cruisefam38

Room service charges, vaping, butler service reduced in suites, no more t-shirts prizes for trivia, cookies for a fee plus gratuities. Cuts here and there, fees encroaching and expanding. Luxury ? Premium ? Indistinguishable ?

& Mirrors Or because cruise lines are increasing taking the prerogative to "adjust" any and all aspects of cruising at their need or whim: Celebrity Bait and Switch "To Enhance Your Cruising Experience"

Ouch. X Arise X Aspire X Vertex Although it is really hard to beat Celebrity Vapex conjures up the word "vapid".

We were sorely disappointed by a Princess cruise in 2013, which caused us to shift our business over to Celebrity. We have tried different types of state rooms, and like you, have cruised primarily in Sky Suites. Although not exclusively, X has been our go-to cruise line, because we have left each and every cruise satisfied and happy. However, prices have gone up steeply since the pandemic. After a decade long cooling off period, we cruised with Princess a couple of months ago, in our case on the Regal. The itinerary suited us and the price was more attractive than what X offered. We booked a corner aft and really enjoyed the whole experience, now we are much more likely to cruise with Princess again. As others have noted on the Celebrity boards, there are plenty of customer complaints on the Princess Board, and furthermore, across the mass market cruise lines. Cruising is changing, and we aren't pleased with some of those changes. I hope you enjoy your future cruise, and hope your experience will be equal to or even better than ours. Below is a link to my CC review: https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=702200

I think this is a very good point.

Thank you for responding about the automaton. I am also curious about stabilization technology on the robot, as that would be very important on a sea going vessel. Maybe CalTex is still around and can comment. You have a point about some of the particulars, but I disagree on the whole. It took 22 pages for someone to bring cold fusion into the discussion; and I think along with robots, questionable business practices, personal preferences and approaches to traveling, this has been an interesting thread. I already expressed my appreciation in post #513.

terrydtx, this has been an interesting and informative thread. chemmo, orator, and hcat have all chimed in at some point, so that is a good indication of the relevance of the topic. We will watch and wait, we have until December to decide. In the meantime, I am searching for alternate cruises on other lines for next Spring, however current prices are not encouraging. We like to cruise, we have enjoyed Celebrity as recently as last year. We don't have to cruise though, we don't have to travel, we have a choice. The cruise line has apparently decided they don't have to communicate with it's customers, however, once again, Cruise Critic and the-other-social-media-platform have empowered those same customers with a place to share information. Thank you to all who have contributed information and opinions.

This seems like common sense, ChucktownSteve, yet the two most recent presidents of Celebrity have seemed determined to demonstrate that it is possible to grow a business while alienating loyal customers.

The question I have been sitting with is this: If two staterooms dominate one butler dedicated for nine cabins, what is to stop 14-28 cabins dominating the services dedicated to 145 cabins? Celebrity can not control this outcome. Therefore, either the current butler system will return, but only after plenty of aggravation and disappointment for most everyone involved, or Celebrity will have the data and the rationale to end any additional personnel service completely (by whatever name they choose to apply). Robots will seem like an upgrade at that future juncture.

Wonder if the current president's final responsibility will be to activate the computer program that replaces her? In the movie "The Terminator", the defense had be become offensive.

We've had butlers who were quick to switch out the mini-fridge with water and a preferred soft drink. We've also had butlers who would not, could not supply an extra bottle of water. Which is in line with what others have experienced and reported. Either way, no worries.

Freudian slip?

No problem, sir. The Dedicated Retreat Team member will warm your food to the desired temperature with their microwave laser eyes.

everyone, anyone, no one?

I see three levels of trays, and no retractable or articulating arms, the customer takes the food and places it on the table themselves, is that about right, cublet?

Wishing for you to have a most enjoyable cruise.

I would hope that on a British Isle cruise, or for any cruise originating in and around the UK, G&Ts will be programmed in to the menu. Please, terrydtx, do bring silicon chips to tip your server

The robots you offer as examples are the very automatons I was referencing. The photos are illustrative.

So true, terrydtx.

You and others have provided good reason to believe that people are already being re-assigned or released from onboard service. I can imagine those little robots rolling around with coffee perched on their little flat heads. The doorbell rings, the passenger opens the door, the robot says, "Greetings Cabin 9017, here is your morning coffee, cream, no sugar. Have a good day."

I thought that was a good idea, swjumbo. So I called the "Dedicated Retreat Team" number, and a message said I was 140th in line, and I would receive a call back within 24 hours.

I already sent a message and received a chatbot reply. I think it was a chatbot, because the reply was silence.

As others have stated, the lack of communication is part of the problem, paulh84. Modern business people who live with one hand glued to their cels and one eye glued to a screen, and who use the devices to communicate all day, couldn't be bothered to craft a statement that could have been released within an hour of notifying Celebrity staff. In this day of near instant communication, the inability to anticipate a leak and/or the total lack of concern for the impact on booked guests, suggests a mindset at corporate headquarters that raises serious concerns.

and a small measure of respect for us, the paying customers. Once again, Well Done, chemmo.

I don't like this statement, however I think you are100% correct. What will be the straw that breaks the camel's back?? Orator is also on to something. One can envision a "Sky Suite with Butler" option being added to the price list.