Walking THE PLANK is not a thing of the past on Celebrity Cruise Lines
Oct 7th, 2011, 04:34 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Walking THE PLANK is not a thing of the past on Celebrity Cruise Lines
My wife and I did back-to-back cruises on the Silhouette and Constellation in September. On the second or third day on the Constellation, the Hotel Director introduced himself to us at the afternoon cocktail hour that Celebrity sponsors for the Elite members of the Captain’s Club. He asked how we were doing and how we liked the cruise so far. I replied “Would you like my honest answers or do you just want to hear that everything is great?” He replied that he would like to hear my honest opinions and we had about a 15 minute cordial conversation about how Celebrity had changed over the years.
A day or two later, the Constellation stopped in Marmaris, Turkey until midnight. We were told that there would be a fireworks extravaganza that evening with 30 minutes of fireworks. The extravaganza lasted at most 5 minutes. On our way back to the cabin, we ran into the Hotel Director. He asked us how we enjoyed the fireworks, and again, we gave our honest opinion that they had advertised 30 minutes but gave 5, so we were disappointed.
The harassment began the next day when alarms went off after my wife put her seapass in the scanner upon returning to the ship after a day ashore. It continued with a demand that we meet the Hotel Director in his office in a few minutes. The intimidation began when a note taker was present at the meeting and the threats began when we were told that we were in violation of Celebrity Cruises Code of Customer Conduct, but that we could leave the cruise at our own expense and they would refund the balance of our cruise fare.
We did leave the cruise when we reached a port where this was feasible. Before leaving, we met with the Staff Captain to register our complaints about the Hotel Director. We have since written to the CEO of Celebrity and were contacted by a member of Celebrity Cruises Executive Guest Relations Department. After he checked with the Hotel Director, we were told that we were ”overheard” complaining to the Hotel Director by several passengers and they “had sought out” the Hotel Director to complain about that we were ruining their vacation. Also, we were heard by crew making disparaging comments about the Concierge and Hotel Director. Both of which were in “violation of their Code of Customer Conduct”.
I admit that we did express our disappointment to the Hotel Director about how the level of service had declined and how the quality of the food in the dining room had gone down, AND oh by the way, he did not disagree. He simply stated that this was the inevitable result of rising food and fuel costs and declining cruise fares. I admit that I did complain that the concierge never answered when I pushed the concierge button on the phone in my concierge-class stateroom. I later found out that concierge-class staterooms and the concierge are unrelated. I admit that I did say that the Hotel Director was “an ass” AFTER his harassing, intimidating and threatening performance in his office. BUT I do not remember signing away my First Amendment Rights when I boarded the ship.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t complain on Celebrity or you too may be made to walk the plank!!!
A day or two later, the Constellation stopped in Marmaris, Turkey until midnight. We were told that there would be a fireworks extravaganza that evening with 30 minutes of fireworks. The extravaganza lasted at most 5 minutes. On our way back to the cabin, we ran into the Hotel Director. He asked us how we enjoyed the fireworks, and again, we gave our honest opinion that they had advertised 30 minutes but gave 5, so we were disappointed.
The harassment began the next day when alarms went off after my wife put her seapass in the scanner upon returning to the ship after a day ashore. It continued with a demand that we meet the Hotel Director in his office in a few minutes. The intimidation began when a note taker was present at the meeting and the threats began when we were told that we were in violation of Celebrity Cruises Code of Customer Conduct, but that we could leave the cruise at our own expense and they would refund the balance of our cruise fare.
We did leave the cruise when we reached a port where this was feasible. Before leaving, we met with the Staff Captain to register our complaints about the Hotel Director. We have since written to the CEO of Celebrity and were contacted by a member of Celebrity Cruises Executive Guest Relations Department. After he checked with the Hotel Director, we were told that we were ”overheard” complaining to the Hotel Director by several passengers and they “had sought out” the Hotel Director to complain about that we were ruining their vacation. Also, we were heard by crew making disparaging comments about the Concierge and Hotel Director. Both of which were in “violation of their Code of Customer Conduct”.
I admit that we did express our disappointment to the Hotel Director about how the level of service had declined and how the quality of the food in the dining room had gone down, AND oh by the way, he did not disagree. He simply stated that this was the inevitable result of rising food and fuel costs and declining cruise fares. I admit that I did complain that the concierge never answered when I pushed the concierge button on the phone in my concierge-class stateroom. I later found out that concierge-class staterooms and the concierge are unrelated. I admit that I did say that the Hotel Director was “an ass” AFTER his harassing, intimidating and threatening performance in his office. BUT I do not remember signing away my First Amendment Rights when I boarded the ship.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t complain on Celebrity or you too may be made to walk the plank!!!
