SusieAV8R

On 5/4/2024 at 5:55 AM, hcat said:

They may receive group recognition, extra time off, telephone  cards/ calls home.. This is from positive comments via cards or scan of the  QR code in the daily (do they actually read those?,)

 

As for the survey..very unfortunate how it is designed and used...turns staff into beggars..less than 10 is trouble!

BUT, if you work it correctly, you can make it work.  Example:  click 10 for you would refer X to friends and family.  Next question will ask for you 2 or 3 reasons why you would make such referral.  Use that box to do detailed 'call outs" for named staff members.  DH says I write a novel for each survey.  Not quite true, but I provide multiple examples/situations why each particular crew member I have named is outstanding. (Yes, I keep notes when we cruise.)  I am verbose but have never run out of "character space".😂  And I believe that my comments along with other paz's resulted in promotions of my named crew members.  Downside: these 10+ minute surveys take me 1.5 hours+.  😂

On 5/20/2024 at 7:38 AM, DaKahuna said:

 

 Not sure I agree.  Everything I have seen about the Retreat has been about the Retreat and not related to anything outside of the Retreat.  Never seen any claims that Retreat guest receive better service in the OVC, bars out side the Retreat, MDR, etc.  Everything I can remember seeing has been bout services directly related to the Retreat. 

 

I totally agree with your comments, DaKahuna, based on our experiences from 32 X cruises.

On 5/19/2024 at 12:01 PM, Focacta said:

@Northern Aurora NCL did not develop the dock at Ward Cove. The dock was developed by the Ward Cove Dock Group. It’s a common misconception because NCL has proprietary use of the dock under an agreement with WCDG. But all in all it’s a private operation owned by two multi-generational Alaska families! 

Cool!  thanks for the interesting information, Focacta!

On 5/18/2024 at 10:22 AM, cruisestitch said:

You are paying more for better accommodations and access to Retreat staff.  The medical team is there for all and I doubt if being in retreat would get you any kind of priority there.

Cruisestitch, you are right on the money!  My experience with X's medical facility (13+ years and as recently as just over a month ago), ILLNESS, not cabin type, is  the priority with the medical Teamf!  AND NOTE:  if you or a family member is really ill, don't wait the posted hours to go to Medical Services., Call Guest Services and tell them you need to see a doctor NOW.  DH was greatly scolded by medical staff for not doing this when I was really ill with food poisoning and thus very dehydrated!  Yup, I am a real cheerleader for X's medical teams due to my positive experiences with them.

6 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

It is a different situation between your house and a cruise ship 😉

Also sliding glass shower doors are outdated now 😁

just build a new bathroom in the house and it had to be a hinged door 

But if you wait long enough they will be back in style 🤣

Yup!  Concur!! My 80's wide leg high waisted jeans are back in vogue......just add a couple of zeros now to what I paid then.  🤣

8 hours ago, Syd58 said:

Had the lobster roll one day for lunch at Luminae - it was subpar - bland.  Also, had the shrimp po-boy for lunch there one day. Bread was almost burned/hard and the few shrimp on it were too large for a po-boy -subpar. The best po-boys have a lot of smaller shrimp (I've had a lot of lobster rolls and shrimp po-boys, so I know what good ones taste like). 

I think taste is subjective and may be impacted by age (some friends have said as they age that they need stronger flavors.)  That said, in April on Summit, I loved the lobster roll and shrimp po'boys..  (DH loves Maine lobster, so not a fan of the lobster roll.) 😄

On 4/27/2024 at 1:56 PM, Ex-Airbalancer said:

What difference does it make 🤔 

we use a shower curtain at home so I couldn’t care if it was changed 

all I care about is a clean shower , hot water, soap and a clean towel 😁🤣

 

We had shower curtains when we built our current house.  We moved in and within 3 months DH asked what I wanted for my birthday.  I told him "sliding glass shower doors".  Great birthday gift! And still enjoying 'em 8 years later. 🤣

On 5/10/2024 at 12:55 PM, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

I think the most accurate way to say this is "independent semi-private" tours

On 5/10/2024 at 12:55 PM, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

I think the most accurate way to say this is "independent semi-private" tours

DH & I now book only "independent semi-private" or small group tours.  We got tired of booking "small group" tours with X to discover 25+ or in one instance 30+.  X told us repeatedly this was SMALL group.  So we lowered our blood pressure and  now book elsewhere 😄

On 4/18/2024 at 10:18 AM, phoenix_dream said:

I did a quick check for spring break for colleges in 2025.  Your timeline fits right into their schedules, and it includes lots of Florida colleges.  

