Royal Caribbean is dropping its printed daily activity sheet, will soon only be on app. Can Celebrity be far behind?

[mom says]

Make it optional. That way the techies and environmentalists will be happy, and the pax who prefer a paper copy can request it and will be happy. Although, I've yet to be convinced that the app is consistently reliable and accurate.

 

Go digital only and they'll need to increase their GR staffing on the morning shift to handle the line of annoyed guests demanding they print off a copy for them to carry with them.

[wrk2cruise]

Add it to the Go Green program.  1 housekeeping service per day and no paper "Today".

[markeb]

55 minutes ago, canderson said:

Granted, but for the app to be truly useful for reminders, it needs to he possible to add them manually if need be, especially to avoid conflicts.

 

But that's a failure in execution. Are any of us demanding it? I saw the same thing on Equinox in August. Wine tasting may have been in the app. Johnny Walker event wasn't. Maybe others. They were essentially treated as "offline", because they weren't making their vendors use their scheduling system. So the event didn't populate the app. But the Johnny Walker event also wasn't on the printed daily. So no difference.

[markeb]

56 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

It isn’t, far more activities in the printout 

 

Shouldn't be. I don't recall that at all. The printout is presumably pulling from the same database the app is using. If it's not, fire the IT department and review your entire architecture. Unless they're cutting and pasting events, which is absurdly inefficient, the events on the printout should be the exact same events as in the app. That's relational database 101. The basis of their point of sale and accounting systems. And scheduling systems. None of those should be separate in 2022!

[PTC DAWG]

I don’t care, I don’t look at either one. I’m a wanderer. 

Edited October 3, 2022 by PTC DAWG

[PinkSandGirl]

Keep the Paper. 

 

They should already be recycling all paper onboard and using recycled paper.

 

Use recycled paper, recycle the paper they use and let people opt in/out for paper copies.  Easy.  The paper people are happy.  The app only people are happy.  

 

Celebrity IT isn't exactly top notch so to rely solely on the app, no thanks.  

 

There is just something about coming back to the cabin at night and seeing the Celebrity Today on the bed and then you sit and look at it to see what's going on the next day and also any important information for the next day.  They are a part of cruising that should stay.  😃

 

Didn't they try this before?

 

I may like my paper but I do recycle everything I can and I care about animals in the wild.  😉

 

🍹

Edited October 3, 2022 by PinkSandGirl

[Moonarino]

One thing (among a few) that I missed in my last cruise or two was "where the heck is the outdoor movie schedule??" I never could find that anywhere, no idea what I missed. I used top know exactly where to look in the daily paper thing. Of course I don't cruise to watch movies on the big screen(s) but I've caught a couple of really good ones over the past several years.

 

For the time being I'm wondering what else I've missed because they didn't think to put it in the app yet, or maybe it's mysteriously/randomly hidden under one of the category buttons at the bottom of the app.  Until they figure all of that out, I would really like to have the option of the paper schedule/info sheet.

[Moonarino]

2 minutes ago, PinkSandGirl said:

. . . There is just something about coming back to the cabin at night and seeing the Celebrity Today on the bed and then you sit and look at it to see what's going on the next day and also any important information for the next day.  They are a part of cruising that should stay.  😃

. . .

Exactly.  We really don't know what we might be missing until we can see it before our eyes in black and white.

 

If they want to confine the "daily" entirely to the app (although as @candersonalluded, can we trust the app that much?), there needs to be a dedicated "button" for it in the app.

 

@PTC DAWG, I'm very much a wanderer too (often explore half the ship on embarkation day) but for some things we need a serial source of information, one day to the next, what's new today or tomorrow.

[dlh015]

I'm a techno geek, no doubt about it. 

 

But until an app is up to speed, fergitaboutit...give me the daily.

 

As some have suggested, make it a Go Green option or something similar...and it'll be recycled anyways...

