ChucktownSteve

9 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

In all fairness, X’s cruise contract allows them to make cutbacks/changes at will.  What’s disappointing is virtually nothing is being added

Virtually nothing is being added?.  They're adding to the cost of being privileged to cruise XX.

12 minutes ago, Cap_D said:

If Celebrity actually cared to do this, they'd have someone trained to do it.  They probably let that person go last week.  I think this goes to cutbacks in service.  Leadership from the top has through actions made it clear that its all about selling, and not about meeting or exceeding expectations. 

You do realize CHEZMARYLOU will be so disappointed when they turn those fantastic coolers into a convenience store concept and charge for every item placed in the tote fixin' to carry back to the SS. Now that's meeting my expectations. 🤣

I actually anticipated all these cuts coming during my last two XX cruises in Dec '21 on Reflections and Feb '22 on Apex. It was just a gradual escalation of what they were doing for the years leading up to Covid. I never believed the marketing hype of them being "luxury". I luv it when they prove me correct.

Now with the new leadership, it appears the death by 1,000 cuts has escalated drastically as she lifts her leg on the XX customer.

7 hours ago, mac_tlc said:

Exactly. That will be the first request of the Retreat Butler or Retreat Team or stateroom attendant or whoever is the first to introduce themselves. 

 

mac_tlc

That's always been my first request on any line I cruise.  I ask that they remove anything from the cooler that isn't complimentary. Sometimes they remove them from the cabin/suite, sometimes place them under the bed or in some storage area I'm not using.

5 minutes ago, Tharkhold said:

Emma from emma cruises won't be a fan of this...

 

 

Incoming "Classic and Premium cookie packages"... for only 20 & 35$ per person per day.

I sure hope the Premium cookie package includes macadamia nut cookies!!!!

20 minutes ago, zitsky said:

Do you think there will be any changes to Aqua class?

XX is on a roll. Why stop the momentum now?

They have drink and specialty restaurant packages.I suppose a cookie package is next!

At what category do they begin stocking liter bottles of premium Liquor in the suite?  We had them in Concierge and Penthouse.  Do they do it for all categories?

4 hours ago, mtnesterz said:

 Thanks also to @ChucktownSteve for starting this thread. This is just what we needed to read.

AZ seems like a good fit for us and Seabourn is not in our budget.  Some have expressed problems with AZ booking and IT issues. I need to learn more.

You're welcome. 

I don't know that at this stage in my life  I am interested in going on a cruise which requires I schlep along one of my Tuxedos, a couple of fancy shirts only worn with the tux, cummerbunds and shinny shoes. Been there, done that, don't want to do it anymore!  That's why I like Azamara and Regent.

If you find a good TA who gives you a great cash rebate after the cruise, you don't have to deal with the IT issues...they do.

WOW! tough crowd. 😁

On 8/21/2023 at 7:47 PM, Covepointcruiser said:

Enjoy Regent, however, many of your fellow CCers can’t afford them.

Actually I found some Regent cruises less pp/pn than a similar XX (double cross) cruise and size suite but with many more perks/amenities. The thing to do is book when Regent itineraries are first released because they raise all their rates every three months..

.

I found a 2026 southern Caribbean Regent lower suite cruise for about $200pp/pn less than a 2025 XX lower suite cruise. However Regent comes with premium liquor bottles in suite, excursions included, specialty restaurants included, grats included and more.

2 hours ago, abbydancer said:

You're probably right, but I can think of a few things that Celebrity has changed back due to feedback.  (Princess never that I can recall)

Correct on changing back on some smaller things however this is a major revenue savings by reducing the number of butlers on all the ships.  Besides those change backs were then. This is now with new leadership and directives. IMO, it ain't gonna happen.

2 hours ago, royallondon said:

We did the same itinerary as ChucktownSteve in May this year with Regent.  The itinerary was excellent (though not really New England) but we were disappointed with service, the quality of included excursions and the ship itself (Navigator).  There was no doubting the quality of food, comprehensive drinks offering and suite facilities (daily free laundry) but, it comes at a price.

 

In 2018 we sailed “New England in the Fall” with Oceania (R ship same as Azamara’s).  This was excellent, very port intensive, great food (lobster every day if that’s your bag) and fabulous on board experience.  Indeed, we find Oceania to be a very close comparison to Azamara in their overall offering.

 

Regards
 

 

I agree with your comments about the Navigator. It was my first but least favorite of the three ships we sailed.  However I found a lot of die hard Navigator fans.   had already decided I'll not sail that one again.

I chalked up the less than stellar Navigator service to untrained new hires which hadn't been acclimated to the Regent quality. But I also found that on Azamara and Celebrity at that same period. I'm sorry to hear it didn't improve in the year. Not good.  The other two ships, Mariner and Splendor were much better.

Food is subjective but I devoured a lot of seafood which I enjoy. Plus I was fortunate to book the Regent sailings when the pp/pn price was less than Celebrity's suite prices with less inclusions.

I would like to do the Oceania NE/Canada  cruise but I'd prefer it to be on an O class ship.

2 hours ago, QueenP said:

Chucktown Steve I hope you don't mind me hijacking, but I have a similar question. I want to do a Canada New England cruise, but frustratingly Az just won't do this itinerary. Have any Az regulars done this on another line, and if so how did you find it? Any recommendations?

