I’m Onboard Celebrity Century – Got Any Questions?

[editor@cruisecritic]

It was slightly less if I recall than the price quoted by the ship but you should get a price from Red October.... I definitely think that for four people (I'd try not to go bigger than that cause you start to lose the personalization of it) even $800 for the day (plus lunch and tip to the guide and driver) works out to a reasonable $200 per person and you'd probably pay that just for a motorcoach tour!

Carolyn

Quote-Carolyn:"I forgot to say that on my second visit I booked a car, driver and guide through Red October because I had specific ideas about what I wanted to see, part of the time, and get off the tourist track, part of the time (and so wanted a native's guidance). It was OUTSTANDING. "

 

Carolyn, we are interested in doing this also. Can you give me an idea of how long you had the driver, car, guide with RO? And an idea of cost?

 

I see Princess offers this for $700 US for 8 hours per car.

 

Really enjoyed reading along as you cruised.

Thanks, J.

[editor@cruisecritic]

Hi, Sandy 1020, yes the gym is adequate -- actually quite excellent! -- and there is a sauna in the locker room as well as in the for-a-fee Persian Gardens....

Carolyn

 

 

Thanks for your reply. I look forward to our cruise in October out of Barcelona (which I love) and the very interesting itinerary. As we will mostly be off the ship (11 days and 8 ports), I'm sure we will be fine, as long as our table for two is in a decent location. By the way, is the gym adequate and is there a sauna in the locker room?

[C 2 C]

I know that the folks on board Century were reading the thread as I was writing it because the hotel director asked to meet me after the "disastrous dinner" post.

 

Carolyn

 

When you posted I called Captain's Club and was forwarded to Customer relations department and had her log onto the thread in Miami. She told me that the problem had to be sorted out on board. She also said that she would not forward the problem indicated to Century.

[editor@cruisecritic]

Before anyone chides us for being off-topic, LOL, I did want to respond to Doug's question because the flights really were an issue for a lot of people. I sat next to a couple on the plane back to St. Petersburg who told me that the only reason the folks they were traveling with wouldn't do the excursion was because they didn't trust the airline that was used. While I have to say that I don't believe for one second that the cruise lines wouldn't vet their shore excursion vendors carefully (and I trusted Celebrity with my life on this one) the fact that my husband, an aviation enthusiast, was incredibly disturbed about my booking the excursion (he'll fly anywhere on just about anything) it freaked me out a bit though not so much I'd have canceled :o .

The airline was not Aeroflot. I couldn't read Russian so I hadn't a clue what it was but I took photos of both planes (both times was shouted at by Russian policeman to stop, LOL) and my husband says that the return plane was a Tupolev TU-154....

Indeed, Doug, on the outbound flight we did enter through the cargo door and walk up a narrow flight of steps -- that's in the Ilyushin IL 86. The idea of that, according to DH, was to eliminate baggage service and have passengers simply board with their luggage, put on a shelf in the entry way, and go upstairs.

Carolyn

 

 

This is actually a very interesting airplane! It was the first Soviet wide-body airplane, designed in the 1970s. Originally it was supposed to be ready for the 1980 Moscow Olympics - but it wasn't.

 

One thing that's really fascinating about it is that originally you were supposed to board using air stairs built into the lower deck, drop of your baggage in lockers down there, and then proceed up to the main deck where the seats are! (I doubt they still do this though.) This was because at the time, Soviet airports could not accomodate large airplanes otherwise.

 

Unfortunately, the Il-86 had very fuel-hungry, outdated Soviet engines which meant it had a pretty short range. (They also weren't very powerful, so it has four of them, even though the similar Airbus A300 built at the same time has only two engines.) Long flights still had to use the old narrowbody Il-62 (a really cool airplane that was a copy of the Vickers VC-10, my all-time favorite).

 

You don't remember by any chance what type your return flight was on, do you? If that old thing was an Il-62, you are very lucky as it is difficult to fly one any more! (Come to think of it, there aren't too many chances to fly an Il-86 any more, either. Just on very heavy-traffic Russian domestic routes, really - like Moscow-St. Petersburg.)

