Understanding Celebrity' class system

[cybx]

Do the numbers. If the only way you are feeling shortchanged by not being in a suite has to do with food, then just figure speciality restaurants $45 x 2 x number of nights. Add that to the cost of your lowly accommodations and I suspect you are way ahead financially compared to the cost of a suite.

Or even a better option would be the unlimited specialty restaurants at $30/day. Actually not too bad of a deal if you really prefer the specialty restaurants over the MDR.

[DZalumni]

I don't see a class system, rather Celebrity trying to have a broader appeal.

When we travel w/my parents we book Aqua or Suites, my dad is a bit hard of hearing & the smaller dining rooms are quieter & don't dictate our schedule as we can dine anytime we want.

 

When we travel with our friends, we also book Aqua, it's cheaper than suites & with 6 of use we enjoy the flexibility of eating in Blu when we want & it's nice how quickly Blu gets you in & out.

 

I prefer Blu to MDR as the portions are "right sized" when I cut my portions in half in the MDR they fuss over me not liking the food. I don't feel that I have to cut my portions in half in Blu.

 

It's all in what works best for you. Unlike Norwegian, Celebrity doesn't have a suite only pool area.

 

When all inclusive resorts offer club / suite only areas, with different perks are those all inclusive's creating a class system too?

Edited November 15, 2015 by DZalumni

[QE2_Fan]

Oh now! Ya'll have been on enough cruises that you truly know better than this.

 

 

 

 

 

The only totally 'excluded' place will be the restroom with the opposite sex's image on the door. :D

 

 

What?! Even if I pay for a suite I can't go in there? Is that classist or just outright sexist ?! [emoji33][emoji15][emoji12]

 

 

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[Cruise Raider]

We are not above sailing in inside cabins and always, I mean always, have a wonderful time on Celebrity!! We've found the MDR to have excellent service and very good food. We loved Blu because we didn't have to dress up on formal nights. We've also chosen to eat in the buffet oftentimes as we love the food and being able to sit out on the back patio to dine. We sometimes book a specialty restaurant and have also loved that. Being in an inside cabin affords us these little pleasures.

To each his own but haven't ever felt cheated out of a great cruising experience, whether I have an inside cabin or one in concierge or aqua class! They have all been top notch...including the dining.

[gwesq]

Unfortunately on our last Celebrity on Connie in 2012, the MDR was not fine, our worst maitre'd and dining experience of all our cruises. After 3 nights we had had enough, and found the food and experience far better in the self service area, steaks, stir fries and pasta cooked while you wait, along with a table window!

 

DITTO! 2 Nights ended up going up to the Oceanview Cafe.

 

 

ALSO - two times we ordered something on the menu, to be told they no longer had that item, as the menu was from the prior cruise. Weird - couldn't even print up to date menus!

Edited November 15, 2015 by gwesq

[roundthenextcorner]

What?! Even if I pay for a suite I can't go in there? Is that classist or just outright sexist ?! [emoji33][emoji15][emoji12]

 

 

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Obviously these rules don't apply to you, you are the man - the Matt - the legend!

:D

[wallie5446]

Ok, bottom line after all these wonderful :rolleyes: comments, Celebrity does not have a class separation system, ( just a bathroom one ) You can do as much as you want to spend your kids inheritance on:D Heck, ya can't take it with ya now can ya! Those that choose to spend, well cool and great. Those that don't still have a great experience on Celebrity unmatched in similar price point lines.

Edited November 15, 2015 by wallie5446

[BCHappyGal]

X is our line of choice... The food in the MDR is very good... In fact when we did try Aqua so that we could try eating in Blu we qucikly went back to the MDR as we found the food and selection better in the MDR

 

Enjoy your cruise and do not worry there will always be plenty of wonderful food no matter what cabin you have booked!

