Tagged: Celebrity RSS

  • Tom Baker 9:53 am on September 12, 2011 COMMENT
    Tags: Celebrity   

    Celebrity Cruises – Modern Luxury? 

    What does this mean?

    Celebrity Cruises has just launched a marketing campaign called ‘Modern Luxury’ as the tag-line for its fleet of premium class 5-star rated ships.

    Is this luxury? I would argue the semantics of this. I think marketing today over promises categorically by many brands but this new campaign might be pushing the envelope. Modern Luxury, according to Celebrity Cruises, is equating the superb décor of many (not all) of its ships and the overall experience to that of driving an Audi. The new ad campaign by this prestigious brand shows old guard luxury and new guard luxury – where it believes it fits.

    The fact remains True Luxury exists in today’s cruising World with all-suite, mostly all-inclusive ships that offer travel experiences in the $350-$1000+ per person a day. Luxury ships offer experiences for 200-700 passengers with no lines, no nickel-and-diming, and exclusive travel experiences. Celebrity offers a fantastic cruise experience but most of its 7-day cruises offer lead-in rates for far less than $100pp a day. At this price point this is not luxury but rather mass market…sorry, it’s a fact! I found a 10-day Mediterranean Cruises on Equinox from $869pp and 7-day Caribbean Cruises on Summit from $529pp. This is mass-market pricing and fits most of today’s average traveler’s budget. This is a GREAT VALUE – just not luxury!

    Louis Vuitton  does not offer fire sale or reduced prices to its clientele. It has a standard and price point that keeps it exclusive-it is luxury.  Celebrity ships carry 2000-3000 passengers per ship. How does that equate to Modern Luxury? Celebrity Cruises is FAR from all-inclusive – you pay for everything extra onboard other than most meals, accommodations, and entertainment. How is this Modern Luxury? I’m not beating them over the head but debating an important point of differentiation and perhaps overselling!

    The true LUXURY (5-6 star rated) cruise lines in today’s cruise market include: Crystal, Regent, Seabourn, and Silversea (there are some other smaller players but these are the main players).

    The true PREMIUM (4-5 star rated) cruise lines in today’s cruise market include:Oceania, Azamara, Cunard, Celebrity, and Holland America

    The true MASS-MARKET Contemporary (3-4 star rated) cruise lines in today’s cruise market include: Princess, Royal Caribbean, NCL, MSC, and Carnival

    Don’t get me wrong. I love Celebrity ships and think the soon-to-be five Solstice Class ships are BEST IN CLASS – but, in the 5-star premium market. Having exceptional décor and amazing marine architecture doe not make luxury – even Modern Luxury.

    Even Oceania Cruises (a line that says unabashedly that it is a high premium class experience) offers smaller ships than Celebrity with a capacity of 700-1200 passengers, offers airfare, pre-hotel stay in Europe, local port transfers, unlimited alternative dining, bottled water, soft drinks, and all coffee drinks and juices included. This line does not call itself Luxury yet, it includes more value.

    This is just a point of differentiation between brands.

    I don’t want today’s cruise consumer to be completely confused. Celebrity is a GREAT BRAND, has a GREAT REPUTATION, and is a LEADER in the 5-Star premium cruise experience. It’s Solstice Class ships are luxurious in décor and offer a very fine cruise experience but, it is not a luxury travel experience.

    Happy Cruising!

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    • David 3:32 pm on September 27, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Outside of perhaps Solstice class ships, I wouldn’t rank Celebrity any higher than any mass market line. As you mentioned, the prices are the pretty much the same whether you choose mass market or so-called “premium” lines. What you are really choosing is the type and age of passengers you wish to be with while onboard as well as the newness and features of the various ships. I have had better
      food and cleanliness on Carnival Dream over the, say, the Celebrity Summit. The prices were actually lower on Celebrity for a similar one week cruise. Yes, there were more kids on Carnival, but they were well behaved. I don’t feel any more special setting foot on Celebrity and I certainly have never spent more to do so. But, if it’s an ego boost, I say go for it! In the mean time, I’ll continue to look at the individual ships and customer reviews before being brand-conscious regardless of how they market themselves or what demographic they strive to attract.

    • Rex 7:12 pm on September 27, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      I agree that Celebrity is still “Mass Market”. On our last cruise on Royal Caribbean, I started thinking about “how much would I pay?” to avoid some of the problems that mass market will always have: for example, how much would I pay to not have the chaos of the lunch buffet? how much to have a quiet dinner for two once per cruise? how much to have the bartender actually remember what I ordered every night? how much for a chocolate on my pillow? how much for a soft towel? Turns out that those luxury lines seem like a bargain…

    • Scott 10:08 pm on September 27, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Target and Trader Joe’s belong in the “Modern Luxury” category. An upscale feel without a true luxury cost. Sort of like a Lexus or BMW, very nice, but certainly not a Bentley or Maybach.

  • Randall Shirley 3:51 pm on June 29, 2011 COMMENT
    Tags: Celebrity, Frequent Cruisers, ,   

    Power Cruisers: gay cruise travelers who can’t stop sailing! 41 cruises and counting… 

    Jimmi & Kevin; Kevin is a very frequent cruiser!

