As for paying more and getting less, personally I don't think cruise prices have ever been cheaper. I also don't pay any more for Celebrity compared to other mass-market line. If anything I feel the line is charging too little.

I will continue to sail Celebrity because the style of the ships is very much to my taste. The onboard atmosphere is low key and the surroundings are beautiful. Food and service is in line with most other lines, so it comes down to the ships themselves for me and I love them.

HAL has the stingiest past-passenger program I know of. You can get a discount on some cruises (usually the more expensive ones). Aside from that, nothing, and the perks do not get any better based on how many cruises or days at sea you have under your belt.

Indeed, so far I have never heard of a cruise line that gives past passengers anything that would make me choose it over another line.

In previous threads we have noticed little difference in the hardware. Example many of the rooms on the Norwegian Dawn could be easily exchanged with those on the Queen Mary 2. They were designed by the same person. Many of the RCCL pulic rooms could work on a Celebrity ship.

I have toured the Explorer of the Seas and had a lunch there. Celebrity ships are less dense and have a less glitzy decor.

Celebrity service has always been good, food bland, but the $64,000 answer is the 'grown up'
cruise format.

All of the Celebrity ships have excellent interior design. The Galaxy; even at 10 years old is fresh and uplifting. The Century class is the last of their human scaled ships.

Princess went through the same when Carnival bought them, but in the past few years Princess has been raising the bar and to me they are today's reflection of the professional American class.

It seems to me that Princess and Celebrity are going in opposite directions. Many used to rate Celebrity higher then Princess but lately Princess is getting raves about food, ships (sorry Solestic really no more or less ugly then the Crown IMO) and service.

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Originally posted by sunviking82:

It seems to me that Princess and Celebrity are going in opposite directions. Many used to rate Celebrity higher then Princess but lately Princess is getting raves about food, ships (sorry Solestic really no more or less ugly then the Crown IMO) and service.

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I can't say I agree. I started sailing Princess when it was actually an upscale cruise line. Now I feel it's more mass-market then ever. So-so food and service, small cabins, hard beds, below average bedding, and very large mega-ships. The decor is bland and so is the entire product for the most part. Lots of revenue producing announcements and more trees killed for sales flyers then any other cruise line. Basically no panache. If that is what you consider representative of the "professional American Class" then so be it. My standard is somewhat different.

Celebrity is not perfect, but they are very close to what I am looking for in a cruise product, along with Cunard and Silversea. I also started sailing on Celebrity when it was independent from Royal Caribbean. Frankly I don't find things that different. The food and service was good then (not gourmet), and it's still good today. None of the large mega-ships have really excellent food and service unless you are in a Grill or specialty restaurant.

Is Celebrity better off under Royal Caribbean? I would say absolutely. There is a very good chance they would not be around today were it not for Royal Caribbean. Had they been bought by Carnival, we would probably see yet another "brand" sailing a Vista Class clone. Thank goodness that didn't happen.

Princess used to a Premium line, now it is mass market and everything is extra. Bland describes both the product, the food and decor. Not offensive just nothing distinguishes it. Princess is now exactly what Carnival wanted it to be, they did not want another premium product, Princess was always intended to be what it is now and of course it has grown and is a bigger financial success than before.

My impression is that Celebrity has slid backwards over the last few years, no more tray carrying stewards in the Lido, the food since the departure of Mour. Roux is definately not as creative or the same quality that it was, the service is still good, just not exceptional as it used to be. I love the decor, the atmosphere, casual sophistication I suppose you could call it. But overall a superior product compared to Princess.

The problem is that they have ended up with RCI trimming away those bits that made it so good. We have said it before and no doubt will again, RCI is not good at managing different brands and meeting the needs of those brands and thus the expectations of the pax who travel with them, Celebrity has no doubt suffered as a result.

As an agent I have may more loyalist to Princess, HAL and Carnival then too RCI / Celebrity these days. It wasn't always that way, but the large ships and extra fees that they are charging (steak in the dinning room and for room service) is turning people away.

I have to say that Carnival offers rather good past-passenger benefits.
On your second voyage on Carnival: you already qualify for past guest discounts on many cruises (up to $150 in my case). Onboard, they place an invitation on your cabin (pin souveneir included) to a past guest reception. The event, usually in the main theater, offers complimentary assorted drinks, hors d'oeuvres, live music, a film presentation on the cruise line's history, and the opportunity to book another cruise with even further discounts.

Last year, I spent less than $450 (taxes included)on an oceanview cabin on a 7 day trip on the Carnival Splendor, thanks to the past passenger discounts.

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Originally posted by Atlantic:

But, I have never seen so many expensive materials such as teak, marble, granite, stainless steel, and glass work on any other cruise line.

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Originally posted by Atlantic:
All Freedom class ships also have over-the-top decor in many areas - specially along the Royal Promenade (a pure mix of different decor styles). And what about that Pharaho's lounge and the nightmarish dance club with dead people coming out of the walls?

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Originally posted by dougnewman:
Sure, I like my free Internet but that certainly isn't what keeps me coming back.

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No loyalty prog can ever give me enough to temp be back to a line. Only good value, good food and good service can do that.

