How do you feel about the welcome champagne

[Drew B]

People bring it up a lot, and I'm wondering how important this is for people.

[FinelyCruising]

Its a nice gesture to kick off the celebration of being on board.

 

If they offered a glass in the dining room the first evening with a toast to say welcome, it might seem a less hectic evironment to me, but that's just me trying to get on and about.

 

If they filled the glass to the proper level I think it would be better form, the short fill is not OK on appearances alone.

[sharpie13]

We love it. Its always reminds me of the beginning of

Aaron Spelling's other hit show in the 70s, Fantasy Island. It signals that its time to stop worrying about the world left behind and start enjoying whatever you want the cruise to be. :cool:

 

Like Roarke, Celebrity has a unique was of saying 'Welcome.' :D

[jt1120]

I don't think that it is a "how important" issue as much as the degree that they go the extra mile. It just seems to me that X does that at every turn. The cool towels when you return from an excursion, the champagne, the escort to your cabin at embarkation, all of that adds up for me. I also like doing a white glove test every time I am on board an X ship. As you walk down the corridor leading to your cabin, stop at any picture or light sconce on the wall and give the top edge a white glove test. I don't know how they do it but they are always dust free!

 

X rocks!

[Keith1010]

I always think it is a nice gesture. A cruise is special and having a welcome glass of champagne is also special.

 

Keith

[caviargal]

It is no great shakes to me. I like a good champagne and don't drink the stuff X hands out.

[spearmint]

I always think it is a nice gesture. A cruise is special and having a welcome glass of champagne is also special.

 

Keith

 

Ditto for us, too.

[sallyM]

It is no great shakes to me. I like a good champagne and don't drink the stuff X hands out.

 

I agree with Caviargal and have been astonished how many times it is mentioned as something that really sets Celebrity apart from other mass market cruise lines. It is a nice gesture but certainly nothing to go hog wild about. I would much rather be on a well maintained ship than be concerned about something as frivolous as a free glass of champagne. These are very small things and I would rather be concerned with things that really matter.

Same goes for the hot towels after you return from land tours.

[Sky Sweet]

It is no great shakes to me. I like a good champagne and don't drink the stuff X hands out.

 

Hi Caviargal :)

 

I feel the exact same way, and would rather see the money that is currently wasted on sub par champagne spent on something that would enhance our overall cruise experience.

[richsea]

I think that it's something that sets X apart. It is a nice little touch. Coupled with other small details that X provides their guests, such as providing a tray in the buffet, carrying them to your table, free sorbet by the pool on a hot day, coldt(certainly not hot!)towels, when you return from a warm day in port.

 

Unfortunately, there are some who will find fault with anything; the champagne is too inexpensive, the towels not cold enough, the sorbet portions are too small. Yet, I suspect, there are those who would be quick to chastise X if, God forbid, they stopped one of therse small perks.

 

I guess you can't please everyone!

[pna]

February will be our first Celebrity cruise. Traveling on the Summit. Have done Princess cruises in the past. I love little perks and attention to detail so am looking forward to a welcome glass of champagne and also champagne in our Conceirge room. I am looking forward to trying a new cruise line......and making comparisons. Whatever, we will have a great time and love it!

[jeffkauf]

The thought might be there but this is NOT champagne. It's a rather cheap sparkling white. I frankly can't drink the stuff.

[ccletzgo]

The thought might be there but this is NOT champagne. It's a rather cheap sparkling white. I frankly can't drink the stuff.

 

Its still a nice touch, and I look forward to it. To me, Its the meaning behind it as SHarpie stated..............."Welcome Aboard"

[Captain Jake]

Hi Caviargal :)

 

I feel the exact same way, and would rather see the money that is currently wasted on sub par champagne spent on something that would enhance our overall cruise experience.

 

 

Why whine over a nice gesture,a touch that sets them apart? I also enjoy the escort to my cabin

[Captain Jake]

February will be our first Celebrity cruise. Traveling on the Summit. Have done Princess cruises in the past. I love little perks and attention to detail so am looking forward to a welcome glass of champagne and also champagne in our Conceirge room. I am looking forward to trying a new cruise line......and making comparisons. Whatever, we will have a great time and love it!

 

Excellent attitude.You will have a great time

[Captain Jake]

I think that it's something that sets X apart. It is a nice little touch. Coupled with other small details that X provides their guests, such as providing a tray in the buffet, carrying them to your table, free sorbet by the pool on a hot day, coldt(certainly not hot!)towels, when you return from a warm day in port.

