Galaxy definitely to TUI!

[Cruiser Susie]

Rich,

What you are saying makes sense to me. I have wondered the same thing.

It will be interesting to hear what you think about Galaxy after her drydock.

Enjoy your TA... the crew and staff on the ship are wonderful. Let us know what you think when you get back.

[Cruiser Susie]

Hey Sue & Larry, hope you both are well -- are we going to see a review and/or pics from you?

 

Hi, Ari,

How are you and Jen? We have been in and out of town since we got home; Larry will post the pictures eventually. Right now, we are dealing with a slightly flooded basement, so will probably have to get the darn thing recarpeted, and that means a lot of packing and moving things around, so it may be a little bit before the pictures get posted. Better get back to helping Larry.

Hi to Jen!

[dkjretired]

Coco Creek, that's a reasonable question. My guess is that the answer lies in the overall strategy for RCCL, not Celebrity alone. With the addition of the Solstice class ships, they are able to respond to what research indicates to be demand in the North American market: bigger, more bells and whistles, etc. This also offers increased capacity with almost the same number of ships, important in light of both the cost of fuel and the sagging US dollar. Meanwhile RCCL are transferring some ships to their European lines, where greater profit margins can be achieved in markets where the 'bigger is better' mindset doesn't necessarily pervade. I'm not saying it's the right strategy for the long term, guess time will tell, but it does seem to be the trend for now.

 

Hey Sue & Larry, hope you both are well -- are we going to see a review and/or pics from you?

 

Yow:

 

Agree with you completely, I think the situation has to take into consideration the entire Royal Caribbean universe not just Celebrity. They may be spending 900m on a brand new ship but TUI is not paying for a new ship. Everybody wins.except those who love Galaxy...

 

Galaxy is going home to where she was made...

[Kruizefan]

It's kind of exciting that she will be the flagship of a new cruise line, a fitting place for her!

 

Maybe just for two years, as TUI ordered two new builds already.

[YOW]

Right now, we are dealing with a slightly flooded basement, so will probably have to get the darn thing recarpeted, and that means a lot of packing and moving things around

 

Ooooh :( I cringed when reading that, Sue. We'd been keeping our fingers crossed with the snow melt this year... Sorry to hear that's happened to you. Hang in there, hopefully things go as smoothly as possible.

[Kruizefan]

I hope the TUI cruisers enjoy her as much as we have!

 

But TUI´s Galaxy (her new name hasn´t been press released yet) will be a totally different ship maybe without or at least a much smaller casino but with much larger balconies (85 sq.ft. instead of 42 sq.ft.) and n.b. no dress code. She will have 428 balcony staterooms, some speciality restaurants, 16.000 sq.ft. spa and a lot more items will be changed as TUI will invest more than $ 70 million for a refit and refurbishment.

[lysolqn]

Posted this in a separate thread before I noticed this one.

 

Just read the article on CC home page re Galaxy leaving the X fleet in '09 to become part of TUI - no big surprise BUT...why is it that each time X introduces a new ship it axes an existing one? I'm not sure I can think of any other cruise line managed that way; certainly not RCCL, the sister line of X which continues to grow in leaps and bounds, nor any of the other major lines. The X fleet has been ship-short for several years, resulting in limited itineraries or lack of sailings altogether, especially in the Caribbean between April and December. Just when the fleet appears to be growing with the introduction of Solstice and Equinox, there goes Galaxy. Other cruise lines continually expand their fleet while X seems to have a thing about keeping its fleet - and thus it's presence in the Caribbean - limited. I have to wonder why RCI insists on raiding the X fleet and not that of RCCL.

[Xcruiser]

Posted this in a separate thread before I noticed this one.

 

Just read the article on CC home page re Galaxy leaving the X fleet in '09 to become part of TUI - no big surprise BUT...why is it that each time X introduces a new ship it axes an existing one? I'm not sure I can think of any other cruise line managed that way; certainly not RCCL, the sister line of X which continues to grow in leaps and bounds, nor any of the other major lines. The X fleet has been ship-short for several years, resulting in limited itineraries or lack of sailings altogether, especially in the Caribbean between April and December. Just when the fleet appears to be growing with the introduction of Solstice and Equinox, there goes Galaxy. Other cruise lines continually expand their fleet while X seems to have a thing about keeping its fleet - and thus it's presence in the Caribbean - limited. I have to wonder why RCI insists on raiding the X fleet and not that of RCCL.

