Things that Celebrity have done away with that you would like to see back

[boscobeans]

14 hours ago, Baron Barracuda said:

 

Cabin stewards are happy they don't have to split grats with a partner, however from our observation the new system is less efficient and stewards are working longer hours.  

I for one would be happy to put in another few dollars to have the assistants brought back.

 

Having our stateroom ready when we board is very nice. Having our morning visit by housekeeping finished before we return from lunch or right after dinner is also something we always enjoyed in the past.  Having this done in a timely manner is sometimes rather hit or miss now.

 

The extra staff also helped get our luggage to our staterooms a lot earlier. 

 

Rather than X spending millions on odd embellishments like the Magic Carpet I'd prefer if my dollars went towards better service whether it be in our stateroom, the dining venues or better bar service in lounges, the pool, the casino or the theater.

 

Looking back on the past 20 years with X the staff reduction in the service department is obvious from the time we board to the last day of the cruise.

 

Just my observations going back to 2001 when Celebrity did manage to Exceed Expectations.

 

 

 

[ILCruiser]

On 4/27/2019 at 2:32 PM, simon stingray said:

Michaels Club re-opened to all guests (not only suite) and the piano entertainers returned. I don't understand why X decided to do away with this kind of entertainment/venue as It was always busy back in the old days and RCCL have the Schooner bar and Princess have Crooners which offer similar entertainment and continue to be very popular venues.  

 

I have nothing against suite guests having their own private lounge but surely X could re-locate this someplace else instead of taking away a popular venue from the majority (non-suite) guests.

 

Absolutely agree with this!!!  Some of the most memorable times we ever had on Celebrity were in Michael's Club on the Summit before they changed it over.

Edited May 1, 2019 by ILCruiser

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

On 4/30/2019 at 4:10 PM, quack2 said:

Access to the bow for those of us in steerage.

 

 

Be careful what you wish for.  We were invited to the helipad for a sail through one of the Norwegian fjords.  MOBS of people all holding their iPads up to the sky completely blotting out the views.  Left very quickly and went back to our wonderful corner OV with the large balcony and unobstructed views!

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

I miss the profiteroles which used to be the dessert on the first night of the 14-night menu!  My all-time favorite dessert on Celebrity.

[Pennstatedj]

We just got off the edge this past Sunday. The first night of the cruise there was an elite party they served oysters on the half shell. I was shocked twice. First for having a party on embarkation day and second that they had special food. They also changed times of senior officers party. 5 and 7pm. These were great changes. 

 

[misterkevin]

On 4/30/2019 at 4:15 AM, Stateroom_Sailor said:

 

Oh yeah, we used to love that!  If we return to X, I don't see the point to Aqua Class anymore.

I started cruising in Aqua on Celebrity after they stopped offering custom muesli for breakfast, and I still consider Blu a perk worth paying extra for. Of course, I don't know what I'm missing, but it's not a deal breaker for be for these reasons:

1. The staff is wonderful and know us almost immediately.
2. The room is smaller so it's more intimate, and there's typically no wait or very minimal wait to be seated.
3. The breakfasts are delicious and include fresh squeezed juice.
4. The dinners entrees are typically more interesting than the MDR, but we've had the opportunity to order from MDR menus on the Summit. 
5. We get our drink or wine orders taken and filled quickly.
6. It feels more exclusive, because it is.

The little perks from Aqua for me give the vacation a special feel without having to pay double or triple to upgrade to suite class.

[jagoffee]

Very interesting thread.  Reading this leads me to realize that I do not miss most of the stuff mentioned by others.  Also I like many of the changes that have been made.

I wish Celebrity would be more creative with their itineraries, but that has never been a strength.  Although I love the Celebrity ship experience, I am sometimes forced to the competition when I wish to be more exotic.

Edited May 2, 2019 by jagoffee

[Stateroom_Sailor]

1 hour ago, misterkevin said:

I started cruising in Aqua on Celebrity after they stopped offering custom muesli for breakfast, and I still consider Blu a perk worth paying extra for. Of course, I don't know what I'm missing, but it's not a deal breaker for be for these reasons:

1. The staff is wonderful and know us almost immediately.
2. The room is smaller so it's more intimate, and there's typically no wait or very minimal wait to be seated.
3. The breakfasts are delicious and include fresh squeezed juice.
4. The dinners entrees are typically more interesting than the MDR, but we've had the opportunity to order from MDR menus on the Summit. 
5. We get our drink or wine orders taken and filled quickly.
6. It feels more exclusive, because it is.

