Kevnzworld

My initial impressions are good overall. The ship looks a lot nicer than the Odyssey ships. The addition of TK Grill on deck eight with its lounge is a really nice addition. The Colonnade is now on deck nine, and it's design is a lot more spacious and bright. The outside covered patio is twice as large and is now heated. The patio area is two levels, with a staircase leading down to the additional patio on deck eight.

The design of the ship is more modern and upscale. I like the design elements in Seabourn square, the Observation bar and lounge on deck five.

Seabourn square now features a coffee roaster, and new better coffee beans ( the Barista was proud to point out ).

The rooms are a bit smaller, and narrower though more luxurious. . The credenza across from the bed is about 7" wide, making it almost unusable. The 50" widescreen TV is an improvement.

Some other quick notes.

Ad Hoc in the Colonnade is now history ( yay ).

The sushi restaurant looks really good. They brought in Japanese sushi chefs, I can't wait to try it. I live in LA, which arguably has the best sushi outside of Tokyo so I hope it measures up.

There is a celebratory atmosphere on the ship being the maiden voyage, and there are more than a few Seabourn/ Carnival executives on board.

I'll post pictures and more thoughts as the cruise to Singapore commences.

We are boarding Encore tomorrow. I'll post my opinions of the design and how it differs from the Odyssey class ships.

In the meantime, here is a picture I found of The Restaurant online, posted by the ship's interior designer

Boarding in two days, I'm excited !

I'll post whatever major differences from Odyssey class ships that I notice.

Love my reserve! There are definitely a lot of benefits :)

I concur! The Chase reserve reward point benefits are the best of any credit card for travel and dining.

I have to give my opinion

I do not like Blu very much. My last AQ cruise was in July, I ate dinner in Blu only a couple times over two weeks. I paid for Tusccan grill most nights instead.

I do like Luminae better, and on my last cruise in October I ate in Luminae most nights.

For me there is no real comparison.

Hi

I didn't see your listing on the roll call, but I'm potentially interested in the Mangalore and Cochin tour.

larrabeekm at yahoo dot com

We tried it once. It isn't very good. Average sushi, no Miso soup. The fish isn't sushi grade. Zero vibe.

Needless to say we won't be back. Nobu on Crystal cruise it isn't.

Yes. I'm on Equinox now.

$299 minus any Elite discount.

There is also by the day ($40? ).

It isn't significantly faster, just somewhat

Little comparison.

I sailed Oceania once, never again.

The food isn't good, even Celebrity is better. Jacques is a joke.

The wine by the glass isn't good and expensive.

The cabins are small and poorly designed.

Competition is good. It keeps prices down and offers the traveler more choices.

Viking ocean cruises is another newer cruise line in Celebrity's space

Damn!

Literally five minutes ago I loaded my unused Laundry coupons into my travel bag for my upcoming Equinox cruise in a week......

2 sailing nomads

How lucky we are to have such a choice.

Why not do like I have over many years and try all or most of the lines that you think will suit you.

Then you will really know which line is the best for you.

 

 

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More is preferred to less ( cruise line choices ).

I'm anxiously awaiting the release of the 2018 schedule which should include the new ship. The new schedule should be released next month.

Looks like a bigger Odyssey class ship.

I'm sure there will be more updates and differences that will be more apparent onboard.

Yes....Celebrity is changing.

It's somewhat better or worse depending on how much you want to spend.

The Veranda / MDR class is deteriorating in quality. I won't eat in the MDR, I don't like the service or lack of it. It's hectic. I don't like food being thrown at me.

If you can afford the suites and newer for pay restaurants ( sushi, Gastrobar, Luminae ), Celebrity is somewhat better than it was.

Yes, the pool is still crowded, the Oceanview cafe is like a high school cafeteria and there is the constant up sell f product and services.

That being said....

I still think many Celebrity cruises are still a good relative value. I'm sailing in two weeks...

Just read this thread for the first time and having a quiet chuckle, keep it up guys ( & girls)

On our recent Quest Route of the Vikings (+ 10 ) we had a number of interesting discussions with Staff members who are going over to Encore, some are leaving Quest this month (October) others not until January.

We said to the October ones that we thought they were "courageous" ("Prime Minister", our UK correspondents will understand that:)

The Staff members who had previously done inaugural voyages agreed, they said that it was hard work with a new ship.😜

I was on the Odyssey in May and heard the same thing. There was a lot of talk about who would graduate to the new ship. It really shouldn't be all that different. It seems to be just a larger, somewhat improved version of the Odyssey class ships.

