If I wanted to visit Coco Cay, I'd cruise Royal.

[NMTraveller]

2 hours ago, mrgabriel said:

Great to hear! More space for me and my friends!

You can have the space,  but you might be sharing it with a much younger crowd...

Gramps. 🙂

Edited June 30, 2023 by NMTraveller

[C4HCG]

3 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

There are biological facts.  The Mom with the 3 year old swimming in the baby pool is not 50 years old 🙂

 

There are two items:

 

1.  Marketing towards the previous Celebrity demographic. (Replacing 40s to 50s with a new 40 to 50s)

2.  Replacing the Celebrity demographic with the Royal demographic. Much less than the demographic age on Celebrity.

 

Number two is where Celebrity is headed...

Putting a younger Royal demographic on Celebrity ships.

In my opinion number 1 is the direction.  I think the strategy is to attract totally new customers who hadn’t tried either before, no point shuffling existing customers between lines. In my humble opinion.

Edited June 30, 2023 by C4HCG

[Obobru]

I have no interest in Coco Cay as it looks too barren and just like a basic water park on an island, but like any cruise we book itineraries we want to be on as we are not forced to choose a particular cruise line, ship, or itinerary as there is so much choice. 

 

If Celebrity do a private island it should have been more like Disney's Castaway Cay which is lush and feels more high-end as it's not as over developed. 

[zitsky]

I just want to know what is next?

[zitsky]

9 hours ago, georgiaguy said:

 

At the risk of being argumentative, do I not count as an existing customer? What about the others here that have expressed interest?

Also, I don’t think everyone is upset. I have seen a number of people express satisfaction with the change. One person said they got an extra day in Europe (10 to 11 day) and $200. 

And again, one port change will not make X, RC. There are just not massive overhauls of the ships happening in the way that would require.  

I get your point.  Here is mine.

 

If X gives you something you didn’t have that’s a positive, right?

 

If X takes something away from a pax, is that equally positive?

 

You get a beach day and I get a canceled cruise.  How is that “fair”?

 

Now if all they do is shift me from one Edge class to another that’s great.  I still want that choice next time I book a cruise.

[prmssk]

6 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

There are biological facts.  The Mom with the 3 year old swimming in the baby pool is not 50 years old 🙂

 

There are two items:

 

1.  Marketing towards the previous Celebrity demographic. (Replacing 40s to 50s with a new 40 to 50s)

2.  Replacing the Celebrity demographic with the Royal demographic. Much less than the demographic age on Celebrity.

 

Number two is where Celebrity is headed...

Putting a younger Royal demographic on Celebrity ships.

I don't think they are targeting to the mom with a 3 year old child.  Personally, I think they are aiming more for people like me, DINKs in the 35-50 range who likely have some money and have established enough in their careers to have some vacation time.  (I would guess those in their 50s are already regularly Celebrity customers.).

 

Those still in their 20s don't have the money or time to be cruising often and definitely don't have the money for suites.  That's not to say they won't also attract more families especially in the summers but that will be couples in that 35-50 range with children, not those in their 20s.

[zitsky]

5 minutes ago, prmssk said:

I don't think they are targeting to the mom with a 3 year old child.  Personally, I think they are aiming more for people like me, DINKs in the 35-50 range who likely have some money and have established enough in their careers to have some vacation time.  (I would guess those in their 50s are already regularly Celebrity customers.).

 

Those still in their 20s don't have the money or time to be cruising often and definitely don't have the money for suites.  That's not to say they won't also attract more families especially in the summers but that will be couples in that 35-50 range with children, not those in their 20s.

We started booking Celebrity in our early 50s after one NCL cruise two Viking river and one Viking Ocean.  We liked the itineraries and yes OMG we wanted a younger crowd.  My partner says Viking is too old.

 

So we have no problem with well behaved kids.  But I still don’t get why you need a private island when you’re floating on a very nice one every single day of a cruise.

[cw2go]

3 minutes ago, prmssk said:

I don't think they are targeting to the mom with a 3 year old child.  Personally, I think they are aiming more for people like me, DINKs in the 35-50 range who likely have some money and have established enough in their careers to have some vacation time.  (I would guess those in their 50s are already regularly Celebrity customers.).

