Are Celebrity cost cutting and penny pinching there faithful customers off the ship?

[Ipeeinthepools]

18 hours ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

On our last TA there was this weird guy calling himself Captain Funny who got a free cabin on the cruise 

He was such a weird guy, wore stupid outfits , I was waiting for him to do a belly flop contest by himself , it felt like he cheapen the vibe on the cruise 🙄

I guess he has a following to get a free ride 

I hope they kept him out of the pool.

[cgolf1]

19 hours ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

On our last TA there was this weird guy calling himself Captain Funny who got a free cabin on the cruise 

He was such a weird guy, wore stupid outfits , I was waiting for him to do a belly flop contest by himself , it felt like he cheapen the vibe on the cruise 🙄

I guess he has a following to get a free ride 

 

Did anyone chat with him, was he a nice guy? Was it just the clothes that were loud, or was he bothering other cruisers? If it's just the clothes and he wasn't bothering anyone, if this person has a large social following, then the exposure they get from him is likely way better monetarily than the free cruises given to the people that gamble in the casino.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

2 minutes ago, cgolf1 said:

 

Did anyone chat with him, was he a nice guy? Was it just the clothes that were loud, or was he bothering other cruisers? If it's just the clothes and he wasn't bothering anyone, if this person has a large social following, then the exposure they get from him is likely way better monetarily than the free cruises given to the people that gamble in the casino.

One friend did talk with him and thought the guy drank too much 

[cgolf1]

1 minute ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

One friend did talk with him and thought the guy drank too much 

 

That is unfortunate, but not unexpected on a cruise. I feel bad drinking 2-3 drinks a day and wine with supper, until I read on here what some drink in a day with the beverage package.

[Sabbycat]

On 8/1/2023 at 7:28 PM, hcat said:

hi Bo

I agree... Royalization started long ago. LLP came up through Royal sales and marketing. She  had no special appreciation or  affection for X.  She got the ball rolling.  The new CEO  is rapidly  moving that agenda forward.

 

One surprise to me is that they are not leaving the suite experience untouched. Downgrading that segment may affect the bottom line.   Time will tell.

 

Given many ppl don't know how to use, or do not use their butler, Celebrity may get away unscathed on the Sky Suite matter. For me, it is a deal breaker.

[Sabbycat]

On 8/2/2023 at 9:15 AM, bikerunner said:

I been on a bunch of cruises since start up late 21.  I have completely enjoyed them with Celebrity but my main problem with them is their communication of what is changing and their lack of clarity and explanation of the change, and that is one of the main reasons I am done after my next cpl cruises with them, I have azamara and Oceana booked already.  The Beyond repositioning for next year was handled as badly as can be, along with these other changes that are happening there is absolutely no communication from the cruise line.  The retreat change might not be a bad thing and might actually be more expedient in overall service, yes the one on one with a single butler might be lost but the service might be better.  Cant tell until it plays out.  Food I have to see on my own, as its completely subjective overall.   Service has always been a main draw for me and Celebrity offers it better than the other mass cruise lines I think.  Pricing is what it is right now, everything is outrageous, and deals can be found but are not as readily available   I do All Inclusives, and other land based travels, and have seen their prices go crazy also, but I do enjoy cruising as its a moving hotel in the end.  

 

I have talked to other friends who have travelled on compteting cruise lines, Royal, NCL and they have seen the same types of things happening with those cruise lines,

You will love Azamara and Oceania. We cruise both these lines and they are great. We really enjoy them and their itineraries. We have probably sailed our last Celebrity cruise given the changes. 

 

Oceania has great food, and service is amazing. Azamara, the food is not as good, but the service is top notch.

[RichYak]

On 8/6/2023 at 10:12 AM, FreestyleNovice said:

Now onboard Reflection, been on Edge last year and not seeing a downgrade at all. Service, food, cleanliness, all great. Despite some pretty negative posts about declining buffets, etc. As above: life is short, enjoy it. 
 