 

And what airline was it? Aeroflot? (I would hope it was Aeroflot - they are a very solid airline but many other Russian domestic carriers are a bit dodgy. I would only fly Aeroflot within Russia, personally.)

 

Anyhow, sorry for this digression - I find Soviet airliners quite fascinating. Not half as fascinating as Soviet ships, though!

[editor@cruisecritic]

Lovely, isn't it C2C? Seems to me that staffer's role as a "customer relations" person is an oxymoron.

Thanks for trying, though.

Carolyn

 

 

 

When you posted I called Captain's Club and was forwarded to Customer relations department and had her log onto the thread in Miami. She told me that the problem had to be sorted out on board. She also said that she would not forward the problem indicated to Century.

[editor@cruisecritic]

Hey back!

There isn't really a kids pool area but one of the two main pools (actually the only pools) is designated more as the family pool while the other one, adjacent, was quieter....

The kids area was on deck four, fairly unusual in this era to have a facility without windows, but the counselors seemed to be quite excellent and used rooms all over the ship for various activities. I had mentioned the teen area previously (your daughter may qualify?) and it was beautiful but never seemed to be used...as was told to me by an onboard staffer, it was a bit too sophisticated for teens and will be tweaked.

There weren't many kids on my cruise though -- think of all the European itineraries this is the least child-friendly....

Carolyn

 

 

 

Hey!

I was wondering if you had a chance to see the pool deck? We are going on our first cruise in April with our 12 year old daughter and I was curious about the pools and the kids areas.

Thanks!

[editor@cruisecritic]

That is so funny! Wouldn't it be awful if it were true?

But that's one of the challenges of evaluating service -- your take (or in this case mine) is really a snapshot. If management changes on board (like people were saying how wonderful is Mario the maitre 'd who was on Century and now is on Millennium -- hope I get the details right) the whole experience could be different.

That's why I point to consistency as the major challenge facing Celebrity today.

Carolyn

 

 

We cruised on both Century (TA EB) and Constellation (TA WB) last year. We liked Centuries' experience better. Now you must realize that as Celebrity reacts to these complaints, Constellation's crew will be reassigned to Century. All the miscreants will be on Constellation.;)

[editor@cruisecritic]

Hi, Anita, yes indeedy the cat lady was doing the circus thing on the Esplanade. I couldn't believe it! Still can't! What kind of self-respecting cats would perform tricks, LOL.

Nevertheless I was quite fascinated and my husband and Ginger, my traveling pal, were getting bored because I wouldn't leave. I was mesmirized. As a lifetime pet parent since I was a kid (up to and including our darling sisters Jinxie and Sophie) I couldn't get enough. Tried to teach them a thing or two when I got home :D -- no dice (joking).

Carolyn

 

 

Hi Carolyn!

I am enjoying your blog! BTW, is the "cat lady" still doing the circus thing in Helsinki? Do you think we could get our cats to do this? (See attachment).

 

Say "Hi!" to the hubby!

 

Best,

Anita

[editor@cruisecritic]

Italian Guest, but hoping that someone can answer for you? (I didn't see it until I got off). I'd assume you're probably out of luck, by and large, save for crew members who are Italian -- but look at it this way: you're English will improve, LOL.

Hope you have a great time and good luck with English. It's not the easiest language to learn!

Carolyn

 

Gent. Mrs Carolyn,

 

before all, sorry for my english... :( I'm italian and I'm starting now to learn and use it !

 

 

I'd like to know if on board Century there are some people who can speack italian, as I have apprecite on Millennium and Mercury; in particular about the main dining room staff, the International Hostess, the Social Hostess and the Shore Excursions staff.

 

Thankful since now,

 

ItalianGuest

 

 

PS

Enjoy your cruise !:)

[editor@cruisecritic]

I always did have a hankering to work in espionage -- but you're right, not sure I'd have the talent for it, LOL. Thanks for making me laugh.