[Maria63]

We're recently off a b2b on Wonder, that was supposed to be paperless re the daily Compass. I'm sure the intentions are all good, but I totally agree that this should not be implemented as long as the IT-system still has some notable teething issues. For instance:

 

Wonder's Med-season had two embarkation ports, Barcelona and Civitavecchia, on a 7-day cruise, it had something to do with re-arrangement of ship deployments and Wonder being substituted for Allure. Anyway, we embarked in Civitavecchia, which was the "secondary" starting point. Already before the cruise we were informed that "the app will not be available for those embarking in Civitavecchia". No problem, but it meant that we had to rely on the paper daily - which was not automatically deliviered unless you asked for it. Again no big deal,  but the reason for this issue was, according to the Diamond concierege, that the IT-system currently cannot cope or be set to include two embarkation ports during a 7 day round.

 

Also regarding the whole IT-setup, twice during a 7-day itinerary the staff were unable to access excursion reservations due to the system being down. They handled it admirably by taking notes manually so no major problem for the guests, but imo it once again proves that the system is still far from 100% up to task.

 

My personal preference is the paper daily, though I do use a smart phone for many things. But I prefer not to take it with me to a pool, gym or thermal area, and don't like to have it sitting on a dinner table either. But never mind, I can adapt to the changes if I have to.

 

One tought though: I suspect that these "green" initiatives may have to do with RCI being a listed company, and the ESG-requirements that then automatically follow. RCI has to implement these initiatives regardless of what the guests think, as the ESG-score is becoming increasingly important for the value of the company. Institutional investors will not  be allowed to invest in a company that doesn't have a good ESG-score.

[C4HCG]

7 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

Like it or not, do you have any idea how bad cruising is for the environment?  Cargo ships are even worse…

I do yes.

[late2cruisin]

We were on a Royal Caribbean cruise last month (Quantum) and they expected everyone to use the app for everything. There was a tiny printed notice near Guest Relations saying that if you prefer a paper copy, you can ask your cabin steward for it. So I asked him and he gladly provided it every evening in our room. I too enjoy going through it the night before (or in the morning with my coffee) and highlighting the things that interest me. I also use the info on the app when I'm around the ship and don't have my paper copy with me (I always have my phone because it's my camera). So it's nice to have a choice. I hope Celebrity will give us that choice... I also hope they still have actual menus at the bars (Royal expected us to use our app for that too!)

[Merly]

4 hours ago, PinkSandGirl said:

 

There is just something about coming back to the cabin at night and seeing the Celebrity Today on the bed and then you sit and look at it to see what's going on the next day and also any important information for the next day.  They are a part of cruising that should stay.  😃

 

 

 

 

I agree, I like that as well.  But once I have looked at it it either goes straight in the bin or just clutters up the cabin.  I also used to look forward to the chocolate on the pillow and other ‘ gifts’. (Thinking tings like photo  frames, but never used them either).  New cruisers will only know the app and accept it. The rest of use will get used to it, eventually.

[gold1953]

We personally like to leave our phones in our safe . Not interested in carrying them around. There are many seniors who still don't carry smart phones.

 On RCCL they have the big touch screens around the ship.. oh joy !!  we can all put our germy fingers on it so we can share our germs.. no thanks!!

[mfs2k]

 

There are way too many people in Celebrity's demographic who are much more comfortable with paper vs electronics.

 

My 30 and 33 y/old daughters use electronics for everything. I'm 50/50 and I consider myself pretty progressive.

 

I doubt Celebrity will totally eliminate paper activity schedules in the next 10 years. They might be available only on request, but they will be available.  Check back with me in 2032 and see if I'm right. 

[adolfo2]

16 hours ago, Bill Miller said:

This is part of Royals effort to go green, but it's also a money saver in paper and printing.

