Celebrity Error - Build a "Class System" into Your Ships

[tscoffey]

23 minutes ago, davejensen70 said:

 

Good point that it is Celebrity's seat, but that whole theater in the past had "no saving of seats is allowed" as the overriding dictum. They broke that rule themselves by stepping in with ropes and security personnel to enforce the "upper class" policy they'd initiated on that ship. It used to be for Chic nights only --- I can handle that. On this voyage, it was nightly.

It is overly argumentative to expect that rules that Celebrity has for the claiming of seats, in order to prevent passenger disagreements from escalting, should apply  to Celebrity themselves when reserving their own seats for higher paying passengers.

 
Similarly, there are rules against bringing any hard liquor onboard. If Celebrity were to apply this to their own staff, how would anyone imbibe in their favorite, overpriced martini?

 

Silly.

Edited 18 hours ago by tscoffey

[Ken the cruiser]

7 hours ago, davejensen70 said:

 

Glad to hear that even Suite customers are noting BEYOND's issues.  We cruise 4-5 times a year and while it has been primarily Celebrity, it's been  spread between others and some not RCG lines.  Nothing is as weird as a security guy telling you to go find another seat -- the "riff-raff" statement used in this thread came from someone else, not me, but I agree with him or her. That's how we felt.

A fellow cruiseaholic! 😁 What other cruise lines do you sail with? Our favorite line now is Princess. But we’re giving HAL another shot after a 5-year break, as they’re bringing their production shows along with their singers and dancers back AND also offer some great perks if you book early enough.

 

But we also on occasion like to cruise with NCL and Viking if the itinerary is pretty unique and in the 3-5 week range. Don’t get me wrong, we’re Elite+ with Celebrity. But if we book a cruise with them anymore, the itinerary has to be pretty awesome, such as one of their transoceanic cruises or maybe around Northern Europe or down around New Zealand and Australia. 😁

Edited 18 hours ago by Ken the cruiser

[TeeRick]

13 hours ago, markeb said:

 

I'm not going back and re-reading everything, and I'm with @phoenix_dream that I'm out of this thread. You're irritated that you showed up early and seats were blocked off. Everyone has told you the whole trick is to NOT show up early and you'll get those seats as most of us (at least Retreat passengers) don't want them. You're bummed out because you couldn't get bad seats that were reserved? Please just stop. 

If you are in a suite, I think on Chic night your butler will escort you to these roped off balcony seats.  At least they used too.  We found that a bit too pretentious for us and also did not particularly like the seats.  So we never really did this after the first time.  We can always get to the theatre and find seats to our liking.  Maybe that's contributing to the problem- people like us are taking the better non-reserved seats early!  LOL this thread is off the rails.

[TeeRick]

They should rope off and reserve seats at the Martini Bar for me before dinner.  I like it better than the Retreat Lounge.  That will get everybody going!  haha.🤪  I would also enjoy a roped off toilet stall that is kept clean for me.

[Saturngrl]

We are Elite and sail Concierge every time.  I purchased the Premium Access package for our upcoming Reflection cruise because I want the perks of early arrival/boarding, premium wi-fi, the theatre seating and early disembarkation.  Yes, I am willing to pay for the extras, but do not look down upon any other class of passenger.  We are not snobs, but merely want the best vacation I can afford.  

 

Just as any other business, the cruise line is working to earn more money.  Just like flying, or all-inclusive resorts, or other businesses selling experiences.  

[Dolebludger]

While we usually don’t attend shows in the theater on any cruise, I understand that many choose Celebrity for the quality of their shows, and may be upset by the change in access. And when we cruise we go on lux line, or in a suite category on other lines. When we don’t feel we can afford this we don’t cruise. (This happens a lot lately.) But I understand that reserving theater areas would upset those for whom the shows are a highlight on cruises, especially if this is a change made after they booked. 

[Z0nker]

On 10/4/2024 at 3:04 PM, retiredtraveler70 said:

Hello, my wife and I just returned from a cruise on Beyond, a Celebrity Ship. We are very frequent cruisers and we spend most of our time on Celebrity. But after this trip on Beyond, I am rethinking that decision. The ship itself is beautiful - the service was fine, dining was Celebrity average, and our stateroom was perfect. But they've been making some changes on board, slowly but surely, and on this trip we had the feeling that it's time to revolt. A new "class system" has been imposed on the ship.

 

One of the beauties of travel via cruise ship, at least on Celebrity in the past, has been that everyone is treated equal and the courtesies and services apply equally to all. Of course, there are class distinctions between those who buy Concierge or Aqua Class and Suites and so on. Those we are used to, and whether someone gets a tray of little appetizers before dinner or not has never affected us. Those were understandable distinctions between the price of the rooms.

