wow what a ship!

[dinkydimps]

Just got back from our first cruise on the Eclipse celebrating 30th wedding anniversary in the Baltic.

The ship is magnificent and we had a wonderful time altogether, even the weather was hot and sunny!! however I would like to take the opportunity to remind fellow travellers to read carefully the warnings given by Celebrity concerning the level of crime in St Petersburg.

Unfortunately my wife had her phone stolen, and I know several other passengers on escorted trips had purses,handbags stolen.

On board the majority of staff were first rate, apart from the martini bar and the sky lounge bar staff (not the waiters) there was a marked lack of courtesy, you were acknowledged by a nod of the head when it was your turn to be served, and on getting the drinks a hand is thrust out and the word 'card' (sea pass)is said, nothing else!! I tried to stop saying thank you every time but I'm afraid it's ingrained in me to be polite. In a word ' Disappointing' not the standard I was expecting. I counted that there were 14 bars on board but I persevered with them mainly due to the large portion sizes of alcohol served!!

I might be paranoid but I wonder if the surly attitude of the bar staff was something to do with the fact I was on a free drinks package?

All that said we had a great time and I have definately got the bug now,so saving up for the next one.

I have e-mailed Celebrity re the attitude problem in the hope other guests get treated with more respect I certainly wasn't the only one to receive such treatment.

Sorry for ranting on..

[cle-guy]

On board the majority of staff were first rate, apart from the martini bar and the sky lounge bar staff (not the waiters) there was a marked lack of courtesy, you were acknowledged by a nod of the head when it was your turn to be served, and on getting the drinks a hand is thrust out and the word 'card' (sea pass)is said, nothing else!! I tried to stop saying thank you every time but I'm afraid it's ingrained in me to be polite. In a word ' Disappointing' not the standard I was expecting. I counted that there were 14 bars on board but I persevered with them mainly due to the large portion sizes of alcohol served!!

I might be paranoid but I wonder if the surly attitude of the bar staff was something to do with the fact I was on a free drinks package?

 

I think it has more to do with having to ask 2000 people every day for their card. Bar staff don't know up front who's on free drinks package or not until they see your card and are standing at the register. Also, bar staff get tipped for each drink they serve via a package so they care not if you are on package or paying, they get tipped either way. Bar staff LOVE when elite drink vouchers are used on elite heavy cruises, as they get tips for each of these turned in, I had a package, so never needed my elite coupons, the bar tender asked me to just give them to her so she could get her tips, so I gladly provided them to her.

 

I also think the quick serve nature of these 2 bars require staff to be shorter with customers in order to get around to serving everyone. I don't carry on any conversation when I go out to busy bars on weekends as they are just too busy to chit chat. If you were there at a slow period, I'd assume there would have been more chit-chat. Me, I appreciate they are trying to get the job of getting my drink, more than any chit chat. And it bothers me when a line is forming and a guest insists on chatting up the bartender "where ya from? do you like working on ships?" - do that at 4pm, not 9pm.

[Andy]

Hi Dinkydimps,

 

You are so right. Eclipse is a wonderful ship, and one of our Celebrity favorites. Thanks for sharing your insights, and welcome home !

[Iamthesea]

I think it has more to do with having to ask 2000 people every day for their card. Bar staff don't know up front who's on free drinks package or not until they see your card and are standing at the register. Also, bar staff get tipped for each drink they serve via a package so they care not if you are on package or paying, they get tipped either way. Bar staff LOVE when elite drink vouchers are used on elite heavy cruises, as they get tips for each of these turned in, I had a package, so never needed my elite coupons, the bar tender asked me to just give them to her so she could get her tips, so I gladly provided them to her.

 

I also think the quick serve nature of these 2 bars require staff to be shorter with customers in order to get around to serving everyone. I don't carry on any conversation when I go out to busy bars on weekends as they are just too busy to chit chat. If you were there at a slow period, I'd assume there would have been more chit-chat. Me, I appreciate they are trying to get the job of getting my drink, more than any chit chat. And it bothers me when a line is forming and a guest insists on chatting up the bartender "where ya from? do you like working on ships?" - do that at 4pm, not 9pm.

