hcat

On 6/5/2024 at 11:40 AM, serene56 said:

12 year old could move down    but yikes   why would you do that to that kid.        Put them each into their own program and let them make new friends.       But curious on what you were able to do on other sailings? 

 

12 yr old moving down would not make a good fit with 8 yr olds..or their parents' expectations

Just stick with the program..

Good for siblings to be apart now and then!

On 6/8/2024 at 4:02 PM, paulh84 said:

Times change. Sooner than later the current loyalists, Zeniths, special people, whatever they title themselves will be washed out and replaced with a different segment of people. Just like the current crop replaced the ones that were the loyalists in the 80’s and 90’s who wore their dinner jackets and recycled mother of the bride dresses. That group has expired and so will this one. But now Celebrity tries to shift focus and gives the complainers some white haired people in the photos that represent them and it’s pandering. I think this group may be most content with having something to complain about. 

We have not all expired, do not all  have white hair,  and are still loyal..but looking around. Do not wear dinner jackets and or a recycled mother of bride dress..( & avoid ageist stereotypes!)

  Some recent  changes need to be called out..and a mix of cruise lengths might be workable..esp on the smaller older ships..but only if they are  updated !

better off with Inf Balc if you can switch

Thanks again.  Nice insights.

I think this photo would  make a lovely remembrance of your cruise..well done!

we use the website as a gen search  vehicle ( it is terrible)   but we always call in to actually get REAL prices and to book..that works much to our advantage...better staterooms and  prices!

44 minutes ago, BP99 said:

Hi,

There are MANY posts on this topic using the terms "Royalized"

and "Royalizing" Celebrity cruises. Could anyone give me

examples or a list of what this is referring to? We are Elite +

but have done many cruises on RCL recently. We are returning to Celebrity this fall for 3 cruises (B2B2B 42 nights). By the 

tone of the comments on the posts what should I be most

terrified of?

Thanks!

see post +54

  Terrified is a bit strong.....crowded bars,  crowded, pools..loud and shouty!  The demographic is  blended more,  so maybe not much diff than Royal C...the X ships are still  very nice..most of them,  and not mega mega!  

I won't be back to post  on this thread....time for new ideas!

3 hours ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

You post sound like something from 10 years ago 🤔😉

The Golden Age of X! 

3 hours ago, billc23 said:

One can only hope. I always enjoyed Celebrity - enough to spend my vacation time and dollars to become Zenith - but the recent loud music everywhere, crowding, shorter time in ports, uncomfortable furniture, needing a strategy to find a quiet place to relax or needing to have the time a trip to the OVC based on when I can find a seat... and the constant nickel and dime charges, let alone the class system that gives entitlement to many passengers - has caused me to have most of my future bookings on other lines.

 

It was not even two years ago when I vigorously defended the Retreat on Celebrity when discussing cruise lines with a couple we met at a local Jazz club. They sailed Regent and said how it was a nicer experience than they had on larger ships. I let them know how the Retreat gave the best of both worlds, small ship luxury treatment and the entertainment of a large ship. After trying the smaller luxury lines I now realize I was wrong. 

try CUNARD!

very nice review with photos!  thank you

we'll be on Apex next Jan in the Carib..looking forward to it!

6 minutes ago, billc23 said:

The major Royalizing will occur when 10% of the Celebrity ships are occupied by Pinnacles who are now sailing as Zeniths! I hope that Silversea does not become more Celebrity like and have the Luxury experience that is currently provided destroyed. 

another good  point.. seems  each move...leads to consequences..!

Hope we can afford to stay in our little AQ Class niche!

11 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

<rant>

My suggestion is keep Celebrity''s the way it is.  You either work around it and adapt or you sail on Royal to get Royal's to get Royal's perks or Celebrity to get Celebrity's perks.  

 

Please don't come over to Celebrity and after one or two cruises try and ruin it for those of us that like it the way it is. 

</rant>

 

Amen!  X has been Royalized  enough...If we still enjoyed Royal C and its mega ships we would book them!

Each line offers enough to its clientele..the Crossover  status situation just makes things worse...

shore excursion  by water is best bet to see Pitons up close!  awesome!

big size difference..and old vs new!

hope it was a great family cruise

We are booked on Silhouette fir a short cruise in Dec!

I turned your photos right side up

( hope it loads ok)

46 minutes ago, the penguins said:

We weren't discussing the price of Speciality Restaurants  however since the restart the restaurants always seem to be pretty much full - whatever the cost Elite etc still get a discount.

Never seen a dinner in the MDR  with an Officer as a Captains Club perk.

AI did include tips however I believe the basic price of the Internet/Wifi package was reduced when the tips were removed - if they weren't I'm sure these boards would have lit up with the price comparisons and I don't recall that happening.

