Anyone else wondered how the "free" Classic drinks package will impact service?

[TLCOhio]

The typical Celebrity passenger doesn't strike me as a drunk. jls

 

Agreed!!! Well stated and summarized.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 115,886 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

[uktog]

I hope you are correct, though I was talking with some people in our local bistro who thought they might book on a Baltics trip because the wives wanted to see the scenery and have a cruise. The men were very unimpressed by the prospect but said the booze cards was swinging it (their words) and if the trip went ahead they planned to stay onboard each day and drink and the wives could go out. They also said that was what they did on all their package holidays. Now again, I do not know if this is what actually would happen and how much these two might drink if they booked (and how much of the chat was talk). It is an interesting thought though

[uktog]

The typical Celebrity passenger doesn't strike me as a drunk.

 

jls

 

Totally agree but the marketing in the UK is not targetting the typical passenger at present

 

Only time will tell if this has a positive, neutral or negative impact

[Bobal]

Totally agree but the marketing in the UK is not targetting the typical passenger at present

 

Only time will tell if this has a positive, neutral or negative impact

 

Completely agree with what you have had to say in all your posts above regarding UK sailings. I fear that the way this has been marketed in the UK will attract 'booze cruisers'. I already know of someone who has cancelled a much looked-forward to Baltic Cruise precisely for this reason, having seen comments from a party of 6 who had booked the cruise because of the package and boasted about how much they would be drinking.

 

I don't cruise from the UK so it won't affect me but it would be a real shame if cruises from the UK were spoiled because of this.

 

I'm a fan of the package, at the right price and on the right itinerary. I've bought it for my last 2 cruises but haven't done so for my forthcoming Eclipse cruise since a) we have many port days and b) the 10% offer wasn't available. It's a shame they didn't make the drinks package offer available to UK customers sailing outside the UK :(

[grayjay]

I'm not really worried, but I also contemplated our upcoming fall Transatlantic , booked with the 123-promo, with a tiny bit of ideas of huge crowds of people "on the package" clamouring for bar service ....:D

What I have heard for example of all-inclusive lines like German cruise line "Mein Schiff-TUI" or "AIDA" that there's quite a lot of chair hogging in the dining rooms and bars because of the free drinks during meals and/ or at the bars. But there is a huge difference between people trying a few more varieties of drinks on the bar menu because they have got a package and a "booze cruise" . In our case, I'm sure we'll try a lot more specialty coffees and teas than usual - Café al Bacio, here we come and won't go...

[JLSPOOL]

I'm not really worried, but I also contemplated our upcoming fall Transatlantic , booked with the 123-promo, with a tiny bit of ideas of huge crowds of people "on the package" clamouring for bar service ....:D

What I have heard for example of all-inclusive lines like German cruise line "Mein Schiff-TUI" or "AIDA" that there's quite a lot of chair hogging in the dining rooms and bars because of the free drinks during meals and/ or at the bars. But there is a huge difference between people trying a few more varieties of drinks on the bar menu because they have got a package and a "booze cruise" . In our case, I'm sure we'll try a lot more specialty coffees and teas than usual - Café al Bacio, here we come and won't go...

 

Celebrity might serve tasting size drinks. I'd leave most drinks for disposal. Calories and capacity ya know.

 

jls

[Aussiegrlfl]

I recently cruised with Carnival with the "cheers" package....they do have a 15 limit but it is reserved for if "they" think you have had enough....there were days were we probably went over from mimosas at brekkie to champers in the casino at 3am....celebrating a win...but we did not ever just sit around and get drunk....who wants to ruin a cruise doing that.....we also never had a problem getting service and Celebrity has had the bevvy package available for years for anyone to purchase and never had a problem before and quite frankly when I purchased my room for my upcoming Celebrity cruise an OV was going for $349 and they required you to upgrade to the $399 OV room for the package which basically paid for the package...........so no real deal there.............just paid for it in advance......I don't want to not remember my cruise I just like to be able to have a drink if I feel like it and not have to worry about the bill at the end.............and we do tip an extra $1 each drink we get.....it's just us...thanking our individual server for the effort...

[zoncom]

I remember several years ago on my first Elite journey worrying about 2 hour drunk fests.Never happened. Even on Euro cruises.I must say the average X cruiser is a conservative, which is fine with me.You may find smaller cocktail glasses. But if you want a double, no problem. But do tip; they work hard. I was told the Elite cocktail staff was paid $10 for the several hour shift. They then went on to work dinner or another lounge. I imagine it will be just the imputus to get some first time X cruisers on board.

