Remember When Celebrity Was the BEST Cruise Line?

[boscobeans]

I would be very interested to hear about your NCL cruise and how it compares. Having the dining and beverage packages I am sure will help make it a good trip.

 

Sadly it will not be until February because that is the only time of year we cruise for a number of reasons.

 

I will however post an exhaustive comparison on our return.

 

bosco

[PROCRUISE]

LOL. You may be a dinosaur but then I am truly a fossil at 71. My wife and I started cruising when I was in my mid fifties.

 

We remember boarding the Zenith in 2001 and being amazed at how huge it was to us..

 

Now that I have enough sea pass cards to play poker with, all but two are from Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, we have decided that if given a comfortable stateroom, a large veranda, a good sized casino and a ship that manages to bring us to and from a warm and sunny itinerary we can take care of ourselves.

 

Going against all reason, or at least the advice gleaned from this board comparing one line to another, we have booked with NCL. With beverage package and specialty dining package, a perfect 14 day cruise length from a port a mere 3 hour drive from home, I am sure we will manage to find something that approaches what is now standard MDR fare on Celebrity. If not we will have learned a lesson.

OMO

 

bosco:)

Wishing you a most enjoyable NCL cruise. Went on the NCL Star and was not impressed but then tried the NCL Sun and was VERY impressed. It is alway good to step outside the box. I enjoy Celebrity but even though I have to pay the solo price, will be on Windstar Spirit in 30 days and the Viking Sea in January.

[bayonnejoe]

 

They know as well as most of us that an extra, relatively minor, few dollars added to a cruise could solve the entire problem of not only MDR quality, but for an extra dollar or two staffing in the MDR could be returned to where your horseradish might be offered before you finished you prime rib.

 

Just curious. How much do you feel "most of us" would consider "an extra, relatively minor, few dollars added to a cruise" amount to? Because for a lot of people, it might be the difference between going and not going.

Edited July 27, 2017 by bayonnejoe

[shipshape sam]

 

They know as well as most of us that an extra, relatively minor, few dollars added to a cruise could solve the entire problem of not only MDR quality, but for an extra dollar or two staffing in the MDR could be returned to where your horseradish might be offered before you finished you prime rib.

 

Just curious. How much do you feel "most of us" would consider "an extra, relatively minor, few dollars added to a cruise" amount to? Because for a lot of people, it might be the difference between going and not going.

 

Many of us try a speciality dining venue each cruise and just that one time covers what has been suggested. The conundrum is they are addicted to that revenue/profit and if MDR, with no charge was comparable, well................

 

Hard to believe $50, as my guess, would sway a decision to cruise, but I do know there is the 'straw' or red line or at least you choose another cheaper line.

[bayonnejoe]

 

Many of us try a speciality dining venue each cruise and just that one time covers what has been suggested. The conundrum is they are addicted to that revenue/profit and if MDR, with no charge was comparable, well................

 

Hard to believe $50, as my guess, would sway a decision to cruise, but I do know there is the 'straw' or red line or at least you choose another cheaper line.

 

I am 100% certain that $50 (which pretty much everyone would never even notice when booking) would get it done. I think the truth is closer to charging the prices of one the premium lines to get the experience of Celebrity 20 years ago. I have hated the MDR for a long time now (pretty much since Michel Roux has been gone). DW and I dine there once or twice a cruise and book a specialty package, buffet it, or go to Sushi on 5 (used to love Bistro on 5 for dinner when they had the expanded menu BTW) for the rest of the cruise. Something else people forget about dinner on Celebrity. Up until 2005 or so, there was nothing except the MDR. Between 6 and 10, if you did not eat there, you did not eat. (Other than room service). Now you have specialties, the buffet, pizza, and the grill, and Sushi on 5.

Edited July 27, 2017 by bayonnejoe

[CruisingUS]

 

Many of us try a speciality dining venue each cruise and just that one time covers what has been suggested. The conundrum is they are addicted to that revenue/profit and if MDR, with no charge was comparable, well................

 

Hard to believe $50, as my guess, would sway a decision to cruise, but I do know there is the 'straw' or red line or at least you choose another cheaper line.

Talk to people outside of your circle of friends. SOOO many americans live check to check

[bayonnejoe]

Talk to people outside of your circle of friends. SOOO many americans live check to check

 

That was not my post. I cut down on their very long post to quote them and this what came out. It looked as if I had said it. I believe the exact opposite of what they said.

Edited July 27, 2017 by bayonnejoe

[boscobeans]

 

They know as well as most of us that an extra, relatively minor, few dollars added to a cruise could solve the entire problem of not only MDR quality, but for an extra dollar or two staffing in the MDR could be returned to where your horseradish might be offered before you finished you prime rib.

