Modern Luxury needs a refit

[ehfl]

They are not currently on all lines

They are on Celebrity

 

So what line(s) would you recommend as an alternative?

[Loracpin2]

I know I'll get slammed for this, but here goes.

 

"Modern Luxury" is what Celebrity provides when they have to give away free booze, free gratuities, and OBC's to fill their ships. True Luxury is what we received when a great majority of us starting sailing Celebrity...for us it was 1993. By the mid 2000's we had to book Concierge Class for the luxury. That started slipping, so we then moved to Aqua if we still wanted some luxury. As of last October on the Infinity and this past March on the Silhouette, Aqua started slipping as well, and now if we want true luxury, we have to book the new suite class or just be content with "modern".

 

We have one more booked in Aqua on the Silhouette this coming September and then will take a break from Celebrity and hope we can get some "real luxury" on Azamara.

[Germancruiser]

Oh no you wont get slammed Loracpin2- you are absolutley right about everything you wrote! I think we should not take their Slogan - Modern Luxury - too literaly- it is an advertisment slogan - clevery thought out- but nothing more then an advertisment slogan- we learned once in school not to take adverstisments too literaly ! LOL!

Modern Luxury- thats a thing of the past- they ( and I compare prices of all cruise lines) tended to lower the cruise faire- what with all those new ships on more an more beds at sea availlable - so the cruise lines have to do something to lure passengers on board in order to fill their ships! " Give them cheaper cruises" and force them to spend more and more on board! Thats behind " Modern Luxury "! Cruising was a thing that not many could afford in the past- so we may complain about this and that- but on a very high level- LOL!

Edited May 6, 2015 by Germancruiser

[lovey1103]

A couple of things I've read here (including the OP) sound like folks think Aqua Class has exclusive access to the Persian Gardens. To the best of my knowledge, that has never been the case. The spa has always sold day and week-long passes to the Persian Gardens. It's pricey, but folks on a TA cruise may be more inclined to think it's worth the $$. And, of course this wouldn't apply to sea days, but Captain's Club Elite (and above) receive a free port-day pass to the Gardens. It's always been my understanding that the Aqua Guests had complimentary, not exclusive, or even preferential access to the Gardens.

Just off an eleven day in an aqua class. Could not even use the Persian Garden due to passengers SNORING and other unmentionables. Really? I'm all about relaxing but using the Gardens for your afternoon "coma time" is a real turn off. No post-anesthesia staff on hand to monitor upper and lower airways. (read between the sheets on this one) Jeez...

[Pushka]

Just off an eleven day in an aqua class. Could not even use the Persian Garden due to passengers SNORING and other unmentionables. Really? I'm all about relaxing but using the Gardens for your afternoon "coma time" is a real turn off. No post-anesthesia staff on hand to monitor upper and lower airways. (read between the sheets on this one) Jeez...

 

 

Oh I would drop my book right next to the snorers. Throw it in fact. As to the other - mmm, might ask the staff to check the sewerage smell in a loud voice.

[welshfamily]

We have already booked Azamara and Oceania for this years cruises simply due to most of the cuts mentioned on these boards. Celebrity is expensive in Europe this year and we are not prepared to pay over 25%more for less 'modern' luxury. Not when we can get other cruises which represent better value for money.

We are/were considering a suite for a summit Caribbean cruise in December for our wedding anniversary but then came the truth about the 'at present' suite experience.

Question....Where has 'Modern Luxury ' left/taken us

Answer ....On to other cruise lines.

 

FYI we always booked 4 cabins, range from 26 -58 in age, have to travel in high season and are only a few points away from Elite + and I would have described myself as becoming a Celebrity Cheerleader.

[npb]

We experienced the same issues as the OP on the Reflection TA. We stayed on board for the Mediterranean and are still having issues with food quality and temperature. The room stewards have been wonderful, but there are many people unhappy with the food and service.

[phoenix_dream]

I'm not sure the poster of that list was saying their leaving...but it sounds like they will be more open to cruising on other lines. I think this is happening to more of us as time goes on. We were dedicated celebrity cruisers...now we are mixing cruise lines...in part due to the (perceived by us) reduced offering by today's Celebrity. It's not all or nothing....It's all or some.....

