The (not my) call for Celeb to go Adults only - is it even practical?

[LMaxwell]

I ran across another conversation in which the author very strongly called for Celebrity to go "Adults Only" on all their ships. I don't think it would be a wise business move. However, from my days studying for my Master's going through some coaching courses I've looked at it from an alternative point of view; even if I don't think it is a good business idea, what would it take to actually make that work? 

 

At first glance it seems like Celebrity just has too many ships and rooms to fill for that to work.  I don't really think it is a viable option unless Celebrity did a few changes. Shed beds.  Meaning too many ships to operate as adults only and double occupancy only. 

 

Longer cruises with more diverse itineraries. People who can afford to sustain the operations of this business model across a fleet are likely to want new and unique ports of call, new experiences. Celebrity could offer longer, segmented "Voyages" as packages, or more land and sea packages perhaps. 

 

Celebrity has dipped their feet in the "all inclusive" waters and receded because customers still wanted lower price points. Were those customers a pair of adults, or did they represent families across several rooms? I honestly don't know. 

 

What, in your estimation, would need to happen for Celebrity to go adults only but not go out of business? 

[Alakegirl]

[snowballs mom]

We tend to cruise when school is in session. This past February there were so few children on board it was essentially adults-only.

[lobsternight]

Geez I've deleted my comment on this because I'd open up too many cans of worms.  But will say the whole reason we cruise celebrity exclusively now is that 10 years ago I sent my 12 yr old with my old mother on a cruise.  He came back and said Dadyou really need to cruise Celebrity.  Now we do.

[LMaxwell]

9 minutes ago, snowballs mom said:

We tend to cruise when school is in session. This past February there were so few children on board it was essentially adults-only.

Yes, the overall package accommodates children, but does not especially cater to them. I was surprised to see anyone looking to exclusively make Celebrity adults only.  I think it would preclude a lot of business in Alaska and the Med, which tend to attract multi-generational families that aren't so picky about the cruise line as the itinerary.  

[NutsAboutGolf]

Assuming this means keeping the current X on board experience the same, excluding kids serves no purpose.  Been on 7 X sailings since the restart, less than 1% of pax are kids, therefore, I'm not sure what there is to gain by blocking kid bookings.

 

As I go on more and more X sailings, my only opinion that changed is they need more variety at the 7pm and 9pm main shows.  On my 12 nighter last May, it was 10 nights of musicals, then a month later on a 7 nighter on a different ship, 6 night musicals, half were the exact same shows as the 12 nighter.  Same exactly thing on the Infinity earlier this month.  To be clear, the performers are excellent, it's just you lose interest if things are repeated enough times.  It isn't like there's much else going elsewhere in the ship.  Other lines have dedicated karaoke bars, dueling piano bars, dedicated comedy clubs which hosts several different comedians a night, name brand Broadway shows (not a show called "BROADWAY" lol), a show on an ice rink and a show at the aft pool.  But perhaps the lack of entertainment variety is part of the reason there are so few kids on board.

 

At the end of the day, X will do whatever its thinks is the most profitable which apparently isn't to increase the wi-fi speed.  All signs point to them continuing to rely heavily on offering "The Retreat" experience.  Their hold music is nearly exclusively all about "The Retreat", creation of AQ suites and with their newest ships they always announce that it has the most suites within the brand.

[Charles4515]

22 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

Yes, the overall package accommodates children, but does not especially cater to them. I was surprised to see anyone looking to exclusively make Celebrity adults only.  I think it would preclude a lot of business in Alaska and the Med, which tend to attract multi-generational families that aren't so picky about the cruise line as the itinerary.  

Celebrity will never be adults only, it is a mass market cruise line but hey there are some folks on the Carnival board who want some adults only ships. LOL. I have been on Celebrity summer sailings where there were 600 kids so they do have kids activities.  Adults only is a niche and Virgin Cruises is trying to fill it. Anyone looking for adults only should be looking at Virgin not dreaming an impossible dream about Celebrity.

[jelayne]

If someone want adults only there are options that don’t include Celebrity.  I can’t see any benefit for Celebrity to eliminate all families.  We have rarely been on a Celebrity ship that has more than about 150 kids and they seem better behaved and entertained than those on the lines with all the kids bells & whistles.  So if they bring along 2-4 adults no reason to shut off that revenue stream and the potential that those kids will pick Celebrity we they are the decision makers. 

[NutsAboutGolf]

2 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

Celebrity will never be adults only, it is a mass market cruise line but hey there are some folks on the Carnival board who want some adults only ships. LOL. I have been on Celebrity summer sailings where there were 600 kids so they do have kids activities.  Adults only is a niche and Virgin Cruises is trying to fill it. Anyone looking for adults only should be looking at Virgin not dreaming an impossible dream about Celebrity.

