clojacks

1 hour ago, Silkroad said:

I’m suggesting nothing. I’m STATING that nothing has been confirmed TO ME about how the SS butler functions will be handled, or not. Keep in mind that I’m on holiday. I’ve neither time nor inclination to read numerous pages of digressions on this thread. I’m merely reporting what I’ve learned on board, as I said I would do.

I’m not sure you told us anything??

This is going to be my last question on this thread, and I’m sure nobody could give a crap…but here is my question. There have been 34 pages of this topic, and yet people are still posting what the website says. Are you holding out hope that a website that is generally 75% wrong, or higher, is in this case correct when it still shows butlers in a particular category still listed as amenity? Please don’t hold your breath.

I’m on to the next topic of the day about what Celebrity has changed now….

1 minute ago, NMTraveller said:

Anytime you want to trade a Lexus for the comparable Toyota model give me a call first!

Google Lexus touchpad infotainment control before you make that offer…

25 minutes ago, clojacks said:

You’re kidding I hope. I would say a more accurate auto analogy would be that the fancy new Lexus you saw on the showroom floor had Michelin tires on it, and the one you ordered and received 4 months later showed up with Bridgestone tires. More likely than not, you wouldn’t even notice the difference, but my guess is the Bridgestones may even perform better if their rating is more appropriate for your locale. Except you saw on  Social Media that Lexus decided to start putting Bridgestones on their cars, because they have shown to be a good switch for where you live….but you know Lexus changed the tires without telling you.

 

(To be fair, we had a Lexus that we traded in after 1 year, because we weren’t that thrilled with the technology in it. The car we have that has much more instinctive tech features? Our Toyota).

Zitsky…I quoted the wrong poster. My post was obviously in reply to terrydtx hypothetical scenario, not in reply to your answer to their post.

19 minutes ago, zitsky said:

I did ask about compensation and Celebrity was unwilling to offer anything at all.

You’re kidding I hope. I would say a more accurate auto analogy would be that the fancy new Lexus you saw on the showroom floor had Michelin tires on it, and the one you ordered and received 4 months later showed up with Bridgestone tires. More likely than not, you wouldn’t even notice the difference, but my guess is the Bridgestones may even perform better if their rating is more appropriate for your locale. Except you saw on  Social Media that Lexus decided to start putting Bridgestones on their cars, because they have shown to be a good switch for where you live….but you know Lexus changed the tires without telling you.

(To be fair, we had a Lexus that we traded in after 1 year, because we weren’t that thrilled with the technology in it. The car we have that has much more instinctive tech features? Our Toyota).

19 minutes ago, zitsky said:

Do you cruise?  Do you realize there are people who can’t afford it?

 

Do you own a home or drive a car?  Do you realize there are people who can’t afford those?

 

Do you apologize to people who have less than you?

 

I didn’t “get” to travel in a suite.  I worked many long hours until I could afford it.

 

Being able to humbly afford it is one thing...making sure people know you can afford it something entirely different.

16 minutes ago, zitsky said:

Do you cruise?  Do you realize there are people who can’t afford it?

 

Do you own a home or drive a car?  Do you realize there are people who can’t afford those?

 

Do you apologize to people who have less than you?

 

I didn’t “get” to travel in a suite.  I worked many long hours until I could afford it.

 

Interesting how I specifically said "most don't come across as elite", yet it appears that some in here sure felt the target was on their back?

2 hours ago, phoenix_dream said:

Paying more for a suite and expecting to get what you pay for has nothing to do with being "elite".  Here's the dictionary definition: "a select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society":  I don't think any of us are concerned about this change because we feel we are superior in any ability or qualities!  We just worked hard for our $$ and choose to spend them on cabins we can afford that have more space and more amenities.  When one of those advertised amenities is taken away, with no option to then cancel without penalty or get any compensation, it is an unfair business practice.  Period.

Phoenix Dream...I'm only quoting you out of convenience, not necessarily because I think my reply is directed at you...it was just a good place to post it...

I agree that most suite passengers don't come across as elite, but in retrospect, when was the last time you saw a post from Inside or OV passengers complaining that their cabin steward was late bringing them their new daily towel, or that they didn't think they should have to ride the elevator up 12 floors to get to the buffet. The label of "elite" is probably better than the one that may come across as more accurate when we read thread after thread that goes something like this..."I'm a SS and CS Elite+ passenger and I can't believe that I had to walk up 1 flight to get MY COFFEE this morning because the Retreat team said it would be 10 minutes"...and the label that comes across a little more to mind is bordering on "entitled". I might suggest all of you disrespected Suite passengers start a private group on the other social media site instead of trying to foster sympathy from the 90% of us who will possibly never get to sail in suites.

