How do you feel about the welcome champagne

[Keith1010]

I don't actually mind the fact that they do this, and if it makes people happy, that's great. I just don't get how people use THIS token as an argument why X is better than other lines. I can't think of anything less significant in making a decision as to how to spend my vacation dollars!

 

I think it's the little things that in the end sometimes differentiate one cruise line from the other. For example, on our first Celebrity cruise many years ago we were very impressed that when we went to the buffet area that someone carried our trays. Then we cruise on Princess and they didn't do that. Is that a big cost? No. But it was a nice touch. The same for the champagne or sparkling wine. It's not the cost, it's just the gesture. Same thing when you board the cruise ship. On some cruise lines they make a nice effort to greet you and to assist you with your carry ons and on others they don't. This is no different than certain department stores, hotels, restaurants, etc. It's the little things that can make a difference and it's sometime the little things that make each passenger feel a little more special. Even the word thank you or my pleasure.

 

Keith

[caviargal]

Why whine over a nice gesture,a touch that sets them apart? I also enjoy the escort to my cabin

 

 

She was not whining, just responding to the poll...geez.:rolleyes: Perhaps sticking to the subject instead of criticizing the poster would be helpful.

 

I always decline the sparkling wine with a polite thank you and I also find my own way to the cabin. If most view these as niceties, that's great. It is other small details that make or break a cruise for me.

[jt1120]

I agree with Caviargal and have been astonished how many times it is mentioned as something that really sets Celebrity apart from other mass market cruise lines. It is a nice gesture but certainly nothing to go hog wild about. I would much rather be on a well maintained ship than be concerned about something as frivolous as a free glass of champagne. These are very small things and I would rather be concerned with things that really matter.

Same goes for the hot towels after you return from land tours.

 

No one is going "hog wild," it's just that X seems to have the most well maintained ships I've sailed AND they still go the extra mile on the little things, including the champagne, COOL towels, escort to the cabin, carrying your tray in the buffet, excellent service, and so on. Remember the old song, "Little Things Mean A Lot?" I don't see any of the other lines doing similar. It's the little extra effort that makes Celebrity Celebrity. I agree with Keith1010.

[caviargal]

No one is going "hog wild," it's just that X seems to have the most well maintained ships I've sailed AND they still go the extra mile on the little things, including the champagne, COOL towels, escort to the cabin, carrying your tray in the buffet, excellent service, and so on. Remember the old song, "Little Things Mean A Lot?" I don't see any of the other lines doing similar. It's the little extra effort that makes Celebrity Celebrity. I agree with Keith1010.

 

I will respectfully disagree on the maintenance issue as I feel that X is pretty lax in that area. My opinion only but this is an area that is important to me and that I notice far more than a glass of sparkling wine at embarkation. Give me towels with nap and nice in cabin toiletries and keep the "champagne" :).

 

For me, HAL really does a great job with the little things and I always feel pampered on their ships. I did not feel that way on my last 2 X cruises (never one offer to carry a tray in the buffet, even for the two senior ladies in my party) just as an example.

 

Bottom line is that we all have different aspects of a cruise that make us feel special, pampered, etc. and many of us choose a line/ship accordingly.

 

Happy cruising!

[usha]

Okay, it's not Dom, but I really like the "champagne" welcome. It's nice, it's unecessary, and it's one of those extra little things that Celebrity does to make your vacation a little bit more special.

[Sky Sweet]

While many factors affect my enjoyment of a cruise, having a spacious cabin with amenities, on a well designed ship that is in good condition, is most important to me. That sets the tone which has an affect on my perception of everything else.

 

During recent years, I feel that Celebrity has slipped in that area and I almost accepted this situation as being the norm. That feeling changed when we took a cruise last month on a Holland America ship where we enjoyed the nicest cabin we ever had at sea on a beautiful ship that was in perfect condition.

 

I would love to see Celebrity concentrate on keeping their ships in good condition, as they once did.

[Drew B]

BUT.....walk on to a Carnival Ship to Nothing and No staff to ask a question, a direction, or just a nice smile and a hello. BIG difference. If you are as directionally challenged as I, you might have a little difficulty figuring out which way to head to get to your cabin. You might also be a little tired after a long flight and a wait in line (if you are not frequent cruisers on that particular line) and you might also have a heavy carry-on piece to lug around. That's when you place a little more importance on the greeting, the big smiles that at least let you think you are special and they are glad you are here, the offer of a beverage and the assistance with bags and directions. That is what sets X apart and what I like.

 

Interesting. I've sailed three times with Carnival and twice with Celebrity. I've never failed to receive a nice smile and a hello on Carnival, and there were always people there to direct me if I had questions as to where to go. I've never been escorted to my cabin on Celebrity, nor offered any help with bags. The ONLY difference between the two boarding experiences was the glass of sparkling wine.

