Gishua_

Just booked my first alcove on our upcoming med cruise on the first sea day. I have a question, do you get to pick which alcove you want or is it just assigned? Also, is there a better one or a worse one?

 

Thanks for the help!

You can print them from the edocs or about 4-6 weeks before your cruise sail date you can request for them to mail you the nicer ones.

 

I prefer these as then I dont have to pack tape as the ones they send you are sticky.

 

Keep checking, they'll be there and if in doubt, call.

The window washing equipment is movable. In the zoomed out photo you can see the window washing equipment is being parked aft. However, when they use it to wash the windows, your view could be obstructed, they could park it there in front of your balcony. I doubt it though, seems to me they always park them aft.

 

I am guessing that some entitled person who looks for every little thing to complain about stayed in this room, the equipment was there and they complained and demanded reimbursement, so now they label it as such to prevent that from happening.

 

Your view will not be obstructed. Enjoy

Hi, just Watch à video on you tube..and the man said: if you have the premium alcool package...the bar in tour room is Also included. in the package...is it true?

 

Ty for yor answers.

 

I have seen that video as well. I believe it is quite an old video and correct me if I am wrong, I think the premium package used to include the mini bar in all room types.

We board as you depart,

 

Last year on Equinox, we were only asked to upgrade drinks, the first evening.

 

I'm also from UK and wait my turn as well. I get grumpy when other nationalities consider it their duty to push in.

 

If you read other threads about tipping , you will find that their are many passengers, who bung the bar staff a bribe, oops a tip to make sure they get great service

 

 

This has always been the way at every all inclusive resort/cruise I have been to. Find your favorite bar and bar tender. Drop him a 50 and say take care of us. Usually works every time. I can approach the bar and get served first. I also usually give the bar tender a 20-50 at the end depending how well I was treated. In the world of low pay and tips, money= best service.

I am sharing this experience to inform potential Celebrity cruisers - if you have a major problem on the ship, do not think the shoreside (corporate office) cares! I took it as far as both the CEO and President's Office.

 

We sailed on the Celebrity Millennium (Alaskan Northbound) on May 27, 2016. I was so excited about the cruise because I was able to finally convince my DH to go. He prefers warm-weather places and thinks Alaska is below 50 degrees 365 days a year. :)

 

I sent a detailed email to Celebrity president's office with of issues from this cruise. I received a call from someone in that department (not sure I am allowed to post names here) - not an ounce of empathy. There was no accountability or responsibility accepted by Celebrity. For some reason, Celebrity believes that because I did get a cabin on the ship, regardless if the cabin did not have a properly functioning door 6 out of 7 cruise days, that it is the same as a cabin with a properly functioning door, so therefore I am not entitled any portion of the fare back. More details below.

 

All I know is that the conversation with the person this morning has turned me off of Celebrity. My first time on Celebrity and last. So maybe that is why they do not care. We have 2 more bookings with RCCL to finish up and then will go back to Princess, which we left because we thought RCCL ever since our DD was born.

 

*********************************************

 

Here are a few of the issues:

Minor Issues:

1. Apparently on Celebrity, status does not mean anything. This was our 1st Celebrity cruise. But because of the relationship between RCCL and Celebrity, we were given Elite status on Celebrity. But Elite status is the same as no status. We had no priority boarding, which is a really nice benefit.

Moderate Issues:

1. It is obvious Guest Services and Captains Club staff can treat passengers as such because they know corporate would not care. That was very apparent in my conversation with the Celebrity representative who made zero apology. I provided very specific examples of "training opportunities", but those fell on deaf ears.

 

Captain Club staff arguing with me for about 5 min. I asked for the paper that showed where the activities were for Elite members. Rather than just providing me a copy, the person and I spent 5 min bantering:

 

CC staff: I gave you a copy of it already.

me: No you didn't.

CC staff: Yes I am sure I did. I always give that to passengers when they first come up to the table.

me: I still don't have the paperwork. Can I get another one?

cc staff: well what happened to the one I gave you?

me: I didn't get one.

...on and on and on. This should have been a 5 second conversation with her giving me another copy.

 

2. Celebrity needs to be very explicit with the passengers that the spa is a separate entity, and the cruise line cannot help with any issues. I had always assumed (and you know what happens when one assumes) the cruise line will assist when an issue arise.

 

3. For the major issue I had on the ship, NOT one officer at Guest Services or Engineering apologized or reached out to me while onboard.

 

Major Issue:

 

I thought only I saw it as such until I spoke with fellow passengers. Everyone of them said it was ridiculous what I had to deal with.