 

To those who say it's not an issue on Celebrity, I say you may be speaking of the Celebrity of a few years ago.  These days Celebrity is deliberately going after a younger crowd and that is evident on my recent sailings.  I sailed two Celebrity cruises this March (one 6 and one 7 nights), beginning March 3, on two different ships.  There were around 500 young people onboard each cruise, primarily teens and young college age adults.  They were generally well-behaved and often traveling as groups with their families.

 

Years ago I sailed a 5 night during a college spring break and it became infamous for the outrageous behavior.  There were 700 college kids from 2 different Florida colleges on the Connie.  They were loud and drunk and causing chaos everywhere such that the Captain held a meeting with the senior officers to "take back the ship".  I am not exaggerating.

 

So I would say overall yes, you will have some college age kids in particular on an early March cruise.  How many depends on many things, including the number of days.  Shorter cruises always equal more kids during March.  Will there be as many as other lines like Carnival or Royal?  No.  Will they be well-behaved like those on my recent ones, or drunken morons like those on my 5 night sailing?  No one can say for sure.

Totally agree with you, phoenix_dream.  That has been DH and my experience. Generally cruises of 7+ days entices less party-likely college/schoolkids.

14 hours ago, JJK2008 said:

DW and I had a similar experience years ago on Royal Caribbean. Agree the medical staff was excellent. Glad you're feeling better. 

Thanks JJK2008.  Was getting concerned that I had developed "walking pneumonia".  Not good, since I was on this cruise to celebrate my 70th.  🤩

14 hours ago, horseymike said:

Hi Susie,

Glad you are feeling better , nice to hear that you received good medical care onboard the Summit.

14 hours ago, horseymike said:

Hi Susie,

Glad you are feeling better , nice to hear that you received good medical care onboard the Summit.

Thanks horseymike!  Irony:  the cruise ship medical did what my "excellent" medical insurance could not do:  get me an appointment with my Family Practice doc. 🤣. (I had actually messaged, while on Summit, my family practitioner for an appoint when I returned home and told not possible, so I went to X's medical!!)

2 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Tried to log in today to do my check in and my pass word no longer works.  Had to reset, which isn't a big deal but apparently, this is happening across the RCI umbrella.  Just wondering if it has anything to do with the recent IOS updates that is also keeping many users out of the App.  Deep sigh...technology is GREAT when it works!!

DH has had to reset twice in last couple weeks!  Darn annoying.......for DH AND DW.😄

5 hours ago, Mike981 said:

 

I love this.

 

It has been a long time since I have cruised a M ship, I'm not sure what the Mercury would be classified as but that was our first ever cruise, then we followed up with the Millennium the next year. We are booked on the Constellation this coming January and really looking forward to it. Don't let the age of a ship throw you or the size of the ship. My DW and I like the smaller ships. I study the floor layout before our cruise to get and idea, but there isn't anything like actually walking around and seeing for yourself. It eliminates a lot of frustration on trying to get from one area to another, if you know you need change a floor to get there.

 

I will add what I have always said and my adult kids live by, learn to go with the flow.

EVERY trip will have things pop up that are not great, how you deal with it makes your trip. Remember, everyone with you is on vacation and want to have a good time.

Mike981, succinctly put.  DH and I love M class for a variety of reasons.  We just booked Infinity in 2026 for Athens (PIRA) 11 nites. cruise.  Mercury was a Century Class cruise ship.  We loved her (2009 & 2010) until she was sold to TUI Cruises. (a joint venture involving a German company and Royal Caribbean Corp.)

5 hours ago, George C said:

We were on summit last month , Luminae was closed for lunch on port days and sushi opened at 3 , you could get lunch in outdoor retreat but very small menu. 

George C, that was our experience (minus the outdoor retreat since we don't sit in the sun) on Connie and Summit.

16 hours ago, Northern Aurora said:

Interesting.  I would not be happy either.  
 

We are presently on the Millennium in Japan.  Today was a port day and Sushi on 5 was open from noon to 2:30 pm.   We were going to eat on shore but the weather was so chilly we returned to the ship around noon.

3 hours ago, miched said:

They limit restaurants that are open on port days to give the  crew a chance to get off of the ship.    They do a rotating  duty  in those that are open. 
 

That is why they are still open on port days if it is a late arrival.    They can’t get off the ship and all of the passengers are still on board.    The buffet would be worse than embarkation day if the other places weren’t open. 
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

A lot of staff we routinely speak to don't get the opportunity to go ashore much.  We've been repeatedly advised that when Luminae or another dining area closes on port days, they are relocated to serving elsewhere on the ship including and near the gangway handing out cold drinks and towels.  I am wondering if the demand for Sushi on 5 between noon & 2:30 pm is far lower on Constellation & Summit (opening on port days at 2:30 p.m.) when sailing the Caribbean than on Millennium which is sailing in the Asian areas.