Oct 7th, 2011, 04:58 AM
#2
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow, this is shocking and scary to me. Of course I've only heard one side of the story but I am heartened to read that you don't say "I did nothing wrong" and own up to some of what you said and did (which are reasonable IMHO - unlike if you had loudly broadcasted a run of profanities together before the a$$ comment).
As a process-oriented person, I can't help myself to point out ways to improve things. I try to contain myself but when asked I feel it's only appropriate to reply honestly so that the organization has an opportunity to hear the cx's perspective and possibly change.
When I cruised Celebrity, I was open in their mid-cruise survey about the improvements they could make. I also praised them (food quality). I do the same for Princess (lax antibacterial handwashing enforcement/wonderful Head Server) and Disney (food quality/monitoring the adult pool and keeping minors out). I hope what you're saying doesn't imply that we're supposed to cease providing feedback.
Have you posted on Cruise Critic boards? I know Celebrity monitors those boards, including the CEO having a Q&A session on there. It would be good if you could update this thread with the outcome from Head Office.
Enjoy-la!
As a process-oriented person, I can't help myself to point out ways to improve things. I try to contain myself but when asked I feel it's only appropriate to reply honestly so that the organization has an opportunity to hear the cx's perspective and possibly change.
When I cruised Celebrity, I was open in their mid-cruise survey about the improvements they could make. I also praised them (food quality). I do the same for Princess (lax antibacterial handwashing enforcement/wonderful Head Server) and Disney (food quality/monitoring the adult pool and keeping minors out). I hope what you're saying doesn't imply that we're supposed to cease providing feedback.
Have you posted on Cruise Critic boards? I know Celebrity monitors those boards, including the CEO having a Q&A session on there. It would be good if you could update this thread with the outcome from Head Office.
Enjoy-la!
Oct 7th, 2011, 06:01 AM
#3
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 12,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Firstimer no profile newbie all negative "GRUDGE" posters
defaming slandering a good cruise line unilaterally
on an open forum where they cannot respond are ALWAYS suspect.
I expect there is a LOT more harassment/verbal abuse by you
to crew than what you are sharing.
I like Celebrity good food good folks on my cruises with them.
It is in your contract all Butts get the boot so suck it up.
Consequences
Failure to act in accordance with this policy may result in:
Intervention by Security, other management personnel, or law enforcement.Removal of certain onboard privileges, which may include being detained, quarantined or confined in a cabin or holding cell.Confiscation of illegal/contraband/prohibited items (may be turned over to law enforcement authorities)
Denial of boarding on the current or any future Celebrity Cruises cruise.Reporting of incidents to government and law enforcement authorities for follow-on legal action.Removal from a ship at the next port of call. Guests removed from a Celebrity Cruises ship pursuant to this policy, are responsible for their own accommodations and transportation home, at their expense. Documentation requirements for re-entry into the guest's home country are also the responsibility of the guest.
Do not see anywhere where you were made to "walk the plank"
Yet another deceptive slander of a good cruise line.
Establishing and articulating a Guest Conduct Policy helps ensure that all guests are able to enjoy a fantastic, safe and secure cruise experience. Celebrity Cruises appreciates your support of this policy and hopes this will be the best vacation you have ever had.
defaming slandering a good cruise line unilaterally
on an open forum where they cannot respond are ALWAYS suspect.
I expect there is a LOT more harassment/verbal abuse by you
to crew than what you are sharing.
I like Celebrity good food good folks on my cruises with them.
It is in your contract all Butts get the boot so suck it up.
Consequences
Failure to act in accordance with this policy may result in:
Intervention by Security, other management personnel, or law enforcement.Removal of certain onboard privileges, which may include being detained, quarantined or confined in a cabin or holding cell.Confiscation of illegal/contraband/prohibited items (may be turned over to law enforcement authorities)
Denial of boarding on the current or any future Celebrity Cruises cruise.Reporting of incidents to government and law enforcement authorities for follow-on legal action.Removal from a ship at the next port of call. Guests removed from a Celebrity Cruises ship pursuant to this policy, are responsible for their own accommodations and transportation home, at their expense. Documentation requirements for re-entry into the guest's home country are also the responsibility of the guest.
Do not see anywhere where you were made to "walk the plank"
Yet another deceptive slander of a good cruise line.
Establishing and articulating a Guest Conduct Policy helps ensure that all guests are able to enjoy a fantastic, safe and secure cruise experience. Celebrity Cruises appreciates your support of this policy and hopes this will be the best vacation you have ever had.
