Celebrity removes loungers from balcony?

[MustBCruzn]

2 hours ago, AC Stew said:

 

So, I'm not quite ready to stop beating that poor horse. It's not dead (YET)! There are 7 folks answering the phones at the number below. They are well aware of this issue, and the fact that we're not buying an unexplained "safety" excuse. Call them! 

 

 

 

 

I just called and told them pretty much the same thing. I have an AUS/NZ B2B on the Edge (in an SV) in February. I let them know that we'll be cancelling unless this is resolved. We use our balcony a lot...no comfortable seating is a no-go for us. I thought our lack of loungers on our recent Apex sailing (in an SV) was a fluke. We won't make that mistake again. It ruined the balcony experience for us.

[bahi]

Sailing on the Ascent August 24 paid a $1000.00 more per person for a SV normal balcony with loungers. Not happy at all.  Hope there is a change.

Marybeth 

[Rina155]

I too will call. @AC Stew Thank you for the phone number to outreach. 

[vjmatty]

13 hours ago, Cruise till you drop said:

I think you’re exactly right.  
 

And another possible reason is to push people towards IV’s as the small dinky balcony chairs take up less room and you still have access to an outside view (just a thought )

That actually makes this move seem more petty. With so few true balconies on Edge ships, it takes little effort to provide loungers on them all. Denying or removing them seems like a very micromanaging type move. 

[canderson]

I'll be calling tomorrow.

 

The real crime would be on Constellation.  All of the deck furniture in the suites had been changed out during the shut-down and was all brand new and very comfortable.  There had better be a plan for my veranda to look like it did then.  We've still got a ways to go before final payment is due:

 

[cbfb]

38 minutes ago, canderson said:

I'll be calling tomorrow.

 

The real crime would be on Constellation.  All of the deck furniture in the suites had been changed out during the shut-down and was all brand new and very comfortable.  There had better be a plan for my veranda to look like it did then.  We've still got a ways to go before final payment is due:

 

That looks amazing! What cabin type is this? 

[Jezo]

8 hours ago, mickeysgal said:

Was it there or did you have to ask/tip for it? I’m wondering how much to tip to get one or two on the ginormous Magic Carpet balcony we paid dearly for just to have the space to lay there and read. 

They were just there.  From what I could see all the aft balconies had them as well.

[canderson]

30 minutes ago, cbfb said:

That looks amazing! What cabin type is this? 

Royal Suite on an older M class Celebrity ship.  The veranda is a little more to our liking than the S class because the M class hot tub is back in the corner a bit (look far upper right) and not in the way in the middle of the veranda.

 

[wineoclock]

9 hours ago, AC Stew said:

Tiny update, direct from Executive Office customer service individual: 

 

I was just informed that the decision was made at the highest level, the new CEO and her inner circle. Comments made to the phone number below are being passed onto that upper level  management team.

 

I also pressed for a firm answer as to what furniture would be placed on the balcony. Answer? The Kelly Hoppen miserably uncomfortable little half back chairs. I reiterated that there's a couple of months before final payment, and I would not accept those chairs under any circumstances. The fellow I spoke to (Mantana?) stated that all emails and phone conversations are being compiled and then passed on to upper management.

 

So, I'm not quite ready to stop beating that poor horse. It's not dead (YET)! There are 7 folks answering the phones at the number below. They are well aware of this issue, and the fact that we're not buying an unexplained "safety" excuse. Call them! 

 

Executive Office: (305) 614-1343

 

PS> I also added that if passenger misbehavior or lounger misuse is responsible for this matter, let them look at their deck cameras and punish the abusers. Ship Security would know who they were!

 

 

Thank you 

do you know if they are monitoring emails as well?  I’ve emailed twice. Phone calls from the U.K. will be expensive but worth it for my lounger. 

[the penguins]

44 minutes ago, wineoclock said:

Thank you 

do you know if they are monitoring emails as well?  I’ve emailed twice. Phone calls from the U.K. will be expensive but worth it for my lounger. 

Don't give up,

X does listen and take action.

The proof?

1) compulsory AI - initially removed from all cabins except Aqua and Suites. Now also removed from Aqua. 

2) Smoking in the Casinos. Despite trying to introduce this by a trial that was not announced in advance the backlash was so great that the whole idea was dropped before the the "trial" was even completed.

3) Offering warm cookies as "an option at a price". So badly thought out /presented it was dropped almost instantly.

4) Social aspect of the Elite Happy Hour reintroduced in one venue for a couple of nights on longer cruises whilst retaining the free drinks in the other bars.

Just don't rant. Logical argument and facts are the only way to persuade X to change. In the case of number 1 a lot of passengers, including ourselves, told them we would stop booking and, more importantly, actually did it. 

[wineoclock]

Thank you @the penguins

I don’t tend to give up when something will ruin my experience! So I’ll email again stating my points clearly. It may be that as I’m approaching 60 they no longer want my business. We don’t cruise often but when we do we like to cruise in a suite. Trying Regent in October so we may prefer them or stick with X. 

[Oceangoer2]

14 hours ago, Lastdance said:

as a weapon of glass destruction?

👍  😄

[AC Stew]

7 hours ago, wineoclock said:

do you know if they are monitoring emails as well?  I’ve emailed twice. Phone calls from the U.K. will be expensive but worth it for my lounger. 

 

Yes. I've received telephone call backs in response to my emails. You shouldn't have to pay for a phone call; press the importance of a response and see what they do.