I glad Celebrity managed to deal with Covid, without selling ships so we can still enjoy our vacations onboard their fleet. 

Currently on board Summit after sailing Millennium in March. There is definitely a decline. We just boarded yesterday so I’ll refrain from elaborating. Give me a couple more days to form a better opinion. 

[Stockjock]

I will sail on Celebrity in a few weeks, in October and in the summer of 2024.

What are the changes that everyone is so upset with?  Not trying to be snarky, I don't know.

I think I got a pretty good deal on all 3 of my cruises.  Heck, on 2 of the 3, I bought the premium drink packages, which at 50% off, weren't badly priced, imo.  Bought some shore excursions at 35% off, again, not a bad deal.

I cancelled a 6 night cruise on an old ship, MSC Poesia (with drinks), and bought a 7 night on a new ship, Celebrity Ascent (without drinks) for about the same price.

In terms of youth, I'm just north of 60 and have worked for a big Wall Street firm for over 30 years.  I love all of my clients (honestly), but a problem I have is that the older clients keep dying on me.  I don't mean to minimize the human aspect of this, as my own mother passed away just over a year ago, exactly 2 weeks shy of her 88th birthday, but I cannot blame Celebrity for trying to reach out to some affluent younger passengers who could be customers for 30-40 years, or more.  I also don't mind having some younger passengers on board, as long as they're not acting too crazy, as I think it adds energy to a cruise.

FWIW, my last Celebrity cruise was NYE 2021, w/the then CEO Lisa on Summit.  We had a really nice time.

Edited August 8, 2023 by Stockjock

[Ipeeinthepools]

2 hours ago, Stockjock said:

I will sail on Celebrity in a few weeks, in October and in the summer of 2024.

What are the changes that everyone is so upset with?  Not trying to be snarky, I don't know.

I think I got a pretty good deal on all 3 of my cruises.  Heck, on 2 of the 3, I bought the premium drink packages, which at 50% off, weren't badly priced, imo.  Bought some shore excursions at 35% off, again, not a bad deal.

I cancelled a 6 night cruise on an old ship, MSC Poesia (with drinks), and bought a 7 night on a new ship, Celebrity Ascent (without drinks) for about the same price.

In terms of youth, I'm just north of 60 and have worked for a big Wall Street firm for over 30 years.  I love all of my clients (honestly), but a problem I have is that the older clients keep dying on me.  I don't mean to minimize the human aspect of this, as my own mother passed away just over a year ago, exactly 2 weeks shy of her 88th birthday, but I cannot blame Celebrity for trying to reach out to some affluent younger passengers who could be customers for 30-40 years, or more.  I also don't mind having some younger passengers on board, as long as they're not acting too crazy, as I think it adds energy to a cruise.

FWIW, my last Celebrity cruise was NYE 2021, w/the then CEO Lisa on Summit.  We had a really nice time.

Since cruising resumed, I have sailed on the Equinox twice in the Caribbean and once on the Summit to Bermuda.  All of the cruises have been in standard veranda cabins with packages that included drinks, tips and wifi.  I am also booked on the Edge from Rome to Singapore in October.  After that cruise, I’m likely done with Celebrity.  For me the first issue is the quality and quantity of food in the MDR.  There are fewer choices that appeal to me, the quality of the meat seems to have dropped dramatically and the portions are much smaller.  Food is subjective but for me, it just doesn’t work anymore.   I also don’t find the E-class ships attractive for non-suite guests that enjoy the conventional balconies.  I also struggle finding interesting itineraries on S-class ships that can be bundled together for a longer cruise.  For that matter, I have been irritated ever since Celebrity dropped most of their 14 day itineraries.

 

As far as price is concerned, my 12 night cruise on the Equinox cost me $6650 in a balcony cabin for 12 days in August 2021.  For August of 2024 I have to book an E-class ship for 8 days at $8000 for a IV cabin with a non refundable deposit.   The value for me isn’t there.

