What celebrity cut backs have you noticed?

[lblk]

We were on the Solstice in November and had an ice bucket and carafe in our cabin, which was refilled every morning and evening. We also were given a single rose in a bud vase as a gift from the Captain's Club Hostess. As stated before, the inconsistencies are troubling as you don't know what to expect!

[Ma Bell]

In the past, the room attendants would set up the table on the balcony when requested, even though they really were not supposed to. That was supposed to be done in suites only, by the butler. What was happening was that there were always a few people who were over using the cabin attendant, and the other people in their section were not getting some of the basic service they should, so they decided to just not allow it any more.

[phoenix_dream]

Good point about the inconsistency. I think that sums up many of the differences people experience. Quality, service, and food were always the hallmarks of the Celebrity brand. Food has gone downhill (but also is one of the biggest inconsistencies based on my experience the past few years- sometimes just ok; sometimes very, very good). Service is generally still very good and better than other mid-priced lines but it too is less consistent than before based on what I've read on reviews. These differences mentioned in above posts highlight the inconsistent quality of services. To me that one is a no-brainer and should be the easiest to fix with the right training and management.

[jgnova]

I agree with those who mention a problem with consistency. My feeling after our New Year's Mercury cruise was that they had added too many employees too rapidly. This meant that there was less time for mentoring by experienced staff. For example, our cabin attendant never learned the tricks to know when we left our cabin (stick a piece of paper in the door) or to recognize that we were usually in our cabin in the evening until we left for late seating dinner. Never had a cabin attendant not able to figure that out without being told.

 

Similar examples elsewhere on ship. Some staff were phenomenal (i.e., typical Celebrity :)) and others were so-so. And I'd say the so-so mix was higher than on previous cruises.

 

My original thought was that they had moved many of the really good/experienced staff to one of the new ships and put new people on the Mercury because it was about to go away. But reading this thread has me wondering if it's a larger problem due to improper top-level management of expansion planning.

 

j

[Canadianhey!]

Water pitchers/ice buckets are given out upon request now. If you want one just ask. :)

 

Guess someone forgot to tell our stateroom attendant that. We asked and was told that they do not have them anymore.:rolleyes:

[Bridge Maven]

I can understand some of these cutbacks because preferences change over the years, but will really miss others. For example, I stopped going to the midnight buffet years before they ended this tradition but enjoyed the night bites while we were in a lounge for music and dancing.

 

I wonder if some of these cutbacks serve a double purpose by saving money for Celebrity while encouraging passengers to spend more money during their cruise. If iced water is not freely available in cabins people will probably spend more money at the bars for overpriced sodas.

 

I also feel that some of these little touches did not have a major impact on my enjoyment of a cruise but helped to distinguish Celebrity from other mass market cruise lines. So the lack of these niceties will make Celebrity have to compete by price instead of product.

[Holly2]

more pasta, smaller lobster tails.... Miss the deshelling at the table.

[EatonDoolittle]

Oh, I'm going to really miss that! I was hoping they still had them. Since my kids are missing 2 weeks of school....we were going to use them for a journaling project. Do they still pass them out at the gangway at least before you head out? (although that's just not that same) = (

 

Agree that this is a large disapointment.

It is one of the reasons we stoped sailing Royal Carib, even tho they have nice ships and itineraries.

 

Walking off the gangway in the morning is a little late to plan the day...

[Sabbycat]

Right almost forgot about that one:(

 

I would say 90% of the time a waiter will do this for me. However, don't think this has ever happened to my dh. Perhaps since I am petit they think I will drop the tray???:confused:

[C 2 C]

We have also noticed the lack of consistency in the quality of Celebrity food, service and staff training.

Some returning cruisers have been posting wonderful reviews while others on the same ship have had a mediocre or negative experience. The chance of being served by only partially trained staff seems to be much greater than it used to be and the choice of the "wrong" menu item could result in a very mediocre dining experience while someone else has an excellent server who will suggest the superior meal choice.

The high turnover in Cruise Directors and Hotel Directors also seems to have an affect on a consistent product.

On our most recent cruise, certain menu items which I traditionally ordered, were very poorly prepared on one ship compared to the same dish on another ship a week earlier.

[richsea]

Half & Half replaced by non-dairy creamer in the buffet area.

 

No longer offer different flavored bread sticks!

 

The replacing of a sit-down menued full waiter serice venue on Casual Dining Blvd with a lame "International Buffet" that is sorely lacking.

[dmk]

Celebrity is my favourite cruise line. But you are all so right!! It makes me so sad I could cry!!

[guyver]

On our most recent Celebrity cruise on Eclipse last month, we were told upon complaint that room service no longer sets up the table and settings for meals on the balcony. Quite a disappointment for us. The food was dropped off and the attendant ran out the door.

 

Wow!! A little tired are we??

[wanderlust402]

Has anyone had a party to celebrate Celebrity's 20th anniversary? We had a huge party on the Century the week before Christmas. Everyone received little pins with "20 years' (or something similar) on it. There was a very large cake and complimentary champagne for everyone who attended, as well as a continuous passing of additional pastries. There was so much that I wondered when it all came from. Then the Argentinian activity's director played really upbeat and interactive, primarily Latin themed music and everyone danced and had a wonderful time.

 

Also, most of the items on the OP's list were evident, as usual.

