cruisefam38

Perspective is important, and so are historical facts. 

On observation, or an event I happened to witness:

We sailed on Beyond for a 10 night Ultimate Caribbean this spring, disembarking on Monday, April 1.  This was our third cruise with Capt. Kate, and during each cruise we had multiple pleasant, even charming interactions with her.  The final interaction this time, as it had been during the other two cruises, was during disembarkation.  Near the end of the zigzag gangway, the Hotel Director and Capt. McCue were seeing off passengers.  As we walked upon the scene, I saw the mother of a family tell the captain that her son had something to show the captain.  Capt. Kate promptly squatted down and focused her considerable energies on the young passenger.  He showed her the item and explained its importance.  Capt. Kate nodded a couple of times and admired the item, asked a couple of questions, and left no doubt the item was interesting and worthy of attention.

I could see that young lad's smiling face before he turned away.  I believe today, if you ask him about a ship's captain, he would not describe a 65 year old man, with ruddy, wind blown cheeks, a captain's cap, a pipe and a Hemingwayesque beard.  No, he would tell you about the lady with the lively eyes, the big smile, the ponytail, and the quicksilver mind.

Call it style, panache, or as other's have, charisma, this person has It.

Undeniably competent at the helm, leads by example, and she emphasizes crew accountability and development, the Master of Beyond doesn't just do her job.  Only an opinion, but I believe Captain Kate McCue is more than worth her salt.

16 hours ago, G2G said:

You could choose to get off & make alternative arrangements??

Logic? Common sense?

23 hours ago, RK-NC said:

And it looks like BOTH our cruises are 100% sold out.  Hope you guys have a great trip

Hello RK-NC!  I know where Graham is, don't know much about the town.  Burlington, Mebane, Graham.

The hazards of booking a Spring cruise are Spring Break and religious holidays. 

Those are going to be very energized cruises.  

I made hide in the cabin some days.  When your time comes, I wish you a most enjoyable cruise

On 2/29/2024 at 8:59 PM, mac_tlc said:

I hope it was informative and maybe a little fun!

This thread has been timely, we board the Beyond in about three weeks.  Thank you for sharing your experiences and perspective.

8 hours ago, aliaschief said:

look into when the insects swarm

Also, arid and hot.  Nonetheless, Uluru and Kata Tjuta are well worth the time.   We hope you and DWAliascheif thoroughly enjoy the trip to the Red Center.

terrydtx, I appreciate your critical reviews, which do include giving credit when and where it is due. 

We will enjoy our cruise on Beyond next month, and I retain hope for the quality service we have always received from Celebrity shipboard staff.

18 hours ago, Wander58 said:

Going to the small Greek Theater in Ephesus was fantastic!  When would you ever get to do that? 

This bears repeating.  I will remember the performance and the theater at Ephesus as long as I live.

Another example was the Azamazing Evening last Feb. 1 in Cartagena :  Carnaval De Barranquilla at Teatro Adolfo Mejia.  The theater was a stellar setting for the performance, such that the same performance could not have been as wonderful had it been aboard the Onward.

Ah. Thank you Phil.

A third read through of avw's post could certainly be interpreted otherwise.

avw, not OP, author of the article. 

tgg, I do not retract my positive impression of you.

On 12/16/2023 at 11:51 PM, avw said:

Doesn't seem to be known anywhere else other than the author of this article.  

Having met tgg on a cruise, they gave the impression of a nice, thoughtful person not given to rash or hyperbolic actions.  Privately owned businesses have the option to keep their decisions behind closed doors, and generally can play things closer to the vest.  I appreciate they shared the info.

Sycamore Partners has shown they are comfortable with the strategy of growing a cruise line by purchasing an older ship and refurbishing it, rather than building new ships.  That MO fits with the news about Margaritaville at Sea doubling their fleet to two ships.

As of the moment, Sycamore Partners has not updated their website to reflect this cruise line expansion.

On a side note, Cruise Hive website is reporting Azamara had a record sales year in the UK :  https://www.cruisehive.com/cruise-line-reaches-record-sales-in-the-uk-and-plans-to-keep-it-going/117595

Will the drydock include removing and sandblasting away the Big Orange Barnacle?

9 hours ago, Loracpin2 said:

might very well be our last Celebrity experience!!

We have a cruise on the books for next spring, and we are hoping the poorly conceived and executed changes will be revert back to a quality product grounded in good service.  In other words, past the commotions and after the dust has settled, we too hope we still recognize Celebrity Cruise Line.

I was neither edified or entertained by watching that Q&A.

However, my thoughts and opinions regarding Celebrity leadership are crystalizing.

