Silvery Seas Cruiser

4 hours ago, Oxo said:

Your posting was very informative! You took the time to explain your experience which was not a good one even though it work out OK. Why do people not accept you explaining your experience to inform others. That is what this forum is about. INFO!

Glad you enjoyed the rest of the cruise. 

I agree with Oxo here. Why do people have to be snarky about a well intended post?

My thought is that often the tea in the OV dispensers tastes suspiciously like apple juice as though that was run through the dispensers. What I do is get the free tea bags, hot water and a separate glass of ice and make my own fresh iced tea. This is a bother, no doubt, and can be messy too. However, I feel that is far better than the  tea offered in the OV.

Even better is to get the Tea Forte in Cafe Il Bacio, let that cool and add ice cubes to that for a really satisfying iced tea. There is an extra charge for Tea Forte unless one has a beverage package. 

5 minutes ago, Luvcrusn said:

I totally believe the Reggae promise was made, just as the promise to restore water to Aqua class was made. Since those Q & A sessions have her on the spot answering questions that may be uncomfortable for her, I suspect it's just more convenient to give the popular answer and then fail to implement the action, or in the water/Aqua case do it for the one cruise and promptly forget it.

One would think a staffer would take notes of promises made or suggestions and complaints, if any. Then the CEO could act on those. Otherwise the promises seem cavalier or empty. The passenger who was made the promise will feel the answer was deceptive or dismissive. 

23 minutes ago, grandgeezer said:

Did she play volleyball with the crew, against the passengers, like many of the captains, and staff do ??

I don't recall that she did, but maybe she did and it just didn't get much publicity on  the ship. I will say that on Royal Caribbean, I've been on a ship when either the CEO of Royal Caribbean or the CEO of RCI did play table tennis in a tournament with passengers. Evidently he is an accomplished player. It impressed me a great deal that he would do that. I thought it was really cool. 

2 hours ago, Luvcrusn said:

I can't see the point. There have been quite a number of these sailing and many promises made at the Q & A sessions like the Reggae bands noted above or the restoration of daily water to Aqua class, but sadly either she or those reporting the promises have memory problems. 

I can assure you I do remember Lisa's promise about the reggae band because I cruise for the live music. I was delighted some one asked about the pool bands and I was delighted by her answer, eagerly looking forward to the return of reggae bands or steel drum groups as per her promise. It never happened, at least up until now. I'll check again on our Dec first cruise on Silhouette. Perhaps the one who forgot the promise was Lisa herself or it just wasn't important enough to her to recall her own promise.

I agree with all of the above. We did a CEO sail a couple of years ago. It was a Southern Caribbean cruise on a Solstice Class ship.  It featured a few premium priced events off the ship. We didn't attend those because they weren't exactly what we were looking for. We had chosen the cruise for the itinerary rather than having the CEO on board.

 We seldom saw her and then it would be in a group hurrying by us, not a situation where you would stop her to greet her or comment. She did have a Q & A session in the theater. I remember one passenger asked her why Celebrity no longer had reggae bands on Caribbean cruises and how much he missed it. Would she please have such bands again? Her answer was, "Done!" I foolishly took that to mean reggae bands would soon return to Caribbean cruises. I thought wrong. No cruise I have sailed has featured a poolside reggae band since she promised to restore them.

Her biggest point of pride in that talk was the hiring and promoting of women and she introduced the first Nigerian woman who was training to be a sea captain eventually. She seemed like a very serious and intelligent young woman. I do wish her all the best. 

About halfway through the cruise I began to suspect the CEO was no longer on board, at least I never saw her again, not even quickly in passing. No more special activities were offered.  Frankly, booking a cruise specifically because the CEO is on board might turn out to be a disappointment. I don't feel the CEO is there to resolve passenger issues or to truly "meet and greet" except on the most superficial level. She is there mainly to market new Celebrity ships,  itineraries and projects. 

21 minutes ago, davekathy said:

To each their own. I've also seen a few enjoying their BP way too much that could/should have used a straw. 😉 

In the interest of transparency, I do use paper straws and always have several with me for restaurants. I have  straws for every holiday and theme. Right now I am using an assortment of colorful Halloween straws. Maybe I drink fast, but the ones I have don't fall apart. I buy them in large lots from Amazon. Some here say paper straws don't last. Why not just ask for a fresh straw in that case? 

Some here say they don't like the taste of paper straws, but do plastic straws taste any better? 

Anyway, I know I won't convince the plastic straw users to change. Maybe they can make other positive changes to help reduce the growing problem of micro-plastics in the environment. If each person would choose just one change to make, it might make a difference, but I know each person has to choose what is meaningful to them. It is depressing to hear some say the problem is so big, nothing any one person is doing will make a dent in the situation. 

Why can't folks just drink without any straw at all? Why must everyone use a straw?  I know those with certain disabilities do need a straw, but the vast majority of people do not. 

We customarily cruise the first week of December. Every Celebrity and Royal Caribbean ship we have sailed in early December has been decorated for the holidays. Sometimes, if the decor is not complete. more is added each day. It is fun to get up each morning and see what is new. 

