Missing a Bridge Director

[sammyboots]

I don't know if any of you remember the question and answer session with Michael Bayliss on here? The question was asked as to why there is no bridge director on cruises with several at sea days...and the answer....we were told that it would be implemented onto T/As repositioning cruises etc. My husband was looking forward to his game of bridge on our T/A in November on board the Eclipse and I was looking forward to a couple of hours me time!!! Guess what? No bridge director! I have emailed Mr Bayliss on our return but I have yet to receive an answer.....:confused:

Edited January 6, 2014 by sammyboots

[Can'tstopcruising]

You can not play bridge without anyone supervising?!

 

Never heard of a Bridge Director. I bet that they can use the staff for better things than to babysit cardplayers.

 

 

No, no, no , no. You've got it all wrong. The bridge director used to give bridge lessons in the am. In the afternoon, he directed duplicate bridge. He is equipped with boards, cards, and everything needed. He scores the game and if warranted, points are earned by the winners who are members of ACBL.

 

This was well attended and a big plus for those who were interested. We miss it and wish Celebrity would reconsider and offer this enjoyable activity again.

 

By the way, this was not a regular staff member taken away from some other activity. This was a trained person, hired for the job.

 

They still hire arts & crafts people. I don't know why they can't hire bridge directors.

[welshfamily]

Never seen any mention of Bridge in any Celebrity Today entertainment details.

Another problem might be where the event would be held. Although the card room is quite small, I have seen the whole card room taken over for Mai Jong with passengers bringing tablecloths and some beautiful Mai Jong sets. ( about 8 tables for 4...I think. )

 

Please remember the following information is how Cunard handle this problem.

 

On Cunard if passengers want to organise a Bridge game they are allowed to take over an area of the dinning room during the time it is not being used but this could be difficult on Celebrity as sometimes the MDR is open for lunch on sea days.

My mother always posts on the roll call that she is willing to organise a Bridge tournament and word gets round. Depending on numbers involved she then speaks with the entertainment staff the moment she gets on board and makes arrangements. Word is passed around at the CC meeting and Cunard advertise the event as well. However she does cruise for weeks at a time ( usually ..world cruise segments )

 

Your husband might want to try the same method. Hopefully he should be able to get together with at least 3 others. He might not get a tournament but you could end up with a few hours peace.

[sammyboots]

Never seen any mention of Bridge in any Celebrity Today entertainment details.

Another problem might be where the event would be held. Although the card room is quite small, I have seen the whole card room taken over for Mai Jong with passengers bringing tablecloths and some beautiful Mai Jong sets. ( about 8 tables for 4...I think. )

 

Please remember the following information is how Cunard handle this problem.

 

On Cunard if passengers want to organise a Bridge game they are allowed to take over an area of the dinning room during the time it is not being used but this could be difficult on Celebrity as sometimes the MDR is open for lunch on sea days.

My mother always posts on the roll call that she is willing to organise a Bridge tournament and word gets round. Depending on numbers involved she then speaks with the entertainment staff the moment she gets on board and makes arrangements. Word is passed around at the CC meeting and Cunard advertise the event as well. However she does cruise for weeks at a time ( usually ..world cruise segments )

 

Your husband might want to try the same method. Hopefully he should be able to get together with at least 3 others. He might not get a tournament but you could end up with a few hours peace.

 

Thanks :-)

[ORV]

Perhaps they had a meeting and decided playing Bridge doesn't really constitute 'Modern Luxury"

 

Seems to be a lot of things on the chopping block that small cliques have enjoyed in the past. I guess we just have to get used to it.

[C 2 C]

It has been a long time since a bridge director has been a Celebrity feature. The old card rooms have all been removed from the M-class ships. The S-class has an open concept and much fewer seats in the card/games room.

 

We have frequently heard from staff on board that organized bridge players were very demanding and very confrontational when other non-organized bridge players or any card players dared to take a seat in "their" card room.

 

If a number of players wish to organize their own bridge game I believe that Celebrity will provide a conference room when available.