 

But now, these Edge class ships have relegated the entire top/forward portion of the ship to suite passengers. OK -- I can even get used to that, although I certainly miss the wonderful viewing and cocktail lounge up there on the older ships (the Club doesn't cut it). This trip, we found that attending the theater at night was made difficult because they had security guys and roped off areas of the theater reserved for "high priority people." Now, I'm about as high up as you can get in their incentive program (one notch from top) so I was really surprised to find out that we are NOT high priority passengers. No sir, we had to sit off to the side or in the less-preferable seating no matter how early we showed up. They have these reserved, DESPITE the warning you are given audibly when they announce to the crowd "The saving of seats is prohibited." Well, clearly they don't take their own advice on this any longer.

 

I am not a grumbler. I accepted the Suites section that replaced my favorite lounge and I've accepted all the different cabin options that provide goodies like private dining or appetizers. But my family will not accept nor feel comfortable when a cruise line blocks entrance to their entertainment and suggests that there is some amorphous class of passenger who deserves my seat. I asked them each evening how these passengers were selected and the security guys could not or would not answer.

 

Is this the beginning of a slippery slope? Will there be more ropes and seat blocking for these highly valued customers? Perhaps in Oceanview Buffet for the next round of changes? I thought that ALL guests on Celebrity were valued, in the same way and for the same reasons. We are loyal -- we are consistent providers of revenue to the corporation. When a company starts thinking that it is so unique it can separate people into groups like this . . . that's when they lose their core.

To paraphrase Orwell: 'All passengers are equal, but some passengers are more equal than others'

[chemmo]

19 minutes ago, Z0nker said:

To paraphrase Orwell: 'All passengers are equal, but some passengers are more equal than others'

Perhaps it would be better to say all prospective cruisers are equal. They then make choices based on their wants/needs. 
 

Many who choose suites for the added perks do so knowing that it comes with the knowledge of cruising less often to be able to do so…

 

Many guests who are happy with inside cabins do so knowing they can then cruise more often….

 

No one makes anyone choose a specific category…We all do our research and then make decisions…

 

 

[cobber1967]

And round and round and round we go.

Where it stops, nobody knows.

[kirtihk]

12 minutes ago, cobber1967 said:

And round and round and round we go.

Where it stops, nobody knows.

Nowhere.  Like history, it repeats itself forever, and humanity doesn't learn from it.  On a bright side, there are always multiple options to choose from on any cruise line as long as one enjoys cruising in general.

 

Voyage, Voyage!

[truckswain]

16 hours ago, retiredtraveler70 said:

 

Not on this ship on that sailing . . . the entire center section, lower level, looked to be roped off. They brought in some regular chairs to go around the sides on the back of the theater, and those are the seats they directed us to.

"the entire center section, lower level, looked to be roped off"  

 

Looked to be or was? 

 

On all my E Class cruises we always found great seats lower section, couple rows from the stage in the center section or side sections.  Priority Pass and Suite sections that were saved were upper Bowl.  And this was a recent as two months ago on Ascent, and in November on the Beyond.

 

Still trying to understand why you would book an E class ship knowing that it did not have forward facing views.  SMH  

 

[retiredtraveler70]

16 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

A fellow cruiseaholic! 😁 What other cruise lines do you sail with? Our favorite line now is Princess. But we’re giving HAL another shot after a 5-year break, as they’re bringing their production shows along with their singers and dancers back AND also offer some great perks if you book early enough.

 

But we also on occasion like to cruise with NCL and Viking if the itinerary is pretty unique and in the 3-5 week range. Don’t get me wrong, we’re Elite+ with Celebrity. But if we book a cruise with them anymore, the itinerary has to be pretty awesome, such as one of their transoceanic cruises or maybe around Northern Europe or down around New Zealand and Australia. 😁

 

Hi Ken, We used to travel HAL but have backed off a bit there. NCL on occasion, and the smaller ships on Viking.   Good to have your comments, thanks. See you on board!

[retiredtraveler70]

4 hours ago, TeeRick said:

If you are in a suite, I think on Chic night your butler will escort you to these roped off balcony seats.  At least they used too.  We found that a bit too pretentious for us and also did not particularly like the seats.  So we never really did this after the first time.  We can always get to the theatre and find seats to our liking.  Maybe that's contributing to the problem- people like us are taking the better non-reserved seats early!  LOL this thread is off the rails.

 

Another Suites cruiser who doesn't need the roped-off areas . . . seems to me that someone from Celebrity ought to figure out that they are PO'ing more passengers than gaining friends by this policy.

[retiredtraveler70]

4 hours ago, TeeRick said:

They should rope off and reserve seats at the Martini Bar for me before dinner.  I like it better than the Retreat Lounge.  That will get everybody going!  haha.🤪  I would also enjoy a roped off toilet stall that is kept clean for me.

 

Great post! I think you'll see this the way it's going Rick. Funny . . . perhaps, the Oceanview will be first with a new roped off section, then the Martini Bar and finally, a special toilet.    

