Celebrity we gotta talk

[DragonOfTheSeas]

Well, the OP almost had me until they talked about seeing the Turks and Caicos :). Why? The Port Complex at that port was apparently developed and mostly financed by CCL (Carnival Cruise Corp) and most (not all) of the vessels calling at that complex are from CCL owned lines. But having been to this place a few times we are not sure why it would be on anyone's "to visit" list.

 

Hank

 

. . . because I have never been there. :)

[wallie5446]

. . . because I have never been there. :)

Neither had we till Nov 2012 when we stopped while on the Ruby Princess, one and done, you have not missed anything but a Margaritaville, Sunglass Hut and a couple other stores around a swimming pool.

 

Dont pick a sailing just because it stops, you will be very sad at the choice.

[cruzeluver]

Yeah, the stop at Grand Turk is a bit of a ho-hum. Not much to see on land and the beach, while fine is not anything special.

 

What we did love about it was the chance to snorkel out over The Wall. That was terrific!

[workstocruise]

Well I am a newbie to Celebrity having sailed one time on the Constellation but after that trip in 2013 we fell in love with X and my next two cruises are on the Equinox and Millenium. We sailed on the Allure of the Seas right before our Connie cruise and I was worried because the Allure was big, new, beautiful and had incredible entertainment, but Celebrity won us over because their food, entertainment and crew was so much better. Then next we sailed on the Sapphire Princess and we were so disappointed with everything about that ship that it will take the perfect itinerary and price to get us back. We also sailed with Oceania and while the service and food were outstanding, it's hard to find an itinerary at the right time for us. But I think that cruise lines are subjective, you have to find the one that fits you.

[Stevie Lawson]

Love this initial post.

 

We too switch between Celebrity and RCCL. First cruise was the Century in 2000.

 

Not quite the same cruise line now as it once was but still my favourite.

 

Tried HAL once and never again, weren't impressed with Princess either.

 

Still come across a lot of people in the Loyalty Lounges that only cruise one line, their loss ;)

[wwcruisers]

Well, the OP almost had me until they talked about seeing the Turks and Caicos :). Why? The Port Complex at that port was apparently developed and mostly financed by CCL (Carnival Cruise Corp) and most (not all) of the vessels calling at that complex are from CCL owned lines. But having been to this place a few times we are not sure why it would be on anyone's "to visit" list.

 

Hank

 

Hank, our Century cruise stopped at Grand Turk, last February. Problem was, we docked several hours after the visiting Carnival ship. By the time we got off the ship, every bar stool, sun bed and umbrella were already taken. One of our r/c'ers had previously set up a tram tour for 50 of us. But, when we arrived, the tram operator in question had already filled his tour -- with -- you guessed it -- the Carnival folks who showed up before us! :mad:

We walked up and down the crowded beach, went through the boring shops, and back to the ship. Grand Turk is now on our "been there, done that -- don't need to bother doing it again" list. :rolleyes:

[pbrady]

We have an upcoming B2B and will be Elite+ for the second cruise. We travel as a group of 2, or more likely 3 or 4 Cabins. We are very unhappy with the treatment of us peon Elites compared to suites - this is our last Celebrity cruise. We would have cancelled & changed if we realized how bad it was getting before final payment. We feel the suites costs are paying for the size of the cabin & cabin amenities, but Celebrity is using Captains Club as a pay for points. It has nothing to do with loyalty. I think of may other examples - Caesars owns several hotels on Vegas - if you chose a more expensive room in Caesars compared to The Quad (their cheapest) doesn't mean you get all kinds of special treatment because the Caesars corporation is taking in more cash for your room - you chose to pay for the better room (cabin). How about box seats at a baseball game? - you don't have a special entrance, or special vendors to cater to you - you chose to pay for that seat. The perks are built in but Celebrity is making them royalty. We are done!

[Jade13]

One of our r/c'ers had previously set up a tram tour for 50 of us. But, when we arrived, the tram operator in question had already filled his tour -- with -- you guessed it -- the Carnival folks who showed up before us! :mad:

:rolleyes:

 

That is really bad. You should post that on the ports of call board. I hope whoever set this up contacted the operator and complained.

