Does Celebrity Think We Are Stupid?

[Bejay219]

1 hour ago, TeeRick said:

Celebrity does not really think you are stupid.  They are reacting to market conditions and to a customer base still filling their suites at elevated prices and lesser service and amenities.  Now maybe that is stupid?

Tee Rick, I don't think the Suites would fill up if it wasn't for the "Move up"! They try not to have empty suites, so it's impossible to tell if they are selling out or "Move Ups" / Blue Chip people moving up from lower categories at a much reduced price.  Your thoughts? 

 

[Beachlover1989]

32 minutes ago, paulh84 said:

 

Test the waters. On a 7 day cruise in a suite they are/were literally giving away $922 dollars at minimum. If they don't have to, why? We've only spent a fraction of the total OBC balance in the instances we've had $1000+ in OBC. 

 

When we have left over OBC, we get the tip card from Guest Services and give it out as extra tips to individual crew members that made a difference in our experience.  If you don't have their employee number, you can leave it to a department.

[Beachlover1989]

17 hours ago, swigso said:

We have sailings booked in March in Sky Suites and also have one booked for May 25 which we may change. BUT and it is a big but we have looked at sailings for March 25 as we are thinking of moving our May booking. 
Almost all the sailings we have looked at have most sky suites available (all edge class ) never seen this before. 
We are seriously thinking if the service is  not what we were used to receiving that we will be spending our $$$’s elsewhere. What I don’t understand is that they had a great product which consumers loved, they then changed it which those same consumers seem to hate.

They've had to change the product because they increased the number of Sky Suites on Edge class by a large number.  I believe that the powers that be did not consider the overall effect of this increase, because we found the Retreat experience on Edge class to be inferior to that on other ships, due to this large number of Sky Suites.

[TeeRick]

3 minutes ago, Bejay219 said:

Tee Rick, I don't think the Suites would fill up if it wasn't for the "Move up"! They try not to have empty suites, so it's impossible to tell if they are selling out or "Move Ups" / Blue Chip people moving up from lower categories at a much reduced price.  Your thoughts? 

 

Perhaps that covers some of it but many people here are still signing up for suites on multiple cruises by the posts here.  And complaining about it but still paying.  Quite a few love Celebrity and their ships and the Retreat.  So that will not change but some people (like me anyway) have finally moved to some other options after many years sailing suites on Celebrity.  Eyes open now.

[paulh84]

12 minutes ago, riredsox said:

I don’t think you can get the booze I got at the grocery store.  I would never by art.  You can’t cash out the non refundable which is what my OBC was.  I didn’t want to give it to the casino to try to cash it out that way.  I took the refundable in cash though.  

 

I don't cruise on MSC but you can definitely cash out non-refundable OBC on Celebrity. 

[Bejay219]

2 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

Perhaps that covers some of it but many people here are still signing up for suites on multiple cruises by the posts here.  And complaining about it but still paying.  Quite a few love Celebrity and their ships and the Retreat.  So that will not change but some people (like me anyway) have finally moved to some other options after many years sailing suites on Celebrity.  Eyes open now.

After 21 years, only doing suites, looking at other options also.... Sad as we have always been in the "cheerleader camp". For the first time, we have not booked any new suites, only have one left, booked a long time ago. 

[dlh015]

26 minutes ago, riredsox said:

There is never a reason to not spend your OBC.

Completely agree. Although I once left $10...lol...just poor planning on my part...

[RedIguana]

16 minutes ago, riredsox said:

I don’t think you can get the booze I got at the grocery store.  I would never by art.  You can’t cash out the non refundable which is what my OBC was.  I didn’t want to give it to the casino to try to cash it out that way.  I took the refundable in cash though.  

Brought home a Balvenie 16 and a Glenmorangie 19 with the excess 0BC last year. After wife bought some earrings of course.

[buncosquad]

6 minutes ago, Bejay219 said:

After 21 years, only doing suites, looking at other options also.... Sad as we have always been in the "cheerleader camp". For the first time, we have not booked any new suites, only have one left, booked a long time ago. 

When you say "suites," do you mean Iconics and EVs, or PHs?