 

Great answer!

 

The problem I (well dressed woman in her late 50's) have is getting the bartender to notice me when wanting to order a drink. I once stood at the ice bar for over 15 minutes and got completely ignored. I pulled my young adult daughter to the counter and she was immediately waited on by 2 servers. Go figure! :rolleyes:

[workstocruise]

Wow we did the Baltics two years ago on the Constellation and no one experienced any problems in St. Petersburg. I'm not sure we were even cautioned about it before arrival. Amazing how times have changed in two short years. Glad you had a great cruise. Celebrity offers a great product.

[DYKWIA]

Great answer!

 

The problem I (well dressed woman in her late 50's) have is getting the bartender to notice me when wanting to order a drink. I once stood at the ice bar for over 15 minutes and got completely ignored. I pulled my young adult daughter to the counter and she was immediately waited on by 2 servers. Go figure! :rolleyes:

 

That is the mysterious thing called bar presence, why a friend of mine who is 6' tall can wait ages at a bar whereas me at at 5'7 (ish) generally gets served quickly - a combination of body language, poise, eye contact, sometimes language and always looking like you know what you want and want to be served. Sometimes people waiting at a bar look like they're only half interested in ordering a drink.

[The_Farmers_Daughter]

Just got back from our first cruise on the Eclipse celebrating 30th wedding anniversary in the Baltic.

The ship is magnificent and we had a wonderful time altogether, even the weather was hot and sunny!! however I would like to take the opportunity to remind fellow travellers to read carefully the warnings given by Celebrity concerning the level of crime in St Petersburg.

Unfortunately my wife had her phone stolen, and I know several other passengers on escorted trips had purses,handbags stolen.

On board the majority of staff were first rate, apart from the martini bar and the sky lounge bar staff (not the waiters) there was a marked lack of courtesy, you were acknowledged by a nod of the head when it was your turn to be served, and on getting the drinks a hand is thrust out and the word 'card' (sea pass)is said, nothing else!! I tried to stop saying thank you every time but I'm afraid it's ingrained in me to be polite. In a word ' Disappointing' not the standard I was expecting. I counted that there were 14 bars on board but I persevered with them mainly due to the large portion sizes of alcohol served!!

I might be paranoid but I wonder if the surly attitude of the bar staff was something to do with the fact I was on a free drinks package?

All that said we had a great time and I have definately got the bug now,so saving up for the next one.

I have e-mailed Celebrity re the attitude problem in the hope other guests get treated with more respect I certainly wasn't the only one to receive such treatment.

Sorry for ranting on..

 

We were also on this sailing, and concur with you it was a wonderful cruise.

 

If you were the kind man from Café Al Baccio who suggested I join Cruise Critic, I thank you. There seems to be a wealth of knowledge here on this site.

[rjrpar]

Wow we did the Baltics two years ago on the Constellation and no one experienced any problems in St. Petersburg. I'm not sure we were even cautioned about it before arrival. Amazing how times have changed in two short years. Glad you had a great cruise. Celebrity offers a great product.

 

 

Things didn't change, you were fortunate.

[Azulann]

Great answer!

 

The problem I (well dressed woman in her late 50's) have is getting the bartender to notice me when wanting to order a drink. I once stood at the ice bar for over 15 minutes and got completely ignored. I pulled my young adult daughter to the counter and she was immediately waited on by 2 servers. Go figure! :rolleyes:

 

I know exactly what you mean, it happens to me too.

Sigh! I only have adult sons.;)

[texasgirl29]

We were also on the July 11 Eclipse Baltic cruise. Sorry to hear of your problems with drinks and St Petersburg. We had absolutely no problems getting drinks on the classic package. We used SPB Tours and had no incidents -- we were well taken care of by our guide.