Im sad to say, but Im on my way, Goodbye Celebrity.

[Bo1953]

Oh dear, we booked Silhouette for next Feb. and now I’m concerned. We usually cruise RC, so we’ll be elite with Celebrity. We sailed X several years ago: Century and Equinox (beautiful ship). But I’m worried about the food being too salty...I don’t use a salt shaker ever:( We aren’t foodies and are happy that someone is cooking and cleaning for us, but too much salt would be inedible to us, also. Maybe we’ll change and go on RC in Feb. for our southern Caribbean cruise.

 

Thanks for the “heads up.” Oh and we only book balconies and if we find a good deal maybe a junior suite, so no suite perks (I guess we’re just too frugal):)

 

I hope you LOVE saling on Viking and ...... let us know all about your experience:)

 

No worries about food being too salty, if you find it so at your first meal, send it back and re-order without additional salt. Then let the Maitre d' know and hopefully it will be duly noted.. in fact you have the opportunity to order your meal in advance after night one, so your meal can be prepared specifically to taste.

 

bon appetite & bon voyage

[excitedofharpenden]

Mostly I agree, however Phil prefers consistency across the line, which is standardization, and on the other hand would like to see a more 'personal' approach, which is inconsistency and individual. Hard to have it both ways. A smaller and perhaps more upscale line may provide the personal experience desired.

I’ll explain a bit further because I wasn’t very clear. Yes, I did prefer the more personal and individual approach that Celebrity used to have as they responded to what the guest wanted rather than "this is what we offer, take or leave". I do understand that with the larger number of guests turned around they need to do this. Sometimes the inflexibility is frustrating though, but it’s the way it is. I guess what I’m saying is that with the standardisation of practices across the fleet they should at least be consistent with the food.

 

Orator touched on training and it’s an issue for me. If I find a good crew member then I try to stick with them and seek them out, but it’s not always possible. There is a huge variation in abilities. Some are excellent. Some are ok. And some are truly awful. There are too many in those last two categories in my view. I’ve had occasions to write comment cards part way through both for praising certain crew who go above and beyond and some who either need more training or shouldn’t be on a Celebrity cruise ship. If you met me I am in no way a demanding or rude with an attitude type, but some of the treatment I’ve received from crew just makes me shudder. And believe me, I remember them!

 

Phil

[mek]

I'm sorry, but when someone says the food is inedible in the MDR and the OV, it's very hard to find anything else credible.

 

I'm afraid I have to agree.

[villauk]

Perhaps the reason cruises were cheaper 3-7 years ago was fall out from the 2008 economic/housing debacle you may have heard about? Where unemployment was double the current rate? There is no intrinsic value of a cruise.....a cruise is worth what people are willing to pay at that time.

 

You are probably correct, however the amount of replies that keep stating that Edge has zoomed up in price since it was released or that the likes of Oceania are way more expensive, should look at the Europe pricing for next year. A 7 night itinerary on Edge in the Med over the main summer months holiday period (and some of the prices have fallen slightly or are still basically release date pricing) are virtually the same as some Oceania itineraries with their grats included. And I am comparing standard balcony cabins, Concierge and Aqua are more expensive than Oceania on the itinerary I was considering. Take a look at the end of July prices - roughly $3000pp (inc taxes) in a balcony :eek:, even 7 nights on Infinity isn’t that much less. Obviously, even the ‘highly inflated’ pricing for the Caribbean that pax keep quoting on CC aren’t as high as that (Christmas possibly being the exception?)!

 

Back to your statement, ‘It’s only worth what people are willing to pay’ and I agree, one has to find what you are comfortable paying for a product (especially if you feel it is not as good as it once was) - so no, at this time, it’s not worth that kind of money to us for a mass line cruise experience (even if we were only paying for 2 pax instead of the usual 4). Others may feel differently, especially if they were booking suites as their product has been enhanced for the better (taken from what is continually stated on CC, not from personal experience) - horses for courses as the old saying goes ;).

[villauk]

What do you mean "no perks"? You easily could have booked and gotten your choice of 2-3 options. Booking with certain TA's gets you even more. (I recognize that Blu and Luminae are not included with balcony or below.)

 

I think you missed the ‘suite’ word that the poster placed in front of the ‘perks’ statement - there was no mention of jkgourmet saying they didn’t get any included promotional offers from X or their TA.

[mek]

We have just sailed on Eclipse and had one of the best experiences for a long time. The food in the MD was very good so we cancelled a planned 4th visit to the speciality dining.

