Has Celebrity Discontinued Carrying Trays??

[richsea]

I have read on another board that Celebrity has possibly discontinued offering to carry trays to your table in the Buffet. Upon reflection, I don't recall anyone offering to carry my tray on our last cruise on Galaxy in May. Frankly, I usually decline, but think that is has traditionally been a nice geature on past cruises. If this is the case, I think that it another indication of the ever so slow deteriation of the Celebrity cruise experience.

 

Has anyone else observed this lack of amenity?

[glanders]

We were on Infinity in June, and there was no tray carrying, except for those who obviously needed some help. This seems the way to go, as I always found it annoying to have to keep telling them that I could handle it myself. I observed that everyone who did need help got it readily.

[uktog]

It seems mixed, in the last year Galaxy (May 07) yes; Mercury (January 08) no; Century (July 08) yes on some days

[prairie girl]

I have read on another board that Celebrity has possibly discontinued offering to carry trays to your table in the Buffet. Upon reflection, I don't recall anyone offering to carry my tray on our last cruise on Galaxy in May. Frankly, I usually decline, but think that is has traditionally been a nice geature on past cruises. If this is the case, I think that it another indication of the ever so slow deteriation of the Celebrity cruise experience.

 

Has anyone else observed this lack of amenity?

 

Hi Rich!

We just returned from the 8/31 Mercury Alaska sailing. Interesting question that you pose as it was a comment that the two of us made and noted while we were at the buffet. During the entire week, we only witnessed on one occasion, a wait staff member carrying a guests tray. And believe me, there were many passengers who could have used and appreciated this service. I'm uncertain how the wheelchair. stroller and mobility challenged patrons were "expected" to carry their trays. It would have been nice to see some of the wait staff provide the assistance that we have previously witnessed. The staff were there, they just did not provide assistance. I think that this service has "quietly" been eliminated. :mad:

 

Sandy

[ECCruise]

We always thought it was funny that many people list this (along with embarkation "champagne" and sorbet on parade) as reasons why Celebrity stands head and shoulders above the competition. We've sailed X maybe 100 days in the last 5 years. Saw trays being carried, consistently, maybe 15 days.

[SusieV]

I don't eat in the buffet very often, but I would say much more often than not, a server offers to carry my tray for me and then asks if I would like a beverage. And I would not say I need assistance- I'm 25 years old and have no physical issues that would prevent me from carrying my own tray.

 

I've always appreciated the touch, though!

[CruisinNewb]

In August on Infinity I never saw any staff carrying trays nor offers to do so. There were however many staff members standing watching so I had the impression if someone needed help they would have offered.

 

The few times I tried to carry an empty tray back to the dirty dish area I was quickly intercepted and the empty tray was taken away.

[beachwalker262]

On the Aug 1st Millenium sailing, my wife who is physically challanged always had an offer to carry her tray in the bubbet areas.

[budster]

We were on the Connie in April for 14 days and I don't think my DH was offered help once and he was using a cane. It is difficult to carry a tray in one hand. We noticed the lack of help this cruise where in the past we received help with no cane.:confused: It was a noticable difference.

[Tenderpaw]

On the Millie during the 8/15 Alaska sailing, there was very little tray assistance. While I understand some folks didn't like it, it was a touch of class that separated Celebrity from the more mass market lines. There was also no fresh ground pepper service in the dining room. How much money could either one of these items save them in costs...

[Sky Sweet]

For as long as I can remember, Celebrity has been very inconsistent about carrying trays in the buffet, but I never considered it to be a big deal one way or the other.

 

I think it only matters if a passenger is physically challenged or a young mother is trying to carry a tray full of food while holding a baby.

[Coco Creek]

When I first talked to a Celebrity rep about cruising (back in the fall of '07), I was told there were several touches that made Celebrity special.

 

1. Carrying the trays from the buffet line to a table (you will never carry your own tray)
   
2. Being escorted from the ship's entry way to your room
   
3. Hot or cold towels when you return from an excursion (depending on the weather)
   
4. Welcome champagne when you board the ship.

All sounded nice. To date, after two cruises on the Millennium, I have never experienced 1 or 2, have experienced 3 once and, yes, was offered cheap champagne when I boarded.

 

Overall, I like Celebrity (and think I will like Royal Caribbean, NCL, Princess) and other cruise lines I will sail in the future, but the little touches are a bust for me.

[TRadle]

I just don't want them to get rid of the trays.:eek:

[ccletzgo]

On the Connie last Feb and had my tray carried every time I was at the buffet and No I don't have any physical challenges.

[judyfssw]

This is an interesting question. Not will the trays be eliminated but having someone carry them. My husband is on a scooter. I think that this is the first time that I've had to look for someone to help me with my tray and his. Very interesting.....

