Taking a break from Celebrity after our Eclipse cruise

[lysolqn]

I have seen posts saying Celebrity has lost its direction, I think it's changed its direction.

 

Thank you for your post - well said, spot on, couldn't agree more. Our first X cruise was on Horizon in the late 90's, our most recent (#39 on X) was on Eclipse in late November. We've cruised many times with many of the other lines as well, and while X has been and remains our cruise line of choice for now, we've noticed over the last few years that the line distinguishing X from the rest of the pack continues to blur. While once we thought X qualified as a premium line, we now see it as one of the best mainstream lines out there - all things considered, not a bad place to be but just not the same place it used to be. Just MHO.

[riandei]

Thanks for you honest review.

 

We are sailing Celeb again in April and have felt the decline on our last few cruises.

 

We opted for Crystal 2 weeks ago for my birthday and would sail them again in a heartbeat.

 

The problem is ... they have very few 7 day sailings and we are still working folk

 

try them if you have the opportunity ... It reminded me of the old days.

[JFontaine]

Another long-time Celebrity cruisers here, and I feel the same way. My last cruise on Silhouette in December was mediocre. I am cruising Silhouette again in a few weeks, but am considering cancelling an Eclipse cruise in November. We have been suite cruisers for about ten years, and have seen the product evolve. Last year I tried the Yacht Club on MSC and they get the suite concept better than Celebrity, but the rest of the ship is the problem. I've also tried Crystal a few times, Regent and Azamara. Like the poster above me, more than 7 days is a problem. I am the demographic that Celebrity wants, I believe, and I don't think they are listening.

 

This 7 am disembarkation thing wore me out as did the valet program suspension (both apparently resolved, but so silly to put people through this). In the old days I met the hotel director nearly every cruise, they were smart and responsive, they ran tight, happy ships that translated into a great customer experience.

 

Last night I started reading the Crystal board again. It's a shame because Celebrity has the bones to get it right, but I agree, they have lost their way. Thanks for posting.

[WonderMan3]

We are at Day 4 of our 14 day cruise on Eclipse. As far as drink service goes we have been to the following so far:

-Sunset Bar - very prompt and friendly drink server

-Oceanview - a drink server has always appeared in 5 minutes or less, they've been pleasant and speedy with drinks

-Casino - Unlike last year, drink servers are readily available and friendly

-Luminae - As mentioned by the OP, Maggie the sommelier is a star. We enjoyed her on our cruise last year too.

-Martini Bar - The two bartenders that I've seen here are very busy and very focused on what they're doing and give little interest to the guests. No smiles, no chit chat, not even a hello. They don't provide cocktail napkins. They are fast but not friendly. One of them has been on Eclipse for a couple years now as we encountered him as casino bartender on a previous cruise so not sure what's up with the poor attitude. He's not up on drinks that the Martini Bar has served in the past either. Last year their menu had a French Caribbean Martini. It's not listed now but I asked him if he was familiar with it and he said "no" He also serves drinks in the casino later in the evening and seems a bit more friendly there. We wondered if he was just subbing in for someone at the Martini Bar.

 

So overall, good so far. We'll see how it continues.

 

 

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[davekathy]

We are at Day 4 of our 14 day cruise on Eclipse. As far as drink service goes we have been to the following so far:

-Sunset Bar - very prompt and friendly drink server

-Oceanview - a drink server has always appeared in 5 minutes or less, they've been pleasant and speedy with drinks

-Casino - Unlike last year, drink servers are readily available and friendly

-Luminae - As mentioned by the OP, Maggie the sommelier is a star. We enjoyed her on our cruise last year too.

-Martini Bar - The two bartenders that I've seen here are very busy and very focused on what they're doing and give little interest to the guests. No smiles, no chit chat, not even a hello. They don't provide cocktail napkins. They are fast but not friendly. One of them has been on Eclipse for a couple years now as we encountered him as casino bartender on a previous cruise so not sure what's up with the poor attitude. He's not up on drinks that the Martini Bar has served in the past either. Last year their menu had a French Caribbean Martini. It's not listed now but I asked him if he was familiar with it and he said "no" He also serves drinks in the casino later in the evening and seems a bit more friendly there. We wondered if he was just subbing in for someone at the Martini Bar.

 

So overall, good so far. We'll see how it continues.

 

 

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Thanks for the update.

