Crew parties in passenger venues??

[orianagal]

Hello everyone

I would like to hear your opinions/comments of a situation that occurred with Passengers on a Celebrity liner last year where basically the passengers were misinformed and treated in a not so nice manner.

I was a passenger from Sydney for a 14 night cruise to NZ last year.

The cruise was very nice- lovely passengers and crew & a very nice atmosphere and what would seem a well run organisation. Each night a rather well sized attendance at the ships main nightclub/disco where we all enjoyed ourselves very much dancing and socialising.

Alot of other passengers enjoyed the Casino and its bar and after would come up to the disco as well.

We very much enjoyed dancing and the parties run there by the entertainment staff in the disco were very impressive.

One day we looked at the ships daily which read Disco closed for private function. We all thought a bit odd and thought well surely it possible to go and sit in part of the Club and have a refreshment as it was a very large nightclub. I then found out that the crew were having a party in the passengers nightclub and that we (passengers) were not permitted.

Funnily on some other companies this would be unheard of to disadvantage the passengers like this as the crew have their own party venues and also that I had been informed that the crew had so far had 2 big parties with a band in their own crew bar/venue as well as 2 nights off in Sydney to go partying on this particular cruise !

A bar manager tried to get us permission to go to this party , so we could just sit there and listen to the music as nothing else was prepared for the passengers. And he was told no.

Later that night my friends and I went upstairs and sat very quietly away from what seemed to be a very big party with band disco etc for the crew and very promptly we were demanded to leave by security. even though we were miles away from all of the crew and just wanting to find something to do after midnight when everything else had closed.

I was personally walked to the lift by a female security guard !! who completely invaded my space and hovered over me.

(does this sound ridiculous or what!)

I understand some lovely folks from Sth America had been told by crew "you are not welcome here you have to leave now "

I understand about 10 passengers approached the reception desk to ask for an explanation and the female at the desk said to them "well we live on this ship as well " !! I had a meeting with the hotel manager on behalf of some of the upset passengers and she talked about the crew for 20 minutes and didnt once mention the passengers or if they had missed out on a night of entertainment in their passenger disco (which had been paid for in our cruise fare !)

I had been told "well in the Terms and Conditions we (crew)are allowed to use any room we like for our personal use."

Funny I have the Ts and Cs and I still dont see that clause.

I thought the whole mismangement of this very strange and belittling to passengers by the way we had been treated. And I wondered if Head Office had any idea of what had gone on. I wrote along with other passengers to Celebrity Head Office and they basically told me,.. tough luck !!

I have travelled even Cunard HAL P&O where if there is a crew party the passengers have been allowed to stay if it is in the passenger venue.

HAL were very welcoming for unbelievably good christmas parties with all crew Captain officers and passengers really having a great time at the Crows nest and other parties where you are treated like family.

I certainly dont begrudge the Crew a party but with the right procedures and considerations in mind and with the PASSENGERS obvious needs in mind !!!

 

Anyway, I just thought the whole deal was very dodgy and I welcome your thoughts or similar experiences if any.

Cheers,

[wwinfl91]

I'm sorry but you were told ahead of time it was a crew only party and you were not invited and should have stayed away from it. The crew didn't get to go to other functions on the ship that passengers only attended except to serve them and passengers should NOT expect to go to crew functions.

 

That is my opinion and I will be interested in what others think. By the way I'm not a great fan of Celebrity so I'm not defending my favorite cruise line.

 

Have a great next cruise.

[paul929207]

I never heard of anything like this before.

[orianagal]

I'm sorry but you were told ahead of time it was a crew only party and you were not invited and should have stayed away from it. The crew didn't get to go to other functions on the ship that passengers only attended except to serve them and passengers should NOT expect to go to crew functions.

 

That is my opinion and I will be interested in what others think. By the way I'm not a great fan of Celebrity so I'm not defending my favorite cruise line.

 

Have a great next cruise.

 

Fair enough I welcome your opinion. The thing is we werent told it was a crew party. They clearly disclosed that information. I just happened to find out as I was told by a crew member later that day.

I wonder then why didnt the company make it clear...?

Again Im just wondering ..."the crew didnt get to go to other functions on the ship that passengers only attended except to serve them??"

