Jim_Iain Live - 2nd Half World Cruise - B2B Singapore to Down Under 11/25 – 12/21

[Jim_Iain]

26 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

After browsing the Oceania CC forum the last few months, it is amazing how many Elite and higher Celebrity past Loyal members are now cruising with Oceania. We are joining them in 2025. Its like old home week in the Oceania forum.

 

Will have to check them out when I get home.     I haven't been in the planning mood.   I did purchase 2 Future booking certificates for a total of $400.     If not used they are refundable.

[Lena11033]

9 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

You need a new Liquor store, here is the price from Total Wine:

 

In Ontario it's not that easy, alcohol isn't widely available to purchase even in grocery stores that do carry alcohol its limited (I'm from London UK so was horrified when I moved here prices and difficulty in purchasing)

[Jim_Iain]

12 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Did she leave the retreat area to talk with the minions 🤔😁

Has the service and food improved since she been on 🤔

 

Lura was out and about.    We know some that approached her in the Theater and MDR.   Most passengers were very respectful as she is officially on Vacation with her Husband.   

 

I heard many reports of her being in Retreat for drinks but we are late diners and generally don't arrive in Retreat until 7:30.

[kwokpot]

On 12/19/2023 at 3:18 PM, Jim_Iain said:

 

Think you will for sure.    Especially at the falls.   The ship does a complete 180 so should get one of the closest unobstructed views.

Here's my panoramic shot when we did Milford Sound on the Solstice almost exactly seven years ago in December 2016.  The captain did about three 360's spinarounds.

Edited December 20, 2023 by kwokpot

[kwokpot]

My other great panoramic shot from this cruise, Akaroa Harbor,NZ

 

[billc23]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I agree with all of the comments and have to say we are concerned with all the negative changes as well as some of the positive changes.   With us, they lost a 100% loyal customer of 23 year.

 

My question to any Marketing Professional.   What is the cost to cultivate, obtain and hold a 23 Year Suit traveler.  

I'm not a Marking Professional, yet I see many disastrous mistakes Celebrity is committing. They individually may seem small, even trivial, but I believe there will be consequences to X from losing the trust of loyal customers. The camel's nose is now under the tent - a metaphor meaning: if you make minor mistakes, at some point it will lead to a major problem - in Celebrities case the problem is the loss of loyal customers.

 

Nordstrom, a company that excels in customer service, empowers their employees to provide on the spot, creative service to build brand loyalty. The employees would meet monthly with management to recount their efforts. Here is one:

 

A woman walks into a Nordstrom store in downtown Manhattan asking to look at shoes. She tells the sales associate that she needs a pair to wear now because her feet are killing her. The pair of shoes she is currently wearing were purchased yesterday at Saks Fifth Avenue and they just aren’t comfortable. When she purchased them she thought they would be fine, but now that she’s wearing them, they are not.

Saks is located about two miles uptown and she does not have time to bring them back today, hence she stopped at the Nordstroms store she was walking by. The sales associates takes his time with her to find an acceptable pair of shoes, both attractive and comfortable, for which she thanks him. She put the new shoes on to wear and the sales associate puts the shoes from Saks she was wearing into a bag.

While ringing up her purchase he asks her: How much did you paid for these shoes at Saks Fifth Avenue?

She replies: $286.

He takes the bag her shoes from Saks Fifth Avenue saying that he will give her a refund for the $286.

She looks at him dumbfounded asking why would he do that?

 

His response:   So you’ll never need to go to that store again.

 

I think Nordstrom gained a loyal customer that day

 

Celebrity used to be like Nordstrom. 

 

 

 

[Redking]

2 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I agree with all of the comments and have to say we are concerned with all the negative changes as well as some of the positive changes.   With us, they lost a 100% loyal customer of 23 year.

 

My question to any Marketing Professional.   What is the cost to cultivate, obtain and hold a 23 Year Suit traveler.  

Great point Jim.

 

On reflection, when we first cruised with Celebrity we were in what  I recall was their then target market: 55+ travelling with our then teenage/young adult family.