 

Those still in their 20s don't have the money or time to be cruising often and definitely don't have the money for suites.  That's not to say they won't also attract more families especially in the summers but that will be couples in that 35-50 range with children, not those in their 20s.

 

Yep! 😊

I also feel they are seeking more LGBT which is also typically no children 

My son and his partner are 34 yrs old + making great money = a perfect fit for Celebrity and CocoCay. 

 

I see that Celebrity is reaching/aiming for younger not 'young" 

 

Patty 

 

 

[cw2go]

2 minutes ago, zitsky said:

We started booking Celebrity in our early 50s after one NCL cruise two Viking river and one Viking Ocean.  We liked the itineraries and yes OMG we wanted a younger crowd.  My partner says Viking is too old.

 

So we have no problem with well behaved kids.  But I still don’t get why you need a private island when you’re floating on a very nice one every single day of a cruise.

 

The ship is very nice but I personally like to get to the beach, listen to the ocean and feel the sand! 

 

My husband will absolutely spend money on the fun things CocoCay has to offer and he'll pay for Specialty Dining to enjoy a good burger, I am beginning to think I am married to a 12 year old. 😁

 

Patty 

[zitsky]

1 minute ago, cw2go said:

 

The ship is very nice but I personally like to get to the beach, listen to the ocean and feel the sand! 

 

My husband will absolutely spend money on the fun things CocoCay has to offer and he'll pay for Specialty Dining to enjoy a good burger, I am beginning to think I am married to a 12 year old. 😁

 

Patty 

Make sure you wipe your feet before getting back on the ship so the sand doesn’t go everywhere.  😂

[TeeRick]

21 hours ago, zitsky said:

 

You may get me interested if the adults only section is REALLY adults only.  I like kids but I don't think I'd enjoy a few hundred kids running around screaming.  If I'm there I want to relax.  I suspect more adults with kids will book on Celebrity.  So there will be more kids on the island over time.

 

Another poster called it "pearl clutching" if you don't  like the changes.  So I guess you can call me an old lady.

On Celebrity there will be far fewer kids but not Adults only.  

[Saturngrl]

Hideaway Beach, the adults-only area of CoCo Cay, will open next year in time for Icon of the Seas and Celebrity's arrivals.   I don't know if they will charge extra for this area, like they do for the Beach Club and Thrill Waterpark, but we will see.  

 

My DH and I live in Central Florida, so the "beach" thing is not for us.  As I previously posted, the Oasis Lagoon and Beach Club were great experiences for which we are "one and done".   

Edited June 30, 2023 by Saturngrl
Incomplete original entry

[NMTraveller]

3 hours ago, C4HCG said:

In my opinion number 1 is the direction.  I think the strategy is to attract totally new customers who hadn’t tried either before, no point shuffling existing customers between lines. In my humble opinion.

Royal has a much younger demographic than Celebrity.  You don't think that the Royalfication of Celebrity will reduce the cruising age?

[C4HCG]

8 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

Royal has a much younger demographic than Celebrity.  You don't think that the Royalfication of Celebrity will reduce the cruising age?

I don’t think Celebrity is undergoing “Royalfication”. I don’t understand why having an extra ship in the summer in the Caribbean and adding stops to a private island would lead anyone to that conclusion. But that is just my opinion.

Edited June 30, 2023 by C4HCG

[jwlane]

7 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

never cruised on a cruise shorter than 7 days nor do I plan to

Ditto.  Much Ado About Anothing (thanks Will).

Edited June 30, 2023 by jwlane

[tfred]

6 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

Royal has a much younger demographic than Celebrity.  You don't think that the Royalfication of Celebrity will reduce the cruising age?

no, X won't become RC 2.

 

X needs to replenish the 35-55 group on the ships now with internet using, drinks by the pool, spa using pax - unlike some on the ships now.  X doesnt want cruise only pax - they dont make any/enough profit. 

 

CoCo is just a new stop that they can use in what is a fairly been there/done that port selection.  The Caribbean ports are getting very similar to most people as they try to accommodate 3000 pax ships   There isn't much local flavor compared to 20 years ago

 

what the RC Group should do a better job in is aligning their brands into moving pax up as they look for other options.  Most people wouldn't know that Silversea is part of the group. 

