MamaFej

I would have been clenching my fists so tightly that I'd leave deep nail impressions. I'd probably break a tooth or two from the jaw clench, as well. I love Guns N' Roses, but c'mon, if you're covering a cover, say so. Don't take credit away from the orginal artist! --------- We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes?

Gratuities? ---------- We already have a nearly three month trip, then a total solar eclipse cruise planned during this period, ot I might jump on the deal. We have stuff planned for early 2025, as well. Maybe I'll try not to plan anything for early 2036, and hope for a deal like this to pop up in norhtern summer of 2024???

CC points? Unlikely... I mean Power Up Points was right there! 😉

Hubby took an iPhone photography class (no additional charge) on Azamara last year, and learned a few tricks from the ship's photographer, a delightful young man who was never pushy and always friendly.

I stuff the clean stainless steel bottles with clean socks or clean rolled sleep shirts to preserve packing space. Yes, I'm weird. Yes, it works.

With the popularity of Escape Rooms on land, I think that having one onboard, could be a fun revenue-generatror. These are especially popular with the younger Gen-X, Millennial, and Gen-Z folks cruise lines need to attract. Perhaps Celebrity Central, or another location could be temporarily set up as one, especially on sea days. If it ends up being very popular, it could perhaps replace a shop that doesn't generate much revenue, and could be set up more permanently. If they had multiple sets of puzzles, they could sell pacakges. As with some other things, discounts could be offered to E, E+, and Z CC members.

It may have already been cracked open, then Celebrity took a crowbar and ripped the lid completely off.

I have often seen folks cite the lack of slip signing as a contributing factor toward getting a pacakage. So now, when a previously included drink is a dollar or two over the package limit, instead of noting your cabin number and package, then getting and bringing your drink, punching it into the computer when things are slow, they must wait for a terminal to ba available, wait for the slip to print, bring you the slip and have you sign it. This may take from a few seconds to a few minutes more. A few seconds is no big deal. A few minutes can be frustrating. In the meantime, they may be serving fewer package drinks overall. A win for Celebrity. A win for livers. 😉 A loss for crew who have to deal with folks annoyed at delays and potentially less in spontaneous cash tips.

Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned being a baseball fan. The Dodgers were winning 1-0 when I posted thie above. They are now losing to the Padres 1-2. It's only the bottom of the 5th. There's still hope. Keep it on topic, MamaFej... something, something, butlers, suites, cruising, cutbacks, double play. Oooooo, so close!

TBH, my limit is pretty darn low (any incoherence is more due to sheer exhaustion than the beer) and I wont actually have a second... But that doesn't mean I wouldn't enjoy one. I owe you an email, but know that PapaFej and I are in our RV in Three Forks, Montana at the moment, so (some) things have largely improved over the last report.

I haven't had nearly enough to drink to have the chutzpah to write a post like this, and probably never have (but I kinda wish I had). Well done, Jayhawk. That's coming from someone who is willing to have a wait and see attitude about the team of butlers concept. As I've previously said (paraphrashing), perhaps this would allow folks who share a butler with demanding passengers to have a better level of service. I'm a baseball fan. In my mind, I see a line-up with team butlers on deck, waiting for the next request. Then again, waiting and seeing will probably not be a first-hand experience for me. I'm one of those folks with very limited Suite/Retreat experience, and have only had that due to the Move-Up program as well as an onboard inexpensive upgrade because a Retreat Concierge liked us on cruise one (a Move-Up) of B2B, and got us in on a great onboard upgrade deal on cruise two due to a no-show. PRO TIP: don't fly in the day of your cruise: you might have a flight delay and some middle class fool (🙋🏽‍♀️) might end up in your CS. I'll keep on monitorng Cruise Critic and see what happens. In the meantime, I'm mostly looking at small ship cruising for the future, beyond what I already have booked. All 6 of my booked Celebrity cruises are in verandahs (some obstructed). For the price of Aqua on X, we can get better itineraries and inclusions on smaller ships. It has been A DAY!!! Maybe I will have another drink.

In other words, you do not insult their intelligence and sense of professionalism by assuming that they will not give you the service which they are hired and trained to give unless you bribe them? Then you reward them beyond their salaries and standard gratuity share when you are pleased and/or extra pleased with the excellent service they provide? I imagine they appreciate when you and others (like me) who don't automatically disparage them do that.

If you have time to kill, do the maths on the ones that aren't so blatently obvious. My bestie's son is trying to figure out what to do for a career. He's utterly brilliant in some areas, but mathematics is not his strong suit. Maybe he could get a job calculating discounts for Celebrity.

"Mathematics" Take all the time you need.

I'm interpreting it more as, "Let's head this question off at the pass." Surely they are aware of the speculation, and the complaints about lack of communication. Reassuring folks that this particular concern isn't founded seems a wise move in my (admitedly speculative) opinion.

One of the awesome things about cruising is that it can be so many things to so many people. It appeals to the big budget luxury seekers in the Penthouse or Royal Suites. It appeals to the bargain seekers in the lowest passenger deck inside cabin, and everything in between. It appeals to the "The ship is the destination" cruiser. It appeals to the "Take me to wonderful new places I've never seen" cruiser. It appeals to foodies, oenephiles, those who want to grab something quick at the buffet, early risers, late risers, trivia lovers, quiet readers, pool game afficianados, smokers, vapers, those who need clean air, art auction lovers, board game playes, solos, families, couples, and so many more. I think you get my drift. I have noticed, over the last several months, and especially the last several weeks, that Celebrity and other lines seem to have found ways to alienate most, if not nearly all, different types of cruisers.

Very disappointing, indeed. Princess and Celebrity are the only mass-market lines we have sailed. Both seem determined to push us (retirees in our 50s, with pensions and retirement savings) away. We have six X and 2 Princess cruises booked between next month and April 2024. After that, we only have Azamara, Ama, and Viking booked, and we are looking at other more premium lines for the cruising part of our future. It may stay that way.

That makes perfect sense. After all, it wold seem strange if something that I am only imagining as a possiblity for the future had happened in the past for you.

I'm imagining (and I may be giving to much credit) that whichever butler you meet first will enter notes onto a tablet (like an iPad) and that each butler will have one, which each suite's preferences noted, and additional preferences added as appropriate. I've also been known to be wrong a time or two.

I'm very happy to hear that your husband is getting the treatment he needed. In case you haven't had the chance to read the whole thread, please check post #42. If your TA has a good working relationship with their Celebrity rep, you may be able to have a similar result. All the best wishes for improved health and future travel!

Thanks. We paid $40/day on the circumnavigation cruise. I think it was $50 on the eclipse (it's not broken down on my invoice, and my TA and I both had Covid brain when we booked it). Yes, it is pretty terrible. Both Celebrity and Princess seem to think that pulling the rug out from under customers who've already booked and/or paid for agreed upon experiences and services is acceptable.

Interesting. Retreat Butler and team, not Retreat Butler team. This would imply, to me, that you have a primary butler, and backup team (just as it has been - when your butler is on break or busy with another passenger, someone available would jump in). Folks have reported that X is telling them it's just a team, you get whoever is available when you call. Celbrity's stellar communication strikes again.

Alfredo's is SO GOOD! We've got Plus on our upcoming 28 day circumnavigation of Australia as well as the Total Solar Eclipse cruise in 2024. Aus was booked forever ago, and the TSE over a year ago, under the original Plus. I'm not sure if we are grandfathered into current Plus benefits, and can't tell from my online booking summary. I hope we haven't lost Alfredo's.

I'll give you a better response... after a pregant pause.