Is Celebrity in danger of turning into another party ship cruise company?

[SDWCruise]

Currently on the Ascent in the Retreat and having a great time. This is our third trip with Celebrity. We like their approach to cruising, the food, the attendants - all of it - and we like the fact that you can join in with as much or as little activity you wish, with areas of ‘sanctuary’ around the ship if you want peace and quiet. One particular sanctuary is our cabin where you can lock yourself away from it all.
 

HOWEVER that all changed last night. A ‘sparkle’ party was held on the pool deck. This was due to start at 10.30, but started at gone 11pm, then ran on till nearly midnight. We watched for a while, but not being party animals, we retreated back to our cabin on deck 9, mid ship. The noise from the pool deck was horrendous - booming base music which vibrated throughout the whole room. We did ring guest relations as we have never experienced this before. We were told it was a ‘one off’ but I’m beginning to wonder, is this the way Celebrity are going? Parties on the pool deck at all hours? If someone had their TV/music turned up that high, they would have been asked to turn it down and consider other guests - guest relations just offered us some earplugs!

 

Has anyone else experienced this recently on a Celebrity ship? Would anyone else feel upset, as we were, if this happened to you? 

[Georgia_Peaches]

Personally, I wouldn't be too upset about some noise from the pool deck that started at '11 and ran to nearly midnight'.  After all, that's less than an hour.  Celebrity, like all cruise lines are catering to a vast audience, all with different interests and things they enjoy.  IMO a sparkle party sounds like fun.  As the e class ships are reputed to be more lively than the other classes, you may find a more quiet atmosphere on either S or M class ships.  Hope you enjoy the rest of your cruise. 😊

Edited September 29 by Georgia_Peaches

[markeb]

They have parties at night on the pool deck. Not every night. But they're very heavily attended. And like all events, short. It would only bother me if it kept going all night, but you're saying it was over by midnight? Not a real issue.

 

It's a vacation. Enjoy it.

[Jeremiah1212]

This definitely isn’t a new thing. Sometimes they are packed, sometimes a dozen people show up. Cannot say I’ve ever had my cabin four decks below rattled by bass before. 

[QuestionEverything]

Very upsetting.

This is not unusual.

I have cruised Celebrity from 1989 to 2018 and then stopped as Celebrity was moving to RCL mode with larger ships. In the beginning, Celebrity was a premium cruise line ie the Oceania of the day. Then they moved to mass cruise line state where they remain today.

History - Celebrity created the Aqua Class because of the noise from the pool deck which invaded the cabins below - a way to camouflage the systemic situation. This was a decision a decade or more ago. Interesting that Retreat cabins also are placed in a noise transfer situation.

Your situation is a reason we never book a cabin below or above any public area on any ship. 

 

[SDWCruise]

That was the issue .. it was so loud it could be heard in the cabins. Apparently there were a number of people complaining. The event only had around 150 people! But it seems to have upset a lot more. Yes, I agree, there have been party events on the deck before, but not with this noise level where you are unable to sleep for the noise!

[Georgia_Peaches]

3 minutes ago, QuestionEverything said:

Your situation is a reason we never book a cabin below or above any public area on any ship. 

And this is the key right here.  If one wants to be completely insulated from the noise of ship activities they must scour the deck plans for a location that will best meet that criteria.  Celebrity Retreat does not have a suites only enclave like NCL or MSC so you can book the retreat and still have relative control of your stateroom location.

[MyNameHere]

We were just on the Reflection for a 3 night weekend cruise. I've seen on here that is their most party / booze cruise sailing. . We didn't have any noise issues in our cabin on deck 9 by the elevator and never heard any really loud music at night anywhere on the ship. 

 

Overall the age/vibe of the guests was middle aged but there were a number of younger bachelorette and birthday party groups as well as lots of multi-generational families with young adults. 

 

Everyone was super friendly and having a really good time but there was no Spring Break or Night Club vibes. 

[SDWCruise]

We research our cabin position thoroughly. We prefer mid-ship to avoid motion, and away from high intensity areas like pools. Our cabin is surrounded by other cabins - top, bottom, sides - nowhere near the pool deck. We don’t even hear the activities in our cabin during the day! Only if we have the doors open .. so you can understand the frustration! We are having a great time, just a little disappointed.

