Good Bye Celebrity

[JDSTURTZ]

The recent changes to the itinerary for Constellation are a disgracefull slap in the face to the passengers booked on this ship. What good is an arrival in Casa De Crappo at 5pm with a departure at 8am. What exactly are we supposed to do in that time frame??? Are we making a stop just to see the Kandela show? Then, let's start up the ship and sail one hour to Catalina Island, great use of a beautiful ship. 48 hours in DR. No Grenada.

 

Then when people call Customer Service you get the blunt response "Celebrity reserves the right to change ports".

 

I do not feel like I have been treated "FABULOUSLY". Thanks so much Mr. Hanrahan, you are doing a tremendous job. In the future, my vacation $ goes elsewhere.

 

Don

[teedee]

I'm sorry you're so unhappy with the changes to your cruise, I would be upset too. Is it too late to get your money back & try to find something with better ports?

Terri

[warmwinds]

I, too, agree that the port changes are terrible...we almost booked that cruise ONLY because we had never been to Grenada...luckily it was impossible to find inexpensive airfare with decent times into and out of San Juan...that is the only reason we switched to the Eastern Carib on Infinity (orig. Millie) out of FLL...I too would have been livid, and stuck with airfare to San Juan since we usually purchase our own.

 

I fully understand switching ports in case of hurricanes or other unforeseeable circumstances, but NOT on what seems to be a whim...people DO choose cruises based on the ports that are included, and for Celebrity not to realize that is unbelievable.

[hermang]

I, too, agree that the port changes are terrible...we almost booked that cruise ONLY because we had never been to Grenada...luckily it was impossible to find inexpensive airfare with decent times into and out of San Juan...that is the only reason we switched to the Eastern Carib on Infinity (orig. Millie) out of FLL...I too would have been livid, and stuck with airfare to San Juan since we usually purchase our own.

 

I fully understand switching ports in case of hurricanes or other unforeseeable circumstances, but NOT on what seems to be a whim...people DO choose cruises based on the ports that are included, and for Celebrity not to realize that is unbelievable.

We have long been RCCL cruisers - and will likely stay that way - BUT we had such a great time on the Summit in Alaska we figured lets think about a Caribbean cruise on Celebrity. Lo and behold the Connie shows up with a voyage to St.Kitts - new port for us, and Grenada - havent been there since 1998 or 99 on Princess. We psyched. Then the bad news hits. The March 11th cruise itinerary is changed so we think ok maybe we'll cruise earlier - NOT. Should have had a clue as my daughter's inlaws were booked on Zenith in February and their itinerary has been changed at least twice.

 

I think Dan Hanrahan and the Celebrity folks owe us if nothing an explanation as to why the wholesale switch. At least RCCL has not switched itineraries in years. Maybe it's time to think about Princess again????

[nu2sea]

We have long been RCCL cruisers - and will likely stay that way - BUT we had such a great time on the Summit in Alaska we figured lets think about a Caribbean cruise on Celebrity. Lo and behold the Connie shows up with a voyage to St.Kitts - new port for us, and Grenada - havent been there since 1998 or 99 on Princess. We psyched. Then the bad news hits. The March 11th cruise itinerary is changed so we think ok maybe we'll cruise earlier - NOT. Should have had a clue as my daughter's inlaws were booked on Zenith in February and their itinerary has been changed at least twice.

 

I think Dan Hanrahan and the Celebrity folks owe us if nothing an explanation as to why the wholesale switch. At least RCCL has not switched itineraries in years. Maybe it's time to think about Princess again????

 

With the prices we've been paying for Celebrity suite travel I'm seriously looking at Radisson and Seabourne. I don't mind port changes within reason, or for a reason, but I am starting to seriously wonder when "bait and switch" goes from being just an expression to a reality.:(

 

Susan

[Mike2131]

I am sorry to see that Celebrity is making so many changes. I remember reading earlier in the year about changes on some of the Baltic cruises.