Service was also very good, the ship was clean and bright - the only dark corner being the lounge near Murano but then its supposed to be 'moody' and there are plenty other places on the ship that are bright.

We have favourite hotels we visit for their cuisine - its a different holiday.

I think the cruise should be taken as a whole and not just judged by its cuisine alone - if that's the case then this is not the cruise line for the OP. I suggest you try one of the more expensive luxury lines like Silversea? - just a thought in my humble opinion

 

I'll be on Eclipse a week from Sunday - 15 nights, so it's nice to know you enjoyed the MDR.

[ptf2009]

What do you mean "no perks"? You easily could have booked and gotten your choice of 2-3 options. Booking with certain TA's gets you even more. (I recognize that Blu and Luminae are not included with balcony or below.)

I wrote no “suite” perks.

[ptf2009]

No worries about food being too salty, if you find it so at your first meal, send it back and re-order without additional salt. Then let the Maitre d' know and hopefully it will be duly noted.. in fact you have the opportunity to order your meal in advance after night one, so your meal can be prepared specifically to taste.

 

bon appetite & bon voyage

Whew...good to hear because I have not had to do that in the past. Like I said, we don’t go on cruises for the food and only expect “cruise food.” We choose the ship and itinerary and in Feb. you have to go southern Caribbean to get away from the snow in the Chicago NorthShore:) The Silhouette fit the bill:) and we did like that we could choose two perks, plus receive our TA perks:):cool:

 

Happy cruising everyone!

[RickT]

Your experiences do not match mine, but I respect everyone's opinion and perception.

 

I hope you find what you are looking for on another line and I hope you come back and let us know.

 

Safe travels.

[Luvcrusn]

I believe that the OP has been unhappy with X for some time. I recall seeing many postings voicing unhappiness with various aspects of the X product. I hope she finds what she seeks.

[jkgourmet]

I think you missed the ‘suite’ word that the poster placed in front of the ‘perks’ statement - there was no mention of jkgourmet saying they didn’t get any included promotional offers from X or their TA.

 

I did. I was wrong and I apologize. (No snark intended. I WAS incorrect).

 

Thank you for clarifying, vallauk

[Cruise a holic]

The next two years we will not be on a Celebrity ship after doing over 40 cruises and achieving elite plus status.

 

Where to begin, maybe at the end. Our last three cruises. Third last was on the |Infinity. Pacific Coastal. Wonderful itinerary. Food not edible in MDR and OVC. Poor service, poor entertainment, aging ship.

 

2nd last, Infinity, Panama crossing. Wonderful itinerary. Food not edible in MDR and OVC. Poor service, poor entertainment, aging ship.

 

Last cruise , Eclipse, beautiful ship, MDR terrible. Dined in OVC 11 out of 13 nights. The grill was amazing. MDR terrible service. Yes maitre d' full of apologies. but nothing changed. Food was so salty people with high blood pressure were told by the Medical facility to stop eating in MDR. A waiter off the record told us that it is salted for a reason, to make it more palatable.

 

Food is important to us, are we fussier than most, maybe.

We dont consume alcohol, maybe with nightly wine at the table, things would taste a whole lot better or maybe we wouldnt care. That was an observation made by some in the MDR. Just load up on the wine, everything will taste good.

 

What I have also noticed over the past few years is the separation of classes that does not exist on other more upscale lines, Viking O, Oceania for example. Those in Suites, Aqua get their own dining room, etc. Off the record, captains club host told us that the food in MDR has to be worse in order for Luminae and Blu to seem better so more suites can be sold. Yes I understand that.

 

I will touch upon one more area. Customer relations. It has been rare when I call Celeb that I get an informed, helpful, polite "cruise specialist" In fact, more often than not, I am put on hold for a very long time while the "specialist" talks to someone who can tell him/her what to do.

 

The Celebrity web site, well what can I say that has not been said so eloquently so many times before by others.

 

We reached a decision, not lightly to cancel our two Celeb reservations and try something else. One cancellation was the Edge, we had the infinity balcony but that did not buy us the dining experience suites would have, even though it was much more expensive than a regular balcony. So separate areas for suites, the elitism continues. Then we cancelled the Sillhoette, even though we are losing the 200 non refundable deposit. Just cant face more of the same.

