No more footstools in Aqua class. First day on Silhoyou to discover that foot stools have been removed from the balconies. in

[Luvcrusn]

3 minutes ago, acstall said:

Not surprised they are claiming safety issues as that is something harder to refute.  But it is absolutely ridiculous, especially on the larger balconies.  If you remove everything that is a tripping hazard, we'll have a mattress on the floor at best -- maybe.  As others have said, this takes away from the experience of sailing with a balcony. So disappointing and unnecessary.

Call and/or email executive offices. The person I spoke with this morning said they are being inundated with calls and emails about the footstool issue. Maybe this will be reversed if enough of a dustup happens.

[goofysmom99]

If it's such a safety issue, I wonder if Silversea will have theirs removed, too.  I mean, you'd expect RCG as a parent would want to have the same safety standards for everyone, just like smoking on balconies.  Or maybe, magically, I wouldn't be as clumsy on Silversea and my knee would heal.  That'd be a cool selling feature....envisioning, as I board, a hand on my forehead and "heal!" and then I could use a footstool.  

[md80fan]

I just got off Silhouette on Thursday and they put the stools back about halfway through the cruise. When walking down my hallway I saw them all stacked up in one of the attendants supply room and then a day or two later they had them outside everybody's door. When I came back to the room after the attendant had done the morning cleaning the stools were outside under the chairs. I was in a concierge room if that mattered or not

[acstall]

1 minute ago, md80fan said:

I just got off Silhouette on Thursday and they put the stools back about halfway through the cruise

That is great news!  Thanks for posting this.

[JLMcruise]

Executive office called me this morning - I missed the call. She will call back. Sounds like the stools are being put back! Hooray!!

 

[Ex-Airbalancer]

But still no footstools for the 714 regular balcony cabins , which never had them 

[ggo85]

I saw all sorts of people tripping over the loungers on the pool deck, myself included, because they are so close together.  That’s why I like the one on my balcony - only one and not easy to trip.  My DH doesn’t like the crowds in the pool deck - he only “lounges” on the balcony.  
 

If the policy re footstools and loungers isn’t changed back, no more X for us.  It is that big a deal.  For us.  YMMV. 
 

As an aside, we were told loungers were removed because they took up too much space.  Get your story straight , X.  

[81Zoomie]

5 hours ago, goofysmom99 said:

But of course they aren't removing loungers from the pool deck because there's no safety issue there.  

And, they are not roping off all staircases, nor adding more grab bars in their deep tubs, nor closing all outside decks when wet.  That could be done in the name of safety.  Our neighbor gouged her leg on a lounger on the Retreat sundeck. Pretty sure they aren’t going to clear that sundeck or the pool area.  It will be interesting to see if “footstoolgate” is RCI wide to include Silversea.  The pic is from the SS brochure for the brand new Silver Nova. 
 

As @Luvcrusn just reported, if Celebrity has likened foot stools and loungers to a hazard equivalent to fire at sea, that’s absurd.

 

The X management team is getting good at throwing spaghetti at the wall to see if it sticks.  Then they walk one or two poor decisions back to try to look accommodating, but don’t retreat all the way.  So footstools may return, but loungers may not.  It’s just tiring waiting for the next dumb idea to be launched.  And it’s just as tiring having to call/write to complain to corporate.  However, the more complaints X hears, the better.

 

Back to my theory they don’t want the passengers lounging in comfortable furniture on the balconies.  They want us in public spaces spending $$$. 
 

Definitely not looking forward to only two uncomfortable Hoppen chairs on our large verandah our upcoming cruises.  Definitely looking beyond Celebrity for future sailings.

 

 

Edited February 9 by 81Zoomie

[markeb]

I'm not going to deny there's an absurdity to this, but apparently no one (else) on this board has ever had to deal with the absurd impacts of safety officers and risk assessment/risk management specialists. If they've had incidents (falls, slips, etc.) on the verandahs they probably did the normal maritime (aviation, military, etc.) root cause analysis. Someone with the right training and title determined the verandahs were too crowded with furniture contributing to the slips, falls, etc. That finding will take on a life of its own and NO ONE will second guess it. At least for some period of time. AND it would almost certainly put whatever insurance they have (if they're not self insured) at risk if they didn't take corrective action.

 

Stop pointing out absurd contradictions or someone will decide to evaluate them too...

 

A very typical reaction in the safety/risk management business. Most of my stupid examples would get me in trouble, so I'll leave them alone. 

[mtempelaar]

When we were on Beyond in 2022 we managed to get a lounger delivered to our Sky Suite.  This is disheartening as we are again going Sky Suite on Beyond in April, but I have move up bids in progress specifically so there is a lounger.  I just sent a message to the executive office email address.

[goofysmom99]

1 hour ago, 81Zoomie said:

It’s just tiring waiting for the next dumb idea to be launched.  And it’s just as tiring having to call/write to complain to corporate.

Exactly.

[md80fan]

Just to say again, i was on deck 10. Concierge class on Silhouette on 10 day cruise and returned thursday. Did not have foot stool at the start of cruise, did get them  about halfway through and were still there when i got off thursday morning. Everybody on deck 10 from the front elevators forward got them as i saw them outside everybody door in the morning and the attendant put ours on the balcony when he did the morning clean. I cannot speak for the rest of the ship. 

[ggo85]

No footstools on Reflection.  Nothing has changed. 

[vjmatty]

13 hours ago, 81Zoomie said:

 

 

Back to my theory they don’t want the passengers lounging in comfortable furniture on the balconies.  They want us in public spaces spending $$$. 

 

 

 

You’d think with so many people getting AI and drink packages, they’d want passengers staying on their balconies rather than diluting their profit. Let’s hope stoolgate has been resolved based on the poster who said the footstools have been returned on their sailing. I’ll be on Infinity in two weeks so I guess we’ll see. 