2 hours ago, CHEZMARYLOU said:

Granted, this is referencing higher level suites so might not apply to SS

Very much our experience in Sky Suites.  Except for one notable exception, the butlers assigned to our cabins assisted their co-workers by lending a hand in daily chores, as well as taking care of the chores you listed. 

We remember a time when there were stateroom attendants and their assistants, that changed.  In suites class, there was a time when there was a stateroom attendant and a butler.  Now, there is only the stateroom attendant.  What's the business take on this?  Something like:  if you want to increase the work load for an employee, don't give a raise, give them a new title.  Presto changeo, the attendant becomes a Retreat Host.

28 minutes ago, wrk2cruise said:

Is it possible the head butler is just not getting contacted as it is easier for the passenger to just address requests with the Concierge?

Which is to say that when a guest has a request, the guest will ask the readily available staff for assistance, instead of seeking out the behind-the-scenes staff.  The Retreat Concierge is a face-to-face encounter that makes a positive impression on the passenger.

Which puts a different light on the claim that a team of fewer individuals scurrying around the ship trying to fulfill requests can or will replicate that the same level services that the group of specifically assigned butlers interacting daily with their guests can provide.

Who could have foreseen that outcome?

4 minutes ago, Baggy178 said:

Hats of to the Celebrity marketing guys who pulled off that stroke ...😅

Oh.  Is that what a business calls offering goods and services for a price, and then deciding not to deliver the publicly offered goods and services.  This while keeping the consumers money, and assuring the disappointed consumer that, poor things, they are confused, they are 'really' getting the diminished over-priced product after all.  One just needs to ***** their head to one side and look through a kaleidoscope to see the beauty of the false marketing.

A stroke.

I have another word for that maneuver.  Actually, a couple of other words.

10 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

Some of us like our balconies.  Should not have to choose between better food and a balcony...

Potentially, A middle step along the way to when cruising moves from pick your perquisite to pick your poison.

We have enjoyed cruising with Celebrity so much; C-class, M-class, and S-class; it is sad to see the financial/economic factors drive these kind of corporate decisions, Hobson's choices for consumers.

21 hours ago, zitsky said:

Who are “they”?  Celebrity?  Carnival?  Princess?

Question is:   Who is Carnival?

or is it:  What is Carnival?

confirmation from deliver42 in the previous post

On 9/22/2023 at 5:33 PM, lostchild said:

If that's what AI thinks human looks like, no wonder Skynet wanted to kill everyone.   I don't blame it.

NOMAD:  Sterilize Imperfections!

4 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

X needs to hire him as a spokesperson

Spot on!

Samwise knows plenty about long journeys, over and land and sea, and he knows po-tay-toes.

Those last couple of photos.

morning announcement:

"Greetings from the bridge, this is your Captain speaking. 

Today's the day!  The day we know you've all been waiting for!

We will be cruising the phenomenal Potato Straits!  First we will see the occasional potatobergs, followed by some mashed potato patches, and then good views of the potato waves can be enjoyed from your IV cabins and from a few positions on the upper decks. 

We will cast our specially designed and eco-friendly nets later this morning, harvest some delicious spuds, and our crack restaurant teams of Michelin starred chefs will individually craft carefully curated creamy culinary potato creations for your dining cravings, both for lunch and dinner.  Enjoy!"

Not the OP, nonetheless appreciate the information folks have shared.

Certainly, the cruise industry has been facing head winds the past three years.  Agreed, it is the responsibility of the CEO to have a future orientation to navigate rough waters and sense when and how to adjust to market pressures.

The major cruise lines all have new ships in the pipeline, both to replace older, outmoded ships and to utilize new technologies to meet customers demands, demands for environmental sustainability and for fresh entertainment.

What can Azamara do to distinguish itself to remain viable?  Commit to new builds and/or major refurbishment of the existing fleet? Announce a major initiative to completely overhaul the deeply and badly flawed software system the company must have to continue to retain loyal passengers and acquire new customers? Perform actions to demonstrate a commitment to elevated onboard service, the thing this cruise company has done well ?  Or, Perform a dog-and-pony show touting how really "kewl" your product has become?

No doubt having a thick skin is a requisite of being the CEO of any company, however, also being tone deaf to your real customers concerns regarding current issues can not be a characteristic of a successful business leader.

8 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

Integrate the Edge Class ships into Royal and give/sell all others to Carnival.

Drastic times must be met with drastic measures!!

Wouldn't that be a statement, giving away cruise ships to your main competitor.

"We are so assuredly confident in our business model, we gift you a veritable fleet of ships!"

6 hours ago, clojacks said:

the same handful of complainers posting and reposting and reposting the same bitches...

Apparently some people are indefatigable.