Roving Bar Servers?

[sailingforever]

Hello!

 

My husband and I did our first Celebrity cruise in 2014, on the Eclipse on a Caribbean itinerary in January. I noticed that, unlike other cruises we had done in the past with other lines, there were very few drink servers on the pool decks coming around to offer to get people drinks. I had to go and wait in a line at the pool bar to get drinks. While I'm sure there were roving drink servers, I did not notice them. On other ships on other lines it seemed like they were everywhere and it was easy to flag one down for a bevvy.

 

Just wondering if that is just typical for Celebrity, or if it is becoming more of the norm across all lines with the onset of these increasingly popular drink packages?

 

Thank you!

:-)

[waterbug123]

very few drink servers on the pool decks coming around to offer to get people drinks.

 

Just wondering if that is just typical for Celebrity, or if it is becoming more of the norm across all lines with the onset of these increasingly popular drink packages?

 

 

Seems to be getting more and more typical in my experience. There used to be so many servers they were falling all over themselves. Now it's usually faster to just go to the bar. Same in the casino- they used to be a nuisance; you only see them occasionally, so have to ask the dealer to have one summoned. I think they are 1) cutting staff costs by reducing the number of roving servers and 2) more importantly, due to the increase in drink packages, making it just a little harder to get a drink, in the hopes that over the course of the week, you'll drink a few less than you might otherwise, thus saving the cruise line even more money.

[cle-guy]

Celebrity is a far less "party-centric" line than others, and doesn't push the booze like some do.

 

There are roving servers at Martini Bar, Theatre, at the pool, in Ocean View Cafe, in the Sky lounge, in the Casino, but they are not intrusive which is refreshing. They are there, you just have to flag them down instead of be bothered constantly by them.

[CathyCruises]

I have noticed differing levels of bar servers depending on the cruise. We never get the drinks package as we usually do TAs. But I enjoy a piña colada by the pool occasionally. On one cruise I was really frustrated because bar servers NEVER came by, but on the next few cruises they have been all over the place. So may be a factor of staffing levels, sick days, ????

[sailingforever]

Thank you for the responses!

 

While lounging up on deck, I kept looking for a server to flag down from my chair but never saw one. They were probably there, but just fewer. And they didn't call out "Bar Service" as they walked by which is probably also why Iay have missed them.

 

Thanks!

 

:-)

[dmk]

When I started cruising with Celebrity, there were lots of pool servers. After the introduction of the "Beverage Package", I noticed that it was harder to find a pool server.

[downsmead]

To be fair, on our recent Panama Canal cruise on Infinity, there were waiters strolling around the pool area taking orders. There didn't seem to be a problem ordering drinks from your lounger. They were a great bunch, often coming round with 'drinks of the day' :). In fact, the staff at the pool bars were great fun too.

For those interested, we had a classic package and had no trouble finding drinks within the package. We decided it wasn't worth upgrading and paid for the odd drink outside of the package that we wanted.

[Crazy Cruzer]

Hello!

 

My husband and I did our first Celebrity cruise in 2014, on the Eclipse on a Caribbean itinerary in January. I noticed that, unlike other cruises we had done in the past with other lines, there were very few drink servers on the pool decks coming around to offer to get people drinks. I had to go and wait in a line at the pool bar to get drinks. While I'm sure there were roving drink servers, I did not notice them. On other ships on other lines it seemed like they were everywhere and it was easy to flag one down for a bevvy.

 

Just wondering if that is just typical for Celebrity, or if it is becoming more of the norm across all lines with the onset of these increasingly popular drink packages?

 

Thank you!

:-)

 

Years ago Celebrity was just like the other lines where the drink servers were almost a nuisance if you were not looking to order a drink. They were everywhere, pool deck, open deck, buffet, dining room, every lounge, theater, etc. They've cut back over the years, most notably when they introduced the drink packages but especially after they started including the classic drink packages with a good percentage of their fares as part of promotions that have been nearly non-stop for the past few years.

 

Used to be simple and quick to get a drink at your seat and/or without a wait. Not so quick any longer.

[sailingforever]

I don't know if any other cruise lines do this, but it would be neat if they had chairs where you could put up a little flag if you are wanting bar service. Some land based hotels do this for their poolside setups, and it works great!

[jerrib]

I don't know if any other cruise lines do this, but it would be neat if they had chairs where you could put up a little flag if you are wanting bar service. Some land based hotels do this for their poolside setups, and it works great!

Love this idea!!!!

[bbeltmom]

Since the reduction in staff, I have started carrying $1 bills with me. And tip each time I am brought a drink (before packages, we always used to add $1 on to the receipt). I find that after the first day, the same waiters are searching me out.:cool:

[cb at sea]

I LOVE the loungers with the bar flags!!! Too cool! They used to have them in Vegas, too....but the last time we were there, no flags!

[Gracie115]

Since the reduction in staff, I have started carrying $1 bills with me. And tip each time I am brought a drink (before packages, we always used to add $1 on to the receipt). I find that after the first day, the same waiters are searching me out.:cool:

 

We've done much the same for years.....and find it works for us too....:).