 

We are trying the Viking Ocean line, but not until next February so cant tell you how we fared. But I can tell you that it is costing us less than the Edge would have per night. The cruise specialist was informed, helpful and polite. They also have a chat site where you can discuss any and all issues. All tours are included. All specialty coffees, soda, internet, laundry, so we dont need to be elite plus for the perks, No kids. Good website. No status to achieve for perks. All get the same perks.

 

Some will say, did we bring all of our woes to the attention of Celebrity. Yes in all ways that are available to us.

 

Maybe trying something new will make us appreciate what we had, but somehow I doubt it.

 

Those with no sailings, or few sailings will not understand why we are leaving Celeb. Those in Suites and Aqua also may not as they get a different experience.

 

I welcome all respectful comments.

 

My DH and I are also foodies- have no problem on Celebrity in Luminae and the specialty restaurants. We take a package and dine every evening in a specialty restaurant. Our favorite ships on the Silhouette and Reflection as you can dine in the Lawn Club grill which is excellent. If you are considering Oceania or Viking, may I suggest you sail in a suite on the Reflection and or the Silhouette. You might enjoy the options of a lovely suite, access to Michaels club for snacks and drinks, Luminae for perhaps lunch and breakfast (lunch sea days only) and the specialty restaurants nightly. Many people also enjoy lunch at the Porch on those ships. Make it clear to your butler and waiters that you want limited salt. In Murano, I enjoy lobstertails- but want them broiled and not with heavy sauce- they have never disappointed me and they will custom prepare food if you request.

 

We are truly looking forward to our sailing on the Edge at the end of the year. If you read reviews, some people have issues with Viking as well as Oceania also-

[Cruise Raider]

Your experiences do not match mine, but I respect everyone's opinion and perception.

 

I hope you find what you are looking for on another line and I hope you come back and let us know.

 

Safe travels.

 

 

Same here!

We have cruised extensively over many different lines (50+ and elite on both Celebrity and Princess). We've always been treated like gold on Celebrity and usually have great food and entertainment. We recently sailed on the Equinox on a 10 night sailing and just couldn't get over how great the food was in the MDR ... until the last two nights. It was crowded and the food was sub-par. The hostess at the front desk of the MDR was awful (we discovered the one on the other side was much better, though). It probably wasn't a great last impression but we tend to focus on the positives and there were so many.

Now, we've sailed on Princess double the number of times that we've gone on Celebrity. We once had an entire cruise filled with experiences like those last two days of our most recent cruise on Celebrity. It seemed like everything that could go wrong, did. We were DONE with Princess after that. Well, they did give us a very tempting offer post cruise and we took it .... on the same ship, no less. Guess what? We had a great time!

I am not sure if sometimes, our expectations are set so high and we just want everything to feel like what 'used to be'. So many changes in the cruising industry have happened since we started cruising 40 years ago, some, definitely for the better as far as we are concerned. There are definitely things I miss about those days of cruising way back when but for us, there are still a lot more positives than negatives ... just as in life in general.

And ... you are spot on to respect everyone's point of view on their experience and expectations. I also truly hope they are able to find something that meets their expectations.

[Musigurl]

Fear not! I've cruised Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, all within the last year. Celebrity has never failed to satisfy. I always think that if you can't find something to eat in the main dining room, you must be very picky. If you don't like the main course that is served to you, they are always happy to bring you a different option.

 

I find the food pretty comparable between all three of these lines -- and I find myself wondering where-the-heck do you eat when you're not cruising? Do you really only dine at high-end restaurants? Most meals in the main dining room are as good, if not better, than your average medium-priced restaurant, IMHO -- but to each, his own :)

 

Oh dear, we booked Silhouette for next Feb. and now I’m concerned. We usually cruise RC, so we’ll be elite with Celebrity. We sailed X several years ago: Century and Equinox (beautiful ship). But I’m worried about the food being too salty...I don’t use a salt shaker ever:( We aren’t foodies and are happy that someone is cooking and cleaning for us, but too much salt would be inedible to us, also. Maybe we’ll change and go on RC in Feb. for our southern Caribbean cruise.

 

Thanks for the “heads up.” Oh and we only book balconies and if we find a good deal maybe a junior suite, so no suite perks (I guess we’re just too frugal):)

 

I hope you LOVE saling on Viking and ...... let us know all about your experience:)

[weregoingcruising]

The next two years we will not be on a Celebrity ship after doing over 40 cruises and achieving elite plus status.

 

Where to begin, maybe at the end. Our last three cruises. Third last was on the |Infinity. Pacific Coastal. Wonderful itinerary. Food not edible in MDR and OVC. Poor service, poor entertainment, aging ship.