RCI's 'welcome-back' gift always makes me laugh. (A logo-ed bum bag/fanny-pack etc to ensure you advertise them). The discount booklet is almost worthless unless you spend more money with them!

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Originally posted by Atlantic:
All Freedom class ships also have over-the-top decor in many areas - specially along the Royal Promenade (a pure mix of different decor styles). And what about that Pharaho's lounge and the nightmarish dance club with dead people coming out of the walls?

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The difference is it's a couple lounges and not the entire ship. Also it's not so in your face at every turn as it is on Carnival. Unfortunately Carnival's "entertainment architecture" really begins to look quite dated and beat up in a relatively short amount of time. In fact some of it looks dated even brand new. Looking at SPLENDOR with all her pink I would think the ship was designed in the 80's. She has to be one of the ugliests ships I've ever sailed on.

It's interesting I see a lot of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity bashing going on, but I don't hear a lot of CT'ers talk about booking their next cruise on Carnival Cruise Lines. If you are so confident CCL is better then put your money where you mouth is. Of course I'm not talking about our two new Carnival cheerleaders but some of the more tenured members.

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Originally posted by desirod7:

Add insult to injury it is all made of foam plastic

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As are the beautiful "reliefs" that line the main center corridor on QM2. How about all the fake crown molding on Oceania all made from foam? What's your point? Pretty standard construction practice these days.

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Originally posted by Atlantic:
Is RCI really charging for steak in the dining room?

I have to say that Carnival offers rather good past-passenger benefits.
On your second voyage on Carnival: you already qualify for past guest discounts on many cruises (up to $150 in my case). Onboard, they place an invitation on your cabin (pin souveneir included) to a past guest reception. The event, usually in the main theater, offers complimentary assorted drinks, hors d'oeuvres, live music, a film presentation on the cruise line's
history, and the opportunity to book another cruise with even further discounts.

Last year, I spent less than $450 (taxes included)on an oceanview cabin on a 7 day trip on the Carnival Splendor, thanks to the past passenger
Affordability, excellent food, entertainment, and service, is what keeps me going back to Carnival.

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You're kidding about Carnival right? I've sailed over 10 times with the line and I don't get crap. Sorry, but I don't hold much value to a pin and a party with watered down drinks. As for the discounts, in many cases they are no better then what the average joe off the street gets but Carnival just lables them something different. There is not even a name for this club or a membership card. Up to a few years ago Carnival gave even less of a rats ass about past passengers and did nothing for them. The line as always been focused on sourcing new passengers which is fine since it's an entry level brand.

In regards to steak being charged on Royal Caribbean, it's only the premium cut that is offered in Chops Grill. You now have the opportunity to order this in the dining for a charge if you wish. There are still plenty of the usual free steak offerings every night in the dining room.

As for the room service charge, it's $3 between midnight and 6am and includes the tip. Besides, Royal Caribbean has a much more extensive room service menu compared to Carnival. Carnival only serves cold items on the room service and you can't order off the dinner menu at dinner time like you can on Royal Catibbean.

Bottom line is all mass-market and premium lines charge for different things. Big deal. Cruise fares are so cheap does it really matter. At least I can get free soft serve on Csrnival and Royal Caribbean. Try doing that on Princess. If you are not in the formal dining room then you pay for all ice cream. I think there are more opportunities to pay for extra items on Princess then any other line. This is clearly why they are nothing more than mass market at best.

Ernie

[ 02-19-2009: Message edited by: eroller ]

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Originally posted by eroller:

Is Celebrity better off under Royal Caribbean? I would say absolutely. There is a very good chance they would not be around today were it not for Royal Caribbean. Had they been bought by Carnival, we would probably see yet another "brand" sailing a Vista Class clone. Thank goodness that didn't happen.

Ernie

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Hmmm Vista clone's.
But those glorious RCI/Celebrity ships at the end are not more then clones or mass produced vessel to. Specially those owned by RCI each class leaning on the other with almost the same layout and lounges and Royal Promenade. 5, 4 ships each class is not hardly one of aether. At the end it's the most economic way to build ships.

Of course I have to mention that I have never sailed on either line so my opinion means nothing. I am only judging from what I have heard, seen and read about these 2 lines. Obviously both lines must be doing well or they would not still be around and growing. I actually hope to sail on both someday.

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Originally posted by Maasdam:

Hmmm Vista clone's.
But those glorious RCI/Celebrity ships at the end are not more then clones or mass produced vessel to. Specially those owned by RCI each class leaning on the other with almost the same layout and lounges and Royal Promenade. 5, 4 ships each class is not hardly one of aether. At the end it's the most economic way to build ships.

Greetings Ben.

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Ben,
My issue has never been about a cruise line sailing multiple ships of a single design. My issue is when a single design is used for multiple brands they are supposed to cater to different market segments. To me it doesn't say much about a brand when they can use the same hardware another brand uses with minor modifications. I can assure you if Carnival got their paws on Celebrity the line would be sailing a Vista Class right now. I'm so thankful they are under Royal Catibbean and they dedicated the time and money to design something unique for the brand.