 

If Celebrity still works for others, that’s great.  I hope they enjoy their cruises,

Edited August 8, 2023 by Ipeeinthepools

[chromered7]

It’s obvious that the portion size of the meals in the MDR have been reduced based on pictures and anecdotal evidence. I’am not sure if any of the recent cruisers have asked for another main meal due to the portion size and has this ever been refused ? We are on Millennium in November 2023 out of Singapore , there seems to be mashed potato on the menu can you ask for boiled potatoes as an alternative or do you need to pay more for an upscaled meal to get them? While we have yet to experience the new dining reality on X we don’t want it to affect our cruise but it could have an overall impact as to if we sail with them again. 

 

 

 

 

[Ex-Airbalancer]

1 hour ago, chromered7 said:

It’s obvious that the portion size of the meals in the MDR have been reduced based on pictures and anecdotal evidence. I’am not sure if any of the recent cruisers have asked for another main meal due to the portion size and has this ever been refused ? We are on Millennium in November 2023 out of Singapore , there seems to be mashed potato on the menu can you ask for boiled potatoes as an alternative or do you need to pay more for an upscaled meal to get them? While we have yet to experience the new dining reality on X we don’t want it to affect our cruise but it could have an overall impact as to if we sail with them again. 

 

 

 

 

I am a big guy and had no problem with portion size in April , You can always ask for bake potato , 

I only do boiled potatoes when we get new potatoes from our garden 😋

[D. B.]

On 8/7/2023 at 8:11 AM, Sabbycat said:

You will love Azamara and Oceania. We cruise both these lines and they are great. We really enjoy them and their itineraries. We have probably sailed our last Celebrity cruise given the changes. 

 

Oceania has great food, and service is amazing. Azamara, the food is not as good, but the service is top notch.

We tried both of those lines this year but  found the Upscale vibe eliminated all the Fun of cruising. 

 I don't want belly flopping contests but like something more than a string quartet putting everyone to sleep during 4 O'clock Tea.

[hcat]

55 minutes ago, D. B. said:

We tried both of those lines this year but  found the Upscale vibe eliminated all the Fun of cruising. 

 I don't want belly flopping contests but like something more than a string quartet putting everyone to sleep during 4 O'clock Tea.

X always HAD  a great balance.... we'll see which way it tips!

[Covepointcruiser]

On 8/5/2023 at 8:53 PM, phoenix_dream said:

Yes and no. We booked Celebrity as our primary line because we liked it very much. Our goal was never to hit a certain level.  That said, we did hit Zenith last year.  Those perks are far from a joke. Premium Beverage,  stream wifi, laundry, a free cruise. Do the math. So yes, that makes us pause before booking elsewhere but we are definitely not trapped.  We are in fact considering other lines while also cruising Celebrity.  And all that said, I do reserve the right to be frustrated at certain changes.  What I loved is changing and not for the better.  That has nothing to do with my Captain's Club status.

Wow, have they taken away the free cruise?!   Have not seen a thread on that.

[Texed]

8 minutes ago, Covepointcruiser said:

Wow, have they taken away the free cruise?!   Have not seen a thread on that.

They still offer a free Zenith cruise for each 3000 points earned. 🙂

Edited August 8, 2023 by Texed

[phoenix_dream]

23 minutes ago, Covepointcruiser said:

Wow, have they taken away the free cruise?!   Have not seen a thread on that.

No, I never said they took away the free cruise.  Not sure where you got that idea from my comments.

[Azllama]

On 8/1/2023 at 11:29 AM, BlackLion 213 said:

 

In a word, NO...

 

It sure doesn't appear as if she does!

 

It's not ALL about the changes affecting loyal customers, but too many things in the recent course of X events have turned us away from Celebrity, our once favored cruise line. A horribly disappointing recent experience on Eclipse didn't help!

 

As I have said, and will likely say many times before this subsides, she is making "how to kill a cruise line" moves.

 

Our last cruise on the Eclipse in April was terrible too We won't be back!! Not that Celebrity cares. 

