FOR YOUR 2023 CRUISING DOLLAR, DOES X MARK THE SPOT?

[WonderMan3]

Not right now. Did have a B3B booked for May on Constellation to Europe in Royal/Penthouse but after long consideration we just couldn’t justify the cost even with good casino discounts. We saw we could do a lot of other things with the money right now. The increase in complaints about service over the past year and quality issues plus Covid still lingering on has us putting cruising on the shelf for the time being. Have three trips planned for this year but all will be land vacations. May look closer in for a Caribbean cruise next winter or maybe Europe next year summer but prices as they stand now are a no go for us as we only do suites and they are just ridiculously expensive. 

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

I am willing to pay a fair amount to 1) avoid lines or delays, 2) have superior service, 3) have consistent quality food and excellent accommodations, and 4) to avoid crowds and selfish disrespectful types.

 

I'm giving Celebrity a shot this month (7-night Caribbean in an EV) and in August (11-night Mediterranean in an EV). Both trips on Beyond. 

 

If they come through on both trips, I'll book more EV (possibly Iconic, if on Edge or Apex since in these two ships, the rooms are right next to Luminae and that should make my in-room dining requests still hot on arrival). On Beyond, my EVs are right next to Luminae. Perfect!

 

It's like fuel costs (and don't hate me for this), but I'd happily pay $10/gallon if it meant a lot less traffic and less demand  for goods. Yes, It'll all cost more (not necessarily advocating Fed actions, but you get the idea).

 

I hope the pricing keeps going up for the Retreat. I read it's getting busy in Retreat areas, which means pricing is too low or Celebrity should stop those insane move-ups which dilutes the whole premise for full-pays like me. Don't hate me. The question was asked. I'm answering. 

 

I've reviewed many comments across most cruise line forums. They're all (smartly, IMO) knowingly curating their respective demographics by tweaking their pricing.

 

Celebrity, don't dilute the Retreat experience and keep the chair hogs at bay.

 

Peace to all.

[Molokai_Traveler]

On 6/30/2022 at 4:39 AM, K&RCurt said:

We have been to NOLA many times, and often stay at the "W" hotel at the base of Canal with a river view room. Every NOLA based ship I have seen docks with the starboard side to the pier and turns around in the river when leaving.  I can't say I've seen a ship that was visiting NOLA as a Port-of-Call, but Imagine it would do the same.  Far easier to stick the bow out when leaving and let the river help turn the ship vs turning around and fighting the current to back in to the quay.  The cruise docks are quite close to the bridge to Algiers.  If you look on Google Maps you can see a Carnival ship with it's bow just a few yards shy of the bridge.

 

If you want any "view" while in port in NOLA hope you are on the Port side and can see the River Traffic and Algiers.  If you are on the Starboard side you will see the warehouses by the river and the Pontchartrain expressway.

 

9 hours ago, foodsvcmgr said:

Been cruising since 1978 but over the last ten years an equal mix of Celebrity, HAL, and Princess.

Celebrity pricing for the most part is the highest of the three and with high non refundable deposits.

However I’m willing to give my cruising dollars to Celebrity if they demonstrate less cutbacks to food and service than the competition.

In 1978, did you have to row?😎

[Georgia_Peaches]

Thinking about doing a Blue Chip offer or booking a bare bones veranda stateroom and using our Elite perks to try this pricing on for size.  We normally sail in suites where it's all included but it's getting harder to swallow suite prices for the same old Caribbean itineraries.  Maybe one day we will cruise the Med once again but for now, we are staying closer to home.

[RichYak]

5 hours ago, 4-2-N-8 said:

I am willing to pay a fair amount to 1) avoid lines or delays, 2) have superior service, 3) have consistent quality food and excellent accommodations, and 4) to avoid crowds and selfish disrespectful types.

 

I'm giving Celebrity a shot this month

IMO, I find your wish list and that last sentence I quoted at odds with one another with the exception of "excellent accommodations" which Celebrity has for sure. I can't for the life of me figure out why someone with your means would choose a mass market cruise line, I really can't. Please understand, there is no criticism of you intended, it's just wonderment on my part.

[Georgia_Peaches]

5 hours ago, 4-2-N-8 said:

It's like fuel costs (and don't hate me for this), but I'd happily pay $10/gallon if it meant a lot less traffic and less demand  for goods. Yes, It'll all cost more (not necessarily advocating Fed actions, but you get the idea).

🙄

[Ken the cruiser]

I also think this is an interesting thread along with the Specialty Restaurant one regarding food quality on this Forum. 