[Cruizen Susan]

We are at Day 4 of our 14 day cruise on Eclipse. As far as drink service goes we have been to the following so far:

-Sunset Bar - very prompt and friendly drink server

-Oceanview - a drink server has always appeared in 5 minutes or less, they've been pleasant and speedy with drinks

-Casino - Unlike last year, drink servers are readily available and friendly

-Luminae - As mentioned by the OP, Maggie the sommelier is a star. We enjoyed her on our cruise last year too.

-Martini Bar - The two bartenders that I've seen here are very busy and very focused on what they're doing and give little interest to the guests. No smiles, no chit chat, not even a hello. They don't provide cocktail napkins. They are fast but not friendly. One of them has been on Eclipse for a couple years now as we encountered him as casino bartender on a previous cruise so not sure what's up with the poor attitude. He's not up on drinks that the Martini Bar has served in the past either. Last year their menu had a French Caribbean Martini. It's not listed now but I asked him if he was familiar with it and he said "no" He also serves drinks in the casino later in the evening and seems a bit more friendly there. We wondered if he was just subbing in for someone at the Martini Bar.

 

So overall, good so far. We'll see how it continues.

 

 

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I could have almost written your post. We sailed the Eclipse this past December.

[shipshape sam]

We returned to test the Celebrity product now branded modern luxury after a gap of 18 months. This was our 23rd Celebrity cruise, we have also done 18 Azamara, 1 NCL and 1 Costa many moons ago.

 

Everyone's perceptions of what matters to them on cruises differs so some will read this and say why does that bother them or I don't agree. We are all different. I have seen posts saying Celebrity has lost its direction, I think it's changed its direction. Our conclusion was though the cruise was "fine" - can't get more positive than that - we won't be booking another at present.

 

I have seen posts inferring it's OK if you're in a suite otherwise it's not great, I have to agree. We were in a suite and yes, Michaels was excellent, great concierge, bar attendant, nice evening entertainment and enough guests to make it not too quiet. Luminae had in Maggie the best sommelier we've ever had, wait staff were OK though some were over the top in their "fawning" but did not pay attention to detail. The food was very good, well seasoned only two meals had to be sent back in 14 days - two ill advised forays onto the main dining room menu. One was not cooked through, the other was tepid with veg that could have done great damage if loaded into an AK48. So it would worry me based on that if I was assigned to the MDR.

 

Our stateroom attendant was very good and relished looking after the room on his own without an assistant. Our butler was good if a little too eager to please, we finally persuaded him after three days we did not want savouries, cakes, cookies etc unless we asked. We very much liked the afternoon tea being in Michael's- we could choose to go or not, how much we wanted and could meet other guests as well as all the butlers who served there. We think this change is a positive.

 

But that's where the good service ended. Finding a bar server was as hard as finding Lord Lucan. We gave up and went to the bar for our own drinks in Oceanview, Sunset Bar and Martini Bar. The barman in Passport Bar declined to make an advertised cocktail as he only made them after 6pm, another bar attendant at the Pool Bar said there were no cocktail menus and he could not make any for an hour... So for us bar service in Michael's 10/10 elsewhere 2/10.

 

Tuscan has gone down hill food was tepid and bland, service lacking and sommelier became completely disinterested when he say we had a premium package. Tried to tell us the only white wine we could have was Chardonnay unless we bought a bottle...not true

 

This brought us to the other negative it was sell sell sell. Leaving the theatre on Deck 5 is like walking through the Grand Bazaar all the hawking that is going on. Shop staff are not honest in their claims about the products. I buy a certain skin product after good careful advice back home, the ship had the brand but not the colour of product - guess what my tried and tested colour is all wrong and I should only be using the colour they have in stock. Actually she did me a favour I found the product cheaper post cruise in Miami.

 

The shows were ok, we did enjoy Jerry Sager and Not the Three Tenors in particular the production shows much less so. The enrichment talks were poor and not to our taste or of the calibrate of speaker from cruises on Celebrity a few years ago and the Cruise Director was really good at ignoring guests as we and several others found. We did not like his emotional blackmail the last two nights of please give the shows 10 or the staff contracts might not be renewed.

 

I will end on a positive we did three shore excursions- one small group, a cook school visit and a chefs tour. Group sizes were 17, 9 and 16 respectively and all were very good.

 

But the cost of suites now means competitors offering premium products are actually charging the same or less per day. We cannot live just in Michael's and eat only from the Luminae menu. We accept these were good but elsewhere things ain't like they used to be. And if we opted not to be in a suite, well Celebrity would worry us based on our experience of non suite service this cruise.