 

A number of threads have discussed this issue before but don't expect Celebrity to provide Bridge Directors when a paying passenger could be in that stateroom. Bridge Directors, Librarians, Dance Hosts, Harp Players, and most recently, A'cappella groups are now "history".

[sammyboots]

There were organized games every day (organized that is by the passengers!) held in one of the speciality restaurants. Luckily one of the passengers came prepared to act as the unpaid bridge director with all the necessary equipment and this was appreciated however it is a shame that someone has to do this. It totally took away his enjoyment of the activity and frankly the role of bridge director can be a hassle. There wasn't any issue with the room or anyone elses use of it. Just find it hard to understand why many other cruiselines include a director and Celebrity don't and also Michael Bayliss stating there would be one.

Lol at the comment about bridge players being a little demanding...I believe there are one or two like that...!! Reading Despergue 's comment, I think perhaps the acidic remarks made over bridge could be childsplay afterall....!! :p

[butterflies&gelato]

Steve and Susan are looking for bridge players. We're from VA.

[C 2 C]

I have emailed Mr Bayliss on our return but I have yet to receive an answer.....:confused:

 

I know we are not supposed to comment on spelling, but Mr. Bayliss at Celebrity might not return your email, that is even if there is such a person at the head office.

[sammyboots]

I know we are not supposed to comment on spelling, but Mr. Bayliss at Celebrity might not return your email, that is even if there is such a person at the head office.

 

Oops I stand corrected Michael Bayley! I thought I made a mistake when I wrote it down, chemo brain, I'm afraid...that's what cancer treatment does for you! ;) I did send it to the correct email address as I obtained a direct contact at the time. But thanks for the correction....:D

[OCruisers]

Also miss not having a Bridge Director on Celebrity ships.

 

