Will Celebrity Changes the Hours for Michaels?

[Tommy3putts]

Been scouring the threads for Celebrity info for my 2014 med cruise. I've come across several threads about the operating hours for Michael's. Even saw that this issue was brought up by Librarylady to Michael Bayley in a thread last October. Thank you Librarylady! He said that he would take a look at the issue.

 

I find it odd that a place such as Michaels have such restrictive hours. I am a beer lover. I spend countless hours a week In our local "neighborhood pub." I know I'm not alone. Don't get me wrong I'll spend a lot of time up top drinking a lot of beer on a cruise. But the idea of having a pub bar on a ship specializing in beer, that is not available to its passengers most of the day is a head scratcher.

 

Any word from Celbrity following the October post? I haven't been able to find it.

[cruisestitch]

You ask the question "will they change?" and there is no answer to that.

 

As to the question, "have they changed?" here were recent hours posted in the Daily, Infinity, February 2013:

 

embarkation day: opened at 5:00 p.m.

Monday, Feb 4: opened at 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb 5: opened at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb 6: opened at 5:00 p.m.

Thursday, Feb 7: opened at 5:00 p.m.

Friday, Feb 8: opened at 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, Feb 9: opened at 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, Feb 10: opened at 5:00 p.m.

Monday, Feb 11: opened at 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb 12: opened at 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb 13: opened at 5:00 p.m.

Thursday, Feb 14: opened at 5:00 p.m.

Friday, Feb 15: opened at 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, Feb 16: opened at 5:00 p.m.

[librarylady19]

Good question. This issue was actually raised by Dln929 (Deirdre) friend and fellow beer lover, who wrote to Mr Bayley again recently. Don't think she's heard back from Celebrity.

 

They are missing a great opportunity not having Michaels open in the afternoons and little entertainment.

[ORV]

Just another example of an excellent idea with poor on board execution.

[harz99]

Just another example of an excellent idea with poor on board execution.

 

Not just poor on board, poor from inception to point of delivery.

 

Many of the beers on the "Craft" beer list do not in any way deserve that description, as they are bog standard mainstream big brewer beers in the country of origin - the concept promised much and delivers so little.:(

[monicajay]

Isn't Michael's used for Elite functions on some ships?

 

And if yes, from what time till what time?

[Tommy3putts]

I've read several posts saying Michaels is often closed for Elite functions. That's issue 2 as I see it. It seems to me that a pub bar with beer, whiskies and a tv or two would be a gold mine. Sitting in a bar meeting new friends on a cruise drinking various beers appeals to me.

 

I guess wings are out of the question?

[cruisestitch]

Michaels club is nowadays only used for the 5-7 pm Elite function when the number of Elites on board is very low. There were just over 200 Elites on the Infinity cruise I referenced above and the Elite function was held in the Sky Lounge. There aren't many cruises with a small number of Elites anymore, so that isn't as much of a factor as it once was.

 

However Michael's Club is frequently rented out for private functions. Have seen two weddings held there last year in Caribbean.

[dwhe]

Ignore ,already answered.

[librarylady19]

Not just poor on board, poor from inception to point of delivery.

 

Many of the beers on the "Craft" beer list do not in any way deserve that description, as they are bog standard mainstream big brewer beers in the country of origin - the concept promised much and delivers so little.:(

 

Well they may be standard in Scotland but not so for US drinkers so we are happy to have the chance to sample them, regardless of whether they are "craft beers" or not.

I don't think the selection of beers is the primary issue, it's the lack of opportunity to sample them. We were often too full or too busy after dinner to partake.

[dln929]

Good question. This issue was actually raised by Dln929 (Deirdre) friend and fellow beer lover, who wrote to Mr Bayley again recently. Don't think she's heard back from Celebrity.

 

They are missing a great opportunity not having Michaels open in the afternoons and little entertainment.

 

As Sandi said, I did write to Michael Bayley about the issue of Michael's Club. This is what I said in my letter with the reply I received following.

