Anyone else notice slow bar service and lack of staff!

Just off a recent 4 n cruise on Equinox. I have sailed Celebrity 5 other times. The last two on Silly and Constellation and thier was slow bar service then as well. I have no problem waiting my turn but it always seems at The Martini Bar there is always a wait at prime times around dinner or when shows let out.

People on this cruise were noticing how long it took to get the bartenders attention and would just walk away.

If they would add 1 or 2 more steady bartenders i feel that would help.

Celebrity sells the Drink Packages and then doesnt have enough staff to make it an enjoyable time.

We just came back from 2 weeks on the Silly. Staff in all areas has been cut down, from room stewards (they used to have an assistant) to dining staff, etc. I will say the staff that is left is wonderful and they work their patooties off. The martini bar was so crowded that we went to World Class bar for amazing cocktails. I took the advice of a very seasoned, almost Zenith member and tipped $5 initially to someone who was going to be "my"person, followed by $1 tips occasionally. I was noticed and served well. Wine steward, bartender and room steward.

I agree it is all about being noticed. I was just so frustrated by the inability to get a drink I thought why should I tip more than the 18% which is not me. I usually always tip extra.

I will definately keep that in mind on next cruise.

Yes they do work extremely hard!

All bars get busy during peak times, including ours at home. Nonetheless, we had no problem getting drinks on Eclipse over the last two weeks.

I've noticed it on every cruise line I've been on in the last 5 or 6 years. When we started cruising is seemed we couldn't set and empty glass down without a waiter magically showing up asking if we needed another. Now you could just about die of thirst waiting for drink during the busy times. Not sure it it's just the bigger ships/more passengers or if they are actually cutting back staff.

Wait til you are under the table - takes even longer to get served.:cocktail:

You have to adjust your schedule. When we were on Reflection last year, if we tried to get a drink (or a seat!) at the Passport Bar at 5:45 we were out of luck. If we waited till 6 when the first seating dinner people left, not a problem. We had the beverage package so sometimes we'd just take a glass of wine and a Jim Beam for my husband back to the cabin and then carry them with us when we left for dinner.

You have to adjust your schedule. When we were on Reflection last year, if we tried to get a drink (or a seat!) at the Passport Bar at 5:45 we were out of luck. If we waited till 6 when the first seating dinner people left, not a problem. We had the beverage package so sometimes we'd just take a glass of wine and a Jim Beam for my husband back to the cabin and then carry them with us when we left for dinner.

The main atrium area is a zoo before and after each dinner seating. Doesn't matter what bar you go to they are all busy especially so if the band is playing. It's often easier to get a drink in the Ensemble lounge or the Casino bar.

We were on the Reflection for 21 days (Oct-Nov) and spent many hours at the Martini Bar. As always, it was a very popular place. On previous cruises we had usually had 4 bar tenders working (during busy times) but on our cruise there were generally only 3. But these 3 were very good and we seldom had to wait more then a few minutes to get our drinks. However, the table service (in the area near the Martini Bar) was abysmal. Even in early evening when the entire area was packed there was usually only a single server trying to keep up with demand. The crew worked hard, most of the passengers noticed, so folks were either patient or went to the bar to get their own drinks. We did hear a few others complain that there were not enough bar waiters.....but for us...all was fine.

Hank

Since so many have the drink packages, they've made their quota by the time we sail. There is nothing to gain by quick service at the bars. I tip extra at the end of the cruise if there is a server or two that stand out. As much as I hate the idea of bribing anyone to do their job, I'm starting to rethink my timing.

On our silhouette cruise in November I would say the bar service was good. Only place we were not served tablesside was the passport bar. Especially good service in World Class Bar, Esemble Lounge and Cellar Masters.

The beverage packages are killing them. Sommelier's have told us they have 4X the workload they did before the beverage packages. Dont know how they manage !!!

I can only imagine. Its showing with reviews like mine. Add another bartender or two to each bar at peak times and youd have a stellar cruise ship people would love to cruise on with no gripes. Love alot about Celebrity but AGAIN... the having to wait for cocktails and food is ridiculous. Another 2 people helping here and there make them stellar. Theyve got everything mastered except this..

Just My opinion...Lisa needs to hear this...

I've been on Silhouette three Christmases in a row, along with a few other summer and March break cruises. Bar and sommelier service has not changed. Staff numbers have not changed. Yes, bars are busy or slow depending on time of day. Tipping does not make a difference. Bartenders remember me by the second day and offer me a usual order. They are great. Sunset, Ensemble, Passport, whatever. Same level of service.

Ive been on Silly, Summit, Constellation and Equinox twice. Totally disagree that bars are the same. Ensemble was a mess. Disgruntled bartenters rude and just don't work for me.

I get it some bartenders you bond with some you dont..level of service has been different.. Not the same. Sorry just my opinion...

Having sailed on a number of Celebrity ships recently, I would say that the lack of bar staff and slow service was most noticeable on Constellation in Europe this past summer. That is one of the complaints I had in my review of that cruise (10 day Italy and Croatia out of Venice). I was pleased with the overall service including bar service on the two other cruises we took in 2017 (on Silhouette and Summit).

