What major changes has Celebrity got right and which wrong?

[A Sixth?]

Yes or no.

[kenevenpar]

No?

[I&J Cruisers]

Don't thing any of it is right or wrong. They make business decisions designed to maintain and increase profits. After all a cruise line is a business. Businesses exist to make money. For 20 years X was our favorite cruise line. Passengers were mostly in their 40s and 50's. They were in our sweet spot. Entertainment as perfect for us. We are now close to our 70's. Todays 40 to 50 generation are looking for something different. X is providing it. We are about one month from our next X cruise. It's been about 2 years since our last on X. Also keep in mind that fares have remained very stable. We paid more fore cruises in the 80s than the cost of similar accomadatons today. They still have to be profitable so the add on charges keep growing.

[A Sixth?]

So far even though it's early going clean air certainly seems to have be a GREAT decision.

 

Anyone remember the kerfuffle on the Cruise Critic commenting how that was going to chase business away. That casino revenues would dry up and smoking would be back in no time. :rolleyes:

Edited November 11, 2015 by A Sixth?

[Andy]

Hi A sixth ?

 

Interesting poll, but I think you left out the 2 most current "hot button" items :

 

1. The addition of Luminae, at the expense of a portion of the MDR

 

2. The elimination of Formal nights in favor of "Evening Chic" - whatever the heck that is :)

 

Just my .03 cents, adjusted for inflation :)

[A Sixth?]

Hi A sixth ?

 

Interesting poll, but I think you left out the 2 most current "hot button" items :

 

1. The addition of Luminae, at the expense of a portion of the MDR

 

2. The elimination of Formal nights in favor of "Evening Chic" - whatever the heck that is :)

 

Just my .03 cents, adjusted for inflation :)

 

Was going to add Luminae but I was limited to 14 lines....

 

And FWIW Evening Chic hasn't technically started yet so kinda hard for anyone to actually have an opinion based on experience.

[ghstudio]

And FWIW Evening Chic hasn't technically started yet so kinda hard for anyone to actually have an opinion based on experience.

 

Hey...this is Cruise Critic....we pride ourselves on having opinions, be they based on fact, hearsay, or misinformation....and who needs experience to have an opinion anyway :) And...we already have at least three (combined into one) thread on that very topic where folks are opinioning away...

.

Edited November 11, 2015 by ghstudio

[jayoldschool]

The next logical move will be going non-smoking.

[grandgeezer]

The next logical move will be going non-smoking.

 

That will never happen. Smoking is an addiction and many people are hooked and will move to a cruise that still allows it. I am not aware of there has ever been a single cruise marketed as smoke free. Ever wonder why the is no major casino in Las Vegas that is smoke free? I'm not a smoker but until it's made illegal, they have every right to be able to smoke, in designated areas.

[Fouremco]

That will never happen.

That's what they said about dropping formal night! :)

[A Sixth?]

That's what they said about dropping formal night! :)

 

Or when they banned smoking in the casino, which a number of cruise lines have since followed.

[actuarian]

I think a completely smoke-free ship would be wonderful but it is not likely in the foreseeable future. Actually, it has been tried (I forgot by whom) on one ship by another cruise line but the smoke-free ship was abandoned. It's not the individuals and couples who smoke; for every such customer lost there would be more than one non-smoking customer gained. The problem is large groups such as gatherings of large families or of employees of the same company. These groups almost always have at least one or two smokers and they aren't willing to leave those people behind. Large groups are an important source of revenue so it is bad business to go completely non-smoking.

[A Sixth?]

I think a completely smoke-free ship would be wonderful but it is not likely in the foreseeable future. Actually, it has been tried (I forgot by whom) on one ship by another cruise line but the smoke-free ship was abandoned. It's not the individuals and couples who smoke; for every such customer lost there would be more than one non-smoking customer gained. The problem is large groups such as gatherings of large families or of employees of the same company. These groups almost always have at least one or two smokers and they aren't willing to leave those people behind. Large groups are an important source of revenue so it is bad business to go completely non-smoking.