[TrixieBel]

On 2/10/2024 at 2:51 AM, Lastdance said:

I just received a call from the office of Laura Hodges this morning at 7:20.  Footstools are being removed for safety issues, along with all loungers, even in the upper suites due to safety.  There have been a preponderance of injuries among all age groups fleet wide, along with everywhere that Celebrity sails.  The removal of these items has nothing to do with cabin/suite class amenities or features.  This is not limited to Celebrity.  

 

We talked for about 10 minutes.  I wanted her to know that it looks like Celebrity is cutting back on so many things, so foot stools and loungers just seem to be part of plan.  I also said that it would be nice if Celebrity shared reasons for these items being eliminated, so cruise passengers would know rather than trying to guess the rationale behind removal.

So now everyone just sits cross legged on the ground on our balconies? What point is paying for an upgraded cabin with a big balcony if there’s no way to actually use and sit on it… We’ve got our first ever Celebrity cruise booked. Now rethinking this choice. I’m not a person who likes to give money to people who treat me like I’m stupid… 

Edited February 11 by TrixieBel
Missed a word

[ggo85]

I’ve decided that, when cruise lines want to take away something or start skimping on something, they almost always claim it’s in the name of “safety” or “security.”  We should all want more of those, right?  
 

As the above poster says, they think we’re stupid.  

[buncosquad]

A footstool?

 

The concern is about a footstool?

[Spif Barwunkel]

As folks continue to ponder the preponderance of missing foot stools - not in all cases it seems - one wonders about the criticality of the situation as related to the overall cruising experience. Indeed, it seems that balconies are rendered useless thus creating a safer yet more uncomfortable space. Passengers are gob-smacked and apparently cruises are being canceled at alarming rates. After all, why would anyone step foot on a balcony, and keep it there. Come on out, have a seat, put your feet up. Can't say that when you are rendered footstoolless. I'm coming this close to canceling my next three X cruises, this close. What's next, no singing in the shower? I can't put my feet up, I can't sing, I'm finding it hard to do anything. Something has got to be done. It's time X execs to put their feet up and figure this out.

 

I'm this close. 

Edited February 11 by Spif Barwunkel

[Liao]

6 hours ago, TrixieBel said:

So now everyone just sits cross legged on the ground on our balconies? What point is paying for an upgraded cabin with a big balcony if there’s no way to actually use and sit on it… We’ve got our first ever Celebrity cruise booked. Now rethinking this choice. I’m not a person who likes to give money to people who treat me like I’m stupid… 

I cannot tell if this is meant to be funny or not?  If not, are you truly considering cancelling a vacation because there is not a foot stool on the balcony?

[Gracie115]

Bought my own inflatable foot stools for my Equinox trip this fall..... wonder if they will take them away too???.

 

This is ridiculous.  The chairs are already really uncomfortable, unlike the chairs that S class has/had(depending on whether renovated).    So were people just more agile back then and only now have started tripping over foot stools?  People are stupider now?  I know they are more prone to sue, that's just the way of the world now, is that the fear from Celebrity corporate?  Next thing you know there will be no furniture on a balcony, you'll be expected to sit on the floor.  

 

Maybe I should look into "inflatable" loungers too........

 

 

 

Edited February 11 by Gracie115

[Spif Barwunkel]

Before you know it, Celebrity will have inflatable chairs and inflatable footstools on the balconies. Will inflatable characters follow? Certainly would cut down on the complaining.

[Oceangoer2]

1 hour ago, Spif Barwunkel said:

As folks continue to ponder the preponderance of missing foot stools - not in all cases it seems - one wonders about the criticality of the situation as related to the overall cruising experience. Indeed, it seems that balconies are rendered useless thus creating a safer yet more uncomfortable space. Passengers are gob-smacked and apparently cruises are being canceled at alarming rates. After all, why would anyone step foot on a balcony, and keep it there. Come on out, have a seat, put your feet up. Can't say that when you are rendered footstoolless. I'm coming this close to canceling my next three X cruises, this close. What's next, no singing in the shower? I can't put my feet up, I can't sing, I'm finding it hard to do anything. Something has got to be done. It's time X execs to put their feet up and figure this out.

 

I'm this close. 

Oh well.  You've had your fun (as usual) so you'll be moving on soon.

[Spif Barwunkel]

1 hour ago, Oceangoer2 said:

Oh well.  You've had your fun (as usual) so you'll be moving on soon.

This is much too serious to move on from. And isn't fun what CC is all about? 

[Lastdance]

9 hours ago, TrixieBel said:

So now everyone just sits cross legged on the ground on our balconies? What point is paying for an upgraded cabin with a big balcony if there’s no way to actually use and sit on it… We’ve got our first ever Celebrity cruise booked. Now rethinking this choice. I’m not a person who likes to give money to people who treat me like I’m stupid… 

Yes, this is a biggie for those of us who love the quiet of our own personal balcony, not to mention a lounger or footstool. Are other cruise lines following suit? Celebrity does so many things right, but everyone has a breaking point.  I love a Sunset Suite, but not booking those anymore, nor am I booking SV’s.  We all possess the skills to evaluate how our hard-earned money is spent, but remember that after you put money down on a cruise that is not refundable, or if you do not have insurance, things can change.  Pay more with lots of flexibility, or less without much at all.  Of course, paying for refundable is much more expensive than it used to be...lots to consider, as the changes continue.  Embrace the changes or not is personally the call we all have to make.  

 

Edited February 11 by Lastdance

[champagnecruiser]

Currently on Silhouette in Concierge Cabin.
We have two foot stools on our balcony as do many of our neighbours!

Beautiful day in Nassau!