[Ando]

I think generally the number of guests with the free classic package will actually be a minority group onboard, given that it is only a 6-week or so booking period for most cruises through to 2014. I don't expect it will impact the service.

Cheers

Ando

[DebbieMacG]

I think generally the number of guests with the free classic package will actually be a minority group onboard, given that it is only a 6-week or so booking period for most cruises through to 2014. I don't expect it will impact the service.

Cheers

Ando

 

 

Well you would think so, but since they have been adding it to existing bookings (at the customers/TAs request as long as they paid the prevailing rate) a lot of people have taken advantage of this offer not just the new bookings in the six week period.

[Ando]

Well you would think so, but since they have been adding it to existing bookings (at the customers/TAs request as long as they paid the prevailing rate) a lot of people have taken advantage of this offer not just the new bookings in the six week period.

 

Ahh yes - a very good point I didn't consider, which could increase the number of package holders on each cruise :)

[ninnau]

Think of all the different ships and sail dates available---I think those that have the package will be spread out among many of them and it will not make that much difference.

[uktog]

Think of all the different ships and sail dates available---I think those that have the package will be spread out among many of them and it will not make that much difference.

 

Not when the UK cruisers who wish to avoid air travel (a large number, I would suspect) have only 2 ships to cruise on

[Gordoncruickshank]

I hope you are correct, though I was talking with some people in our local bistro who thought they might book on a Baltics trip because the wives wanted to see the scenery and have a cruise. The men were very unimpressed by the prospect but said the booze cards was swinging it (their words) and if the trip went ahead they planned to stay onboard each day and drink and the wives could go out. They also said that was what they did on all their package holidays. Now again, I do not know if this is what actually would happen and how much these two might drink if they booked (and how much of the chat was talk). It is an interesting thought though

 

You will always find a few who will abuse the system and themselves but you will find that they would do that whether they had a beverage package or not.

 

Over the years we have stayed at many fairly good up market all inclusives with free top end drinks and there are always quiet places to sit and relax. In the Caribbean it is predominantly US based passengers and they generally have a much earlier meal and bed time to Europeans, particularly if they hae enjoyed themselves during the day. We generally find that even if drink is free US visitors drink much less than Eurpoeans.

 

Very rarely do those who overindulge during the day appear in the evening. If they overindulge in the evening, they miss most of the next day.

 

Over all the years we have rarely seen anyone behave poorly.

 

Where you may find a problem is at the coffee bar. On our last cruise we could go there when we liked and always get a seat. If it is free I would expect it to be much busier.

 

I will find out soon.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Not when the UK cruisers who wish to avoid air travel (a large number, I would suspect) have only 2 ships to cruise on

 

two cruise is more then Canadians and most of the people in the states have to choose from

It is a 2 day drive to get to Flordia ,

it an 2 hour drive for me just to get to Toronto airport

[Cruise Junky]

two cruise is more then Canadians and most of the people in the states have to choose from

It is a 2 day drive to get to Flordia ,

it an 2 hour drive for me just to get to Toronto airport

 

Don't be lumping us Westcoasters into that number of cruise deprived Eastcoasters :)

 

My cruise went from 32% availability to 30% during this promotion. I'm sure the majority of people who aren't on Cruise Critic had no idea it can be added to an existing booking. I'm not worried.

[huskerc]

I'll admit, I'm a bit concerned, however considering how little the average cruiser (not CC member/reader, just average in general) knows about cruising, I think most may not even understand that they have the package as part of their booking.

 

I do think it will be some time before we really know the impact. I am on the Siilhouette next month and I don't expect many people on board will have the drink package included (we will). However later this fall we're doing a Med cruise and I think most people will have it for that one.

 

I'm not worried they're going to run out of alcohol or anything--but I do think there may be some pressure points, like Al Bacio.

[alexspepa]

we have the beverage package and prepaid gratuities on the 3-31 Silhouette sailing, making this a virtually all-inclusive cruise.

 

whenever we visit a land-based all-inclusive I bring lots of one dollar bills to tip with. I realize that some gratuity is included in the package, but would i be out of line to bring extra tip money for the bar staff?

[thebutlerdidit]

I only have one Celebrity cruise under my belt, but while on that one my husband had a premium beverage package and I did not. It actually seems like it would have been a lot faster and smoother service if I had also had a beverage package. That way we wouldn't have had to have the waiter going back and forth with a bill for me to sign for my drink each round.

