Not to pile on, but it’s bad…

[JDPCruisers]

Thanks. Just providing our experience on previous ships, not suites vs non-suites. I will let folks know what we experience (our pros/cons perspective) after Edge in case it may be of some value.

[NutsAboutGolf]

On 2/14/2023 at 2:01 PM, jaapie said:

On the Reflection last week our waiter asked us to please not give the food quality a low score because even though he is not the chef he gets dinged for food complaints. If this is true, it is totally wrong, he should be dinged for poor service but not food quality or options. Because of this I am not completing the post-cruise survey because I don't want to say anything that would harm the waiter because in all honesty I couldn't give the food a 10. So X is not getting feedback from me even though I would like to tell them the truth.

 

Coincidently, here's Don telling you to fill out that survey and not to be afraid of being honest with negative remarks...Like him or not, he puts out a daily cruise video and is one of the top cruising YTers

 

 

[Orator]

To me it's not suites vs non suites, but the direction that Celebrity is taking is evidenced by the cuts and raising prices of especially suites. As I've said many times before: Celebrity needs to look at the profit margins and do what they can to increase them. Suites are quite pricy, but people who choose them are fairly happy with what they get. I expect people who pay more to get more. On the other hand, non suite passengers complain about the food in the MDR. They complain about extra fees for room service and extra servings of lobster. They complain about the menu choices in the MDR. 

Loyalty benefits have been cut which is a sign that loyalty is not important as attracting the high margin passengers .The question for me is the strategy the best for the corporation now and in the future? Time will tell!

[NevadaCruiser2023]

On 2/14/2023 at 11:00 AM, Keys Kathy said:

The one I purchased on our Dec 17, 2022 gave us 12 months. This just started a couple of weeks ago. Yet another bad idea shoreside.

Am I missing something?  12 months and 1 year sound awful similar to me. 

[NutsAboutGolf]

6 minutes ago, Orator said:

To me it's not suites vs non suites, but the direction that Celebrity is taking is evidenced by the cuts and raising prices of especially suites. As I've said many times before: Celebrity needs to look at the profit margins and do what they can to increase them. Suites are quite pricy, but people who choose them are fairly happy with what they get. I expect people who pay more to get more. On the other hand, non suite passengers complain about the food in the MDR. They complain about extra fees for room service and extra servings of lobster. They complain about the menu choices in the MDR. 

Loyalty benefits have been cut which is a sign that loyalty is not important as attracting the high margin passengers .The question for me is the strategy the best for the corporation now and in the future? Time will tell!

 

Do you mean when you book suites you're forced to book AI or something else?  I've read when in port bars are closed so if on a sail-only fare, I guess if you're in port from 5pm-7pm, if the bars really aren't open than that's an indirect benefit cut

[Keys Kathy]

3 minutes ago, NevadaCruiser2023 said:

Am I missing something?  12 months and 1 year sound awful similar to me. 

In December, you had 12 months to choose your cruise, starting in Jan 2023 you have 6 months. You don't have the opportunity to review the new sailings that will be announced at the end of the year. They only care about booking the current offerings.

[39august]

Nutsaboutgolf- Not all bars are closed when a ship is in port. On S class ships usually the pool bar, Sunset Bar, Oceanview bar, and Cafe Al Baccio are open during the earlier part of the day. Other bars open at different times as sail away time approaches. Yes, in GC, X has started closing all but one bar during port time. 

[rmalbers]

44 minutes ago, Orator said:

To me it's not suites vs non suites, but the direction that Celebrity is taking is evidenced by the cuts and raising prices of especially suites. As I've said many times before: Celebrity needs to look at the profit margins and do what they can to increase them. Suites are quite pricy, but people who choose them are fairly happy with what they get. I expect people who pay more to get more. On the other hand, non suite passengers complain about the food in the MDR. They complain about extra fees for room service and extra servings of lobster. They complain about the menu choices in the MDR. 

Loyalty benefits have been cut which is a sign that loyalty is not important as attracting the high margin passengers .The question for me is the strategy the best for the corporation now and in the future? Time will tell!

I think the answer to your question is that they don't have a choice, what they are doing is their only option to survive, as a company.   You are right, we'll have to see if they make it. 

Edited February 15, 2023 by rmalbers

[Ex-Airbalancer]

42 minutes ago, Orator said:

 

Loyalty benefits have been cut which is a sign that loyalty is not important as attracting the high margin passengers .

Which loyalty benefits have cut ?  

