mayleeman

We did a B2B on Allure in 2019 and watched Mama Mia on both legs. I had always avoided it, but we thoroughly enjoyed it. By comparison, the production on Reflection earlier that year looked like an opium den come to life in a crappy dinner theater. I thought somebody was running a psychology experiment or something.

15 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

I find it hard to understand how they believe that alienating their most loyal cruisers to the point of trying their competition will help them.

Maybe they ran numbers and decided the cost of Captains Club benefits is too much unreimbursed expense. Let other lines who match status foot the bill of rewarding you and fellow Zeniths for your X loyalty.

We moved to a golf course community and joined 3 years ago (annual fee only). A new owner has decided to drive members out because he thinks the members are getting too good a deal. Our mens' and womens' groups make up about 70 to 80% of the play and he thinks we will pay daily rates and keep playing as much (WRONG!). Just like Celebrity, he has decided to reduce expenses to try to max profit, and after raising rates this year has now cut out amenities and reduced access to what could be a great restaurant and 19th hole. Most of his staff has quit, but his newly appointed course director is destroying it full speed ahead.

When this started happening here last year, we thought cruising would be a nice escape. Now, not so much. "Look, honey, less for a higher price. Just like home!"

Deleted

2 minutes ago, zitsky said:

I enjoyed my one marketing class in college but boy did it seem like the sleaziest profession.  Buyer beware.

Thank you for that.

Mayleeman, Esq. (Ret'd)

We live across the street from one of the Margaritavilles. It is a major party community. I expect they will have a wake with one type of drink VERY heavily consumed.

Reading the reasoning why the guarantee is not a guarantee reminds me of John Candy explaIning the "rules" of poker in Stripes.

19 hours ago, RomanH said:

I still haven't made the final payment (because that means any further reductions in price would get me credit instead of cash).

Clarification: It is after the final payment deadline that you don't get price adjustments. If you were entitled to a price guarantee adjustment, you would still get a refund, not just credit, if you had paid the whole amount prior to the deadline. 

I am eager to see some experiences here that are contemporary! 

Some people say we make more complaints here on this board compared to the other lines. I'd say it is likely 20% because we admire and subconsciously wish to emulate Celebrity.

12 minutes ago, awhcruiser said:

Much adieu about nothing.  Its over.

Fun while it lasted...like cookies.

6 hours ago, HMR74 said:

she like other mothers did not understand the party aspect of college. I was there in the mid 60's. The drinking started the first day of registration , and back then we went to the sports complex basket ball  ball arena to get our punch cards for the classes that were required, at the times we wanted.

Pot parties started my Sr year when I had to be serious.

Sure, we told her we wanted to get back for the fun. But we all knew it was really because the food was far better. Now, if anyone likes fishsticks twice a week...my childhood would be ideal!

News release from Celebrity: 

"We have noted the overwhelming response by our veteran passengers to a varriety of small fees and changes to certain amenities. This level of enthusiasm demonstrates our passengers' unqualified support for our revenue raising efforts designed to enhance our reknowned quality.

"To thank our passengers, we will soon (at an undisclosed time with no notice) begin adding a percentage-based surcharge to all payments made when passengers complete Final Payment.  We believe the anticipation of this surcharge, to be called "Special - Charge - Randomly -  Enhancing- Wonderfulness," will eliminate the boredom in waiting 90 more days with nothing to get excited about until embarking. To make it even more fun, the amounts to be charged, and the passengers paying it, will be completely random. (We do suggest pax using credit cards ensure a safe cushion in their  credit lines.)"

"We are so excited about S-C-R-E-W!"

1 hour ago, HMR74 said:

Just thinking, always dangerous.

 

Anybody remember Freshman year dorm food?

the jokes about mystery meals.

Chicken Fried Steak? With lots of gravy . Greasy burgers.

many nights of pasta?

 

Not speaking ill of my mother' cooking...but she told her friends that us boys seemed way too eager to get back to the dorm dining rooms.

3 hours ago, purpleally said:

Doing their job, not a service!

So a bartender handing you a bottle of beer isn't doing his job but gets a tip, but someone loading and wheeling a few hundred bottles to the exit for departing pax is only doing a job because you grab one.

People spend thousands on a cruise and then nit pick on gratuities.

5 hours ago, purpleally said:

How about I pick up a bottle of water on my way out at a port, no one else touches it and I’m charged a gratuity. If you want to add, I know how to subtract

At least in your example somebody had to lug the bottles to the departure alcove.

Or by not booking at all. Unfortunately our plan after our 3.5 years delayed Feb cruise.

21 minutes ago, chisoxfan said:

Wow, sorry for my comments and not sure why you are so animated about them.  Apparently I missed the point of the thread (thanks for outlining).  Your comment about making my own bed or cooking my own food does not seem on point. I guess by posting you also prolonged this thread? If you are tired of this thread or don't not like its direction nobody is forcing you to read it. Peace.

I am confused...Why did you write 'At the risk of prolonging this lengthy thread..."? Seems @zitsky was only responding to your comment about prolonging it.

It has been 4 years since we cruised, and never ate in Murano. Are there extra charges for extra appetizers or entrees?

Just made a rez for our Feb 3 Reflection.

17 hours ago, ldtr said:

Remember it is vaping so more second hand nicotine and heavy metals.

You are responding to a joke.... 😏

Or just cancel if you don't like stress.

@markeb Bringing up Circuit City is interesting because they managed to commit business suicide by trying to make cuts to increase profitability. 

The issue for dissatisfied cruisers isn't the effort to get profitable again. It is the constant changing of what is provided to customers who had been offered something else when they booked. As well as the changes made with little or no acknowledgment that they were cutting back. Only a business whose model involves  prepaid (by months) nonrefundable revenue could try to get away with that.

13 hours ago, highway180 said:

You obviously don’t cruise celebrity that often.

You obviously don't have the feature turned on that might show you how wrong you are about cruises taken and planned by @mahasamatman. He knows whereof he speaks.

Sooooooo tempting to adopt the port name as my attitude bumper sticker.... 

2 hours ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

Even more important than culinary school, I know what I like.  The cookies on Celebrity are terrible.

Ever had the Ranger cookies on Royal? I thought they were perfect! I don't remember Celebrity's, though.

Wish there was an outside to tell some bickerers to take their fight to.  Bars are better than forums!