Goodbye Celebrity

[Swtgypsy]

And the person in the next Sky Suite down is going WHOOO HOOOO! No more smoke!

 

While I can appreciate the fact that you may want a smoke, unless you have a way to control the smoke, it affects everyone else.

 

On our last cruise my Mom had her own balcony cabin and she swore everytime (no matter what time of day or night) the person next door would come out on their balcony to smoke when she went out to relax. So she would open her door real quiet and sneak out ;) Well that didn't work either....within minutes the smoke was wafting over to her balcony. She is a reformed smoker of 40 years but was really disappointed about not being able to enjoy her balcony smoke free (daily). At one point she left her balcony door open by mistake and came back with her room smelling of cigs.

 

I'm all for no smoking in rooms and balcony's and having designated areas for smokers. I too smoked for 17 years so I understand both sides.

[JCDeck]

I'll be very interested to see if those who avoid the casino now because of the smoke will be any happier after this policy is in place. If people cannot enjoy their balconies because a little cigarette smoke carries in the breeze from a nearby balcony, I can't imagine that they will be able to visit the casino if even one person is smoking in the designated smoking area. We shall see. I hope that the non-smokers ARE happy with the outcome. It would be very disappointing if the result of the new policy in the casino is that nobody - not the smokers nor the non-smokers - is happy...

 

I have to tell you, it would have been a huge improvement if we just had half the smoke in the casino....the fact that it's just a small section, comparatively speaking is like heaven.The fact remains it's the way things are going...no two ways about it. The casino and the balcony are two different things... I may be somewhat more tolerant of a little smoke in a casino but on a balcony when I expect to smell the fresh sea air and I get Marlboro........totally different.

[Kathie44]

Closet smokers are not fooling anyone who still has a sense of smell (non-smokers). The smell clings to everything. My mom started up again 3 years after quitting. Knowing how I felt, she didn't smoke in front of me (I was an adult, not living with her) for a long time and really thought I didn't know. I didn't confront her about it because we had other issues and I didn't want to make things even more tense. She eventually quit again, but died of cancer at age 51. That was 34 yrs ago and I still miss her and wish she could have been here for alll her grandkids (15) instead of just the first 5. My daughter was born 9 days after Mom died. There are now 20, soon to be 21, great-grands that she'll never know.

[Captain Jake]

I'll be very interested to see if those who avoid the casino now because of the smoke will be any happier after this policy is in place. If people cannot enjoy their balconies because a little cigarette smoke carries in the breeze from a nearby balcony, I can't imagine that they will be able to visit the casino if even one person is smoking in the designated smoking area. We shall see. I hope that the non-smokers ARE happy with the outcome. It would be very disappointing if the result of the new policy in the casino is that nobody - not the smokers nor the non-smokers - is happy...

 

People sit on their balconies to relax and enjoy the clean air along with a meal.Though what you call a 'little whiff of smoke' may not be deadly it can spoil the moment.When/if the casino becomes unbearable because of what you may consider a little smoke',they can leave and return to their private space that now at least will not be polluted by what you call a 'little smoke'

[JCDeck]

Closet smokers are not fooling anyone who still has a sense of smell (non-smokers). The smell clings to everything. My mom started up again 3 years after quitting. Knowing how I felt, she didn't smoke in front of me (I was an adult, not living with her) for a long time and really thought I didn't know. I didn't confront her about it because we had other issues and I didn't want to make things even more tense. She eventually quit again, but died of cancer at age 51. That was 34 yrs ago and I still miss her and wish she could have been here for alll her grandkids (15) instead of just the first 5. My daughter was born 9 days after Mom died. There are now 20, soon to be 21, great-grands that she'll never know.

 

Kathie, I certainly am with you on this one, my mother was 56 when she died on a respirator(Very similar circumstances) she never got to know my daughters and now I have a grandson...I am one year younger than my mom was when she died, I talk to her every day and I will never get over it. There was a thread on these boards one day last week about what 6 or 8 people you would like to have dinner with,everyone named of course the famous and tthe infamous as did I except for the last person ... I named my mother(Because I just miss her)

Damned cigarrettes they've taken people I love.

