Does this still happen on Celebrity's Galaxy?
 

When we boarded for our cruise we went to check out our cabin and found only one chair on the balcony. Thinking this was just an oversight we asked the cabin steward to please get us another chair.He told us it was their policy to only put one chair on the balcony! When we insisted he said we should talk to somebody at reception. We did and got the same answer. We argued that since we both paid the price for a cabin with balcony we both should be able to use it. Were we to take turns sitting in the chair? Finally, after much discussion, they agreed to send another chair to our cabin. When we docked at the end of the cruise, a steward came and removed the second chair from the balcony as we were getting ready to vacate the cabin! Were we on candid camera or has this happened to anyone else?

The only time I had balcony cabin, RCCL Alaska cruise, we were 3 in the room and there were two chairs. Without being asked, our cabin attentent brought us another chair, (perhaps because we had placed the desk chair ouside before dinner and he saw it when he did our turndown). Whatever. I think this behavior on Galaxcy is very strange. I would be annoyed, to say the least!

Did all the other balcony cabins have only one chair? I find it very strange, especially on Celebrity.

The only thing I can think is maybe they were short of chairs. A wind storm could have swept many of them off the balconies during a previous cruise, and they hadn't had the opportunity to replace them.

We were pulling out of Belize a couple of years ago, and a sudden storm came up and blew numerous tables, chairs, and umbrellas off the outside back patio deck.

Everytime I've sailed on Celebrity (Galaxy last November), they did everything they could to be accommodating. ((b))

Yes, we were told that only the suites had more than one chair. We have been on 12 cruises on various lines and this is the only time we ever encountered a situation like this.

If things like this happen, I would cut tips in half and give them my opinion in questionnaire. This is just lousy service.

Why did you punish the cabin streward? Apparently, the policy, which he had to obey or lose his job, (performance revires of servive staff are RIGOUROUS)! Who were "they" who "agrred to send another chair?" They have names and they too are resposible to their supervisors. I have found that if I write a note to the holtel chief (front office has a list, but often posted somewhere and listed in ship's daily newspaper somewhere and introduced at capin's reception) I usually get a credible explation or remedy if my complaint is resonable, as your was.

everittp: I wasn't aware that I "punished" the cabin steward. He told us to speak to someone at reception and we did. "They" told us it was this ship's policy. The cabin steward was treated with courtesy and was tipped generously. Please don't read nastiness or stupidity into something where it doesn't exist.

Sorry, Wags. I should have addressed my remarks to happycruiser who said would cut tips in half.

Thanks everittp. Apology appreciated.

They actually only put out one or two chairs and generally not even lounge chairs. Your room steward was not acting properly though. He should simply have brought you the extra chair or lounge as asked. We have never had a problem with this, and of course this is reflected in our tip at the end of the cruise.

hctkbt: The steward was just doing what he was told. We didn't hold him responsible for enforcing the rules. Cutting his tip would have been very unfair. This situation never occured on any other ship before or after this particular cruise.

I also have one other suggestion. When we board a cruise we immediately contact our room steward and give him/her a 20 dollar tip and then ask for two lounge chairs and sometimes other minor amenities (extra towels for instance). Our experience is that they are a bit nervous, sometimes, to bring that additional chair never mind TWO lounge chairs (which fit tightly) as it probably is in fact against company policy. However, once they've gotten an additional 20 dollar tip they will try harder for you. I also let them know that I intend to give them the regular end-of-cruise tip and in fact we often add a bit extra when a cabin steward goes above and beyond, which is often, particularly on Celebrity, RCI and Princess in our experience.