 

If X wanted to, it wouldn't be a huge deal to offer a few sailings that were kid free as a trial, that would be far more likely than X announcing a kid free future.

 

Virgin has already announced their next class of ships will have kids, they made the current class kids free (without kids clubs, kids slides, etc) to attempt to be disruptive.

[cdn_tbird]

28 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

If X wanted to, it wouldn't be a huge deal to offer a few sailings that were kid free as a trial, that would be far more likely than X announcing a kid free future.

 

Virgin has already announced their next class of ships will have kids, they made the current class kids free (without kids clubs, kids slides, etc) to attempt to be disruptive.

IMO, I doubt that X would ever attempt that sort of a trial. X is looking to lower their age demographic which means that a larger % of that demographic would have families. Ever since our first cruise 20 years ago I remember X being positioned as that step between RCL and their premium brand.

 

I have an easier time seeing RCL bringing another brand online if their market research shows that an adults only line could be very successful. However the fact that Virgin is going in the other direction kind of tells me that that isn't the case.

[Essiesmom]

Viking seems to be making it work, and without casinos, too.  P&O-UK used to have two ships that were adults only.  I think they still have one.  EM

[emmas gran]

We don't cruise or take a land trip when schools are on vacation so our cruises are virtually Adult Only.

 

Yes P&O have 1 Adult only ship Arcadia

[jelayne]

Viking does seem to make it work.  We have friends who sailed X and moved primarily to Viking but they don’t frequent the casino,  not really into dancing or drinking, go to dinner maybe see a show and call it a night.  So it seems to me that Virgin is on one end of the adults only spectrum and Viking is on the other,  neither  appeals to us.

[ellsbells3032]

Honestly I've cruised a few times with x and never even noticed the kids as the kids clubs are set up and they spend most of their time their. There are also adult only pools so we went there to swim. Celebrity have just spent a fortune putting in impressive camp at seas facilities. I doubt they'd even consider killing off that demographic 

 

The swim I noticed kids the most was silversea which is not aimed at kids at all and has zero facilities for them. So the few kids that were on board had nothing to do but splash about in the pool and be a nuciance. Although seemed they were very inconsiderate parents too as they left soiled diapers around the pool too. 

 

[chemmo]

If you can make your product appeal to the widest market possible then you should ensure more full ships…

 

By having some facilities for children families are welcomed.

 

By not having the bells and whistles children facilities those who do not want lots of kids on board are not put off.

 

Marketing to the younger affluent but then excluding them once they had children would not make sense.

 

Multigenerational holidays are gaining in popularity, excluding children does not make sense.

 

Children who cruise young on Celebrity are the next generation of cruisers. Our son was E+ at 21…

 

Having recently seen the TV program on Virgin cruises I am quite shocked as to what they ‘think’ adults want from an adults only cruise…Loud, brash a focus on drinking….put us right off. Give us the quiet sophistication of Celebrity any day.

 

 

 

 

 

[tallnthensome]

I have a cruise booked on X with my 12 and 14 year old daughters that have sailed pretty extensively.  If they can't sail on X we take our business somewhere else. 

[Ipeeinthepools]

5 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

….

At the end of the day, X will do whatever its thinks is the most profitable which apparently isn't to increase the wi-fi speed. …..

Sad but true.  I wonder what it will take for Celebrity to address this issue.

[jg51]

2 hours ago, tallnthensome said:

I have a cruise booked on X with my 12 and 14 year old daughters that have sailed pretty extensively.  If they can't sail on X we take our business somewhere else. 

.

Hear, hear! 

 

Young children are the best people in the world -- so pure and innocent.  It is just as bad for anyone to be prejudiced against them as it is to be prejudiced against people of a different race. 

 

Yes, kids may cause momentary disturbances, but we (supposedly mature adults) can tolerate such things, if we would just be a bit patient and compassionate.  We too were once kids, and we appreciated older folks tolerating our foibles.

.

[Bo1953]

8 hours ago, LMaxwell said:

I ran across another conversation in which the author very strongly called for Celebrity to go "Adults Only" on all their ships. I don't think it would be a wise business move. However, from my days studying for my Master's going through some coaching courses I've looked at it from an alternative point of view; even if I don't think it is a good business idea, what would it take to actually make that work? 

 

At first glance it seems like Celebrity just has too many ships and rooms to fill for that to work.  I don't really think it is a viable option unless Celebrity did a few changes. Shed beds.  Meaning too many ships to operate as adults only and double occupancy only. 

 

Longer cruises with more diverse itineraries. People who can afford to sustain the operations of this business model across a fleet are likely to want new and unique ports of call, new experiences. Celebrity could offer longer, segmented "Voyages" as packages, or more land and sea packages perhaps. 

 

Celebrity has dipped their feet in the "all inclusive" waters and receded because customers still wanted lower price points. Were those customers a pair of adults, or did they represent families across several rooms? I honestly don't know. 