 

For example, on our first Celebrity cruise many years ago we were very impressed that when we went to the buffet area that someone carried our trays.

 

I'm sure this is an unpopular opinion, but I'd pay extra to NOT have those tray-carrying servers in the buffet. I absolutely hate the way that they contribute to traffic jams in an already overcrowded area. I have to say, the crowds and traffic in the buffet (badly exacerbated by these servers) is the single thing I hated the most about either of my X cruises. And one of those cruises had serious pod problems! As they say, different strokes...

[CruisinNole]

I think that the tray carriers are great for the eldery, infirm, passengers with children, etc. If you're able to carry your tray, then you don't need it but not everyone is able to manage the tray and look for an empty table.

[Drew B]

I think that the tray carriers are great for the eldery, infirm, passengers with children, etc. If you're able to carry your tray, then you don't need it but not everyone is able to manage the tray and look for an empty table.

 

Then there needs to be a system whereby the passenger who needs help goes through the line, fills his/her tray, hands it off to the server, and both get the heck out of the way. 95% of the time, what I find is that the servers are standing in the middle of the pathway holding trays for oldsters who are cutting in and out of line to add other items. Usually, they have an intensive deliberation process, too, where they spend agonizing moments deciding if they want to have one butter pat or two! And the servers do nothing to hurry the guests along or to get out of the way of others. By the time I've fought my way through this crowd, I am ready to throw both the seniors AND the waiters overboard.

 

On my last cruise, I only visited the buffet about 25% as often as I did on my first X cruise, entirely because of this situation. On my next X cruise, I will probably frequent the buffet even less. People talk about how smokers ruin entire areas of the ship and make it intolerable for them to enjoy those areas. Well, that's how I feel about the pokey seniors and the waiters in the buffet!

[richsea]

Then there needs to be a system whereby the passenger who needs help goes through the line, fills his/her tray, hands it off to the server, and both get the heck out of the way. 95% of the time, what I find is that the servers are standing in the middle of the pathway holding trays for oldsters who are cutting in and out of line to add other items. Usually, they have an intensive deliberation process, too, where they spend agonizing moments deciding if they want to have one butter pat or two! And the servers do nothing to hurry the guests along or to get out of the way of others. By the time I've fought my way through this crowd, I am ready to throw both the seniors AND the waiters overboard.

 

On my last cruise, I only visited the buffet about 25% as often as I did on my first X cruise, entirely because of this situation. On my next X cruise, I will probably frequent the buffet even less. People talk about how smokers ruin entire areas of the ship and make it intolerable for them to enjoy those areas. Well, that's how I feel about the pokey seniors and the waiters in the buffet!

 

We've sailed Celebrity 15 times & have never seen a crew member holding a tray for anyone while they are getting more food. The crew stands off to the side & carries the tray to the table.

 

The aging process slows many people down. Maybe you'll be lucky & this won't happen to you.

[Jade13]

I see the welcome aboard sparkling wine as a nice gesture to signify the beginning of delightful experience. In addition to the sparkling wine, they offer Mimosas. If neither are one's preference, a "no thank you" will suffice. BTW, "sub-par" champagne would indicate that it is, indeed champagne. It's not; only "champagne" can rightfully bear that moniker. Abandoning this embarkation ritual would hardly free up a lot of resources to redirect elsewhere. Like it or not, Celebrity is a mid-price cruise line. Considering that fact, I think this ritual is a keeper. If I were paying Seabourn prices, my expectations would probably be different, but for Celebrity's price point, it's not a bad gesture. In addition to the offer of a glass of "whatever," Celebrity also trots out their officers and the lovely Celebrity singers and dancers to welcome their guests onboard. For me, it's the thought that counts.

 

I noticed people who normally cruise Celebrity, and then try HAL, have this complaint that there is no Champagne (or is it white wine?) on HAL, nor an escort to the cabin (they have stewards in the Hals that point the way) on embarkation.

 

For those who do not drink alcohol, including minors, do they have something else like OJ?

[Drew B]

The aging process slows many people down. Maybe you'll be lucky & this won't happen to you.

 

WHEN (not if) age slows me down, I hope I will be one of the considerate people who makes an effort not to be in people's way. I've encountered plenty of slow seniors who are thoughtful and efficient, and, when they are in the way, graciously allow me to pass them in line. For the record, I usually decline. Others cut in front of me in line and hold the line up on a regular basis. Like everything else, it's an individual thing dividing people with manners from those without manners. Unfortunately, the rude people with a waiter or two in tow are that much more in the way, simply based on the number of bodies involved.

[Sky Sweet]

I noticed people who normally cruise Celebrity, and then try HAL, have this complaint that there is no Champagne (or is it white wine?) on HAL, nor an escort to the cabin (they have stewards in the Hals that point the way) on embarkation.