 

Dear Mr. Bayley,

 

I wish you a very happy new year and heaps of success with your new position at our favorite cruise line, Celebrity. I know you get plenty of advice and queries about Celebrity so I will just have to fall into the "if you can't beat 'em join 'em" category. I'm writing to you about Michael's Club.

 

My husband and I love craft beer and are delighted with the craft beer concept in several of the Michael's Clubs. But yikes! The hours stink. Very often it's not open until 5 or even 7 pm. What about us poor souls who want a decent beer with our lunch or at Happy Hour? No other bar/lounge on board serves a decent beer; only Michael's Club will do. Surely as a native born Englishman you will have pity on those of us who like a pint before 7 pm on our holiday? You addressed the question of hours when you (graciously) did the Q&A session on the cruise forum Cruise Critic, but could you push the issue along and get our beers to us earlier?

 

I'm asking for a selfish reason--my own taste buds--but I think you would be very pleased with the results if you were to give Michael's Club hours more consistent with the other bar/lounges on board. Look at this response that I got from your Craft Beer Cruises Dept. when I wrote them a few months back. As follows:

 

 

Good afternoon Deirdre. Thank you for sailing Celebrity Cruises and for your interest in our 2013 Craft Beer Cruises. Here are the six Brewery hosted Craft Beer Cruises we have lined up for 2013. You need to book with the agency indicated next to each, in order to be included in the group and participate in the craft beer tasting events: Welcome Aboard Craft Beer Reception Two one-hour Craft Beer Tasting Seminars Four-Course Craft Beer Pairing Luncheon Two onboard, behind the scenes tours 2013 Craft Beer Groups: Boulder Beer Company 7 Night Eastern Caribbean Celebrity Reflection 3/09/13 Groups@Cruisefox.com www.cruisefox.com BJ's Brewhouse 7 Night Eastern Caribbean Celebrity Reflection 3/16/13 www.worldviewtravel.com/craftbeercruise Samuel Adams 7 Night Eastern Caribbean Celebrity Reflection 4/06/13 CostcoTravel.com http://ctrv.us/SamuelAdamsCruise California Beer Festival at Sea (featuring several different breweries) 9 night Pacific Coastal (opportunities to visit breweries in each port of call) Celebrity Solstice 5/06/13 www.CruiseSpecialists.com/CBF Dry Dock Brewing Company 7 night Alaska Celebrity Millennium 7/23/13 Highlands Ranch Travel 888-702-4727 Karl Strauss Brewing Company 11 night Hawaii Celebrity Solstice 9/23/13 www.carefreevacations.com/brewscruise Cheers!

 

So you can see, there's an interest out there for fine craft beer. You already have the customers! Make them happy by opening Michael's Club to coincide with Happy Hour! More happy Celebrity cruisers = more happy Celebrity executives. And shareholders, too (we're one of them too ).

 

Another item for your consideration. When the initial press release came out when Celebrity introduced the concept, the description included several fun activities such as food and beer pairings. The Craft Beer Cruises offer events like this, but why not offer to everyone as promised when Celebrity planned Michael's Club? People are more than willing to pay a nominal fee for the food and wine pairing courses and I bet they'd do the same for Craft Beer courses too. The microbrewery/craft beer movement is hot, hot, hot in the US. Take advantage of people's interest! You at Celebrity have a great opportunity here to differentiate yourselves from other cruise lines and grab an audience that is well-educated, well-off, and crazy about craft beer. I wish you'd have more confidence in Michael's Club. Take it and run with it!

 

MICHAEL'S CLUB

 

Celebrity's history and future will converge in Michael's Club - a venue found on every Celebrity ship - where the line will present on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection a restyled, casually elegant bar where vacationers can sit back and enjoy the comfortably sophisticated atmosphere while watching the World Cup games and sipping a Chimay Blue.