 

I became an unwilling participant in the blame/finger-pointin game between maintenance and guest services.

 

I had a cabin where the door would not open whenever I put the key card in. For the first 3 days of the cruise, I made many many trips to Guest Services to get new keys - all times of the day. None of them worked. Imagine how many times one goes in and out of your cabin - that is how many times I had to visit Guest Services to get a new card. Even one occurrence resulted in multiple trips for a key card because the new card (just given to me) did not work. There were times I was fortunate to find a cabin steward to let me in, eliminating a trek to Guest Services.

 

Day 4: Maintenance replaced the key card reader. Everything was functioning as expected until Day 6.

 

Day 6: Key card reader failure. Up to this point, I have been very patience, respectful and nice to all staff. But when the reader failed, I ended up just crying. I have been pushed to my breaking point.

 

It was discovered on Day 6 that I have a bad door mechanism. So maintenance spent a few hours replacing the entire door mechanism.

 

*********************************************.

To add insult to injury, the person from the executive office who called me:

1. Offered reimbursement of $67 - the balance on my onboard account. No consideration that I had to spend part of my onboard credits for something I did not want, but did because of the ship.

2. Told me that Guest Services credited back over $500 to my onboard account. I had to do the persons work and explain:

a. Bar credit was due to an error. We were charged for a drink even though we had the drink package!

b. Internet credit. There was a mix up in our status. When I checked in online, the system correctly reflected our Elite status. But when we checked in at the terminal, we were given Select status. The internet credit was for the free internet minutes for Elite members.

c. Specialty dining credits. Guest services insisted over and over for me to go to the Specialty Dining because I was crying and maintenance needed the room to fix the door!

3. The only apology given during the phone call, which was made later in the call instead of right at the start, was a generic scripted apology!

 

 

Besides an untimely apologizes and a couple rude encounters you really have nothing here. Working in customer service is really about being nice, listening and reading the customer and how they are going to react to what you give them as compensation to their complaint.

 

Nothing you experienced was horrible. I think what they did was fine. They most likely viewed you as irrational, needy and not able to make happy. In that case, they offered you something to try to make you feel better but for you it wasn't enough. They could have been more nice and maybe sent you some chocolates or invited you to dine for free in a specialty restaurant, most likely though it seems something would have gone wrong in your eyes which would have lead to further complaints. The fact that they responded and offered you something is the company taking blame for something on their end that was wrong.

 

On another note, I think its important to remember when staying in a hotel, cruise or any location where the same people will be assisting you for the duration of you stay, to always be polite and easy going. Most likely after one negative encounter they are keeping a file on you and what you have complained about and said. In fact, most likely they discussed you and your complaints at some sort of meeting. This is common practice in most if not all customer service jobs I have worked in.

[quote name='cruiseerf']Celebrity tried to sell people on longer and wider but the TRUTH is that Reflection was a few feet longer (if you trust what Celebrity has said???) and wider and PUBLIC areas are Exactly the same and now seating 350+ more passengers. We actually got out our tape-measures and measured blue one day....Same exact size as the Solstice....Reflection is a MUCH more crowded ship....YES![/QUOTE]


So just because you measured one room on one deck and not even a room that spans a whole deck you came to the conclusion and are spreading it as fact? Wow

How do you know the extra space was not given to the the hallway that is outside of Blu, to Tuscan Grille or to Qsine?


And as the poster above mentioned. You actually measured a room on vacation? to each their own but sounds like you are extremely petty.

Good to know. I believe that Delta is the best airline in the US. When I book flights I will always choose Delta even if it means paying a little bit more. They have always effortlessly taken care of me over the years.

The deck plans show the same space in the public areas. They are not to scale of course and might not be accurate, but if the cabins are the same number across I can't see how that translates to extra space on the lower decks. It's only two feet if is anyway.

 

Whichever levels are wider (if not all of them) will have about 4,000 more square feet per level based on the information that we have.

 

So its not just "two feet anyways" its an additional two feet for 128,781 feet. I of course am going off the length that I have. The actual length of each level would differ but regardless its 2 feet for a long length, which adds a lot of space.

 

If we say that just levels 3,4,5 are the wider ones, which it where the majority of public spaces are than we can say that there is 12,000 more square feet on the reflection of space. Where that space is? who knows. But it is bigger and there is more space, its simple math. Just because you didn't see it or feel it doesn't mean its not there.

 

It really can boil down to the cruise you were on. I find Caribbean cruises to seem more crowded (especially 7 days cruises) just cause I feel everyone is out of their room more, a more alive atmosphere and more people enjoying a shorter vacation time.

