Are Celebrity cost cutting and penny pinching there faithful customers off the ship?

[villauk]

19 minutes ago, Gracie115 said:

 

No, full suites on Princess don't have to pay for room service.  

 

 

It IS lousy that Princess isn't grandfathering in all those who bought the Plus or Premier packages before December.  Doesn't make sense.  We are still VERY pleased with the cost of our Sky Princess sailing in 2024, the same type room and itinerary on Celebrity would be nearly double what we are paying  for Princess.

Glad that’s changed about the suites then as I know some had asked Princess and were told they had to pay 👍.

 

It is very frustrating after paying months ago to be told that we’re not grandfathered in and at such short notice. I will make my feelings known onboard as well as stating to the staff that I realise it’s not of their doing.

 

We’re also on Sky - unsure if it’s the same itinerary as yours for next year - but will report back over on the Princess board with our findings. Hope you have a great cruise 👍.

 

Our pricing for Millie next year was less than Princess were offering, so it does pay to check other lines if you want certain itineraries (we tend to pivot between the two). We actually may choose a river cruise for 2025 as it’s something else we’d like to experience and hopefully things may have settled down in the ocean cruise field by 2026 🤞🏻.

[Cari000]

100% Yes. I would never sail with them again. Not even if it was free of charge.

[C4HCG]

20 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

In the evenings or the morning?  For us it was packed in the mornings even though they added extra space.  OMG the whole ship felt packed due to the reduced number of public spaces.  

 

I guess that loud and shouty and packed is a positive with the younger generation.

It is, louder, more packed and shoutier for us young uns 👍. You lot enjoy Cunard 

Edited August 5, 2023 by C4HCG

[hcat]

On 8/3/2023 at 7:13 AM, cruzeluver said:

Interesting.....but hardly new. The weakening of the cruise product has been a topic for years and years. Some see ANY change as bad and I do feel for those folks as it must be an awful way to go through life since change is inevitable. 

 

I would be curious to know what percentage of the very frequent Elite Plus and up customers still purchase shore excursions, shop at the "recommended" stores, buy photos, art etc. In other words, bring in ancillary revenue.

 

"Familiarity breeds contempt"

We  spend on these things : Specialty Dining,  SPA,  Salon, shops   excursions, photos and jewelry...( never art and do not gamble)

 

 

But we  are not part of the answer to the question.  We are E plus but  are no longer frequent cruisers..and even when younger we disliked loud and shouty!  Thankfully X was anything but...

Edited August 5, 2023 by hcat

[C4HCG]

9 minutes ago, hcat said:

We  spend on these things : Specialty Dining,  SPA,  Salon, shops   excursions, photos and jewelry...( never art and do not gamble)

 

 

But we  are not part of the answer to the question.  We are E plus but  are no longer frequent cruisers..and even when younger we disliked loud and shouty!  Thankfully X was anything but...

From what we’ve seen it remains not loud and shouty.

[hcat]

1 minute ago, C4HCG said:

From what we’ve seen it remains not loud and shouty.

that's why we stay with X..just fewer times per yr..

[NMTraveller]

2 hours ago, C4HCG said:

It is, louder, more packed and shoutier for us young uns 👍. You lot enjoy Cunard 

We have a place in Las Vegas that you  young uns would likely enjoy.  The STK Steakhouse.  IHMO it is a steakhouse masquerading as a night club.

[NMTraveller]

2 hours ago, C4HCG said:

From what we’ve seen it remains not loud and shouty.

Have you actually sailed on E class?

[phoenix_dream]

2 hours ago, C4HCG said:

From what we’ve seen it remains not loud and shouty.

Maybe you haven't sailed on E class lately. Our 3 cruises on Apex were much louder most places than any other of the very many Celebrity cruises we've taken 

[phoenix_dream]

On 8/4/2023 at 6:25 PM, Iamcruzin said:

Loyalty programs are a trap and if you put your eggs all in one basket you are now feeling slighted. I always found them limiting so I never based the perks when making my decision. Overall price and promotions saves me more money than a load of free laundry and at this point any free wifi through a loyalty perk is a joke.  The good old days theme is played out and it will never go back to where it was. They have you where they want you and know that you won't leave so they just keep cutting. Some of you act as if it's a sin to make a profit. These same people are probably the same ones who hold shares with the cruise line. 