    Jimmi & Kevin (right). Kevin has been on 41 cruises... and he's sailing again!

    One of the most fascinating things I’ve learned both as a passenger on cruises and in my work with editing this site, is how many gay people take lots and lots and lots of cruises!

    If you read about the recent mainstream Holland America Oosterdam cruise Denni and I took to Mexico, you’ll recall there were lots of gay passengers on the ship. Among them: Kevin and Jimmi from Phoenix. They’re relatively young guys, so I was shocked to learn that Kevin has been on a lot of cruises.

    How many? 41 cruises and counting!

    A few interesting nuggets from Kevin:

    • First cruise: Sovereign of the Seas, in 1988
      Favorite Ship for overall experience: Dawn Princess – Kevin has spent more than a month onboard that ship.
    • Favorite ship for appearance: Celebrity Eclipse
    • Favorite itinerary: full transit of the Panama Canal

    Watch for some additional favorites and thoughts on cruising from Kevin in the future!

    Are you a power cruiser? Tell us about your favorites by commenting below (or send Randall an email).

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    • David 1:29 pm on July 6, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      My first cruise was Nordic Empress (RCCL) back in 1993. For my 40th birthday, in 2000, I decided to do my fourth cruise, a gay-group cruise with Pied Piper, and do my first t/a crossing on the QE2, and that hooked me.

      I’m getting ready for cruise #33 – another t/a crossing, my third trip on the QM2.

      Most of my travel has been on Royal, Celebrity and Cunard, but I’ve been on Azamara, Windstar, NCL, Princess and HAL once each. I’m looking forward to seeing the Oceania Marina next year, and to completing the Solstice class set, with Silhouette and Reflection crossings already booked.

      I really love the feel of the newer Celebrity ships – each new Solstice class ship is my new favorite.
      I loved going thru the Panama Canal, and docking in downtown Shanghai was absolutely magical.

    • Gordon 6:42 pm on July 6, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      My own total is 39 cruises so far, many of them maiden voyages. Nine were transatlantic crossings (eight of those on the QE2, one on the maiden voyage of HAL’s ms NOORDAM). My longest was a 22-night transpacific cruise from Vancouver to Xingang (Beijing) on Norwegian Wind. Spent three weeks onboard ss NORWAY. A favorite was a two-week cruise around Indonesia on ms PEARL OF SCANDINAVIA. Latest cruise(s) were the pre-maiden and maiden voyage on OASIS OF THE SEAS, which definitely spoils one for lesser ships…!!! :-) I’m hoping that my income situation improves so that I can resume pleasure travel… I especially want to sail on ALLURE OF THE SEAS, QUEEN MARY 2, and several others. My smallest cabin was aboard the Hurtigruten vessel ms RAGNEVALD JARL, a single where one barely had room to enter the cabin, turn around, and close the door.

    • Jimmi 5:28 pm on January 12, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I think we have been on 3 more cruises since this post. I know, we are obssessed! :) We have two more booked for 2012. One in March & the other in May. We need to figure out something for the end of the year too.

      The reason for so many cruises/vacations? You only live once and why not take advantage of as much as you can.

    • Mdhphx 2:47 pm on February 7, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I can’t believe the cruise lines are still having issues with this. I guess you can’t slow down a virus.

  • Randall Shirley 8:47 pm on April 21, 2010 COMMENT
    Tags: Celebrity, ,   

    Hot Cruise Deals 

    A handful of interesting deals I’ve seen lately. It’s worth noting, most solid & reputable cruise agents should be able to match these fares. Cruising remains one area of travel where I’m still a BIG believer in building (and using) a great relationship with a travel agent.

    _______________

    • $1995 Balcony
      Queen Victoria, Photo courtesy Cunard Line

      Queen Victoria, Photo courtesy Cunard Line

      12 Night Cruise
      Sailing November 12, 2010
      Cunard Queen Victoria
      Rome Roundtrip
      Including up to $500 onboard credit + bathrobe

    • Advertised by onlinevacationcenter.com

    _______________

    • Greece
      50% discount for the second person based on double occupancy.
      No supplement required for single travelers.
      Includes choice of two-nights at a deluxe Athens hotel OR a $140 shipboard credit per person.
      Aegean Odyssey:
      Seven-night cruise including stops in Kusadasi, Turkey and Patmos and Samos islands. Regular fares begin at $1,935 per person.  Sale dates: May 7 & 28, June 4, July 23, August 13 & 20, September 3, October 8, 15, 22 & 29.
      Jewels of the Cyclades:
      This seven-night cruise heads southeast of mainland Greece through a collection of charming islands.  Regular fares begin at $1,530 per person.  Sale dates: April 30, June 4, August 27, October 15, 22 & 29.
    • Advertised by varietycruises.com

    _______________

    • $299 Night Western Caribbean
      Departs from Miami
      Celebrity Cruise: Century
    • Advertised by orbitz.com

    _______________

    I’m not endorsing any of these–just reminding you that there are a variety of interesting packages and deals out there. Go cruising! And don’t forget to post your cruise on your PROFILE!


