Will X Follow Royal with 1X Day Cabin Service for Non Suites?

[davekathy]

Just now, JBSteelerfan said:

 

Same as you.... we have jumped over to Celebrity.  I cannot imagine they will make those same cleaning cutbacks.  That would cause quite an uproar on Celebrity!

I hope Celebrity doesn't either. The new implemented change is causing an uproar on the RC forum.  Time will tell when cruises are completed and people start complaining on their PCS and not just on CC. We'll continue to cruise with RC. Nothing for 2023 so hopefully by 2024 RC changes back to twice a day or at least by request. 

[TeeRick]

We every so often get a post that asks the question - "Royal just did this, will Celebrity follow?".   They are two different cruise lines, even though owned by the same corporation.  There are many differences.  Celebrity generally does not automatically adopt RCCL changes.  Does Princess or Cunard adopt changes by Carnival, even though all owned by the same corporation? No.

[DaKahuna]

Both Royal and Celebrity have different CEO's.  Michael Bailey for Royal Caribbean and Lisa Lutoff-Purlo for Celebrity.  Both report to Jason Liberty who is President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group under which both Celebrity and Royal Caribbean operate. 

 

[Wineaux007]

I wouldn't hold my  breath.  Currently on Vision and talking with an housekeeping supervisor.  Celebrity will most likely be adopting this policy also.  

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

13 minutes ago, Wineaux007 said:

I wouldn't hold my  breath.  Currently on Vision and talking with an housekeeping supervisor.  Celebrity will most likely be adopting this policy also.  

Can you elaborate why you think this?

[Oceansaway17]

On 3/5/2023 at 6:36 AM, Cruzinforpeace*** said:

How do you feel about continuing to pay more $ for less service/quality? Since X is owned by Royal it’s probably only a matter of time.

I do not mind because the crew is still working a long day and if doing 1 service a day, they might do extra good at that time.  Besides if you see them in the hall and really need something, I am sure they would get if for you.

 

If one has 2-3k to take a trip, then not nice to split hairs on the tips the crew gets.

[joetop2467]

Celebrity followed RC by charging for room service. That does not sit well with us.  

[NutsAboutGolf]

There was just another thread on this...It's absolutely inevitable X will go down to one cleaning for at Insides-Balconies, perhaps also CC/AQ...In another words, it's not a question of if, it's when

[NutsAboutGolf]

9 hours ago, TeeRick said:

We every so often get a post that asks the question - "Royal just did this, will Celebrity follow?".   They are two different cruise lines, even though owned by the same corporation.  There are many differences.  Celebrity generally does not automatically adopt RCCL changes.  Does Princess or Cunard adopt changes by Carnival, even though all owned by the same corporation? No.

 

It seems X does follow RCI's lead when it comes to cost savings but does not follow cost increases

 

RCI started charging for additional lobster tails, claimed they were even LISTENING to customer feedback about the additional fee..."Listening" isn't the same as taking action as I'm sure there wasn't many who said "LOVED the new fee, so happy you started charging, keep up the good work, I booked 3 more sailings in suites because of this!!!".  RCI at least changed from the spiny lobster to the more expensive Maine lobster but despite X charging the EXACT same fee, they kept the cheaper spiny lobster

 

Someone on here claimed to have insider info that X will be simular to RCI's MDR rotating menu which has a theme night every night but no longer has the fixed timeless classics.  Pure speculation if it's happen; I personally don't think that's a cost cutting measure but it's another example of X following RCI's lead

[prmssk]

Celebrity’s direct competitors are Holland and Princess. They are watching what those two lines do more closely than following Royal. I know Princess is still twice a day service and I believe Holland is as well. 

 

(Royal’s direct competitors are Carnival and NCL.  Carnival has been at once a day service since before the pandemic and NCL dropped to once a day just in the last month or two.)

[Germancruiser]

As long as one can choose ( with X) between one or twice a day- service- I am fine with that. I was asked by my cabin steward in 2021( Apex´s Maiden Voyage) if i would agree to only once a day service.

I opted for twice a day. I am not green I wont go green. Thats that!

I my humble opinion this once a day nonsense is a way to cut costs - once a day service safes staff and therefore money.

Of course it sounds much better to play with the guilty conscience part of the passengers, then to admit cost cuttings.

