CC Party Policy on Century per Allan King

[tuggers]

Just back from Century. Some of you may have seen my post while on board about the party where no ship's personel or photographer showed up. SH said this was how Century did it. Just provided place as we all knew each other. Some of the new CC'ers were rather disappointed. Later in the cruise I had the opportunity to talk to Allan (CD) about this. He assured me that the party was the result of a scheduling snafu (10:45 Sun) and that he is always there usually with the Events Coordinator and SH. He assured mew that he is very pro Cruise Critic and regretted that our party was not what it should have been.
I will be curious to hear from pax on the next few Century sailings to see how your parties are handled.

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[teedee]

Gail - This is very interesting. On our last Century cruise in December we had the same experience you did. Alan King was the CD on this cruise, but he wasn't at our CC party. The SH pretty much just sat there. We ended up introducing ourselves to each other. There weren't many people who showed up, though. I also want to hear from people on the next few cruises to see if the parties improve.

Terri

Skyward - 1989
Carnivale - 1991
Holiday - 1994
Fantasy - 1998
Century - 2002
Century - 2003
Jubilee - 7/04
Century - 9/04
Coral Princess - 3/05
Valor - 10/05

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[hebeast]

Our CC Party two years ago on the Constellation was very well attended. It was a cocktail party attended by the Cruise Director, Asst. Cruise Director, Social Hostess, Hotel manager and about 3 or 4 more staff. At that time it was organized by the Social Hostess.

I have head that the party is now under the command of the Future Cruise Booking Person which may indicated the planning, time, and contacts that she or he may have to pull this together.

[tuggers]

terri,
Now that someone has gone face to face and asked him straight out if there is a problem with cruise critic I wonder if things will improve? I will be very interested in how the next couple of parties go!
Gail

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[wieslaw]

We had similar CC party on the Constellation (two years ago) as 'hebeast' did and it was pretty nice and it seemed that the ship's personnel wanted to know what we like or do not like and what can they do to improve things.
Just about two months ago on the Millennium only the social hostess showed up and she seemed to be interested in the Cruise Critic party participants but it did not seem that the party was a special event for the rest of the ship's personnel.
Perhaps, we, the Cruise Critic members do not carry as much 'of any influance' as we think that we do. After all we represent such a tiny portion of the total number of the ship's passengers. Both, on the Constellation and the Millennium only about 30 people showed up for the party, so that represents about 1.5% of the total number of guests on the ship.....is that really something to be concern with for the ship's personnel?
Out of the 30 people that showed up only two or three will write anything good or bad on the cruise critic forum, so it really does not mean much to the cruise line.
As a whole cruise critic membership (over 100,000 now) we are still only a tiny fraction of the millions that cruise.
So, the party regardless how well recognized by the ship's personnel is mostly for us....the Cruise Critic members that want to meet each other.

Wes

[NitaBcruising]

On the Century in Jan. only the SH showed up. And she mostly just sat there, also. We introduced ourselves, had small snacks, and that was it. No Allan King. We never clicked with the other CCers, except one. Kind of a dud of a meeting. I've been to better meets, where we CCers have arranged our own time and place. Seems to work even better!

Nita

[Lois R]

Hihttp://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif I still say the the "cc party" is what you make of it.
I agree about the part of us being a teeny % of the overall pax.
Sounds to me like Gail, Bob, Garry and everyone else still had a good time...isn't that what it is supposed to be all about anyway?
We didn't have enough people on the Mercury to have an "Official Party" but we all met at sailaway...and made plans to meet in the afternoons...usually in the Navigator to either play trivia or just chat and catch up with how we were doing!
I guess our "small group" hit it off quite well http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif.
Shelley was the Social Hostess...really nice gal and I think if we had 25 she would have been more than glad to have been there. She is very outgoing and I enjoyed meeting herhttp://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif.

Next up...HORIZON Sept 18th to Bermuda!

See My Century and Mercury Pictures at:
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[tuggers]

I, too, am agreeing with everyone who says that we are the ones who make our own good time, however, it is nice to have someone there from the ship to give you some little 'inside' tips like John Howell does (or did) on the Horizon and like the SH and Events Coordinator did on the Zenith. And while we may only account for a small percentage of pax, we do count! And a lot more people come onto these boards and read and use this info to decide on cruises than we ever know about. So I do feel that the cruise lines probably would not like there to be uncomplimentary things being said as it does seem to spread like that stuff we talk about hitting the fan! LOL! It takes so little effort for someone to show up for 30 minutes. As anyone who was on the Zenith 4/11 with me knows, there was a mixup with the invites and everyone didn't make it to the first party. I asked the EC and she set up a second party and brought lovely X things to give away at a raffle. Really made it special for us.

Lois, I know what you mean about the SH being so nice! I liked Angelina on the Zenith so much! She was new and on a budget and had no evening bag so at the end of the cruise I bought her one from the gift shop. She was so pleased. She said she had been waiting for her next pay period to buy one! I had noticied when I was at the Captain's Table she had on her gown and a street purse. We can get to like them so much in a short period of time! Maybe the one from Century will get better. I hope so because she told me she is rotating to the Horizon and I'm on there 1/10!!

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[ocngypz]

The party is what you make it.

Since January there have been shifts in job duties onboard the ships. So what was.... a year or so ago.. doesn't necessarily mean you'll find the same now.

[Lois R]

Gail, I wonder if she will be on The Horizon when I sail in September...hmmmm....

