4cats4me

19 minutes ago, MissP22 said:

We've received booklets in the cabin before but never CRUISE NIGHT COUPON BOOKS.

I never saw the Specialty restaurant coupons in the other books.

Just a lot of worthless coupons.

Did your books have the restaurant coupon?

The CRUISE NIGHT COUPON BOOKS are similar to what we’ve received in the past, except for the 2 for 1 restaurant.  The other booklet had coupons 10-15%, which I used to stack with the 10% elite discount, and it came in really handy when buying hundreds of dollars worth the cosmetics.  For me, that coupon was worth more than a $29 free dinner.  What is a worthless coupon to one is not worthless to another.  

I still have a leftover BOGO restaurant coupon  from the April cruise.  I think I will just throw it in the trash when I get home tonight since we plan on eating at the buffet all 10 nights on our next cruise in October.  

3 hours ago, MissP22 said:

Under the Boarding Pass and Travel Summary/ Travel Summary section.

Ours didn’t show up in the personalizer in  April, but the books were in our cabin on embarkation day.  .  We always get the coupon booklets, each one of us, and have at least a dozen times now over the last four years.  Booklets were not called cruise night, but they had a few good deals.  

I didn’t trust that it was legit so I too deleted it.  

1 hour ago, FloaterBoat said:

 

 

Hopefully you're right.  That makes sense.

1 hour ago, andio2of5 said:

If you are Plat/Elite with the free minutes then yes you can exchange those minutes for a discount on one of the unlimited packages on the first day on the Grand right now. The Grand currently has 3 different unlimited packages as well as the pay/day plan.

Yes, this was our experience a couple months ago.  

Regarding discounts of internet packages on embarkation day, on the MedallionNet ships (Royal, Regal, Caribbean and a couple others)  you get 25% on embarkation day IF you are platinum or elite.  I don’t believe the Grand has gone to MedallionNet yet, so perhaps the reason for no additional discount on embarkation day 

Per many reports, The foot stools have been removed from AQ cabins since they revolutionized Equinox in May.  Balcony tables are very tiny now and won’t accommodate two people trying to enjoy breakfast.  

Sadly, the smoke smell was pro nounced in April.  However, we didn’t notice it the previous year, or on the Regal.   That was the only thing we didn’t care foron the Royal.   Smell wafted into the  gift shop, too. 

8 hours ago, geoherb said:

I also like to have multiple FCDs on my account. I bought three apiece for us when I was able to get the $100 back on American Express for spending $500. I used two of mine for my back-to-back cruises in Alaska and my third one for September's transatlantic cruise. I applied one of DH's to the transatlantic. So for my initial $600, I've so far used $400 as deposits, received $100 back from Amex, received $50 in OBC, and will receive $150 more in OBC plus still have $200 for future deposits for DH--a total of $900 not counting whatever OBC we'll get if we use DH's two additional FCDs, and worst case the $200 back if we don't book before they expire.

I need a math tutor.  

I plan to take my Elite medallion from the April cruise  onboard our October cruise and have twin Elite medallions, and I shall glue some posts on the back  and wear them as earrings.  I will be a double Elite.  LOL 😂 

2 hours ago, the_dylaness said:

 

Not sure how you define older...

But I'm in my mid 30s and I'm pretty fired up about the balcony furniture situation!

We have two upcoming Equinox cruises (sailed her once before in Jan 2018.)

I really cherish sitting on my balcony, relaxing, reading, maybe having a glass of wine or breakfast.

I want comfortable furniture!

Older: Anybody over 35. LOL.  We are mid 50s to early 60s.  Now that you mention it, we liked comfort in our 30s, too. 

4 hours ago, hubofhockey said:

 

Did they take away access to Persian Garden?  If so, I'm canceling my next Aqua cabin.  I like going in there on sea days and rainy days.

That still exists but I never use it due to my stage of life.  😂 

Funny story, back in 2012 when we first booked AQ, that’s was the main draw for me, the spa, never even realized we would love Blu so much, and of course now Blu is the main draw, but we basically even forgot the spa existed on the last cruise. 

1 hour ago, Redtravel said:

If a balcony with lounge chairs and footstools is so important to you,  find a cruise line that has what you want.  Each cutback is small. Add them up and it's not the cruise that you want.  That's when you say enough already. Everyone has a breaking point.  When I cruise, I expect certain things. When the cruise line or hotel fails to deliver, I don't book them again.  Celebrity has beautiful ships. It is a shame that the cutbacks have ruined your experience. 