[Coreopsis]

Kathie, I certainly am with you on this one, my mother was 56 when she died on a respirator(Very similar circumstances) she never got to know my daughters and now I have a grandson...I am one year younger than my mom was when she died, I talk to her every day and I will never get over it. There was a thread on these boards one day last week about what 6 or 8 people you would like to have dinner with,everyone named of course the famous and tthe infamous as did I except for the last person ... I named my mother(Because I just miss her)

Damned cigarrettes they've taken people I love.

You know, after this beautiful post...Can't we close this one now?

 

My heart goes out to you and I think when we share the personal losses, we all begin to have a better understanding of why this issue is so emotional. We empathasize that cigarettes are addictive; but we mourn the losses we've suffered as a result.

[SomeBeach]

It may not just be the passengers who want non-smoking staterooms. It may be the insurance companies.

 

I've been following a few threads on your site, mostly because it is nice to read civilized conversations about this subject.

This statement above caught my eye and I wondered what % of fires were related to smoking. Please, I am not saying I disagree, it just made me curious. I had a difficult time finding something and then came across the following......

http://www.cruisejunkie.com/Disabling.html

 

I scanned down a lot of the page and one caught my eye. In 2006, Jewel of the Seas. It was taken from CC and was almost word for word from a post I had made. :eek: The only problem with it is that the information I was given by an RCI employee was incorrect. I found out 6 months later when I was on the ship again and this came directly from the Captain, the fire was not started by a cig but by one of those hair straightener hot iron things. It had been packed before it cooled down.

Anyway, I thought some of you might find the info interesting.

Happy cruising!

[aqhacruiser]

If only it were that simple!! I have little or no flexibility with the dates due to work committments and additionally its our 25th Wedding Anniversary during the cruise. The only other lines that offer anything similar for the dates I can travel are HAL and Princess.

 

I'm basically just very annoyed that Celebrity have made a substantial change to the terms of my booking without informing me and it now appears that I will lose money and have the substantial added "hassle" of finding an alternative cruise.

 

I don't want to make futher comment on some of the less than tolerant and uncivil remarks that have been made by other posters, but would ask the question.... If you contracted for a service and then discovered that the provider had changed the terms and conditions of that service without notice; wouldn't you expect to receive a refund of all monies paid?

 

All I want is my money returned and I will then take my business to another supplier who can match my requirements. I would expect that most people, smokers or non smokers, would have the same attitude if a supplier varied or broke a contract.

 

You have a good point that they did change the conditions of your cruise contract. It's not unlike the fuel charge they tacked onto cruises that were already booked and customers complained to the Atty. General in Florida and the result was they were removed from all bookings prior to the fuel charge announcement. RCCL volunteered to do that so they should offer the same in this case as well and offer to return your money to you if you do not want to keep this cruise. No, we are not talking about paying extra money here but we are talking about a change to something you purchased in good faith and they haven't even notified you of this change. You happen to be a smoker and you booked with this line under the condition that you would be permitted to smoke in your cabin on your cruise and now that has changed. That's how I would address it with X to get your money back.

[lucky white heather]

[some omissions in the interest of brevity. bobblsc]

 

 

 

You appear to be an attorney. Thank you for your answers. However, as I read your two posts, it appears that each reaches a slightly different conclusion. Perhaps it is necessary for attorneys to communicate somewhat like economists. "On the one hand this may be the result of the stated economic policy, but on the other hand the outcome may be different." :D It seems to me that a "material change" would be consistent with a "material condition", and this unilateral change would result in a "material breach of the contract". But I am not an attorney. Heck, I'm not even an economist. :rolleyes:

 

I do see your point about a minimal damage payment. Heck, I'm not even a smoker now. :) I am, however, shocked at the treatment given the Brits concerning the cancellation penalty. Surely the penalty is a decision made by Celebrity alone, and is not mandated by some British regulation. Does this treatment apply to all European cruisers? Does it apply to all cruise lines?

