horseymike

16 hours ago, Cap_D said:

True.  As a new cruiser, but someone who looked backward quite a bit to understand it and select a first cruise (or none at all), it seemed from actions and words the prior execs were at least attempting to create a positive feel good experience; and that Celebrity / LLP were allowed to be different, and better.  Money that went to water slides and shows went to having more crew and space per passenger, and other things. The new crew are all Bob Chapek's looking to squeeze the last dollar, and rubbing it in

 

I will say that we found that prices for a suite with access to coastal kitchen on RC (which was really hard to figure out the final pricing on) was coming out higher than Retreat in 2022.  And, that was before we added in the necessary upsells that were fuzzy to create a comparable package, including the value of OBC to cover excursions.  So, Celebrity was a relative bargain and known to be demonstrably better quality in many ways. That seems to be over.  Folks should also keep count of all all the pricing info and metrics.  By the time the new management is finished, many of the prices for optional but needed packages will be impossible to find or dynamic, including desserts, coffee, drinks, and more.  The Royal model is to get and force people to spend onboard.  That was not the vibe Celebrity was going for with all included and crew that would be incentivised to generate satisfaction. The cookie is more than just being about a cookie.  It's about getting wallets open.  Look for more ways to drain OBC onboard, more overages on certain drinks, and other top off upsells, then less OBC, and even more gimmicks. There's going to need to be an shifting of onboard culture if Jason and Laura succeed with their playbook.  And, for them Celebrity is a tremendous opportunity if you're looking to find more opportunities for revenue, even if we perceive risk to keeping a flow of reccuring passengers.  

The OBC seem to be dwindling every time I research a new booking.

I remember a car rental company that was the GOLD STANDARD in the rental car business for decades. After being sold multiple times the same company is still out there trying to profit from a reputation long since gone. Needless to say , things are not going very well for them.

20 hours ago, Cap_D said:

She's not a hospitality person or marketer and it shows in the video from the President's Cruise and handling of all the changes. She was fortunate that they had arranged to fly in Captain Kate to the President's Cruise.  

 

As for the marketing, it's just one BS promo after the same, sliced a different way, while the overall price is inching up, insults and cutbacks are growing, and foot in mouth surveys will become the norm. 

 

Meanwhile, all of the bookings and reputation is based on the LLP era.  The halo of an empowered crew first leads to happy passengers, elevated ship for everyone, influencer videos, impressions of what the Retreat should be, crew to passenger ratios, culture, design choices, whimsy, pricing that didn't become annoying while onboard, and so on, plus past positive experiences, that is what was selling the full ships of today.  

 

Meanwhile there were other retirements or layoffs / attrition proximate to LLP departure that probably also were partially due to their work about to be undone.

 

Was on an E class ship when the announcement was made.  Small sample, but we didn't get the warm and fuzzies when the topic was mentioned to people that took pride in what they were providing (and built) during chit chat.  

 

20 hours ago, lv2cruisgrl said:

I liked Lisa Perlo better!  This new chick is the new hatchet woman...not liking it.

She is probably a beard for Jason Liberty.

20 hours ago, CunucuMom said:

Reminds me of many corporate environments when a new leader takes the helm and makes immediate changes (read: cost-cutting) without fully understanding the impact on daily operations and customer satisfaction.  Sometimes the knee-jerk alterations work, more often they fail.

Jerk being the operative word.

21 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

Many of us believe because the previous CEO LLP and the title of CEO were removed, it's RCG's CEO Jason Liberty running the show and wants to bring many RCI items to X 

Is Jason Liberty related to Liberty Valence ? 
Sure seems like it.

It’s really dependent on your personal preferences. If you enjoy several cocktails throughout the time on your cruise, AI will be the way to go. If you don’t drink , or drink sparingly it is not worth it.

Other factors are if you have ON BOARD CREDIT included in your booking , that might very well be enough to cover your beverages, both alcoholic and non alcoholic.