LuLu

~~~~

[dodger1964]

?...

 

A number of threads have discussed this issue before but don't expect Celebrity to provide Bridge Directors when a paying passenger could be in that stateroom. Bridge Directors, Librarians, Dance Hosts, Harp Players, and most recently, A'cappella groups are now "history".

Do those people stay in regular rooms?

[dadroy]

Carnival cruise lines has cut back on being able to book another cruise while on-board using the same reasoning, they have to provide a place for the person to sleep. I am sure they view it as a cost savings( makes no sense to me) and Celebrity may view the Bridge Director as not generating income. Perhaps a fee could be added, $20pp per day and if enough takers the person may come back.

 

Would you pay the fee for the "service"?

[jackdiamond]

Steve and Susan are looking for bridge players. We're from VA.

Where in Va?

[jackdiamond]

You can not play bridge without anyone supervising?!

 

Never heard of a Bridge Director. I bet that they can use the staff for better things than to babysit cardplayers.

For your information, many years ago they had them on Celebrity ships. But, not now.

[jackdiamond]

You can not play bridge without anyone supervising?!

 

Never heard of a Bridge Director. I bet that they can use the staff for better things than to babysit cardplayers.

By the way, staff was not used. Professional bridge directors were given partial free transit for their endeavors. The fact that you never heard of a bridge director does not mean that they did not exist.

[kobecat]

One of the reasons I prefer Princess to X is the organised bridge, especially on repositionings.

 

Lots of good things about X too.

 

Beryl

[Bundles917]

The answer may simply be: bridge players are literally dieing off, and with the diminished interest the hiring of a Bridge Director is an economic frivolity.

 

Beyond casinos, the communal activity of card play is unfortunately becoming an antiquity.

[Kathie44]

Celebrity has done away with bridge experts, dance hosts and a capella groups to save money. Sometimes there are specific times published for bridge playing, but no experts to organize them. I do see people playing in lounges and other places on the ship, but just their own groups. I agree that bridge players are dying off. Younger generations play other games. I play bridge twice a month at a senior center and once a month with a one-table group of friends. I also play occasionally with a 2nd cousin and her mom and SIL.

I also play euchre twice a month and pinochle once a month. Keeping my brain working, lol.

[Clydesmom7865]

No' date=' no, no , no. You've got it all wrong. The bridge director used to give bridge lessons in the am. In the afternoon, he directed duplicate bridge. He is equipped with boards, cards, and everything needed. He scores the game and if warranted, points are earned by the winners who are members of ACBL.

 

By the way, this was not a regular staff member taken away from some other activity. This was a trained person, hired for the job.

 

They still hire arts & crafts people. I don't know why they can't hire bridge directors.[/quote']

 

Has it occurred to you that they did try to hire someone but received no applications or did not find someone willing to take a job confined to a cruise ship? Not everyone considers working on a cruise ship an ideal job. It could also be that the salary they were offering was not enough to induce applicants or acceptance of an offer.

 

The difference between arts and crafts is that it appeals to a much wider audience and age groups than bridge. My grandmother used to play but she has been passed on for almost 30 years now. I don't hear many people where I live talking about it let alone playing bridge. On the two cruises I took few people were playing cards outside the casino that I noticed. Then again our cruise was port intensive.

[BridgeMates]

I don't know if any of you remember the question and answer session with Michael Bayliss on here? The question was asked as to why there is no bridge director on cruises with several at sea days...and the answer....we were told that it would be implemented onto T/As repositioning cruises etc. My husband was looking forward to his game of bridge on our T/A in November on board the Eclipse and I was looking forward to a couple of hours me time!!! Guess what? No bridge director! I have emailed Mr Bayliss on our return but I have yet to receive an answer.....:confused:

 

I agree. I remember him saying we'd be getting a bridge director on some cruises. It is still a very popular game on HAL and Princess and so much more fun when there is an experienced instructor on board. It's true that it is probably a dying art; however, most cruisers on these lines are in the age group which still play, especially on TA's and 30+ day cruises.

 

7NT to you.....

[C 2 C]

It's true that it is probably a dying art; however, most cruisers on these lines are in the age group which still play, especially on TA's and 30+ day cruises.

 

7NT to you.....

 

Celebrity has made it very clear that they are trying to attract younger cruisers. The chance of Celebrity bringing back an activity associated with a more "mature" cruiser after removing the dedicated card rooms on ships is slim to none.

 

Naming ships with the best bridge experience even though they are competing lines would perhaps be the best solution for cruisers who believe that this is their favourite pastime on cruises and Transatlantics.

[Redtravel]

I started playing bridge many years ago. Play 5-6 times a month. I play social and duplicate. My set games usually have people my age. I do know many younger people who play bridge. They go to the clubs and take it very seriously. I also know serious bridge players that cruise to play bridge and only take bridge type vacations. I am not that serious. I also play canasta and mah jong. On past cruises, we have received cards from guest relations. Do they still give them away? I have played on ships with directors who gave out imps/points. I thought that Celebrity still had directors. Also, are there mah jong sets on the ships? I still don't understand what the "modern luxury" concept. Each cutback is an attempt to save Celebrity money. Over the years I have seen many nice features of Celebrity cruises go away. What is next to be cut with the "modern Luxury" experience? It sounds like Celebrity doesn't appreciate the older cruisers. I liked the attitude that treated everyone as if they were special. Everyone deserves to be "star".

[purrlinda]

I have clients (mid 80's) who won't even consider a cruise unless there will be duplicate bridge on the ship. They frequent Holland America for this reason. I have made numerous phone calls to other cruise lines (mostly higher end, Oceania, Regent) and they don't seem to have a lot of answers when I ask about sailings with bridge. Transatlantic and Transpacific cruises seem to be the ones that have them the most but I've gotten very non committal answers from most cruise lines I've asked.

[SusieV]

Do those people stay in regular rooms?

 

Yes, bridge directors do stay in regular rooms.

 

Honestly, even with the "discount" Celebrity was offering back when they did have bridge directors, it wasn't really worth the time that was required to invest. You'd be busy every sea day with lessons in the morning and a game in the afternoon, and sometimes on port days as well. There was still a nominal charge of $30-$40 day pp and you got an inside cabin. I'd rather pay full price and not have to work!

 

ACBL offers a few sectionals at sea, I'm not sure which cruiselines, but those are options for players who must have their bridge fix on a cruise.