Caribbean Way
Miami, FL 33132
lLutoff-Perlo@celebritycruises.com

Do I care what X or their parent does yes when I am booked only for that cruise . Candidly ,a  multimillion dollar exec  like Lisa takes her marching orders from RCL brass & implements those orders effectively  or they would replace her . On our next 2 X cruises this year we are getting all the perks free on a casino deal .for those cruises we are ahead of the game   .We alos sail many Holland America cruises  in their preferred customer group .We are very close to 100 cruises total 

[davekathy]

2 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

Do I care what X or their parent does yes when I am booked only for that cruise . Candidly ,a  multimillion dollar exec  like Lisa takes her marching orders from RCL brass & implements those orders effectively  or they would replace her . On our next 2 X cruises this year we are getting all the perks free on a casino deal .for those cruises we are ahead of the game   .We alos sail many Holland America cruises  in their preferred customer group .We are very close to 100 cruises total 

You don't say. Then share your thoughts with her. Like that hasn't already been addressed by RCG. 🙄

[mcrcruiser]

7 minutes ago, davekathy said:

You don't say. Then share your thoughts with her. Like that hasn't already been addressed by RCG. 🙄

Are you serious .They don''t listen to   us  .Their marketing  plan is done before their business plan is finalized .

Candidly , it is no skin off my nose . They will succeed or fail  based on those plans . Looking forward other than a repeat of  another covid shut down  they are likely to be successful   in time . Recessions will come & go 

Add to that that the war in Ukraine will not last forever & that will help cruising in general with more bookings 

Edited January 8, 2023 by mcrcruiser

[Arizona Wildcat]

3 hours ago, LXA350 said:

I fully agree with you, everything has gone down, starting from amenties to the food quality and choices. Given they are charging always higher prices and providing their passengers less value it makes me think twice now if it's time to try a different company, and we are not speaking of Royal Carribbean...

 

If customers stopped booking cabins the prices would drop.  All the complaining is pointless.  Too many people wanting to have holidays with too much money.

[Arizona Wildcat]

28 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

The cruise industry needs to be aware than adding costs ,cutting corners may  decrease their bookings going forward especially while the USA is heading into recession  .Yes there are other forms of vacations available 

So far the cutbacks have not decreased bookings.  Pretty much everything has gone up in price.  Our various preferred monthly rentals have gone up in price by several thousand dollars a month.

Seems pretty soon the old timers that post on CC will go away and younger cruisers who are new to cruising will take our place.  They never experienced Modern Luxury. 

[MISTER 67]

I don't know what has happened since our October 1st cruise on the Infinity but it was one of the best cruises we have had among the 69 since December of 1982. Everything was excellent from the food to the entertainment to the service and on an older beautiful ship. We also cruised on Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam in December and it was one of our worst cruises, talk about cutbacks. 

Edited January 8, 2023 by MISTER 67

[kearney]

I have not done this analysis recently... so things might have changed..but a number of years ago.. I was considering a one week stay on Hilton Head with a water view condo... factoring in meals I realized that cruising was a more cost effective vacation... assuming driving to both destinations. Given the price increases I have seen at my local grocery store and local restaurants... I suspect this still holds true. People can talk about going elsewhere for their vacation dollars... you might try pricing both out... recognizing how many drinks you really have when you have an AI package...vs what you would be paying for at a land resort. Now camping is likely cheaper... assuming you are using a tent. Face it... inflation sucks..and while people talk about it being reduced to say 5%... the base prices generally don't go down.. unless demand hits various industries and then..look for even more cuts. 

[LGW59]

3 hours ago, BazingAu said:

I have sailed on Princess (my parents’ preferred cruise line) pre-pandemic, but convinced them to try Royal Caribbean for all the family and kids activities after the restart. RC was not for us - went on 2 sailings and felt very nickeled and dimed. So we booked with Celebrity under their “Always Included” plan for an upcoming 2023 cruise. As I’m seeing all the changes unfold, it seems like I would have been better off booking a similar cruise on RC instead of X to save several thousand dollars upfront because it’s the same nickel and diming on board now. $9.95+gratuities for room service, $16.95 for extra lobster, scaled down dinner buffet, what’s next? What am I gaining for taking a X cruise over RC? Where is the value proposition?

Maybe go on the cruise and form your own opinion?

[Baron Barracuda]

Today I received my latest Blue Chip club offer, good for a free verandah on 70 upcoming sailings on pretty much every X ship.  20 are 10 nights or longer.  Can't understand why an outfit with X's financial difficulties, that is raising prices and cutting costs like crazy is willing to give away so much of their product for free.  I don't gamble much so they're not getting it back from me there.  Just another item on the long list of things LLP has done that makes me scratch my head.

[D C]

On 1/7/2023 at 2:03 AM, mcrcruiser said:

what are your feelings about Celebrity product of today vs pre covid times  ?

It's more $ for a far inferior product. 

We're sailing elsewhere after almost exclusively sailing on X (one Royal sailing snuck in). 

 

[mizLORInj]

I had a wonderful cruise on Reflection in February 2022; ship was at half capacity.   Not my first Celebrity cruise, or even first cruise post-covid-shutdown.  Liked it so much, I did not hesitate to book Beyond for next month.  I booked expecting things to be like my last cruise, but clearly the cutbacks will show.   I like TWO lobster tails since they are small and it is ridiculous to have only one offered as included in already-high cruise fare.   I guess I'll see shortly whether I'll be booking another Celebrity cruise.

 

Yes, I realize all have had cutbacks.   NCL increased their DSC to $20 per day (NOT suites) yet cut back on service and who knows what else.  Is it everywhere?  Yes.  But Celebrity likes to advertise themselves as a PREMIUM line, which their pricing shows.   They should be better than the main cruise lines, but are proving that that is all they are.

 

[iandjm]

Yes the experience is being cheapened massively by all the new charges, reduced dining, poor quality food and service etc. Yet the cost of going on a cruise has increased a lot. Meanwhile Celebrity’s propaganda tells us how upscale they are.  Afraid I’m moving away from Celebrity to Oceania, who on many occasions end up cheaper for a product that is far better.   

Edited January 9, 2023 by iandjm

[Oceangoer2]

18 hours ago, LGW59 said:

considering jumping ship.  Well if they do jump ship, I hope they are on the Beyond with Captain Kate at the helm, she's getting good at the at sea rescues.

I would generally respond to this kind of post with a 😀....but I found I was just going to pass over it.....then I thought I should express myself here.....I just feel sad with so many comments on multiple threads that have finally become depressing to me.  It's sad the cruise lines have to cut back to keep going and sad we will have to either accept those cutbacks (for now) or choose not to sail.  Sorry ..... your humour should have been appreciated.

[LGW59]

27 minutes ago, iandjm said:

Yes the experience is being cheapened massively by all the new charges, reduced dining, poor quality food and service etc. Yet the cost of going on a cruise has increased a lot. Meanwhile Celebrity’s propaganda tells us how upscale they are.  Afraid I’m moving away from Celebrity to Oceania, who on many occasions end up cheaper for a product that is far better.   

Make sure to read Oceania boards…