 

** Another point that the Executive Office person divulged yesterday. He stated that "there were 50 documented/ known safety incidents regarding the loungers." Hmnnn ... if so, then they certainly know the who/what/why! Cameras? Again, they should address the "violations" with the specific violators. Tell the rest of us what the safety concerns are, and we won't cross the line.

 

More and more, I'm thinking that the new CEO just wants to find a dedicated place for all those ridiculous Kelly Hoppen chairs that they probably over-ordered! 

 

 

[1Virgo]

13 minutes ago, AC Stew said:

 

Yes. I've received telephone call backs in response to my emails. You shouldn't have to pay for a phone call; press the importance of a response and see what they do.

 

** Another point that the Executive Office person divulged yesterday. He stated that "there were 50 documented/ known safety incidents regarding the loungers." Hmnnn ... if so, then they certainly know the who/what/why! Cameras? Again, they should address the "violations" with the specific violators. Tell the rest of us what the safety concerns are, and we won't cross the line.

 

More and more, I'm thinking that the new CEO just wants to find a dedicated place for all those ridiculous Kelly Hoppen chairs that they probably over-ordered! 

 

 

wonder where those 50 documented incidents happened.   the loungers on decks around pool and track, are jammed together.    suspicious. We ve never seen or heard of anyone hurt by a lounger on any of our cruises.   Another cookie gate

[ggo85]

On our current cruise, yesterday, someone fell off a horse on a shore excursion.  Two days earlier, someone slipped on the ice during a shore excursion and broke her wrist.  The horse person is in a wheelchair and the wrist person was taken to a hospital in another part of the country-- her cruise is over. 

 

That's 2 SERIOUS shore excursion incidents on a single cruise (that isn't over yet) -- and those are just the ones that I know about.  Imagine the number fleet wide -- probably 50 per week! 

 

Using X's logic, they definitely need to ban shore excursions!

 

Of course they won't, b/c shore excursions generate revenue.   

[wineoclock]

3 hours ago, 1Virgo said:

wonder where those 50 documented incidents happened.   the loungers on decks around pool and track, are jammed together.    suspicious. We ve never seen or heard of anyone hurt by a lounger on any of our cruises.   Another cookie gate

Thank you. 
 

When I’ve composed my next suitable email and received a response I’ll let you all know! 

[rmalbers]

I just can't figure out what 'safety' violations could occur on the loungers.   Maybe kids are jumping up and down on them?  The only other thing I can thing of is pinched figures, raising or lowering but that can happen in the pool area.  I just really wish they would say, I don't get why it's a secret.   A sex type thing isn't a safety violation right?

[phoenix_dream]

4 hours ago, 1Virgo said:

wonder where those 50 documented incidents happened.   the loungers on decks around pool and track, are jammed together.    suspicious. We ve never seen or heard of anyone hurt by a lounger on any of our cruises.   Another cookie gate

Exactly.  If there were so many of these supposed incidents the Cruise Critic boards would be blowing up. And let's say it's true. 50 incidents out of hundreds of thousands of passengers?! Come on. Why should we all have to suffer. 

[phoenix_dream]

3 hours ago, ggo85 said:

On our current cruise, yesterday, someone fell off a horse on a shore excursion.  Two days earlier, someone slipped on the ice during a shore excursion and broke her wrist.  The horse person is in a wheelchair and the wrist person was taken to a hospital in another part of the country-- her cruise is over. 

 

That's 2 SERIOUS shore excursion incidents on a single cruise (that isn't over yet) -- and those are just the ones that I know about.  Imagine the number fleet wide -- probably 50 per week! 

 

Using X's logic, they definitely need to ban shore excursions!

 

Of course they won't, b/c shore excursions generate revenue.   

Excellent point!

[phoenix_dream]

And as a side note, many of the pictures on their website of verandas show loungers.

[mac_tlc]

5 hours ago, 1Virgo said:

wonder where those 50 documented incidents happened.   the loungers on decks around pool and track, are jammed together.    suspicious. We ve never seen or heard of anyone hurt by a lounger on any of our cruises.   Another cookie gate

or over what period of time... a week? a day? year? Under any scenario, it is a very small percentage -- so let's penalize everyone for the actions of a few. I have to believe there is some legal issues in the background, which leads to their lack of disclosure. 

 

We have two SV's on the Edge in Alaska in August. I am curious to see what the deal is by then.

 

 

mac_tlc

Edited June 12 by mac_tlc

[kalajori]

Thank you for posting the Executive Office phone number (305-614-1343). I just called to register our very strong opinion that not having loungers on the Sunset  Verandas would preclude us from cruising on Celebrity in the future. We are sailing on the President’s cruise on June 23, and will definitely let our feelings be known to Laura. I am sure we will not be the only ones who think this is a terrible mistake on the part of upper management. Hopefully, this decision will be reversed before we even board the Beyond. 
Joanmarie

 

[lovedecruise]

21 minutes ago, kalajori said:

We are sailing on the President’s cruise on June 23, and will definitely let our feelings be known to Laura. 
 

Hopefully you, and many others, will get the opportunity to speak to her about this ridiculous decision. 

[goldsmip115]

Please be sure to ask Laura to tell you how many loungers she has on the verandah of her iconic suite.  I would do everything possible to get that question in.  Maybe many guests trying to bring a lounger from the pool area to where she gives her talk would send a very strong message.  Just a thought…..

[Iamcruzin]

22 hours ago, goldsmip115 said:

  I think they must be trying to attract the RCCL passengers who will happily pay to rent a lounger per day. 

What their passengers are willing to pay for a Cabana on Coco Cay for a few hours could feed a country.