 

Just curious. How much do you feel "most of us" would consider "an extra, relatively minor, few dollars added to a cruise" amount to? Because for a lot of people, it might be the difference between going and not going.

 

 

I have seen various posts dealing with cruise ship food costs as many have. I will take as correct the figures used by Baron Barracuda since they do seem in the ball park with what I have seen over the years.

 

Using his food cost per passenger 14 years ago, his post goes on to state:

 

To have kept daily food costs flat after inflation would have cost about $4pp / day or $28 for a 7 night sailing. In the big scheme of things this is a drop in the bucket. X has raised fares by much more than that. Would personally be more than willing to pay $28 to restore food quality to where it was years ago. Would then have no need to consider specialty restaurants.

 

So with inflation worked in $4 dollars a day per passenger should solve the food cost problem.

 

If staffing in the MDR was to be addressed that of course would be more per passenger and require a lot more thought considering passenger paid cruise line salary and tipping and the fact that they could be used at other places to increase the staff to passenger ratio.

 

For us an added $7 or so a day would be no problem. Possibly it would be for others but it might make the difference with what the MDR experience is now and was 14 years ago. To us, worth it..

OMO

 

bosco

[shipshape sam]

 

That was not my post. I cut down on their very long post to quote them and this what came out. It looked as if I had said it. I believe the exact opposite of what they said.

 

nor was it mine. This mismatch has been happening recently.

[shipshape sam]

Talk to people outside of your circle of friends. SOOO many americans live check to check

 

And they are sailing on Celebrity? Don't think there are many.

[bayonnejoe]

 

nor was it mine. This mismatch has been happening recently.

 

Cool. I think we all got kind of messed up here. I wish I could learn how to quote a small portion of a post without having this happen.

[bayonnejoe]

 

Cool. I think we all got kind of messed up here. I wish I could learn how to quote a small portion of a post without having this happen.

 

Okay. I think we have a Cruise Critic board problem here. Time to log off and let them fix it.

[ChucktownSteve]

Talk to people outside of your circle of friends. SOOO many americans live check to check

And they don't cruise anyway. SOOO your point about the $50?

[Karynanne]

 

 

 

And they are sailing on Celebrity? Don't think there are many.

 

 

 

With all due respect, you don't know how passengers live.

 

Maybe they plan and save for many years to sail, or celebrate a special milestone in their lives.

 

I never assume that all passengers live the same lifestyle as myself. By meeting people onboard, I learn and enrich my own experience.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Germancruiser]

So after reading all those posts I see I am not alone in my opinion - I too, started cruising with X in 2001 - I agree X was at it´s prime in those days. Some may say- everything started go " south" when they merged with RCI- I don´t know them from the old times. I also was a very loyal X- cruiser. Anyhow I switched to Cunard- which is now my line of choice now - I come back though for the Egde- expierence!

[The_Big_M]

 

Just curious. How much do you feel "most of us" would consider "an extra, relatively minor, few dollars added to a cruise" amount to? Because for a lot of people, it might be the difference between going and not going.

 

Just curious. Do you think people should enjoy a cruise that they've spent thousands, if not tens of thousands on? Or feel disappointed and hungry from lack of choice/offerings?

[NLH Arizona]

Just curious. Do you think people should enjoy a cruise that they've spent thousands, if not tens of thousands on? Or feel disappointed and hungry from lack of choice/offerings?

In all my cruises, you are the first person to say they were hungry on a cruise, usually folks say there was too much food. Sorry you didn't find the food to your liking.

[caribill]

 

Hard to believe $50, as my guess, would sway a decision to cruise, but I do know there is the 'straw' or red line or at least you choose another cheaper line.

 

On two cruises I am on later this year the prices have varied as they do with most cruises.

 

On one, for the same balcony cabin class the price range has been from $715 to $1539 (no good/better/best included on either).

 

 

On the other cruise the price range has been from $1499 to $2199 (with two amenities on each).

 

So people have been willing to book when the pricing has changed hundreds of $$$. I doubt that a $50 change will affect bookings.

[The_Big_M]

In all my cruises, you are the first person to say they were hungry on a cruise, usually folks say there was too much food. Sorry you didn't find the food to your liking.

 

Both statements can be true. There was a lot of food - it's not that they ran out. But it was cheap, simple, limited in range (e.g. just 5 types of veggies at the salad/veggie counter) and repetitive, and at limited times. Food options ashore were so much better.

 

I was sorry too. It's such a fall from what they previously offered, and as mentioned, average choices on land.