 

Across the Celebrity fleet, Michael's Club offers an impressive selection of rare malts, whiskies and scotches. Building on that tradition, the "new" Michael's Club on CelebritySilhouette and Celebrity Reflection will add an equally impressive selection of more than 50 beers, including flavorful craft beers, and will allow guests to participate in engaging experiences such as ideal food and beer pairings, how to pour the perfect draft, or how to select the proper beer glass, all while snacking on homemade, gourmet potato chips and bread sticks, and fresh, lightly-spiced caramel popcorn, amidst a vibe of live music and cool playlists, or major international sporting events airing on the venue's large, 46" TV screens.

 

Thanks for listening.

 

Sincerely,

 

Deirdre L. N.

*who has sailed on the Solstice, the Summit, the Equinox, and is getting ready for the Reflection and the Sillhouette in '13 and '14

 

PS Forgot to mention but with the current 123 Go! promo, you are going to have a lot of people who will go into Michael's Club and try a beer because it presents no risk to them. I wonder how many of these people will enjoy the beverage package so much that they will refuse to sail without buying one? See? Another potential group that will make your revenue department very happy! As they say, "reach out and touch them."

 

Dear Ms. N.: Thank you for your recent email to our new President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, Mr. Michael Bayley. We are happy to welcome him to our family and appreciate the opportunity we have to learn from his vast experience. We apologize for the delay in our response. It is wonderful to hear directly from one of our most valuable assets, our Select Captain’s Club member. As a company we strive to ensure we continue the Modern Luxury experience both at home and onboard. Please be assured, while Mr. Bayley is not able to personally respond to the e-mails we receive, all of the comments are being read with great interest and are being tracked. As we look to make changes in the future, input from valuable members like you is crucial to the process. Your suggestions for longer hours and tastings are great and are definitely suggestions we will send to our Food and Beverage team. Michael’s Club is a wonderful part of the selection of lounges we offer and we agree that it is an area that we need to expand on. Thank you for taking a moment of your valuable time to share this feedback with us. Ms. Norton, we look forward to offering you the Modern Luxury experience you have become accustomed to onboard again soon and many cruises to come. Sincerely, Carrie Bottomley On behalf of Mr. Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises Executive Loyalty Consultant Trade Support and Service Celebrity Cruises Captain's Club

[Tommy3putts]

Thanks Deirdre

 

What a disappointing response. Especially given his response during Q&A. This looks like the "brush off" response to mr. I guess short of a mass email or petition campaign, other than voting with our wallets, there is nothing else left to do. I'm so looking forward to cruising on Celebrity, but the way they appear to operate Michaels a major bummer.

[dln929]

Thanks Deirdre

 

What a disappointing response. Especially given his response during Q&A. This looks like the "brush off" response to mr. I guess short of a mass email or petition campaign, other than voting with our wallets, there is nothing else left to do. I'm so looking forward to cruising on Celebrity, but the way they appear to operate Michaels a major bummer.

 

I know what you mean, Tom. I just don't get it. Craft beer is BIG and X has an opportunity to do something fun with it and they're sitting on their haunches doing zippedy-do. Go figure. :rolleyes:

[tuscany2002]

We recently returned from a 10 day cruise on the Equinox. Although the door to Michael's Club was always open when we walked past on our way to Blu, there was never anyone in the place. We used to enjoy the Piano Bar in Michael's so we were very disappointed to find that this beautiful venue was not used at all.

[Sail Girl]

We recently returned from a 10 day cruise on the Equinox. Although the door to Michael's Club was always open when we walked past on our way to Blu, there was never anyone in the place. We used to enjoy the Piano Bar in Michael's so we were very disappointed to find that this beautiful venue was not used at all.

 

We felt the same way about the lack of px in Michael's on our recent Silhouette. Cruise. It was crowded, however, for the Football playoffs and for 11 pm Trivia.

[shelbyz]

We always enjoy a couple of drinks BEFORE dinner - good beer for DH and a glass of wine/sparkling wine for me. On our Med cruise last May Michael's was always open by 5:00. Service was outstanding and the beer expert, Andre, always had new recommendations. We would be very disappointed to miss this experience on our next cruise.