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Trip Report - First Time Celebrity (Century Pacific Coastal)


Lisah101
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You are probably right. I tried hard to let it go, but the missing rrom key and not getting a boarding card just didnt start it off right.

 

I tried to look at each individual piece without bias to keep the cusomter service part separate, but its not always easy. DH did look at options to use the credit, but not many at all from the west coast without spending $800 or more on airfare. The one we did find was an Alaskan cruise, but it was on the Century so we decided to pass. Panama Canal is out our list but the fall sailings are mostly gone now. Any suggestions would be great!

 

 

Wow, I just feel very lucky to have sailed on the S class ships, even though our flight from Rome last year was canceled by United! The Med is fantastic, especially Eastern Med and Adriatic...love Croatia, Turkey, Greece, Mykonos, etc. so many beautiful places to sail. Yes, the airfare is huge, but the rewards are exceptional and so much history/education. Sometimes the age of the cruisers is an issue if you don't meet others around your age bracket, but it sounds like you just encountered too many problems that left you both feeling like "Why did we ever do this?." So sorry for you both!:eek:

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I've done the Med twice, just a few months ago even and I am doing the Greek Isles with mom in a year. So we were trying to find something closer to home for late summer or fall.

 

I don't know how you feel about Hawaii, but that is an option. You might be like me and enjoy staying on the land instead of cruising there. It might not hurt to explain your situation in letter format to Celebrity or at least give them a call and let them know your situation. Sometimes they are helpful; sometimes not! I can understand you wanting to be closer to home, I would love that, but don't want to do an older ship with Celebrity...my hubby might consider the Soltice to Alaska, but we've been there before....I guess that wouldn't work for you either! Call Celebrity and try!

Edited by Lastdance
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How about one or the Pacific Coastal/repo cruises on Solstice? Then airfare would be one way depending where u are from. I'll be on Century in August and am prepared for some of these issues as this is the last year for this ship. As I'm traveling with a group we will have our own fun regardless. I'm in a guarantee inside so I have no expectations for my cabin. Should be interesting! Thanks for the awesome review

 

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Forums mobile app

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There was such a focus by the ship on distinct "class" service that it felt more like the haves and have nots. So much is separately by what class cabin you have to signify if you are allowed in this lounge or that dining area that it really put me off. Also - more high pressure sales and up-sells for everything including OJ at breakfast, no tomato juice at the buffet, etc.

 

Other than the Aqua Class restaurant and the new Suite/Zenith lounge, where else did you feel that the focus was on distinct "class" service?
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How about one or the Pacific Coastal/repo cruises on Solstice? Then airfare would be one way depending where u are from. I'll be on Century in August and am prepared for some of these issues as this is the last year for this ship. As I'm traveling with a group we will have our own fun regardless. I'm in a guarantee inside so I have no expectations for my cabin. Should be interesting! Thanks for the awesome review

 

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Forums mobile app

 

We were on the Century in February with some friends and they had an inside room. There was more storage space in there cabin than a balcony cabin. We had a wonderful time and the knew what the ship was like. We had no problems.

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We got off the Century this week, never would I go on this ship again. The service stank. If you eat in the buffet they don't bring beverages and are so slow to take away dirty dishes it's as if there is no service. Service throughout the ship was lacking. Bar tenders take so long that I forgot what I ordered. Beds are so hard it's more like cement. Balcony furniture was stained and filthy. Room attendant was barely around to ask for anything.

On a high note the dining room was delightful. Our waiter was professional always serving the ladies first and serving from the right. They never brought an extra anything to try. Other ships I've had them bring a plate of petit fours or something a little extra but not here. The Waiter and assistant were very good. The head waiter or assistant head waiter did not make the rounds as we've had done on other ships.

The ship has been sold and is leaving the fleet so maybe that's the reason they don't maintain or care anymore. I had sailed on the Constellation about 5 years ago and this doesn't compare. The Constellation was great, I'm glad I had it to compare. I've been a Princess customer these past few years and think the service on Princess out shined this ship in every way.

