I personally could do without....

[Beth AC]

Alright, I gotta ask.. What exactly is the Baked Alaska parade??

 

 

Beth

First cruise 3/31/08 Century

[snausman]

Heres another vote to get rid of the art auctions on all cruise lines! I am always amazed at how many people are at them. Where do those people come from? I don't ever see them anywhere else. And have never hear anyone say they bought something.

 

Laura

[Sea Island Lady]

I could do without the "performance surveys" at the end of the cruise and replace them with a "Thank you for sailing with us" $100 off next cruise certificates. I don't like wasting my last day at sea, filling out those darn surveys. Let us fill them out at home and online. :)

 

Also, Art Auctions! replace with more classes.

 

Production shows could be reduced and let the passengers have a ballroom dance night on the stage. HAL does this and it's lots of fun to watch.:D

[gracecarmo]

I thought of something else: get rid of the pushy people in the spa. I just want a manicure, no telling me I need $100 worth of their stuff.

Also: cluttering up the cabin with all the advertisments for sales etc. And also agree NO ART AUCTION! (But keep the free champagne, lol)

 

Oh, and for the person that asked about the Baked Alaska Parade: it is a parade of the waiters dancing around with the dessert of the evening, the Baked Alaska. Music is played, and everyone claps. Then the waiters have a small cigarette type lighter and light it for effect. This happens after the introductions of the chefs and Maitre D's etc. Sort of a campaign for tips?

[cruisePRN]

I could do without the ART action

I could do without any smoking onboard (one little outdoor corner for smokers would be okay)

I could do without all the calories :D

[Drew B]

I could do without the welcome aboard champagne.

I could do without the Lido waiters clustered around the buffet to carry trays.

 

However, because I know that others like these things very much, I won't ask for their removal.

 

I have no interest at all in the individual acts (magician/musician/comedian) and I enjoy the production shows, so please don't get rid of one for the other.

[Lsimon]

I agree on getting rid the hard sell in the spa. What a terrible way to end a fantastic massage - getting the hard sell to buy a bunch of overpriced junk from someone who just did a fantastic massage for you. Makes me feel bad saying no, but I do, and is a real turn off to the whole concept of wanting a relaxing massage on a cruise.

 

In fact let's get rid of everything that needs a hard sell - soft sell ok, but let's get rid of the hard sell stuff - art auctions, spa products, port shopping, etc. Wouldn't it be nice if they had a port lecture that was really about the port and not a way of pushing the shopping for stores that pay the cruise line for it. We haven't gone to one since our first cruise, and don't really need them, but a lot of people do.

 

OK...now here is a trade off one for my own selfish interest in the spirit of the original poster: Let's get rid of the singing and dancing shows and get some truly top notch lounge entertainment in. The singing and dancing shows were good at first, but even when they change them they all look alike after a while. But a with a great lounge entertainer, preferable soft rock group but I'll take some variety in dance and listening music, the repetitions isn't so undesirable.

[63galaxie]

if they had massages in private cabanas on the beaches with a package including wine/margaritas, soft music, and no interruptions, no selling, no nothing. Make mine even more romantic....have it at sunset. Then have a wheelchair ready to wheel me back onboard (I hate to move after a massage).

 

And what about shore excursions? I'd love to see more whale watching, dolphin swimming, sealife related anything (that's just me), romantic venues at sea in the evenings or even at sunrise (dreaming, I know).

 

I'd pay extra to be able to order a full breakfast in my cabin whatever cabin that may be (i.e. FV stateroom).

 

I'd pay extra to see top name artists (Billy Joel, Johnny Mathis, okay so I'm dating myself) or even some top-notch classical guitarists. It would make the cruise so much more special (although it's already pretty great).

 

My DH would love to meet some SeaHawk players. Can we get a live football game onboard (maybe on the turf on the Solstice???)

 

Let me think about this. I'm sure I can dream up some more things!

[qe2]

I could do without:

Art Auctions

Baked Alaska parades

photographers at dinner

"shopping experts"

any lectures that pitch products or services

 

In place of these things:

Dancing lessons

Quiet dinners with harp music

local entertainment

guest speakers

[STANCPA44]

I don't know about the parade, but get rid of the Bake Alaska dessert, replace with something tasty.

[Minoushka]

Is there any aspect of a Celebrity Cruise that you would not miss, if they brought back something in its place?

 

1. Art Auctions

2.Alternative paying restaurants .THEY SHOULD BE FREE ONCE PER VOYAGE TO ALLOW ALL GUESTS TO ENJOY LIKE ON RESORTS

3. SMOKING anywhere

HAve you heard what Dr. Oz said about 2nd hand smoke

For every 5 cigs someone smokes near me I smoke 1---- YUCK!!!

4.chair hogs

5.Casinos that give as much as they take!!!!

6. Fuel Surcharges

7.Not allowed to bring own drinks-liquor that is -that one could enjoy in one's cabin

[Blazerboy]

Do without?

 

Disembarcation!:D

 

I think that with almost any activity/entertainment/etc., you'll find some fans and some detractors, so I guess it would be a shame to get rid of something that a significant # DO like...

 

Maybe it's my arched eyebrow, or the lift of one corner of my lip, but even the spa staff rarely try to sell me anything. That, or the note that I slip them that says that any purchases will result in me having too little money for a tip!:rolleyes:

 

Seriously, I'm generally happy with most things, and those I don't like, I ignore...Art auctions, napkin twirling, and in-cabin smoking would be high on the list of things I could do without, but that's me.

 

Andrew

[Ma Bell]

I could do without grumpy passengers.