We moved up to suites when the family stopped cruising with us (or at least we no longer offered to pay🤣)

 

Time moved on .... we matured 🤫 and our family flew the nest (they occasionally cruise and have stayed with Celebrity.)

 

I think you previously summed it up using a relationship metaphor ... maybe we're just not that into each other anymore 😕 

 

Safe travels home and best wishes for a peaceful Xmas and healthy new year!

[Redking]

2 hours ago, terrydtx said:

After browsing the Oceania CC forum the last few months, it is amazing how many Elite and higher Celebrity past Loyal members are now cruising with Oceania. We are joining them in 2025. Its like old home week in the Oceania forum.

Other forums too! Rats and sinking ship or discerning travellers 🤣

[Ex-Airbalancer]

1 hour ago, terrydtx said:

You need a new Liquor store, here is the price from Total Wine:

In Ontario , the price is set by the government store , same price across the province 

With more than 14m people, Ontario is the most populated province in Canada and its beverage alcohol market has an estimated retail value of C$12bn ($9.2bn). This makes the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) one of the largest purchasers in the world. Like most provinces, Ontario also has a government owned and operated retail channel, with a total of 663 LCBO stores. Through these and its appointed agency stores, the LCBO accounts for 81.6% of all wine sales in Ontario. 

[CardowMD]

Maybe Celebrity is purchasing the wines thru Ontario distributors?..

[Lena11033]

52 minutes ago, CardowMD said:

Maybe Celebrity is purchasing the wines thru Ontario distributors?..

 

lol maybe - I saw the price of ice wine on board and it was more for one glass than a bottle at the LCBO

[Azulann]

Jim,  sorry you  did not like some the changes on Celebrity. 

If you are shopping around, check out Viking Ocean. Many Celebrity cruisers have been drawn to their ships. You would love the Explorer Suite either aft of forward. VO only have  465 stateroom. but they do not have a casino and no children under 18. The staff is outstanding on board in every area.

Safe travels home. I have so enjoyed following your trip report.

Merry Christmas. 

[effinaround]

Alcohol is taxed into oblivion in Ontario. At today's exchange rate that should be a $25 CAD bottle.  Instead it is $35 CAD.

 

Anyway, I've been reading with interest the changes experienced by cruisers on Celebrity.  My first and only cruise with Celebrity was 5 years ago and I really enjoyed it.  I didn't book with them for my first cruise since then coming up in January and probably won't in the future.  Their pricing model seems to be out of control.

 

Jim, I've enjoyed your latest adventure and wish you safe travels home. Can't wait to read about your next adventure in 2024.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

51 minutes ago, effinaround said:

Anyway, I've been reading with interest the changes experienced by cruisers on Celebrity.  My first and only cruise with Celebrity was 5 years ago and I really enjoyed it.  I didn't book with them for my first cruise since then coming up in January and probably won't in the future.  Their pricing model seems to be out of control.

 

Reading about and experiencing are two different things 

I had a great time on our 2 cruise this year and have a great price for our cruise in November 

[effinaround]

I experienced the price quotes and that was enough for me. 

[DaKahuna]

6 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

She sounded like she was listening from a number of conversation that I could hear over lunch.  Most of the time she seem to tow to the Corporate Line but did say they were listening and more changes are likely as they try to fine tune the comments from "Our Most Loyal Customers" and try to return to profitability.

 

 

 I sure would like to know who these "Most Loyal Customers" are?  They certainly do not include me as I have never been asked my opinion on any of the changes.  From what I understand you and Iian, as almost Double Zenith's, have not been asked directly to provide input or feedback. Would be nice to know the demographic of these "Most Loyal Customers" because I do not really see folks in my age group (70+) bending over backwards to go to Coco Cay.  🙂

 

 

[DaKahuna]

5 hours ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

At our local liquor store it is $35.95 

 

 

 But that's Canadian dollars right, not real money ?     🙂 🙂 🙂 

[Gracie115]

6 hours ago, terrydtx said:

After browsing the Oceania CC forum the last few months, it is amazing how many Elite and higher Celebrity past Loyal members are now cruising with Oceania. We are joining them in 2025. Its like old home week in the Oceania forum.