A posible answer maybe Royal “Caribbean”. While not unexpected it’s the only =X= ship in the current fleet I have yet to sail so this saddens me.:(

[dkjretired]

Posted this in a separate thread before I noticed this one.

 

Just read the article on CC home page re Galaxy leaving the X fleet in '09 to become part of TUI - no big surprise BUT...why is it that each time X introduces a new ship it axes an existing one? I'm not sure I can think of any other cruise line managed that way; certainly not RCCL, the sister line of X which continues to grow in leaps and bounds, nor any of the other major lines. The X fleet has been ship-short for several years, resulting in limited itineraries or lack of sailings altogether, especially in the Caribbean between April and December. Just when the fleet appears to be growing with the introduction of Solstice and Equinox, there goes Galaxy. Other cruise lines continually expand their fleet while X seems to have a thing about keeping its fleet - and thus it's presence in the Caribbean - limited. I have to wonder why RCI insists on raiding the X fleet and not that of RCCL.

 

I believe several of the Royal Caribbean ships have gone to other parts of the corporation...

[nps001]

I have yet to decide (I guess I will once I sail) if I will like the size of Solstice. I tend to like the intimate feel of the smaller ships. M is the perfect size for me. That being said, what I have seen of the Solstice in terms of decor I really like. It is elegant.

 

One thing to consider about the larger ships is economy of scale. I read this on a thread on the RCL board. With a larger ship, there is a huge economy of scale, not to mention reduced costs of fuel for a more efficient ship.

 

While I was on the Galaxy, two employees stated to me (2 different time, I might add) that the Century was now being considered an M class ship. Don't shoot the messenger. I don't know that adding an alternate restaurant and doing that kind of renovation makes it an M class. I have always believed the class of ship was due to size. I have not seen anything to corroborate that is has been or will be reclassed. But it does make me wonder.....will they get rid of the Century as some have speculated, if./when they reclass the ship?

[TourDeCruise]

We've been on the Galaxy 7 times, with our final time next year.

 

Our first cruise was on the Galaxy :) which was the first cruise on the Galaxy out of Baltimore. And we were on the last cruise for the season out of Baltimore the same year.

 

We've cruised on the Galaxy with good friends and met "new" good friends on the Galaxy including one who just called the Galaxy a rust bucket (I know you were kidding, Phil! ;) ).

 

We were also on the only TA out of Baltimore on the Galaxy, which was the last cruise out of Baltimore for the Galaxy.

 

Our favorite cruise was on the Galaxy - the Eastern Mediterranean.

 

We were just on the Galaxy in Feb.-March where we started hearing the rumors about Galaxy leaving the fleet. So while on the ship, we made sure to book another cruise on her for 2009.

 

Wouldn't you know that the cruise we booked is the March 2nd cruise. How fitting.

 

That will be a sad day when we get off the ship knowing it will be our last time on the Galaxy -- at least when she is owned by X. :(

 

We certainly have enjoyed her and will miss her.

 

Kathy

[Canuker]

Why all the sobs?

 

The ship stays in the corporate family.

It gets rebranded (happens all the time), renamed, it's first language becomes German and continues to split the year between the Caribbean and Europe.

 

Where's the problem?

 

If the price & itinerary are right, I'll give her just the same consideration for my cruise vacation as before.

 

No big deal.

[Richard Stein]

I am appalled by this decision. I have elite status with Celebrity and just returned in February from Australia-NZ on the Mercury. Is the Mercury next? RCCL has 20 ships and Celebrity has 7. RCCL is growing and Celebrity is shrinking. The Legend of the Sea is older than the Galaxy and the same size. Why not the Legend of the Sea. They cannot take us where we want to go if the keep shrinking the fleet. The gave the Horizon to their Spanish company and put balconies on it, but cannot do the same for us. This is why my other favorite cruise line is Princess. Princess goes where not ever RCCL goes.

[Lois R]

never mind.............