I don't see this too often but I want to do a shout out for X's medical staff.  DH & I just completed a 9 day cruise on Summit. Very short long story: I needed to get a constant cough and associated wheezing checked out. (I was 99.9% certain it was not Covid or RSV as I had been recently tested for those 2.) Pollen was no longer an issue on board ship but there seemed to be an issue on board (over abundance of cleaning product in certain locations perhaps) that was aggravating my cough and wheezing.  I went to medical, blood was taken, a CBC test was done and 2 chest X-rays were done. Nurse Lovelyn was outstanding as was Dr. Jefferson who confirmed I had no infection (yay, no pneumonia 😄) but I had irritated lungs, like an asthmatic.  Checkup, tests & prescription drugs (no antibiotics since none needed..yay!) came to less than $450!  A detailed printout was provided to me so that I can submit a claim to my insurance company.  (And less than a week later, I am feeling almost back to normal, despite all the tree pollen we have here!). Disclosure:  10+ years ago I got food poisoning while cruising, went to Celebrity's medical facility and found the nurses and 2 doctors to be fantastic...same as on this occasion.  So if you are feeling less than optimal while cruising, don't hesitate to check in with X's medical team.

6 minutes ago, ksmcali said:

We’re in a PH on the Beyond.  I couldn’t find any details regarding Craft Social in relation to upper suite benefits.  It’s not a big issue for us, it’s just my husband appreciates good bar food and it seemed non-sensical that our suite included the high cost of all specialty restaurants, but we can’t get chicken wings at the bar covered in the cost of the cabin. 
 

On a separate note @Tom-n-Cheryl, you likely won’t remember me, but you helped me 15 years ago on these boards!  With your advice we were able to snag the “secret” suite on Carnival Victory.  It created a problem that my poor husband is still paying for!  Thank you and all the other lovely contributors to these boards who provide a wealth of information.

 

 

Why not ask your butler regarding details for Craft Social?  Having cruised 32 cruises with Celebrity, we  have found that the type of suite, number of cruises with X and the cruiser's personality can make for a wide range of "benefits". (DH is so calm and patient and DW is a wired witch 🤣)

On 4/17/2024 at 2:06 PM, omahabob said:

That's true of NCL Haven too, as well as the presence of kids. The season and itinerary affects that as well.

 

I don't speak from extensive personal experience, but based on posts here, it seems all lines are experiencing a reduction in service and the 'luxury experience'. I would imagine that would make a comparison at least somewhat more difficult unless you've sailed all of them very recently. Obviously price would be an exception to that.

I totally agree, Omahabob!  Part of the problem, I think, is Covid:  cruise lines had to pay crew contracts etc. during Covid (such costs are being recouped now) and hiring post-covid experienced staff/new staff  is an ongoing issue which results in reduced service/luxury experience. Personally we have not experienced such a reduction in service or 'luxury experience' on Celebrity, but DH and & I have only cruised upper benefits suite since covid restart. 

On 3/24/2024 at 5:21 PM, Stumptowngal said:

I was on the Ascent the first week of February.  The same was true then. Luminae was open for lunch on embarkation day and on sea days only. 

We were just on Summit for 9 days and Luminae was not open for lunch on port days.  I was disappointed that Sushi on Five does not open for lunch on port days until 2:30 p.m.  (I let X know via survey that I thought this was unsatisfactory for guests who stay on board or only go ashore in the mornings.)

On 3/17/2024 at 5:05 PM, FlyingCruiser2 said:

Not everyone who stays like that is wealthy.  We work and save up to make our cruises special.  And we read this forum. And we don’t have personal assistants. For us, we’d rather travel like that and go less often. 
 

 

Certainly agree with you, FlyingCruiser2.  Too bad the Sour Grapes cannot be turned into wine! 😄

On 3/17/2024 at 7:55 AM, FlyingCruiser2 said:

We will be in that suite in 5 weeks.  I will post about our experience.   I am more worried about noise from the lounge next door.  

Please post your experiences.  Thanks. 😄

4 hours ago, ChucktownSteve said:

When we booked a 2/2026 Regent Grandeur 14 day/ 8 ports Southern Caribbean (including the ABCs) last week, we got a 2 category free upgrade to Penthouse suite; (561-626 SQ FT). Without air or the pre-cruise hotel, it came to $782 pp/pn.