[pauly]

I am trying to wrap my head around a couple of things concerning Celebrity (I haven't cruised Celebrity since about 2010). Now this is what I am reading on these boards. It seems to me that all cabins inside, ov, balcony eat in the main dining room. Aqua eat in Blu and Suites eat in Luminae. Also from what I can understand it seems to me that the main dining room is like going to the your local diner Blu sounds like a specialty restaurant and Luminae is more a fine dining.

 

Also Michaels is off limits unless you are in a suite. Wow Michaels was the place to go to listen to the violin trio after dinner.

 

I booked a sunset veranda. I didn't know I would need to be in a suite to be allowed to eat at the "very nice" restaurant.

 

Do I understand this correctly?

What other areas on the ship won't I be allowed in because I'm in a lowly sunset veranda?

 

Very similar to Skull and Bones...we are not allowed to tell you.

[dkjretired]

It's all a lot of whining by people jealopus they are not allowed access is all.

 

I sail mostly suites, and chose to eat in MDR my entire transatlantic sailing this spring even though Luminae was open to me as I had met a buch of folks not in suites, and wanted to dine with them. I find the MDR food to be quite nice in most cases. Before Luminae I chose BLU just 2 maybe 3 times even though it was an option.

 

The only thing I dislike about the MDR is the pace of service is designed to be an entire 2 hour affair. Sometimes I get antsy after an hour or so, but that is how MDR dining is designed, to be an experience, to consume time relative to timing of the evening theatre shows.

 

Ignore the "vocal minority" and instead have faith the the fact that X continues to receive accolades from the masses in winning awards for their ships and dining experience above others in their class.

 

I think that saying people are jealous is a bit overdoing it. I can afford to sail in any cabin, including the high end suites but choose not to. I am however worried as a Celebrity cruiser for over 20 years that they are overdoing this suite thing to try and keep up with the Jones. (in this case NCL) This at the expense of the rest of the ship. I will wait to make a judgement for a little while, at least until the designs for the new ships come out. If they are what I fear they will be, we will probable find alternate vacations. Please don't dis people on this board who are expressing their feelings.

Edited November 15, 2015 by dkjretired

[QE2_Fan]

Obviously these rules don't apply to you, you are the man - the Matt - the legend!

 

:D

 

 

lol well hello there! Well those rules almost didn't apply to me one night onboard our last cruise when I got my port and starboard washrooms muddled up and almost ended up in the ladies. I'm a class (and no class it seems!) barrier breaker downer I am [emoji23][emoji849][emoji13]

 

 

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[villauk]

I think that saying people are jealous is a bit overdoing it. I can afford to sail in any cabin, including the high end suites but choose not to. I am however worried as a Celebrity cruiser for over 20 years that they are overdoing this suite thing to try and keep up with the Jones. (in this case NCL) This at the expense of the rest of the ship. I will wait to make a judgement for a little while, at least until the designs for the new ships come out. If they are what I fear they will be, we will probable find alternate vacations. Please don't dis people on this board who are expressing their feelings.

 

Perhaps that's why they have included SS in to MC: in readiness for the new builds 'suite area', similar to NCL's Haven? A couple of posters have implied that the new builds will contain significantly more suites than the current ships, so it stands to reason that X would want to bring into line some of the suite perks - will make life much easier when implementing the 2 tier system ;).

[dkjretired]

Perhaps that's why they have included SS in to MC: in readiness for the new builds 'suite area', similar to NCL's Haven? A couple of posters have implied that the new builds will contain significantly more suites than the current ships, so it stands to reason that X would want to bring into line some of the suite perks - will make life much easier when implementing the 2 tier system ;).

 

Agree completely...

[cle-guy]

Perhaps that's why they have included SS in to MC: in readiness for the new builds 'suite area', similar to NCL's Haven? A couple of posters have implied that the new builds will contain significantly more suites than the current ships, so it stands to reason that X would want to bring into line some of the suite perks - will make life much easier when implementing the 2 tier system ;).

 

When I see mention of more suites on Edge, I have to wonder.