 

We just finished a 38-day B2B cruise from Athens to Dubai and then on to Cape Town. During those 38 days we ate half the time in specialty restaurants, averaging about $35 pp including gratuities, while the other half was split between two MDRs. We always ate breakfast up in the buffet usually outside in the aft area as well as our lunches up there too if we weren’t on an excursion. When we finally got back home, we weighed ourselves and I had lost around 7 pounds and my DW had loss a little less than that. But the cruise was the most awesome cruise we had ever been on, and we’ve cruised all over the world!
 

But when I think about what we ate and the service we received, it was usually pretty good most of the time, but not always. But then we only paid around $260 pp/day for our aft-facing mini-suite cabin, and also booked a last-minute Club Balcony mini-suite on a similar ship while onboard for later this month at $170 pp/day. But I guess that’s the nice thing about having multiple cruise lines to choose from and for us we now have 3, depending on what catches our fancy during a specific time of year.

 

So when Celebrity lists their Aqua cabins at around $400 or more pp/day, their itinerary better be pretty awesome; otherwise we’ll be booking with one of our other favorite cruise lines because for us all of them have tasty food. 😁

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

1 hour ago, RichYak said:

IMO, I find your wish list and that last sentence I quoted at odds with one another with the exception of "excellent accommodations" which Celebrity has for sure. I can't for the life of me figure out why someone with your means would choose a mass market cruise line, I really can't. Please understand, there is no criticism of you intended, it's just wonderment on my part.

Because I'm open minded and I try a lot of unique and unusual things that people wouldn't always think I would.

 

Celebrity's Retreat level offering (at least on paper) clams to line up with luxury lines. They're selling it this way, so I'm trying it.

 

You can eat steak every night, but a great burger is also nice. 😃

Edited January 2, 2023 by 4-2-N-8

[RichYak]

2 minutes ago, 4-2-N-8 said:

Because I'm open minded and I try a lot of unique and unusual things that people wouldn't always think I would.

I have no doubt that you are. I'm only going by your 4 point wish list. Celebrity checks off only half of one item.

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

2 minutes ago, RichYak said:

I have no doubt that you are. I'm only going by your 4 point wish list. Celebrity checks off only half of one item.

If it doesn't live up to my expectations, I'm donning my Paul Blart Mall Cop uniform and taking names (for my review). 😅

 

Plus, I'll be able to return to CC, safe in the knowledge that I'll have a cornucopia of "stuff" to gripe about. 🦖

[SbbquilterUT]

We are now looking specifically for itinerary, we are maturing and I want to see different ports while we can fully enjoy the experience physically.  This year brings a relaxing Celebrity B2B Mexico, then a 14 night TA on Anthem of the Seas (DH really likes the ship and there will not be lots of kids on this sailing), European river cruise with Viking, and finally 7 night Alaska with Celebrity (finishes off our FCC).  The following year we are sailing Viking Ocean and Oceania for their smaller ship with more interesting itineraries.  Want to travel while it is fun and spend all our kid's inheritance. 😂

[paulh84]

It still fits a certain space within our vacation wants. 
 

RCL and NCL are too kid friendly family focused for two people with no kids. Carnival isn’t a consideration. The premium and lux lines would probably be too sleepy for us and the scheduling isn’t ideal. Virgin could be an option but it seems very Las Vegas-ish and I couldn’t think of a place I dislike any more. 
 

We just did another 4 nights an at expensive all inclusive in Mexico. It’s priced roughly a bit higher than the per night rate on an E Class Sky Suite. It was a one and done. Absolutely not worth the kind of $$$$. 

[Franken]

We’ve sailed 3 times with Celebrity and once with Azamara since the restart.  I’m really leaning towards Azamara.  The itineraries are great, it’s more relaxed, food was great and less of a sales pitch for everything. Celebrity increasing prices for drinks, room service, etc. is making me rethink the value of their cruises.

[Ken the cruiser]

34 minutes ago, paulh84 said:

It still fits a certain space within our vacation wants. 
 

RCL and NCL are too kid friendly family focused for two people with no kids. Carnival isn’t a consideration. The premium and lux lines would probably be too sleepy for us and the scheduling isn’t ideal. Virgin could be an option but it seems very Las Vegas-ish and I couldn’t think of a place I dislike any more. 
 

We just did another 4 nights an at expensive all inclusive in Mexico. It’s priced roughly a bit higher than the per night rate on an E Class Sky Suite. It was a one and done. Absolutely not worth the kind of $$$$. 

Fun fact: on our recent 38-day B2B on the NCL Jade, the average age was 62 and with 1,850 passengers, there were only a hand full of kids. That’s why we’ve now included NCL on our favorite cruise line list IF the itinerary is awesome and not during a time when kids are out of school. 