Just a note to all: I am trying to get caught up (working my way through page 12 this a.m.). Please, please let me know if I have missed your question as we'll be "locking" the thread early next week....

And thanks for all the great input. Scapel (Joe) I wanted to particularly thank you for the nice note -- "Editor of cruise critic: Carolyn-You certainly started a very rapidily progressive thread with lots of ups and downs. It has been entertaining. I guess that is why you are an editor." You made me smile. :)

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!

[editor@cruisecritic]

Thanks for that -- I like your point about unescorted ladies....

Actually I always bring a book with me wherever I go (I'm an inveterate reader and am quite happy to dine alone just about any time) and I had one this time, too. It was just the circs....

And there was no question that I was "waiting" for someone...the ship knew my pal had not made it.

The other thing I keep meaning to bring up -- someone earlier had posted a message chiding me from not going to the dining room the first night. Can't find it now but the fact is that the alternative restaurant folks do communicate with the dining room about reservations so the dining room knows in advance who's coming which nights. This is standard amongst all fleets (or one would hope) and indeed I was told by the Murano folks that it is their modus operandi as well.

The challenge is when you do room service or head for the sushi bar or grill or something and there's no way to communicate that to the dining room. But that wasn't the case.

Carolyn

 

 

Carolyn

 

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.

[editor@cruisecritic]

I'll have to check my Century bulletins to confirm who was on my cruise but the hotel director was definitely different...which seems weird now because the guy I met was leaving after the cruise for vacation (and was involved in the refurbishment) so why would he not have been onboard in June?

Hmmmm.

Carolyn

 

 

 

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

[editor@cruisecritic]

Hi, Doug. Rather unbelievably, I think, I've never cruised on Cunard but did have a flawless sailing on Hapag-Lloyd's Europa, just amazing and wonderful, and they did the single seating "you get your table whenever you want it" style of dining. Then again, the ship holds a third of the passengers of a Celebrity ship (a smaller Celebrity ship that is). Don't see that as a burgeoning trend, alas.

One thing I loved too was that you "owned" your table in the alternative restuarants on Europa. They never turned 'em over and yet it wasn't hard to get a reservation, either.

I think Murano was a bit like that on Century. I don't recall them filling tables a second time. I could've missed it but I was really surveying the situation each time and didn't see it.

Carolyn

 

 

 

I agree, a poll is definitely in order.

 

As for preferences, I don't exactly prefer either.

 

My strong preference is for a single assigned seating, as done in Grill Class on Cunard.

 

You have your assigned table for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but can arrive at any time within a "window".

 

I really do like having the same dinner companions and stewards every night. If I don't like them, I'll change my table assignment. If I do like them, I think the experience is more rewarding than anything with "open seating" could be.

 

On the other hand, I do not particularly like having to show up at a certain specific time each evening. Having a window (e.g. 7 PM-9 PM for dinner) is the best.

 

As for dining alternatives, I can do without those! I don't like big ships so the ships I like are not likely to have too many alternative restaurants. If I like the food in the dining room, I really don't need six other choices.

 

However, I have come to accept that open seating (Freestyle or Personal Choice or whatever) is the way of the future, just as a lot of other things I don't really like are also the way of the future. I cannot see many lines going on indefinitely without adopting it in some form.

 

 

Hmm, I think I need to take Lufthansa next time I cross the pond by air :) !

[editor@cruisecritic]

...but then why, on a gorgeous Saturday morning am I sitting at my keyboard, pecking away, reliving my Baltic adventure, LOL?

Thanks, Anne for all your insights. I feel like I've stumbled onto a buzzword today and you allude to just that. Consistency is a problem not limited to Celebrity by any means -- some have noted that, contrary to my great experience on Crown Princess their cruises on different ships on the Princess fleet weren't as good.

I'm trying to think of the last time I was on a ship where I felt the service was exceptional --on a big ship, I mean, and one that wasn't part of the "dream team" launch as was Crown Princess. Hmmmm, thinking....

I'd have to say it was NCL's Norwegian Jewel, last year. Oh, wait, that was a dream team new launch.