[excitedofharpenden]

 

nor was it mine. This mismatch has been happening recently.

It will continue to happen too and "infect" other posts because the quote text is wrong in replies. It started in post 178 because bayonnejoe didn't close the quotes properly, then that was quoted and so on. This post quoting you is right because I deleted the text "

" that appeared when I quoted you. If that makes sense!:) That's the only reason it happens, because a poster deletes too much. It's not the boards.

 

Phil

[ThursdaysChild]

Wow Costa beat Celebrity and yes I do remember when Celebrity was the best cruise line or at least near the top.

 

Wow! Costa beat Celebrity? Well, I cruised them once (in 2000) and swore never again. But I am moving away from Celebrity now after a 7 year love affair with them, so maybe time to add them to my list of options.

[ThursdaysChild]

Keep in mind that in the beginning Celebrity also did everything right. Then they grew, then they got taken over by another company, and then they got greedy. The rest is history. I hope Viking keeps it's great product - we'll see.

 

I recommended Celebrity numerous times to a 50ish friend and her husband, both professionals, empty nesters. After frustration with Celebrity website and customer service, the checked out Viking, and just returned from aabout 12 nights northern Europe and the Baltics. Their review: "Flawless Luxury without Pretension".

[luvbluseas]

Well things have changed. Travel and Leisure just published their annual survey. Where does Celebrity Rank? (Rank also means "stinky" BTW)

 

Viking was #1. Other lines that placed in the large ship category, listed in order of popularity, are Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Cunard, Oceania Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Holland America Line.

http://www.latimes.com/travel/cruises/la-tr-cruises-travel-leisure-top-cruise-lines-20170716-story.html

 

In my opinion they deserve to fall down in the ranking! They did it to themselves and they deserve it! Instead of continuing the extras that appealed to passengers with a bit of taste appreciated and were more than willing to pay for: REAL formal nights, great food, removing towels towels from chairs around the pool that obviously no one was using. Now allowing pax in the dining rooms that were not dressed properly. DH and I remember when X did all of these things and were ranked #1 and we cruised them 2 or 3 times a year! NO more now they cater to the Carnival class cruiser and why? There are plenty of other cruise lines if that is what they want. ONCE Celebrity was the ONLY cruise line with GREAT FOOD, GREAT SHIPS AND REAL FORMAL NIGHTS! There WERE worth every penny! Not any more!

[bayonnejoe]

Phil

 

I did not realize I couldn't delete so much. I apologize for messing things up.

Edited July 28, 2017 by bayonnejoe

[ThursdaysChild]

We recently got back from a 12 day cruise on Royal Caribbean. Excellent cruise, huge aft facing veranda stateroom, beverage packages and Diamond Status ( I know-big deal. LOL ). Really not much difference between them and Celebrity as far as service in general. Meals at complimentary and specialty venues on par with Celebrity.

 

We have since decided to book a 14 night cruise from New York City and spend the money that would have been wasted on air fare, hotels and other costs incurred when flying to Florida on the cruise price.

 

As long as Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, also suffering from staff reduction, are lowering their standards we decided to try NCL. Granted, not supposed to be of the same standards as Celebrity but with a huge aft veranda with 2 chaise lounges and two chairs, ultimate beverage package, specialty dining package, about a dozen places to eat and as many places to have a drink and since there is no longer any TRUE formal nights on Celebrity, (as witnessed by us, seeing dozens of passengers in shorts and flip flops on formal night), why not try what they call FREESTYLE and go on an unpretentious cruise that is only a three hour drive from home. It may be a giant ship, but like most things in life we will decide where, when and what we want to do and see on this new adventure.

 

I hope we are pleasantly surprised.

 

bosco

 

Bosco, I live 25 mi from NYC, so tried NCL out of NY just once. Never again...horrid food, even at the highest rated specialty restaurants (I literally had to spit out food at 2 of those meals!), inescapable crowds and noise, impossible to get a seat at a bar, and the smell of smoke seemed to waft through the common areas.

 

But Celebrity, between diminished services and niceties, added to the hefty price increases, has lost its allure for me. I realized on my last cruise in 2016 it just gave me my "sea-fix" and little else. I still long for the sea, and being close to Cape Liberty, can easily do 2 or 3 7-8 day cruises a year in a nice balcony on Anthem solo occupancy for less than $1350 a cruise. Not what Celebrity was, but I have basic food, a few decent specialty restaurants, a very nice Diamond Lounge with decent cocktails and coffees all day, and I can turn off the crowds when I wish. I used to spend$12000-$15000 or more cruising with Celebrity every year, now my money goes elsewhere and I get my "sea-fix" for cheap