Choice is always good

used to be  Captains table..invites as a perk!

2 hours ago, George C said:

Bottom line is celebrity perks for elite and elite plus are terrible 

but there suite perks are way better than rccl. 

opinions may differ..we think the X  E+ perks are fine.. laundry, included  internet minutes, specialty dining, photo and spa discounts, gelato, specialt coffee  +++++

If the X perks are not as good as ones on  Royal, curious why so many are Crossing over? 

Maybe it's something  beyond the perks that really count?

2 hours ago, dvpaintboy said:

We each have 2 drinks per day and mix it up. Then 1 Bailey's with coffee after our meal. We are on vacation so your response is what is awful!

hoping that' s closer to the norm.

I am diabetic so I do not drink alcohol daily  but have the Classic Package anyhow..mostly for Tea Forte.

   I  will treat myself to a Bellini at the Elite  Bkfst once,  a Baileys  or Aspen  Coffee after dinner a few nights plus , 1 IGLU ( non alcohol)  or Mudslide each cruise!  my husb drinks beer and basic scotch..and maybe something special with a cigar .

Over time, the original cocktail hr concept morphed into being mostly  about the  drinks...compared to the original format of  some wine,  nice canapes and other treats, and  good conversation. 

We only go to Sr ofcr events, and if it's too crowded,  we just greet the officers, take some pics  and leave!

More is not always Merrier!

6 minutes ago, tori1022 said:

Thanks everyone! based off of this, it sound like YC is still a better fit. There was never an issue getting a lounger next to the pool so we can watch the kiddos. The cost is a little more for MSC but looks like it might be worth it. In our minds, there is nothing worse that feeling stressed about getting chairs poolside (if we don't, we are standing next to the pool watching the kids). 

many just sit on the pool edge.. and then dunk!

1 hour ago, wwcruisers said:

We similarly transitioned from RC to X, nearly 15 years ago. As we grew older, RC's increasing shift toward being a 'family' cruise line did not really work for us. We loved our first Celebrity (Solstice) cruise -- and never looked back. Well -- that is, until we became grandparents.Several years ago (pre-Covid), we had an opportunity to take a cruise with our son and his young family. The larger Royal ships were a much better fit for that one than X would have been. When asked about cruise preferences, I recommend RC for folks with kids, and X for adults.

that's a good formula..  with kids= Royal/ Disney,  and Celebrity for adults and less active families. Altho' CoCo Cay may change the picture !

2 hours ago, FamilyAtSea.travel said:

We've set a goal of visiting each bar on the Equinox and asking the bartender to make us their personal favorite drink (not in one day) and we've not only had some great drinks, we've met some truly great people. 

 

---

 

Celebrity Sky Lounge 

 

The Sky Lounge is a beautiful bar and lounge space on Deck 14 at the forward of the ship. 

 

It has amazing 270-degree views with comfortable seating and a stage for entertainment.

 

Alex at the Sky Lounge is one of the best bartenders we've come across on any cruise line in a very long time. 

 

There's good reason for that though as he's currently doing his 16th contract! 

 

His first 10 were with MSC in the Yacht Club and the last 6 have been with Celebrity.

 

He's not only a bartender, but he can also do card tricks, sing, and who knows what else. 

 

After talking with him we learned he loves to experiment with drink recipes and even introduced my all-time favorite cruise drink to the Yacht Club on MSC - the Salted Caramel Espresso Martini (the recipe Celebrity uses is far different).

 

For us he actually shared 3 drinks with us:

 

- Chocolate Mint Martini 

- A pineapple drink he just made for the first time yesterday

- A coconut martini that he said is best with coconut around the rim of the drink

 

We will definitely be back to see over the remaining 5 days of this sailing to see Alex! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

interesting carpet..looks like wine was spilled!

do u know the purpose of those monitors in the last photo?

7 minutes ago, odysee said:

 
But Ikea seats tend to be more comfortable than the Hoppen torture chairs 😵‍💫🫣

agree but never had an IKEA chair!

mostly a dip and dunk pool in the Retreat,  if one can find space.. and the swing chairs are usually " taken" for the day... by cocktail lovers!

5 minutes ago, leaveitallbehind said:

....and visa versa with RCCL.  It works both ways.  Not to mention that the RCCL tier benefits up to Zenith are far better than Celebrity!

yes, but I believe  many more from Royal C are in the potential crossover pool and push to further Royalize X

.Some Royal benefits like the  cocktail hr buffet are better than on X,  but we left Royal yrs ago and  have not been tempted back!

thanks for a great review..

we no longer do the surveys b/c they are self serving and do not allow for honest  feedback like they used to!

what's up next on your cruise list?