Aqua on the Solstice Class has always had foot stools, and yes, it was important , so in your words, I actually did find a cruise that had what I wanted based on past experiences and did book what I wanted. We booked last November and had  been on the Equinox 4  times since 2013. Little did we realize the comfy balcony furniture would be removed during the revolution.  Had we known this then we would have booked a basic guarantee obstructed balcony and saved a whole lot of money.  We book AQ mainly for Blu, but the foot stools enhanced the AQ experience, as did s lot of other little things, which sadly have disappeared, too. I am not anti-Celebrity.  I just feel that since AQ has been diluted so much, it is not worth it anymore.  What I don’t like is paying a whole lot more money for AQ but not getting anything extra except for Blu.  

As others have mentioned, it would be better to just book a nice cheapie cabin and add on specialty restaurants if desired.  In the Caribbean we always book balconies because we like to relax there and not have to battle to get a deck chair up top. That is our “thing.”  I would definitely sail on Celebrity again, but I would go cheap and add on what is important.  I now know that I will have to bring a blow-up beach ball or my own foot stool.  I won’t waste money on AQ anymore.  

We rebooked on another line for the same date, won’t have to fly now, and are paying half, AND getting foot stools.  Wow hoooooo! LOL

We are happy with our decision.

.  

3 hours ago, Redtravel said:

Am amazed that so many people loved that foot stool. It was nice. It was not essential. If your balcony isn’t what you like, book an oceanview. It costs less. 

Why should it be a source of amazement that people like to lounge comfortably on a cruise? LOL

If I had wanted a rustic experience I would have gone camping.  

4 hours ago, SunsetPoint said:

Yes, all our complaints on here are First World problems, but the impact of "one little change" is quite subjective. 

 

If a passenger's favorite activity on the ship is settling back with their feet up on their balcony and that "one little change" greatly diminishes their ability to do so, then it IS a big deal to them and could easily be enough to send them elsewhere.  This could be particularly true for those with back problems, circulatory  problems (raises hand here) or leg/foot problems.  I do hear some complaints throughout these forums that have me shaking my head, but I realize it's still a matter of perspective and what's not important to one person may be VERY important to another.

 

How many of you would drop the beverage package if it no longer covered specialty coffees or no longer covered wine?   Many of you would be miffed if others shot back, "Well, it's not a big deal because I don't drink wine/coffee anyhow."   How many of you would change to a different cruise line if the "one little change" was the elimination of alcohol onboard?  There are many who don't drink who could reply, "It's just one little change... do you really go on a cruise just to drink?"

 

Often, it's not just that "one little change" that's the problem, but rather it's the straw that broke the camel's back.  Little change 1 + little change 2 + little change 3 + little change 4 + little change 5 + price increases, and eventually you may decide it's not worth it anymore.  

I am the OP.  You articulated my position better than I did. Thank you.  

Money back? 😂😂😂

On 6/20/2019 at 3:12 PM, voljeep said:

That emoji cracks me up!  😂 

15 hours ago, Rod&Deb said:

OMG you are joking arn't you.  How stupid to go on a cruise for a foot stool and cancel it because it's not there.  I am glad I wouldn't be sitting next to you at dinner Ridiculous outlook on life.

No, I’m not joking.  Wasn’t going on the cruise for just a foot stool. Was going AQ for the restaurant Blu  as well. By the way, in Blu, the assigned restaurant for Aqua, people don’t share tables with other diners anyway.  It is all  private  tables. 

The new chairs don’t look nearly as comfortable, either, with those hard square edges compared to the old furniture. Of particular note, hard frame all around chair vs old chair.  

23 minutes ago, lovedecruise said:

We choose to cruise so we can get away from it all.  I care for our adult intellectually disabled daughter who lives at home, and my husband teaches young children.  When we have an opportunity for some respite, we have to travel in school holidays, and a balcony is a must. This is because it gives us the option to escape noisy children and crowds of people.  We love to sit out there and recline in our deck chair with our feet up on the footstool, often falling off to sleep or just reading a book.  Looking at the new set up, this won't be as easy as those chairs don't look comfortable enough, being so upright.  I know it may seem a minor inconvenience to some cruisers but to us, it could well be a deal breaker and make us look at other cruise lines.  Does anyone know if these new chairs will be replacing the reclining ones on the regular balcony cabins or is it just for the CC and AQUA cabins

Hi, the pics On social media show the reclining type chairs on Aqua balconies.  The worst chairs are the ones pictured above on the Sky Suite balconies.  