 

Unfortunately, there are some who will find fault with anything; the champagne is too inexpensive, the towels not cold enough, the sorbet portions are too small. Yet, I suspect, there are those who would be quick to chastise X if, God forbid, they stopped one of therse small perks.

 

I guess you can't please everyone!

 

 

Some folks are plain picky

[Sky Sweet]

Why whine over a nice gesture,a touch that sets them apart? I also enjoy the escort to my cabin

 

The cost of a Celebrity Cruise, with the exception of European Cruises, is less expensive today than it was a number of years ago. They have been able to accomplish this by cutting costs which, in my opinion, are quite noticeable. Since I don't feel that sub par champagne enhances my overall cruise experience, I would prefer to see that money spent on another aspect of the cruise. However, based on the poll results, it appears that my opinion is in the minority.

[embellish]

I see the welcome aboard sparkling wine as a nice gesture to signify the beginning of delightful experience. In addition to the sparkling wine, they offer Mimosas. If neither are one's preference, a "no thank you" will suffice. BTW, "sub-par" champagne would indicate that it is, indeed champagne. It's not; only "champagne" can rightfully bear that moniker. Abandoning this embarkation ritual would hardly free up a lot of resources to redirect elsewhere. Like it or not, Celebrity is a mid-price cruise line. Considering that fact, I think this ritual is a keeper. If I were paying Seabourn prices, my expectations would probably be different, but for Celebrity's price point, it's not a bad gesture. In addition to the offer of a glass of "whatever," Celebrity also trots out their officers and the lovely Celebrity singers and dancers to welcome their guests onboard. For me, it's the thought that counts.

[Kathie44]

I'm not much of a wine or champagne drinker and I really don't like the welcome stuff. I take a token sip and hand it off to DH, who drinks anything, lol.

[dutchess43]

Love it nice gesture.

[Drew B]

I don't actually mind the fact that they do this, and if it makes people happy, that's great. I just don't get how people use THIS token as an argument why X is better than other lines. I can't think of anything less significant in making a decision as to how to spend my vacation dollars!

[Cathy Laz]

I think a lot of this is how you interpret the wording. "Important" might not be what I would chose to use. There are far more things that are important in the decison to chose one line over another. BUT.....walk on to a Carnival Ship to Nothing and No staff to ask a question, a direction, or just a nice smile and a hello. BIG difference. If you are as directionally challenged as I, you might have a little difficulty figuring out which way to head to get to your cabin. You might also be a little tired after a long flight and a wait in line (if you are not frequent cruisers on that particular line) and you might also have a heavy carry-on piece to lug around. That's when you place a little more importance on the greeting, the big smiles that at least let you think you are special and they are glad you are here, the offer of a beverage and the assistance with bags and directions. That is what sets X apart and what I like. I also travel with many friends. Not all of us are couples, many are much older and need the extra help, and some are handicapped. The point is, everyone could use a little "nice" in their lives. X is nice.

 

Cathy

[Cathy Laz]

sorry, duplicate post removed.

[Lyn Mc]

I agree with some of the previous posters - its the thought behind the extra attention to detail that make Celebrity our first choice. OK so its not 'champagne' it is still very nice and its something that other cruise lines can't be bothered to go the extra mile with. Celebrity just go that one step further for us and this is just one of the small but very enjoyable ways to say welcome to home for the duration of your cruise. I also agree that the cost of a few bottles of the 'sparking wine' wouldn't really go very far in enhancing the cruise elsewhere but we look forward to this as 'the start of our cruise'. We have made it through all the shoppiing, packing, car journeys, parking, airport hassles, delays, taxi journeys, etc etc and we are now on the ship at the start of a wonderful holiday that we have been looking forward to for a long time and we have a champagne glass in our hands. What's in the glass is immaterial to us it is the gesture and the thought that counts as we chink glasses and toast ourselves and Celebrity.

 

Lyn

[Blondie007]

I agree with the majority. Having boarded a P&O ship and been handed a glass of champagne (or rather sparkling wine charged at champagne) quickly followed by a tab:eek: I always appreciate this gesture from Celebrity.

This week at our business, we hand out free canapes and bubbly, its cheap stuff, but well chilled and served nicely, everyone loves it! (even if we hide the lable behind a jacket!)

We drink Taittinger at home by the case load, but still enjoy our boarding glass... it doesnt matter that its only fizz, its that "HURRAH WE ARE HERE!" that makes it tastes so much nicer!!!