We experienced similar on Silhouette last spring. Particularly poor was the sommelier in MDR. We waited more than 20 minutes on first evening and only got service after our waiter intervened. I didn’t complain and put it down to usual first night rush........

Second night it was just as bad and after 20 minutes I grabbed the maitre D and explained my problem.

He apologised but didn’t offer any explanation and said he’d take care of it.

What a difference from then on. It was same sommelier, but he was present in our seating area almost continuous after that, where before he’d be gone for ages.

We utilize a very simple strategy that has proved quite effective :). Do not order your food until your wine has been served. On Celebrity this has often not been a problem...but sometimes our strategy does get called into play. If we do not yet have our wine, and the waiter tries to take our order, we very politely say we would like our wine....before we order food. At that point the waiters are very good at getting a sommelier to the table....or in the case of wines by the glass...the waiter or assistant will get the wine themselves.

On our most recent Celebrity cruise (21 days on the Reflection) we dined in Murano 10 times! The first time in this venue we had to employee our strategy because the wait service is so darn good that they will normally beat the wine Sommelier to the table. After a couple of meals in Murano the wine stewards (there were 2) were quickly at our table within seconds after we were seated :).

Hank

We cruise every December, most recently on the Summit and I can only speak to my experiences. I have had a beverage package each year as well and we always upgrade to premium. Have never had an issue at a Martini Bar getting a drink or a second or third. As a matter of fact, they are usually pouring me a fresh drink while I am finishing my current one. Service for me has been way above excellent. Yes I do tip a few dollars each evening (as we head for dinner from the bar) but usually only $5 which I do not consider excessive by any means.

This year, one of the bartenders recognized me from the Equinox last year and I had the same experience on the Equinox when we were aboard several years in a row.

Don't know if it is personality, attitude, friendly conversation or something else but, we seem to always have no issues with service. This also holds true for bar waiters and Sommeliers in the dining rooms. Many times I would walk in and find a drink waiting for me on the table. As a matter of fact, this past year our bar server had my beverage of choice waiting for me on the table without the ice and when she saw I was just about ready for it, magically, the ice would appear.

The only bar that ever appeared to be a bit slow for us was the Casino bar later in the evening.

My guess is that a lot of the issue with waiting is also a matter of perception and what one is used to.

Jed

Just off a recent 4 n cruise on Equinox. I have sailed Celebrity 5 other times. The last two on Silly and Constellation and thier was slow bar service then as well. I have no problem waiting my turn but it always seems at The Martini Bar there is always a wait at prime times around dinner or when shows let out.

People on this cruise were noticing how long it took to get the bartenders attention and would just walk away.

If they would add 1 or 2 more steady bartenders i feel that would help.

Celebrity sells the Drink Packages and then doesnt have enough staff to make it an enjoyable time.

When we are cruising with a drink package, I generally scope out a bartender at our favorite spots, ask him/her if that is their "regular" bar and then drop a $20 bill with the first round of drinks. Take care of them a few other times during the cruise as well. I have never had a problem getting a drink!

Just off a recent 4 n cruise on Equinox. I have sailed Celebrity 5 other times. The last two on Silly and Constellation and thier was slow bar service then as well. I have no problem waiting my turn but it always seems at The Martini Bar there is always a wait at prime times around dinner or when shows let out.

People on this cruise were noticing how long it took to get the bartenders attention and would just walk away.

If they would add 1 or 2 more steady bartenders i feel that would help.

Celebrity sells the Drink Packages and then doesnt have enough staff to make it an enjoyable time.

I never had a problem, but that may have to do with tipping. In my case, buying two packages at the bar. The bartender recognized and actually hugged me 2 years later. Unsurprisingly, crew likes money. Also, when I asked about this enthousiasm I don't encounter much in bars I usually attend, they also prefer people being nice (or "easy to please" as the manager put it). So here's an important life lesson. Don't buy drink packages in advance, find out which bartender you like best, buy the package from them, be friendly, and you'll be treated like a king forever.

Great advice.. like I was saying I usually do the same. But was so taken back by the service and wait times I got off my usual plan of tipping prior.

I will stay focussed next time..

So here's an important life lesson. Don't buy drink packages in advance, find out which bartender you like best, buy the package from them, be friendly, and you'll be treated like a king forever.

I use this philosophy when I get on board with the Classic Beverage package. I upgrade with person I like the best whether it be the sommelier or a bartender at the Sunset Bar. That person gets to keep the upgrade gratuity.

I use this philosophy when I get on board with the Classic Beverage package. I upgrade with person I like the best whether it be the sommelier or a bartender at the Sunset Bar. That person gets to keep the upgrade gratuity.

Thanks wine-o,

I never knew that. Will do that in the future.

As the popularity of the drink packages go up and more people get them, The service will go down. Its just general business sense. I think the break even point is 5 drinks? Celebrity knows this. Why would they add more people to the payroll just so they can give out more drinks? They want you to drink less. more time waiting= less drinks served. simple.