[buncosquad]

19 minutes ago, Bejay219 said:

Tee Rick, I don't think the Suites would fill up if it wasn't for the "Move up"! They try not to have empty suites, so it's impossible to tell if they are selling out or "Move Ups" / Blue Chip people moving up from lower categories at a much reduced price.  Your thoughts? 

 

Always happy to pay for exactly what I want and don't leave it to chance.

 

Would never leave it to someone or something else's discretion as to what stateroom I hold.

 

 

[OceanCruise]

Many of us have been stuck with our 2024 Sky Suite bookings because of the stiff penalties to cancel with NRD (of course Celebrity also had increased these deposit amounts just before the butler changes) so that may skew current occupancy statistics. It will be interesting to see how Celebrity does with Sky Suite bookings later in 2024 when many of us "obedient customers" are now looking at other options for future vacations. Also, I don't have to actually be on the cruise to know that going from 3 employees servicing my Sky Suite daily (room steward, assistant room steward, dedicated butler) to only one person (glorified room steward with increased workload) will diminish, not enhance my experience. Will I enjoy the cruise---probably. However, I am annoyed that I am paying a premium for the lesser service that I would get in a much cheaper balcony or Aqua Class room and not getting what was advertised at booking. A butler can provide much more than just bringing snacks and managing laundry. On a prior Celebrity cruise, when my spouse was injured on a ship's excursion, our Sky Suite butler made sure we were well-cared for by bringing food and ice packs to the room, getting medical supplies, arranging wheelchair transport, and checking in frequently. 

[buncosquad]

19 hours ago, emmas gran said:

Just spent 40 nights on Edge in a Sky Suite, as I have posted we saw our butler 3 times and he mostly complained about having 40+ suites to look after. Our Retreat host was fine but had no time to do the little extras, probably looking elsewhere for future cruises.

 

There were an older from UK who do not use cruise critic that had no idea of the changes and were very disappointed. He asked us what it have cost to send an email to everyone booked when the change was implemented to avoid their disappointment.

Silversea is a good option.

[zitsky]

Why do I care about?  For me it’s about the bait and switch.

 

I can hear it now.  “But the contract says…”

 

How would you like to book a suite and have X cancel the Retreat lounge or restaurant perks after booking.  It’s the same with swapping a butler for a room attendant.

 

”But they would NEVER do that”

 

Oh, really?

 

Will I die if I don’t have a butler?  No but then what is the difference between an Aqua cabin and a SS?  A little extra space?  Lunch on sea days?

[PTC DAWG]

51 minutes ago, riredsox said:

I had $800 OBC on my last MSC YC and brought home a couple of high end scotches that were 25% off on the last day.  There is never a reason to not spend your OBC.   Jewelry for a friend or family member at least.  

Agree, I'm not leaving hundreds on the table...

[Bejay219]

13 minutes ago, buncosquad said:

When you say "suites," do you mean Iconics and EVs, or PHs?

We have always done Celebrity Suites, Royal and a couple Penthouse (very special occasion). Only recently started doing Sky Suites as prices are so high. We are on B2B on the Ascent (Madien voyage last week), first cruises since all the changes, not a fan of "Retreat Team". 

[riredsox]

34 minutes ago, RedIguana said:

Brought home a Balvenie 16 and a Glenmorangie 19 with the excess 0BC last year. After wife bought some earrings of course.

Nice!  I brought home Macallan Enigma and Chivas Royal Salute.  My husband doesn’t drink scotch so it was all mine!  Just finished both but will replenish in May on my MSC.  Also got some fancy face lotion.  What did my husband get?  Nothing but he doesn’t care. 

[DaKahuna]

14 minutes ago, zitsky said:

Will I die if I don’t have a butler?  No but then what is the difference between an Aqua cabin and a SS?  A little extra space?  Lunch on sea days?

 

Dedicated lounge with free drinks, water and soda avail 24x7; Retreat Sundeck, reserved theater seating on Evening Chic nights, etc..

Much more than a larger room and lunch on sea days in a dedicated restaurant. 

 

However, the removal of a shared Butler, removal of pre-paid gratuities, and OBC without a commissariat reduction in price has not set well with me and unless I am overruled by "she who must be obeyed" I do not see us booking a Celebrity cruise in Retreat after our previously purchased May 2024 cruise. 