Isnt that why the crew/staff are employed on the ship to cater to the passengers? Or to party in passenger venues?

Did we ever go to a Hilton hotel where the main bar is shut for a staff party on a busy hotel night, or full capacity hotel ??

again just some thoughts you are welcome to have your say for sure, we were just feeling the situation was not handled correctly.

[wwinfl91]

I thought you had said it was posted as a "private party". If it is a private party and you didn't receive an invitation then you shouldn't have expected to be able to attend whether it was the crew or some other group of passengers on the ship.

 

I can understand your frustration over not being treated as nicely as you would have liked but I will also say that if a room is posted for a private party we have never tried to enter. That has happened numerous times on cruises we have been on and we have respected the fact that the cruise line has allowed some group to celebrate together "privately". I don't think that was the case when you tried to go to the area where the party was occuring.

 

Sorry but again I think you were in the wrong on this one and that is why Celebrity is taking a hard line on it.

 

Hope you next cruise turns out better for you.

[Essiesmom]

I have been on many cruises where various venues were posted for a private party, and never felt I needed to try to crash it. Certainly it is an inconvenience on embarkation day when there are three different weddings tying up different areas. But they are right, the ship is the home of the crew, too...Much more thanit is yours. If management has no problem with reserving it for a party, you should abide by their decision/wishes. EM

[LHT28]

There are often large groups on cruise ships & they have PRIVATE PARTIES

I do not see the problem whether it was for the crew or a private group

If you are not on the guest list you should not be there.

 

Are you just miffed that it was a crew gathering and they should not be partying on your time :confused:

 

Surely there would be something you could do after midnight.

 

It is possible that the crew would like to not worry about passengers for part of the night & enjoy themselves.

I do not see a problem

 

Lyn

[Shorex]

Various venues around a ship may be closed to the general population of passengers for various reasons. The showroom may be closed for rehearsals, a space may be reserved for a "by invitation only" event, a bar may be closed for staff training, etc.

 

Crew parties are an integral incentive for maintaining the morale of the crew and for retaining the best crew. Occasionally the crew may have a party in an area that is routinely used by passengers. I would never dream of trying to crash it.

 

The crew needs a place completely away from the passengers so they can relax and let their guard down a bit. We have not sailed on Celebrity but I know of other crew parties held in what is usually a public place -- they don't have space to have a party elsewhere. They work hard enough, I'm always happy to hear that the crew had a well deserved good time on board.

[orianagal]

I thought you had said it was posted as a "private party". If it is a private party and you didn't receive an invitation then you shouldn't have expected to be able to attend whether it was the crew or some other group of passengers on the ship.

 

I can understand your frustration over not being treated as nicely as you would have liked but I will also say that if a room is posted for a private party we have never tried to enter. That has happened numerous times on cruises we have been on and we have respected the fact that the cruise line has allowed some group to celebrate together "privately". I don't think that was the case when you tried to go to the area where the party was occuring.

 

Sorry but again I think you were in the wrong on this one and that is why Celebrity is taking a hard line on it.

 

Hope you next cruise turns out better for you.

 

Yes Im sure it will.....thankyou, I beg to differ that when other passengers found out they were also very surprised by Celebrity. when another several passenger venue could have been used.

Im standing to my grounds on this.

Its not me being upset by a crew party and not being allowed in for the fun of it. I also know crew have parties all the time and I beg to differ they have them normally ...in their own crew venues.

Also private parties at a ships key nightclub by passengers a ship would not allocate the room normally ie a private function to passengers private group for a full night.

There were other groups onboard who had private functions in the DISCO but only up until 9 or 10 pm.

This CREW party went on all night from 8pm to 4 am.

 

Again I accept your comments though I am looking at the total facts not just that I missed out on a night of fun !! That they made the wrong VENUE CHOICE.

If we substituted the word crew and I had said ok passengers private group had the DISCO from 8pm to 4am. no other admittance Im sure there would still be some upset people.

Imagine if they did that on a Carnival ship. see where Im coming from?

Cheers

[Krazy Kruizers]

Yes -- we have been on HAL ships when there was a celebration held privately -- usually in the Crow's Nest -- very late at night.

