I’m Onboard Celebrity Century – Got Any Questions?

[lucky white heather]

My previous post looks out of place ..can't find the post somewhere on these pages from someone asking for an answer to the question who is the current HD aboard ML ????.... they thought it might be an asst. HD (female) who had worked for another HD who had now left the company ..... but we were aboard in April /May 06 and it was definitely a fella then!!!!!

[malg1]

Hi, Lois, and thanks to all who are kind about my horrid experience.

Lois, I wrote the following message before my disastrous and frankly appalling experience at dinner tonight. The irony is that much of the food that was ultimately delivered to my cabin (particularly the escargots, the shrimp and the delicious calvados apple tart) – albeit COLD -- was (still) exceptional. But the experience leaves a bitter taste nevertheless. One would hope that Michel Roux, the line’s celebrity chef, would understand the disparity – he certainly has improved the cuisine but the service is so poor….

And yet Princess, which has less of a reputation for food, was, in my experience on the new Crown Princess, much more savvy in service. Sure you expect the extra-fee alternative restaurants to deliver (and if they don’t you should complain, loudly). But the dining rooms? I sampled Crown Princess’ different dining rooms – on my own – for each of three meals – and was pleasantly comforted by food AND service at each.

Ultimately, when you weigh one or the other, if you can only deliver, er, one or the other, I’d say deliver good service. Treat people with respect and they’ll forgive a lot of failings. Treat people poorly and the food itself doesn’t so much matter. But Celebrity’s marketing machine naturally elevates expectations.

I question myself: Would I have felt so humiliated if I were not alone? A. that’s not the point; people who cruise expect good service regardless. And b? I would have been angry and annoyed and might have left the restaurant (but I will admit that I probably wouldn’t have gotten tearful). Even so, the whole thing was unacceptable. Absolutely, after 100 cruises plus, unacceptable.

It’s an embarrassment to Michel Roux and to Celebrity.

To my mind.

What do y’all think?

 

Carolyn

Down where we live, we've got an identifying description for the Captain, Crew and cruise line management regarding your experiences on the Century so far.

Unless you are so adept at traveling incognito that you'd make the CIA, NSF, and Bush's secret cabal proud, the Celebrity group as a whole and individually gotta be:

DUMB AS A STUMP!

[ItalianGuest]

In reference to "white heather" post ...

 

On June 2006 there was this staff:

 

MASTER: Cap. Michael Karatzas

CHIEF ENGINEER: Ioannis Pepes

HOTEL DIRECTOR: Renato W. Chizzola

STAFF CAPTAIN: Spyros Konidaris

CRUISE DIRECTOR: Dru Pavlov

HUMAN RES. MANAGER: Sonya Riberio

FOOD & BEVERAGE MANAGER: Sheldon Thompson

[CAKER]

You are describing "Concierge Class" (CC) (not to be confused with the other CC -- Captains' Club), not "regular" service. Possibly you misread the website.

 

We have traveled twice with CC, Baltic Capitals/St. Petersburg and S,. Caribbean, on Constellation, and we loved the related perks, especially the Isotonic Pillows.

[C 2 C]

You are describing "Concierge Class" (CC) (not to be confused with the other CC -- Captains' Club), not "regular" service. Possibly you misread the website.

 

What happens when you're a CC (cruise critic) CC (Captain's Club) member, sailing in CC (Concierege Class) on CC (Celebrity Century)?

 

Does that make someone C-sick? or just C-Nile

 

Sorry, there's a heat advisory in the Detroit area and I think I'm affected:rolleyes: Sure wish I was in the Baltic right now.

[scapel]

Carolyn,

Seems the Maitre'd must have not known how to handle the situation. First when a lady enters unescorted, she should have been taken in arm and escorted to the table. Let the other assistants take care of the couples and groups.

I have always felt the anyone sitting alone in any restaurant should get extra attention. Sometimes a solo is bypassed expecting that someone is going to be joining them soon. Apparently at the Martini bar the waitress must have thought that you were so beautiful surely someone will be joining her soon.

I go to restaurants alone sometimes and bring my PDA and play with it so as not to appear un entertained. If you are going to be solo, you need to be prepared for this. Of course if you are ignored, I think you should have had the Maitre'D come to your table and explain. I of course would not have asked to be moved and paraded around the restaurant. If you truly wanted to be moved use the following procedure.

