tfred

some of this depends on what ship someone sailed on. Edge class has more food options and entertainment. I saw remarks from RCCL management that they are less interested in poaching other cruise line pax and more interested getting land based resort people on board. They also want to narrow the gap between land and sail revenue - sailing is still a bargain (although that wouldn't be the opinion of long time cruisers.). The under 50 crowd may be first time cruisers - that is the opinion that would the one of importance.

even though the different restaurants may have some different wines, the Premium Package is the offering that would apply across a dozen restaurants and menus on the ship. I dont think they are actively matching food and wine in all of those and then choosing a wine to buy by the pallet. I think the Somms suggest something so there isnt a long drawn out discussion of what they have available. I think that there is only one Somm in Luminae and he is busy I would think X F&B are looking at what most people would drink and then look at suggestions to the Somms as to what to suggest for food pairings. May not be the best choice given the food but to X it would be close enough. They also aren't looking at "style of cabernet " to offer. It is a cab, a SB, a chard etc. Maybe some interesting whites/reds as a catch all If pax are that discerning then they should peruse the bottle list and pick from there. Also, I will admit that the X glass offerings are a tad low on the grocery store scale. They could really choose the next level up. I am not expecting Super Tuscans (although we had those by the glass on Apex Luminae 2 years ago) but if Costco can buy worthwhile reds in volume so could X

it will come to the point that those types of folks will not be allowed to book again. Ship customer software is the same as land hotel software. The agent can see everything that you have ever commented on on your profile. No resson for any company to allow that to happen more than twice.

generally no as the kitchens are not close to each other. There are the classics in Blu for "selective" eaters - Plain chicken, steak or salmon.

Suites are less interesting on port intensive trips - the Med being on of those. You really aren't on the ship that much during the day. We did suite on a Baltic trip and liked it but I could see where the extra wouldn't be worth it. In the Caribbean a suite choice is great since we only wandered off for an hour or two and then back to the Retreat I also would wonder about selecting Concierge the trip. I dont really see the advantage over a regular Infinity Veranda.

it sounds touching when it is an invite for the grandkids, but it isn't so warm when it is a bunch of boozy friends on the Retreat deck the number of people allowed will be the key. The Retreat areas are generally busy enough and we are paying for the space as well as the service.

I did read an interview from Barbara Muckerman CEO of Silversea in USA Today "When it came to designing (Silver) Nova, we knew we were going to take the traditional luxury cruise route," Muckermann said, explaining that Silversea custom designs their new ships according to their itineraries. "So, who are the main competitors? It's really, land-based resorts." If you traditionally were on land then you have no idea of what it was like 2 years ago on a ship. There are WAY more land vacationers with money to chase after rather than trying to woo grumpy "where's my prime rib every night?" cruisers I have spent enough vacations on land (mostly Marriott resorts) to know that the experience on a ship is pretty good compared to a Marriott resort. In fact, it can be cheaper to be on a ship when you add in all the food and booze a la carte "Cruising has changed. Today really represents an incredible value, independently from which segment you decide to join," Silversea Cruises President Barbara Muckermann told USA TODAY during a press preview of Silver Nova earlier this month. "The kind of luxury cruise service you get here – and you can decide to compare to whatever luxury establishment it is – but I assure you it can be 30 to 40% cheaper here. Still offering the same, if not better, service."

I Agree with the red wine thoughts. We were on Apex a few weeks ago an thoughts the reds were below par. I think they are shopping at the wrong grocery store in Miami for wine. The red selections aren't commensurate for Luminae food.

X is also changing 5 things at one time - and then adjusting them as they find out what works, what doesn't and what causes pax angst Premium wine package that isn't so premium anymore. Getting dinged $2 for grocery store wine when I dropped $10k on a suite Brown spirits have taken a hit. Macallan is now an up charge and the bourbon selection has taken a hit Butler. Not important to us but our experience on Crystal River with a butler was superb. Literally minutes from request to delivery of service. Mini bar. How could that not be included? It would eliminate requests for the butler for beer, water of soda Tips and OBC. This is just another way to increase price. I get it, but it is $1k extra now

I could see why X is no longer your exclusive cruise line. They seem to be emphasizing certain geographic areas - Caribbean, Mediterranean and Northern Europe with regular cruises. Secondary, seasonal geographic ports (Asia, Alaska, Canada etc) are the same ports every year. The ships are getting bigger and more frenetic - especially outside Retreat. As an aside, we have been on Apex a few times in The Retreat and love it. We are pretty happy to float around the Caribbean for a week in January When were on two weeks ago, there were no shortage of pax who love the E Class concept and treating the ship as a floating resort. They are very happy to stay on the ship and watch the same shows on each cruise If you are looking for a sense of adventure with "different" locales, X is not the line to be on Royal Corporation should do a better job in pushing the disaffected to Silversea instead of having them wander to Oceania or Regent. Some cruise itineraries are better on other lines. We are taking a Rome to Venice cruise on Silversea this summer. Smaller ship, smaller ports, less confusion. Price was the same as Apex

I looked at that cruise too and it is attractive, but it is really one of the few 7 day Caribbean that Regent runs Most are 10-14 days with a bigger total. Better value for sure but the total cost (and time away from a job - assuming that person is still working) is not the meat of the market. Regent has 1 or 2 seven day cruises in the spring Caribbean market X has 5 a week in Edge class ships No one really knows the booking success of suites for X. We just got off Apex in a SS an everyone was talking about re-upping for another suite on X while we were in the lounge or at dinner. Time will tell

