Lengthening, of Enchantment of the Seas!

Ray Goldenberg wrote:

On Sat, 31 Jul 2004 20:46:16 GMT, Benjamin Smith
wrote:


Showing they can be popular doesn't speak to the quality of the onboard
experience. The comments of the people who did not find the quality of
to the claims reveal that Celebrity should be marketing themselves as a
value line, which is why they are popular, and not the premium line with
award-winning cuisine they claim to be. If the comment scores have
risen, I doubt they are from veteran Celebrity cruisers. Celebrity has
changed its target market while claiming to market to discerning
customers. That's my problem with both Celebrity and HAL.


Hi Ben,

I beg your pardon but I do not understand your reply. They are doing
better on their comment cards from the folks that are sailing with
them.


That's very general. Better on their comment cards in what areas? Are
they talking about entertainment? cabin amenities? opinions on so-called
touch of luxury enhancements?

Are they up in overall cuisine? Creativeness of cuisine? Presentation of
cuisine? Menu variation, or do they offer a dumbed-down version of what
they've been serving for years on end?

Who better to rate them than paying customers?


Who's better to rate a piano? Piano players and tuners or people that
pay to hear piano players? Some knowledge of the discipline I'd say
matters. And, experienced vs. not so experienced with Celebrity would
matter much. You know, people used to say I was an apologist for
Celebrity and I couldn't be objective. Now, I guess I'm seen as bashing
Celebrity. If the product's quality is up in the last 12 months, fine. I
want it to be up as I like Celebrity's pre-Millennium ships very much.
The overall product has some aspects that appeal very much to my wife
and me. But, feedback from people I've met and corresponded with through
the years reveals concerns with the overall product. And it includes
areas like incidences of chair hogging, ship maintenance,
professionalism of staff, overall cuisine, enforcing and adherence to
ship policies regarding children in pools and casinos and overall
enforcement of disciplining children, adherence and enforcing of dress
codes.

This is the
goal of any company along with becoming a financial success which they
are doing as a premium cruise line.


Financial success does not necessarily equal upholding of quality. They
have set their sites lower. Popularity, I dare say, unfortunately
sometimes equates with mediocrity as mediocre products tend to do better
in the marketplace than quality products, at least in the North American
market. I think a lot of the problems are with customers. I think on the
globe there are customers in other markets that simply demand a higher
standard than North American customers, who seem to go more for
features, size, and how new or trendy something is. I think that's why
American products (that aren't very expensive) often don't offer the
standards of quality of European and Japanese products.


Ben S.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com

Ray Goldenberg wrote:

On Sat, 31 Jul 2004 20:46:16 GMT, Benjamin Smith
wrote:


Showing they can be popular doesn't speak to the quality of the onboard
experience. The comments of the people who did not find the quality of
to the claims reveal that Celebrity should be marketing themselves as a
value line, which is why they are popular, and not the premium line with
award-winning cuisine they claim to be. If the comment scores have
risen, I doubt they are from veteran Celebrity cruisers. Celebrity has
changed its target market while claiming to market to discerning
customers. That's my problem with both Celebrity and HAL.


Hi Ben,

I beg your pardon but I do not understand your reply. They are doing
better on their comment cards from the folks that are sailing with
them.


That's very general. Better on their comment cards in what areas? Are
they talking about entertainment? cabin amenities? opinions on so-called
touch of luxury enhancements?

Are they up in overall cuisine? Creativeness of cuisine? Presentation of
cuisine? Menu variation, or do they offer a dumbed-down version of what
they've been serving for years on end?

Who better to rate them than paying customers?


Who's better to rate a piano? Piano players and tuners or people that
pay to hear piano players? Some knowledge of the discipline I'd say
matters. And, experienced vs. not so experienced with Celebrity would
matter much. You know, people used to say I was an apologist for
Celebrity and I couldn't be objective. Now, I guess I'm seen as bashing
Celebrity. If the product's quality is up in the last 12 months, fine. I
want it to be up as I like Celebrity's pre-Millennium ships very much.
The overall product has some aspects that appeal very much to my wife
and me. But, feedback from people I've met and corresponded with through
the years reveals concerns with the overall product. And it includes
areas like incidences of chair hogging, ship maintenance,
professionalism of staff, overall cuisine, enforcing and adherence to
ship policies regarding children in pools and casinos and overall
enforcement of disciplining children, adherence and enforcing of dress
codes.