 

For those who do not drink alcohol, including minors, do they have something else like OJ?

 

Hi Jade :)

 

On our HAL cruise, as soon as the cabins were ready, crew members were assigned to an area near the lunch buffet to escort passengers to their cabins, if they wanted that service.

 

That system is actually more helpful than what Celebrity does for people who board the ship as early as we do. More often than not, when we board a Celebrity ship we are told to go directly to the buffet because the cabins aren't ready yet. Celebrity's escort system only works if you board the ship late enough to go directly to your cabin.

[mafig]

Would you consider Costa special?

 

On the second formal night a glass of champagne is given and then you share a toast with your waiter and asst. waiter. This, I thought, was a nice gesture, but I doubt any of you would consider Costa special....

 

Do you know on NCL they have people who come around with water spritzers for relief on hot days around the pool....any of you consider NCL special?

 

So Celebrity gives you a glass of champagne. Big deal.:)

 

Lots of lines have their little quirks .... make them special .....? don't think so.

[richsea]

Hi Jade :)

Celebrity's escort system only works if you board the ship late enough to go directly to your cabin.

 

Of course it only works if the rooms are ready. Why would they escort you to your stateroom if it isn't ready? We've found that if you board after 1:30pm or so you are escorted to your room. Manty times we've boarded at noon or even before & not been escorted. In fact, it used to be that no one could board early,; you had to wait like cattle in the holding pen until all the rooms were ready.

[usha]

Then there needs to be a system whereby the passenger who needs help goes through the line, fills his/her tray, hands it off to the server, and both get the heck out of the way. 95% of the time, what I find is that the servers are standing in the middle of the pathway holding trays for oldsters who are cutting in and out of line to add other items. Usually, they have an intensive deliberation process, too, where they spend agonizing moments deciding if they want to have one butter pat or two! And the servers do nothing to hurry the guests along or to get out of the way of others. By the time I've fought my way through this crowd, I am ready to throw both the seniors AND the waiters overboard.

 

On my last cruise, I only visited the buffet about 25% as often as I did on my first X cruise, entirely because of this situation. On my next X cruise, I will probably frequent the buffet even less. People talk about how smokers ruin entire areas of the ship and make it intolerable for them to enjoy those areas. Well, that's how I feel about the pokey seniors and the waiters in the buffet!

Woah, DREW!:eek: Most of your posts are such heavy duty promotions for tolerance. That makes this rant on seniors seem especially out of character for you! YIKES!

[Sky Sweet]

Even though I think that Celebrity is a good value, based on its current prices, I personally feel that its specialty restaurants and aqua spa cuisine are the only things that distinguish it from other mass market lines.

[Drew B]

Woah, DREW!:eek: Most of your posts are such heavy duty promotions for tolerance. That makes this rant on seniors seem especially out of character for you! YIKES!

 

 

LOL! Not a rant on seniors. A rant on rude people who get in my way. Often they are seniors, but sometimes they are not. And it is certainly not ALL seniors -- just the inconsiderate ones who don't seem to care that their self-indulgence inconveniences others.

 

If you think this reaction is bad, you should see me going off on the "slot zombies" in Vegas who block all the aisles as they shuffle around in their slot-machine-induced stupors! :p

 

The point, though, was not to go off on anybody. It was to show that these "gestures" (whether it be welcome champagne or waiters carrying trays) are most definitely NOT appreciated by all. While the champagne doesn't make me think less of X, the tray-carrying waiters do.

[usha]

I like the tray-carrying waiters!

[Drew B]

I like the tray-carrying waiters!

 

Many do... Many also like smoking in lounges or attending formal nights in casual clothes. Different guests have different likes/dislikes that sometimes negatively impact other guests' experience (whether they mean to or not). I just have trouble seeing people list as a positive the one thing I hate above all others with this line.

[usha]

So, you're fine with smokey, but POKEY makes you lose it?

[Drew B]

I contribute to smokey, so... :D

 

 

Honestly, though, it all comes down to consideration. I lose it over smokers who are rude and blow their smoke in other people's faces without any effort to keep it away, and I lose it with slowpokes who don't care how their pokeyness inconveniences others. A simple apologetic glance and a shrug as if to say "I'm sorry. I can't help it" would go a long way towards calming me down with either.

[Drew B]

Sorry. Dread double post...

[Captain Jake]

She was not whining, just responding to the poll...geez.:rolleyes: Perhaps sticking to the subject instead of criticizing the poster would be helpful.

 

.

 

and what are you doing.Talk about off topic:rolleyes:

[Captain Jake]

I like the tray-carrying waiters!

 

Me too.Another thing that makes X a cut above.Now if they would do something about the rude smokers.At least seniors cant be rant upon for that