Keep in mind that everyone booked in the cabin must book AI or not .

There are special exceptions with regard to the alcoholic drinks that involve being a recovering alcoholic or not drinking for medical reasons.

21 hours ago, Tampa Girl said:

But if you want to tip room steward, dining stewards, etc., what  is the reasonable range of such tips, for instance, per week/  It doesn't help to say it depends on the service.  We always get good service on HAL.

I usually tip $10. Per day to our cabin steward above and beyond the prepaid tips that we have already paid. The service has been excellent 95% of the time. 
There was one time when the service was hardly passable, in that case I reduced the cash tip considerably. It’s only fair to mention, that was not on an HAL cruise.

life jackets will now be 9.99 per day plus 20% gratuity.

Does anyone know the total cost ( including gratuity ) of the Quench Package on HAL ships ?

2 hours ago, baggal said:

Please all:  if you want a pillow chocolate book a standard veranda cabin and bring a $5 bag of Hershey Kisses on the cruise with you.  I'm sure if you ask your cabin attendant he will put them out on your pillow every night.  As for afternoon canapes bring back a snack from the Oceanview Cafe and leave it in your cabin refrigerator for a few hours.  It won't go bad.  Problem solved and $$$ saved.

Whose $$$$ was saved ? These cruises have already been paid for .

Hope you have a great cruise 🚢 

We had an HAL cruise booked years ago , we decided to purchase the Platinum Protection Plan from HAL. At the time I was unemployed, prior to departure of the cruise I was able to secure a job. Needless to say we cancelled our cruise.

HAL paid back 90 % of the cruise fare in short order with no problem.

Hope you feel better soon. Thanks for keeping us posted.

5 hours ago, swigso said:

Perhaps they will do away with Al Bacio and introduce Starbucks like hotels that would not surprise me. 
“ To enhance our valued guests experience and enjoyment they can now enjoy a delicious freshly brewed coffee and other Starbucks favourites “ A fee will be applied.

To be honest al bacio is hands down my favorite venue on the entire ship.

1 hour ago, Kelownadon said:

As long as Al Bacio continues to have free lemon tarts I’m happy. 

Don’t give them an idea….

21 minutes ago, lv2cruisgrl said:

Well if the food has really been downgraded then I will loose weight!

32 minutes ago, timbom said:

Yes a lot of us were planning on driving .. I think it is unfair that we have to pay the transportaion between the terminals. Who do we complain about this too.  

HEADQUARTERS IN SEATTLE

No worries. They substituted canned tuna fish.

3 hours ago, Lena11033 said:

I mean the lobster for me is meh because I can get that at home but I know it's a point for others. But the reviews recently on food is a little concerning, my next cruise is a 12 night cruise so if food is not good that's going to be a long trip 😅

I confess , I really look forward to eating good food on a cruise. Anything less is a disappointment to me.

Stay after it while still onboard.

I had a booking without the crew appreciation included once , after I had booked , HAL ran a promotion with the crew appreciation included in a fare quite similar to what I had booked.

I called HAL and they rebooked it for me with the same cabin and whatever else was originally included as well as the crew appreciation.  

On 8/20/2023 at 9:29 AM, kywildcatfanone said:

Cruises are sailing at capacity.  If loyal cruisers don't like changes being made, there are plenty of people to take their place.

Good . Let them. 

4 hours ago, topspot said:

What day of the week is it?  If you are lucky there is something called "Punda Vibes" and there are fireworks near the floating bridge this is on Thursdays.  I've learned about this while researching our land trip to Curacao.  Unfortunately we leave on a Thursday.  There are some locals that answer on these boards that can offer suggestions on restaurants near the ship.

 

March 11 - 12 2024 overnight in Curacao . Monday - Tuesday.

Rotterdam Departing Port Everglades on March 8 2024.

41 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

Take a look over on the Curaçao board.

I did . I didn’t see too much.