[LB_NJ]

I have 2 cruises booked in January however, with all the changes Celebrity is making and with all the uncertainty about quality I won't book a new cruise on Celebrity until this all shakes out and it is clear where Celebrity stands as far as costs and quality.  There are a lot of other choices out there, e.g., Windstar and Oceania.

[HS2BS]

In the past we were very loyal to Celebrity(as we were to an airline) till they did away with 14+ days cruises, and now do 9, 10, 11 days or 2x7 b2b(wasted day in between). While we still book Celebrity as our main cruise line, we’re booking Princess for there longer and different itineraries, HAL for there longer cruises and both have better pricing

This year there are are over a dozen new ships sailing with 50,000+ new berths available, competitive pricing will change demographics, port availability and

of course prices.

 

Hal

[D C]

15 hours ago, 4-2-N-8 said:

I hope the pricing keeps going up for the Retreat. I read it's getting busy in Retreat areas, which means pricing is too low or Celebrity should stop those insane move-ups which dilutes the whole premise for full-pays like me. Don't hate me. The question was asked. I'm answering. 

 

Celebrity, don't dilute the Retreat experience and keep the chair hogs at bay.

 

Peace to all.

 

Diluting the premise and Retreat experience?   Would you kindly explain how anything is diluted by Celebrity maximizing their revenue while filling rooms that provide them with a ridiculously favourable balance sheet entry?  (i.e. guests spend disproportionately more per person in comparison to the expense realised by Celebrity to have them onboard.)

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

43 minutes ago, D C said:

 

Diluting the premise and Retreat experience?   Would you kindly explain how anything is diluted by Celebrity maximizing their revenue while filling rooms that provide them with a ridiculously favourable balance sheet entry?  (i.e. guests spend disproportionately more per person in comparison to the expense realised by Celebrity to have them onboard.)

Sure thing.

 

If I understand Celebrity's Retreat experience, it is as an environment of calm, reserved, un-hurried ambiance that is refined and isn't crowded.

 

Have I misunderstood their advertising?

 

Since you asked for a response, please don't attack me. I'll offer an analogy that I have read in numerous threads on this site in different cruise line forums.

 

When Carnival reduced its pricing to "Greyhound Bus" transportation costs versus first class on American transcontinental flights, it will attract a very different demographic.

 

Likewise, when Celebrity allows "move up" offers versus enforcing only full-pay for each room type, they attract a very different demographic within each category of stateroom.

 

Don't shoot me over my observation. This entire thread is filled with cost conscious travelers who wouldn't pay full price but will do move up offers (hence, filling all the Retreat rooms which only serves to fill up the Retreat space with pax who would normally not sail on that category).

 

I.e., no telling where the chair hogs come from or who they are, but when I read about in the Retreat, it makes me question.

 

I'm a realist. Nothing else. You asked, and I appreciate it.

 

Peace to you...

Edited January 3, 2023 by 4-2-N-8

[D C]

13 minutes ago, 4-2-N-8 said:

Sure thing.

 

If I understand Celebrity's Retreat experience, it is as an environment of calm, reserved, un-hurried ambiance that is refined and isn't crowded.

 

Have I misunderstood their advertising?

 

Since you asked for a response, please don't attack me. I'll offer an analogy that I have read in numerous threads on this site in different cruise line forums.

 

When Carnival reduced its pricing to "Greyhound Bus" transportation costs versus first class on American transcontinental flights, it will attract a very different demographic.

 

Likewise, when Celebrity allows "move up" offers versus enforcing only full-pay for each room type, they attract a very different demographic within each category of stateroom.

 

Don't shoot me over my observation. This entire thread is filled with cost conscious travelers who wouldn't pay full price but will do move up offers (hence, filling all the Retreat rooms which only serves to fill up the Retreat space with pax who would normally not sail on that category).

 

I.e., no telling where the chair hogs come from or who they are, but when I read about in the Retreat, it makes me question.

 

I'm a realist. Nothing else. You asked, and I appreciate it.

 

Peace to you...

"uncrowded" from an advertising perspective would be based on the available public space per room, assuming full occupancy.  If suites are full and that space ratio is unfavorable because of higher suite occupancy rates than non-suites, I'm a very happy shareholder. 

 

Can you expound on the "very different demographic" comment? If there's one thing I've learned, it's that class is never determined by one's finances. 

[islabahia]

We have 2 cruises booked for 2023 on X.  There’s no way we would have booked those cruises with the insane suite pricing!  We will be trying Oceania in 2024.

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

6 minutes ago, D C said:

"uncrowded" from an advertising perspective would be based on the available public space per room, assuming full occupancy.  If suites are full and that space ratio is unfavorable because of higher suite occupancy rates than non-suites, I'm a very happy shareholder. 