But, back to the trays, I really don't see how they can be eliminated. Can you see people carrying plates back and forth from the buffet to a table in the back of the ship. Then, having to leave their warm lunch to get a salad or whatever. I can see a rebellion with that one. All the buffets in Vegas still have trays and I just don't see them going at all.

[Napi's Mom]

I just don't want them to get rid of the trays.:eek:

In answer to this...both the Oceania Nautica...and the Azamara Quest cruises we took, our last 2...trays were NOT avaliable at all. You took a plate , bowl whatever to the buffet...THEY filled it for you in most cases (noro conscious I guess). I'm trying to remember silverware seems it was brought by the servers. IF , as I was, using walker or cane...they carried your plate to table for you. Trays are no more on the upscale lines!:)

[djquog]

Our first two cruises this year have been with RCI. No trays in the buffet. People complain about it and it is very difficult if you have young children or someone in a chair. A suggestion was made to bring one with you or to use the tray under the water and glasses in the room.

 

We'll be on the Constellation for our last cruise of the year in Oct. and many things will be interesting to us as it's been a year since we were on her.

 

Jan

[dkjretired]

Just as a comparison,no trays in the buffets at the hotels in Atlantic City, don't remember any in Vegas..

[Ardy53]

Just off Summit this week in the Med. Never saw trays being carried for anyone. They are definitely cleared quickly from the tables.

 

Big Gripe. NO HOT ENGLISH MUSTARD (COLMANS) ON THE SHIP !!!

[richsea]

To me, the point is not that other lines, upscale or otherwise, do not carry trays, or even provide trays. As I have said previously, the carrying of trays is not even that important to me. The point, IMO, is that Celebrity did carry the trays, & that if they no longer do, it's just another small detail that has gone by the wayside.

 

When one considers this with other "small" things that are no longer the norm on Celebrity, such as waitstaff not offering pepper grinder service in the dining room, & only offering non-dairy creamer in the buffet, it indicates a real loss of the details that, in the past, have set Celebrity apart from other cruise lines.

 

The proof is in the details.

[Len3]

If Celebrity continues to provide a tray - then that's great. NCL stopped offering trays a while back as a cost cutting measure. People were just loading up and wasting food.

[bar_20]

So they have stopped doing somethings! Have they added anything new that they didn't have before? It's a shame when a cruise line starts cutting back on their service, if the cost has gone up then increase the price of the cruise a little bit. On the other hand if they have added something new then that's a different matter!

[Brucen]

The trays are not a big deal to me. My concern is that there are TONS of subliminal things that contribute to the overall feeling of any situation/place.

 

On another thread where the subject was comparing Celebrity to Carnival cruise lines. My contribution to that debate was to equate Carnival to Wall Mart or Target and Celebrity to Nordstrom. Nordstrom has live classical piano music playing. The store is quiet and classy. It is all designed to provide an ambiance and feel that their customers value. Wall Mart and Target are all about price and almost nothing else.

 

My concern about the trays is that they may be a small piece of the subliminal puzzle (like the piano in Nordstrom) that has always made Celebrity feel special. The trays themselves are rather a stupid detail, but if they are an example of the many "little" things that Celebrity has cut back on to save money I am concerned that they may loose the "undefinable feel" that made their passengers feel special in the past.

 

I am looking forward to my October Connie cruise and will have a great time no matter what. I have been on several Carnival cruises and enjoyed every one of them. Sometimes you want a "Nordstrom" experience and some times you just want a plastic wastebasket for the garage. Wall Mart will be great for that. I will be looking to see if that special feeling still exists on a Celebrity ship. I sure hope so.

 

For the record, I fully acknowledge that this atmosphere that I appreciate costs money. I am willing to pay for that. Celebrity has traditionally provided a good value for the cost even though they were (generally) more expensive than the other "mass market" lines. I always thought of that classy, affordable atmosphere to be the Celebrity "niche". If they give up that "niche" to compete only on price I can not imagine how they will thrive. Call this my vote to charge a bit more if you have to, but do not cut back on the atmosphere.

 

Best to all,

Bruce

[Sky Sweet]

It is interesting to see how people differ in their opinion about which special touches have a positive impact on their overall enjoyment of a cruise and which ones don't really matter.

 

Maybe it is possible that Celebrity is trying to reallocate their personnel resources to do other things that they consider to be more important than carrying trays, with the exception of those who actually need the assistance.

[Cruising Carol]

Will be on in 8 days. I'll check help with trays on Infinity. I do need the assistance now -- postponed knee replacement surgery until after the cruise so I am limping now. I'm taking a cane and hoping I won't need to use it on the ship.