[TeeRick]

14 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

It seems X does follow RCI's lead when it comes to cost savings but does not follow cost increases

 

RCI started charging for additional lobster tails, claimed they were even LISTENING to customer feedback about the additional fee..."Listening" isn't the same as taking action as I'm sure there wasn't many who said "LOVED the new fee, so happy you started charging, keep up the good work, I booked 3 more sailings in suites because of this!!!".  RCI at least changed from the spiny lobster to the more expensive Maine lobster but despite X charging the EXACT same fee, they kept the cheaper spiny lobster

 

Someone on here claimed to have insider info that X will be simular to RCI's MDR rotating menu which has a theme night every night but no longer has the fixed timeless classics.  Pure speculation if it's happen; I personally don't think that's a cost cutting measure but it's another example of X following RCI's lead

I sail both RCCL and Celebrity often.  They are not the same. There are key differences in culture (amusement parks vs quiet adult oriented).  A lot of comparative threads on these differences.    Even on their newest ships.  A big difference is the smoking policy (in the casinos).  I agree they are both pushing cost savings in different and similar ways, and every cruise line is pushing this right now.  Not sure why everything becomes boiled down to lobster (🙂).  I find the number of posts and threads on this very odd - but maybe just me.

[grandgeezer]

Anybody concerned with the number of people who will lose their jobs? They are not going to keep the same staff levels going from twice a day to once. Royal Caribbean Group has over sixty ships, including Celebrity, you do the math. It will be in the thousands. On the upside, the cost cutting will mean bigger bonuses for executive management.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

1 minute ago, grandgeezer said:

Anybody concerned with the number of people who will lose their jobs? They are not going to keep the same staff levels going from twice a day to once. Royal Caribbean Group has over sixty ships, including Celebrity, you do the math. It will be in the thousands. On the upside, the cost cutting will mean bigger bonuses for executive management.

Probably not losing any staff , it could be because they cannot get enough staff 

[Quo Vadis?]

12 hours ago, prmssk said:

Celebrity’s direct competitors are Holland and Princess. They are watching what those two lines do more closely than following Royal. I know Princess is still twice a day service and I believe Holland is as well. 

 

(Royal’s direct competitors are Carnival and NCL.  Carnival has been at once a day service since before the pandemic and NCL dropped to once a day just in the last month or two.)

When we were onboard HAL's N Statendam from mid-November to mid January, the once a day program was instituted.  However we could have asked for twice a day.  As wine drinkers we don't need the ice filled.  We have asked to have our towels replaced on some days.  The evening turn down service we have learned to do at home.

[davekathy]

11 minutes ago, grandgeezer said:

Anybody concerned with the number of people who will lose their jobs? They are not going to keep the same staff levels going from twice a day to once. Royal Caribbean Group has over sixty ships, including Celebrity, you do the math. It will be in the thousands. On the upside, the cost cutting will mean bigger bonuses for executive management.

Bummer when anyone no matter what job they do in life loses their job due to cutbacks. Possibly some will be relocated or given a different job. Only when it effects us. 

Edited March 9, 2023 by davekathy

[NutsAboutGolf]

38 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

I sail both RCCL and Celebrity often.  They are not the same. There are key differences in culture (amusement parks vs quiet adult oriented).  A lot of comparative threads on these differences.    Even on their newest ships.  A big difference is the smoking policy (in the casinos).  I agree they are both pushing cost savings in different and similar ways, and every cruise line is pushing this right now.  Not sure why everything becomes boiled down to lobster (🙂).  I find the number of posts and threads on this very odd - but maybe just me.

 

There are differences including there are a lot more shows options on RCI yet X seems to be following RCL on the fees.  I mentioned the lobster as an example of X following RCI in cost cutting

[miXterOB]

If I only get service once a day, then the evening would be my choice so that I get the turn down service...assuming we get a choice.

 

As Celebrity customers...we are generally more mature, educated and informed so it's somewhat concerning so many apparently failed to pay any attention to the massive debts all the cruise lines piled up during the pandemic. They HAVE to cut costs to minimize those fare increases we've all seen and keep us booking more cruises. 

 

I can rough it and only do once a day😉

[NutsAboutGolf]

28 minutes ago, grandgeezer said:

Anybody concerned with the number of people who will lose their jobs? They are not going to keep the same staff levels going from twice a day to once. Royal Caribbean Group has over sixty ships, including Celebrity, you do the math. It will be in the thousands. On the upside, the cost cutting will mean bigger bonuses for executive management.

 

I feel bad for anyone anywhere that loses their job.  In this specific instance, that cruise lines are reducing cabin attendant jobs, I'm not anymore concerned for them than anyone else globally.  Cruise ship crew know their job isn't exactly a stable lifelong career.  CCL, NCL and RCL a few years before the pandemic all added self-serving alcoholic drink kiosks or robot servers, surely that eliminated at least a couple of bartender jobs.  We're probably only a few years away to having the option to place your dinner order right in the phone app and when that happens the amount of waitstaff will most likely over time progressively start to eliminate waitstaff jobs

[sunandsnow]

