BayAreaBC

The arrest for "buggery" was on an Atlantis Celebrity Summit cruise in Dominica in 2012.

In 2010, Grand Cayman didn't allow an Atlantis cruise to dock in Grand Cayman due to protests from religious groups. I wouldn't let that stop me from booking but I would ask what happens if they do that again.

It's a shame that much of the Caribbean is very homophobic. I don't think any gay charters stop in Barbados or Jamaica due to their laws against being gay and potential violence.

Too bad. Most homophobes love money more than they hate gays. I personally don't want to give my money to homophobes if they hate me though.

So now you're saying you can't be considered established if you don't open your very own restaurant? You can't be a chef at an existing restaurant? The reason a lot of restaurants fail is that it's hard to be both an excellent chef AND an excellent business owner. Too many owners won't give the chef the leeway he/she needs to prepare really good food, and too many chefs thing that because they make good food they can run a business.

Sorry, but you are very argumentative and not worth discussing this issue logically.

I've eaten at two of Tom Collichio's restaurants and one of the former Top Chef contestant restaurants. I did not pay $200 for any of them. Tom's restaurants I found overpriced. The former contestant was quite reasonable and good but not outstanding. There is no way any of those meals was worth $200.

Feel free to plug paying much more for eating on Celebrity than what you would pay in the USA.

Do you work for them?

As already mentioned, many of the chefs on these shows ARE established. Maybe they do the show for the prize money, or the experience, or to gain a little more name recognition or who knows why.

 

 

 

You're putting words in my mouth....I never said paying that would or would not impress anyone in particular. :rolleyes:

 

Frankly, your posts come across as sour grapes. You've said you wouldn't pay $200 for this and you seem hell bent on "proving" why it is a waste of money for people who WOULD pay. Why so bitter? Me thinks the poster doth protest too much!

I would hardly call having a restaurant fail in 2010 and then becoming a caterer established. (see the link I posted listing what all the previous contestants have done since being a reality show contestant. At most half have started their own restaurants and most of those have failed).

Feel free to encourage Celebrity to price gouge. I'm sure they need the money.

People post for information so that they can make up their own minds.

$200 pp seems very overpriced to me for a meal from a reality show contestant from years ago when you can eat in the MDR for free or the specialty restaurants for a fraction of that.

Cruises which continuously upsell "special" packages lead to lesser attention to detail and less service for those who do not wish to participate in them.

It wouldn't surprise me that cruiselines enact the policies of airlines where you have to pay for all your meals, your luggage and everything besides your transport.

If that happens I won't be buying.

The November 15th Top Chef sailing is hosted by Hosea Rosenberg, the winner of season 5.

He currently runs a catering business and is opening a new restaurant in Boulder CO this summer.

His last restaurant closed in 2010. Note for a list of what happened to all the previous contestants see the link below

http://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/the-ultimate-top-chef-restaurant-guide

Is it that impossible for you to believe that someone might really just enjoy the experience? Or does spending more money on something than you care to spend automatically mean you think that person is so shallow they just want to try to impress people? :rolleyes:

I guess I've had far too many conversations with people who talk about how fantastic their suites are but know little to nothing about the places they visit.

You are probably correct that paying $200 for a meal made by TV reality show contestants would not impress anyone with taste though.:rolleyes:

Novices? I don't think so... or else my definition of novice is different than yours. They are all experienced chefs, most have opened their own restaurants. Many have won several awards. Brook Williamson is opening her third restaurant this month. I would certainly consider it - not for the chance to be on TV, or to impress anyone - but because of the opportunity to experience the food and meet the chefs, etc.

I'm sure none have a Michelin star. No established chef would compete on the show except as a judge or for charity.

$200 pp is very high, particularly since the chef contestants are novices.

The high price is for the novelty and the slim chance to be on TV. It will make a good story to tell later to try to impress people later. However, people who would be impressed by paying $200 pp for a Top Chef meal aren't worth impressing IMHO.

I've eaten at a few of Tom Colicchio's restaurants and found them to not live up to the hype and not worth the price.

Grand Cayman isn't a very gay friendly place. Cozumel is nice though. There used to be a nude beach there. Not sure if it is still there.

If you rent mopeds to circle the island of Cozumel, make sure you rent from a reputable place. We rented two mopeds and both broke down.

Rumrunners are not the only method

Sneaky Shorts

http://www.amazon.com/Papa-Bert-Sneaky-Shorts-Flexible/dp/B004EL0LE6/ref=pd_sbs_k_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=18EMEV6DZZAFEEPQX5V3

Beer Belly

http://www.amazon.com/The-BeerBelly-200-001-80-Ounce-Belly/dp/B001RB2CXY/ref=pd_sbs_k_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=18EMEV6DZZAFEEPQX5V3

Wine Rack

http://www.amazon.com/The-WineRack-200-008-Wine-Medium/dp/B001FYZZI2/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1398719361&sr=8-19&keywords=rumrunner+flask

No Comment

http://www.amazon.com/Tampon-Flasks-Wrappers-Hidden-Flask/dp/B00CKCT3S6/ref=pd_sbs_k_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=18EMEV6DZZAFEEPQX5V3

RCCL and Celebrity's profits were down by 2/3rds in their latest earnings report. There will likely be further cost cutting.

Sorry wrong board

Probably Celebrity, however charter cruises such as RSVP or Atlantis I've never seen offer perks.

Depending on the port you cruise out from 80 bucks is not that bad for a 1 liter liquor bottle with mixers and snacks.

For most USA ports this is very high, however for many foreign ports it's not.

I haven't sailed yet but I was impressed with both the price and fast customer response of PP vs RSVP. PP even threw in a free drink package which I can't imagine RSVP ever doing.

The shopping in Aruba is very good and not outrageously expensive. I bought a beautiful mopa mopa engraved decorative bowl for less than $100.

The shopping area is an easy walk from the port.

The Worthington and the Villa Venice are the same resort now since 3 neighboring resorts on the same block merged.

I stayed there last year and liked being close to the beach and within walking distance of the gay beach. However, you need a rental car to get to the restaurants and bars in Wilton Manors. Be careful with parking in Wilton Manors the meter police ticket immediately if you don't feed your meter.

I don't see a roll call for this Pied Piper cruise. Is anyone else going?

Does the MSC Divina have a dick deck and spermal suite though? Those are important amenities for some of us.

MSC gets really mixed reviews on this website. Apparently they nickel and dime you over everything. The food reviews seem pretty negative too.