 

[NMTraveller]

44 minutes ago, C4HCG said:

I don’t think Celebrity is undergoing “Royalfication”. I don’t understand why having an extra ship in the summer in the Caribbean and adding stops to a private island would lead anyone to that conclusion. But that is just my opinion.

The differences between Royal and Celebrity are becoming smaller and smaller everyday.  Celebrity used to be a premium line or a step up from Royal.  With the cuts I am not sure that is the case anymore.

[deliver42]

I don't know what the problem is with celebrity going to Coco Cay. There is so much to do without the water park, at no extra charge. Beautiful beaches, a beautiful pool, plenty of bars, and the drink packages are included there, and various places for food. Keep an open mind, and it's a lot better than some of the ports, especially Nassau.

[C4HCG]

38 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

The differences between Royal and Celebrity are becoming smaller and smaller everyday.  Celebrity used to be a premium line or a step up from Royal.  With the cuts I am not sure that is the case anymore.

I wouldn’t know as I have not sailed since last September so I will reserve judgement until I do which is thankfully soon, end of August.  I don’t think we will arrive at Fort Lauderdale to see water slides on the Equinox, nor teenagers running round hallways at 2am 

Edited June 30, 2023 by C4HCG

[Cap_D]

FWIW - Saw a live video of Reflection from 6/29/2023 and it's looking dated despite having about the same number of rooms as an Edge Class ship and whatever work has been done doesn't seem to be enough.  It's remarkable the prices are roughly the same.  There should be a discount for the older ships. 

 

Celebrity, and any cruise line seeking younger passengers with money, will need to update their rooms and ship wide decor more than every 20 years or never (as some design elements are baked into the ship).   Modern elegant for 2008 or whenever doesn't look modern today when one sees what was on the video: areas shopworn, brown everywhere, color scheme that appears mostly salmon and brown,  fixtures with yellowed lighting, observation lounge that looks like a disco from 1970 cut in half, lots of drapes, and a decorative tree that appeared to have better days.  (The lawn club tables with built in checkerboard was a nice touch; while magazine slots in a room seems out of touch - like ash trays in airplane seats).  Even Vegas casinos that try to project classic or elegance make design changes more frequently than Celebrity.  Younger passengers aren't going to care about or grow an attachment to a ship or class of ships like many on this message board especially if the ships are already on the decline.  All they will see is old, outdated, and lack of up keep on Reflection or older ships, at the same price as the newer Edge class ships and rooms. 

 

And with regard to CocoCay as a substitute for a port on Mexico or another island, the outdoor pools on either Reflection or Beyond hold about 35 people per signage.  That's nothing compared to the number of passengers.  CocoCay helps to offset that for anyone that would go to a land hotel at any of the potential ports of call. 

 

Interesting fact:  the lead designer for all of the ships at Royal and Celebrity has been the same person for decades (Harri Kukovaara).  

Edited June 30, 2023 by Cap_D

[Swampbabe]

3 hours ago, Saturngrl said:

Hideaway Beach, the adults-only area of CoCo Cay, will open next year in time for Icon of the Seas and Celebrity's arrivals.   I don't know if they will charge extra for this area, like they do for the Beach Club and Thrill Waterpark, but we will see.  

 

My DH and I live in Central Florida, so the "beach" thing is not for us.  As I previously posted, the Oasis Lagoon and Beach Club were great experiences for which we are "one and done".   

We also live in Central Florida and would love to go to Coco Cay. The beach here in Brevard sucks 😆

[SbbquilterUT]

We had a great, relaxing day - walked out to South Beach which is a bit quieter and nice water to swim in.  Would be happy to return to Coco Cay.

[PTC DAWG]

2 hours ago, Swampbabe said:

We also live in Central Florida and would love to go to Coco Cay. The beach here in Brevard sucks 😆

Beaches in Florida and beaches in the Caribbean are totally different experiences to me.  I have been to a bunch of both of them. 

[zitsky]

10 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

Beaches in Florida and beaches in the Caribbean are totally different experiences to me.  I have been to a bunch of both of them. 

How are they different?

[Itchy&Scratchy]

On 6/29/2023 at 2:58 PM, mrgabriel said:

And I live in Canada - from October through April, there is nothing more attractive than a beach!

we live in GA, and we still love Caribbean beaches year round!