Next up...HORIZON Sept 18th to Bermuda!

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[tuggers]

Lois,
If she is, let's hope she's learned her job a little better and has decided that being friendlier will work to her advantage! I envy you going on Horizon! I have to wait till Jan 10th.
Gail

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[RodPat]

We were on Galaxy a few years ago and Alan King was the CD. He showed up for our cruise critic party with the social hostess Renee and the restaurant manager. We found him to be the nicest CD that we had ever met. He always remembered us when he saw us whether on the ship or off. I am sorry that your party was nothing special. I hope that you were at least able to meet and greet other cruise critics. Pat

[catmand]

Well no wonder some of you were having a problem, Alan King passed away a couple of months ago.

...and for what it is worth I would guess we had 30 or so folks meet on our March Mercury Cruise, the SH was present and a pretty good time was had by all and we got nice little pins with Celebrity Cruises Connections Cruise Critic on them. my point?, what ever it is Celebrity does for us shows a touch of class not seen on other lines. Aka just yesterday asked me about a "party" while on the Sapphire. I inquired prior to our last Princess cruise and unless they have changed policy, here is what they would do; a representative from the cruise critic group would gather and supply the SH all of the names and cabin numbers of the group (guess so they can verify the number of folks) the first full day out a meeting place and time would be given to that CC rep and it would then be up to him/her/them to contact all the others and let them know when and where the party would take place. Sure seemed a lot easier to say "let's all meet at the whatever pool/bar at 6 pm on day one."

Star Princess 9/03 Alaska
Celebrity Mercury 3/04 Mexico
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Mercury Cruise 3/13/04 & Amtrak Train trip 4/04 Pic's
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[theawesome1]

Our Transatlantic on Constellation 9/7 has over 170 ready to party with other parties planned besides Connections. I feel we should be treated special for the large number, even if only half show. Can you picture this group photo?

My logo: When we disembark, I just have to book another!

[bellasorella]

tuggers and teedee--
Although things may have been different two years ago as some reported (and what wasn't!) things have not changed in the past year re CC party on the Century. Just back from the 12/24/04 cruise, and not only did Alan King the CD not show up, neither did the SoHo (who is really very nice and probably has other duties by now) or anyone from the staff. No- correction -- after the gathering had been going on for 1/2 hour of us just talking to each other (and half the people left) a photog did show up. Never saw the results, tho' no offer of pix, etc.

BTW, despite the fact that over 35 people were signed up, the CC "party" didn't take place until day 7 of a 9 day cruise and we had already had two sea days, so there was plenty of time to schedule. AND!!! (this is a good one) our get together was arranged to be in the Crystal Lounge -- nice enough, except they also scheduled a "Feng Shui" lecture (for which people paid, I think -- not sure) in another part of the room -- without a mike. So, needless to see, we had irate Feng Shui'ers coming over and asking us to not talk as they couldn't hear their lecturer!!!!!

And just as proof that you can't always trust what you read on this board ....Catmand -- Alan King is NOT deceased -- he is still the CD on Century a year after your report of his passing. We had dinner next to him and his wife one night and they both seemed very much alive.

[RodPat]

Bella, we were on Century November 20 and November 27 sailings. Alan King and the social hostess showed up for both our parties. We had a photographer both times and pics were available for sale where they sell the photos at night before dinner. Celebrity has made a mistake with this party as they scheduled it a half hour before the anniversary party which Alan and the sh both had to attend. that may be why they scheduled your party different from ours on a 7 day. I think that to have the party so late in the cruise is silly tho as you want to make new friends right in the beginning. I agree that Alan King and his wife are really nice. Pat

[tbelian]

And just as proof that you can't always trust what you read on this board ....Catmand -- Alan King is NOT deceased -- he is still the CD on Century a year after your report of his passing. We had dinner next to him and his wife one night and they both seemed very much alive.

Depends on 'which' alan king was being referred to. Alan King, the comedian, is definitely taking a dirt nap. He died 5/9/04 at age 76. he was a very funny guy.

[Host Andy]

Well no wonder some of you were having a problem, Alan King passed away a couple of months ago.



Hi Everyone !

Just to clarify... ALLAN KING the CD, is very much alive and well. I believe the other person is referring to ALAN KING the entertainer, who sadly, passed away a few months ago.

I didnt want anyone to think that Alan King from Celebrity was not well.

[tbelian]

Here is an old Alan King (the comedian, entertainer) joke.

Man says to his wife: "Honey, what can I get for you, a new car?, diamonds?, furs?'

Wife says to husband: "A DIVORCE".

Husband responds: "Well, I wasnt thinking quite THAT expensive!"

LOL! (rimshot please) ....

[Host Andy]

Here is an old Alan King (the comedian, entertainer) joke.

Man says to his wife: "Honey, what can I get for you, a new car?, diamonds?, furs?'

Wife says to husband: "A DIVORCE".

Husband responds: "Well, I wasnt thinking quite THAT expensive!"

LOL! (rimshot please) ....

Hi Tbelian !

I found that particularly funny, as ALLAN KING (The CD) uses that joke all the time. Maybe he got it from Alan King LOL !

[cechase]

We were on Century in May of last year, and had over 40 people show up. It was actually a very nice event and yes Alan King was present as well as the SoHo. We all introduced ourselves, enjoyed the refreshments and meeting people with whom we had traded messages with on Cruse Critic. A photographer came and took a group picture of all of us.