We were booked on the 9 night repo cruise of the Constellation from NJ to San Juan in November. Celebrity first changed the arrangement of sea days at the end of the cruise, then they took away Charleston (one of the reasons we like the cruise in the first place), substituted a second Bahamas port (Grand Bahama Island), and rearranged the sea days at the beginning of the cruise. The net result was that the first half of the cruise was then spent getting to (and in) the Bahamas. We said no thank you and canceled the cruise, the 2 extra days we had booked in San Juan, and the return air.

We booked the last 5 night Bermuda cruise of the year on the Voyager of the Seas as a substitute. If Celebrity keeps upsetting their passengers with itinerary changes, they will lose customers. We love Celebrity, but if we like Oceania, it might be a while before we come back.

[pennstater]

I'll have to agree with everyone's anger/disappointment with Celebrity. This is my first big-ship cruise and we chose Celebrity for the Cirque du Soleil experience - we then chose the itinerary to see Grenada, my favorite little island.

 

Celebrity's customer service thus far: the response to my email was to tell me to call their customer service number for more info and then quoted their policy regarding itin. changes (why couldn't they just answer my questions by email? I was very polite and also asked a confirmation of the new itin.) The response to my phone call this morning is to again, quote their policy, tell me that changes happen for a number of reasons including high-demand on ports, and that they have no reason available as to why were are now taking an extra 4 hours to get to the Dominican Republic.

 

Susan - I'm starting to agree with your 'bait and switch' theory.

 

We are locked in and will be going on the cruise so we don't lose our $$$. Maybe we will fall in love with the Celebrity ship or service, and maybe we will want to cruise with them again....but even if that happens, we will always wonder if we will see the islands we plan for...that will be a huge factor in choosing Celebrity in the future.

 

Hoping everyone has a fabulous cruise, wherever you may go!

[CruisingChick]

This is very upsetting news. I have 14 night Baltic Cruise booked for next summer and would HATE to have the itinerary changed after final payment. It's a very expensive cruise and we have been saving up for it for a year.

 

I can't believe that Celebrity is not giving you a valid reason for the change in itinerary.

 

Anne Maria

[Lotsacruising]

I am not believing these posts. If you are upset at the changes for a March cruise, cancel! You will received a full refund. Stuff happens, itineraries change, times change, if you don't like the changes then cancel. I was just on the Constellation transatlantic, after we booked there were changes to the itinerary. I decided to go anyway and had a wonderful time!

Changes happen on all the cruiselines at one time or another. Go with the flow or cancel. You do have options. Or you can go on the cruise and have a great time!

[pennstater]

I am not believing these posts. If you are upset at the changes for a March cruise, cancel! You will received a full refund. Stuff happens, itineraries change, times change, if you don't like the changes then cancel. I was just on the Constellation transatlantic, after we booked there were changes to the itinerary. I decided to go anyway and had a wonderful time!

Changes happen on all the cruiselines at one time or another. Go with the flow or cancel. You do have options. Or you can go on the cruise and have a great time!

 

Not sure what you are referring to, Lotsacruising, in terms of March cruises. The only mention of a March date was hermang who did, indeed, try to reschedule. I, personally, am scheduled for December 3 and have non-refundable air tickets. At least one other person here said they have November cruise dates and did cancel. I think you are neglecting the fact that airfare is a consideration, as well as vacation time, etc. It isn't so easy for me to cancel now, even if Celebrity did refund my $$$ - I have already made the work schedule arrangements and would mess up my co-workers' vacations if I tried to change.

 

The point I am making, and I think others are also, is that Celebrity appears to be making widespread changes to itineraries without explanation. We understand that things happen, but we want to know what happened, at the very least. Plus, some of these changes effect sailing dates that could only cancel with a penalty.

 

I, for one, will take my cruise and have a fabulous time. I will miss seeing Grenada, but I'm still excited to visit the other ports and spend time with my hubby and friends. However, I will definitely consider this in any future cruise decisions because I like to know where I'll be visiting. And I also understand the frustration of others that are effected.

 

Happy cruising, to one and all! :)

[superjerryw]

I have to agree with Pennstater, "just cancelling" is not always the easiest thing to do. Things such as arranging with your boss to take time off, buying your own airfare, etc. have to be considered. Many people can't "just cancel" and "go with the flow" as Lotsacruising suggests. I wonder if Lotsacruising would go with the flow if they announced after final payment was made that the dining room on the ship was going to be replaced with a giant McDonalds...