The little perks from Aqua for me give the vacation a special feel without having to pay double or triple to upgrade to suite class.

 

Things in Blu are changing, at least on Eclipse and the revolutionized ships.

1.  They are now understaffed, and rushed like the MDR.  They will get to know you, but it will take a few more days.

2.  The room has the same intimate feel, but reports post-Revolution are of extended wait times with the additional aqua cabins, 15 - 45 minutes.

3.  Unknown, we ate breakfast in Blue twice.  I noticed that the Blu yogurt was smaller than before, but quality seemed similar, at least of what we ordered.

4.  The menu in Blu is still just as interesting, but there have been cuts to the quality. Same goes for the MDR, so I guess Blu is still ahead on selections.

5.  Wine was hit and miss, 1/3 the time no refill offered.  One night we only had our orders taken with no followup.  I got the best wine service, the one night we went to the MDR off peak hours.  I don't blame the blu staff for this, just that they were understaffed.

6.  I Agree.

[Maisyboo]

On 4/28/2019 at 2:04 AM, Cruzinram said:

Daily newspaper. Come on I'll 5 bucks more for the cruise just for the paper

Formal night. The traditional formal night!!

Totally agree.

I miss sun loungers by the pool that are not just  occupied by books & hats on  them all day .

[4774Papa]

Full size Crepe Suzettes for dessert.

End of cruise Brunch.

Stop price bundling with promos.

[Von & John]

5 hours ago, jagoffee said:

Very interesting thread.  Reading this leads me to realize that I do not miss most of the stuff mentioned by others.  Also I like many of the changes that have been made.

I wish Celebrity would be more creative with their itineraries, but that has never been a strength.  Although I love the Celebrity ship experience, I am sometimes forced to the competition when I wish to be more exotic.

 

We similarly shop via the Itinerary...

It is our first consideration for any cruise...

We mainly sail 3 lines & Celebrity is our favorite - but we have more nights (due to itinerary) on another...

[Spender Nui]

Selling duty free liquor to take to your cabin.

[Stateroom_Sailor]

Getting fresh glasses of iced water, before they started watering it down.

[KatyCTO]

On 4/28/2019 at 8:07 PM, cle-guy said:

Perry Grant

Yes!  He will be on Celebrity for one cruise in 2020. Fan Cruise being announced this week. Simple google search will pull up the details. 

[TeeRick]

On 5/2/2019 at 9:38 PM, Spender Nui said:

Selling duty free liquor to take to your cabin.

Hey we are neighbors!  But how long ago did they let you take duty free liquor to your cabin?  That is something I do not remember at all.

[Gracie115]

The original Normandie restaurant....

[Eglesbrech]

On 4/28/2019 at 12:14 AM, fleckle said:

 

"Showtime" in the dining room, where they would bring out a big tray and show you all the desserts each night before needing to make your decision of which dessert to order.

 

Mints supplied after dinner each night as you were leaving the dining room.

 

Automatically providing a water pitcher and ice bucket for each cabin that got refilled twice each day, without your needing to request them.

 

Some new passengers may not even realize that they are available upon request.

 

Supplying writing paper and pens in each cabin without needing to ask for them.  Especially handy the first day for jotting down reminders of things to ask your butler/stateroom attendant, or even for your own to-do list.  In the past, they were always provided by each telephone so you could jot down notes when you got a phone call.

Lately, this seems to be random hit or miss.

 

When asked why they no longer supply such items, the standard reply has been that not everyone wants them or uses them.

But they could/should at  least provide a list in each cabin of additional items that are available upon request.

 

They used to provide a large jar with cotton balls and q-tips for every cabin bathroom, not only for suites, which still get them.

Those tiny little cardboard boxes where you need to cut the cellophane wrapper off each individual small packet of q-tips are an inconvenient pain, besides being an enormous waste of cardboard.
 

The old piano bar in Michaels' club with the silly guy who put on a show making fun of people who have granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in their homes (don't recall his name).

Some people loved him and some hated him, but he was always a topic of discussion. 

There were other piano bar players as well, but that guy seemed to be the one who drew the most attention.

 

A nice touch that is no more was having a harpist playing during meals and also the string quartet (which was reduced to a string trio, and then to a string duo).