This is the
goal of any company along with becoming a financial success which they
are doing as a premium cruise line.


Financial success does not necessarily equal upholding of quality. They
have set their sites lower. Popularity, I dare say, unfortunately
sometimes equates with mediocrity as mediocre products tend to do better
in the marketplace than quality products, at least in the North American
market. I think a lot of the problems are with customers. I think on the
globe there are customers in other markets that simply demand a higher
standard than North American customers, who seem to go more for
features, size, and how new or trendy something is. I think that's why
American products (that aren't very expensive) often don't offer the
standards of quality of European and Japanese products.


Ben S.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com

Folks. It's a business. Revinue enhancement is part of it. Many of the
cruising public had shown they want larger and larger ships. The only
revinue
enhancements being added are "personal choice options". I like options.

Speaking of revenue, a reprofile often means better seakeeping ability,
superior performance in speed, range and economy.

-Heather
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The ship always had an unsual look. I'd add the stretch AFT of the funnel.
It looks out of place where it's located.

Gone are the canoe sterns and classy sheers. Get used to GUS (giant ugly ships)
Cruise Lines....it's the latest craze.

-Heather
Remove CanOspam to email
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The ship always had an unsual look. I'd add the stretch AFT of the funnel.
It looks out of place where it's located.

Gone are the canoe sterns and classy sheers. Get used to GUS (giant ugly ships)
Cruise Lines....it's the latest craze.

-Heather
Remove CanOspam to email
http://members.aol.com/nookeybear/index1.htm

Could they cut the ship the other way?

Add a deck higher? Insert a whole deck of balcony cabins?

Nothing like a floating football.

-Heather
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Could they cut the ship the other way?

Add a deck higher? Insert a whole deck of balcony cabins?

Nothing like a floating football.

-Heather
Remove CanOspam to email
http://members.aol.com/nookeybear/index1.htm

the upper decks of
Voyager class ships are made of aluminum. Maybe they could do the same on
Century class ships. Slice off the pool deck and sun deck, and add 3 new
decks made of aluminum.

There is more to the equation than weight....freeboard means more windage and
there is a formula that is used taking into account LOA, breadth and freeboard.

-Heather
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the upper decks of
Voyager class ships are made of aluminum. Maybe they could do the same on
Century class ships. Slice off the pool deck and sun deck, and add 3 new
decks made of aluminum.

There is more to the equation than weight....freeboard means more windage and
there is a formula that is used taking into account LOA, breadth and freeboard.

-Heather
Remove CanOspam to email
http://members.aol.com/nookeybear/index1.htm

we loved the infinity and we're sailing the summit to alaska this time.

we've never been on a c class just millie and the zenith (2x)

we're paying a bit more this time for the same cabin type as we did the rt 3
yrs ago. and if I recall, at that time southbound sailings were a lot less
then rt.

--
Sheree

"E.k.R." wrote in message
...

"Jeff Coudriet" wrote in message
...
We'll see how it goes....since I've done these ports before I have a
very mellow -- relax, workout, go to the spa (hot stones, anything with
mud), sit in the hot tub watching the beautiful scenery go by, hanging
out with friends and family -- kind'o'cruise. I know the Mercury very
well so nothing new to explore, do love its art collection so probably
will go look at it. Hoping I'll see some staff favorites from the past
2 times I sailed on her a year+ ago.

Bring on the irish coffee! If Andre Smith, the South African king
of flaming coffee preparation is on board, then it will be a notable
sailing lol!

Jeff



Have a great time Jeff. I think those are the very best cruises.... those
where you really don't have to do anything. I guess that is why I love
transatlantic cruises so much! MERCURY is also a favorite of mine, so I'm
sure she will be just as good as you remember. If anything, I think
Celebrity has probably improved compared to a year or two ago.

Like you I also loved the M-Class. I've only sailed on INFINITY but it
was
one of the best cruises I've ever taken. The ship was wonderful, food and
service excellent, company fantastic, and Hawaii was breathtaking. A win,
win, win of a cruise!

Best,
Ernie