ABoatNerd

A good evening:

In reviewing member reviews and information in recent posts, I have gained the impression that the Sky Lounge is increasingly unavailable for use by guests - private functions prevail.

This is a family favorite location on the ship and really the only location where guests may sit in comfort and enjoy the ocean.

Is there a new Celebrity policy behind this seeming trend?

It seems that the loss of use of this general public room is in keeping with the elimination of other former public rooms on Celebrity vessels.

Yet another not acceptable trend on Celebrity ships.

ABoatNerd

Good morning Cunarders!

I will be taking my first Cunard crossing on QM2 June 5 - truly can not wait to sil on a classy ship.

I have exclusively patronized Celebrity since 1992 and have experienced the changing product offering from that line. Three (14) day cruises with Celebrity in past year and half have crystalized their corporate direction in my mind.

Like cunard, Celebrity is puttiing in place a class system of dining venue per room category per cunard. This is reinforced more than Cunard it would appear in that suite guests got to walk a red carpet to board the Eclipse. On Eclipse I was ordered to leavethe sky lounge (top and forward viewing area) so that the room could be used for an "exclusive" elite event. I told Celebrity that I would not leave and that they were denying me access to a pubic room. They were shocked that I was not docile - I stayed and enjoyed a pod of whales playing while their elite party happened around me.

Opposite to Cunard - Celebrity is working hard to get rid of the 70+crowd (to Holland America). Celebrity is courting the 35+ urban crowd with their "free" beverage packages - linked to the 40 per cent fare hike. This strategy includes "free" children fares for ahorter voyages and no enforcement of any dress code.

Cut back in offerings and quality are everywhere on Celebrity.

Make no mistake the "cruise" industry is working towards a class segmentation based on money

ABoatNerd

A good evening:

Eliminating a poorly patronized venue and assigning it to suite guests makes economic sense. This is part of the segmentation of experience in all parts of western society based on what you are willing to pay. No issue. Pay what you want for a different bundle of goods and services.

I am posting because cruise lines are how hypocrites - they have come full circle from beacons of equality to class segmentation based on the $. All in one generation.

In the 1970's when the newly emerging cruise lines were shrilling that Cunard and the French Line had class distinction because of exclusive dining rooms assigned by room category, the cruise lines were posturing that they represented the "future" - ie we are all "equal". Hence the emergence of the MDR - everyone ate there irregardless of the price of your cabin.

There you go Cunard, French Line - look how modern we are!

To prove the newly fledgling cruise industries point, NCL bought the S.S. France.

Move on to 2012 to 2014. The "mass market" cruise lines are now trending back to the Cunard and French Line configuration - separate dining rooms, separate celebrations all based on your "category". As other posters have noted, not the luxury lines. Interesting.

Celebrity's red carpet service for suite guests, kicking guests from the Sky lounge so they can host an Elite event, Aqua dining, and now Suite only dining is trending towards the earlier class segmentation as configured on the earlier liners - where your dining experience and segment celebrations were based on what you spent. Back then, however, there was a social segmentation as well as a money segmentation.

Celebrity protectors on this site can only do so much - NCL is well on their way to having a class segmentation based on $. So it is slightly different today - segmentation based on $ not necessarily "social class". It may end up that Celebrity segments "guests" into specific dining venues and rooms based on time allotments - the restrictions on the use of current public rooms is not a good omen for the retention of the earlier version of cruising - the cruise ship is available for all - that appears to be dead on mass cruise lines.

So for me, now that Celebrity is busy, busy, creating categories of guests and assigning exclusive dining venues, restricting the use of public rooms and eliminating venues previously available to all (Bistro on 5), it opens up the field to other cruise service providers - it is away from exclusively Celebrity and onto Cunard for the first time - the June 5 Transatlantic in Princess Grill class. It will be no different an experience than what Celebrity is actively constructing - except, Cunard is not chasing the "modern luxury" urbanite.

Cunard vs Celebrity - less of a difference than there used to be.

The cruise industry is NOT what it was in the beginning - normal evolution - the cruise industry has sold out to the $ and become a lot like Cunard and the French Line - their so called enemies in the past.

But in the end, we are blessed to be able to choose which cruise experience we want - many have no such choices.

There is an old saying "those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it" - right on Celebrity.

Happy and Safe Sailing to all

ABoatNerd

As the original poster, I thank you all kindly for the excellent advice.

We will patronize local stores in Southampton and purchasea tuxedo.

We plan to enjoy many Cunard cruises in the future - hopefully a world cruise someday when retired.

Regards

ABoatNerd

A fine good day Cunard cruisers.

My husband I are booked on our 1st Cunard trip. We are Celebrity regulars.

We look forward to our June 5 2014 TA sailing from Southampton.

We understand the QM2 and Cunard is more formal than Celebrity so we thought booking a tuxedo would be grand.

Could folks share some booking tips so we acquire the best tux and service.

Thank you kindly in advance for your time and consideration.

Regards,

ABoatNerd

Excellent analysis on the Posters christmas cruise.

Celebrity Cruises is accountable to provide a consistent product offering every time inless they specifically state otherwise or due to unforseen circumstances.. Examing the Celebrity site and brochures it is clear the product delivered on the Christmas cruise is not as advertised and I presume there was no sign off on the situation when booking this cruise.

Expecting people to accept less access to basic amenities (due to kids or group bookings for that matter) is not an acceptable strategy.

The Poster can do the following:

1) Contact the US consumer regulator and make a formal complaint of misleading advertising

2) Contact the US health department and make a formal complain of a public health and safety situation

3) Contact CNN or other media as previously suggested

Contacting Celebrity is a waste of time.

The more customers meekly accept products that are not as advertised, the more they will get. This situation is not about the $ it is about receiving the Celebrity experienced as advertised.

ABoatNerd

Happy New Year.

A Fox News article by Paul Motter "Cruise Trends for 2014" Dec 27/13 is an interesting read relative to Celebrity's desire to get more new younger customers .....

* "most cruise iines seeing fewer first-timers"

* "a higher percentage of experienced passengers"

* "bargin basement prices like inside cabins ... Another sign that first - timers areabsent"

* "return of traditional dining -the return of experienced cruisers has reveraed a trend that was designed to attract new people - open seating dining"

ABoatNerd

Good morning:

Is there information on the annual cost of living aboard a Celebrity ship.

Previously on beloved Connie, Joyce, a fan of Perry Grant, lived aboard for years. A brief conversation revealed that Joyce indicated it was much cheaper than a retirement residence in Vancouver. Another lady lived aboard Connie as well, regularly walking her little dog.

I am planning retirement and am intrigued with this option.

Any information would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

ABoatNerd

Noise can be a serious health issue weather in your cabin or in your backyard.

Glad you were able to be relocated.

No problems so far on the S class but will be certain not to book towards the back part of any ship.

On the connie last time had a significant noise pollution issue with balcony use compromised by noise from a fan below the 7 deck cabins mid ship. We could not hear it in the cabin but it really destroyed use of balcony.

Celebrity did a great job of fixing it with the housekeeping and chief mechanical engineer (!) Being in our cabin. Ultimately they turned off the fan but I suspect that the noise was back for the next guest.

I appreciate ships are mechanical entites, so silence is not possible

Regards

ABoatNerd