I applaude the idea of alternative lunch options to the Oceanview. I for one do not like the " cattle call " , especially on sea days.

Ive heard it referred to as " Lord of the Flies ".

Maybe someone could post the menu?

Now that the Grill is open, are there still TK family style dinners every other night in the Collonade ?

I agree with you entirely that Luminae should be open longer hours. I'd especially like to see them bring back brunch, as that was a nice way to spend a lazy sea day breakfast/lunch... Maybe that is just me.

 

BUT, I will disagree with you on the Seabourn comparison. We were on the transatlantic this past spring on Seabourn and main dining room breakfast was usually 8:30 - 9:30 (or 8-9, I can't recall exactly. But it was one hour.) Lunch was 12:00 - 1:30. Somehow I managed to miss breakfast daily in the restaurant and still not starve :)

The Colonnade on Seabourn is civilized, and great for both lunch and breakfast. Yes, it has a buffet, but like Oceania, it also has wait service and menu items.

Seabourn's Collonade is open until 10 am by the way......as is Oceania's breakfast.

I don't have a problem with it. You can always get room service or go to the Lido. If you want to eat in Blu or Luminae in a more formal setting, get up and go. It's your choice if you want to sleep late. I think it is unreasonable to expect them to stay open late.

The primary " perk " of Aqua Class or Suites is the dedicated restaurant. It is not unreasonable for them to stay open until 10am for breakfast to allow their customers to not be rushed.

I shouldn't have to go to the buffet if I don't want to get up by 8-8:30 am to get ready for breakfast.

I'm on VACATION ..!! I'm paying a premium for real restaurant service in a civilized atmosphere.

I'm a long time Celebrity traveller. I like Celebrity, but one thing keeps me from booking more cruises next year. The early breakfast closings in Blu and Luminae.

No other supposedly " premium " cruise line does this. Oceania and Seabourn are open until 10 am.

This draconian policy is especially frustrating on sea days, where one hopes to sleep in a little before getting ready for breakfast. Yet they close the doors at 9:00. 8:30 on port days, so those that stay on the ship are penalized.

Nothing " Modern Luxury " about that.

I once complained to a Food and beverage officer on the Silhouette about it. Luminae was new and he kept the restaurant open until 9:30 am ....

Yes I've heard the excuses about staffing etc..they are excuses not legitimate reasons.

I'm hoping that if others voice their displeasure, the Celebrity " official " cruise critic lurker might alert the management that this policy is really unpopular.

 

I just wish Luminae (and Blu) would extend their breakfast hours 30 minutes, especially on sea days when we're more likely to want to sleep in.

I complained to the food and beverage manager on the Silhouette a year ago and got the breakfast hours extended to 9:30 every day.

No other cruise line is so draconian with the hours of operation. Modern Luxury should allow someone time to sleep in until 9:00 and have time to get ready to come down to breakfast.

Just being nosy - I wonder what extra goodies those on the 'proper' inaugural will be getting (apart from the ship having hopefully been finished off by the poor souls who are on between 4th Dec and 7th Jan, of course). And at what extra cost per night?

 

I remember when a world cruise started with business class flights, a night with gala dinner in Miami, free picking up and delivery of luggage, etc.

 

If anyone who is doing it, or has looked seriously into booking it, it would be nice to know just what special things it offers. And is there to be a 'christening'?

There is a party January 7 at the dock. Sojourn will be in port too. Though we disembark on the 7th, we and all other passengers on the prior REAL

maiden voyage are invited. We will still be in Singapore and will probably attend.

Sushi on 5 is the new specialty restaurant model for Celebrity, like the Gastropub.

Restaurants on board with higher quality food for those that are willing to pay.

I'm looking forward to trying Sushi on 5 next month.

On the Equinox AQ in July

No Muesli cart.

No bottled waters in the room past the first day. I did convince my cabin attendant to steal me a few.

The same boring Blu menu that never changes. The execution is not as good.

Example : the menu lists a duck confit leg. I received a sausage patty. I asked what that was and where the confit leg was.....

That question confused the wait staff, as they had no idea what confit even meant.

Unless there's a can't miss Tuesday special ( as this was, $200 a night for the cabin, including single supplement ), I'm only traveling Celebrity in suites to get Luminae. I can't take Blu anymore, I at there three times in two weeks. I'd rather eat in the Lawn Club, Tuscan Grill or sushi on 5.