Yes and no. We booked Celebrity as our primary line because we liked it very much. Our goal was never to hit a certain level.  That said, we did hit Zenith last year.  Those perks are far from a joke. Premium Beverage,  stream wifi, laundry, a free cruise. Do the math. So yes, that makes us pause before booking elsewhere but we are definitely not trapped.  We are in fact considering other lines while also cruising Celebrity.  And all that said, I do reserve the right to be frustrated at certain changes.  What I loved is changing and not for the better.  That has nothing to do with my Captain's Club status.

[highway180]

I hear a lot of whining here. I just finished an amazing Alaskan cruise, out of Seattle, and was blown away with the service, food quality, quantity, all of it. Even though the Solstice is old and in need of a refresh, it was great, I sat here pre cruise listening to all the complaints, and almost cancelled .Glad we did not. I only had 2 complaints; first the wine selection in the packages is horrid. Bring your own !

Second; didn't make any money in the casino!!

 

to everyone reading this: just enjoy, life is short, I did.

 

Cheers

[mayleeman]

39 minutes ago, highway180 said:

I hear a lot of whining here. I just finished an amazing Alaskan cruise, out of Seattle, and was blown away with the service, food quality, quantity, all of it. Even though the Solstice is old and in need of a refresh, it was great, I sat here pre cruise listening to all the complaints, and almost cancelled .Glad we did not. I only had 2 complaints; first the wine selection in the packages is horrid. Bring your own !

Second; didn't make any money in the casino!!

 

to everyone reading this: just enjoy, life is short, I did.

 

Cheers

 

Thanks for the encouraging post! Just to complete the picture...what type of cabin did you have? Did you eat at any specialties? Any particular thing that made your cruise so good? And finally, did you nnotice if any other cruisers were similarly happily surprised?

[C4HCG]

6 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

Have you actually sailed on E class?

No, my comment was based on S class, sailing E class next year.

[hubofhockey]

10 hours ago, phoenix_dream said:

Yes and no. We booked Celebrity as our primary line because we liked it very much. Our goal was never to hit a certain level.  That said, we did hit Zenith last year.  Those perks are far from a joke. Premium Beverage,  stream wifi, laundry, a free cruise. Do the math. So yes, that makes us pause before booking elsewhere but we are definitely not trapped.  We are in fact considering other lines while also cruising Celebrity.  And all that said, I do reserve the right to be frustrated at certain changes.  What I loved is changing and not for the better.  That has nothing to do with my Captain's Club status.

 

Nothing is “free”.  The math probably works out that you paid them a lot of money up front and then got some benefits.  Others can look for itineraries they love on all lines and then find group rates or promos online from internet travel agencies and do as well or better.  I saved about $1K on Aqua in Japan and also got $250 OBC (comes with classic drinks, wifi, gratuities and $250 OBC).  I also don’t limit myself on any vacation to large ships and would go on lines with smaller ships that can do better itineraries (Azamara, Oceania, Viking).  As long as those perks aren’t a trap for you and clipping those coupons does not decide where and how you are going to spend a vacation, they’re a nice bonus.  We no longer do the generic Caribbean cruises, so I’m okay getting my “perks” among a few cruise lines.  

 

 

[FreestyleNovice]

Now onboard Reflection, been on Edge last year and not seeing a downgrade at all. Service, food, cleanliness, all great. Despite some pretty negative posts about declining buffets, etc. As above: life is short, enjoy it. 
 

I glad Celebrity managed to deal with Covid, without selling ships so we can still enjoy our vacations onboard their fleet. 

[hcat]

11 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

Have you actually sailed on E class?

We have sailed 2  on EDGE    SV with 4 mdrs, and AQ Class Inf Veranda..Blu and thermal suites,   and most recently Sky Suite/ Retreat on BEYOND....

 

We are booked on ASCENT( AQ class)  and then APEX ( SV).also looking at a Short cruise on Connie( M class)..New Yrs eve into 2025.