[cruisinelsewhere]

Ahhh...Galaxy! Two of my favorite cruises! Can you imagine this....I cruised in 2000 and 2 years later, 2002. My DH approached the pool bar and ordered cocktails (no, they didn't have his card yet) and the bartender (who had been in another bar on previouse cruise) actually rang the bell and asked....where is Miss Judy? As I was was only a few feet away (sunning myself...bad) I certainly heard the conversation and had to take a look! Lovely woman from the Phillippines...wish I wasn't so old and could remember her name..but that said to me...incredible service! Do I expect that on the much larger Solstice? No. But, gosh. if any of the great crew from Galaxy is there I would be feeling at home. (or my favorites from Millie and Century or Zenith....ahhh)

[SusieV]

How sad. We had a wonderful trip on her last year and are looking forward to going again this year.

I wonder why X doesn't keep them. It would give them a chance to offer more itineraries.

[DANGE1971]

First time on here and happy to see all the sad posts about Galaxy, been many times and not really a chance to see her again!
What happens to my friends, Damien, the wonderful young gentleman who took me under his spell and made my lonely cruise a life time memory, i think he was the director, he met me on the gangway and never let me think of why i was escaping for one second, Can i buy him from X?
I'm a young 70's cruiser and will miss my Galaxy, great hospitality, great company, great memories, what more in life.
Farewell to good companions!
Now, any reccomendations, anywhere i can go to find my friend?

[nps001]

I enjoyed reading your post about the bartender remembering you. I am willing to bet the bartender was Victoria. She was still on the Galaxy this past April. She has been with Celebrity over 20 years. As she says "the first ship I worked on was the Titanic"

Am I right?

[nps001]

I had the pleasure of meeting Damien on my recent cruise as well. I agree that he went out of his way to make the cruise special. He is a great ambassador of service.

Even though the crew will be separated after the ship leaves the fleet, I'm sure we will see some of our favorite staff aboard other ships. That's always the good news!

[excitedofharpenden]

[quote name='TourDeCruise']

Our first cruise was on the Galaxy :) which was the first cruise on the Galaxy out of Baltimore. And we were on the last cruise for the season out of Baltimore the same year.
[/quote]
Kathy, loved that cruise out of Baltimore. I do hope Celebrity go there again. I think I'm right in saying there are new cruise facilities there now, which was a bugbear before.
[quote name='Canuker']Why all the sobs?

The ship stays in the corporate family.
It gets rebranded (happens all the time), renamed, it's first language becomes German and continues to split the year between the Caribbean and Europe.

Where's the problem?

If the price & itinerary are right, I'll give her just the same consideration for my cruise vacation as before.

No big deal.[/quote]
There's no "problem". It's just that some of us are expressing our sadness at her leaving the Celebrity fleet. As far as a TUI cruise is concerned I don't have any desire to travel on a ship catering for the German market (no disrespect meant). My German isn't that good and I like the food on Celebrity the way it is. If the € exchange rate keeps the way it is, it won't be attractive price wise either.

Phil

[DaveCruises]

My wife and I sailed on Galaxy for the first time earlier this month, and I thought she was a WONDERFUL ship. Like many in this thread, I'm a bit disappointed at the cruise industry's trend towards bigger and bigger ships - for me, a bigger ship just means a longer walk to get where I want to go, and a more cumbersome disembarkation.

I'm saddened to hear of her departure, but at least it gives me an excuse to book a "farewell" cruise with her before she goes!:D

[Seabee]

Well I guess they won't ahve to worry about women shaving in the shower and clogging up the drains anymore! :D

[TenerifeSharon]

[quote name='excitedofharpenden']
As far as a TUI cruise is concerned I don't have any desire to travel on a ship catering for the German market (no disrespect meant). My German isn't that good and I like the food on Celebrity the way it is. If the € exchange rate keeps the way it is, it won't be attractive price wise either.

Phil[/quote]

Phil, I agree with you about this 100%, and I have lived in Germany for over 30 years. I also mean no disrespect, as there is so much that I love about living here and working with Germans (especially since I am married to one of the most wonderful examples), but I definitely do not want to cruise with 1500 or so of them. It is an extremely different mentality -- and I will leave it at that!:D

[goldminer1951]

It will be sad to see her go. It has been our favorite ship, and we have fond memories of her. We have sailed on the Mercury and I like the Galaxy more.

'Miner

[tinka14]

I'm so glad that me and my DH will be experiencing the Galaxy in Oct this year as she sounds like a totally wonderful ship to cruise on, that and with the Eastern Med itinerary, it sounds like a great time to say farewell to her as a Celebrity cruise ship.
Tinka14 :)