 

Being assisted with your carry-on luggage and escorted to your cabin upon embarkation was especially helpful for new passengers,  instead of the current bedlam on embarkation day with new passengers scurrying around trying to find their cabins.

Those who did not want an escort could simply decline the offer.

 

They also used to have an age restriction on children in the specialty restaurants (which could be a big plus or minus, depending on whether or not you were the one with the small children).

 

I'm glad to learn that they are again providing daily water in aqua class.  It is long overdue.

 

The piano player in Michelle’s Clube was called Perrie (and his sidekick waiter was Shelco). His act was definitely marmite, granite worktops, gated community’s and music by Judy!

[llamasocks]

I miss receiving the navy blue leather Captains Club Sea Pass card holder!  I still have mine, from 2009-ish.  I use a lanyard now to hold my Sea Pass card, but miss them along with the personalized stationary and the nice quality complimentary tote bags in your stateroom. 

Edited February 16, 2020 by llamasocks
typo

[acstall]

On 5/1/2019 at 9:06 AM, boscobeans said:

I for one would be happy to put in another few dollars to have the assistants brought back.

 

Having our stateroom ready when we board is very nice. Having our morning visit by housekeeping finished before we return from lunch or right after dinner is also something we always enjoyed in the past.  Having this done in a timely manner is sometimes rather hit or miss now.

 

The extra staff also helped get our luggage to our staterooms a lot earlier. 

 

Rather than X spending millions on odd embellishments like the Magic Carpet I'd prefer if my dollars went towards better service whether it be in our stateroom, the dining venues or better bar service in lounges, the pool, the casino or the theater.

 

Looking back on the past 20 years with X the staff reduction in the service department is obvious from the time we board to the last day of the cruise.

 

Just my observations going back to 2001 when Celebrity did manage to Exceed Expectations.

I so agree! I wish Celebrity would put money into great service. I do not cruise because of gimmicks like the Magic Carpet, or even slides and climbing walls -- although I do realize that's important to some. I cruise because of the ports and the memorable conversations we have with fellow cruisers and wonderful staff from all over the world. I come back because of the service -- or go to other lines searching for it.

 

I also vote to bring back Ocean Liners or Murano. I cruise less on the M class than I would if that restaurant were available.

On 5/1/2019 at 9:06 AM, boscobeans said:

 

 

 

[NMTraveller]

All of the public places and views that were deleted from the Edge and Apex.  Muranos.

[Gracie115]

3 minutes ago, acstall said:

 

 

I also vote to bring back Ocean Liners or Murano. I cruise less on the M class than I would if that restaurant were available.

 

 

Ocean LIners, Normandie, The Olympia and The United States …..all the wonderful ORIGINAL specialty restaurants on the M class ships...  Murano is an "S" knock off of them....

[Luvcrusn]

1 minute ago, Gracie115 said:

 

Ocean LIners, Normandie, The Olympia and The United States …..all the wonderful ORIGINAL specialty restaurants on the M class ships...  Murano is an "S" knock off of them....

The S-class ships seem to be our sweet spot on the X line now. We haven't cruised M-class since they removed the Ocean Liners/Murano type restaurant and don't care for the Edge class because of the absence of true balconies, the lack of upper deck access for non suite guests, the uncomfortable furniture and tables in the room. 

[Gracie115]

15 minutes ago, Luvcrusn said:

The S-class ships seem to be our sweet spot on the X line now. We haven't cruised M-class since they removed the Ocean Liners/Murano type restaurant and don't care for the Edge class because of the absence of true balconies, the lack of upper deck access for non suite guests, the uncomfortable furniture and tables in the room. 

 

Not interested in Edge class either, but will be trying the "revolutionized" Connie this fall...hopeful that we will enjoy the new look.

[Orator]

Michael's Club never thrived as a public lounge since the cigar room days forthose who favor opening it up to all I would ask you for some suggestions in where you would place it  the competition all have dedicated space for Suite passengers and Celebrity needs to match or exceed their rivals. 

 

[shipshape sam]

4 hours ago, Gracie115 said:

The original Normandie restaurant....

1) Ocean Liners, Normandie, The Olympia and The United States. Yes to all of them from M Class ships.  Like very much Murano's on S class ships.

2) Perry Grant in Michael's Club. It was a fun hour or so during the evenings.

3) A personal favorite of mine was Liar's Club and Perry Grant was one of the 3 crew members participating.  It was a great evening.

 

Edited February 16, 2020 by shipshape sam