We just returned home from a 10 day cruise on the Silhouette. Our stateroom attendant was very happy and friendly but extremely overwhelmed with the 16 staterooms he was in charge of. Items were missing and stateroom was not cleaned as well as it should've been when we boarded. We decided we only needed evening service. He was more than happy to assist us if we needed anything at other times. We were more than happy to provide him with an extra tip at the end of our trip. We feel Celebrity needs to hire more people to service the staterooms. One person for 16 rooms seems difficult to us. We always saw one attendant always in the hall cleaning night and day. I hope he received extra tips from the people whose rooms he serviced. We remember the days when we had 2 people cleaning our room twice a day with a lot fewer staterooms to take care of. If Celebrity can't service their booked staterooms with appropriate service because of lack of employees they shouldn't sail at full capacity. It makes us feel bad that the employee might not receive extra tips for service when they actually are trying their very best when given more than they can actually accomplish.

We noticed similar problems with our main dining service. They were great but had at least 6 tables. Our assistant waiter was late several days because he was also working in the evening at the Ocean View buffet. In our opinion not the employees fault but Celebrity because of lack of staff. Again we tipped extra to them because they were great and doing the best they could under the circumstances.

[Cruzinforpeace***]

On 3/11/2023 at 10:14 AM, sunandsnow said:

We just returned home from a 10 day cruise on the Silhouette. Our stateroom attendant was very happy and friendly but extremely overwhelmed with the 16 staterooms he was in charge of. Items were missing and stateroom was not cleaned as well as it should've been when we boarded. We decided we only needed evening service. He was more than happy to assist us if we needed anything at other times. We were more than happy to provide him with an extra tip at the end of our trip. We feel Celebrity needs to hire more people to service the staterooms. One person for 16 rooms seems difficult to us. We always saw one attendant always in the hall cleaning night and day. I hope he received extra tips from the people whose rooms he serviced. We remember the days when we had 2 people cleaning our room twice a day with a lot fewer staterooms to take care of. If Celebrity can't service their booked staterooms with appropriate service because of lack of employees they shouldn't sail at full capacity. It makes us feel bad that the employee might not receive extra tips for service when they actually are trying their very best when given more than they can actually accomplish.

We noticed similar problems with our main dining service. They were great but had at least 6 tables. Our assistant waiter was late several days because he was also working in the evening at the Ocean View buffet. In our opinion not the employees fault but Celebrity because of lack of staff. Again we tipped extra to them because they were great and doing the best they could under the circumstances.

Sadly they are overworking their staff. They work 7 days a week for at least 6-9 months at at a time from the early morning until late into the evening.  There is a huge mental health problem on cruise ships because of this. We too may suffer mental breakdowns if in this situation. I saw their exhausted faces in the crew corridor over the years.  Not too many smiles away from the passengers. Too many crew suicides and I fear it will only get worse with all the cuts to staff.  They need a Union but most of the passengers would be unwilling to pay more for their cruise.  Unions would bring better working conditions and happier crew members.

[TeeRick]

1 hour ago, Cruzinforpeace*** said:

Sadly they are overworking their staff. They work 7 days a week for at least 6-9 months at at a time from the early morning until late into the evening.  There is a huge mental health problem on cruise ships because of this. We too may suffer mental breakdowns if in this situation. I saw their exhausted faces in the crew corridor over the years.  Not too many smiles away from the passengers. Too many crew suicides and I fear it will only get worse with all the cuts to staff.  They need a Union but most of the passengers would be unwilling to pay more for their cruise.  Unions would bring better working conditions and happier crew members.

I may be wrong but I do not believe they are purposely and actively cutting staff.  It is just hard to recruit them and fill their vacancies.  And there is a lot of shifting of experienced staff to a new build (Beyond, and soon Ascent) when it launches.  And think about the number of huge new ships from all lines being built and launching.  There is just not enough staff to recruit across the industry.

[Cruzinforpeace***]

3 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

I may be wrong but I do not believe they are purposely and actively cutting staff.  It is just hard to recruit them and fill their vacancies.  And there is a lot of shifting of experienced staff to a new build (Beyond, and soon Ascent) when it launches.  And think about the number of huge new ships from all lines being built and launching.  There is just not enough staff to recruit across the industry.

I wonder why they are having trouble recruiting staff? The countries they source from used to be very eager to work on ships.  We’re also seeing this in our own country, especially in the medical field.  I wonder what’s going on.

[TeeRick]

Just now, Cruzinforpeace*** said:

I wonder why they are having trouble recruiting staff? The countries they source from used to be very eager to work on ships.  We’re also seeing this in our own country, especially in the medical field.  I wonder what’s going on.

Huge problem since the pandemic.  There are a number of reasons.  For cruise industry, it is also an issue beyond recruiting.  It is also proper training.

[true45]

How about not overfilling the ships where there are not enough staff as stewards and waitstaff and not enough chairs or people to police the hogs.  The staff to passenger ratio is all wrong