Longer Cruises ?

[IDB37]

Have cruised six times with Celebrity and enjoyed every one of them.

 

As we hope to have more time moving towards retirement, we wondered why Celebrity seem to limit their cruise lengths to 14/15 days generally, perhaps 17/18 days for repositioning routes.

 

Given that the likes of HA, Cunard & Princess all offer substantially longer cruises, does anyone know whether Celebrity are considering extending their options, or if not, why not ?

 

Many thanks for your thoughts.

[GUT2407]

Have cruised six times with Celebrity and enjoyed every one of them.

 

As we hope to have more time moving towards retirement, we wondered why Celebrity seem to limit their cruise lengths to 14/15 days generally, perhaps 17/18 days for repositioning routes.

 

Given that the likes of HA, Cunard & Princess all offer substantially longer cruises, does anyone know whether Celebrity are considering extending their options, or if not, why not ?

 

Many thanks for your thoughts.

 

No idea why not, not even a World Cruise.

Edited August 13, 2016 by GUT2407

[jelayne]

We do B2Bs more often than not. Earlier this year we did 35 nights on the Solstice. Doing 28 nights in South America and 29 nights in Asia-all B2Bs.

On most of these we could have continued on for another 12-28 days.

 

I think that HAL markets 2-4 cruises as 1 but you can do just 1or 2 legs.

Celebrity doesn't package their cruise like that but they are there, just pick a cruise and see where the ship goes before and after. There is nothing like staying on a ship when many others are heading home

Edited August 13, 2016 by jelayne

[DYKWIA]

I think they're going the other way - a lot of their cruises (particularly in Europe) seem to be getting shorter.

 

Cruises that were 14 nights a couple of years ago have dropped to 12-13 nights recently and next year some of those are dropping to 10-11 nights.

 

It's a way of making extra money - cram more cruises into the schedule (reduced entertainment (less guest entertainers) and food costs (less menu variety)) and keep prices the same as when the cruises were longer.

[Adammara]

With Celebrity's desire to attract the younger customer long cruises are not an viable option for them! Most of the younger passengers will be working and they will be restricted on the length they can take off work.

 

Us lucky older pax can come and go as we please! Celebrity used to offer a 17 day cruise from Southampton to Venice and back, sadly no longer offered. We did a B2B to extend a holiday, as jelayne said, there is nothing like being on a ship when most have to get off! For us the choice is limited, we are not allowed to fly anywhere so it has to be UK based cruising for us (and many more!)

 

Fortunately Cunard do offer that cruise, so if we want to go to Venice again, it will be on Cunard.

[Mynki]

Celebrity don't have the most exciting list of itineraries out there unfortunately and like you I'd like to see them offer three, four or five week sailings. Back to back's are an option, but not really the same thing as some longer sailings depending on the specific itinerary.

 

But agree with others they are targeting a younger demographic who may struggle to get the time off work. Whereas many in the UK may get 28 to 33 days holiday plus public holidays per annum, in the US employers tend to be less generous so I can't see this changing any time soon.

 

HAL do offer b2b's and different legs of world cruises etc, but they also offer a lot of longer single sailings.

[A Sixth?]

We have spent longer period of time aboard Celebrity ships, by doing B2Bs.

 

If a "world cruise" is what you're interested in you can do it (kinda) on "X"

 

Look at the Conciliation for example. Combine it with a transfer to the Solstice over the winter and you've cruised the Med to Vancouver, with far fewer sea days and more port days than any "world cruise" I have seen

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 13, 2016 by A Sixth?

[DYKWIA]

With Celebrity's desire to attract the younger customer long cruises are not an viable option for them! Most of the younger passengers will be working and they will be restricted on the length they can take off work.

 

Us lucky older pax can come and go as we please! Celebrity used to offer a 17 day cruise from Southampton to Venice and back, sadly no longer offered. We did a B2B to extend a holiday, as jelayne said, there is nothing like being on a ship when most have to get off! For us the choice is limited, we are not allowed to fly anywhere so it has to be UK based cruising for us (and many more!)

 

Fortunately Cunard do offer that cruise, so if we want to go to Venice again, it will be on Cunard.

 

Would love a Celebrity Cruise from Southampton that mixed up featuring some of these ports - Venice, Croatia, Montenegro, Greek islands, Malta, Different Spanish or Italian Ports.

 

For the last few years the only Southampton Cruise with Celebrity has been - Gibraltar, Villefrance, Rome, Livorno, Genoa, Malaga, Lisbon.

 

We'd book a different Med itinerary ex Southampton in June, Early July, Sept / Early October in heartbeat

Edited August 13, 2016 by DYKWIA

[hcat]

We have taken a few 14 and 15 day cruises with X... over the years but found them to be a bit too long. Now that we're retired we still prefer the 9 to 11 day range..can't leave our cat for much longer...even tho we have a great pet sitter.

 

One reason we have not been on Eclipse is that it was doing 14 day trips..hope to catch her for a shorter one..