 

They were for people who had just completed 30 years working on HAL ships -- and they also received some gifts.

 

If you knew this beforehand -- why did you go to that area??

[GD2J]

Fair enough I welcome your opinion. The thing is we werent told it was a crew party. They clearly disclosed that information. I just happened to find out as I was told by a crew member later that day.

I wonder then why didnt the company make it clear...?

 

Why was it so important for you to know? Private is private.

 

Again Im just wondering ..."the crew didnt get to go to other functions on the ship that passengers only attended except to serve them??"

Isnt that why the crew/staff are employed on the ship to cater to the passengers? Or to party in passenger venues?

Did we ever go to a Hilton hotel where the main bar is shut for a staff party on a busy hotel night, or full capacity hotel ??

 

No, but then again, your analogy is flawed. Hotel staff are not forced to stay in the building and be relegated to the hotel basement when not on duty. Cruise staff works a minimum of 12 hours a day, and has extremely little to no personal space when not working. Also, crew does not have a designated "party space", and would likely have to repurpose one of the very few common areas.

 

again just some thoughts you are welcome to have your say for sure, we were just feeling the situation was not handled correctly.

 

Replies embedded.

 

I have to wonder what your motivation is regarding posting this event: being bothered so much about being denied ONE ship area for ONE evening on a 14 night cruise, that you waited a year to bring it up.

[arlodog]

I agree with the other comments--it was a private party and didn't matter who it was for--you were not invited and should not have attended. I have been on many cruises where there were private parties and venues closed. I guess I wasn't interested enough to find out who was having the party, I just made other plans.

I believe that you are in the wrong in this case and need to be aware that we are guests of the ship. Yes, we pay for the privileged of sailing the line, but we are still guests and should behave as such. The crew works long and hard and if the management wants to give them a party I say yeah for them!

[orianagal]

Various venues around a ship may be closed to the general population of passengers for various reasons. The showroom may be closed for rehearsals, a space may be reserved for a "by invitation only" event, a bar may be closed for staff training, etc.

 

Crew parties are an integral incentive for maintaining the morale of the crew and for retaining the best crew. Occasionally the crew may have a party in an area that is routinely used by passengers. I would never dream of trying to crash it.

 

The crew needs a place completely away from the passengers so they can relax and let their guard down a bit. We have not sailed on Celebrity but I know of other crew parties held in what is usually a public place -- they don't have space to have a party elsewhere. They work hard enough, I'm always happy to hear that the crew had a well deserved good time on board.

 

Shorex Im not denying this either ...yes crew require parties for good morale in appropriate venues with managements consideration to other fare paying passengers !!!

We didnt crash the party we were well away, all we wanted was to be able to buy a drink and listen to some music WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE HAD BEEN CLOSED I think some of the original facts I portrayed are being overlooked here.

Im not miffed about not being at a crew party, Ive been to them before and Im wondering then why other companies like Cunard HAL and P&O handle things differently.

And make more discerning decisions. Crew parties are not normally held in the ships DISCO. If another lounge is allocated thats fine.

As previously mentioned what would passengers think if the only DISCO on

a Carnival cruiseline is closed for any type of private party ALL NIGHT.

I dont think its a decision the company would make to inconvenience a whole bunch of other passengers.

 

Cheers food for thought??

[travlnblueberries]

Just seems to me like you were trying to cause a problem. Like someone else said, I too, would never think about CRASHING a private party. And if it was a private party, why would you want to be there anyway. It's like crashing someones family reunion! :eek:

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have sailed on small ships -- like the Cunard Countess as an example -- and there were only a couple of lounges -- and sometimes they were closed for various events -- leaving us nothing!!

 

When we knew that an event was being held privately in a lounge -- even on present cruises -- we would never think of going to that lounge.

 

You have me wondering about you -- party animal??

 

 

 

[Shorex]

Shorex Im not denying this either ...yes crew require parties for good morale in appropriate venues with managements consideration to other fare paying passengers !!!

We didnt crash the party we were well away, all we wanted was to be able to buy a drink and listen to some music WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE HAD BEEN CLOSED I think some of the original facts I portrayed are being overlooked here.

Im not miffed about not being at a crew party, Ive been to them before and Im wondering then why other companies like Cunard HAL and P&O handle things differently.