Oy, this is harder than I thought. I enjoyed Holland America's Statendam very much...and Crystal, though in another category (it still operates "big ships") was exceptional last fall (Crystal Serenity).

Carolyn

 

Carolyn ~ Welcome almost all the way back! I can't believe your cruise is over already.

 

I think your recent two cruises prove once again that experiences can differ from ship to ship, cruise line to cruise line and from cruise to cruise. I don't think we can label each line or each ship a certain way. There are so many factors that go into making each individual cruise different from the next or the one just past. Crew changes, passengers are different and there are a whole other slew of things that can change from sailing to sailing.

 

I can honestly say I have never experienced poor service in a Celebrity dining room. I can also say the same for Princess. The only truly awful dining room waiter we had was on a RCI ship several years ago and we quickly asked to be placed elsewhere. Even our recent Zenith cruise, which was our least favorite Celebrity cruise ever, had outstanding dining room service amidst choas (it was spring break).

 

While we like to think that our cruises will all be the best, the truth is that sometimes they aren't. At that point, I write my evaluation and turn it in at the end of our cruise and hope our next experience is better. If it's not, we then look for alternatives for our next cruise.

 

Thanks for keeping us all updated as you went along. I know all the members here on Celebrity appreciated your informative postings.

 

Welcome home again!

[C 2 C]

 

Thanks for trying, though.

 

Carolyn

 

I didn't want to see too many negative posts about my favorite ship. Mario, the Maitre'd who just got replaced prior to your arrival, was one of the reasons we enjoyed Century last year. The Maitre'd you had, came from Galaxy where he did not impress us in May. We has seating arrangements messed up but fixed it ourselves.

[ItalianGuest]

Italian Guest, but hoping that someone can answer for you? (I didn't see it until I got off). I'd assume you're probably out of luck, by and large, save for crew members who are Italian -- but look at it this way: you're English will improve, LOL.

 

Hope you have a great time and good luck with English. It's not the easiest language to learn!

 

Carolyn

 

 

Dear Mrs. Carolyn,

 

No problem! However that may be thank you!

 

ItalianGuest

 

PS

What does "LOL" mean ?

[dougnewmanatsea]

Otherwise, and this is perplexing, I never once heard from anyone related to the dining room about anything! Never got a call asking if I would be coming to dinner again and frankly I feel like the one who owed an apology was the maitre 'd.

Very odd.

 

One of my HAL members won a cruise in MERCURY and was so unhappy about the service that he left after two days. (He lives in San Francisco, the ship was calling at San Francisco, and he was so dissatisfied he decided to just go home.) What really got me was that nobody asked him why he was leaving!

 

It is a very strange approach to customer service, I think.

 

And yet my experience aboard ZENITH, service-wise, was absolutely exceptional, from everyone. The service was so good, I had to wonder if they knew somehow that I was writing a review. But of course, unlike you, they didn't, not until the afternoon of the last day when I mentioned it to the Hotel Director.

 

So, like you, I have to say that there must be a big problem at Celebrity with consistency. It's the only explanation I can think of. In a way, it would be easier if they were awful all the time; at least then I could have a solid opinion of them! As it is, I don't know how confident I'd be to book them again, just because I don't feel confident in knowing whether they'll be great (as they undoubtedly can be) or awful.

 

Before anyone chides us for being off-topic, LOL, I did want to respond to Doug's question because the flights really were an issue for a lot of people.

It would be an issue for me - not just because I find airliners interesting (but nowhere near as much as ships!) but also because I am not totally confident in the safety of any old Russian airline.

 

I know Aeroflot's fine, and I'm sure some of the others are fine too... And I know some of them are pretty bad...

 

I guess it all comes down to whether you trust the cruise line to make that judgement. I have mixed feelings about that.

the fact that my husband, an aviation enthusiast, was incredibly disturbed about my booking the excursion (he'll fly anywhere on just about anything) it freaked me out a bit

Well, you survived ;) !

 

The airline was not Aeroflot. I couldn't read Russian so I hadn't a clue what it was but I took photos of both planes (both times was shouted at by Russian policeman to stop, LOL) and my husband says that the return plane was a Tupolev TU-154....