 

Can you expound on the "very different demographic" comment? If there's one thing I've learned, it's that class is never determined by one's finances. 

Nope. I leave you to draw your own conclusions. 

 

I will say that Seabourn and Regent are my baseline. But, as I have previously stated somewhere on this forum, I'm open minded to give other options a whirl.

 

Peace to you.

[Andi Land]

38 minutes ago, 4-2-N-8 said:

Sure thing.

 

If I understand Celebrity's Retreat experience, it is as an environment of calm, reserved, un-hurried ambiance that is refined and isn't crowded.

 

Have I misunderstood their advertising?

 

Since you asked for a response, please don't attack me. I'll offer an analogy that I have read in numerous threads on this site in different cruise line forums.

 

When Carnival reduced its pricing to "Greyhound Bus" transportation costs versus first class on American transcontinental flights, it will attract a very different demographic.

 

Likewise, when Celebrity allows "move up" offers versus enforcing only full-pay for each room type, they attract a very different demographic within each category of stateroom.

 

Don't shoot me over my observation. This entire thread is filled with cost conscious travelers who wouldn't pay full price but will do move up offers (hence, filling all the Retreat rooms which only serves to fill up the Retreat space with pax who would normally not sail on that category).

 

I.e., no telling where the chair hogs come from or who they are, but when I read about in the Retreat, it makes me question.

 

I'm a realist. Nothing else. You asked, and I appreciate it.

 

Peace to you...

By offering the Move Up option, it’s not necessarily a “dilution.”  They have rooms that wouldn’t be used if left unsold. By selling the max capacity, they don’t dilute the product, they are making it what the expectations is for a fully loaded ship. We may not like it as passengers when it’s more full but more full does not equal dilution. 
 

Also, the Move Up option is in place to hopefully hook people into booking higher categories then they normally would. Say I normally book an ocean view but get a Move Up offer to a balcony and absolutely fall in love with balcony rooms that means that for my next tip I’m automatically going to look at pricing for the balcony to see how I can swing it. It’s a good business model for them. 
 

Hope you have a fantastic time in the Retreat. And please do come back and share with us your experience. I always like to know everyone’s take on these things. 

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

11 minutes ago, Andi Land said:

By offering the Move Up option, it’s not necessarily a “dilution.”  They have rooms that wouldn’t be used if left unsold. By selling the max capacity, they don’t dilute the product, they are making it what the expectations is for a fully loaded ship. We may not like it as passengers when it’s more full but more full does not equal dilution. 
 

Also, the Move Up option is in place to hopefully hook people into booking higher categories then they normally would. Say I normally book an ocean view but get a Move Up offer to a balcony and absolutely fall in love with balcony rooms that means that for my next tip I’m automatically going to look at pricing for the balcony to see how I can swing it. It’s a good business model for them. 
 

Hope you have a fantastic time in the Retreat. And please do come back and share with us your experience. I always like to know everyone’s take on these things. 

I'll look to do so, and appreciate your respect.

[mpdog42]

59 minutes ago, 4-2-N-8 said:

Sure thing.

 

If I understand Celebrity's Retreat experience, it is as an environment of calm, reserved, un-hurried ambiance that is refined and isn't crowded.

 

Have I misunderstood their advertising?

 

Since you asked for a response, please don't attack me. I'll offer an analogy that I have read in numerous threads on this site in different cruise line forums.

 

When Carnival reduced its pricing to "Greyhound Bus" transportation costs versus first class on American transcontinental flights, it will attract a very different demographic.

 

Likewise, when Celebrity allows "move up" offers versus enforcing only full-pay for each room type, they attract a very different demographic within each category of stateroom.

 

Don't shoot me over my observation. This entire thread is filled with cost conscious travelers who wouldn't pay full price but will do move up offers (hence, filling all the Retreat rooms which only serves to fill up the Retreat space with pax who would normally not sail on that category).

 

I.e., no telling where the chair hogs come from or who they are, but when I read about in the Retreat, it makes me question.

 

I'm a realist. Nothing else. You asked, and I appreciate it.

 

Peace to you...

The comment about Carnival is spot on!!!!  A lot of Current/Retired/former LEO’s won’t sail on Carnival’s shorter sailings because we don’t need the BS…That’s been posted many times over many forms

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

34 minutes ago, mpdog42 said:

The comment about Carnival is spot on!!!!  A lot of Current/Retired/former LEO’s won’t sail on Carnival’s shorter sailings because we don’t need the BS…That’s been posted many times over many forms

The cruise lines know to whom they cater.

 

I appreciate your service to law enforcement.