 

It was many years ago. Carnival Paradise was smoke free but it was too soon IMHO

 

When they abandoned the program in 2003, you could smoke in almost every restaurant and bar in the USA still.

 

Edited November 11, 2015 by A Sixth?

[Chazteach1]

Yes to luminae. No to removing bulgari products.

[c-legs]

Don't thing any of it is right or wrong. They make business decisions designed to maintain and increase profits. After all a cruise line is a business. Businesses exist to make money. For 20 years X was our favorite cruise line. Passengers were mostly in their 40s and 50's. They were in our sweet spot. Entertainment as perfect for us. We are now close to our 70's. Todays 40 to 50 generation are looking for something different. X is providing it. We are about one month from our next X cruise. It's been about 2 years since our last on X. Also keep in mind that fares have remained very stable. We paid more fore cruises in the 80s than the cost of similar accomadatons today. They still have to be profitable so the add on charges keep growing.

 

Very well stated. =X== demographics are not standing still, nor should be the product.

[A Sixth?]

I think a completely smoke-free ship would be wonderful but it is not likely in the foreseeable future. Actually, it has been tried (I forgot by whom) on one ship by another cruise line but the smoke-free ship was abandoned. I........

 

Looking at the results maybe it is time....

 

I once almost started a thread when Celebrity banned smoking that maybe some line should try an all smoking ship, but didn't because basically that WAS all the other lines! :p

 

Don't think an all smoking ship would fly with this crowd based on the tiny pro-smokers responses. :)

[A Sixth?]

Things seem to be calming down as generally most see that a cruise is a vacation, we can choose where to take it, and Celebrity generally gets it right

 

(Not the MUTS thing though! ) :(

[Snit13]

Looking at the results maybe it is time....

 

I once almost started a thread when Celebrity banned smoking that maybe some line should try an all smoking ship, but didn't because basically that WAS all the other lines! :p

 

Don't think an all smoking ship would fly with this crowd based on the tiny pro-smokers responses. :)

 

Celebrity must ban smoking by employees too. Have had service men come to cabin for repairs who smelled so foul from smoke I had to open balcony door. Their bodies and clothing smelled so bad. As an ex smoker, I never realized how much I offended those who had to be around me with the smoke odor on my clothing and body. Smoke free since 1990.

[A Sixth?]

Celebrity must ban smoking by employees too. Have had service men come to cabin for repairs who smelled so foul from smoke I had to open balcony door. Their bodies and clothing smelled so bad. As an ex smoker, I never realized how much I offended those who had to be around me with the smoke odor on my clothing and body. Smoke free since 1990.

 

:p:p:p I have a friend who claims not to smoke anymore but sneaks a butt here and there and thinks he doesn't stink of it for hours!

 

It's a ongoing joke at the Yacht Club but at least he has cut down a lot so he's 1/2 way there.

[kennicott]

On this Celebrity poll, about 94% agree with the balcony smoking ban, that is impressive. Particularly since demographics seem to indicate only 8% of cruisers are smokers, perhaps a little more on short cruises with a younger crowd and a little less on long cruises with older folk and of course more on HAL with their balcony smoking. If that is true, then some smokers on this poll even agree with no balcony smoking.

 

I'm assuming Celebrity doesn't have any smoking lounges. If so, that is interesting since many of the majors who have now banned balcony smoking do have these. HAL is the only major now that allows balcony smoking, it doesn't have any inside smoking lounges with the exception of one on the Noordam. HAL being the only major allowing balcony smoking has brought about a lot of anxiety over on the HAL threads. It is generally assumed that if HAL does go the no balcony smoking route then they will have to provide smoking lounges as an alternative for their smoking guests. But they apparently have made no move in that direction as their newest ship is coming out without said lounge. However, with the reaction of Celebrity passengers being so overwhelming in favor of no balcony smoking, maybe smoking lounges aren't necessary after all. I would really like to see a poll similar to this implemented on the HAL forum.