No, the same number of cabins width wise. I suspect the increase in beam is measured low down in the hull and gives extra stability for the additional guest cabins. Certainly the public spaces look the same.

 

The majority of the public spaces are located on decks 3,4 & 5 which is "low down in the hull" This would be the widest part of the ship, minus the bridge.

The stat that counts is the ratio of public spaces per passenger.

 

Reflection is bigger and has more passengers. Both ships have 10 elevators. Which ship has a longer wait for an elevator?

 

Does Reflection have more space devoted to private dining rooms? Is the main dinning room bigger? Does the dining room actually have less space per non-suite passenger because they crammed the tables closer together?

 

Seating in bars? Seating in the theater?

 

Total ship space per passenger includes everything from cabins to the engine room. Not a valid stat to measure crowding.

 

 

Well considering its 2 feet wider, that space would be reflected in all areas of the ship, on all decks thus increasing passenger/ space ratio. Now if that means the atrium vs the martini bar got the space, or if the casino vs the shops got that space I don't know. I am not sure how they dived up the space on each level. In areas where the room is the whole width... that room would be larger, dining rooms, buffet, theater, pool area.

 

Yes, all the ships have 10 elevators but then again people complaining about waiting for an elevator have always been the epitome of the first world.

To me, yes, it felt more crowded. About 300 more passengers but no additional public space. Just my opinion.

 

Its actually the opposite. It has been discussed on here many times. Reflection actually has more space per passenger due to it being longer and wider. Someone on here more inclined can probably post the stats or chart.

 

Here are the basics:

Celebrity Reflection: Length: 319 m (1,047 ft) Beam:37.4 m (123 ft)

Celebrity Eclipse: Length 317.14 m (1,040 ft 6 in) Beam:36.80 m (120 ft 9 in)

I don't understand all the gripe. These charters/ special groups pay big bucks to the cruise line for their events. Typically they book around the same time of year, year after year. This is business, a business looking to make money.

 

So put it into perspective:

 

You: Was on a cruise in Feb 2015, booked a cruise for 2017. VS. a group chartering the whole ship or blocking a large amount of rooms with passengers willing to pay above normal prices for a whole ship for a week year after year.

 

Group wins!

 

Re-book else where and get on with it.

 

When the above poster asks, "what are they doing to the summit?, it has a large following." I almost want to laugh. They are making sure it makes money, this is business.

 

If the group did not charter out the whole ship then they really don't have to inform you. Does a hotel inform you when a large conference is going to be staying there during your stay. No.

Can you pre book on board for other people. Example: we want to pre book 3 rooms in total. 1 for us and 2 others for family members. Is this possible?

 

What are the deposits for pre-booking onboard?

I too am glad Celebrity has placed a ship in the Caribbean all year but per my post on the board........need help deciding between 11 night or 10 night itinerary....

 

What is making it hard to decide?

 

For us the 11 N was an easy decision. The 4 seas days + St. Lucia, Barbados and Tortola all which we have never been to was the appeal.

There is definitely a market for Caribbean cruises in the summer. We like to do one longer international trip and one Caribbean cruise every year. I hated how basically after April it was either RCCL, Carnival or Disney. We tend to do our international trips in the range of Nov-Feb so it made it hard to budget for a Caribbean cruise on a cruise line we want to go on.

 

So glad celebrity is placing the Equinox out of Miami all summer. Already cancelling our May cruise on the Harmony and switching do the 11 N southern Caribbean. YAY

 

That sucks for all of you that have previous cruises booked but I laugh at the ones claiming.. "that is it.. we are done with Celebrity" Things happen, plans change, get over it and move on.

We are on the October 10th sailing on the Reflection and cannot wait to visit the two stops in Turkey. Hopefully they wont cancel them.

We're loyal X cruisers (1500+ CC points) and were on the "race to Zenith", tying to book as many long night cruises in top level suites. X introduced the Suite Program and we were excited. Then the bottom fell out, and it became clear that Lisa Lutoff-Perlow was moving Celebrity in a new direction: try to attract younger customers to cruising. Hook them in now and they will be with you for life.

 

Here's the problem: they don't have money (they are in student debt up to their ass) and what they do have they are NOT going to spend it on a cruise.

 

In the meantime you have alienated your loyal cruisers, who don't care about "Evening Chic" and all the nonsense that comes with it. Celebrity isn't RCCL. If we wanted that we would have stayed with RCCL.

 

So Lisa. Good luck to you and what you are trying to do. Watch your repeat business tank as Oceania, Seabourn and other lines pick up the loyal guests you ignored by trying to appeal to hipsters.