[retiredtraveler70]

2 hours ago, Saturngrl said:

We are Elite and sail Concierge every time.  I purchased the Premium Access package for our upcoming Reflection cruise because I want the perks of early arrival/boarding, premium wi-fi, the theatre seating and early disembarkation.  Yes, I am willing to pay for the extras, but do not look down upon any other class of passenger.  We are not snobs, but merely want the best vacation I can afford.  

 

Just as any other business, the cruise line is working to earn more money.  Just like flying, or all-inclusive resorts, or other businesses selling experiences.  

 

Thanks for posting, Saturn. I can see a similarity here to charging for luggage on airlines. By not charging for luggage, and allowing other airlines to continue that, Southwest has gained huge popularity as a result. There's a complete avoidance of "nickel and diming" their customers. While I don't expect that we'll ever see a Celebrity cruise without some extra charges as its a mid-Premium brand, the attitude of allowing everyone access in the same way to entertainment would be a refreshing change.

Edited 1 hour ago by retiredtraveler70

[jelayne]

2 minutes ago, retiredtraveler70 said:

 

Thanks for posting, Saturn. I can see a similarity here to charging for luggage on airlines. By not charging for luggage, and allowing other airlines to continue that, Southwest has gained huge popularity as a result. There's a complete avoidance of "nickel and diming" their customers. While I don't expect that we'll ever see a Celebrity cruise without some extra charges, the attitude of allowing everyone access in the same way to entertainment would be a refreshing change.

And Southwest is now changing.  Instituting assigned seats, adding premium($+) seats and checked luggage is on the way.  

[retiredtraveler70]

7 minutes ago, jelayne said:

And Southwest is now changing.  Instituting assigned seats, adding premium($+) seats and checked luggage is on the way.  

 

Yes, but the reason it doesn't begin until 2026 is that they have to retrofit a huge fleet of planes, to add the additional 3-5 inches of room for their premium seating. That would be like a ship with all Veranda rooms upgrading to one-third Suites. They are then offering something "extra" that you can select if you want the additional expense. The average flyer doesn't have anything taken away . . . it's just that the aircraft has been updated to include a section of better seating that people pay for. We have no qualms about having suites on a ship, or more legroom if you pay for it on an aircraft.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

16 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

  Don’t get me wrong, we’re Elite+ with Celebrity. But if we book a cruise with them anymore, the itinerary has to be pretty awesome, such as one of their transoceanic cruises or maybe around Northern Europe or down around New Zealand and Australia. 😁

I guess we wouldn’t be seeing you on Celebrity anymore 😁

Most of Celebrity itineraries are the same old thing 

@Ken the cruiser, we took your advice and book a 22 night antarctic cruise for December 2025 , on HAL as you spend more days cruising the Antarctic and it goes to Chile from BA 

Celebrity only as 2 days in Antarctic and it is a starts and ends in BA 

[canderson]

48 minutes ago, retiredtraveler70 said:

The average flyer doesn't have anything taken away . . . it's just that the aircraft has been updated to include a section of better seating that people pay for. We have no qualms about having suites on a ship, or more legroom if you pay for it on an aircraft.

I'd argue that you've just provided the case for equivalence.  You don't really think Southwest will be converting a section in the rear of the aircraft to better seating, do you?  Paying more doesn't just get you a better seat.  As in an auditorium, it buys you a better location.

[retiredtraveler70]

9 minutes ago, canderson said:

I'd argue that you've just provided the case for equivalence.  You don't really think Southwest will be converting a section in the rear of the aircraft to better seating, do you?  Paying more doesn't just get you a better seat.  As in an auditorium, it buys you a better location.

 

My seat on an aircraft (or my cabin on a Celebrity ship) is determined by what I pay. That's a given, and NOWHERE in this thread did anyone say that Celebrity shouldn't have Suites or upgraded rooms from the "standard."

 

The move to rope off the Theater would be equivalent to Southwest Airlines taking away the bags of snacks and drinks that everyone gets and only giving those to their "extended legroom" seats. It's something taken away from one class and given to another. Totally different thing!

Edited 32 minutes ago by retiredtraveler70

[Ken the cruiser]

51 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

I guess we wouldn’t be seeing you on Celebrity anymore 😁

Most of Celebrity itineraries are the same old thing 

@Ken the cruiser, we took your advice and book a 22 night antarctic cruise for December 2025 , on HAL as you spend more days cruising the Antarctic and it goes to Chile from BA 

Celebrity only as 2 days in Antarctic and it is a starts and ends in BA 

Good choice, plus HAL has some nice early booking perks along with a little extra Military and AARP OBC (if you qualify). Hopefully, you were able to book one of their aft-facing cabins. I see they still have 2 left on that cruise. Being in the aft definitely enhances your viewing capabilities when cruising through the Beagle Channel as well as when cruising around the Peninsula! 😀