 

Mary

 

I was on Century the week of Christmas (12/24-12/29) during the 20 years party, Michael the Cruise Director mentioned that we were experiencing the last 20 years party. I had the impression that they had been doing that event for each cruise in 2010.

 

 

In the past, the room attendants would set up the table on the balcony when requested, even though they really were not supposed to. That was supposed to be done in suites only, by the butler. What was happening was that there were always a few people who were over using the cabin attendant, and the other people in their section were not getting some of the basic service they should, so they decided to just not allow it any more.

 

 

My wife and I had breakfast on the balcony three times on this sailing and each time the Cabin steward setup the table cloth for us. This was in a concierge class room, so I am not sure if that made a difference.

[BroncosFan2010]

Half & Half replaced by non-dairy creamer in the buffet area.

 

No longer offer different flavored bread sticks!

 

The replacing of a sit-down menued full waiter serice venue on Casual Dining Blvd with a lame "International Buffet" that is sorely lacking.

 

While I have not experienced the sit-down menu for dinners, I think the buffet idea is nice for those who want to run in and grab a snack but not have a full sit-down dinner.

[fleckle]

I did a B2B on the Mercury in Oct/Nov & they threw this party on each sailing. I was surprised that they'd spend $ on pins in this time. I think I was left a pin on each cruise ... but gave the 2nd back to my attd!

We just left ours behind in our cabin each time. Agree that it would have been better if they had spent the money on something else.

 

The cutback that we have heard the most complaints about is no longer getting full lobster tails on the last formal night.

 

Maybe they will add the water carafes to all the Solstice class cabins if enough people keep on requesting them. The same for the clothesline in the shower.

 

We don't care to be escorted to our cabin as we can easily find it ourselves so that is not something we miss at all. The same for having our trays carried at the buffet. We like seeing them offer such services to those who obviously need them and make them available upon request to others rather than automatically assuming that everyone wants them.

 

As for the stateroom attendant knowing when we leave the cabin, we put out the Do Not Disturb sign and remove it when we both leave so that our stateroom attendant doesn't need to keep on checking.

Most realized long ago that the old piece of paper in the door signal, mentioned previously, is useless because it is quite common for one person to go out while the other one is still in the cabin.

 

We were happy to see them discontinue the midnight buffets, which always resulted in enormous waste of food.

 

We agree with C2C that the biggest problem is the lack of consistency. The mixed reviews on the food are very understandable as we came to realize that you can order the same dish and have it be excellent one time and awful another time. That is why, for example, one person reports that the strip steak was tough and another reports that it was tender, and both are telling the truth. But we still find the greatest inconsistency of all to be with the coffee.

[cherylroslyn]

No water sking on formal nights!!!!!!!!

I got mine.....weird.......

[Solstice23]

Make no mistake, Celebrity offer a magnificent vacation experience and great value. However, having done many Celebrity cruises over the years,we noticed many subtle (and some not so subtle) cut backs .

 

This is our list. Please add your observations to it:

- No port info each night in cabin (now handed out at gangway)

- No cute time change notice on pillow

- No weather forecast note next to bed

- No intermezzo sorbet in MDR formal dinner

- No ice sculpture artists

- No carved watermelon parade at evening pool party

- No food/desserts at evening pool party

- No decorations at evening pool party

- No choc buffet in Oceanview cafe

- No Grand Buffet

- No Gourmet bites at night

- No gift on New Years cruise

 

On the other hand, there have not been cut backs in music/entertainment, and it seems that with Celebrity Life, they have increased the number of lecturers. Service continues to be top notch :)

 

 

mostly we notice the Price is cut back for the cruise! for example a 7 night Caribbean cruise is about 300-400 cheaper per person for us every winter then 4 years ago!

[vickykay]

Probably in the minority here, but we would rather pay a little more per person (and it would still be very reasonable for a vacation) and not have all the cutbacks. It does seem that the cost to cruise has not gone up over the years - rather the quality has gone down - it's the little touches that has always make Celebrity stand out - I would hate to see them slowly disappearing. But we still love Celebrity!

[island pat]

Cruising next week on the Summit for the 4th consecutive year so will let you know what changes we have seen. We are Concerige Class and last year they spread the table cloth and set down the tray for us. Have always had a carafe of water and ice in the room.

[JRT5000]

Probably in the minority here, but we would rather pay a little more per person (and it would still be very reasonable for a vacation) and not have all the cutbacks. It does seem that the cost to cruise has not gone up over the years - rather the quality has gone down - it's the little touches that has always make Celebrity stand out - I would hate to see them slowly disappearing. But we still love Celebrity!

 

Totally agree. Wouldn't mind paying a few hundred more to get some of the cut backs reversed.

 

To be honest, it would be nice for a new cruise line to hit the market with a price point between the mainstream and the luxury markets.

Can't seem to justify 3K for a luxury cruise but half of that would be doable.

 

Cheers

[firemanbobswife]

more pasta, smaller lobster tails.... Miss the deshelling at the table.

 

The Maitre'D came around and took the lobster tails out of the shells for us this time on Eclipse. I don't recall that on our previous cruises.

[ChucktownSteve]

No escort to your room on embarkment

 

Celebrity had Escorts? :eek:

[lightning bolt]

Celebrity had Escorts? :eek:

 

They did for people in suites.:)

[Canadianhey!]

Celebrity had Escorts? :eek:

Not on the last 3 trips I have taken. Had to find my own room (poor me)