[Drew B]

I think a couple of you may be missing the point. I think the OP means things that are there by design, but you feel the resources involved could be put to better use elsewhere.

 

I can't imagine anybody saying that they can't do without chair hogging or the like. Those negative things are not their by design and they are not taking up resources... It's like saying "I could do without the ship sinking". I think that sort of goes without saying...

[Coco Creek]

I guess most of the stuff we an do without, we can choose to skip. All the revenue stuff--art auctions, spa products, etc.--bring in revenue that keeps cruise fares lower. It is a fair trade off, given that the sales pitches can be skipped or ignored.

[dkjretired]

I could do without the Butler. I'm just not a butler person.......

[drfun48]

Line cutters
Chair Hogs
Diapered Kids in Hot Tubs
I know it's necessary but after 30 cruises,the boat drill
Unsupervised kids
Obnoxious rowdy teens
the same old afternoon canapes
seniors in wheelchairs,who don't need them,and their entire supporting casts,who cut lines at embarkation and debarkation
people inappropriately attired on formal nights
the electric slide
kids who press every button on the elevator
debarkation
the bill
bad weather
fat people in skimpy bathing suits
loud drunks
the short playlist of the house band
the same five comediennes
the overpriced wine list
tough lobster
slow expensive internet
whiney "princesses"
overdone hamburgers
the way the light is blocked when you open your closet door
the teen "diva" who sings 'I will survive" at Kareoke
the lame "Not so Newlywed Game"
Jackpot Bingo until the final night
limited excursions in Puerto Rico
Jamaica
resetting the slot progressive jackpots at the start of every cruise
bad weather
the inch of gold "sale"
walkie talkies and cell phones in public areas
the horrible coffee
customs clearance lines onboard
same old Andy of Mayberry for 15 years on the TV

[DC2OC]

I could do without before dinner shows for late seating and replaced it with after dinner shows.

While we enjoy formal night I would like to see them get rid of the 3rd formal night on longer cruises .More than two removes the novelty.

Get rid of the art auctions,smoking in cabins and verandas .

Replace shopping lectures with educational lectures of upcoming ports.

Change wine tasting to wine/cheese pairing

Frank :)

[Sea Island Lady]

[quote name='Drew B']I could do without the welcome aboard champagne.
I could do without the Lido waiters clustered around the buffet to carry trays.

However, because I know that others like these things very much, I won't ask for their removal.

I have no interest at all in the individual acts (magician/musician/comedian) and I enjoy the production shows, so please don't get rid of one for the other.[/quote]
I sort of like the champagne greeting. Make em feel special. :D

Do you realize what a help those waiters are to many people, when they carry a tray? :eek: Celebrity is one of the few lines that do this and one of the reason we love celebrity.

[QUOTE]I could do without before dinner shows for late seating and replaced it with after dinner shows.[/QUOTE]
I prefer the before dinner shows to the late shows. Can't stay awake after I have eaten a big meal and then have to sit down for an hour. :( I prefer to go gamble after dinner. :D

[BrendaJ]

I was going to jump right in and say "The Baked Alaska Parade" until I thought of the first-time cruisers. I must admit, the first time I saw it, I thought it was pretty cool. Of course, after the 14th time, I really don't need to see it again.

I could also do without the snowstorm of paper in the cabin advertising a bunch of crap I don't need. The environmentalist in me shudders to think of what happens to all of it - I'm guessing most of it ends up in the garbage. Can't they just have a "shopping channel"? I might actually get sick enough of seeing 50's TV reruns to watch it.

And I would love to see something other than the same darn production show on every itinerary of every ship. Couldn't they at least have different shows on different ships? I'm nearly tempted to jump on stage and sing "Bring Him Home" and "Maria" with the cast. I could probably even do the choreography, I've seen those shows so many times. A full-length musical would be a fabulous thing for them to have, especially on longer itineraries. Heck, I'd even pay a good price for a ticket to see something I don't know by heart. Hello, Celebrity - another revenue opportunity! (I can nearly hear their feet pounding to the nearest boardroom.)

The more I read my own words, the more it occurs to me that Celebrity is doing a lot that would not bother a first-time cruiser but gets on the nerves of those of us that cruise with them at least once a year. Although judging by their loyalty program, they don't really want us coming back all that often anyways. ;)

[Jan08Bride]

I agree with the original poster - I too would have enjoyed more live music. We didn't go to any production shows, although I'm sure they were lovely.

[Drew B]

[quote name='Sea Island Lady']Do you realize what a help those waiters are to many people, when they carry a tray? :eek: Celebrity is one of the few lines that do this and one of the reason we love celebrity.[/quote]


I realize it. I can't stand them, but the fact that others like them and are helped by them is good reason to keep them. The title of the thread is "I [U]personally[/U] could do without..." so I mentioned some things I could personally do without that I realize others like.

[Jan08Bride]

I just realized we did not get any tray carriers! oh man, DH would have thought that was so cool! I am really clumsy, though I managed through the week carrying my own tray without having any major disasters, I usually prefer to have someone else carry it lol.

[Jan08Bride]

No not the art auctions! lol - they serve free champagne, that's why everyone is there.

[ccletzgo]

[quote name='Mike2131']I could also do without 3 evening dress guidelines. Two (Formal and Resort Casual) would be just fine.[/quote]


WOW, do I ever agree with this one.....


Please let us stay in our cabins until we debark. It works on other lines, so its possible.

what were they thinking when they put that blow dryer in the tinniest steamy room? I may as well be trying to blow dry my hair while I shower