And make more discerning decisions. Crew parties are not normally held in the ships DISCO. If another lounge is allocated thats fine.

As previously mentioned what would passengers think if the only DISCO on

a Carnival cruiseline is closed for any type of private party ALL NIGHT.

I dont think its a decision the company would make to inconvenience a whole bunch of other passengers.

 

Cheers food for thought??

 

All you need to have done is explain on your comment card that you desire at least one party venue to be open all night every night. If there is a significant demand for that service, management would likely comply -- or you could choose to take your cruise business elsewhere. I don't understand why a disco would be in a different category from any other party venue.

[orianagal]

I agree with the other comments--it was a private party and didn't matter who it was for--you were not invited and should not have attended. I have been on many cruises where there were private parties and venues closed. I guess I wasn't interested enough to find out who was having the party, I just made other plans.

I believe that you are in the wrong in this case and need to be aware that we are guests of the ship. Yes, we pay for the privileged of sailing the line, but we are still guests and should behave as such. The crew works long and hard and if the management wants to give them a party I say yeah for them!

 

I think I have come across the same as Celebrity Pro Crew not pro for paying passengers or a passengers needs and that situation might affect you one day especially if you are inappropriately treated by a company...yikes:eek:

and viewers answering perhaps not looking at the fact that Celebrity did not provide any other venue. The ship had closed up.

As a frequent traveller of cruises I think that was not appropriate.

A big part is being skipped or missed with the pro crew comments.

I thought the crew were great ..did you see that there had already been 2 parties for them prior to this in their own venue and 2 nights off in Sydney to party at discos.

But also that there was a better nightclub at the front of the ship for them that Celebrity could have used.

 

We are guests on a ship...thats right !! GUESTS what is your determination of GUESTS that you dont have rights or feelings

to enjoy yourselves. There was no other venue.

Kindly read the facts viewers.

I STAND MY GROUNDS but appreciate your comments.

I think Celebrity acted miserably in particular the way people were treated and all the people who thought as well at the time arent exactly dummies.

Its not about the crew or what we think of them.

 

 

If I had not written the word crew but just said Oh a private group took the nightclub for the whole night what would the comments be.

 

You know its hard to save for a trip of a lifetime and just some people who paid a cruise fare might have been counting on that venue as well !!

 

NOT JUST ME !!!

 

Cheers smooth sailing

[orianagal]

All you need to have done is explain on your comment card that you desire at least one party venue to be open all night every night. If there is a significant demand for that service, management would likely comply -- or you could choose to take your cruise business elsewhere. I don't understand why a disco would be in a different category from any other party venue.

 

Its a good point and we had asked them.

They said they would keep the other nightclub open and they didnt.

Is it so wrong for passengers to look for somewhere to be entertained??

 

I will take my business back to Celebrity because I liked their nightclub !!!! :):D:)

what has that got to do with it. !!! taking my business elsewhere.??

Is that what the end result should be for many passengers beside me ??

What other party venue are you talking about?

The disco is the main party and dancing venue on the ship. !!

Nothing else was organised.

 

Cheers thankyou

[euro cruiser]

They said they would keep the other nightclub open and they didnt.

I think this is a key point. The OP really wouldn't have anything to complain about if management had simply provided an alternate venue for passengers.

[uppitycats]

You asked for opinions, and then you're challenging those opinions expressed. It was a PRIVATE PARTY. You crashed it. YOu were asked to leave. Whether it was a private party for crew, or a private party for some other group, it doesn't matter. It was a PRIVATE PARTY. If for one night you couldn't "do without", you really need to find another venue to party in. You were out of line, and deserved to be treated so.

[orianagal]

Friends as you can see I have defended my case :)

I think you misunderstood that most certainly I loved the crew on the Celebrity liner. They were great and nice people and good friends also !!

and we didnot crash a party. though that is how some have put it !

we simply turned up for not having anywhere else to go.!!

I am talking about people who enjoy a ships night life and I am definetely talking about paying passengers !!

But is it so wrong to have feelings about missing out on a night when that is why you might cruise ...to enjoy yourself and have a night off work yourself !!!