[FreestyleNovice]

15 hours ago, Azllama said:

Our last cruise on the Eclipse in April was terrible too We won't be back!! Not that Celebrity cares. 

 
Yet here you are posting on the Celebrity board.. I am not defending them by any means but I would not call a cruise terrible unless it was one of those a drift Carnival poop cruises. 

[mauimary]

I guess we just really like to cruise. We love the Edge Class. Last year we read so many negatives about the Solstice that made us quite nervous.  We ended up cruising twice on her in 2022 and found it to be quite lovely.  Yes a few places a little worn but in far better shape than we imagined.  We loved the crew. We were not in a suite and really enjoyed our Sunset verandas. 

We just booked the Eclipse for Nov to Mexico and are anticipating having a very good time. We decided we would go to Mexico before Celebrity drops this West Coast route out of LA. We will check it out for ourselves.  Even with cutbacks in the dining and buffet we have been challenged  a few times but never gone away hungry!   We have a veranda guarantee on this one which is something we have never done before. 

[mayleeman]

2 hours ago, FreestyleNovice said:

Yet here you are posting on the Celebrity board.

 

People who criticize Celebrity here but continue to cruise get dissed for continuing to book on X and not "voting with their wallets."  Now someone whose experience causes them to give up on celebrity gets criticized for telling us about it.

 

Seems that any cruise that unpleasant is precisely what we would want to know about lest we think no one really means it.

[C4HCG]

6 minutes ago, mayleeman said:

 

People who criticize Celebrity here but continue to cruise get dissed for continuing to book on X and not "voting with their wallets."  Now someone whose experience causes them to give up on celebrity gets criticized for telling us about it.

 

Seems that any cruise that unpleasant is precisely what we would want to know about lest we think no one really means it.

The post from Azllama saying their cruise was terrible gave no explanation at all why, so not really helpful. Don’t think anyone minds constructive criticism with some context.

Edited August 9, 2023 by C4HCG

[mauimary]

2 minutes ago, mayleeman said:

 

People who criticize Celebrity here but continue to cruise get dissed for continuing to book on X and not "voting with their wallets."  Now someone whose experience causes them to give up on celebrity gets criticized for telling us about it.

 

Seems that any cruise that unpleasant is precisely what we would want to know about lest we think no one really means it.

Yes everyone view is subjective. That’s why I take it with a grain of salt. The same with a restaurant or hotel. It’s mostly those with a bad experience who comment and not all of the ones who have had great experiences.  For ourselves we do not take them seriously. 

[cruizingOmi]

Also the changes that are happening are not great for long time cruisers, 

That being said the CEO does not make theses decisions by her/himself.The decisions have to be approved by a Board of Members, and the Stock holders want their profits.

 We met up with a couple yesterday which is on the Summit right now(we met on a Galapagos cruise) and they have sailed a few Celebrity cruises and they confirmed Food standards are not what they used to be.

[mayleeman]

@mauimary Off topic: With your username, any family or property on Maui? Our kids live in Kihei a couple miles from the evac zone and packed up all night but didn't have to leave. They work at the hospital. Banyan Tree in Lahaina is gone, as are dozens of buildings in the old town section (including the oldest house in Maui, built in 1834).

 

Hope any connections you have are ok!

[mauimary]

1 hour ago, mayleeman said:

@mauimary Off topic: With your username, any family or property on Maui? Our kids live in Kihei a couple miles from the evac zone and packed up all night but didn't have to leave. They work at the hospital. Banyan Tree in Lahaina is gone, as are dozens of buildings in the old town section (including the oldest house in Maui, built in 1834).

 

Hope any connections you have are ok!

Thank you. We do not live on Maui but spend quite a bit of time there.  I acquired the name about 35 years ago!!  We do have friends on Maui and are just devastated for everyone.   Can’t believe how Old town  Lahaina is gone. The Banyan Tree  was a landmark. Glad to hear your kids and their property are ok. 
Mary.