We just finished our 1st Oceania cruise.  Service was amazing, the specialty restaurants great, especially Toscana.  The "steak house" Polo Grill is far better than Fine Cut, superior service and food. 

 

Our butler was wonderful, the PH1 stateroom elegant and obviously designed by people who had actually been on a ship.  

 

We were very pleased and booked our next cruise on O while on board. 

 

Ran into several other former X people who were equally as happy.  Am sure you will find the same.

[terrydtx]

4 hours ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

In Ontario , the price is set by the government store , same price across the province 

With more than 14m people, Ontario is the most populated province in Canada and its beverage alcohol market has an estimated retail value of C$12bn ($9.2bn). This makes the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) one of the largest purchasers in the world. Like most provinces, Ontario also has a government owned and operated retail channel, with a total of 663 LCBO stores. Through these and its appointed agency stores, the LCBO accounts for 81.6% of all wine sales in Ontario. 

A product of Canadian socialism?

[Cruise Junky]

20 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

A product of Canadian socialism?

It’s Ontario, not all of Canada. Each Province sets its own liquor laws.  

[jelayne]

1 hour ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Reading about and experiencing are two different things 

I had a great time on our 2 cruise this year and have a great price for our cruise in November 

Agree,  we have done 12 cruises since the restart and experienced ships at less than 5% capacity, staffing shortages, supply chain issues and changing policies.  But we have enjoyed each of the 12 and have 6 more booked.

 

 We have friends who sail HAL, others who sail NCL and  Princess and others who are Viking and Azamara fans.  MSC friends love the YC but never leave the YC in there words “it’s a mob scene outside of the YC”.  All have shared experiences of changing policies, cutbacks, staff shortages and escalating prices.  We are looking at other lines but we have tried smaller “luxury “;ships and the mega ships and neither were what we enjoyed.  We leave in 29 days for what we expect will be another great cruise on a beautiful ship, with an amazing crew and we will have a great time.  
 

 

[cachouonacruise]

Jim, 

 

Thank-you very much for your review, comments and beautiful pictures! I really reading it and looking at all these beautiful images! 

 

I have learned a lot, thanks to your sharing of information and I am able to adjust my expectations more appropriately.

 

I wish you and Lain a safe return home and continued enjoyment on your future cruising experience, on whichever cruise line you will deem better suited for you.

 

For us, if things go as booked, we will also be experiencing both the Edge and New-Zealand for the first time in just a bit more than a month! So we are beginning more and more to really look forward to this experience! 
 

 

[Jim_Iain]

We went to Retreat around 8:00 and were immediately escorted to the gangway. 
 

They had called walkoffs and earliest busses. 
 

The terminals was set up like Disney with back and forth lanes.   Took approximately 30 minutes to get processed through immigration. 
 

We booked a 9:00 am Uber and when outside the terminal in a light rain our driver texted saying he was running early and could see we were already at the pickup location and would immediately head our way.  He arrived quickly.  
 

I noticed Ubers were plentiful but the Taxi ranks had lines of over 100 deep
 

Edited December 21, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

got to airport quickly.  United Business have a choice of either Singapore or Air New Zealand lounges.  We chose Air NZ

 

Had a light snack of Tea Sandwiches, Scones, Jam and Cream. 
 

Boarding was quick 
 

 

 

 

I chose 5L and 7L as Seat Guru and some travel site recommend them as the seat is close to window as opposed to close to isle also has a double window and good foot area. 

 

 

Douvet and Blankets by Sacks 5th Avenue 

 

 

 

Edited December 21, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

Dinner Time.   
 

I always set destination time before take off and beginning living new time. 
 

9:00 pm dinner time. We preordered

 

 

 

I ordered the beef brisket.   Now if United can serve a hot meal that is tasty and hot both in the center as well as the plate.  Why can’t Luminae.    It was tasty.  
 

I don’t drink but here is the wine list and of course no up charge. 
 

 

 

Noticed they had Whispering Angel that many have been speaking of. 
 

Also Duckhorse on the cart but not on menu’s 

Edited December 21, 2023 by Jim_Iain