Carolyn C

We had the same experience on our first Azamara cruise in November. It was disappointing compared with our previous experiences on Celebrity where all staff were well-versed in what was part of each package and were very pro-active and adept at (discretely) checking our cards and automatically offering wines and spirits that were at the right level. You don't always notice when it is seamless but you certainly notice when it isn't. We are hoping it will be better back on Celebrity but expecting it may not. As for quality of drinks, I note from the app (if it is correct) that the Australian red wine in the premium package is actually a $7AUD bottle from our local bottle shop. If that is representative of the other international wines, then we will just stick with the classic package and bring a few nice bottles from home.

Agree re: capacity. And that would certainly cause issues onboard. But I also doubt they will stop advance selling packages once theoretical capacity is reached. Is anyone doing those sums? Anyway, just a theory.

PS. Specialty lunch packages might be next!

Perhaps it is an effort to make people so dissatisfied with the standard included food offerings and potential flow-on wait times in the MDR that they will pay for "specialty" dining packages? Another form of upselling? They've given the carrot by making them seem exclusive and desirable. Perhaps now we are also getting the stick. Thankfully husband I are fortunate in having no specific dietary issues so we will therefore eat spam, cold pizza and soggy lettuce (albeit, sadly) for dinner all cruise if we have to, rather than be coerced into forking out even more money for food. Not everyone is in a position to do that though.

Just spent some time looking into VV as well and wow, just wow! I had falsely assumed they would be very gimmicky and festooned with waterslides. Well I was wrong. Thanks for the tip @bonagrad. We are also mid-late 40s GenXers with no kids and have enjoyed several Celebrity cruises up until our last one in 2018. Since then have tried Princess and most recently Azamara as their itineraries suited us, neither of which were a patch on the "old" Celebrity and we have (had?) been looking forward to going back to Celebrity in April and Nov this year and again in Nov 2024. I have been following this thread with interest, having also noted a big increase in Celebrity charges for drinks packages, specialty dining, and shore excursions(!) when I logged into my account a week or so ago. Cutbacks to standard, included food offerings is somewhat troubling. So we will see how that all pans out and we will make the most of it. But we are currently looking for alternatives. We prize value for money and we felt Celebrity used to offer this which is why we were looking forward to coming back. VV looks to be very sensible and reasonable in terms of their pricing and inclusions, particularly on the food and beverage front. In typical Virgin style they have come in with a fresh approach and re-designed the cruise experience to some extent. Looks to be no fuss, no hidden surprises. I was pleasantly surprised.