If you send me the photos, I'm sure I could find out what airline it was. I'd be curious, actually.

 

The Tu-154 is probably the most common large Russian airliner. It is a Soviet copy of the Boeing 727 and Hawker-Siddley Trident. They made them from the 1970s through the 1990s. As Soviet planes go, fairly boring, if nothing else because there are so many of them.

 

Indeed, Doug, on the outbound flight we did enter through the cargo door and walk up a narrow flight of steps -- that's in the Ilyushin IL 86.

How fascinating - I had no idea this was still done. I wonder which Moscow airport you flew into? (There are a lot of them.)

 

The original idea was to be able to use the Il-86 at airports with very limited terminal facilities. Actually I think it is a rather clever idea. You don't have to worry about them losing your luggage, for one!

 

Hi, Doug. Rather unbelievably, I think, I've never cruised on Cunard but did have a flawless sailing on Hapag-Lloyd's Europa, just amazing and wonderful, and they did the single seating "you get your table whenever you want it" style of dining.

Yes indeed! Nothing else would suit the best ship in the world, in my opinion :) .

 

Here are all the ships I can think of where this is done:

 

Cunard - QUEEN MARY 2 (Grills) and QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 (Grills and Caronia Restaurant)

Delphin Kreuzfahrten - DELPHIN VOYAGER

Hansa Kreuzfahrten - DELPHIN

Hapag-Lloyd - EUROPA and C. COLUMBUS

Phoenix Riesen - ALBATROS, AMADEA and MAXIM GORKIY

Saga - SAGA ROSE and SAGA RUBY

 

And those are all I can think of! I'm sure there must be more, but I can't think of any right now.

 

Note that these are all either British or German ships, mostly German...

Don't see that as a burgeoning trend, alas.

Oh, it's definitely a declining one. It used to be much more common - before the current fervor for "open seating" in the luxury market, all the major luxury players (Royal Viking Line, Norwegian America Line/Cunard- NAC and so on) did this.

 

When Crystal came about in 1989, they were fiercely criticized for having two seatings, a major shortfall compared with their main competitors which were then Royal Viking Line and Cunard-NAC, all single-seating ships. At the time, open seating was just beginning to make inroads with Sea Goddess having launched in 1984 and Seabourn in 1988. I don't think anyone then could have imagined open seating on a large ship though.

[Jana]

Hi Doug,

 

All four ships of Silversea and all of Regent have single-seating "whenever you want" dining. I don't know if they reserve a specific table for you though.

 

Jana

[dougnewmanatsea]

All four ships of Silversea and all of Regent have single-seating "whenever you want" dining. I don't know if they reserve a specific table for you though.

No, they don't... It's open seating. Just as most open-seating ships, I imagine you can reserve a time and table, but as the whole dining room cannot seat everyone at once, you don't "own" your table like you do with true single-seating dining.

 

This was first pioneered in the luxury market by Sea Goddess in 1984. Every other new luxury line since then has had open seating, except Crystal.

 

If you can believe it I have never sailed in an open-seating ship, but I'm not sure I'd like it. I guess it is still preferable to two seatings on a port-intensive itinerary, whereas on a "sea day" cruise, I'd prefer two fixed seatings. But to me there is no question what's best... One single seating.

 

Also, I should point out that some of the German ships I mentioned are definitely not in the luxury market segment - they are not big ships, but luxury they are not. And yet the Germans still manage it. For a while Delphin had the former R SEVEN - they called her DELPHIN RENAISSANCE - and even managed to run that as a single-seating ship! How? Simple - the two alternative restaurants - the former steakhouse and Italian restaurant - became regular dining rooms instead. Hence, one sitting in three dining rooms.

 

In fact, most big, new ships could theoretically seat everyone all at once, or close to it, if you count in all the alternative restaurant space. Thing is, there would have to be no alternative restaurants for that to work - all the space given over to alternatives would have to be given over to the main dining room instead. That would certainly be my preference, but I don't see anyone designing a new ship that way any time soon! Why? Well, for one thing, a lot of today's passengers want alternatives. And any how, main dining rooms are not revenue-generating space - extra-cost alternatives are!