[Georgia_Peaches]

1 minute ago, MyNameHere said:

Overall the age/vibe of the guests was middle aged but there were a number of younger bachelorette and birthday party groups as well as lots of multi-generational families with young adults. 

Similar to your experience on Reflection, we did not encounter the Carnival atmosphere on our 4 night sailing.  But OP is on Ascent and that ship, the newest in the fleet, is totally geared toward a livelier crowd.  Everything is just a tad louder and more upbeat.  

[island lady]

Another reason we are going away from larger ships in the future.  

[Liao]

For one hour, on just one night, I'd not be bothered, esp. with it ending by midnight.  If it was a night after night thing for the duration of the cruise, perhaps.  I have never seen party after party late at night on any of my Celebrity cruises.  Not all Celebrity cruises have these sparkle or white night parties on deck anyway, my understanding is they are fairly infrequent.  Just because I decided to "stay for a while" which would have been after 11, then decided to retire to my room, doesn't mean every other guest has to do the same.  At the end of the day, it concluded by midnight not 2:00 in the morning.

[Georgia_Peaches]

7 minutes ago, SDWCruise said:

We are having a great time, just a little disappointed.

Well hopefully you can get back on track for the rest of your cruise!  Ascent is actually one of my favorite ships, but I will admit that the venues are louder than those in other classes.

 

As an aside, when GR offered you ear plugs, while it may have come across as cavalier, I have to say...the do work!  I never leave home without mine because I sleep next to a freight train...talk about thunderous noise! 😊

Edited September 29 by Georgia_Peaches

[island lady]

3 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Well hopefully you can get back on track for the rest of your cruise!  Ascent is actually one of my favorite ships, but I will admit that the venues are louder than those in other classes.

 

As an aside, when GR offered you ear plugs, while it may have come across as cavalier, I have to say...the do work!  I never leave home without mine because I sleep next to a freight train...talk about thunderous noise! 😊

 

Indeed...I have one of those trains next to me as well.  But that one I get used to or simply "shake the bed" a bit to get him to roll over.  😉 

 

But mostly I never am never far from my ear plugs due to noise issues.  All the shows (IMHO) are way too loud.  I have been on a bus for shore excursion and have had pax behind me talking way too loud (they probably need hearing aids).  Many reasons for using them.  

 

And the party thing...prime example of the need for those, both hosted by the ship...or other types.    We had a party girl in the cabin next to us that would host a loud party until 2 am at times...but fortunately not always.  If it was every night, I would have complained.  

[Jeremiah1212]

16 minutes ago, MyNameHere said:

We were just on the Reflection for a 3 night weekend cruise. I've seen on here that is their most party / booze cruise sailing.

The whole booze cruise label is one of the many things that gets manufactured here and takes hold. They aren’t that much different from any 7-9 night cruise.  I think there is a group that sees people under 50 and assumes they are just there to get obliterated. Oddly enough on my last cruise ‘those people’ were well north of retirement age. 

[Georgia_Peaches]

15 minutes ago, island lady said:

Another reason we are going away from larger ships in the future.  

We have a mega ship booked (MSC World America, 6000 passengers) and we have our first Regent cruise booked for the spring of 2025...on the Grandeur (750 passengers).  The 2 ships are polar opposites.  I'm afraid I will be bored to tears on the Grandeur but party overwhelmed on WA.  Not sure where the sweet spot lies but if I compare the two, it brings me back full circle to Celebrity. If I may ask, what smaller ships are you considering?  

[island lady]

1 minute ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

We have a mega ship booked (MSC World America, 6000 passengers) and we have our first Regent cruise booked for the spring of 2025...on the Grandeur (750 passengers).  The 2 ships are polar opposites.  I'm afraid I will be bored to tears on the Grandeur but party overwhelmed on WA.  Not sure where the sweet spot lies but if I compare the two, it brings me back full circle to Celebrity. If I may ask, what smaller ships are you considering?  

 

We have Radiance (B2B), Enchantment (B2B), Constellation, Equinox, and much longer cruises on various Viking ships booked.  