"Mr. Waiter, you go find me a table and come back and then excort me arm in arm to the chair, pull out the chair, get my name and introduce me to the table." "Ladies and Gentlemen, May I present Ms or Mrs. Carolyn from *****.

Now that is the way to move a solo or any passengers from one table to the next after they are seated.

 

Shame on my Celebrity Cruise staff.

[scapel]

What happens when you're a CC (cruise critic) CC (Captain's Club) member, sailing in CC (Concierege Class) on CC (Celebrity Century)?

 

Does that make someone C-sick? or just C-Nile

 

Sorry, there's a heat advisory in the Detroit area and I think I'm affected:rolleyes: Sure wish I was in the Baltic right now.

 

Can you change that C 2 C "Cool cruiser" to C 2 C "Hot Cruiser" or would that be a "come on"?

[scapel]

My previous post looks out of place ..can't find the post somewhere on these pages from someone asking for an answer to the question who is the current HD aboard ML ????.... they thought it might be an asst. HD (female) who had worked for another HD who had now left the company ..... but we were aboard in April /May 06 and it was definitely a fella then!!!!!

Excuse my ignorance, but does HD mean Head Doctor or Hotel Director or something else?

[C 2 C]

Excuse my ignorance, but does HD mean Head Doctor or Hotel Director or something else?

 

Hotel Director to a CC in CC on CC

or (it's still hot):

Home Depot symbol NYSE

Harley Davidson

High Definition (TV)

High Density (HD-DVD)

 

All these attempts to KISS are making life difficult for people W/O a dictionary.:cool:

[ND Traveler]

You are describing "Concierge Class" (CC) (not to be confused with the other CC -- Captains' Club), not "regular" service. Possibly you misread the website.

We have traveled twice with CC, Baltic Capitals/St. Petersburg and S,. Caribbean, on Constellation, and we loved the related perks, especially the Isotonic Pillows.

If this was directed to ND Traveler--I did not misunderstand the web site...the items we did not receive were listed under "Skye Suite Indulgences" and "Celbrity's Butler Service." Had nopthing to do with Captains Club--which I belong to also. :)

[BaltiGator]

Can you change that C 2 C "Cool cruiser" to C 2 C "Hot Cruiser" or would that be a "come on"?

 

C 2 C CRAZY Cruiser would be more like it. :D (And yet another CC!)

[scapel]

C 2 C CRAZY Cruiser would be more like it. :D (And yet another CC!)

Balti Gator,

I need to be on one of your cruises.

[jfried01]

Carolyn

 

A second tour (Berlin from all sides) passes by the Berlin Wall, but includes a boat ride with a stop at Museum Island. There is also a 90 shopping stop at Kurfurstendamm. Is this near the Berlin Wall?

 

Has been either of these tours?

 

Thanks

 

Winkjr

 

We returned from the Constellation on July 15 and we took the Berlin From All Sides Tour. We had a boat ride but there was no stop at Museum Island--we just saw it from the water. Are you sure you stop there? Maybe they changed it. The shopping stop is not near the Berlin Wall. You stop at the Berlin Wall for 10 minutes or so. In my view, in general, there was too much time for us to spend on the shopping street (Kurfurstendamm) and not enough at the main sights. We debated a lot about which Berlin Tour to do, and despite its drawbacks, this one probably gave us the best overview. After all, you only end up with 5-6 hours after the trip back and forth. So you can't expect any in-depth stop anywhere. Still, 30 minutes shopping would have been fine and the extra hour at the sights would have been better.

[BaltiGator]

Balti Gator,

I need to be on one of your cruises.

 

Do it! More fun people are always welcome! And life is short...

[C 2 C]

I hope the weather in St Pete will be as nice as it was for us:

[cruisingwithlittleones]

Dear Cruise Critic Editor:

 

I have two kids ages 7 and 4 at age of travel. Someone asked about kids club in Century, but I did not see a response. Can you (or anyone else) comment on this? How many kids were there in the Baltic cruising? I am considering your same cruise early in July 2007.

 

Thanks!

[scapel]

Dear Cruise Critic Editor:

 

I have two kids ages 7 and 4 at age of travel. Someone asked about kids club in Century, but I did not see a response. Can you (or anyone else) comment on this? How many kids were there in the Baltic cruising? I am considering your same cruise early in July 2007.