[nu2sea]

For me it isn't an issue of changing cruises. The changes that seem to be occurring on Celebrity have me concerned simply because they are occurring with what appears to be some regularity. I checked the Princess, HAL and RCI boards this morning and none of those forums has a current thread about itinerary changes. There were three on this forum today.

 

Someone has suggested that some of these changes are to enhance revenue (by reducing expenditures) through using less costly ports. In a time of rising fuel costs that would seem reasonable. Someone else has theorized financial woes at X are causing the changes. Some information from the cruise line would help.

 

Frequent, unexplained port changes don't just inconvenience passengers, they give rise to speculation about the causes. Surely as a business, Celebrity must realize this.

 

I will enjoy myself wherever the ship takes me, because that is the kind of traveler that I am, but that is not what my concern is all about.

 

Susan

[TrqoisWtrs]

The point I am making, and I think others are also, is that Celebrity appears to be making widespread changes to itineraries without explanation. We understand that things happen, but we want to know what happened, at the very least.

 

Absolutely! November cruise - booked because of Port Antonio, Jamaica, and Cayman. Now we're going to Key West, Cozumel and Costa Maya. But just quoting of change policy in Celebrity's response to my email, nothing else.:mad:

[cfprunner]

When the going gets tough.........

 

 

What cabin did you have reserved? One of us might want to steal it--I mean take it from you now that you don't need it.

[kromles]

OH, come on! You have been cruising quite sometime now and should know that the cruise company does have the right to change the itinerary at anytime. Heck, it says so in your ticket contract. The probability of this type of change comes with the territory, so to speak.

So why throw a tantrum when it happens.

 

How many times has this happened to you? I'll bet this is the first time. You're a big boy and should know that "**** happens".

[plumeria]

If you did change cruise companies is there any guaranty that a different cruise line won’t change their itineraries, or is this just X problem?

 

plumeria

[JDSTURTZ]

I am not believing these posts. If you are upset at the changes for a March cruise, cancel! You will received a full refund. Stuff happens, itineraries change, times change, if you don't like the changes then cancel. I was just on the Constellation transatlantic, after we booked there were changes to the itinerary. I decided to go anyway and had a wonderful time!

Changes happen on all the cruiselines at one time or another. Go with the flow or cancel. You do have options. Or you can go on the cruise and have a great time!

 

Not going in March, going over Thanksgiving. Final payment made, no refunds. The most annoying thing about the change is X announced changes a couple weeks ago for this itinerary in 2006. Then once the deadline passes, they announce it for 2005 as well. DW and I absolutely enjoyed Connie in April 2004 with a similar itinerary to what we booked this time. Yes, the ship is the #1 reason we are going back with our children and my in-laws, but we were very much looking forward to a return to Grenada to see the recovery in progress. Now, after everyone on our roll call booked Mandoo for his tour, we have this island scrapped (just happens to be the furthest distance - can fuel be the reason). Secondly, I still have no idea why X would schedule a stop in Casa De Campo from 5pm to 8am. No beach time there. No time for golf. No shopping after 5pm on a Sunday. What gives there? Sounds like X wants to keep everyone on board to keep their $$$ on the ship.

 

You are correct. We will still have a great time, but I do not feel like I am being treated "fabulously" as the commercials state over and over. There are many posts about the poor customer service X provides over the phone, and the responses here do not change that. Just another black eye for someone in a very competitive industry. I only wish my competition was this shoddy.

[albertiger]

not to make light of anyones disappointment with their itinerary changes, but in my case im delighted! :D im booked Connie transat 4/06 and the only port was Plymouth, U.K. (yawn ;) ). i was resigned to it but now, without notice its been changed to PARIS! lucky, lucky! :D

[duckman715]

Kromles - it is apparent you are new to the experience so please save your lectures for your children. If you were to actually READ the messages in this thread you MIGHT obtain a glimmer of the issue here. Let me repeat it for you, It is NOT that changes happen it is that they are happening on this particular line with increasing frequency, without explanation, within time frames which make it difficult on the paying/paid customer. OF COURSE the lines can change the itinerary they do it for many valid reasons including weather, illness, emergencies etc. They advise the passengers of the changes & the reasons for them. This is not the case with Celebrity. There, do you get it now.