Probably many don't consider live music to be an amenity, but I really do. If any further cuts in live music are made, that would be the deal breaker for me. I remember the halcyon days when there were a true jazz combo in the Ensemble Lounge, a reggae band at the pool and a men's vocal quartet that sang at various places on the ship. I'm not a big fan of guitar and vocal duets which seem to be the new standard. One of the pleasures of cruising for me is the variety of live music. I am saddened that it is being gradually eaten away and I do miss the way it used to be.

21 minutes ago, CRUZBUDS said:

 

just curious -- have you seen the commercial?  It is far stranger than just the lyrics -- some of the visuals are downright disturbing.  It doesn't bother me, but I have to wonder what they were smoking when they decided it was a good idea for a campaign.  

I have seen the commercial and call it Alice in Cruise Ship Wonderland. That isn't what I usually look for in a cruise. Perhaps it will appeal to a much younger generation than my generation.  I wonder if Edge is attracting a much younger generation of passengers in significant numbers as compared to Solstice Class ships, for example. Just curious.

We were given the  flimsy tote on Equinox on the Sept cruise, even though previously we were always given the better quality tote in Concierge Class cabins. We didn't get fresh fruit either. We did eventually get the bottle of wine, but I'm not sure if that is a Concierge benefit or a Captain's Club benefit. 

When I first saw the ad in question, I was astounded. Hubby almost never knows lyrics to popular music, so he didn't recognize the meaning, but I told him that it is a drug song. It was popular at the time LSD was in use. We had a few patients at the psychiatric hospital where I worked who had experienced very serious side effects from LSD. So I was really shocked when I heard the song in a Celebrity Edge commercial. Perhaps whoever chose the song actually did think it was only about Alice in Wonderland and didn't know the symbolism of altered states produced by LSD or acid as it was often known.  

I just Googled the song and learned Grace Slick wrote the song after an acid trip, as the psychedelic  result of taking LSD was called. She saw the resemblance of the altered state to what was described in Alice in Wonderland. 

Calicakes, no they didn't bring a footstool although most of my cartoons were about that. Thye just brought the bigger table and left the little one too, so I had plenty of tables, but still no footstool. I used the little table as a footstool but it wasn't very comfortable...higher than the chair's seat and sharp edges.

9 minutes ago, calicakes said:

Good News!!  X has heard your complaints!!  

 

The head housekeeper Paul( Officer) came to our cabin to let us know that based on the numerous feedback from guests.... They are bringing back footstools.  They placed an order and they will be available in 2 months.  

 

When we were told he wanted to speak to us, I thought we were in trouble for putting our swimsuits on the balcony to dry. LOL. 

 

 Thank you for telling us that. Your news is very heartening to those of us who have to have a footstool, myself included. 

Also what you said was so funny about being scared the officer was there to scold you about drying swimsuits on the balcony. When an officer came to my door last week on Equinox, I thought he was going to speak harshly to me because I drew cartoon depictions on the comments sheet of how uncomfortable and impractical the new chairs, tiny table, and lack of footstools were. I feared he was going to say it was disrespectful and never sail on Celebrity again. Instead he was very gracious and had a larger table sent to my balcony!

38 minutes ago, calicakes said:

I emailed celebrity one touch.  I told them on was on the Equinox and sent them a pic of my shower stool.  Here is the response I received. 

 

Dear Randi:

Thank you for contacting Celebrity Cruises shoreside offices in regards to your current sailing.

I apologize that when you asked for a foot stool they provided to you a shower stool. I greatly apologize and assure you this was likely a misunderstanding. I have provided your email to ship board staff so that they will be able to better assist you.

Randi, again, I greatly apologize that they provided this to you. I assure you we will work diligently to provide  more adequate foot stool.

Sincerely,



Tami Morgan
Celebrity Cruises
 

It was good of Ms Morgan to reply to your comments, but I have to wonder exactly what footstool they would provide you instead of the shower stool. It was my impression that all footstools were removed from the ship when Celebrity changed to balcony furniture. Is it possible that Celebrity retained some old footstools on board to satisfy those of us who expect them in Concierge class? 

1 hour ago, trishtoro said:

 

Otherwise with all the free food on the ship, they charge for gelato and ice cream?

 

That seems odd

They also have a la carte pricing in the sushi bar. Sushi used to be in the buffet a few years ago.

Was on Equinox last week and really missed the welcoming smell of waffle cones at Cafe Il Bacio. But even worse, there is no longer a dedicated attendant at the gelato counter. We would have to wait for someone at the other side of the area to notice us and come over when they had a chance, but their priority was coffee, tea, etc. This was a disappointment for us because the lines for ice cream at the buffet can get pretty long, so it used to be easier to get the gelato. I fear these changes are signaling the disappearance of the gelato offerings completely in the future. For some reason the decision makers and I don't seem to have the same taste in many things...what I call little comforts.  