 

Sadly, EUROPA might wind up being the last seagoing cruise ship ever built for single-seating dining... Well, unless Phoenix Reisen and or Saga get so successful, there are no more second-hand ships to buy and they have to build new ones!

[editor@cruisecritic]

I don't think so. Sorry to disappoint. And of course this is based not only on my experience this cruise but also on my last few Celebrity sailings (I've done four others, pretty much felt the same way on Zenith (million years ago), Constellation, Summit, Infinity and now Century).

I remember -- and this is still in the review of Constellation -- the day of departure. It was something like 7 a.m. and I left my cabin to return some library books and when I got back the steward had completely changed the bed, removed my "stuff" from it (lavender pillow, nightgown), laid down the plastic luggage barrier, and put my "remains" on the couch. I was thinking "am I not still the resident of this cabin?"

I remember it like yesterday and was offended then and now by it. Inappropriate. Please know that I want to believe in Celebrity; from its advertising I respond to the line as "mine" but the reality has not really been there for me.

Ironically, I don't see myself as a Princess kind of gal, or an NCL gal or Carnival or Royal Caribbean (though I have enjoyed voyages on all). Identity wise, I keep thinking it's Celebrity. I love food and wine and great service. Makes my experience. I'm starting to feel...discouraged.

On the other hand, I've not been disappointed with recent (in the past two years) experiences on Crystal, Carnival, Princess, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Holland America, Carnival, Royal Caribbean.... Perhaps my expectations are way too frickin' high when it comes to Celebrity, LOL. I am being, by the way, IRONIC.

Carolyn

 

 

Carolyn -

 

Many travel agents and travel writers seem to consider Celebrity's food, service, and overall elegance a cut above the rest of the mass market lines. Since you were on Crown Princess so recently, we'd be very interested in your impressions in these areas. Is there still a "Celebrity Difference"?

[dougnewmanatsea]

I remember it like yesterday and was offended then and now by it. Inappropriate. Please know that I want to believe in Celebrity; from its advertising I respond to the line as "mine" but the reality has not really been there for me.

Well, Celebrity's advertising and the real Celebrity are far apart from each other.

 

The advertising really makes one think it is a "premium" experience. It just isn't. It is absolutely a mass-market product, without question.

 

My recent cruise in ZENITH was excellent. But it was an excellent mass-market cruise. Not a "premium" cruise. Yes, the experience in the dining room was definitely worthy of a more expensive line - the service, too, not just the food - but elsewhere, it was merely a very good mass-market experience.

 

Celebrity relentlessly claims to be the best large-ship line. Not just good one, not just one of the best, but the best. That creates some awfully high expectations, ones I simply don't think they can meet. Part of it is that the competition is really good - it's not easy to be the best in a field where nobody is bad! But that said, if you look at their direct competitor, HAL... I think HAL's product is better. If nothing else, it is more consistent, and to me, it is more polished, more well-rounded. Celebrity seems to rely very, very heavily on that food to make them "the best". HAL's product is, to me, more balanced, and the "feel" is just nicer.

[editor@cruisecritic]

and LOL....

Carolyn

 

 

 

From 'a guy's perspective', I think your appraisal of the situation is right on. If anything, maybe understated!

 

I can hear myself saying " I beg yourrrrrr pardon " to anyone who seemed to be in charge.

 

Very seriously, we currently have a deposit on HAL for May 2007 in the Baltic, but were thinking of switching to the Century for June 3. Century was our first cruise way back when she was only a year old. Your comments over the next few days will be very important in helping us to make that decision (no pressure;) ).

 

Thanks for your insight. Hope the rest of your cruise is just terrific and 'exceeds expectations':) .

 

Richard

[editor@cruisecritic]

...Arno, throughout the whole thread. Understanding that you really love Celebrity and I am so supportive in return. Your posts have been among my favorites. Hope I can return the favor some day....