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.

 

There was such a focus by the ship on distinct "class" service that it felt more like the haves and have nots. So much is separately by what class cabin you have to signify if you are allowed in this lounge or that dining area that it really put me off.

 

 

!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Although I agree with most of your review and would never book this tub again I did not find any class distinction but wish I had. I was in a suite and they did nothing extra. None of the suite amenities were offered without asking. I did not use the priority tender. There was no special dining room, are you thinking of Micheal's lounge where they have some continental breakfast and then happy hour in the evening? I did not use any of those since we were with people who did not have a suite and we stayed with them in the usual bars and lounges. They should have something for suites who pay so much more.

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Since Century doesn't have Aqua Class staterooms, I have the same question.

Sorry, didn't realize since I don't cruise in Aqua Class. Now I'm really curious as to why one would feel the difference in classes. It must have been something really big for the OP to say it was a focus on the ship. Hopefully the OP will let us know.

Edited by NLH Arizona
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We had a LOT of tender ports on this cruise. If you go down early to tender, you get told those in different class of cabins had priority over us.

 

When we went to watch one of the shows, the best seats were reserved for a specific class of cabins, cant remember if it was suites or not.

 

There was a nice little sitting room we walked by every day and it was only open for those in a certain class of cabin.

 

Priority dining requests were again given by cabin class first.

 

I've seen perks for those who have cruised a lot with a company, but never based on a class service like this before. That is what I was referencing.

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We had a LOT of tender ports on this cruise. If you go down early to tender, you get told those in different class of cabins had priority over us.

 

When we went to watch one of the shows, the best seats were reserved for a specific class of cabins, cant remember if it was suites or not.

 

There was a nice little sitting room we walked by every day and it was only open for those in a certain class of cabin.

 

Priority dining requests were again given by cabin class first.

 

I've seen perks for those who have cruised a lot with a company, but never based on a class service like this before. That is what I was referencing.

Unfortunately for those of us, me included, who are not in suites or top tiers of loyalty programs, we sometimes don't get the same perks as those that are. I know NCL, Princess, HAL, etc., all have similar, if not more, perks for suite passengers, as well as their top tier cruisers. So unless we cruise a lot more or upgrade to a suite, we are just stuck with others getting more, since it seems that all cruise lines take really good care of their suite passengers and top tier loyal customers.

 

Sorry it bothered you, but hopefully you still enjoyed your cruise.

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Unfortunately for those of us, me included, who are not in suites or top tiers of loyalty programs, we sometimes don't get the same perks as those that are. I know NCL, Princess, HAL, etc., all have similar, if not more, perks for suite passengers, as well as their top tier cruisers. So unless we cruise a lot more or upgrade to a suite, we are just stuck with others getting more, since it seems that all cruise lines take really good care of their suite passengers and top tier loyal customers.

 

Sorry it bothered you, but hopefully you still enjoyed your cruise.

 

We did have fun and I loved the ports - it was just an observation that I found different on Celebrity than other lines.

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We had a LOT of tender ports on this cruise. If you go down early to tender, you get told those in different class of cabins had priority over us.

 

When we went to watch one of the shows, the best seats were reserved for a specific class of cabins, cant remember if it was suites or not.

 

There was a nice little sitting room we walked by every day and it was only open for those in a certain class of cabin.

 

Priority dining requests were again given by cabin class first.

 

I've seen perks for those who have cruised a lot with a company, but never based on a class service like this before. That is what I was referencing.

There wer no reserved seats for suites/ elites, totally wrong. You could not walk down to tenders, you had to go to the captain club to get on the tender without tickets and there was a whooping 6 of us and we only taken down the stairs and blended in with the existing line, nobody knew who we were. The "little" room was Micheal's lounge was indeed for suites/ elites and is an earned perk but no where did it say it was suite elites, you assumed that correctly, it only stated private. You had to be looking for this class difference which I didn't see and I sailed in a suite. I thought the suites were not given any real value perks and the few perks listed on the web site were not given unless you asked.