 

 

[riredsox]

46 minutes ago, paulh84 said:

 

I don't cruise on MSC but you can definitely cash out non-refundable OBC on Celebrity. 

How?  You could years ago in the casino but now they make you play that amount first.  

[PTC DAWG]

3 minutes ago, riredsox said:

How?  You could years ago in the casino but now they make you play that amount first.  

I'd play it before I just left it.  

[riredsox]

3 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

I'd play it before I just left it.  

I have never left a penny of my OBC.  That last night if I have any left I find a way to spend it.  I have played at the casino with it a few times but that is where I ended up leaving it so I try to avoid that lol.  

[paulh84]

12 minutes ago, riredsox said:

How?  You could years ago in the casino but now they make you play that amount first.  

 

Room charge on a slot machine. There are printed instructions explaining how to do it at the cashier's desk. 

[DaKahuna]

1 hour ago, Beachlover1989 said:

When we have left over OBC, we get the tip card from Guest Services and give it out as extra tips to individual crew members that made a difference in our experience.  If you don't have their employee number, you can leave it to a department.

 

 We have done this multiple times.  With Celebrity we have even not used it all and the remaining refundable OBC was put back on our credit card.

 

59 minutes ago, paulh84 said:

 

I don't cruise on MSC but you can definitely cash out non-refundable OBC on Celebrity. 

 

 It is my understanding that both MSC and Celebrity refund the refundable to your credit card but any unobligated non-refundable OBC becomes property of the cruise line.  

 

 I am not sure if MSC permits you to put OBC on your casino account, gamble part of it and cash out what's left on the machine.  I have done this in the past when I had a not of non-refundable OBC on Celebrity. 

 

11 minutes ago, riredsox said:

How?  You could years ago in the casino but now they make you play that amount first.  

 

 Is that Celebrity, MSC, or both?  We have taken cash from our OBC through the casino on Celebrity before but we have an upcoming MSC Cruise with OBC that we may not spend so I am curious. 

 

[CruiseRQA]

3 hours ago, riredsox said:

When they took away the OBC and said it was because that is what their customers wanted proved two things.  Either they think we really are stupid or we are really stupid (only if you asked them to please take away that annoying OBC) oh and those pesky tips too.  

My January cruise in a sky suite on Apex will be about $1000 (each) less than a similar cruise on Beyond last year.   Last year we were "given" ~$900/cabin in OBC and tips.    So just about a wash.   

[seasoon]

20 minutes ago, CruiseRQA said:

My January cruise in a sky suite on Apex will be about $1000 (each) less than a similar cruise on Beyond last year.   Last year we were "given" ~$900/cabin in OBC and tips.    So just about a wash.   

I'm questioning the Apex January '25 pricing....lower than other E class Jan. cruises and many SV cabins are available - unusual for the SV;  they're generally taken as soon as the cruise opens.  I'm wondering if someone knows something I don't.........as in.....will this cruise be cancelled?  My last E class booking had the same situation and it was cancelled (days reduced, ports changed).  Any TA's with an opinion?

[Team Stag]

14 minutes ago, seasoon said:

I'm questioning the Apex January '25 pricing....lower than other E class Jan. cruises and many SV cabins are available - unusual for the SV;  they're generally taken as soon as the cruise opens.  I'm wondering if someone knows something I don't.........as in.....will this cruise be cancelled?  My last E class booking had the same situation and it was cancelled (days reduced, ports changed).  Any TA's with an opinion?

I'm not a TA but I believe when Celebrity made the change earlier this year to : Low Cruise Rates with Non-refundable deposit OR higher cruise rate with refundable deposit as well as raising the deposit amounts - it changed the way a lot of people book cruises now.  Before, A popular cruise would open up for 2025 and you would put down a refundable deposit & then 2 years from now make that decision 90 before the cruise whether you wanted to go.  Previous to the change, you would often see a lot of rooms open 90 days out.

This new system forces people to be serious about the deposits and room holds they make where the previous system gave a lot of latitude on whether you actually book the cruise or not. 

Edited December 13, 2023 by Team Stag