Not at all.  In May 2022 we did a 15 night Regent cruise from Miami to Montreal. It skipped New England but did an overnight in Charleston and three days in Bermuda. Really enjoyed the itinerary and food quality.

Celebrity used to do good 14 day cruises of NE and Canada out of Cape Liberty. Now it's only 11 day out of Boston.  However it was so long ago and Celebrity has changed quite a bit since 2015 even before Covid...and not for the best IMO.

You might take a look at Oceania. They do several from NY to Montreal.They also have four of the R class ships that Azamara has.

41 minutes ago, hcat said:

no one we know..not sure abt stockholders..we are not among them..

I'm up 85% since June '22 on my paltry 100 shs. really bought it for the OBC. Not a good investment imo. But now that they're doubling down on the revenue cuts, who knows?

1 hour ago, hcat said:

staff getting the ax,  sky suite pax getting the shaft!

Who's getting the gold mine?

On 8/16/2023 at 7:40 PM, NMTraveller said:

Looks like Celebrity didn't even give a pluck.

1 hour ago, douginct said:

We will be stopping at Charleston on our Spring 2024 cruise. Does anyone know if the cruise port is right at the downtown so that we could leave the ship for a  walk and then return for lunch and our afternoon excursion?  Or would we first need to shuttle or taxi to the downtown area?

Thanks in advance.

Yes. The terminal is right at the end of the Market area. Plenty of streets to walk to.  Walk down the Market to Meeting Street and King Street. then either direction on those.  Lots of stores and restaurants.  You can even walk two blocks from the ship and take a 50 minute carriage tour. I recommend Palmetto Carriage.  I personally like them the best.  They have the red barn one block off market. 

Visit the Charleston CVB for maps and more info. https://www.charlestoncvb.com/

My DW and I lived there for over 35 years until five years ago.

On 8/15/2023 at 4:54 PM, Charles4515 said:

 Royal's loyalty program is better than Celebrity's, you won't  get the same benefits but on the other hand Celebrity is a somewhat better cruise line. 

Maybe, but possibly not much longer with the Royalization of Celebrity with many recently  unannounced removal of perks/benefits.

On 8/14/2023 at 7:56 PM, neverlaysup said:

So, Elite+ coffee is not valid on embarkation and debarkation day? Curious where is says that.

 

Perhaps it's posted on the F&B Director's wall?

56 minutes ago, Heather White said:

Another issue is the credit card info. It will not let you enter the name on the card as it is.

For example on your card is MR JOHN A DOE. On the form it will not allow this, just correcting it to JOHN DOE. Perhaps this will be corrected at the port.

I suspect if you just put John Doe with the correct numbers, it will be sufficient. It's usually the numbers that get approved electronically not whether you put John A or John. Try that before figuring out the minimum that gets accepted.

1 hour ago, C-Dragons said:

X's new management seems to have forgotten that Loyalty is a 2 way street.

That's presuming Celebrity management cares about loyalty any more.

1 hour ago, hcat said:

but who will deliv it?  in reg staterooms it is often your  cabin attendant or asst..but not always?

Are you sure that if you place the breakfast order, they now won't make you walk down to pick it up from the breakfast window they may install?🤣 Watch for the sign that says, order pick up here.

1 hour ago, Veinless said:

Yup! Just booked them for 14 days in the Mediterranean. Celebrity is slowly cutting its own throat. 

I don't believe they are cutting their own throats.  Maybe they are  with their previously loyal customers however I believed they have dramatically shifted their target.  Notice the shorter cruises?  Notice the diminished food quality, I'm sure many can add to the list.  I believe it's designed to attract the new and move up cruiser who has never tasted steak and believes hamburgers are good.  Thus the cut of meat won't matter to them.  It's all optics.  As long as Celebrity fills the ships with unaware people willing to pay the higher prices for less, that's where they make their margins.

My last three cruises were on Regent.  I have two Azamara cruises booked.  I'm now looking at a 2026 Regent 14 night Southern Caribbean which includes the ABCs, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St Kitts and St Barts.  Celebrity doesn't do those length any more.

A 10 night boring Celebrity itinerary in a low SS is $736pp/pn.  Regent's lower category suite aft facing is $660pp/pn on their newest ship.  Regent includes premium liquor ltrs in the suite, laundry daily, included specialty restaurants, included gratuities, included excursions at every port and more. I priced it without the air or pre-cruise hotel.

In the MDR I can order lobster, prime steak, scallops and other seafood included in the everyday menu besides the rotating nightly entrees.

IMO, Celebrity is no longer competitive with the luxury line.

On 8/16/2023 at 1:21 PM, Jeremiah1212 said:

 

She isn't a CEO. You need to go up a level to Jason Liberty. Their 3 main goals through year end 2025 are presented plain as day and it has nothing to do with providing more off-menu freebies to Sky Suites. 

That's just a continuation of the double/double program RCG instituted in 2014 and which LLP did a great job initiating the long list of death by 1,000 cuts. So these actions are not new...just accelerated.

Not familiar with the program? Click here to see RCG's official "The discipline behind "Double Double."