 

Brits, it is great that we are finally getting along after 200 years. (A Brit on a curse ship once responded "Yes, but you still owe us those damn taxes.") Is there anything we can do to help?

 

Bob :cool:

 

 

Bob it is great you feel we have poor Celebrity UK service over here with regard to our restrictive booking conditions..we feel blatantly discriminated against in many other ways ways too .

Another example of how we get the sharper end of the stick.. a bit off topic I agree...was when our B2B Carib./ TA cruise on ML was cancelled/ re-scheduled because the ship was coming over earlier than planned to have its extra generator fitted...we knew our first cruise was cancelled and the TA brought forward...saw the details on CC for weeks... I wrote, phoned, emailed , almost daily to X UK HQ to confirm /deny we would be affected.

 

They would not tell us one way or the other until MIA allowed them to although they all knew the score!

 

By the time they did, anything else then available had already been taken by US cancelled clients who had been able to get their refund immediately, or transfer /re-book, and we were still waiting to hear we had been cancelled. There is no legal reason for treating us differently IMO , but they do! It's their ball game and you either accept it or go to the opposition.

[keela1eva2]

Well said Yvonne! They are not that interested in listening to us. I am booked on Millennium for November cruise to NZ/OZ. The flights were always a nightmare with 4 changes of Aircraft.

I told them at the outset that this was not acceptable to me. Singapore Airlines fly via Singapore direct to Auckland.

No they either could't or would't get these flights for me. I then found they had rebooked the hotel to a what sounded like a pretty awful hotel in Auckland. They were not interested in what I had to say and just kept repeating that they can put me where they like.

 

Needless to say I booked flights myself and hotels of my choosing. Had to pay X £35 to go cruise only. No flights had been obtained at that time.

 

That aside I am an non smoker and I am happy with the change in policy. People are still allowed to smoke on the ship just not in their room or balcony.

 

Sue

 

Sue

[lucky white heather]

Well said Yvonne! They are not that interested in listening to us. I am booked on Millennium for November cruise to NZ/OZ. The flights were always a nightmare with 4 changes of Aircraft.

I told them at the outset that this was not acceptable to me. Singapore Airlines fly via Singapore direct to Auckland.

No they either could't or would't get these flights for me. I then found they had rebooked the hotel to a what sounded like a pretty awful hotel in Auckland. They were not interested in what I had to say and just kept repeating that they can put me where they like.

 

Needless to say I booked flights myself and hotels of my choosing. Had to pay X £35 to go cruise only. No flights had been obtained at that time.

 

That aside I am an non smoker and I am happy with the change in policy. People are still allowed to smoke on the ship just not in their room or balcony.

 

Sue

 

Sue

 

Hi Sue. as you know we have discussed this state of the parties with Brits being short changed by X many times before..but the cancellation rule over here did not allow us to cancel as we would have forfeited our deposit for cancelling ( reason other than illness) and try to re-book to get a better choice of the "what's left now " options etc...but to lose your deposit .... knowing your cruise has been affected / cancelled but MIA will not give the go ahead to X UK to tell you about this new circumstance yet ......and still allows all US/Canadian cruisers on our cruise to swop to other cruises if they so desired , or cancel with no penalty (which they can do any time as it was before final payment anyway!!!) really made me angry.

 

They should treat everyone as a valued paying customer no matter which country they are from and the rules made by Celebrity themselves should be universal to allow a fair deal for everyone.

Flame away!

[Captain Jake]

I can't understand the differences between the cancellation policies between US,Canada and the UK.Is there something the elected officials can do to address this over there? You would think they would treat everyone equally bad if they could get away with it

[lucky white heather]

I can't understand the differences between the cancellation policies between US,Canada and the UK.Is there something the elected officials can do to address this over there? You would think they would treat everyone equally bad if they could get away with it

 

I think I know the answer here...could be wrong but....if they tried doing this to you guys they would be sailing with empty ships..you would walk away!