 

The ships will be smaller than S class, but are said to have a larger passenger count.

 

How do you add passengers while using more space for presumable larger suite cabins?

EDGE CLASS INFO

http://www.creative.rccl.com/Sales/Celebrity/General_Info/Flyers/14041761_CEL_Edge_FAQ.pdf

• 2,900-guest, 117,000-gross-registered-ton ships
  
• 984 feet long, 123 feet wide and 190 feet high
  
• How does this compare to your current ships? / Why have you decided to build smaller vs. larger ships?
  
• Project EDGE will be larger than Millennium Class and slightly smaller than Solstice Class.
  

 

Current S Class (Eclipse as example):

• 122,000 tons
  
• 2852 guests
  
• 1033 feet long
  

[4774Papa]

Having been upgraded to a Sky Suite for the first time in 9 Celebrity and 5 NCL cruises, we did enjoy that experience, particularly in Luminae Restaurant.

 

Still, our upgrade was for a modest amount, not the full advertised cost. Frankly, DW and I both felt that the suite experience was a bit overrated. Sure, we loved Luminae and the additional space in our cabin, but the main value was Luminae. However, that was a double edged sword, since many of our cruise critic roll call friends were not in suites, we missed dining with them in the MDR.

 

We have generally been happy with the MDR food. Some tables are in a noisy location, but we don't think suites are the best value unless you get an upgrade.

 

The so called class system is no more than paying for a first class airline ticket vs. coach. The X ships are still designed primarily for everyone. I'll take the Martini Bar and Cellar Masters over Michael's Club any day.

[cle-guy]

Sure, we loved Luminae and the additional space in our cabin, but the main value was Luminae. However, that was a double edged sword, since many of our cruise critic roll call friends were not in suites, we missed dining with them in the MDR.

 

I have this issue myself, I just request a change to MDR and dine then with my friends. It's easily accommodated. Some nights I dine in MDR, others Luminae, and some Ocean View Café even.

 

I find it best however to dine 1st night where assigned,d then make changes following nights as by then my MDR friends have an idea which table mates will dine elsewhere on particular nights, or can request an extra chair(s) be assigned to their table, or arrange a move to a large table, which me being in a suite, the Concierge is able to make happen.

[villauk]

Curt,

 

At present, we have no idea what the configuration of amenities will be on the new builds. Remember, they have a completely open plan to lay out as they so wish; it's not a case of refurbishment.

 

Will the suites be as large (isn't the PH considerably smaller on the S class than it is on M class - the balcony definitely is?)? Will there be more SS and reduced (or no) Aqua - not having to provide Blu and freeing up further space? If there's no overhang, they won't need to generate a reason for trying to sell those cabins with an extra restaurant (currently which with obvious additional overheads are often sold for the same or a lesser rate than C cabins). Therefore, this would result in providing Select dining (which we all think is on the cards and would result in a quicker turnaround than set) for all other cabin types in various smaller dining rooms, apart from suites who would have their own. They could then use the old Blu space allocation as another income generating specialty restaurant or for more cabins? This may tempt those Aqua pax to try SS as they are now used to their own restaurant. Or possibly place a smaller dining room situated close to the spa just for Blu if they intend to make it more exclusive with fewer cabins in that range? Who knows what is on the cards?

 

Will there be no lawn, utilising that area for bars/MUTS/specialty restaurants/suite area and so freeing up other decks for cabins? Will they still have the ILounge, Hideaway, large library - lots of scope to readjust those areas and add cabins? The possibilities are endless. Currently, we can only surmise what X have planned :).

 

Btw, I think it was Orator who first suggested that the Edge class would include a far higher percentage of suites ;).

[rockdoctor]

I am trying to wrap my head around a couple of things concerning Celebrity (I haven't cruised Celebrity since about 2010). Now this is what I am reading on these boards. It seems to me that all cabins inside, ov, balcony eat in the main dining room. Aqua eat in Blu and Suites eat in Luminae. Also from what I can understand it seems to me that the main dining room is like going to the your local diner Blu sounds like a specialty restaurant and Luminae is more a fine dining.