[NutsAboutGolf]

16 minutes ago, 39august said:

Nutsaboutgolf- Not all bars are closed when a ship is in port. On S class ships usually the pool bar, Sunset Bar, Oceanview bar, and Cafe Al Baccio are open during the earlier part of the day. Other bars open at different times as sail away time approaches. Yes, in GC, X has started closing all but one bar during port time. 

There was a thread claiming they are closed for 2023 but it appears to be deleted???  Wasn’t following so perhaps that OP was wrong 

[dearly1]

My wife and I have taken over 60 cruises with almost 40 being with Celebrity. Our most recent Celebrity cruises were a trans-Atlantic on Apex a year ago and a Caribbean cruise last month on Constellation out of Tampa.

 

What a difference, and yes I know they are completely different classes of ship, but I have never before seen a serious difference in food quality between different classes of ships. The Constellation cruise was a disappointment. In the main dining room food took a really long time to be served (the dining room staff were still excellent). In our opinion the dinner selections were nothing what we have been used to. On previous cruises we often had trouble deciding between a few good choices. On this cruise we had trouble finding something we wanted.

 

One night, in an effort to find a better selection, we went up to OceanView for dinner. The changes there were a problem as well. The grill was closed – no steaks, or pork, etc... The stir fry station wasn't open and overall the buffet selections were greatly reduced.

 

There was a LOT of grumbling about the food onboard. Several people suggested that the best staff and food were being sent over to the newer ships leaving the smaller ships to become step children. This isn't the problem as we got hold of Celebrity's new fleet wide menus last week and it was the same as we experienced on Constellation.

 

We have no problem with the service onboard except that it has been significantly reduced. It wasn't unusual to spend over a half hour in a lounge before being waited on.

 

We have also made several cruises in the same time frame on Royal Caribbean and we have also seen their new menus and we have no issues with the food. Over the rest of this year we are booked on 5 Royal Caribbean cruises, mostly because of itineraries, but are booked on Millennium in a year for back to backs lasting almost a month, and we are concerned. That's a long time to not be happy with food choices but, the good news is, that gives Celebrity a year to realize they have an issue and work at fixing it.

[GB08]

Just got off the Beyond.    Having cruised 25+ times with Celebrity we were so disappointed in the cutbacks and feel as many having reported in regard to staffing issues, poor food selection, poor wine choices (premium package) running out of Diet Coke, etc., just to name a few.  The same few entertainers from ship to ship with the same sad shows.  
 

Kudos to the housekeeping staff as our cabin attendant was outstanding.
 

Staff usually friendly and happy, not this time.   We happily got off the ship and reflected that Celebrity is no longer special to us.

 

Hope your experience will be better than ours.

[Keys Kathy]

17 minutes ago, GB08 said:

Just got off the Beyond.    Having cruised 25+ times with Celebrity we were so disappointed in the cutbacks and feel as many having reported in regard to staffing issues, poor food selection, poor wine choices (premium package) running out of Diet Coke, etc., just to name a few.  The same few entertainers from ship to ship with the same sad shows.  
 

Kudos to the housekeeping staff as our cabin attendant was outstanding.
 

Staff usually friendly and happy, not this time.   We happily got off the ship and reflected that Celebrity is no longer special to us.

 

Hope your experience will be better than ours.

Gosh, I thought it was just me. We were on the Apex transatlantic last April 30th. No problems then, but 2023 cruises are a problem. Jan 3rd, we couldn't get into select for over an hour and a half so we ate in OV, pathetic! We got off the Millie on Feb 11, 2023.

 

We have an FR, but Hubby was NOT happy. Oceania? MSC Yacht Club? 

 

X had nothing stimulating for the mind. There used to be speakers, crafts, towel folding, and food demos. NOTHING for the mind except trivia in the Sky Lounge.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

50 minutes ago, dearly1 said:

My wife and I have taken over 60 cruises with almost 40 being with Celebrity. Our most recent Celebrity cruises were a trans-Atlantic on Apex a year ago and a Caribbean cruise last month on Constellation out of Tampa.

 

What a difference, and yes I know they are completely different classes of ship, but I have never before seen a serious difference in food quality between different classes of ships. The Constellation cruise was a disappointment. In the main dining room food took a really long time to be served (the dining room staff were still excellent). In our opinion the dinner selections were nothing what we have been used to. On previous cruises we often had trouble deciding between a few good choices. On this cruise we had trouble finding something we wanted.

 

One night, in an effort to find a better selection, we went up to OceanView for dinner. The changes there were a problem as well. The grill was closed – no steaks, or pork, etc... The stir fry station wasn't open and overall the buffet selections were greatly reduced.