That is why people holiday

I didnt come on the forum to say the crew dont deserve a party

WE ALL DO and in the right circumstances and IF it is handled appropriately by a cruise ship.

 

I very staunchly stick to this and if Celebrity knew there were a whole bunch of people (passengers) missing out on a nights entertainment and dancing it should have been sorted out.

And yes it affected me I didnt want to go to bed at midnight !!

some folks who replied might enjoy that going early at night retiring at 10pm for example !!

Not me !!

 

In a seperate set of circumstances Its not the first time this has happened that I have heard and I dont think we should begrudge a paying passenger the right to enjoy a night on his/her cruise trip.

the same could be said that some passengers have seen crew who leave their posts and the night time festivities end at a venue because a crew party is going on downstairs and they have to leave for the night or just to party with their boyfriends or girlfriends downstairs.

Thats OK, just leave the passengers with some piped music to dance to !!

this example was recently documented on a high profiled cruise company where the DJ took off nearly every night early and the nightclub shut down at 12am !!

 

And passengers are left twiddling their thumbs.

The company was informed and nothing was done about it.

 

You might think Im against the crew and I am most certainly not I just think some things are overlooked by poor management skills.

 

 

Cheers thanks for your replies

 

I dont think Im wrong for a variety of reasons.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Just speaking for HAL

 

They do close everything down early as their line caters to an older crowd who do not stay up and party all night.

 

HAL will not keep the bars open for just 2 or 3 people all night.

 

Many of these crew members still working late at night have to be up early the next morning working wherever they are assinged!!

[orianagal]

Replies embedded.

 

I have to wonder what your motivation is regarding posting this event: being bothered so much about being denied ONE ship area for ONE evening on a 14 night cruise, that you waited a year to bring it up.

 

 

motivation....not sure where that comes in GD2J?

 

this is just a question in a forum I asked for people if they have a comment

for which I have accepted there are many replies

[kitty9]

I have been on cruises where quite a number of public venues were totally closed to those not associated with a group(s) on board and we made the best of it. There have been cruises where the largest lounge/dance club was closed to anyone but that group for at least 5 of the 12 nights. Did I complain? No! Was I a bit upset that these venues were closed to all but those in that group? Yes, but not enough to come on these boards and complain. Stuff happens and you make the best of it.

 

I'd be much more upset if my cruise had been totally canceled at the last minute due to a private charter. I was "thrown" off a cruise because Oprah Winfrey decided to charter the ship for herself. So here were hundreds of passengers, with already paid for airfare to Europe, with no cruise. How'd you like that? At least you had a cruise.

 

And may I point out that this was ONE night of many on this cruise, so why the OP is so upset over one stinking night baffles me. It's not like the entire cruise was ruined, at least not ruined enough to cause a rant. I'm guessing this ship was either Mercury or Millennium, and they are known not to have a rocking great time of parties all night long---Celebrity ships are known to be rather passive. Plus, they needed the largest venue on the ship for a crew party, and most of Celebrity's music venues are not conducive to large parties, so their ONLY real option was the disco on Deck 11. If the OP wants to party every night, all night, Celebrity is NOT the line to do this. Might I suggest either Carnival or Royal Caribbean if drinking and partying is what you mostly desire in a cruise.

 

And may I also point out that seeing this was a party for crew, how could they have other venues open and staffed? How does one decide what crew can go to this party and who cannot? And again, the casino is open, the casino bar is open and there is generally some kind of music up on the top deck. It's not like they totally closed down the ship, for heaven's sake. It's not like they forced every single passenger to go to their cabins and locked them inside until morning. Sheesh

 

For some reason, it seems like the OP likes to argue on points here on CC, and nothing anyone will say will sway her opinion, so perhaps we should just ignore. It's apparent that nearly everyone here disagrees with the OP's opinion, but we're not going to dissuade her.

[orianagal]

Just speaking for HAL

 

They do close everything down early as their line caters to an older crowd who do not stay up and party all night.

 

HAL will not keep the bars open for just 2 or 3 people all night.

 

Many of these crew members still working late at night have to be up early the next morning working wherever they are assinged!!

 

this is right Krazy Ks I found with HAL there used to be a good nightlife and now it shuts early

cheers appreciate your input:)