 

Also Michaels is off limits unless you are in a suite. Wow Michaels was the place to go to listen to the violin trio after dinner.

 

I booked a sunset veranda. I didn't know I would need to be in a suite to be allowed to eat at the "very nice" restaurant.

 

Do I understand this correctly?

What other areas on the ship won't I be allowed in because I'm in a lowly sunset veranda?

 

IMHO, you misunderstand what it is like on Celebrity ships. The differentiation you suggest is based on fare paid for the cabin desired. It is not a Class System. Anyone can buy into the system where ever they desire.

[BILLP1]

Anyone can be in any class that they choose to pay for. This is not some caste system that is determined by your birth place or family.

[Hobbsey]

While I have no opinion (to share) on the right or wrong of a cruise line offering different amenities and services to "guests" based on the category of accommodation I will say it is disingenuous of anyone to suggest that this is something other than setting up a system of classes on board. Celebrity is pretty transparent about it even calling them "classes" (Concierge Class, Aqua Class).

 

I do not see the need for anyone to try and dress it up any differently.

[Bo1953]

It is good to know that cruising has not changed concerning class/style of travel in last many decades of ship travel... go figure, now someone may want to revolt against it? LOL ;)

[teltrainer]

Good grief...Not Socialist cruising so why expect 1500 identical cabins. I don't know why all the "class" references. You can have a suite too . Pay for a suite and you get the extras. Don't pay and spend on other things.

 

We book suites or mini-suites or balconies based on ship, our budget and itineraries and don't envy other who book suites 100% of the time. Good for them!

 

PS- we have our own class system....avoid the crowds on our lovely balcony.

[4774Papa]

Good grief...Not Socialist cruising so why expect 1500 identical cabins. I don't know why all the "class" references. You can have a suite too . Pay for a suite and you get the extras. Don't pay and spend on other things.

 

We book suites or mini-suites or balconies based on ship, our budget and itineraries and don't envy other who book suites 100% of the time. Good for them!

 

PS- we have our own class system....avoid the crowds on our lovely balcony.

Well said.

 

As for the poster that equated Aqua Class and Concierge with a Class system. It should be noted that both of these so called classes are essentially balcony cabins. This is far different from what the old steamships had with First Class, Second Class and Steerage closed off completely to the others.

 

Some people may resent those who pay double, triple or more for a cabin and have a few extra benefits. Not me, I am very happy with our balcony.

[Hobbsey]

I don't know why all the "class" references.

 

For no other reason then that was the subject of the thread. The OP is trying to make sense of the system on Celebrity ships.

 

In general I agree with you, you should get what you pay for. However, for the longest time cruise travel has been advertised as an open society where nearly everything is included in the fare. Fare's traditionally have been based on type and location of accommodation. Now they are beginning to be based on that and on other "exclusive" amenities. Cunard has always had a "class" system. NCL was the first mass market line to begin this in the wake of their success with Free Style. MSC has really begun marketing the delineations.

[Hobbsey]

Well said.

 

As for the poster that equated Aqua Class and Concierge with a Class system. It should be noted that both of these so called classes are essentially balcony cabins. This is far different from what the old steamships had with First Class, Second Class and Steerage closed off completely to the others.

 

Some people may resent those who pay double, triple or more for a cabin and have a few extra benefits. Not me, I am very happy with our balcony.

 

Tell the person who books a Category 2A and then wishes to dine in Blu that booking An Aqua cabin is the same thing as they have booked. Once certain public rooms are roped off to other "guests" (in LOWER categories) then you have created a class of "guest" who has access to services and amenities the others do not.

 

I have no problem with the practice. As I mentioned elsewhere, I think it makes sense to get what you pay for. My point is simply that we should use clear and direct language (and like Trump and Bernie talk straight).