Celebrity Now vs Then

[canderson]

9 minutes ago, lovrccl said:

True it was beautiful but so much wasted food. We would see people pile a plate, eat half and leave the rest. 

Yeah, it was.  Real artistry in many cases.  On longer cruises, they would put together a very pretty Sunday brunch display in the MDR instead.   Much better attended and vastly less waste. 

 

We once talked the Maiter d into allowing us to stay behind after our late dinner seating to watch the midnight buffet setup from the small seating area at the top of the stairs.  It was better than any stage show on the cruise.  The Md directed the show from the top of the stairs.  They started by pulling tables, then everyone went into 'line of ants mode' to move all of the excess chairs to the starboard upper seating area, after which the choreography really kicked in.  It was amazing.

Edited August 6, 2021 by canderson
bloody spelchek

[Caribbean Chris]

I have “ups & downs” memories with Celebrity but like to reflect on the good ones. 
 

First dinner in Murano on Century - very impressive!  A champagne tasting event when the chief wine steward slashed the neck of a bottle with a sword. Our first sight of our Concierge class aft balcony cabin on brand new Eclipse (our first of the Solstice class ships) and that terrific shower in what seemed like a super modern bathroom with a little vase and fresh rose. The incredible suite concierge in Michael’s who rounded up signatures on a birthday card for my service dog! 

[lv2cruisgrl]

12 minutes ago, Oxo said:

Agree with you.  Still see that everyday on a cruise regardless of Dining time. Waiters even look disgusted when they clear tables. People think they should get their money's worth even if they do eat it.  Do we believe they (passengers) waste that much food when they are home? Doubt it!

True at every meal people either take too much (buffet) or order too much and leave part of it behind. It is sad.

[ymncruise]

Of the things you mentioned, only the chilled towels were offered on our cruise last week. 

[Mike45LC]

Celebrity Then:  My first cruise on Celebrity was in 1990 on the Meridian.  We were greeted as we boarded the ship by an officer, who handed us over to a white gloved steward or other service person, who took our carry on luggage and escorted us to our cabin (before he rushed off to get back in line to help the next passengers).  

 

For dinner, our waiter and assistant waiter were white gloved.  After serving the main course, they offered the guests all of that meal's veggies from a silver platter.  If I remember correctly, they displayed the desserts on a platter.

 

The midnight buffet was astonishing!  I rarely took any food, but I always took photographs.  And not just the Gala Midnight Buffet, but every night's.

 

They dropped the white glove escort to the cabins.  They dropped the white gloved-service at the restaurants.  The midnight buffet became something like "late evening snacks" served by waiters in some public venues, and then was dropped altogether, probably a decade ago?  I am not sure because I was rarely in the venue at which this was being offered -- the awe-inspiring displays were gone, and I was till not hungry

 

Thirty years ago, the passengers were treated like royalty.  Now, our cruises are more solid middle class, mass marketed.  But they are also priced far more affordably for the middle classes.  I'd have to pull up old records to be sure, but I don't think the cruise pricing has kept up with inflation over the past 30 years!

 

I loved cruising on the Celebrity Meridian  in 1990 and I loved my Edge cruise in 2019.  Despite the changes!  

 

[George C]

8 minutes ago, Mike45LC said:

 

Thirty years ago, the passengers were treated like royalty.  Now, our cruises are more solid middle class, mass marketed.  But they are also priced far more affordably for the middle classes.  I'd have to pull up old records to be sure, but I don't think the cruise pricing has kept up with inflation over the past 30 years!

 

I loved cruising on the Celebrity Meridian  in 1990 and I loved my Edge cruise in 2019.  Despite the changes!  

 

World of difference in 30 years, my cruises started 45 years ago , today’s suite perks are much closer in service to what you experienced back then. Back in the 70’s you dressed in suit and tie every night.

[grandgeezer]

51 minutes ago, Oxo said:

Agree with you.  Still see that everyday on a cruise regardless of Dining time. Waiters even look disgusted when they clear tables. People think they should get their money's worth even if they do eat it.  Do we believe they (passengers) waste that much food when they are home? Doubt it!