 

Thanks!

I can't speak to the Century, but all the Millennium ships have a wonderful kids club. The children have to be dragged away from it.

[sealover155]

My husband and I were on Constellation May 20, 2006. There was a group of cardiologists onboard for a continuing education program. Quite a few children were with this group. Overall, though, we didn't notice many children at all. My guess would be less than 50, but because this itinerary is so port intensive, there could have been more than we saw. I have a friend who has traveled with her young son on several of the M class ships and he has always had a terrific time and she was pleased as well.

 

Incidentally, we had drizzle the day we were Oslo, and then not a single drop the rest of the cruise. We wore light jackets only. I would absolutely do this cruise again at this time of year as it does get very warm later on and the museums in St. Pete have no airconditioning and huge crowds as the summer progresses. You can read my review in the Constellation reviews.

[Ine]

Carolyn, welcome back to a much colder and wetter Amsterdam.

This is what I mean when I write about the weather being unstable....

It was too hot when you left, now temps are much lower and we are getting the rain we were waiting for.

 

Have a safe trip home.

[catcruiser25]

Hi,

 

We're booked on the century for January 07. we've never done a cruise before, but my questions are about the century. In one place I'm reading that they have an aqua spa restaurant but no pool. but I see a pool in the deck configuration. do they have a basketball court on board? Any suggstions on the spa treatments? They seem like a lot of money. Are they worth it? Also, I read it's a fairly small ship. I'm prone to sea sickness, what's the liklihood? Our room is on the vista deck front left side of the boat (sorry I don't know the nautical term for the location)

thanks so much. We are so looking forward to this. Did a lot of research on different cruise lines and think we made the right decision! :rolleyes:

thanks for your help!

cw

[caviargal]

Hi,

 

We're booked on the century for January 07. we've never done a cruise before, but my questions are about the century. In one place I'm reading that they have an aqua spa restaurant but no pool. but I see a pool in the deck configuration. do they have a basketball court on board? Any suggstions on the spa treatments? They seem like a lot of money. Are they worth it? Also, I read it's a fairly small ship. I'm prone to sea sickness, what's the liklihood? Our room is on the vista deck front left side of the boat (sorry I don't know the nautical term for the location)

thanks so much. We are so looking forward to this. Did a lot of research on different cruise lines and think we made the right decision! :rolleyes:

thanks for your help!

cw

 

Welcome to these boards.:)

 

They removed the "T" pool only and they still have the aqua spa cafe. If you go to their website and take a look at the deck plans, you can get a good overview of the ship overall.

 

Personally, I think spa services onboard are overpriced and not as good as I get at home; I also do not care to have products pushed on me during what is supposed to be a relaxing time.

 

In terms of size, small is relative. I think Century is a perfect size and anything larger is too big for me.:) If the waters are rough, you will likely feel some motion but it is weather dependent.

[ItalianGuest]

Gent. "Caviargal",

may I have some informatio about Home Lines ...

 

Thank You

[caviargal]

Gent. "Caviargal",

may I have some informatio about Home Lines ...

 

Thank You

 

Mi dispiace, Home Lines is no more :(.

 

It was a delightful line with a full complement of Italian officers, staff and crew. The service was warm and personal, the food wonderful and the entire experience a delight.

 

Non ci ne sono oggi come esso, IMHO.

[ItalianGuest]

Mi dispiace, Home Lines is no more :(.

 

It was a delightful line with a full complement of Italian officers, staff and crew. The service was warm and personal, the food wonderful and the entire experience a delight.

 

Non ci ne sono oggi come esso, IMHO.

 

 

 

 

It's a pity !!! :(

I think that today there are however good company...Celebrity for instance!:)

Celebrity french cuisine is nearby italian cuisine and certainly better than Costa's ...

 

Thanks a lot.

 

 

PS

Yours italian is very good ! ....... and sorry for my spare english!

[catcruiser25]

Hi Caviargal,

Thanks for the welcome and the info. We hope the boat will be just the right size for us too. We thought this would be a good "first trip". RELAXING and pampering....is the only thing on the agenda! thanks also for the tip on the spa. They say you get what you pay for, but with massages (and haircuts) I found that to be a bit of a lie....

thanks again,

CW