Regent, Crystal (and to some extent Oceania) only make sense if you re booking a sky suite (or better) on X. The per diem costs between the two can be very competitive at that level. What bumps up Regent is the inclusion of excursions. Assuming that you are doing excursions on X then it is pretty close. the downside of non X cruise lines in the Caribbean is longer cruises that cause the total price to be higher than one would like. A fun one week cruise on X Sky at a "reasonable" price can be another story on Regent - gets pricey

We priced a SilverSea 12 night Med against a 12 night X. SS was actually the sam eprice and then you add in included excursion for SS - it was an easy choice. Also, SS is a small ship and can get into small ports X ships are the big ports and generally those ports are 1-2 hours from the city that you want to actually want to visit Caribbean is different. X sailings are easy to get to (FLL/MIA), while small ships have unusual homeports that are challenging to get to

the Elevated looks like more fun. Why these aren't included for a suite is beyond me with Retreat prices these days my guess is that a number of all of these wines will not be available - judging only by my history in previous Retreat sailings also - no desert wine listed. I think in the past they were, although hit and miss availability

This I think the main part of the ship is pretty much the same as before and that was a good product. The Retreat area (which we stay in these days) is definitely priced too close to the Silver Sea, Crystal and Regent for our taste We have booked a 2024 Med cruise on Silver Sea for the same price as a equivalent X. Smaller ship, smaller ports and a bigger dining choice. The problem we have is that we like to take a post holiday cruise in January. X has been an easy choice (we live in south Florida in winter) and a 30 minute drive to FLL is a no brainer - just pick the Saturday you want to leave . The lux ships have unusual home ports, longer cruises than we want. That said, when Retreat was $6k it was a good value. At $8k it's ok, at $10k I really question the value. The $2 up charge for drinks is just something that annoys me and is just tacky.

I think that is only on non Edge class ships as those ships have a shared kitchen Edge class kitchens are not close to each other. Some people get lucky and are allowed to order from MDR but I wouldn’t count on it. Blu and Luminae aren’t designed for diners in the “I don’t eat that - fish, meat, foods that touch “ crowd.

take a look at the JW Marriott Marco Island website. In the Dining area you can scroll the menus of various on site restaurants and see prices for spirits and wine. X is marginally higher for similar offerings They are just trying to get close to land resort prices. Also look at the room rates for standard rooms - no real view, king bed. This week they are $1275/night ! That is Ala carte - no food or booze. X is certainly looking at that site and saying we can do that too and give you a suite.

You can get salmon, chicken or steak plainly served You can also ask along the way for menu items served without sauce. They can be somewhat creative if you give them 24 hour notice.

X will know the results pretty soon - within 2 months. The first month will be the settling in period and then a better idea in month two Half of the wine by the glass menu is an uncharge and apparently the same with brown liquors It is difficult to ignore all the $2 choices and the results will be easy to see at corporate Long term is the fallout from the now "good, better, best" liquor program. people thought they were buying "best" but it is now "better "

X knows the numbers of who eats and doesn't at Luminae. The MD from Luminae actually called our friends and wanted to know why they weren't eating at Luminae and why were they at Blu. More of a concern about table side service rather than food I think. We like both Blu and Luminae for what they are . I have seen posts along the way that Blu and Luminae should offer MDR offerings on the menu by deleting some present items. I think that many people expect MDR food in a nicer setting and better service and that isnt with B or L It isnt Cheesecake Factory

This is true. Newbies are from land resorts like Marriotts that everything is ala carte and is expensive. JW Marriott Marco Island can be $800/night for a standard room plus food and booze-another $300. On X you are getting a suite for the same price. regent, Crystal et al are somewhat unknown on the Newbie cruise world and in the Caribbean they have unusual schedules (Tuesday departure) from harder to get to originating ports (Barbados). A European cruise is a no brainer for lux lines. Cost competitive and better everything for a port intensive vacation. Small ships go to small ports. Big ships go to big ports.

I think that your interpretation of the word “everything “ is at issue. look at the app, Jan 7 sailing of the Ascent. Go to dining, Cosmopolitan menu and then look at the wine list. It apparently is updated (unlike the dozen or so that I see in posts or just about any of the ships. ). It is also different than Luminae for that ship strangely enough that wine list has both a Premium and a separate Elevated I think that the rather wordsmithing of that e mail to you says that if this on Premium you get it included. Also offerings may be an up charge. That is the elevate list.

The X memo is not actually clear. It sounds like all glass wines are included within the Retreat area are in but random posts say not true.

we know people who didn't like Luminae either. They are very "selective" eaters and that isn't what Luminae caters to (although there are everyday choices available). Luminae service is great and my only thought was that Luminae couldn't whip something immediately for their tastes and that was a problem for them. . The menu is the menu and that isnt apparent from the X website. Blu in its own right has a bit of an edge to it as well but evidently it is more acceptable.

I received something like that as well as a VM. Really no detail. Is it everything with no up charge or just at or below $17? I have also seen 3 different "current" wine lists - 2 on line and 1 on the app. Really none are the same as each other. The app has 2 different wine lists and it depends on the ship. Ascent seems to be the "current" one and definitely has some variety We are on Apex next week and that seems to be the old list. Again, after dropping $8k on a suite I am somewhat less than thrilled to be dinged for $2 on basically everyday wines. I could see a $15 charge for something that is truly unique, but the $2 is just tacky.