Included are:

 FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions

 FREE Unlimited Premium Beverages, Including Fine Wines and Spirits

 FREE Open Bars and Lounges Plus In-Suite Mini-Bar Replenished Daily

 FREE Pre-Paid Gratuities

 FREE three Specialty Restaurants

 FREE 24-Hour Room Service

 FREE Unlimited Wi-Fi

 FREE Daily Valet Laundry Service

 PENTHOUSE SUITES AND HIGHER INCLUDE: FREE Personal Butler and more

 

On Celebrity Ascent, also in 2/2026, an 11 night/6 port Southern Caribbean (without the ABCs) in a Celebrity Suite; (501 SQ FT) is $836 pp/pn. It includes the Luminae specialty restaurant only, premium liquor, butler, gratuity and wi-fi.

 

Since the Regent Penthouse Suite falls between the Celebrity Suit and Royal Suite, (which is 759 SQ FT), I didn’t price the latter because the Celebrity Suite is already more expensive.

 

IMO, Regent has had the best food I’ve eaten at sea with a wide variety of everyday options of upscale seafood and USDA Prime steak not available on Celebrity without an up charge. Our last three cruises were on Regent totaling 43 nights.  We have three booked on Azamara and one on Regent. 

 

Celebrity used to be our go to until about three years ago just after we hit elite+ and they shortened many cruises. We like 14 to 18 day sailings.  However too many cuts finally chased us to find other value.

 

Unlike the title of this thread, in my case, Celebrity is more expensive than Regent.

                                                                                                                                             

Is the bedroom separated from the main area in a Regent Penthouse suite like it is with a Celebrity Suite and above?

3 hours ago, Jeremiah1212 said:

Le Petit Chef is far from fine dining, but chips on lobster is pretty common. They have served it this way since at least 2019, maybe even before that. I can't remember when Qsine went away. 

DH and I ate in Le Petit Chef pre-covid and said once was enough.  Recently spent 21 days on the Constellation over Christmas & NYE.  Had lobster several times in Luminae and no way did it come with chips bits, cracker bits or anything else-bits.  If it had, I would have immediately sent it back to the kitchen.  Same ship, different kitchens?

15 minutes ago, Carried_Away said:

Food is so subjective, but I like Tuscan Grille and always have at least one dinner there when I'm on an M- or S-class ship. As with every other specialty restaurant I've dined in, the food and service range from fine to excellent depending on the night.

 

I see quite a few others recommend Murano instead of Tuscan, and to the point that food is subjective and personal, I disagree. There's nothing on the Murano menu that I want to eat. But the friend I cruise with does like that type of food, so I've gone with her to dinner in Murano once each cruise we've done on an S-class ship. The service and ambience haven't impressed me, and I can't figure out why so many people say Murano is so much better than the other specialty restaurants.

 

I recommend looking at the menus on the app as Jim suggested and going to the restaurant with the menu that appeals to you the most.

Sorry to disagree but we have eaten in Tuscan on M and S class ships multiple times since Covid-restart and Tuscan food and service has been uniformly bad.  Considering the price now being charged to dine there, if one is in not an Upper Benefit  suite, which prices have been factored in, so not "free", not sure why one would would want to spend that amount of money considering the risk of being disappointed. 

7 hours ago, Club Eleven said:

Coming at this topic from perhaps a different direction than many! 😎

 

I totally understand that some don't like to go formal, or chafe at being required to do so, but I dig dressing up and rarely have occasion to nowadays. I'm on Equinix on a TA in April, and think it would be fun to dress formally on Evening Chic nights. I'm sailing solo, so it's just my own dressing preferences I need to consider (not a spouse, partner, etc). How many guys dress in a tux/dinner jacket on Evening Chic nights? How out of place would I be? 

 

I'm inclined to dress to the nines no matter what, just for the fun. But still interested to know how many other passengers do.

I love wearing floor length evening gowns/formal outfits and DH "matches" my formality with a white  tux jacket or a dark tux jacket, with the dark tux trousers for Evening Chic.  After our Sept.  cruise  where we saw 3 other men (may have been more but we didn't see 'em) wearing tuxes, I (DW) figured only Alpha males wore tuxes.  (I was greatly surprised with our recent 21 days cruise over Christmas-NYE  when I saw more males wearing tuxes.  To those gents: Bless you for complimenting your escorts' formal dress!) Frequently, positive comments to DH from other  more formally dressed  females with relatively casually dressed escorts such as: "you look like James Bond"! puts a smile on my face. (And in some ways, those comments are a very sad commentary on their relationships with their significant others.). Wear what feels good to you and your travel-mate! 🙂