 

2nd last, Infinity, Panama crossing. Wonderful itinerary. Food not edible in MDR and OVC. Poor service, poor entertainment, aging ship.

 

Last cruise , Eclipse, beautiful ship, MDR terrible. Dined in OVC 11 out of 13 nights. The grill was amazing. MDR terrible service. Yes maitre d' full of apologies. but nothing changed. Food was so salty people with high blood pressure were told by the Medical facility to stop eating in MDR. A waiter off the record told us that it is salted for a reason, to make it more palatable.

 

Food is important to us, are we fussier than most, maybe.

We dont consume alcohol, maybe with nightly wine at the table, things would taste a whole lot better or maybe we wouldnt care. That was an observation made by some in the MDR. Just load up on the wine, everything will taste good.

 

What I have also noticed over the past few years is the separation of classes that does not exist on other more upscale lines, Viking O, Oceania for example. Those in Suites, Aqua get their own dining room, etc. Off the record, captains club host told us that the food in MDR has to be worse in order for Luminae and Blu to seem better so more suites can be sold. Yes I understand that.

 

I will touch upon one more area. Customer relations. It has been rare when I call Celeb that I get an informed, helpful, polite "cruise specialist" In fact, more often than not, I am put on hold for a very long time while the "specialist" talks to someone who can tell him/her what to do.

 

The Celebrity web site, well what can I say that has not been said so eloquently so many times before by others.

 

We reached a decision, not lightly to cancel our two Celeb reservations and try something else. One cancellation was the Edge, we had the infinity balcony but that did not buy us the dining experience suites would have, even though it was much more expensive than a regular balcony. So separate areas for suites, the elitism continues. Then we cancelled the Sillhoette, even though we are losing the 200 non refundable deposit. Just cant face more of the same.

 

We are trying the Viking Ocean line, but not until next February so cant tell you how we fared. But I can tell you that it is costing us less than the Edge would have per night. The cruise specialist was informed, helpful and polite. They also have a chat site where you can discuss any and all issues. All tours are included. All specialty coffees, soda, internet, laundry, so we dont need to be elite plus for the perks, No kids. Good website. No status to achieve for perks. All get the same perks.

 

Some will say, did we bring all of our woes to the attention of Celebrity. Yes in all ways that are available to us.

 

Maybe trying something new will make us appreciate what we had, but somehow I doubt it.

 

Those with no sailings, or few sailings will not understand why we are leaving Celeb. Those in Suites and Aqua also may not as they get a different experience.

 

I welcome all respectful comments.

Good Bye

[Jon StroudUK]

I was on the Eclipse last year (April 2017 TA) and found the food and service in the MDR outstanding. We only had breakfast and some lunch in the OVC and the food was all good. Yes it took a few minutes to find a table at peak times but that was expected.

 

Perhaps the OP has much higher expectations than I do and perhaps he will find he is never satisfied!

I find it hard to see how someone can condemn the food and service when they only ate there 2 out of 13 nights.

 

Personally, I love Celebrity including the food, the entertainment and above all the friendly helpful staff.

Maybe it is the OP’s attitude towards the staff & Customer Relations team that leads to their poor experience or maybe the OP is just unlucky and attracts the worst staff!

 

 

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[Lastdance]

I think that if you have a poor experience on a cruise, you definitely need to look back and see what you may have done differently. Not everyone has the same palate nor the same expectations when cruising, so two people can have the same experience yet feel differently about it. Having said that, I have sent back food before due to it not being edible and have been brought something else. It happens, but not all the time. If it kept happening over and over again I would definitely speak to someone and allow them to have the chance to correct it. However, if nothing was accomplished by that, I would go above that person and speak with someone else and share my experiences. The great thing about cruising is that there are so many different ships and companies available. It would not bother me in the slightest to try another and see what it had to offer.

 

Sometimes, IMHO, cruising with just one line over and over for many years would tend to get a little boring. We always add on a week or so of staying on land and doing something different besides just a cruise. Also, we enjoy the many different venues in Europe for its historical and cultural benefits. A cruise for us is not just about the cruise per-say, but about so many different experiences. I guess my DH and I don't just cruise to cruise, but enjoy the many aspects of being on a ship, along with the wonderful destinations available.

 

Anyone who seems to keep having negative experiences needs to find something else that will make them happy. There is no good reason for spending money on a vacation that leaves you feeling empty, disappointed and upset. I am glad that you have decided to move on and find a cruise that will bring back those joyful memories that you once had with Celebrity. So, do your homework and pick that special cruise to ignite your passion for cruising...