 

Will be looking at Silverseas later as well.  

 

Now that we have joined the "Old Farts Club"....we just don't need the parties, casinos, loud music, huge theater production shows...etc.   I crave a more relaxing environment.  

[AC Stew]

46 minutes ago, SDWCruise said:

Has anyone else experienced this recently on a Celebrity ship? Would anyone else feel upset, as we were, if this happened to you? 

 

The OP stated that their cabin was on deck 9. The Pool deck party was on deck 14. Even without a "deck 13," they were disturbed by the booming bass from the party. That noise must have been ridiculously loud to travel through 4 decks. 

 

IMO, just because it all ended at midnight, the noise level would still be problematic for many of us. Especially if the cabin was carefully chosen to be well away from the open decks. Some of us get up early and turn in early. I'm with the OP on this one ... I'd be angry too.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

One party that ends by midnight hardly makes Celebrity a "party ship cruise company".  The line is very tame 95% of the time.

 

I am surprised to hear that you could feel the bass 4 decks down...

[mac_tlc]

26 minutes ago, Jeremiah1212 said:

The whole booze cruise label is one of the many things that gets manufactured here and takes hold. They aren’t that much different from any 7-9 night cruise.  I think there is a group that sees people under 50 and assumes they are just there to get obliterated. Oddly enough on my last cruise ‘those people’ were well north of retirement age. 

I think another manufactured fact here is that the E-class are “bigger” than other X ships. You really need to divide E class into two groups:

 

Edge/Apex and Beyond/Ascent/Xcel

 

Edge and Apex hold less people than the S class ships, are a few feet shorter, and have a gross tonnage about 4% greater. 
 

Beyond/Ascent hold about 360 more people than Reflection. About 700 more than Solstice/Equinox/Eclipse. 
 

The real size difference is between M class and everything else. 
 

 

mac_tlc

[mac_tlc]

25 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

We have a mega ship booked (MSC World America, 6000 passengers) and we have our first Regent cruise booked for the spring of 2025...on the Grandeur (750 passengers).  The 2 ships are polar opposites.  I'm afraid I will be bored to tears on the Grandeur but party overwhelmed on WA.  Not sure where the sweet spot lies but if I compare the two, it brings me back full circle to Celebrity. If I may ask, what smaller ships are you considering?  

I think your sweet spot is with us, @Stem to Stern, @Mrs_Tiki, and @GenerationX on the Silhouette on 4/4/2026! 😂😂😂😂😂😂.

 

All kidding aside, we are in a similar place. We have Oceania Vista in 2025 and have been perusing Silversea (Nova or Ray). But maybe MSC YC and Wonder of the Seas (kids & grandkids). 
 

I guess we both will know better after we try them. I’ll be interested in your take on Regent.

 

mac_tlc

 

[Georgia_Peaches]

6 minutes ago, mac_tlc said:

I think your sweet spot is with us, @Stem to Stern, @Mrs_Tiki, and @GenerationX on the Silhouette on 4/4/2026! 😂😂😂😂😂😂.

Couldn't agree more, Mac!  I still have my eye on this sailing...and we have nothing yet booked for 2026!  Stay tuned!! 

[Tyler414]

Quite shocked you could hear upsetting noise in your cabin on deck nine, from a fun get together on deck 12.  Was your veranda window open?  
I’m completely fine with people on vacation having fun!!!

[AC Stew]

21 minutes ago, OfTheSeasCruiser said:

I am surprised to hear that you could feel the bass 4 decks down...

 

In point of fact, not surprising at all. Certain noises will indeed travel. I've been in hotels when renovation hammering and drilling (reverberating noises) from 10 floors up could be heard! But from the DJ's music on a ship's pool deck party? Volume and Bass probably way too loud. 

 

BTW, we're also taking the plunge and cruising with Regent this coming May.

[AC Stew]

Just to add a final thought: I'm certainly not trying to throw cold water on folks enjoying a fun event! I'm just suggesting that "perhaps" toning down the volume (and bass) would be a reasonable expectation on a Celebrity ship. Cutting back a few decibels probably wouldn't have  been noticed by the cruisers attending the party!