 

There was a LOT of grumbling about the food onboard. Several people suggested that the best staff and food were being sent over to the newer ships leaving the smaller ships to become step children. This isn't the problem as we got hold of Celebrity's new fleet wide menus last week and it was the same as we experienced on Constellation.

 

We have no problem with the service onboard except that it has been significantly reduced. It wasn't unusual to spend over a half hour in a lounge before being waited on.

 

We have also made several cruises in the same time frame on Royal Caribbean and we have also seen their new menus and we have no issues with the food. Over the rest of this year we are booked on 5 Royal Caribbean cruises, mostly because of itineraries, but are booked on Millennium in a year for back to backs lasting almost a month, and we are concerned. That's a long time to not be happy with food choices but, the good news is, that gives Celebrity a year to realize they have an issue and work at fixing it.

Was it the April Apex TA ? 
I found the biggest problem was the lack of staff , and hot food in OVC 

we were on the Voyager September TA , but that was a shitshow, slow service everywhere,  speciality dinning was terrible

just a terrible ship 

[SusieAV8R]

16 hours ago, chemmo said:

wineoclock, you express well what the difference is and the ‘value’ side…For many people the PH additional cost is not worth it.

 

Paying $$$$ for the ‘top suite’ experience is only worth it if you are going to use/enjoy the ‘exceptional’ perks that come with a top suite. Both those advertised and those little extra touches. To get the value of a PH/RS you need to significantly benefit from some of the following…

 

You will spend significant amounts of time in suite and enjoy the space and facilities.

You will enjoy an in suite bar set up.

You will enjoy some in suite dining, perhaps something not on any menu.

You will ask your butler for a few things daily and perhaps to set up a party.

You will use the laundry service.

Your preferred seating in all dining venues will be noted.

Speciality restaurants will frequently offer to make ‘something special’ for you.

You will benefit from being privately escorted on/off the ship.

You will enjoy a behind the scenes tour of an area not generally seen.

You will enjoy being invited to dine sometimes with the Captain.

Any issues you have will be taken very seriously.

 

I am sure others could add to the list….On our last few cruises my late husband had significant health issues and it was worth every penny to enjoy the PH and RS we booked. Each of the things listed made our cruises very special. However, going back to when we first cruised none of the above mattered! Our cruises were about itineraries, our room was a place to sleep. We were poolside on sea days and happy with the MDR for food and our drinks were enjoyed in the bars. We could happily queue in hot weather and patiently stand in line at the buffet…

 

I am not in any way suggesting that only the old and infirm can benefit from a PH. But I am suggesting to really get value from a PH/RS then you need to want to use what comes with it. For example, if you are cruising after a hard spell in work and simply want a relaxing pampering experience then you will enjoy all the things listed or if you are planning a romantic getaway then the same applies….

You outlined exactly why DH and I truly enjoy the PS sailing experience.  We are sailing to unwind and relax from high stress jobs.. Itineraries are no longer of prime importance to us; we generally don't leave the ship.  And it is cool to have an unusual tour arranged on the ship or to set up a dinner party; or simply to eat in our suite or enjoy the stars and moonlight on the expansive veranda.

[cruisin from florida]

10 minutes ago, SusieAV8R said:

You outlined exactly why DH and I truly enjoy the PS sailing experience.  We are sailing to unwind and relax from high stress jobs.. Itineraries are no longer of prime importance to us; we generally don't leave the ship.  And it is cool to have an unusual tour arranged on the ship or to set up a dinner party; or simply to eat in our suite or enjoy the stars and moonlight on the expansive veranda.

I understand this completely. When DH and I were both working high stress jobs, total relaxation was the goal. Now that we're retired, we're more adventurous in our travels. We can rest when we get home!

[mac_tlc]

2 hours ago, Keys Kathy said:

In December, you had 12 months to choose your cruise, starting in Jan 2023 you have 6 months. You don't have the opportunity to review the new sailings that will be announced at the end of the year. They only care about booking the current offerings.

I purchased an open future cruise voucher when I was on the Beyond 1/29 sailing. The reservation is dated 2/5/23, and I received another email from Celebrity on 2/13 showing the terms. Both clearly said I have 1 year to choose my cruise. The pertinent part of the T&C :

 

A Cruise Later reservation does not guarantee stateroom or sailing availability or cruise price until you convert it to a confirmed booking by selecting a ship and sail date and paying all required deposits. It must be converted to a confirmed booking within (1) year after the Booking Date in order to be eligible for the future onboard credit. If not converted within one (1) year from the Booking Date, you will not receive the onboard credit and your deposit will be refunded.
 