Oct 7th, 2011, 06:29 AM
#4
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So let me get this straight. You have cordial conversations with the CD abnd he agrees with you and says its part of a new trend which all crise lines are going through BTW to cut costs and then the ship turns into the Celebrity gulag. Well buddy where there is smoke there is fire. You admitted to name calling so in all probability you did this more than once and were no doubt too emotional. Thats why they asked you to tone it down or leave and they were good enough to give a refund for the balance of the cruise you missed. But you still feel the need to rip them anyway. In the immortal words of tennis great John McEnroe, ARE YOU SERIOUS! 
have a nice day and thank God you won't be on our upcoming Celebrity cruise. 
have a nice day and thank God you won't be on our upcoming Celebrity cruise.
Oct 7th, 2011, 02:42 PM
#8
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am sitting on the fence on this one and I am giving the OP benefits of the doubt here. I would say let them vent. There are 2 sides to every story and I love to hear the other side, and would have love to hear the HD defending him/herself. Somewhere along the line, the truth will come out.
Larry, you will be on the X-Con soon so I would love to hear your TR comparing them to your experiences with other cruise lines.
I am surprised to hear the OP said that the HD admitting to lower quality as a results of higher cost and lower fare. I thought they will never admit to that. Maybe that's a dead give-a-way by the OP.
My last experience with Celebrity (24 months ago now) was not exactly perfect and I did witness first hand the service & quality decline. But then, the delcine is not limited to Celebrity but was throughout the whole industry. It was just that the change with Celebrity was more "glaring", and the ship to ship inconsistency is noticible. I have no problem cruising with them again but DW hesitated when I wanted to re-book on Celebrity.
I posted a TR back then and I "ripped" them for the lower food quality and cut backs. (example: half a lobster tail on the formal night lobster dinner) At least that was better than the NCL's "out of lobsters" on the lobster night for the second seating diners at their all American Hawaii cruise.
If this post was made by any one of the "regulars", would our reaction be different? We should all try to be more tolerant, both to the service provider's short comings and the ocassional posters.
Larry, you will be on the X-Con soon so I would love to hear your TR comparing them to your experiences with other cruise lines.
I am surprised to hear the OP said that the HD admitting to lower quality as a results of higher cost and lower fare. I thought they will never admit to that. Maybe that's a dead give-a-way by the OP.
My last experience with Celebrity (24 months ago now) was not exactly perfect and I did witness first hand the service & quality decline. But then, the delcine is not limited to Celebrity but was throughout the whole industry. It was just that the change with Celebrity was more "glaring", and the ship to ship inconsistency is noticible. I have no problem cruising with them again but DW hesitated when I wanted to re-book on Celebrity.
I posted a TR back then and I "ripped" them for the lower food quality and cut backs. (example: half a lobster tail on the formal night lobster dinner) At least that was better than the NCL's "out of lobsters" on the lobster night for the second seating diners at their all American Hawaii cruise.
If this post was made by any one of the "regulars", would our reaction be different? We should all try to be more tolerant, both to the service provider's short comings and the ocassional posters.
Oct 7th, 2011, 03:24 PM
#9
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well A TR will come. I have checked out the Connies reviews in CC and they are pretty good overall. As for the OP lets just say I have my doubts. This just doesn't ring true for me. JM2C.
Anyway if they toss me off the ship and you get one of those "letters" about us being stranded and asking for money with the promise to pay you back as soon as we get home it'll be a coincidence so don'tsend any loot. It'll just be going to Nigeria.
Anyway if they toss me off the ship and you get one of those "letters" about us being stranded and asking for money with the promise to pay you back as soon as we get home it'll be a coincidence so don'tsend any loot. It'll just be going to Nigeria.
Oct 7th, 2011, 04:03 PM
#10
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I will love to see them struugle to toss you and Doster overbaord ... It will be an epic battle.
I am travelling in 2 weeks and will be off line. I am gone about the same time as you guys (and gals).
This would be the first non-cruise holidays for us in at least 2 years. The last one was the Queen Mary cruise to nowhere at Long Beach. Sicne we are technically on a cruise ship (staioanry one), does it still count as a crusie vacation?
Really looking forward to your Holyland trip and see what we have missed.
You three go and have a good time ...
It will be an epic battle. I am travelling in 2 weeks and will be off line. I am gone about the same time as you guys (and gals).
This would be the first non-cruise holidays for us in at least 2 years. The last one was the Queen Mary cruise to nowhere at Long Beach. Sicne we are technically on a cruise ship (staioanry one), does it still count as a crusie vacation?
Really looking forward to your Holyland trip and see what we have missed.
You three go and have a good time ...
Oct 7th, 2011, 05:22 PM
#11
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'd imagine that the OP complained repeatedly, loud and shrill about their issues, forgetting that on a cruise the very walls have ears.
Minge and moan at dinner - the next tables hear you; complain excessively; everybody knows. More importantly [and here's a new concept] the staff can hear too. Most people tend to forget about the sweet automatons that bring their food or clean their cabin, carrying on their conversations at full, drunken tilt, blissfully unaware that everything they say is overheard.