We have little option....25% of the X business( it has grown from 8%) is what they get from the UK sales market I hear , so we have less "clout" compared to you guys. They do not have to worry about where their next booking is coming from...they know as long as they keep pleasing you guys they are still pretty safe. We're just the "also rans" !

[rebeccalouise]

Please don't take offense at this comment but I have heard that the UK passengers pay more for the same cruises. I wonder if this is because of the tipping policy. Some Europeans don't feel the need to tip and think that the cruise line should pay the crew.

 

For this reason, I wonder if they make it more difficult for UK passengers.

[lucky white heather]

Please don't take offense at this comment but I have heard that the UK passengers pay more for the same cruises. I wonder if this is because of the tipping policy. Some Europeans don't feel the need to tip and think that the cruise line should pay the crew.

 

For this reason, I wonder if they make it more difficult for UK passengers.

 

No offence taken...we do pay sometimes more than you pay simply because X makes a price they research (from previous sales and uptake ) will sell over here ..there are not as many easily accessed itineraries, ships/ travel requirements offered as you have...so less chance of the required price being turned down by potential cruisers......and they get away with it 80 times out of 100.

 

We live on an island..you either fly off , go through the chunnel , or sail off to go anywhere so we have limited choice for a start..everything is extra before you even start!

 

Europeans ( probably the same as we do) have to tip and do tip in their home country for many services.. so it is not we/ they don't want to tip.... we/ they know it is part of the deal....you are quoted your cruise price with the tip- inclusive price..if you do not wish to have your tips included then you can tell your booker/ Ta you want to hold off on that until you see what the service received meant for you aboard,and they allow it.

However, it is becoming more common now as we in the UK wise up to things elsewhere in the cruise world, that we cannot exactly demand..but "request" things more to suit ourselves rather than just meekly accept what the company says all the time..and take it from there if they won't .

 

You can always choose not to use the company if they cannot offer what you think is fair....but you might be jumping from one frying pan into another...we are still a small proportion of the cruising fraternity. and until that changes you know we will probably be held to ransom just for living here.

[dkjretired]

You have a good point that they did change the conditions of your cruise contract. It's not unlike the fuel charge they tacked onto cruises that were already booked and customers complained to the Atty. General in Florida and the result was they were removed from all bookings prior to the fuel charge announcement. RCCL volunteered to do that so they should offer the same in this case as well and offer to return your money to you if you do not want to keep this cruise. No, we are not talking about paying extra money here but we are talking about a change to something you purchased in good faith and they haven't even notified you of this change. You happen to be a smoker and you booked with this line under the condition that you would be permitted to smoke in your cabin on your cruise and now that has changed. That's how I would address it with X to get your money back.

 

It is totally different from the fuel surcharge which has been discussed in previous posts. No comparison...Once again, the fuel surcharge involved money and also involved a previously agreed to court order on surcharges

[jt1120]

Bye. Your email is so non-specific that there is really no point in responding, other than most people who have cruised both lines would consider RCI kind of "Celebrity-Lite." So enjoy Diet Coke instead of Coke Classic. Bet we'll see you on Solstice #4!

[Cote d'or]

Some Europeans don't feel the need to tip and think that the cruise line should pay the crew.

 

Just curious : Is this something you read, heard, or witnessed yourself during one or more cruises ?

[Coreopsis]

I am not sure if I've read that any of you want to change your cruise because of the policy change - but if you do, have you tried writing or calling Celebrity? What was the response?

 

The non-refundable deposit issue - this is Celebrity only policy? Other cruise lines they are refundable?

 

Thanks for your help. I keep hearing some of these policies referenced and didn't know the real scoop.

[keela1eva2]

I have been cruising regularly with US cruise Companies for the past 12 years. Several times a year in fact! At no time was I under the impression that tips were included in the cost unless as Yvonne has said I opted to have them added.

At no time did I decide that I should not tip the people who look after me whilst on any ship. I do consider the issue of the Cruise Companies deciding that they can get away with paying their crew involved $50 per months.