Never having sailed in a Suite on any line, I have an honest question? What % of people sail in a Suite to have access to a butler, versus sailing in a Suite for other reasons, i.e. the size of the cabin, exclusivity of space as found in certain Suite areas, etc.

3 hours ago, maiaaya said:

For what it’s worth, we are currently on the Equinox and we’ve spent a bit of time in the casino on a few different days this week. I’ve yet to see anyone vaping…

You mean all this hysteria may be for naught? I think I stated earlier that it may take a long time for this possible change to affect the experience in the Casino. I firmly believe anyone wishing to Vape on board, and has been able to on other lines, isn’t getting to all of a sudden book 3 cruises with Celebrity. If any change is noticed at all, it will be a slow minor process in my opinion. 

7 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

Which lines are allowing widespread smoking inside now? I don’t see this happening at all. 

This "the sky is falling" hysteria and hyperbole is, um, interesting??? We're not going back to the 60's where if you didn't smoke everywhere, you were the exception, folks...

9 minutes ago, NJ Gal said:

I sent a very long email to Celebrity about this & included my Captain's Club number for them to check our history with the company.  I did get back a form email which said absolutely nothing important.  It is the same email which most people got.  No phone call either.  Very disappointed.

 

Evelyn

Not to be snarky, but what made you think including your captains Club number and "history" would incentivize them to send you anything different from anyone else?

1 hour ago, PROCRUISE said:

Wow. 700 ideas, opinions etc was a lot to read through!!

Up front, I have never smoked or vaped. However I did care for plenty of COPD, pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer patients during my years of nursing, many of not most, who were smokers.

 I'm just curious what the percentage of smokers would be verses non smokers on any given Celebrity vessel and any itinerary. I'm guessing that if the vast major of cruisers on any cruise were American, the percentage might be 1 smoker to every 300 to 400 non smokers. Having started cruising in 2002, I've seen fewer and fewer smokers each year especially on X, HAL, and Princess. Perhaps a few more on CCL and NCL and actually none, that I saw, on Viking and Windstar.

I am sure that Celebrity will go with smoking and vaping because, they need the money that apparently smokers produce in the casino maybe even more so than non smokers. I guess we'll have our answer fairly soon.

I think it is pretty obvious from any recent survey, that non-smokers outnumber smokers by a massive number, but I think what Celebrity is probably banking on is that the percentage of non-smokers who aren't as militant as a lot of the "I'll never sail Celebrity again" voices is way less than the non-smoking "I'll just avoid the Casino" voices.

On recent pages, NCL, Holland, Royal and Princess have all been attacked over their smoking policy's. So, those of you who are beating the leave Celebrity drum, where do you go? I hate smoke, but not enough to entirely quit an activity I love because there is no other option in cruise lines in my price range. I'll just do my best to avoid it on board, while realizing there may be times I can't be in the area on board I would prefer to be. 

14 minutes ago, zitsky said:

I’m saying that Celebrity is redefining mainstream to mean younger passengers who gamble and vape or smoke on the ship inside AND outside of the casino.  I expect this vaping test to be expanded.  No, I do not work for Celebrity.

I guess I don't view that as "redefining mainstream". I view it more as broadening their current demographic. I guess I couldn't fault any cruiseline for broadening their current demo, but the slippery slope is to do it without alienating a significant portion of their predominating demo.

16 minutes ago, zitsky said:

Celebrity is redefining who the mainstream is.  At least in the casino.  I don’t want to see vaping in cabins or balconies.

Are you saying Celebrity is not mainstream? I guess you’ve confused me….

12 hours ago, MamaFej said:

The price difference between Celebrity and lines like Azamara, Viking, and Oceania have been minimized as well.

 

I wasn't a Business major, but charging more whilst delivering less seems like an odd strategy to me. Maybe that's why their head-hunters don't have me on speed-dial. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Unless I am missing something, aren't all 3 of those still significantly more than Celebrity IF you are comparing apples to apples? For us, Celebrity is affordable to regularly sail with their worts and all. The other 3 would be a once to treat ourselves before we are done sailing type experience. I guess what I haven't seen anywhere in this thread, or I have missed it, is WHO out of the mainstream, non-premium lines, doesn't allow either smoking or vaping somewhere designated on board, or doesn't allow it in the casino's...which appears to be the area of concern for a number of posters?

I may have mentioned earlier, I am a non-smoker, and one of my happiest memories in adulthood was when it was banned in bars where I lived when younger. 