Not as bad as the people who try to get their money's worth with the drink packages.

[canderson]

30 minutes ago, George C said:

World of difference in 30 years, my cruises started 45 years ago , today’s suite perks are much closer in service to what you experienced back then. Back in the 70’s you dressed in suit and tie every night.

Even as recently as 2014 (our last X cruise - Baltic), we'd 'dress' for dinner every night.  Based upon CC reports these days and the X website, I have the impression that we're going to stick out like sore thumbs this November.  We may take some our 15 dinners in the MDR.  Coat and tie over the top these days??

[George C]

6 minutes ago, canderson said:

Even as recently as 2014 (our last X cruise - Baltic), we'd 'dress' for dinner every night.  Based upon CC reports these days and the X website, I have the impression that we're going to stick out like sore thumbs this November.  We may take some our 15 dinners in the MDR.  Coat and tie over the top these days??

I still would wear my tux up until a few years ago, I did the Edge a month ago and everyone was dressed extremely casual even on there version of formal , only a few had jackets . 

[canderson]

Is Luminae any different?

[dkjretired]

1 minute ago, canderson said:

Is Luminae any different?

You get all types of dress in Luminae probably because the Evening Chic dress code does not apply in Luminae which is smart casual every night. 

[dkjretired]

17 minutes ago, canderson said:

Even as recently as 2014 (our last X cruise - Baltic), we'd 'dress' for dinner every night.  Based upon CC reports these days and the X website, I have the impression that we're going to stick out like sore thumbs this November.  We may take some our 15 dinners in the MDR.  Coat and tie over the top these days??

We have great pictures from the 90s when we traveled mostly with our children.  Pictures of wife and daughter in beautiful dresses and son and I in tuxes.  They are priceless but we are just no into that anymore, we follow the dress code but certainly I don't even bring a jacket anymore. 

 

Back in the 90s, everyone dressed up because if they didn't they were relegated to eating in their room with room service.   The dress code after 6 was for the entire ship and you would be asked to leave a venue such as the casino if you were not dressed.   There were no specialties and the buffet was not open for dinner. 

[canderson]

And Celebrity's definition is:

"Men’s smart casual dress code: Pants or jeans with a short-sleeve sport shirt."

 

Hell, I can't even wear jeans at most private golf clubs!  Sounds more like a Windjammer cruise (a very nice, but very different experience!) with regard to attire! 

 

Sounds like I'll need to leave the ties home and wear golf attire to dinner to 'fit in'!

 

[Mike45LC]

1 hour ago, George C said:

World of difference in 30 years, my cruises started 45 years ago , today’s suite perks are much closer in service to what you experienced back then. Back in the 70’s you dressed in suit and tie every night.

George, even though it was much later than yours, on my early cruises we dressed up, jacket and tie, on the non-formal nights, and I wore a tux on formal nights.  I still have six cummerbunds from those days, but now I wear my tux only a couple of times a year.   

 

And in today's world, people come to these forums to discuss if they can wear blue jeans on formal nights!

[sasset]

Our first several trips on Millenium and Infinity 2003/2004 we were escorted to our cabin upon boarding, with sparkling wine.

Edited August 6, 2021 by sasset
spelling

[Silkroad]

1 minute ago, sasset said:

Our first several trips on Millenium and Infinity 2003/2004 we were escorted to out cabin upon boarding, with sparkling wine.

Interesting. I believe we were escorted to our cabin on our first cruise (May 2006) but DH doesn’t remember this. Does anyone here remember when they stopped escorting pax to their cabins? 

[lv2cruisgrl]

We really miss dressing in tux and gowns!  We have such beautiful pictures of us all decked out!

[Silkroad]

1 hour ago, George C said:

I still would wear my tux up until a few years ago, I did the Edge a month ago and everyone was dressed extremely casual even on there version of formal , only a few had jackets . 