 

I wish you all the best and with your next cruise, so spice it up a bit and do something differently!

Edited April 5, 2018 by Lastdance

[nancyshaw]

Actually the song I was thinking of was Harry Belafonte, Jamaican Farewell, rather than the Sound of Music.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5hcUm2HKmU

[nancyshaw]

I think that if you have a poor experience on a cruise, you definitely need to look back and see what you may have done differently. Not everyone has the same palate nor the same expectations when cruising, so two people can have the same experience yet feel differently about it. Having said that, I have sent back food before due to it not being edible and have been brought something else. It happens, but not all the time. If it kept happening over and over again I would definitely speak to someone and allow them to have the chance to correct it. However, if nothing was accomplished by that, I would go above that person and speak with someone else and share my experiences. The great thing about cruising is that there are so many different ships and companies available. It would not bother me in the slightest to try another and see what it had to offer.

 

Sometimes, IMHO, cruising with just one line over and over for many years would tend to get a little boring. We always add on a week or so of staying on land and doing something different besides just a cruise. Also, we enjoy the many different venues in Europe for its historical and cultural benefits. A cruise for us is not just about the cruise per-say, but about so many different experiences. I guess my DH and I don't just cruise to cruise, but enjoy the many aspects of being on a ship, along with the wonderful destinations available.

 

Anyone who seems to keep having negative experiences needs to find something else that will make them happy. There is no good reason for spending money on a vacation that leaves you feeling empty, disappointed and upset. I am glad that you have decided to move on and find a cruise that will bring back those joyful memories that you once had with Celebrity. So, do your homework and pick that special cruise to ignite your passion for cruising...

 

I wish you all the best and with your next cruise, so spice it up a bit and do something differently!

 

Agree with you completely. We are just at that point of needing to try something else.

[wwcruisers]

Agree with you completely. We are just at that point of needing to try something else.

 

Nancy, you might want to pop over to the Virgin Voyages board, from time to time. We're just cooling our heels, so to speak, waiting for more details on Sir Richard Branson's new ship release -- sometime in 2020. :cool:

[nancyshaw]

I believe that the OP has been unhappy with X for some time. I recall seeing many postings voicing unhappiness with various aspects of the X product. I hope she finds what she seeks.

 

You are correct. We have for several years now, not been happy with many issues with Celebrity. Food just being one of them. Food deteriorated for us, as soon as the MDR was partitioned off. The wall was put up reducing the MDR in half.

 

To get to eat where the other half eats, we would have to pay suite prices, I prefer instead to try a different line, cheaper than suites and no segregation. Yes I am using that word again. Some found it to be not PC. For me it describes the situation perfectly.

 

Thank you for all the comments. Agree or disagree, no problem. After our Viking O experience, I will definitely let all know our experience. Right away I can tell you it will be much quieter, no casinos, no loud music. Things I may miss. I actually like loud music. LoL...

[Luvcrusn]

Although on M-class ships Luminae and Blue were carved from the MDR it hardly cut it in half. That's a bit of an exaggeration. I believe a more accurate word is partition instead of segregation. Segregation indicates a separation due to factors other than cost.

 

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[nancyshaw]

Although on M-class ships Luminae and Blue were carved from the MDR it hardly cut it in half. That's a bit of an exaggeration. I believe a more accurate word is partition instead of segregation. Segregation indicates a separation due to factors other than cost.

 

Sent from my SM-G930V using Forums mobile app

 

I stand corrected.

[Iamthesea]

 

 

One last thing. The 13 night River Cruise was $6000 p/p including air. The Celebrity cruise is costing me $2600 p/p including air for a 14 night cruise. (not including free wine and the tours viking offered) Both were veranda cabins.

 

Enjoy and good luck.

 

I'd love to know how you scored that deal! Our air, alone, cost $2600 pp to Europe next month. Our 10 night Celebrity cruise is an SS is costing over $3000 pp.

[Lastdance]

I'd love to know how you scored that deal! Our air, alone, cost $2600 pp to Europe next month. Our 10 night Celebrity cruise is an SS is costing over $3000 pp.

 

 

Our 10 night European cruise is 3,650 per person in a sky suite, S1 corner aft with all perks and we booked the fist day in the morning...our airfare is 3,000 pp for business class. We are cruising Greece, Italy and Malta. It sounds like you did much better than us...

 

 

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