goofysmom99

I checked one of my booked cruises (C2) for which I'm paying $2292 cruise only solo. An A2 solo is a whopping $5610 cruise only. So dining in Blu sans AI is a $3318 upcharge. 😮 Holy cow that's ambitious! Definitely sticking with specialty restaurants for 13 nights for ~$500 pp. $3.3K to dine in Blu, just wow. BTW, on two other cruises, daily upcharge for AQ cabin was around/less than $100/day solo. Specialties are cheaper than that so no changes here.

You could book something lesser than a sky suite and dine in specialty restaurants the entire cruise. Luminae certainly isn't worth the $6500 difference between a my $2100 (solo) concierge cabin (great location) and $8600 sky suite on one of my S-class cruises next year. Thirteen nights in a specialty sets me me back just under $500 including tip; so about $1k for a couple. I mean, you really have to like Luminae for that amount of money.

After listening to IV portion of the script, I think IV cabins are the main reason the MDR menu selection and quality on E-class ships are better (not great but better). S/M-class and E-class options are not the same. Seriously, if they tried foist the S/M-class menus onto E-class, the IV would an even tougher sell. Could be why food was avoided altogether. You want a bit better MDR food? Sail in an IV. Or accept the current (dreadful) MDR menus and quality in order to have a real balcony. Tough choice. I suppose there's always Plan C, book elsewhere. I'm still trying to like X, though. Big sigh.

Subscribe to the Captain's Club Power Up Points thread = it's our very own Paul Revere source if/when anything newsworthy (and not so newsworthy) occurs. 😉

I emailed my TA today, a Zenith who is currently on 2nd leg of Equinox B3B, "what do you think of the menus and the food?" Her reply: "Terrible. The buffet isn't good either. I just filled out the survey from last cruise and it wasn't good." I'll be speaking with her about a booking after she gets home in 10 days. BTW, she always books a regular veranda cabin so she'll have endured 3 weeks of the new MDR "cuisine." I'm sure she'll have a lot to tell.

My first cruise was in 1993 on Zenith. I'd been a Food Service Officer in the Air Force many years earlier and was absolutely amazed at how they could mass-produce such outstanding cuisine. Expressed my admiration to the F&B Mgr who then took me on a very detailed tour of the kitchen(s) and the food stores. Still remember that awesome cuisine. Murano now isn't quite as good as the MDR was back then.

I'm glad I listened to this one. Much better than some of the earlier ones. I'm waiting for Part 2 = a focus group of "most loyal" customers that addresses the appalling downgrade in MDR food. Deflecting that issue as subjective doesn't cut it for a menu that frequently has two entrees/night based on pasta (OVC "cuisine" in MDR). Yup, definitely waiting for the food installment.

I have but I don't think anyone cares. I look at this reinstatement of lounge access as an attempt by X to get something, anything out onto social media that has a positive spin. They've done a remarkable job generating negative publicity, even compared to other lines' cut backs. Cutting the MDR food so severely on a line whose hallmark was its food reputation is dumb, dumber, dumbest. So isn't it just swell zeniths get lounge access (and it doesn't cost X a dime).

Nope. It's going to take better food, especially in MDR.

As I think about this, the only increase would be from the additional zeniths who aren't already traveling in suites. On my last TA, there were only four that I know of.

While I appreciate its reinstatement, I've never been one to hang out at MC/Retreat when booked in a suite and that won't be changing. Always have other favorite bars on the different ships. But I can safely say the furniture in the Summit's Retreat is horrid (not one chair with arms except the concierges'); even though it's old, MC furniture is much more comfortable. Also, there's no need to go to just the Retreat for beverage supply for your suite; you can get water/sodas from any bar. My next cruise is on M-class where I have an aft cabin, waaay aft MC is way forward = definitely not gonna happen.

Just google "how do I create a bookmark for my iphone," then follow the steps..

See post #653.

Celebrity may not be paying attention to these boards, but Virgin certainly is. Good marketing.

It isn't only price and cuts driving me to other cruise lines. I wish Celebrity weren't so committed to 100% bathtub/shower combos in suites below royal. The tubs eliminate suites as an option. And I want a "real" balcony so there goes E-class and its better MDR food. That leaves few choices = Silhouette or Reflection and their three specialty restaurants. Sure limits itinerary options. All those things have led me to booking two other lines. BTW, are there any other suites on an X ship with a walk-in shower, other than 6145/6 on M-class? Are the Deck 12 sky/aqua suites on Refection all the bathtub combos?

Was just now checking Crystal and my goodness, they certainly have some interesting itineraries. I haven't given up on Celebrity altogether but am limiting future cruises to Silhouette or Reflection, in that order, and opting for specialty dining. Have you cruised Regent?

One of the things I suggested to X a few months ago was to have an omelette station in OVC in the evening. They'd probably need several.

Good choice if for no other reason than the Lawn Club Grill (my favorite).

Please do post about your experience. I'm still the chauffeur for two more cruises, but hoping to try Brightline for a spring TA. I'm really sick of the drive, one-way car rental, and always looking at "free parking" in hotel search.

Mine have always arrived hot and once I receive it, I dump it into an insulated mug. If I have lots of OBC, I'll buy one on the ship or prebuy as a gift. Otherwise, I take along a Yeti tumbler (it's an eBay knock-off so no stress if I lose it).

Not so far but I was already a zenith the first time I tried. I'm sure that helped. They may say no next time, too....then I'll ask for a fried egg, a slice of cheese, a meat, and make a breakfast sandwich. 😉

Since I have celiac, oatmeal isn't an option (but I make it a lot at home). Good luck with the deconstructed eggs benedict.

Every cruise line handles GF well in their dining rooms, giving you a menu the night before. Enjoying a hot breakfast in my cabin is something I look forward to when I cruise. One of the things X does very well (and I don't) is poached eggs. I can write-in two slices of GF toast, poached eggs (write-in to not put them onto the toast), a breakfast meat, and ask for hollandaise on the side. Then I assemble my jury-rigged version of GF eggs benedict for breakfast on my balcony. While I don't do that every day, I do order something hot every morning. It's my cruise indulgence. Being able to have GF hot breakfast from room service will make/break my cruise line choice. Although I'm not charged for this on X, even if I were, I'd still order it. And that, among other things, is what I'm busy researching on other cruise lines. (Not available on Princess.)

For room service breakfast? Eggs?

Huh?