 

I agree with you 100%. Been sailing Celebrity almost exclusively since 1992, and for many, many years it was far and away our first choice. We still enjoy the line, but so much has slipped away through the years that we are willing to entertain the possibility of sailing other lines. I think the prices have risen way beyond reason (and way beyond inflation), while the service and product has slipped somewhat over time. Those two coupled together do not loyalty make. The addition of the Elite+ category was lackluster in its offerings at best, so that is certainly not an incentive. The benefit we most enjoyed - the free drinks - loses its luster when drink packages come as a perk. We can't afford suites, so all the emphasis on that customer leaves us cold. I never thought we would ever so readily consider other lines, but I guess change happens, and despite what others sometimes lecture on these boards, change is NOT always good.:)

[hulamoon]

I feel I used to stand on an X is a cut above soapbox when others posters insisted that it was just like other mainstream lines. Well maybe it is now, but it has been a long time since we sailed elsewhere. If they are all the same, well, now I am price shopper again.

 

I came due to non smoking balconies but many lines have that now.

[hcat]

Just off an eleven day in an aqua class. Could not even use the Persian Garden due to passengers SNORING and other unmentionables. Really? I'm all about relaxing but using the Gardens for your afternoon "coma time" is a real turn off. No post-anesthesia staff on hand to monitor upper and lower airways. (read between the sheets on this one) Jeez...

 

Also happens quite a bit in the solarium pool area.. Sorry to say but on certain itins, it is sort of like the dayroom at our aunt'ts assisted living facility.......

[hcat]

I know I'll get slammed for this, but here goes.

 

"Modern Luxury" is what Celebrity provides when they have to give away free booze, free gratuities, and OBC's to fill their ships. True Luxury is what we received when a great majority of us starting sailing Celebrity...for us it was 1993. By the mid 2000's we had to book Concierge Class for the luxury. That started slipping, so we then moved to Aqua if we still wanted some luxury. As of last October on the Infinity and this past March on the Silhouette, Aqua started slipping as well, and now if we want true luxury, we have to book the new suite class or just be content with "modern".

 

We have one more booked in Aqua on the Silhouette this coming September and then will take a break from Celebrity and hope we can get some "real luxury" on Azamara.

 

We are still doing ok with AQ and BLU and no problems with Persian Garden....( although there are many using the Relaxation Room who are not AQ, spa clients, or PG booked users for the day)

 

We have 3 more booked thru 2017 but will re assess for anything new if things change for the worse...so far a nice experience if not truly luxurious!

[kborth]

We have done 6 TA/TPs on 3 different lines and IMHO they are different than other cruises. When you have 2500-3000 people confined on a ship for 6-8 straight days it is much different.

 

With no port days people stay up later, bars, casino, shows, activities have more people ( crowds). If the weather isn't conducive to being outside the ship interior spaces ( buffet, library, fitness center, atrium, promenade) begin to get very crowded and cabin fever can set in. At that point things that may not be a concern when you are heading to a new port every day or so become irritating.

 

We enjoy TAs but we get on hoping for wonderful weather and knowing that we can sleep late every day, catch up on our reading, meet new people, and not have to be anywhere at a set time. If you get on a TA with a smile, a bit of patience and a sense of humor you can get hooked on them:)

I agree ,having just returned from Connie TA, totally different with many experienced cruisers and much more crowded, lots of rude and entitled pax on this ship, could not believe it. Don't think we will go on another.

[lovey1103]

Also happens quite a bit in the solarium pool area.. Sorry to say but on certain itins, it is sort of like the dayroom at our aunt'ts assisted living facility.......

AKA - "The Nursing Home" - Our family doesn't know it by any other name.

Way too much "wind" in there for any relaxation. Thank goodness for balcony cabins.:D

[npb]

We got off the Reflection today and will not return to Celebrity . I have read about all the cutbacks, but didn't believe that they were true. Unfortunately, they are true. One of the waiters said that even more cutbacks were coming from Miami.

 

Housekeeping is still "excellent".

[gcgold]

We got off the Reflection today and will not return to Celebrity . I have read about all the cutbacks, but didn't believe that they were true. Unfortunately, they are true. One of the waiters said that even more cutbacks were coming from Miami.

 

Housekeeping is still "excellent".

 

Wow. I read on another thread that you have cruised Cel X 27 / 28 times , and your favourite line is listed as Celebrity so they must have really fouled up.

 

I trust that Celebrity are seeing the feedback and will look further into it.

[chamima]

We got off the Reflection today and will not return to Celebrity . I have read about all the cutbacks, but didn't believe that they were true. Unfortunately, they are true. One of the waiters said that even more cutbacks were coming from Miami.

 

Housekeeping is still "excellent".