6 minutes ago, phoenix_dream said:

IMHO that's exactly the point. Vaping is very popular with the younger crowd.  Celebrity is trying to attract a younger crowd.  So do the math.  Some believe (and Celebrity claims) this trial is due to requests from casino players, with no information to back that up, even on sites or posts from Blue Chip cruisers.  I think it is to try to attract a younger crowd.

And a younger demo isn't going to happen overnight. I just think the cancelling cruises etc because of a decision that might not see any actual onboard impact for a few year is throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

I might be missing something here, but in 15 or so Celebrity cruises, the demographic has never struck me as being a Vaping type of crowd. I don't want to get into what a potential Vaper looks like to me, but it sure isn't  a 50's to 70's couple who might be recently retired from good careers. I realize that doesn't represent ALL Celebrity cruisers, but it probably is a pretty significant % of the typical Celebrity passengers. I just don't see the Casino over spilling into the Hallways with Vapers who can't find a slot machine open. To be up front, I would be thrilled if Celebrity banned smoking, EVERYWHERE, but I'm going to speculate there isn't going to be enough Vaping in the Casino for it to even be noticeable 2 slot machine rows over from someone Vaping. Just my 2 cents.

48 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

We also looked at Viking and even had a hold on a cabin for a med cruise next year but they want their money up front instead of the typical deposit and I just couldn't see my way to giving them an interest free loan a year out from our sailing.  Beyond that, they certainly look great!  No casino, though...

We have felt the same way about Viking's River Cruise deposits and payment. At $20K for a river cruise, I can do a lot more with my money than they can...I hope! It's the worst final payment program in all of sailing.

1 hour ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Couldn't agree more and I have said this quite a bit lately.  But there aren't really any options in the mass market arena that don't allow smoking in their casino...which has always been the draw to Celebrity for us.  We also enjoy MSC...but they allow smoking in the casino.  We have enjoyed NCL...but again, smoking.  A ship without a casino is not for us...if no casino, I'd rather do an AI land vacay.

To be fair to NCL...we were recently on the NCL Joy, and, yes, they did allow smoking in the Casino, but only within their glass enclosed smoking area. You could obviously smell it a bit in the hallway outside the doors to the smoking area, but to say they "allow smoking in the casino" is a bit inaccurate.

1 hour ago, eileeshb said:

Try doing an overnight ferry crossing from le Harve to Rosslare in late October when a storm hits so badly the ship crew consider diverting to Portsmouth to wait it out but don’t… 

I pity the housekeeping crew that had to clean the cabins after we got back to Rosslare. 
 

Btw I can understand cancelling itineraries with tenders on the west coast of Ireland from October to April, that is prime surf season for us. The surfers are usually revving up their jet skis for the tow-in surf spots along this side of the country. 
For the folks currently sailing and having tender ports cancelled I can only says the current weather is even worse than our normal unreliable summer.  
The ferries that run from Doolin to the Aran islands used to have to use tenders at low tides before the new pier was built but even with their new pier they still shutdown operations from the end of September or October depending on when the weather turns. 
here’s a news story of the sort of wave action we can get in storms, the village of Lahinch is smack in the middle of the west coast, only a few miles from the Cliffs of Moher. In between Dingle and Galway on those ireland itineraries.  I did see an national geographic cruise ship in the bay here once a few years back sending guests ashore to Liscannor village  on ribs. 

What I don't understand, is if NCL is soooo safety conscious, what were they doing originally booking these cruises assumedly fully well having these known conditions available to their logistics and planning teams? To me, that smacks of carelessness and thoughtlessness. I'm curious, but have these been cruises that NCL and other lines have done in the past...before COVID put a pretty good halt to Ireland cruises?

5 hours ago, Vagabond Knight said:

 

Thank you, @Norwayfan1.

Also, check out my post #95

Interestingly, in searching a major cruise consolidators itineraries for Ireland for October 2024, not a single cruise shows up. A few weeks ago, quite a few of the luxury lines, like Oceania, Regent, etc had itineraries  including Ireland, I believe.

Not exactly the same scenario as the OP is intending to ask about, or is it?? 

Posters on this thread have been trying to find out if NCL is pulling a fast one claiming the Ireland Government recently passed rules causing them to completely 100% change on Ireland cruise to almost all Baltics. Yet, the closest anyone has found to finding anything Irish Gov related is a not from a Harbor Master saying that Dun Laoghaire has imposed restrictions limiting their port access in winter. So, is NCL selling cruises they have no intention of visiting? Particularly if the can switch it to a pricier one?