Dear Cruise Addicts Members:
Is Celebrity Changing Too Much?
No, it is changing for the better!
If you are looking for standardized 7 day cruises with mass produced food, increasing % of loud out of control adults and kids, large group bookings with obnoxious individuals, no conduct or decorum standards, "informal" dress codes, then you will be disappointed with the Celebrity of the future.
There is always Carnival, RCL, NCL, Princess, Costa who can provide this type of cruise experience.
It is possible that Celebrity has finally ACCEPTED that they alienated their classy, traditional core customers of the past who supported Celebrity from 1989 to 2001. These people (like myself) were abandoned in the "rush to the bottom" in response to declining bookings post 9/11and the unfortunate trend towards "doing your own thing" and "informality" disguised as a "customized" experience.
Celebrity is likely to have also ACCEPTED - the demographics of the cash and time rich passenger of the future - ie the increasing % of aging baby boomers who have never cruised. If you look at this demographic group - they have $ to burn and spend heavily on upgrading their homes, demanding the best health care. These individuals do NOT want the typical 7 day cruise with so-so food, canned music at the pool and they will not tolerate the increasing % of "riff raff" that seems to have taken over most cruise ships.
Conversely, the "family" segment is in a demographic "free fall" - the "kid" focus is simply, well, passe.
For example, HAL seems not to have figured this out as they are desperately trying to woo the "family" market while alienating their core passenger, which is the demographic growth segment.
So.... this could be one (but not necessarily the only reason) why Celebrity is gone from the "family" caribbean summer vacation scene. They have targeted their future demographic market and they have positioned themselves to sell to the aging "baby boomers":
* Provide more exotic venues
* Provide better food and service
* Provide more intellectual and unique entertainment - ie CdSoliel
I am very happy about Celebrity moving back to the premium line they used to be!
Happy Cruising