I did happen to see the corporate chef up in the buffet having a pow wow with two other chefs. That day, the last of the cruise, the bakers put on an incredible display of jewel-like decorated cakes in the buffet, plus a chocolate waterfall. I took pictures and wish I knew how to show them here. Those cakes were spectacular. I still miss the smell of waffle cones baking.  

2 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

Back in the day, fresh flowers came with the CC cabin, although they were not refreshed daily.  This has been gone for a long time.  What comes now is something from the Captain's Club if you have status.  Back in the day you did get personalized stationery.  What you're referring to is the notepad which is in all cabins.  I'm just off Equinox and had a conversation with the concierge about all this.  No more fruit, no more decent tote bag.  You have to ask for the "champagne" and ice.

 

Rich, about the only benefit left is a larger cabin on M class and the boarding lunch in the MDR so you don't have to fight the crowds in the buffet.  There was a key card holder, but it is not leather.  And the umbrellas were still there.  And you get 5 points/night vs. 3/night in a regular balcony.  Not much incentive to pay extra.

Especially for us in the Elite Plus loyalty tier. Even if we cruise at our regular rate in Concierge, we won't reach Zenith until our mid-eighties. So we are kind of rethinking our habit of booking Concierge...that is unless the footstools and larger tables reappear on Concierge balconies. 

17 hours ago, AquariusOne said:

• AT ONE TIME CC HAD THE FOLLOWING (quoted from another website)
• Chilled bottle of champagne on arrival 
• Fresh bouquet of flowers, brought to guests' rooms daily 
• Fresh fruit and hors d'oeuvres delivered daily to guests' rooms 
• Menu of pillows - Conformance, Body, Goose, and Isotonic
• Pillow-top mattress & upgraded bedding
• Leather key holder 
• Personalized stationery 
• Tote bag 
• Umbrella (to use onboard)
• Private Bar w/customized stocking (prices are very reasonable)

This list is no longer quite correct for Concierge Class.  Fresh flowers do not come daily. They come on the first chic night. In our six day cruise, that was it. We didn't get daily fresh fruit either ever. The stationary is not personalized. It was a small pad of paper that said Equinox on it. It came with a pen. The tote bag is no longer the better quality tote bag of last year, but a flimsy tote bag about the quality of a typical grocery store tote. The chilled bottle of champagne is not waiting upon arrival. 

1 minute ago, Nymich said:

This is a very good point that X might want to consider!

 Why I even thought of it is that when we are docked next  to other ships I like to check out their balconies to see what their furniture is like and the balcony size and configurations. Perhaps I am the only cruiser in the world who does this, but I must say how the other ships' balconies look does leave an impression, either good or bad depending on the ship.

4 hours ago, albi said:

Celebrity must realize that Cruise Critic fans read more than just their favorite cruise line postings.  It’s embarrassing to see what what passengers have been given, or bring, to replace a favorite feature on their balcony.

If I were were sitting in the top office at Celebrity corporate,  that’s not the image of my modern luxury cruise line I would want any one to see.

It truly is the little things that count!  We have been sailing for many years with Celebrity, still our favorite, but the cuts hurt the overall experience.  The price is high, service remains wonderful, why then spoil it and make the experience less enjoyable.  Give us back some of what drew us to Celebrity in the first place!

You phrased that so well and I heartily agree with your sentiments. What must a Celebrity ship look like docked next to other ships in port when the Celebrity balconies have beach balls, blow up cubes, camp stools and shower stools in use for footstools.? What a rag tag, poor image that must show to the neighboring ships! 

To me, Celebrity's thinking on dropping free movies is a bit jagged. On Equinox they just installed larger screen TVs than before, so much larger, some shelving that used to surround the older TVs is now gone. So they have these nice new high def TVs and they drop free movies? 

So if you want a free movie, go to the uncomfortable lawn area where they have a very nice high def screen, but scant public seating. The night we walked by, there were about a dozen folks each with a reddish low-to-the-ground cushion/chaise. But I couldn't see any spare empty ones. Or you can go to the Celebrity  Central mini-auditorium with chairs that would not serve well for a two hour movie. Why can't you watch a free movie in your cabin? How does it cost Celebrity any more?

My experience on Equinox last week with the full Internet package was that I seldom had access on my balcony.  My bed, which was near the window, also seldom allowed me access. I had to sit on the sofa to get reliable Internet. Other places in the ship's interior were OK and fairly fast...but not always. Sometimes it seemed the Internet was balking at giving service.  Our cruise was to Key West, Cozumel and Costa Maya. 

3 minutes ago, keesar said:

 

I guess this is the new MODERN LUXURY Celebrity is talking about. What is that tiny table off to the right?  Looks like you could fit two drinks on it.

 

The former ones just needed a fresh stain and touch up paint for the legs.  

The little table fits one medium dish and one drink or two drinks with no dish. The table is low, so you must lean if there is food, but too high to use as a footstool and not comfortable either because of the sharp curved edges. Did anyone actually try out the new balcony furniture before it was chosen?