 

mac_tlc

[NMTraveller]

3 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

Coincidently, here's Don telling you to fill out that survey and not to be afraid of being honest with negative remarks...Like him or not, he puts out a daily cruise video and is one of the top cruising YTers

 

 

Preaching to the choir.

[kidz_rn]

9 hours ago, cwayne said:

Drifted???!!  😵 More like it flew off the rails!!

A discussion on a CRUISE Critic Board has "flown off the rails"?  Hysterical mixed metaphor. Maybe this comment should've been on the AMTRAK message board?

[Georgia_Peaches]

1 hour ago, Keys Kathy said:

MSC Yacht Club? 

Yes!  Give it a try!  We did and loved it. 

[Luvcrusn]

On 2/12/2023 at 1:03 AM, jelayne said:

If the crew has to remind guests to wash or sanitize that is a sad commentary on the guests not the cruise line.  We were on the Solstice in December no stations in the OV were closed at breakfast or lunch.
 

On each of our many cruises on X even years before Covid reared its ugly head we remember staff members stationed outside of the theater, MDR and OVC with hand sanitizer as passengers entered those venues. Noticeably they were not there on Equinox this past December with the exception of occasionally outside of the OVC.

[mpdog42]

2 hours ago, dearly1 said:

My wife and I have taken over 60 cruises with almost 40 being with Celebrity. Our most recent Celebrity cruises were a trans-Atlantic on Apex a year ago and a Caribbean cruise last month on Constellation out of Tampa.

 

What a difference, and yes I know they are completely different classes of ship, but I have never before seen a serious difference in food quality between different classes of ships. The Constellation cruise was a disappointment. In the main dining room food took a really long time to be served (the dining room staff were still excellent). In our opinion the dinner selections were nothing what we have been used to. On previous cruises we often had trouble deciding between a few good choices. On this cruise we had trouble finding something we wanted.

 

One night, in an effort to find a better selection, we went up to OceanView for dinner. The changes there were a problem as well. The grill was closed – no steaks, or pork, etc... The stir fry station wasn't open and overall the buffet selections were greatly reduced.

 

There was a LOT of grumbling about the food onboard. Several people suggested that the best staff and food were being sent over to the newer ships leaving the smaller ships to become step children. This isn't the problem as we got hold of Celebrity's new fleet wide menus last week and it was the same as we experienced on Constellation.

 

We have no problem with the service onboard except that it has been significantly reduced. It wasn't unusual to spend over a half hour in a lounge before being waited on.

 

We have also made several cruises in the same time frame on Royal Caribbean and we have also seen their new menus and we have no issues with the food. Over the rest of this year we are booked on 5 Royal Caribbean cruises, mostly because of itineraries, but are booked on Millennium in a year for back to backs lasting almost a month, and we are concerned. That's a long time to not be happy with food choices but, the good news is, that gives Celebrity a year to realize they have an issue and work at fixing it.

That's why I have canceled my March cruise on the Constellation....As they Say "Im out" and will be until the Cruise lines stop this path to self destruction.....And if you have money and can afford the "Suite Life"....All the Best to you...but some of us had a career in Emergency Services or the Military  and it doen't pay for the "Suite Life".....So peace out Celebrity Board...😎

[Luvcrusn]

6 minutes ago, mpdog42 said:

That's why I have canceled my March cruise on the Constellation....As they Say "Im out" and will be until the Cruise lines stop this path to self destruction.....And if you have money and can afford the "Suite Life"....All the Best to you...but some of us had a career in Emergency Services or the Military  and it doen't pay for the "Suite Life".....So peace out Celebrity Board...😎

We all make the life choices that suit us. Thank you for your service and enjoy your travels wherever and however you move forward. Travel safely and have a wonderful adventure.

[Jmoondance]

9 hours ago, Orator said:

To me it's not suites vs non suites, but the direction that Celebrity is taking is evidenced by the cuts and raising prices of especially suites. As I've said many times before: Celebrity needs to look at the profit margins and do what they can to increase them. Suites are quite pricy, but people who choose them are fairly happy with what they get. I expect people who pay more to get more. On the other hand, non suite passengers complain about the food in the MDR. They complain about extra fees for room service and extra servings of lobster. They complain about the menu choices in the MDR. 

Loyalty benefits have been cut which is a sign that loyalty is not important as attracting the high margin passengers .The question for me is the strategy the best for the corporation now and in the future? Time will tell!

Yes,time will tell!

Also creating classes system on board is right ways  go!

 

Company needs to look at not just immediate gain, but need to come up with long term solutions. 

[Jmoondance]

Meant  , creating classes system is not right way to go.

My apologies !