[wwcruisers]

That is really bad. You should post that on the ports of call board. I hope whoever set this up contacted the operator and complained.

 

Trust me -- we all did complain (here and on TripAdvisor) -- it was a very big deal, at the time!

[patty1955]

We have an upcoming B2B and will be Elite+ for the second cruise. We travel as a group of 2, or more likely 3 or 4 Cabins. We are very unhappy with the treatment of us peon Elites compared to suites - this is our last Celebrity cruise. We would have cancelled & changed if we realized how bad it was getting before final payment. We feel the suites costs are paying for the size of the cabin & cabin amenities, but Celebrity is using Captains Club as a pay for points. It has nothing to do with loyalty. I think of may other examples - Caesars owns several hotels on Vegas - if you chose a more expensive room in Caesars compared to The Quad (their cheapest) doesn't mean you get all kinds of special treatment because the Caesars corporation is taking in more cash for your room - you chose to pay for the better room (cabin). How about box seats at a baseball game? - you don't have a special entrance, or special vendors to cater to you - you chose to pay for that seat. The perks are built in but Celebrity is making them royalty. We are done!

Caesars might not be the best example, they just filed bankruptcy.

[pbrady]

Patty1955

Several casino groups did because of the economy but they have not changed a thing and their room/suite bookings have stayed constant (mainly folks from Asia, Europe & Australia - good exchange rate). The people at Caesars Windsor tell us it was the intake on the gambling floor - not the rooms that dropped.

[beaver]

I am aware that some of the islands I mentioned may not be the best. All I want is a change up in ports. When the routes don't change around to a variety of ports then perhaps Celebrity is too comfortable.

 

These sailings have not changed as far as Caribbean sailings. My work dictates that I have trouble getting away in the summer seasons, besides things are nice around home in the summer.

Last year we were booked on Century for a Hawaiian cruise when they cancelled our cruise. It was said they were going to do a full refurb. They only did a quick freshening up and never returned to the Hawaiian cruise we are after.

So Celebrity don't be mad when I go without you. I will still look for a stack with the "X" with anticipation of when our paths can cross again. I won't have to worry about bumping into you when I travel to Hawaii, which I will do and the Lady taking me will be a Princess.

 

You will hear whispers from your friends about where they saw me and whom I was with. I will be out with your sister soon as my signature shows, we are just friends (for now) and I know she will sing your virtues.

 

When we travel together it is not always just about where we go, I enjoy just being with you. I enjoy when we first set eyes on each other. I rejoice at waking up with you. My days are full with you. An evening with you can only be explained in a song. If you are thinking that there is nothing wrong then I can't do anything about that.

 

I will not give up on you but commitment is a responsibility for both of us.

 

I'll write.

[brockmom]

I get what the OP was feeling when he posted...

we love Celebrity and its nice to be comfortable...but you need some different

islands to feel like you have some choices.

I wanted to celebrate our 35th in Aruba...but very costly...so lets cruise

we thought....

uh no...1 cruise leaving and will stop in Aruba and the dates are not to our work schedule.....so no can do.....Celebrity could have had us for 2 more weeks

this year...but we will now do a resort instead because of the limitations.

lets change up the ports a bit...you have suckered us all in....so lets keep us

sailing......

(Brockmom

[BosoxI]

I recently diversified and took a cruise on the Sapphire Princess. The ship was downright ugly, a tacky mess, a misery to navigate around, none of the graceful lines and elegant decor that S Class ships have, gross public restrooms with filthy floors, you get the picture. I'm not into hairy chest contests or newlywed games, so I'll just stick with Celebrity for now.

 

Actually, I don't get the picture. After having taken about twenty Princess cruises, I have never once encountered gross public restrooms with filthy floors. While I find I generally prefer X ships, the Princess ships are hardly tacky and quite easily navigated after a day or two on board. Ugly? Ungraceful? Please, don't make me laugh.

