TeeRick

Very few people on the ship today in GC mostly everybody ashore. So if you stay on the ship just walk to one of the open bars Geeez. Burn a few calories. Your drink package is not devalued or cut back. No evil plot. Make due for a few hours. Most ports won’t allow casinos to open on the ship until it departs. So I do my gambling a bit later that’s all. Grand Cayman has no taxes and charges tourism based fees on everything.

Thanks Bo. Good advice, as usual👍. I guess some don’t believe that I am having an excellent time on Equinox right now and I am enjoying the Luminae food, quality and high level of service. I think I have posted enough over the years here on CC that I might have some credibility on my comments. Or perhaps not. But whether some choose to believe me or not it won’t ruin my cruise.

It came up because I brought it up.

Oh sorry I didn’t notice you already posted this last night.

Here in Grand Cayman today.

Ok. I do understand now so I will ask if I see the senior officer of food and beverage again. She has come by every night so far and is very visible around the ship.

What ship? Was it E-class? At least here on Equinox everything in Luminae has been very good.

I thought pretty good. But we are not true wine experts. We just go by what we like.

Honestly we were in the middle of dinner and did not want to have a debate on this. The news is that the senior officers are aware and trying to address the feedback.

Yes and we were full and happy last night. And slightly tipsy!

Ok but I posted the MDR menu earlier in this thread for one night. I can do that again tonight. Are you saying that is reduced? It seems not but I normally do not dine there.

There are 2500 on board Equinox right now and the Captain said last night we had over 1200 crew on board. So about 2:1 passengers to crew. Pretty good really. The service has been overall very good.

I cannot speak to the MDR quality this cruise but the menu does not appear to be reduced. We have enjoyed Luminae - see that thread. We are on Equinox.

It was tender and cooked to order. Medium. Delicious.

The food and beverage senior officer has come by our table in Luminae the past two nights. Last night she had the ship’s executive chef with her too. We discussed the “cutbacks” situation and the negative reaction in particular to the evening buffet. Celebrity is well aware of the very negative feedback here on CC and other social media. The reduced offerings in the evening buffet were implemented across the fleet to cut down on the high amount of food waste and associated cost. I told her I understood but that it should have been communicated much more openly and not just implemented without warning. In retrospect they know that. Also she said Celebrity is listening and wanted me to communicate that to Cruise Critic. They are looking at some options to make the buffet have more selections in the evening. Overall very good conversation.

Last night in Luminae my dw and I both ordered the halibut. It was a substantial portion and delicious. We also ordered the ribeye to split so we each had a surf and turf. The ribeye was excellent. No up charge for ordering an extra dinner. They also gave us an anniversary cake by surprise as they somehow knew we missed our anniversary cruise last year due to the C virus. They all came and sang to us. What a great evening in Luminae!

We have ordered escargot and shrimp cocktail so far from the MDR menu and it was not an issue.

I have really not decided yet. Evaluating our current cruise and will report back. But in general I was worried about boarding and what I would find based upon the comments here on CC concerning dramatic cutbacks. Other than the dinner buffet - which we rarely use- I have not noticed much difference so I am very pleased so far.

Luminae menu tonight on equinox.

Here is MDR tonight on Equinox. And Luminae too. We are night 3 of a nine night.

Ok tonight. The Alaskan Halibut is on the menu. Also Rib-Eye. Might do a surf and turf if they now have very small portions! But so far the portion sizes have been as I remember.

I had the peppered Tuna last night in Luminae (equinox). It was substantial and very delicious! I cannot eat Kale ( as it is very high in Vit K and I am on blood thinners). I will not eat Talapia anywhere but I’ve never see it in Luminae. I will eat the Alaskan Halibut when it is on the menu. Really so far Luminae has been wonderful as usual.

Yes it was there.

Sailing now in a CS on Equinox and our card is two tone gray/silver and printed on the vertical. It says The Retreat on bottom right. It lists our CC level, and BC Club level and the other usual information. It has not peeled apart yet but this is only day 2! It did come in a gray leather card holder. And as an aside we did get chocolates on the pillows last night.

On Equinox for the 9 night now. It all seems mostly normal and what I expected. I can guarantee that there is plenty of food and drink on board. We are in a suite, boarding was a snap, and Luminae is still the same as far as I remember. The OVC had most stations open breakfast and lunch. Lots of choices, and good table service. We have not checked out the OVC dinner but I’m sure it is cut back in offerings. I will walk by there this evening to see for myself. We will not be using the MDR so no comment there. We have reservations at Murano and Tuscan G this cruise so will report on them too. The ship does not seem full and an officer told me that we had 2500 on board. One thing on a positive note - the Starlink internet has been very good and a big improvement in general.