 

What, in your estimation, would need to happen for Celebrity to go adults only but not go out of business? 

Most likely a comment I would have never repeated but would respond by letting the poster know there are lines out there which are adults only, if children are the 'real' issue.

 

On many of our sailings with children, we have found them to be overwhelmingly polite and gracious and well behaved.

 

Were there a few who were not? I presume so, but we did encounter them as apparently the original messenger has or had...

 

We travel with one couple who bring their seven (7) yo daughter on the sailing rather it is seven (7) days or 12. She always spends the majority of her time in The Kids Club, by that I mean just about every waking moment.

 

At any rate, it would be 'somewhat' interesting to hear what that person has encountered to make such a request... maybe not.

 

bon voyage

[Pickels]

As long at the kids are well mannered,  supervised and have activities for them, should not be a problem.  We've been on several Celebrity cruises that had family and everyone was well behaved.  Kids had activities and were supervised. Adults Only?  Naw!  Not a good business decision. 

[LGW59]

10 hours ago, LMaxwell said:

I ran across another conversation in which the author very strongly called for Celebrity to go "Adults Only" on all their ships. I don't think it would be a wise business move. However, from my days studying for my Master's going through some coaching courses I've looked at it from an alternative point of view; even if I don't think it is a good business idea, what would it take to actually make that work? 

 

At first glance it seems like Celebrity just has too many ships and rooms to fill for that to work.  I don't really think it is a viable option unless Celebrity did a few changes. Shed beds.  Meaning too many ships to operate as adults only and double occupancy only. 

 

Longer cruises with more diverse itineraries. People who can afford to sustain the operations of this business model across a fleet are likely to want new and unique ports of call, new experiences. Celebrity could offer longer, segmented "Voyages" as packages, or more land and sea packages perhaps. 

 

Celebrity has dipped their feet in the "all inclusive" waters and receded because customers still wanted lower price points. Were those customers a pair of adults, or did they represent families across several rooms? I honestly don't know. 

 

What, in your estimation, would need to happen for Celebrity to go adults only but not go out of business? 

First of all this is very unlikely to happen.  I also only cruise in spring and fall and I think I can count on less than 2 hands the number of kids I’ve seen on board.  Then again I never go to the pool and am rarely if ever in the buffet area.  When I’m not aimlessly wandering the ship or sitting in a quiet area reading or listening to an instrumentalist, I’m in my suite and on my balcony.  When I have seen kids just about always have been very well behaved.  I guess I’m just happy with all of my Celebrity experiences thus far.

[newtocruiseinblue]

Loved taking my 16 year old on her first cruise this year and she is a cruiser for life!

[LMaxwell]

9 hours ago, Charles4515 said:

Celebrity will never be adults only, it is a mass market cruise line but hey there are some folks on the Carnival board who want some adults only ships. LOL. I have been on Celebrity summer sailings where there were 600 kids so they do have kids activities.  Adults only is a niche and Virgin Cruises is trying to fill it. Anyone looking for adults only should be looking at Virgin not dreaming an impossible dream about Celebrity.

I always overlook Virgin - I was thinking Celebrity would have to charge Viking prices but Celebrity can't out-Viking Viking 

[Whinenowine]

21 minutes ago, Pickels said:

As long at the kids are well mannered,  supervised and have activities for them, should not be a problem.  We've been on several Celebrity cruises that had family and everyone was well behaved.  Kids had activities and were supervised. Adults Only?  Naw!  Not a good business decision. 

 

Yeah, as a dad I understand trying to get away for a relaxing vacation and not wanting crying/screaming kids .  However I've actually been on more than one cruise where the 100-200 kids were far better behaved  than the scores of adults trying to drink their money's worth. 

 

😁

 

[DirtyDawg]

8 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

Assuming this means keeping the current X on board experience the same, excluding kids serves no purpose.  Been on 7 X sailings since the restart, less than 1% of pax are kids, therefore, I'm not sure what there is to gain by blocking kid bookings.

Celebrity is essentially an 'adults only' cruise line already. Making it official would not result is much gain but would it really cause much harm either? Over a full year, for the entire fleet of ships, what would be the % of passengers who were children, 5% perhaps? If it's this high, what lost business are we talking about here, 10%? including lost kids and their parents (and in some cases other family members) If Celebrity went officially 'adults only' how difficult would it be for them to replace these lost revenue sources? At the present time, with the industry in recovery phase and facing global economic headwinds it would likely be quite difficult to replace any lost revenue sources but when Covid and the current economic climate are behind the industry (assuming the industry survives) it will be much easier to replace these lost revenue courses. 

 

As for the advisability of going officially 'adults only' at any time, with X being essentially an 'adults only' cruise line already my attitude is; why rock the boat (or ship 😉). There is an old phrase that applies here; if it ain't broke, don't fix it.