[Andy]

I agree, waited until the late 2016 Caribbean cruise came out and was excited to see something new. Nope, same ole same ole. Very disappointing.

 

I agree. Other than a couple of interesting one time sailings, such as the Equinox New Orleans sailing in 2017, it's pretty much more of the same old, same old. With all of the competition out there, you would think Celebrity would try much harder on their Caribbean deployments.

 

If Celebrity only switched things up a bit.... Oh well. I suppose it's wait until 2017/2018.

[BosoxI]

Neither had we till Nov 2012 when we stopped while on the Ruby Princess, one and done, you have not missed anything but a Margaritaville, Sunglass Hut and a couple other stores around a swimming pool.

 

Dont pick a sailing just because it stops, you will be very sad at the choice.

 

And I'm just the opposite; I want to see everything, and if I don't care for it, I won't return. I do agree with your assessment, but I needed to see for myself. Come to think of it, we had a very relaxing day on the beach doing nothing, something I now do very well. ;)

[CathyCruises]

Actually, I don't get the picture. After having taken about twenty Princess cruises, I have never once encountered gross public restrooms with filthy floors. While I find I generally prefer X ships, the Princess ships are hardly tacky and quite easily navigated after a day or two on board. Ugly? Ungraceful? Please, don't make me laugh.

 

Okay, for starters, the white and gold 'decorative screen' contraption in the cafe area is just hideous and terribly tacky imo. But the most aggravating was all the dead ends, or seeming dead ends, where you walked up to what appeared to be a wall, only to find a little passage there. Why have everything closed in like that?? The lounges, sorry don't remember the names, were decorated in a old sailing theme with dark wood and little cafe curtains. The private pay area at the front of the ship was a complete waste of good real estate, I never saw a soul in there. The indoor pool was full of screaming kids, and the furniture was white plastic chairs that they sell in my grocery store. Not even close to the lovely Solarium on X. And I don't know what the lounge was that was way in the back but looked forward, but it was a bizarre design. The stairs and the elevators were in separate lobbies that backed up to each other, also a very bizarre design IMO. The four small,dark, low-ceilinged dining rooms did not make for a pleasant and enjoyable meal, again imo.

 

The public bathrooms had overflowing trash, no attendants obviously, no cotton hand towels, the floor mats were desperately in need of a vacuum. So I won't make you laugh, but I won't be spending my hard earned money sailing on a ship that looks like that again. . .I've never been anxious for a cruise to end before, but I was happy to get off that ship.

 

OTOH, we sailed on what was then the Tahitian Princess, which was very nice for a small ship, and we had a great cruise. So it's not Princess, it was just that ship, or that class, that I didn't like.

[Hlitner]

I agree. Other than a couple of interesting one time sailings, such as the Equinox New Orleans sailing in 2017, it's pretty much more of the same old, same old. With all of the competition out there, you would think Celebrity would try much harder on their Caribbean deployments.

 

If Celebrity only switched things up a bit.... Oh well. I suppose it's wait until 2017/2018.

 

We hear ya Andy. But if you simply continue to book Celebrity then you are playing right into their hand. Why not simply book a totally different itinerary on Princess, HAL, or another cruise line. Eventually, Celebrity will get the message and act accordingly. Vote with your dollars and they shall listen. Whine away on CC (or on an evaluation) and maybe they will listen...or maybe not.

 

Hank

[DragonOfTheSeas]

We hear ya Andy. But if you simply continue to book Celebrity then you are playing right into their hand. Why not simply book a totally different itinerary on Princess, HAL, or another cruise line. Eventually, Celebrity will get the message and act accordingly. Vote with your dollars and they shall listen. Whine away on CC (or on an evaluation) and maybe they will listen...or maybe not.