On the AQ balconies the tables  are tiny. .  I will try to find the pic and upload.  

2 hours ago, Thrak said:

Have never done it but wondering if it would be worth it to park out near the airport at one of the $10 per day places and take uber or something to the port. I have no idea what that would cost. The last time we sailed out of SF our son dropped us off and we treated him to a BVE. I guess the BVE program is being killed as of the end of June though so we won't be able to do that anymore.

Parking near the airport is an interesting idea, but last time we parked, over a year ago, I was lucky to find something within the $$16-18 daily range , and that was with a coupon. Most parking was in the $15-20 daily range, give or take coupons or the random 2 free days parking for every so many days.  We used to park out there all the time when fly8ng, but now we BART but couldn’t last year, and we were shocked how pricy it had become. 

OP, we’ve parked at 55 Francisco a couple times and 80 Francisco in the past. Both are nicely located  lots.  $18 a Day is avg everywhere now, even at the port in Los Angeles.  We just factor it into the overall cost of the cruise.  Transportation and parking costs are atrocious in California.   

Now, what you COULD do is reserve parking through the BART website and park at one of our garages in the east bay,and from there you would take BART to Embarcadero and then Uber the one mile or so to the port.  Select-a-spot.  We always park there. Bring an old car though, or it could get stolen.   Parking is like $7 a day and weekends are free. 

Ae left our car at One of the garages for three weeks last year.  You must make a reservation and not all stations participate in the program.  To me, for the cruise, I would rather pay the $180 to park near the port vs hassling taking BART though, 10 days parking $70 or maybe $60 with free weekend ?? plus around $30 to BART, plus Uber,   My math is bad today.  

Great thread. Thanks for starting it, clampram. We are booked on the Pacific for next year’s Tahiti Cruise and are so looking forward to the smaller ship experience.  We have 3 Royal Princess cruises booked until then.  Unfortunately, our room will be near the bow on the   Pacific, but I am hopeful that the seas won’t be turbulent while cruising around Tahiti. 

13 hours ago, ssymyroz said:

I'm sorry, but you seem pretty uptight.  I am just taking a wild guess that your room attendants won't mind that you changed your mind and booked elsewhere.  Sheesh.  A helluva lot of talk about foot stools

13 hours ago, ssymyroz said:

I'm sorry, but you seem pretty uptight.  I am just taking a wild guess that your room attendants won't mind that you changed your mind and booked elsewhere.  Sheesh.  A helluva lot of talk about foot stools

Thank you.  I appreciate your input and will try to become a better person. 

1 minute ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

FYI, it's only after the ships have been Hoppenized that they no longer have footstools and regular balcony tables.  I'm just off Solstice, had a concierge class cabin with a lovely large balcony, footstools, and a regular table.

Well, this Hoppenization needs to end, it sounds like.  It almost seems  like they’re catering to younger people who don’t want or need comfort, and not us older people,   who have more aches and pains. 

6 hours ago, MissLittle1959 said:

I was being sarcastic.  People in here are basically saying it sucks by saying they've walked out of the theater.  I plan on giving it a shot.   Not everyone has the same taste.  what I may enjoy, you might not.  Going overboard is complaining about footstools and tiny tables and cancelling their cruise bc of it.  

.Luckily, I was still outside of final payment.   I booked  a different cruise yesterday on another line  immediately after I cancelled the Equinox Cruise. I’m saving half, and now I don’t have to come up with airfare either, a win-win. I have no regrets.  

I will return to X when they return the foot stools  back to Aqua Class, which is what they advertise as an amenity of booking Aqua.  If they’re no longer going to provide them, they shouldn’t advertise it as an amenity. 

On my new cruise, I will have a normal sized table to set my food and drinks on, plus I will have a giant balcony with FOOT STOOLS! 

Small nesting table still in the cabin on the Crown a few months ago.  (However, barrel chair was missing. We had a non-balcony cabin FYI. )

Small table still Present on Royal three months ago but was tucked inside of closet.