In my opinion they exploit their workers. Tips in my opinion should be something extra and not the wages. Yes I hear you say these members of crew do well and so they should. Considering the hours they work and they effort they make to ensure we have a good holiday they richly deserve their tips.

 

Sue

[Coreopsis]

It is totally different from the fuel surcharge which has been discussed in previous posts. No comparison...Once again, the fuel surcharge involved money and also involved a previously agreed to court order on surcharges

Absolutely agree - it is not appropriate comparison. The two are different issues altogether. Like apples and peppers! Not even in the same family.

 

- Fuel surchage involved a fee imposed for everyone - this new policy modification doesn't.

- Smoking policy was only modified - smoking is not banned. Smoking is still permitted on the ship.

 

Further, this modification impacts fewer than 10% of the passengers. I presume not all of those smoking passengers and their cabinmates are saying goodbye to celebrity as OP states. But for those that do - looks like they will be offset by new business from those who prefer the modified policy.

[lucky white heather]

I am not sure if I've read that any of you want to change your cruise because of the policy change - but if you do, have you tried writing or calling Celebrity? What was the response?

 

The non-refundable deposit issue - this is Celebrity only policy? Other cruise lines they are refundable?

 

Thanks for your help. I keep hearing some of these policies referenced and didn't know the real scoop.

 

No I don't want to change my cruise as I am a non smoker and have not been affected by the recent notification of change in X's smoking policy..my posts are really centring on the unwillingness of X UK to give us equal rights to the booking conditions you regularly enjoy.The non refundable deposit unless through illness (supported by your physician's certificate declaring you will be unable to travel) is about the only reason you will not lose your deposit if you cancel before final payment and even then they might be sticky about accepting it, depending on what is offered as the reason.

 

The tipping policy is not so rigid..they try to lock you into pre paying your tips by giving you the price of your cruise (which includes your tips) when you make your enquiry...but if you know the ropes.... you do not have to agree to do this and they will not force you to.

Many UK cruisers have never heard of cruise critic where info on cruising is abundant .....so they go into cruises and bookings without the benefit of knowing about other experiences...we were in that position until we got to hear about CC from kindly US tablemates one cruise..which is why I read most of the stuff on here because I want to see what we get and what you get by comparison , even although we are both booking with the same company .

I have never been in the position of cancelling a cruise yet even with other cruise companies..so cannot say what their rules regarding cancellation are. But we NEVER book without great consideration as we know it is likely that unless it is illness...you would most likely lose your deposit. We NEVER hold a cabin on the off chance we MIGHT go..if they removed the total deposit refund before final payment date from your booking conditions, you would all squeal .....so they will never do it . We just would like parity.

Look on your brochures on the ship at forward booking offices..it says in black and white UK GUESTS HAVE DIFFERENT BOOKING CONDITIONS..which is why we never have benefitted from any OBC which is the payback for booking your next cruise onboard ... we would have to be certain we could go, or be willing to take the loss of our deposit if we cancel (other than for illness) which would cancel out the OBC.

[JCDeck]

From what I have read and been told by a Brit on these boards that the refund policy is British law on travel and entertainmant.? Not Celebrity's??

[dkjretired]

In all our discussions of the smoking issue, I don't remember anyone bringing up the issue of prices. Is this partial ban going to bring over a lot of cruisers from other lines and drive up the prices for the limited spaces available on the ships. This all assumes that Celebrity remains the only line with such a restrictive policy. If that happens will Celebrity become like Disney which charges twice what it costs on other lines. It appears that people from other lines at least on the various boards are starting to look seriously at Celebrity.

[lucky white heather]

From what I have read and been told by a Brit on these boards that the refund policy is British law on travel and entertainmant.? Not Celebrity's??

 

 

Can't comment specifically, but doubt it .... our lives in travel and entertainment, are not so severely restrictive .....so where would this information come from ....with examples supporting it ?

I am still of the opinion that this is Celebrity's own policy and until I hear from them denying it ... I won't change my opinion , sorry.

 

By the way Scotland is smoke free..it tells you everywhere when you arrive ......I look forward to our beautiful little world here having many more visitors now you all know that!