 

So we will be taking a break from them for a while and watch developments before any rebooking with them, even though we changed loyalty level after this cruise.

 

Sounds like when not segregated to suite only areas/benefits, the level of service and quality drops like a rock.

 

We still like Celebrity, but can only relate to last cruise and know that the next experience can be the same, better or worst.

[TFLG]

I don't think the service drops like a rock. On our Nov Eclipse cruise the service was fine with the exception of the bars. We ate in Luminae, Murano, Tuscan Grill and the MDR and all were perfectly fine. The service was certainly better in Luminae, Murano and Tuscan Grill but the service and food in the MDR was very good most nights. Tuscan Grill was a bit of a disappointment, we felt the food did not justify the additional cost. It was good, just not good enough to be worth it (and they brought my wife the wrong entrée).

[Mynki]

 

Tuscan has gone down hill food was tepid and bland, service lacking and sommelier became completely disinterested when he say we had a premium package. Tried to tell us the only white wine we could have was Chardonnay unless we bought a bottle...not true

 

 

Did you raise your concerns with the maître d'? If so what was the outcome?

 

Our experience of Tuscan service was very different.

Edited January 25, 2017 by Mynki

[NLH Arizona]

I think different folks have different experiences. I was on the Reflection 1/7 and the food in the MDR was very good, no issues as all. The service was awesome from all departments. Never had an issue getting a drink at the pool or one of the bars. And, no, I wasn't in a suite.

[ECCruise]

 

This brought us to the other negative it was sell sell sell. Leaving the theatre on Deck 5 is like walking through the Grand Bazaar all the hawking that is going on. Shop staff are not honest in their claims about the products.

 

This is our biggest complaint about the "New =X=". Totally and completely bush league. They know that they are pushing the envelope but still the stupid money comes out of pockets so they continue the push.

[Duanerice1]

We are thinking of trying another line for our next cruise but for different reasons. We were on the eclipse in mid December and it was very good. No issues with service, bars were quick and made what my wife wanted (not big drinkers though) and the sommelier in Blu was fantastic even though he was running around crazy. Servers were equally good.

 

We had no complaints, it's just we've been on S class for our last few cruises and are getting "bored". Just want to try something different and it's not becasue of anything wrong with Celebrity. Heck we might even try a M class ship, not sure yet.

[Germancruiser]

Thanks uktog for you well balanced and honest review. Just reading this made me aware of the fact that only if booked in suite you get the experience X offered in the past!

Important thing is you had a great time- and I think Cunard would be also line for you i can highly recommend!

My next cruise with X will be on the new Edge Class- so until then it is Cunard for me!

Celebrity may be wonderful for new Celebrity Cruisers but if one has known X from ( only ) 5 or so years ago...different story and very possibly a huge dissapointment!

As long as they get their ships booked well- X won´t care about the complaints we make. Sad as it is.

[riclop]

Thanks for your thoughts.

[SusieV]

Thank you for your review.

 

It's sad to see people who I've seen posting here for years thinking similarly. I wasn't wowed on my recent Summit cruise. The service cutbacks are noticeable and I simply don't understand it. It can't be saving them that much money versus how much they are degrading the product.

 

As a result, we booked our honeymoon cruise on Oceania, for actually less money and hopefully to experience service and food the way it used to be.

[ricka47]

I completely agree with the OP. We were on Reflection from the 24th - 31st December and have never experienced anything as bad with Celebrity as we did on this cruise. Our biggest complaint was the food. The MDR food was absolutely dire! Cold food, waiters rushed off their feet, waiting for a long time between courses, I could go on but you already get the picture. There were no offers prior to sailing for the specialty restaurants with it being the "Christmas" cruise however after paying top $ for Tuscan on Christmas Eve, we vowed we wouldn't return. The change in menu and the quality of the food was just not worth the spend anymore. Close to the end of the week, they were offering deals on the Specialty restaurants, I'm sure they had to just to get people through the door but we voted with our feet and chose to eat in the Ocean View Café several times as we felt it was the only place where we might just get reasonable food!

We are Elite with Celebrity and it is a shame to give up on a cruise line when you've cruised with them so often however for 2017, with the exception of a cruise on Royal's Anthem of the Seas to Canada & New England which has been booked for a long time, we're giving cruising a break after cruising at least 4 times a year since 2010. Not sure where we'll end up but there's a holiday out there for us somewhere.