Everything is noted, everything is talked about - both on deck and behind the scenes. The OP was obviously a complete, non-stop, complaint. As they have just learnt, taking on the Hotel Director - one of the three most important men on the ship - is really, <i>really</i> dumb.
They don't chuck you off a ship for nuttin'. Really, you have to be pretty damn awful to get that done to you.
I'd imagine the combination of jacket, sass and dogster on board together will be a sweet breeze in comparison. I will pour martinis down jacket's throat by force if necessary to prevent his famous spleen reaching the crew.
Dogster, of course, has worked out that the pen is mightier than the sword - so positively encourages outrage and drama, knowing that his upcoming story has just got juicier...
I'm kinda sorry I wasn't traveling with the OP.
Minge and moan at dinner - the next tables hear you; complain excessively; everybody knows. More importantly [and here's a new concept] the staff can hear too. Most people tend to forget about the sweet automatons that bring their food or clean their cabin, carrying on their conversations at full, drunken tilt, blissfully unaware that everything they say is overheard.
Everything is noted, everything is talked about - both on deck and behind the scenes. The OP was obviously a complete, non-stop, complaint. As they have just learnt, taking on the Hotel Director - one of the three most important men on the ship - is really, <i>really</i> dumb.
They don't chuck you off a ship for nuttin'. Really, you have to be pretty damn awful to get that done to you.
I'd imagine the combination of jacket, sass and dogster on board together will be a sweet breeze in comparison. I will pour martinis down jacket's throat by force if necessary to prevent his famous spleen reaching the crew.
Dogster, of course, has worked out that the pen is mightier than the sword - so positively encourages outrage and drama, knowing that his upcoming story has just got juicier...
I'm kinda sorry I wasn't traveling with the OP.
Oct 11th, 2011, 04:44 AM
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am legally blind and do not usually post on the web, so I am not sure of the protocol. I will try to answer all of the comments below.
I have submitted to Cruise Critic and am waiting for them to “accept” the review. Celebrity Management stands behind their HD and will only offer a partial refund of our cruise fare and no apology for the HD’s actions.
I only made the negative remarks to the HD AFTER he asked for my honest opinions!!! The HO now states that other guests “overheard” these remarks and complained to the HD that I was ruining their vacation. Didn’t thought-police end with the USSR? At worst, they exist in Iran and North Korea, and maybe, on Celebrity Cruises!! We ate dinner in the specialty restaurants and did not discuss the cruise at that time. We also did shore excursions on our own. We were trying to enjoy the cruise, albeit, the new Celebrity is nowhere near as good as the old Celebrity.
I have submitted to Cruise Critic and am waiting for them to “accept” the review. Celebrity Management stands behind their HD and will only offer a partial refund of our cruise fare and no apology for the HD’s actions.
I only made the negative remarks to the HD AFTER he asked for my honest opinions!!! The HO now states that other guests “overheard” these remarks and complained to the HD that I was ruining their vacation. Didn’t thought-police end with the USSR? At worst, they exist in Iran and North Korea, and maybe, on Celebrity Cruises!! We ate dinner in the specialty restaurants and did not discuss the cruise at that time. We also did shore excursions on our own. We were trying to enjoy the cruise, albeit, the new Celebrity is nowhere near as good as the old Celebrity.
Oct 11th, 2011, 02:46 PM
#14
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Halanfine, glad you came back and defend yourself! You may want to post your trip report here as well and let everyone read about your expereince, good abd or otherwise.
My personal belief is that as long as it is not "defamation", the editors shouldn't censor it. If you read my post on this thread and my trip report on Celebrity, it wasn't a perfect cruise but it wasn't all bad.
Don't let the one bad experience with one person ruin your vacation.
My personal belief is that as long as it is not "defamation", the editors shouldn't censor it. If you read my post on this thread and my trip report on Celebrity, it wasn't a perfect cruise but it wasn't all bad.
Don't let the one bad experience with one person ruin your vacation.
Oct 13th, 2011, 03:30 AM
#17
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
[from Cairo] I'm going to enjoy meeting you, jacket. Lots. It's only a shame the H.D. on Constellation won't be able to comment on this particular situation... it'd be great to hear the <i>other</i> side.
Oct 13th, 2011, 04:34 AM
#19
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nice isn't necessary. Just be your normal curmudgeonly self. Then there'll be two of us on board. Maybe, if we work in tandem, <i>we</i> can get thrown off too.
I see you're stirring in Cruise Critic... this post has taken your fancy, hasn't it?
I see you're stirring in Cruise Critic... this post has taken your fancy, hasn't it?