 

Bet you we will still get several daily "Junk-Mail" pieces regarding Spa Specials & Gold by the Inch 😞

[lexmiller]

Twice, on two different ships, I've had the Celebrity Life Activities Team tell me - "do not go by what's scheduled in the app as far as our activities - always go by the printed sheet".  So right there, that tells you something.  Even though you are told several times a day, "refresh your app", at least as far as the activities go, what's on the sheet is what's actually happening.  I personally would be very unhappy if the paper daily paper planner is eliminated.  I too like others have said, highlight it, carry it around, refer to it countless times per day and bring them all home and save them - and, have referred to them many times over the years when looking back on a cruise, as reference.  Honestly, if the ships want to go green, they need to stop printing out all of the Park West sheets and the marketing/sales sheets!  Continue to give us what we actually want, not what you want us to have.  

[mfs2k]

 

Reminder to self: Pack a highlighter and wipes to periodically clean off the yellow from the iphone screen. 

[Bo1953]

Thinking about this overnight, my take for those who want paper...

 

Might it be possible to print it out from your phone at the computer center, at no charge or minimal, each day?

 

Maybe if some of the higher ups see that many people are printing them out, there may be some relenting???

 

Then check periodically the app or postings around the ship for any changes in activities???

 

bon voyage

[Pinboy]

17 hours ago, miched said:

 1-- I don’t need to converse with anyone other than my wife or maybe other passengers.   

  2--If they want to do away with paper waste then they should eliminate the art auction and spa fliers.

LOL---WHAT ???

1-- Who else is there to talk to other than your wife or other passengers ?

2-- Ya want people to miss these " special " events ?? 

Holy cow, one time I took advantage of a free 5 minute message and the attendant ( Sales Specialist ) had me into a room for a full body message within 4 minutes and 59 seconds. How was I supposed to know that I had very tight back muscles ? 

Lucky for me she said she could offer me a 15% discount IF we ( ?? ) , etc etc.

Not only that, she applied some nice smelling " stuff " and the next thing I know, ---another 15% discount for etc, etc-- and it only cost $ 385 (US ). 

Now, about the Art Auction---No time for it--- It's always at the same time as the putting contest , rumba lessons , or napkin folding.

 

[Honolulu Blue]

18 hours ago, Bill Miller said:

Royal Caribbean is dropping its printed daily activity sheet in favor of an electronic delivery through the Royal Caribbean app. You'll also be able to access this information on electronic signs through out the ship. This is part of Royals effort to go green, but it's also a money saver in paper and printing.

We can expect Celebrity to follow this plan. The Celebrity app is already there for the most part.

What do you think? Do you like having the daily activity printed sheet in your hands to plan the next days activities or are you cool with the strictly Celebrity app version on your cell phone?

I like the printed newsletter.  As others have mentioned, it's a great souvenir and sometimes it's easier to refer to it than whatever electronic device I'm using.  I'll miss it if and when it goes.

[mfs2k]

36 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

Might it be possible to print it out from your phone at the computer center, at no charge or minimal, each day?

 

The app only shows 2-3 activities on an iphone as you scroll.  There's no ability to pring the schedule and if you tried to print screen shots, you would have a 40 page book per day of printed photos.   

[bEwAbG]

What some are calling IT issues are really content issues and I agree it's a problem.  I had one cruise where staff weren't showing up to activities because there were two schedules: one on the app and the printed one.  Also lots of things getting skipped altogether despite passengers being there and waiting.  Poor quality control.  Isn't it the CD & staff who produce the daily?  Or is that now farmed out to some other team?

[MCazer]

I was on the Odyssey of the Seas in August, and they did not give us the daily Compass. We went to customer service, and they gave us one, and told us to just tell our Room Steward that we would like a paper copy.  We did so, and the rest of our trip, we had it on our bed during turn down service for the next day.  

[Tigerfnan23]

I think adding to the app is a great idea so you have it when you aren't in the room.  I think forcing it on everyone without exception, thus requiring them to use only a wonky app to know what's going on on the ship is a terrible idea.