 

As suggested above b2b can make a longer trip..or even b2b2b...without having to return to home port in some instances..We might consider that for SA in the future

Edited August 13, 2016 by hcat

[Algebralovr]

If you look at Millennium or Connie, you'll see some options in the winter in Asia.

 

You might also look at Azamara Line rather than Celebrity.

[florisdekort]

The 100+ night Azamara World Journey departing Sydney on 7 March 2018 for London's Tower Bridge is spectacular.

[Turtles06]

HAL do offer b2b's and different legs of world cruises etc, but they also offer a lot of longer single sailings.

 

HAL has some interesting itineraries, but as long as they continue to allow smoking on balconies, we won't consider them.

[A Sixth?]

HAL has some interesting itineraries, but as long as they continue to allow smoking on balconies, we won't consider them.

 

Times two. :mad:

Edited August 13, 2016 by A Sixth?

[smtcan]

HAL has some interesting itineraries, but as long as they continue to allow smoking on balconies, we won't consider them.

 

I agree.

 

We would like to see some more interesting itineraries on Celebrity. We rarely take seven day cruises, it just isn't worth the air fare from Canada for such a short cruise. Usually we choose B2B cruises of around 30 days, or a 14 day cruise with some land travel added. We like repositioning cruises for the interesting ports and also for the price, since they don't include drink packages which do not represent value for us. Our upcoming Vancouver to Tokyo cruise will complete our "Round the World" cruise, although the South Pacific is still on our bucket list.

 

Sheila

[IDB37]

Thanks for all of your thoughts.

 

Wonder what Celebrity's 'Official' stance is on this ?

[vulcan1971]

HAL has some interesting itineraries, but as long as they continue to allow smoking on balconies, we won't consider them.

 

 

 

Times two. :mad:

 

 

 

Times 1000

 

 

Sent from my iPhone 6 Plus on the T-Mobile 4G LTE Network using Tapatalk Pro

[davekathy]

Times 1000

 

 

Sent from my iPhone 6 Plus on the T-Mobile 4G LTE Network using Tapatalk Pro

 

Plus one.

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

I'm im agreement with so many of you above. The one and only thing keeping me off Holland America's interesting itineraries is the liberal smoking policy that allows smoking on balconies.

[Cruise Raider]

We have taken a few 14 and 15 day cruises with X... over the years but found them to be a bit too long. Now that we're retired we still prefer the 9 to 11 day range..can't leave our cat for much longer...even tho we have a great pet sitter.

 

 

 

We are exactly the same ... have done several 14 and 15 night cruises, even a 17 night and now we just prefer the 9-11 nighters. I start missing being at home, even my cooking after we hit that 11 night mark so we just don't book any longer cruises anymore. And...we are both retired as well and don't have the need for a longer escape.

[davekathy]

14 nights is perfect for us. Either a true 14 nighter or a B2B (two 7 nights). We always do a pre-cruise stay and sometimes a post cruise stay. At the end of that we are ready to go home and stop living out of a suit case so to speak. Also by then we are ready to have our own separate bathrooms again. One just doesn't cut it. Then we start getting ready for the next Cruise.

[SPacificbound]

We decide on what part of the world, I look for cruises we can do consecutively, and I always book early to insure we have the same cabin. It's not difficult, just takes a little planning.

[casper106]

Friends of ours just booked a 10 day cruise on Oceania at much more favourable cost with better perks than they could get on X. Not to mention, better ports. Just saying. After our 2017 cruise on X, we will be definitely looking towards Oceania as many of my seasoned cruise friends have already done.

Edited August 14, 2016 by casper106

[rhblake]

For those who are trying Oceania, you might try Azamara. That way you get to use your Captain Club status and the cruise line are very similar.

[PoppyandNana]

14 nights is perfect for us. Either a true 14 nighter or a B2B (two 7 nights). We always do a pre-cruise stay and sometimes a post cruise stay. At the end of that we are ready to go home and stop living out of a suit case so to speak. Also by then we are ready to have our own separate bathrooms again. One just doesn't cut it. Then we start getting ready for the next Cruise.

 

Hi from a Utah expat. Born and raised in Ogden. Now retired in NJ. Last time I was in Ogden, 15 years ago, I almost cried at how run down it was. All the beautiful homes north of Wash. Blvd were mostly immigrant boarding houses. Downtown was mostly boarded up. The two movie theaters I used to go to in the late fifties were gone.

[PoppyandNana]

We are exactly the same ... have done several 14 and 15 night cruises, even a 17 night and now we just prefer the 9-11 nighters. I start missing being at home, even my cooking after we hit that 11 night mark so we just don't book any longer cruises anymore. And...we are both retired as well and don't have the need for a longer escape.

 

Did a 15 night r/t from LA to Hawaii. The four sea days going over were great. The four coming back were a tad tedious. Three sea days is just perfect for us. Have talked with people who have done TA's. Hard to get my arms around six sea days.

 

Just came off a 12 night British isles. By the 12th night we were ready to go home. Much rather take two 10 night cruises in a year than one 20 night.