 

I like E class more than dh but  S Class..Silhouette is nice too, 

[LMHSRN]

On 8/1/2023 at 7:34 PM, zitsky said:

Celebrity can replace passengers by offering the younger crowd a chance to meet TikTok influencers on a cruise.  

What?   OMG!

[TommyD3]

13 hours ago, phoenix_dream said:

Yes and no. We booked Celebrity as our primary line because we liked it very much. Our goal was never to hit a certain level.  That said, we did hit Zenith last year.  Those perks are far from a joke. Premium Beverage,  stream wifi, laundry, a free cruise. Do the math. So yes, that makes us pause before booking elsewhere but we are definitely not trapped.  We are in fact considering other lines while also cruising Celebrity.  And all that said, I do reserve the right to be frustrated at certain changes.  What I loved is changing and not for the better.  That has nothing to do with my Captain's Club status.

Unfortunately the beverage and WiFi perks basically go away if you book Aqua or a suite. I refuse to loose those benefits.

Edited August 6, 2023 by TommyD3

[hcat]

10 minutes ago, TommyD3 said:

Unfortunately the beverage and WiFi perks basically go away if you book Aqua or a suite. I refuse to loose those benefits.

How so? For us they were enhanced with all included...

[TommyD3]

11 minutes ago, hcat said:

How so? For us they were enhanced with all included...

Zenith get free beverages and WiFi. With AI (required in AQ and suites) Zenith's have to pay extra for something they get for free !!!

[Ex-Airbalancer]

On 8/1/2023 at 7:34 PM, zitsky said:

Celebrity can replace passengers by offering the younger crowd a chance to meet TikTok influencers on a cruise.  

On our last TA there was this weird guy calling himself Captain Funny who got a free cabin on the cruise 

He was such a weird guy, wore stupid outfits , I was waiting for him to do a belly flop contest by himself , it felt like he cheapen the vibe on the cruise 🙄

I guess he has a following to get a free ride 

[highway180]

On 8/5/2023 at 9:55 PM, mayleeman said:

 

Thanks for the encouraging post! Just to complete the picture...what type of cabin did you have? Did you eat at any specialties? Any particular thing that made your cruise so good? And finally, did you nnotice if any other cruisers were similarly happily surprised?

We had booked connecting sunset veranda cabins, we were traveling with my daughter, her husband, and our 4 year old granddaughter. Due to my granddaughters age we ate at the buffet for a couple of dinners and all breakfasts. We did Tuscan for dinner twice....excellent both nights. The staff were especially attentive to my granddaughter, calling her by name whenever seen elsewhere on the ship.It made her feel special. We also did a lunch at Tuscan, a bit pricey,, but excellent, on the next to the last day of the cruise. On the last day we did Murano for lunch....again, excellent all the way around. the staff accommodated the little one, constantly, bringing her whatever she asked for. they even sang happy birthday in Tuscan, after telling them she was playing a joke, and it really wasn't her birthday.The only complaint i saw and sometimes had was it was very crowded at the buffet, and being a completely sold out cruise it made sense, it was challenging to find a table for 5 at times.

It was also a surprise that they were equally as good in the main dining room, as it had been many years since eating there, as we normally book AQ.

[hcat]

20 hours ago, TommyD3 said:

Zenith get free beverages and WiFi. With AI (required in AQ and suites) Zenith's have to pay extra for something they get for free !!!

Ah..I get it!

[hcat]

On 8/1/2023 at 7:34 PM, zitsky said:

Celebrity can replace passengers by offering the younger crowd a chance to meet TikTok influencers on a cruise.  

ha.. like the guy that caused mayhem in NYC with promised give aways.

.(he was not on Tik Tok but has a huge fan  base!.. one wonders why?)

[hcat]

18 hours ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

On our last TA there was this weird guy calling himself Captain Funny who got a free cabin on the cruise 

He was such a weird guy, wore stupid outfits , I was waiting for him to do a belly flop contest by himself , it felt like he cheapen the vibe on the cruise 🙄

I guess he has a following to get a free ride 

 

not in my world!

was he hired?  given a comp? self appointed?