I thought the Century was under staffed and the service was horrible and that was felt by all cabin categories.

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There wer no reserved seats for suites/ elites, totally wrong. You could not walk down to tenders, you had to go to the captain club to get on the tender without tickets and there was a whooping 6 of us and we only taken down the stairs and blended in with the existing line, nobody knew who we were. The "little" room was Micheal's lounge was indeed for suites/ elites and is an earned perk but no where did it say it was suite elites, you assumed that correctly, it only stated private. You had to be looking for this class difference which I didn't see and I sailed in a suite. I thought the suites were not given any real value perks and the few perks listed on the web site were not given unless you asked.

 

I thought the Century was under staffed and the service was horrible and that was felt by all cabin categories.

 

 

 

 

We had our tender tickets in hand and were told to wait while they boarded xxxx class cabins.

 

 

And there were reserved seats. Granted we only went to the one show on the second formal night so not sure if it was something special for that show

 

 

 

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Edited by Lisah101
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There wer no reserved seats for suites/ elites, totally wrong.

 

If you're referring to the Theater, Celebrity now offers reserved seats to suite passengers for shows on formal nights. At least that was the way it was a couple of months ago when we were on Solstice. Our butler made a big deal of it, waiting just outside the Theater to "escort" us to a roped-off area reserved for suite passengers. I assume this is what Lisah101 is referring to when she speaks of reserved suites in the Theater on formal night.

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There wer no reserved seats for suites/ elites, totally wrong.

 

Here's the link to suite perks I meant to include in my previous post. The reserved seating for suites is limited to formal nights. FYI

 

 

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/onboard/level3Type3.do?pagename=onboard_celebrity_staterooms_suites&parentpage=onboard_celebrity_staterooms&parentpage=onboard_celebrity_staterooms

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Here's the link to suite perks I meant to include in my previous post. The reserved seating for suites is limited to formal nights. FYI

 

 

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/onboard/level3Type3.do?pagename=onboard_celebrity_staterooms_suites&parentpage=onboard_celebrity_staterooms&parentpage=onboard_celebrity_staterooms

 

that would explain it!!

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We did have fun and I loved the ports - it was just an observation that I found different on Celebrity than other lines.

 

Lisa,

Until Century, it appears that you have cruised mainly on Carnival and one

HAL. Every ship line is a bit different; but early on, I learned that if I want to avoid tender lines, I either take a ship excursion, where you get off first, or go later. My enjoyment on cruises stems from doing research on such sites as

cruise critic member reviews (what to avoid like cabin location or arriving later on embarkation to avoid lines); tripadvisor, and others. I have learned from experience and direct observation. I have always had a balcony because my primary enjoyment is seeing the ocean outside and being able to walk out going in and out of port.

We don't go to buffet when we know there will be the most crowds. If we want a seat in the theatre we go a little early or go to the right or left in the

balconies where we always find a good seat. In this way, we navigate around

known crowds, difficulties, et al. For the past 3 cruises on Celebrity, we have had a CC1 balcony. I have not yet cruised in a Suite, only a Mini-Suite on Princess. Never have I experienced any "class" difference. I already know that if I want to have some of these "extras," I am free to pay for a different cabin category.

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We sailed on the Century in February and we had a couple of same issues as you. First, we tried to resolve a cabin situation at guest relations desk, multiple times throughout the week, always told someone would contact us, but no one did and finally we gave up. Worst guest relations services I've ever had on any cruise line. I've always gotten a phone call back, sooner or later.

Second issue was the dining table situation. Ours was also a table for 8, but only 1 couple sat with us. I saw another couple sitting alone at a 4 top. The cruise was almost over before we realized they had nobody sitting with them. We should have asked them to join our table. We also like to dine with others and share thoughts, ideas and cruise experiences. Other than that, I have no complaints about our first X experience on the Century. I was on vacation, I wanted to enjoy myself and I found ways to do it.

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