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  • markdale 4:23 pm on March 16, 2010 COMMENT
    Tags: Celebrity,   

    Illness once again forces Celebrity Mercury to return 

    The Celebrity Mercury cruise ship is returning to port a day early and delaying its next sailing to address an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness that sickened 350 passengers. The outbreak is the third consecutive outbreak on the ship in a month.

    Read the full article here

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  • Randall Shirley 7:37 pm on December 30, 2008 COMMENT
    Tags: Celebrity, , , , , ,   

    High seas and a gay old time! 

    Your Editor in the Celebrity Mercury onboard theatre

    Your Editor in the Celebrity Mercury onboard theatre

    The sounds of ukuleles fades farther away as the Mercury continues toward Ensenada, Mexico. We’ve got 72 hours at sea before that happens.

    Tonight is Celebrity’s version of Dancing with the Stars, and two gay guys are participating—one is our pal who owns a dance studio in Canada, the other is one of the onboard professional dancers. Unfortunately, they’re not dancing together…

    We’ve continued to enjoy getting to know our new MeetMeOnBoard.com pals Mike & Joey. I think I told you that because of our MMOB pre-cruise connection, we all arranged to sit together at dinner. Nice.

    Signing off…the string quartet is about to play in the Cova Café and I want to enjoy them…cruising is great. Book one—prices are super-low right now! And invite me along!!

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  • Randall Shirley 10:34 pm on December 23, 2008 COMMENT
    Tags: Celebrity, connect, , dance, , , , , , social networking   

    Gays at Sea…somewhere near Hilo 

    Your Editor and Partner at Sea

    Your Editor and Partner at Sea

    It’s Christmas Eve eve, and onboard the Celebrity Mercury plenty of creatures are stirring as we finally feel Hawaiian breezes blow across the decks.

    The gay guys are all having plenty of fun. Sun, gym, sublime food, dancing, connecting. Gay staffers have noticed us and are warming up. (As yet, haven’t met any lesbians).

    It’s all good. In fact, it’s better than good. It’s fantastic. It’s why I continue to believe cruising is the best vacation value on earth.

    We’re enjoying getting to know our MMOB pals Mike & Joey. And all the other gays we’ve met seem pretty keen on learning more about how to use the site. Perhaps they’re just a little jealous that Mike & Joey already had good dining partners lined up before the cruise.

    Meanwhile…happy KwanChrisMakkuh. I’m off to find a fruity drink and flirt with a hot homo. Wish you were here. Loving this cruise!

    Randall

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    • Cruise Ships 2:45 pm on January 2, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      The most important is to have fun with the right people, and when you are on board of such cruise ship, this is normally expected. I wanted to be there, but unfortunately failed

  • Randall Shirley 1:46 pm on December 21, 2008 COMMENT
    Tags: Celebrity, , , , , , success   

    We have officially Met On Board! Gay cruise passengers connect… 

    Celebrity Mercury

    Celebrity Mercury

    Welcome aboard the M/V Celebrity Mercury! It’s 7:20 a.m. on our second morning at sea, and the ship’s position is someplace between California and Hawaii:

    Within minutes of boarding the Mercury in San Diego on December 19, and during our first wander around the 1,800 passenger boat, Kevin (my partner) pointed at two guys and said, “aren’t those the guys we’ve been connecting with through MeetMeOnBoard (MMOB)?”

    Voilá, we dashed across the atrium to greet Mike and Joey—a couple from Anaheim, who we had indeed already “met” through MMOB.

    Hello handshakes have now been replaced with friendly hugs…even on a mainstream cruise, and we’re enjoying getting to know these new and very interesting friends.

    Meanwhile, our group of 9 gay men has started wearing our matching t-shirts (The Rainbow Mounties), and people are noticing us—great ice breakers.

    Last night was the first Friends of Dorothy party, and about 30 gay men showed up, all in suits and ties or tuxes—guys from all over the U.S. and as far away as Germany and England. Cool.

    I’m telling them about MMOB, and perhaps you’ll meet some of them on a future cruise. This is a great website, and gay cruisers seem to instantly love the idea. Please tell your friends about it and encourage them to sign up.

    Now, I’m off for a second cup of coffee…then I’ll go see if I can wake Kevin up.

    Key observations thus far:

    • Couples who want one bed should clearly state to their cabin attendant that they are a couple. Mike and Joey say their attendant keeps asking them if he should split the beds. Meanwhile, our attendant (Luis from Honduras) clearly knows who we are. The fact is not all cabin attendants immediately “get it.”
    • Friends of Dorothy should be asked for immediately after boarding the ship. Call the Cruise Director’s office and ask if they automatically organize a FOD on your ship. If not, request it
    • Bringing your own booze, while it’s officially against cruise regulations, a lot of people have successfully smuggled plenty-o-booze on board. We’ll look at how this is done in a future article. After all, who makes a cocktail better than us gays!
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    • Cruise Ships 2:48 pm on January 2, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      Nice ship. I have been once on Celebrity Equinox and the ship is really fantastic and so relaxing.

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