 

Hopefully Richard Fain will have the sense to realize how you have destroyed the brand and bring someone in to fix it. Until then, sayonara.

 

 

Sounds to me like it is time for you head over to HAL. We have plenty of disposable income and we are not rich or have high paying jobs by any means. We have student debt but that is being paid off over time and we don't stress about it...cause everyone has it. See our generation is doing it a little bit different than yall did. We don't want have 4-5 kids (not saying you do but lots your age did) we don't want to be house rich, we want to enjoy wonderful experiences now and not wait until we until we retire to start really living. We don't all want to live in the suburbs and drive a minivan.

 

The cruising industry is changing. What used to be a family or old people thing... is not that case. Celebrity used to be viewed as an old person cruise, with boring classical music always playing and everyone asleep fairly early. Lisa is changing that because that business model already exists over at your future favorite cruise line. Think of the new celebrity cruise line as a "W" hotel. Trendy, gay friendly, modern, evening chic attire, lounge atmosphere, fun and energetic music and amazing cocktails. That is basically what Lisa is doing and lots of people love it. She is very smart for tweeking the company to head for a target market that wasn't tapped into. I suggest you start building your status somewhere else otherwise you just going to be unhappy.

Thank you for that carefully-argued rational contribution to the debate, based, no doubt, on your personal knowledge of the current situation across the whole of Turkey.

 

Insulting people who disagree with you is commonly the sign of a lack of more substantive argument, and this post is no exception.

 

Stuart

 

Well put.

 

Cannot wait to hopefully visit Turkey on our cruise in October. Regarding the recent government turmoil in Turkey, we are not worried nor would never plane to cancel over this. Especially with the events being far away from where we will be visiting and for the fact that this event and the people involved are not after tourists. I have been in other countries during government issues and though while it can be an inconvenience, we are not involved.

 

In regards to the recent attacks from extremist, this can happen anywhere at any time. I certainly would not cancel a trip to France, Orlando, Belgium, or any of the other places and locations that these horrible events have occurred.

So let me get this straight. I don't mean to sound prudish (OK I don't care if I do) but they really have a cruise with clothing optional? Like all over the ship? Eeeuw. Or is it just at the pool? Still...... I don't want to sit on loungers or chairs previously occupied by all that!

 

 

If you are shocked by that you would be really shocked at what other charters do; in the loungers, hallways, lounges, rooms, balconies, open decks, elevators.... you get my point. Not just on celebrity, but HAL, carnival, RCCL, Princess.. you get my point... oh yeah, also lots of these groups charter hotels all around the world too.

We did b2b on the Reflection last Oct. The first was a great 11 night E. Med. which is very port intensive. The following TA was very relaxing for us and others. First stop Madeira, then 3 in Caribbean before Miami. We loved it. Doing the Reflection TA this fall with a number of Med. stops. I understand the different opinions.

 

We'll be on the 11N Med this year before your TA. Ill be the one weeping getting of the ship as you guys get on.

How can you tell which arrangement you have? We're in 7281 on an upcoming cruise, but they all look the same on the deck plan.

 

What ship are you on?

 

If an S-class ship, pretty sure that your bed will be near the bathroom. You can check at the top of the celebrity forum. In the "sticky" forum there is an S- class room spread sheet that gives that info. Your room is a connecting room based on the floor plan on celebrity website. Your room is on the right side of the 2 connecting rooms. Rooms on the right side of room twosomes are bed near bath.

 

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

One thing that you might consider is doing the last Caribbean sailing b2b with the transatlantic or tans first and then the first Caribbean sailing depending if you are doing east or west bound. You'll need about 20+ days to do this though.

I like both. I find we use our balcony more when the bed is near bath. You have one large living area with easy access to the balcony, the balcony becomes an extension of the sitting area. When the bed is near the balcony, I feel like there is a division of the living areas. I find we go out there look, sit for a bit and come back in.

 

Although there is something nice about having your bed inches away from an open balcony door.

Does anyone know if Celebrity will introduce Caribbean stops in 2018 for Transatlantic's similar to a few years ago rather than European stops travelling from Rome or Barcelona to say Miami?

 

Thanks

 

 

I agree with you. I love when they incorporate both. I was looking for some and haven't been able to find one. I think there is one in 2017 that stops in NYC, Boston and then Nassau, not too ideal imho.

 

I love cruising but I think its more fun when you can stop at some beaches.. at least for some of the cruise. For me a perfect combo would be a westbound TA, starting in Rome, then hitting a couple stops in Europe with a couple stops in the Caribbean to round out the trip.