[reggierail]

This doesn't seem to be an isolated problem. I have seen these itinerary changes happen with increasing frequency on Celebrity. It is, to say the least, dismaying.

 

To everyone who has the simple answer that the cruise line contract allows such changes, I say "hogwash". This is not being treated famously.

 

For me personally, the onboard Celebrity experience is unmatched as to food, service and amenities. For the most part, at least for me, the ship is the destination and just being on a Celebrity ship makes my cruise. This however is not the case for everyone else. There are many others that place the itinerary as a very important facet of their cruise experience. I think everyone should lighten up and show a little empathy to those who have had their itineraries changed.

 

The Celebrity experience is so wonderful, it seems a shame to have such questionable service before the sail.:rolleyes:

 

Reggie:D

[teedee]

The most annoying thing about the change is X announced changes a couple weeks ago for this itinerary in 2006. Then once the deadline passes, they announce it for 2005 as well. QUOTE]

 

This is what bothers me the most. Not that Celebrity is changing itineraries, but that they do it after the deadline for refunds passes. I think if they are going to make changes they should offer a refund to anyone who wants it. I KNOW the contract states they can change ports, but the way they are doing it smacks of poor/uncaring customer service. Unhappy customers will not be repeat customers!

Terri

[usha]

We're booked for Constellation's February 11, 2006 sailing, and it looks like that's going to be our itinerary, too. I felt a little disappointed :( about the itinerary change for about 15 seconds, and then...

:D I GOT OVER IT :D

[judyfssw]

I am affected by the change in itinerary. And, I understand that cruise lines can switch ports. Was it designed this way because of hurricanes, unrest, illness? I think it was. All Celebrity would have to do is say, we are changing Grenada because of the devastation of two hurricanes to the island. We want our client to have the best cruise experience, so we are changing ports to St. Martin. I agree that docking at 5 pm doesn't sound great. But, doesn't Celebrity lose money also? They can't open the casino while they're docked. We'll be fine. A little explanation would be appreciated though.

[superjerryw]

OH, come on! You have been cruising quite sometime now and should know that the cruise company does have the right to change the itinerary at anytime. Heck, it says so in your ticket contract. The probability of this type of change comes with the territory, so to speak.

So why throw a tantrum when it happens.

 

How many times has this happened to you? I'll bet this is the first time. You're a big boy and should know that "**** happens".

 

Some peoplework hard for their money and expect to get what they paid for. If a cruise line changes an itinerary because of weather problems it is understandable to some extent. However, when they arbitrarily change the itinerary the people who have already booked have a legitimate right to complain. If you booked a cruise because of the scheduled ports and then some of the ports were changed for no reason it is not really the cruise that you booked and you should be able to get your money back. To use another example, I booked a room at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan for one night prior to a cruise. When I arrived at the hotel they said they had overbooked and had no rooms available and offered to put me in a different hotel. They also realized that I would not be getting what I paid for so they offered me the alternative hotel an no charge. If a cruise line changes the itinerary just because they feel like doing it the passengers are not getting what they paid for an they should be compensated.

[Tatka]

We have long been RCCL cruisers - and will likely stay that way - BUT we had such a great time on the Summit in Alaska we figured lets think about a Caribbean cruise on Celebrity. Lo and behold the Connie shows up with a voyage to St.Kitts - new port for us, and Grenada - havent been there since 1998 or 99 on Princess. We psyched. Then the bad news hits. The March 11th cruise itinerary is changed so we think ok maybe we'll cruise earlier - NOT. Should have had a clue as my daughter's inlaws were booked on Zenith in February and their itinerary has been changed at least twice.

 

I think Dan Hanrahan and the Celebrity folks owe us if nothing an explanation as to why the wholesale switch. At least RCCL has not switched itineraries in years. Maybe it's time to think about Princess again????

 

It has... When I booked West. Med. cruise in 2004 we were supposed to go to Malta. Instead we went to Marseilles. ;) While we enjoyed Marseilles we really wanted to see Malta, I was upset.