Carolyn

 

 

 

Carolyn..

Say it ain't so. You are talking about my favorite ship and I'm practically in tears. As Anne will atest, I'm a pretty outspoken kind a guy when it comes to Celebrity. What a devastating day. Formal nights are our favorite.. to have a series of negative events created by Celebrity personel is beyond belief and endurance.

Last year we were on Century doing the same cruise as the one you are on. We are booked on a B2B2B on Century in October because of the wonderful experience in the Baltic. Celebrity is a great cruiseline because of its people. What you describe is intolerable. My heart goes out to you..

 

Arno

[editor@cruisecritic]

Anne, even if I hadn't met you before and been so impressed :o I absolutely appreciate your fair- and even-minded insights, journalist that you are (and we are, p.s. actively working on incorporating your St. John notes into our profile, many thanks).

Carolyn

 

 

Hi Carolyn ~ I forgot to say "thanks" last night when I posted. I know everyone here appreciates your live updates. Thanks for taking the time to fill us in.

 

I know what you mean about wanting to be "a regular passenger" as I do the same things when I visit hotels we are considering for events. However, once a situation such as you experienced occurred, I'd have to guess other passengers were experiencing the same thing you were. I'd hope the Hotel Director would want to be aware of the situation to take steps to correct it as quickly as possible. I used to start by reporting a situation to the immediate supervisor (Restaurant Manager in this case) of the area where I experienced a challenge but over the years I've learned that much more is accomplished by speaking with the senior management to start with. It's sad that it has come to this, but it has.

 

For those of us who sail Celebrity regularly, we want to know that these types of situations are addressed as they occur as this is not the Celebrity many of us know and enjoy.

 

By the way, you are providing exactly the kind of information I want to know. Your reports are even and balanced and allow us to get a great overview of how everything on a cruise has gone. That's what I look for. Thanks for providing it.

[editor@cruisecritic]

Sonrisa7 that it is the EQUAL responsibility of the ship's dining room staff and the passengers to alert others to their plans.

I will say though that (and this is someone who cruises for a LIVING and not for vacation) that it seems like a frickin' lot of work for people who are supposed to be on HOLIDAY.

Once I have met my tablemates (on other ships not this one as I never went back to the dining room) I would say "tomorrow DH and I are dining at Prego or Jade or ... having a romantic room service dinner (strange how all the good memories of what I think of as bad dining scenarios otherwise...relate to Crystal, which I think makes the best effort of all). And so no one was insulted or surprised.

I am more than willing, in fact it IS my nature, to be considerate.... but the dining room folks have the power to make the experience seem seamless. Whether they succeed or not? Well, that's up to them.

Carolyn

 

Caroline,

 

I'm sorry and surprised to hear of your negative experience in the dining room. I'm booked on my first cruise the sailing following yours (Aug. 2), and I chose the Century, among other things, because of all the raves about her high level of service. She seemed to be a favorite even among experienced Celebrity customers. My question is, has the crew changed since the dry dock? I've seen other recent posts about the staff seeming a bit lost, and find that odd, given it's former reputation.

 

Your experience also makes me wonder about another issue: what is the protocol when one chooses not to eat in the main dining room on a given evening? It seems that it would be common courtesy to alert the dining room staff (along with tablemates) so that they could rearrange seatings to prevent anyone being left alone at a table (it would be almost as unpleasant if a couple, expecting to share a table with other guests, were left by themselves). If no one informs them, it puts them in the difficult position of having to manage last minute juggling when so many people are being seated and expecting to be served.

 

This of couse in no way justifies the lack of graciousness shown to you, but I think it should serve as a reminder to all of us to do the correct thing and notify the staff when we make plans to dine elsewhere. And for those of you who know, exactly who should we contact? And how do we contact tablemates if we make alternate dining plans late in the day?

 

I do hope that you complained to the appropriate people. As someone else stated, they cant' fix it if they don't know it's broken. Here's hoping the rest of your cruise makes up for the negative start. Thank you for posting so honestly.