Sdancer

The old Crystal had the names of all 4 ambassadors posted per each cruise (in the entertainment section if I remember correctly) and the names of two professional dance couples. I checked the cruise which started today, Nov.23rd, 2023, and there was no information on entertainment.

It looks like $2,678.57 is the total for two people, including taxes & fees. It claims 75% discount of $3,265 but $3,365 out of $6,084 is 53.41%, not 75%. Strange... it does not add up. What is the total for a solo?

When Celebrity runs a special with 75% off for a second person, it is cheaper for a solo to book for two with a planned no-show for a second person. Taxes and fees for a no-show person are refunded and the gratuities are not charged.

I did! I talked to Marie Batista, the Guest Relations Director, and Tudor, the Hotel Manager, and got nowhere - “it was a misunderstanding”. I told Rich himself too. Sorry, I will let it go, will not post about it again and will try to forget about this unfortunate cruise😊.

A bully is a bully, burn out or not :(.

Rich made a lot of scheduling mistakes like having two overlaying 45 minutes events just 15 minutes apart at the Grand Foyer and another event with a band not showing up. Rich boasted to me that he had zero complaints in his 27 or 28 years cruising, trying to intimidate me. He let me know that if I wanted a band (playing in front of the dance floor!) to play actual dance music, then I should be on Holland America, not Celebrity (?!). He was full of such an uncalled for hate to me that it took me by surprise and made me wonder how he was able to hold his job. I guess that he thought that he could get away bulling a woman.

I met him in person a few times and stand by my honest opinion: incompetent, dishonest, has no shame lying.

The list is too long for this thread :). In short, he is unpleasant and a bully. Eclipse is going to South America on Dec. 7th and will have a different cruise director and a band soon but I do not know the exact date when it happens. It might happen for your cruise - call Celebrity to find out. Unfortunately, the Hotel Manager, Tudor Soacat, to whom a cruise director reports to, is seriously incompetent though he is cruising for many years. I came back from Celebrity Eclipse cruise today. Many people on Eclipse were unhappy with Celebrity and will not return including me. It was my 20th cruise with 6 different cruise companies (4 with Celebrity) and the worst cruise I have ever had. I hope that you get a different cruise director and a different house band on your cruise - it would make a big difference.

I just got off the Eclipse. We had the worst cruise director, Rich Clesen and the worst house band which ame from Carnival, Sea Surfers. People called them the Creamers for their head-throbbing loud music. We had an excellent cruise director in March on Solstice but the Celebrity is going to move him soon.

The people at the port are contractors from ports, not employees of cruise companies.

When the Celebrity is running a promotion that a second guest is 75% off, the solo fair is more than the sum of fare for two people. If a second person is a no-show, will the Celebrity make the first person to pay for a solo cost which is higher? Thanks!

It is very good news about the dance hosts! I will consider booking Crystal when it is back on West Coast like old Crystal was every January to try it out first without having to fly, and when/if the two well known travel agencies that I use start booking Crystal again.

Based on my three cruises on old Crystal, out of 4 dance hosts only 3 could dance with two being good enough dancers and 1 not being able to dance at all. If the new Crystal has only 3 dance hosts, the odds are not great :(.

Thank you so much for your post! It was very helpful. I have a booking (which is refundable) for round trip TA on QM2 next year. I booked to experience ballroom dancing in all its glory. I am a ballroom dancer with DH who does not dance. The lack of dance hosts and generic dancing in QR are unfortunate. It looks like Cunard is changing its many years of tradition in QR :(.

I thought I have posted but it is not here. One more time: I am glad that there are dance hosts on regular sailings (3 dance hosts might not be always enough based on my cruises on old Crystal). I cannot understand why would new Crystal have dance hosts to dance ballroom with solo ladies guests but not hire a band to play ballroom music. Old Crystal was very good about having good bands. Maybe new Crystal just needs more time, maybe a year or two, to bring back what we loved about the old Crystal. Thank you so much for your posts!

Hi Keith, Sorry, you might have answered these questions already and I have missed it. Are there dance hosts and how many each, men and women? Is there ballroom dance music to dance to? Thank you!

I called Crystal and was told that now will be 2-3 dance hosts per cruise, not 4 as it was before.

This is very strange information, hard to believe. There are two agencies which provide dance hosts to the cruising industry, one in US and one in UK. Compass Speakers and Entertainment Inc is in US. Cunard requested US agency to provide dance hosts for QM2 and QE for 2024. Here is the link with the info what qualities are expected from a dance host from the US agency: http://www.compassspeakers.com/gentleman_host.html#about http://www.compassspeakers.com/gentleman_host.html#letter Dance hosts told me about their interview process by the Compass Speakers company in Florida. It is a lengthy process but the dancing ability is looked at very last and only after they successfully finish the interview process. I danced with first time dance hosts and long-time dance hosts. Two of my very good friends were dance hosts; one is going back to being a dance host after the pandemic. Dance hosts do not pay for cruises ; they only pay the Compass agency $30 per night while being a dance host on a ship. I saw the emails which the agency sent to dance hosts for Cunard - dance hosts require to be fully vaccinated and boosted. Maybe that is one of the reason that there is a shortage of dance hosts. Another reason might be that some of the long-time dance hosts are older now and do not what to be dance hosts since it requires long dance floor hours. Also, flying became more difficult and more expensive. In the past a dance host had to stay on a ship for 30 days to get a cruise company to pay for their flights (maybe my flights info is outdated).

Here is what Evenings dress code on board being described on Cunard website: "If you do want to make an effort in the evening you won’t be alone. The majority of guests travelling with us embrace the chance to switch to smart attire by night. This doesn’t mean you’ll be expected to wear a gown or dinner jacket each evening. Smart attire simply means a dress shirt and trousers, skirt and a top, or a cocktail dress. Essentially, choose something along the same vein as you’d wear to a stylish restaurant or the theater on a special occasion." I do not see much "smart attire" at the "party night". Any idea why?

Is it how very casually guests dress for a "party evening" on Cunard or just for the evening?

The American company Compass is providing dance hosts for QM2 and QE. Cunard did not request dance hosts for TA crossings on QM2 for 2024.

Thank you, Dancer Bob! You are absolutely correct about the shoes and alleged "dancing". I am very grateful for the posted picture - it shows how sad MQ2 QR looks which does not inspire to sail TA on Cunard. About Compass dance hosts: old Crystal had a dance host who could not keep a bit and another kept stepping on my feet :). When prospective GH are going through a Compass interview process, their dancing is the very last consideration by Compass.

Thank you so much! It does help to know! I booked TA crossing expecting to have dance hosts to dance with. I am a solo ballroom dancer. The lack of dance hosts on TA crossing with no ports is inexcusable. I have until February to cancel my June NY-NY 14 days TA. I have started looking at other cruise lines.

My GH friend got the following information for me directly from the source about the Gentlemen Hosts for TA on QM2. He found out that currently Cunard is not looking for GH on QM2 TA sailings in 2024.

Thank you for your post. I am surprised that people do not dress up on a Transatlantic crossing, especially for a party.