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Improving the experience and making X money!

chemmo

By chemmo,
in Celebrity Cruises

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chemmo Holiday Sharing Rare

chemmo

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Several recent threads have focused on Celebrity ‘downgrading’ the product in an attempt to save money…I thought it might be fun to start a thread about things they could do and charge for which could enhance our experience and make them extra $$$. So what would you be willing to pay a bit extra for?

 

To start, my ideas…

 

Do a pop up speciality in part of the buffet every night. Each night a different theme, a focus on relaxed dining but a change from the MDR or the speciality restaurants. Not a ridiculous price, perhaps $15? This would be especially nice if they could incorporate some fresh produce from ports of call…This would be really appreciated on the M class ships with limited dining options.

 

Give those with drinks packages ‘deals’ on full bottles (yes, I know you can order) but make a real feature of it. ‘Tonight’s special wine options are’…Celebrity would up their income, those of us on wine packages would get a bigger/better choice. If the up charge was too much then guests would choose to simply look at the wine menu but I am sure they could find a sweet spot where they would feel they had made a $ or $$ and we would feel happy with the deal…

 

How about, now they are charging for room service, some special lunch options on sea days. A picnic basket or an all day English breakfast special…Things that you could really enjoy on those days you don’t want to do anything other than enjoy your balcony…

 

So what would you enjoy that you would be willing to pay a bit more for? 
 

I really don’t want this to turn into a negative thread so no comments on ‘room service used to be free’ or ‘there should be more choices in the wine package’ please! Just let your imagination run to things you would enjoy and be willing to pay an extra $ or £ (in our case) for?

 

 

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hcat "Live from...." Rare

hcat

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"Do a pop up speciality in part of the buffet every night. Each night a different theme, a focus on relaxed dining but a change from the MDR or the speciality restaurants. Not a ridiculous price, perhaps $15? This would be especially nice if they could incorporate some fresh produce from ports of call…This would be really appreciated on the M class ships with limited dining options."

 

They actually used to do this on M clsss ships. it was by reservation with a limited menu and staffed by trainee wait staff with supervision. Had nice white tablcloths cloth napkins  etc . and table service.

 

We enjoyed it but recall that the area chosen was under a basketbsll/ sports court  so you could hear almost every bounce.   Also parents seriously  failed to supervise.unruly children who jumped up and down on banquette seats,  annoying everyone

 

It did not  last  long.  It was staff intensive. Doubt they have enough staff now to do this. Folks can self serve at the buffet without a special program or area. There are akready special theme  offerings some nights.

 

I think the picnic basket lunches were tried on the lawn as a Special Event with mellow music. .I believe that now folks who rent the huts  or poolside cabanas get some food and drinks included. You could make your own balcony  picnic from the Room Service Menu ..upcharge.  Or do it yourself with items from the buffet..no upcharge. Bring your own  small baskets  to fit the small table.

 

We would not pay extra but  they could restore the great selection of free movies and other tv programming they used to offer.

 

Other ideas would not appeal to us.

 

Although your intentions were  to be helpful  X seems to find enough ways to add extra costs without our help! The beauty of cruising wss always the mostly inclusive fare..

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horseymike Holiday Sharing Rare

horseymike

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How about including the cost of good food into the fare so as not to extend the nickel and diming concept ? One of the nice things about a cruise USED to be that you pay your fare , most things were included and you need not worry about accumulating charges as you go.

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dcbiker97

dcbiker97

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Thanks for making the thread. While I don't have any ideas, I too used to love the table service in the back seating area of the buffet. It had a limited menu, but you could just come in tshirts and shorts and still have nice relaxing dinner served to you. I'd happily pay for something like that where they could feature specials like you mention.

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chemmo Holiday Sharing Rare

chemmo

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16 minutes ago, dcbiker97 said:

Thanks for making the thread. While I don't have any ideas, I too used to love the table service in the back seating area of the buffet. It had a limited menu, but you could just come in tshirts and shorts and still have nice relaxing dinner served to you. I'd happily pay for something like that where they could feature specials like you mention.

Yes, if they could create a bit of that casual but special ambiance it would be lovely!

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TeeRick

TeeRick

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Just now, CHEZMARYLOU said:

That was tried and the outrage ranked that of vaping in the casino.

Yes but that was because they replaced the Mast Grill burgers.  A mistake.  I think they keep the Mast Grill and add an option somewhere else (the OVC?) for a high quality burger freshly cooked to order.

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hcat "Live from...." Rare

hcat

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53 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

Yes but that was because they replaced the Mast Grill burgers.  A mistake.  I think they keep the Mast Grill and add an option somewhere else (the OVC?) for a high quality burger freshly cooked to order.

Luminae.  or Retreat pool lunch!

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chemmo Holiday Sharing Rare

chemmo

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1 hour ago, TeeRick said:

Yes but that was because they replaced the Mast Grill burgers.  A mistake.  I think they keep the Mast Grill and add an option somewhere else (the OVC?) for a high quality burger freshly cooked to order.

Yes! I think this would particularly go down well on sea days….

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chemmo Holiday Sharing Rare

chemmo

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1 hour ago, TeeRick said:

---and without being negative.  That will be hard for some posters on here!

Thank you for understanding the concept of the thread…

Edited by chemmo
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chemmo Holiday Sharing Rare

chemmo

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18 minutes ago, padgman1 said:

How about bringing back the "midnight buffet" concept for a fee?

I could enjoy that! Perhaps just once or twice per cruise…It could even involve a pre buffet live music event…

You could just pre book as you would for a speciality restaurant…Might be a good event/option on overnight stays…

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paulh84

paulh84

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1 hour ago, TeeRick said:

Yes but that was because they replaced the Mast Grill burgers.  A mistake.  I think they keep the Mast Grill and add an option somewhere else (the OVC?) for a high quality burger freshly cooked to order.

 

Ships with a Lawn Club usually do a burger menu for lunch on sea days for something like $15-$20. There are rarely more than a few tables occupied. 

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chemmo Holiday Sharing Rare

chemmo

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11 minutes ago, C4HCG said:

Great idea for a thread, keeping an eye out for good, positive suggestions, have none of my own but thinking!

Keep thinking! Inspiration needed!

 

Whilst we are all budget conscious I was hoping that, like me and a few others, we could identify a few things that when we cruise we could see missing gaps, the decent burger being an obvious…

 

Another thing I have thought of is cooking lessons. I don’t mean the quick demo of how to cook a steak sometimes shown on sea days. I mean a quality training session for perhaps 20 people…

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chemmo Holiday Sharing Rare

chemmo

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6 minutes ago, paulh84 said:

 

Ships with a Lawn Club usually do a burger menu for lunch on sea days for something like $15-$20. There are rarely more than a few tables occupied. 


They are open daily and the evening menu is more popular. I think a burger venue on ships without Lawn Grill (all but two) could find this popular…

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chemmo Holiday Sharing Rare

chemmo

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1 hour ago, NMTraveller said:

With the reports of kids going wild on Celebrity ships I would pay extra for an adults only cruise.  

I think some of the music charters are adults only? I could be mistaken…

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