We have noticed that typical dinner attire depends upon the itinerary. It appears to us that Caribbean cruises are more casual than European cruises. On our first Caribbean cruise, just before the shutdown, the other gentleman at the Michael’s Club bar were teasing my DH about always being so dressed up. He was wearing a long sleeved dress shirt (no tie) and dress slacks😂 Contrast this with our Baltic cruise from Southampton, where we saw some lovely tuxedos and gowns on Evening Chic nights. 

[Germancruiser]

Just back from Apex´s wonderful Maiden Voyage 6 weeks ago my memory is still fresh, so I though to add my 2 cents. My first X- ship was the then brand new Millenium- just Millenium then- not yet Celebrity Millenium.

Coming from about 10 RCI cruises I was very very impressed with the difference I noticed, even though the white gloved service was already gone at embarkation day.

Did the experience with X change- yes it did- so did I – so did we- so did almost everything in the last 20 years.

Some for the better some not. What remained is the wonderful crew- I have yet to run into an unfriendly, rude X- staff- member.

The formal nights are gone- yes- which makes packing easier – but sometimes I still miss the festive atmosphere. Even chic as they call it now – well it´s still evening, but chic- well that´s in the eye of the beholder. LOL.

For me the most significant change is, that their ships got louder by the year- or so it seemed. Canned music all over the place- hard to escape from. I also could do without the captain climbing on the bar and being part of the entertainment. Most people love it- I don´t!

After all is said and done I think X is still a step above the usual mass market ships.

[canderson]

Just now, Silkroad said:

We have noticed that typical dinner attire depends upon the itinerary. It appears to us that Caribbean cruises are more casual than European cruises. On our first Caribbean cruise, just before the shutdown, the other gentleman at the Michael’s Club bar were teasing my DH about always being so dressed up. He was wearing a long sleeved dress shirt (no tie) and dress slacks😂 Contrast this with our Baltic cruise from Southampton, where we saw some lovely tuxedos and gowns on Evening Chic nights. 

Ah, and our 'replacement' for our blown up Atlantic TA on Reflection are B2B in the Caribbean. 

Let me guess, he was wearing French cuffs with links, too.  That probably gave him away!  Geez, what's the world come to?

[canderson]

1 minute ago, Germancruiser said:

For me the most significant change is, that their ships got louder by the year- or so it seemed. Canned music all over the place- hard to escape from. I also could do without the captain climbing on the bar and being part of the entertainment. Most people love it- I don´t!

After all is said and done I think X is still a step above the usual mass market ships.

Ah, that is NOT good news.  Muzak now???  One of the primary reasons that we cruised X for so many years was because they weren't prattling on all day on the P.A. system trying to convince us of what a great time we were having and advising of the time and location of the next 'can't miss' event.  Traditionally, we heard from the P.A. ONLY on the following occasions:

 

Muster drill

If we were aboard during a periodic fire drill for crew

Mid-day position report, noon, from the captain, if we were aboard to even hear it

When the ship was cleared for disembarkation at a port.

 

Tell me that at least that tradition is holding up.

 

[Silkroad]

Just now, canderson said:

Ah, and our 'replacement' for our blown up Atlantic TA on Reflection are B2B in the Caribbean. 

Let me guess, he was wearing French cuffs with links, too.  That probably gave him away!  Geez, what's the world come to?

Maybe his dinner jacket (hanging over the back of his barstool) stressed them out? We fly to the port, and our luggage allowance is only 50 pounds (vs 70 pounds for our first cruise), so we need our dinner attire to be versatile. Hence the dress shirt sans tie on casual nights, dress shirt with tie and jacket on chic nights. We’ll be on Edge in October and Equinox in December, so we’ll see how well we fit in😊

[Silkroad]

1 hour ago, canderson said:

Even as recently as 2014 (our last X cruise - Baltic), we'd 'dress' for dinner every night.  Based upon CC reports these days and the X website, I have the impression that we're going to stick out like sore thumbs this November.  We may take some our 15 dinners in the MDR.  Coat and tie over the top these days??

Not at all. I have seen coats and ties on every cruise. 

[Silkroad]

13 minutes ago, canderson said:

Tell me that at least that tradition is holding up.

It is.

[canderson]

9 minutes ago, Silkroad said:

It is.

THANK YOU for that confirmation!