Hank

 

I think they read an d listen to CC. I have been pretty amazed that Celebrity posts responses on CC sometimes. I have not seen that on the Royal Caribbean board. :eek:

[WillingToBeDazzled]

You will not feel sad when sail on Coral Princess. I cheated and had a wonderful time. It is hard for me to get service, food and demographics to my liking, but that sailing was perfect. I have three booked with with Celebrity and I will start roaming again, as well. The entertainment and activities are not my liking anymore on Celebrity. I walked out of the three shows that I attempted to attend on the last 14 night sailing.

Thanks for the encouragement re our trying Coral Princess -- leaving Celebrity for the 1st time. From what I'm reading on CruiseCritic, I am certain we'll enjoy the new experience.

[cruisinggran]

We are Elite+ and have been since the change and we are leaving Celebrity this cruise season to try Cunard. We did three Celebrity cruises last year two in the Caribbean loved the ship but not the intinery. We also did a T/A on the Equinox in Nov. great intinery lovely ship but something was missing. I sense what the OP is saying the excitement has gone fron Celebrity. There in nothing new on the menu in the MDR or anywhere else on the ships. Even the speciality restaurants, are the same? The shows seem to be the same even the guest entertainers we had seem them many times before. Everything is comfortable but it is time for a change.

Will we cruise with Celebrity again I am sure we will.

[CharismaCruiser727]

What after 35 times carries the same "wow" affect?

 

....some blondes and redheads that come to mind!

[MVPinBoynton]

We are Elite+ and have been since the change and we are leaving Celebrity this cruise season to try Cunard. We did three Celebrity cruises last year two in the Caribbean loved the ship but not the intinery. We also did a T/A on the Equinox in Nov. great intinery lovely ship but something was missing. I sense what the OP is saying the excitement has gone fron Celebrity. There in nothing new on the menu in the MDR or anywhere else on the ships. Even the speciality restaurants, are the same? The shows seem to be the same even the guest entertainers we had seem them many times before. Everything is comfortable but it is time for a change.

Will we cruise with Celebrity again I am sure we will.

 

One of the disadvantages of cruising frequently on the same line is that the menus are the same on all ships and the entertainers/shows become very familiar. We also did 3 X cruises last year; as well as cruises on Oceania, HAL and Princess. Even though I was very familiar with the X menus, it was kind of like coming home to eat our favorite foods. At least I knew what not to order. I did pass on repeating some of the entertainers I had seen before. Cruising on several lines does help to keep the excitement up. Plus it also makes us appreciate X's product that much more.

[Hlitner]

Despite having spent nearly 4 years on ships as cruise passengers, DW and I have managed to maintain that WOW effect on nearly every cruise. How? We have simply learned that variety keeps things fresh and interesting. So we have cruised on 14 different lines (more then 60 different ships) to more then a hundred ports on 6 continents. Yes, we know that some folks get into this loyalty thing, but these are the same folks that tell us they are getting bored with cruising. And when we suggest they try a different line or different part of the world they usually sigh.

 

I would add that making a bid change in ship sizes is also fun. We have done everything from a 20 passenger boat (in the Ionian Islands) to 3800 passenger ships (we have no interest in the monster of the seas that go to the same old ports). But even a 600 passenger ship is an interesting change from 3000 passenger vessels.

Hank

Edited February 8, 2015 by Hlitner

[MVPinBoynton]

Despite having spent nearly 4 years on ships as cruise passengers, DW and I have managed to maintain that WOW effect on nearly every cruise. How? We have simply learned that variety keeps things fresh and interesting. So we have cruised on 14 different lines (more then 60 different ships) to more then a hundred ports on 6 continents. Yes, we know that some folks get into this loyalty thing, but these are the same folks that tell us they are getting bored with cruising. And when we suggest they try a different line or different part of the world they usually sigh.

 

I would add that making a bid change in ship sizes is also fun. We have done everything from a 20 passenger boat (in the Ionian Islands) to 3800 passenger ships (we have no interest in the monster of the seas that go to the same old ports). But even a 600 passenger ship is an interesting change from 3000 passenger vessels.

Hank

 

I couldn't agree more. We have friends that will only cruise on one line. It is great for getting loyalty status; but it is also great to be able to experience the things that make other lines interesting.