 

The food in the MDR was somewhat of a disappointment to us as well on our Christmas cruise on the Eclipse in 2015. We hadn't sailed X since 2008 and remembered that the food was such a step up from RCI.

 

We had the same bread every night, the menu items were limited and, while I still gained my required amount of pounds, we really had no dinners in 9 nights that we would say were great. A few months later, we were on the Vision of the Seas and we enjoyed the food more.

Edited January 26, 2017 by ricka47

[teamflames]

We were on the Eclipse just before the holidays and agree 100% about the bar staff. We ran into many of the same problems you had. Bartenders that would not make us drinks we wanted, long waits, and generally unfriendly bar staff. We've never run into this on any other cruise on Celebrity or any other brand. Seems to be just this ship. We found the onboard entertainment pretty weak too, not to our taste at all. Other than that we had a pretty good cruise. No complaints about the food or any of the other staff. I'm not put off of celebrity, but I'm sure not going on the Eclipse again.

 

 

Don't go Millennium either!! Bar service was a joke! One barman didn't know how to make a vodka lime and soda ... kid you not. I told him it has 3 ingredients, guess what they are?? [emoji41]

No mint, no lime, no diet can coke, no Sauvignon Blanc- these are simple supplies. It was so bad. Just got off NCL, a different world when it came to bar service but then food was worse and you couldn't have a coffee or bottle water despite paying significantly more for their drinks package.

Problems on all lines.

 

 

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[mrsgoggins]

OP, a well-considered post, and it sounds like you are ready for a change.

 

As my signature shows, I've 'packed 'em in' over the last few years and loyalty has not played much part in my choices - I currently have 1 Princess, 1 RCCL and 3 Celebrity booked. However, the cruise we took on the Reflection last week was amongst the best, especially for food, and we felt nothing less than totally pampered the whole time. Yet I see negative posts on this thread about this ship. I believe it is sometimes just what happens in 'the moment' - you make the 'wrong' menu choice (for you), you arrive at the bar at just the 'wrong' moment, you encounter staff when their attitude is not what you expect, etc. Irritating when there is a coincidence of 'moments' and they mount up.

 

I came adrift from many of my fellow passengers when they gave standing ovations for what I considered to be just okay performances in the theatre! However, I did stand for Tenors of Rock' 😃. People will always have different experiences on the same cruise and totally different perceptions of the same experiences for that matter. I hope your next cruise fulfills your expectations, no matter who it is with.

[mafig]

 

I came adrift from many of my fellow passengers when they gave standing ovations for what I considered to be just okay performances in the theatre! .

 

I have really had my fill of acrobats hanging from curtains. :o

[Mrs Haggis]

We are Zenith and absolutely love Celebrity

Perhaps we are easy pleased but couldn't fault anything in 70 cruises with Celebrity

They are exactly what we want beautiful ships,fabulous suites,wonderful officers and amazing crew

[upwarduk]

I came adrift from many of my fellow passengers when they gave standing ovations for what I considered to be just okay performances in the theatre!

 

I suffer from arthritis and cannot be bobbing up & down out of my seat for an ok performance.

I think it is a culture thing, some people will stand at the end of almost anyone's act.

I am used to going to concerts, as my husband sings in a Male Voice choir and some of their renditions deserve an ovation, especially if they make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It's not often that performers on cruise ships have this effect on me.

[flyingv4me]

I have really had my fill of acrobats hanging from curtains. :o

 

Good to see that I'm not the only one tired of the Cirque-style acrobatics.

[casper106]

I suffer from arthritis and cannot be bobbing up & down out of my seat for an ok performance.

I think it is a culture thing, some people will stand at the end of almost anyone's act.

I am used to going to concerts, as my husband sings in a Male Voice choir and some of their renditions deserve an ovation, especially if they make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It's not often that performers on cruise ships have this effect on me.

 

There must have been a lot of Canadians on that cruise. We live in a major Canadian city and go to lots of concerts,plays etc. Without fail,the audience gives them a standing ovation no matter what. LOL!!!

[mrsgoggins]

I have really had my fill of acrobats hanging from curtains. :o

 

I hear ya :D:D

[mrsgoggins]

I suffer from arthritis and cannot be bobbing up & down out of my seat for an ok performance.

I think it is a culture thing, some people will stand at the end of almost anyone's act.

 

Me too (arthritis), but I've never noticed the standing ovation thing quite so much on other cruises - maybe I just wasn't paying attention :)

 

OP, Sorry if I derailed your thread a little.