[u2cruiser]

I'll admit, I'm a bit concerned, however considering how little the average cruiser (not CC member/reader, just average in general) knows about cruising, I think most may not even understand that they have the package as part of their booking.

 

I do think it will be some time before we really know the impact. I am on the Siilhouette next month and I don't expect many people on board will have the drink package included (we will). However later this fall we're doing a Med cruise and I think most people will have it for that one.

 

I'm not worried they're going to run out of alcohol or anything--but I do think there may be some pressure points, like Al Bacio.

 

Will you come back and let us know huskerc please?

I agree about Al Bacio.

I never even thought of them running out of alcohol :eek: :D

[Iamcruzin]

Don't be lumping us Westcoasters into that number of cruise deprived Eastcoasters :)

 

My cruise went from 32% availability to 30% during this promotion. I'm sure the majority of people who aren't on Cruise Critic had no idea it can be added to an existing booking. I'm not worried.

 

I agree most of the cruising public won't look back after they book a cruise. I used to be one of those fools until I found cruise critic and found out I should watch prices like I watch the stock market.

[twosit]

How naive am I? :eek:

 

I was looking at it as a logistics issue for X. I hadn't even thought of the "booze cruise" mentality (guess I never associated that with Celebrity) when I put up the original post, just the staffing aspects and longer lines, particularly at the cafe where it takes time to make a coffee. On a package I would certainly have a couple of coffees a day (assuming they are any good) without a package I would grab a cup of hot water at the Ocean View and dunk my own tea bag instead. :)

 

I would also drink their bottled water and soft drink rather than bringing on my own and not bother with my 2 bottles of wine at embarkation.

 

Will be interesting to see what the reviews say in the future. My take on the promotion was that X were testing the water to see whether it was worthwhile making the included drinks package a permanent feature and charging a higher initial price. Would make a point of difference from some of the other similar mid-range cruise lines.

 

I totally understand your concerns. I mentioned the same thing to my husband. I imagine there will be some growing pains along the way. They will definitely have to increase the amount of servers and do something about the Cafe. This promotion seems to be going fairly well and I envision that x will offer similar deals in the future.

 

IMHO, this is just part of the new marketing strategy by Celebrity. Some of us have been lucky enough to benefit from the fact that Celebrity built 5 gorgeous large ships that they have had problems filling. Over the last several years they have had to practically give the cruises away with last minute sales. Many of the people able to take advantage of these last minute deals are older--this doesn't seem to be a healthy long term strategy. This kind of promotion accomplishes some good things for Celebrity. One of the most important is exposing Celebrity to a different group of cruisers than have previously cruised on x.

 

I imagine there will be some growing pains.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

I totally understand your concerns. I mentioned the same thing to my husband. I imagine there will be some growing pains along the way. They will definitely have to increase the amount of servers and do something about the Cafe. This promotion seems to be going fairly well and I envision that x will offer similar deals in the future.

 

IMHO, this is just part of the new marketing strategy by Celebrity. Some of us have been lucky enough to benefit from the fact that Celebrity built 5 gorgeous large ships that they have had problems filling. Over the last several years they have had to practically give the cruises away with last minute sales. Many of the people able to take advantage of these last minute deals are older--this doesn't seem to be a healthy long term strategy. This kind of promotion accomplishes some good things for Celebrity. One of the most important is exposing Celebrity to a different group of cruisers than have previously cruised on x.

 

I imagine there will be some growing pains.

I have agree Lynda

Will be the same as buying a car, you know the will be putting cash or cheap financing on the hood Or both why pay full price

 

This weekend TA cheap price was $699, for 15 nights, no 123, full price was $1500 with 123

So it is the same price , depends if you want a drink package

[MicCanberra]

With the popularity of the current promotion there are likely to be sailings where a significant proportion of Pax have a drinks package.

 

I'm wondering if X is likely to increase staffing levels in the Cafe and bars to take into account the likely increase in customer traffic, and whether they will be putting extra alcohol onboard!

 

I'm predicting long lines for specialty coffees!

I agree, although I think it will mainly be at the cafe. responsible service of alcohol will be in place so I do not think too many people will be staggering due to over indulgence. Service will likely be quicker in the bars as more people will not have to sign for drinks.:D

[happy cruzer]

Yes the coffee bar may be impacted. but I also think the sommelier and drink server in the MDR may be overwhelmed. There are already reports of slow wine service....