 

 

 

Lots of us were very concerned about your awful dining room experience with the Maitre D' following you out.

Was there ever a good resolution to that?

[bvocruise]

We got off the Reflection today and will not return to Celebrity . I have read about all the cutbacks, but didn't believe that they were true. Unfortunately, they are true. One of the waiters said that even more cutbacks were coming from Miami.

 

Housekeeping is still "excellent".

 

What type of cutbacks did you observe?

 

How was the beverage service? Do they have people who bring you drinks at the pool or the show room? We have a beverage package and plan on taking advantage of it. My fear though is several have the package it could be difficult to serve so many people.

[richsea]

Some posters like to hit & run. They make an inflammatory general statement, then fail to elaborate. It makes for interesting threads that tend to take on a life of their own.

[gergles]

What type of cutbacks did you observe?

 

How was the beverage service? Do they have people who bring you drinks at the pool or the show room? We have a beverage package and plan on taking advantage of it. My fear though is several have the package it could be difficult to serve so many people.

 

On my Silhouette sailing on 3/22 they did still have pool servers and theatre servers, though with the pool servers you pretty much had one chance to show them you were a drinker (after which they would take good care of you, but if you ignored them on their first pass, you had to get pretty aggressive about flagging them down).

 

The theatre servers never seemed to venture too far down towards the stage preshow, so if you really want a drink I'd suggest either grabbing one before the show and sitting up front, or sitting towards the back where the theatre servers will circulate.

[hulamoon]

I am curious about who called security and why.

[Orator]

Was on the Silhouette TA and had a wonderful cruise. Was not in AQ so I can't comment about observations. I also noticed some towels that should be replaced and was told by an Assistant Head Housekeeper that the towels will be changing shortly. I went to Michael's Club and noticed that the bar outside was not overly used during the Elite Hour. Surprised me since their were a very high number of Elites and Elite plus members on board. Michael's Club was generally very crowded due largely to the excellent work of Anca, the Michael's Club Concierge. She arranged many special program that attracted larger then usual crowds. I believe that the new Suite strategy is working to attract high spenders. Luminae appears to be a success and many told me that they would only now book Celebrity Suites or above. Many told me that they had problems booking future cruises in the high end cabins. The Celebrity cruise experience will definitely be different for those in Suites and Zeniths and those who are in less expensive cabins. I can see more of the "budget cruisers" looking elsewhere to spend their vacation dollars. Actually, Celebrity might be encouraging this. It is my understanding that the new builds will not have Inside or OV cabins. 20% of cabins will be Suites as compared to 4% on current S Class ships. Finally, I found the staff on this cruise to be the best I've experienced. Both the HD and the GRM were very responsive. really one of the best TAs I've experienced.

[hulamoon]

Orator thank you! How was the MDR? Excited the new ships will have more suites.

[CruisingChick]

I can see more of the "budget cruisers" looking elsewhere to spend their vacation dollars. Actually, Celebrity might be encouraging this. It is my understanding that the new builds will not have Inside or OV cabins. 20% of cabins will be Suites as compared to 4% on current S Class ships. Finally.

 

Well that is horrid news. We have been loyal to Celebrity for the past 13 years and now they want to kick us to the curb?! Nice.

Edited May 8, 2015 by CruisingChick

[ORV]

Well that is horrid news. We have been loyal to Celebrity for the past 13 years and now they want to kick us to the curb?! Nice.

 

You have to wonder how many of the Zeniths are/were budget cruisers from FL taking advantage of all of the last minute specials over the past few years, before Captain's Club went to the point system? Of course if they went on 100 cruises they still spent a lot of money over the years even in an inside.

 

Not that I'm slamming them, just curious. I myself am one of those that made it to Elite in 5 cruises, which some here in the past have mentioned they tend to resent.

 

I think it's becoming apparent, especially in light of some recent announcements that RCL has made that yes, they no longer really want the budget cruisers that stay in the cheapest rooms, bring on their own soda and water, never eat in a specialty restaurant, don't buy anything in the shops, don't gamble, don't take ship's excursions, etc.

 

Now if they would only keep the product to the level to justify that attitude. I have no trouble paying more to get more, it's when we pay more and get less that makes me look elsewhere.

[hulamoon]

I haven't seen designs before on ships this size without insides or OV's. I remember a balcony used to be very expensive, so now I wonder if it is a reasonable design and if it doesn't mean balcony prices will fall.

 

In my family engineering skipped a generation with me, so maybe someone can point out a ship this size without those categories and I will check out the deck plan.