Removal of foot stools from CC and AQ on Equinox

[bandp407]

2 hours ago, mmeg29 said:

I have never been on Equinox but I am curious - isn't the pool on 12 and then there is deck 14 with seating?  Deck 16 seems somewhat far away from the pool.  Is that your goal for seating?  Like I said truly curious.   

Yes, deck 12 is the pool deck & deck 14 directly above has seating. Deck 14 is always our preferred but generally gets very crowded and almost impossible by late morning. Deck 16  always got those guests who enjoyed some quiet & being away from the crowds on decks 12 & 14 AND once those decks filled up. With deck 16 now reserved for suite guests, there no longer is a place for the overflow and for those who simply prefer a quieter area. DH & I from time to time went up there as well. Unfortunately deck 16 is no longer an option for us. In addition for those suite guests who don't want to go to 16 they will be looking for chairs on 12 & 14 anyway!!! Between the footstools, change of those comfortable balcony chairs  & now this, we are not sure what to expect on our favorite Solstice ship in a few weeks. Hope that explains.                  

[TeeRick]

On 6/16/2019 at 10:31 AM, GAcruiser2 said:

I just returned from my cruise in Aqua Class on the Equinox. I can confirm that footstools are gone (at the Connections party, the hotel director claimed he “forgot” to order them). Also gone are the slippers and the nicer canvas bags - instead we got the same flimsy bags that everyone on the ship receives. There was also no priority boarding for Aqua. While I do like Blu, I don’t find the food that much better than the main dining room. In the future, I’ll save the money and get a regular cabin. 

So the question is whether all Hotel Directors will "forget" to order them for their ships post-revolution or if this was truly a mistake on Equinox that will be rectified soon.  I will wait for the answer but the circumstantial evidence from Edge seems to strongly suggest that Kelly Hoppen is not a foot stool fan. But Celebrity management can overrule and make changes at any time.  That post-build change has been going on for a while now on Edge so strong feedback seems to be at least listened to and acted upon.  Hopefully that will apply to revolutionized ships too.  Those of you who booked cruises might still get your footstools. 

[MCKC]

Someone posted on the Equinox Facebook page that they requested footstools on the first day  and received them on the second day. They are on the current sailing. 

[mmeg29]

1 hour ago, bandp407 said:

Hope that explains.                  

 Thanks for that info - truly appreciated!   Summit in 75 days and Equinox in 432.  Looking forward to both. 😄

[bandp407]

23 minutes ago, mmeg29 said:

 Thanks for that info - truly appreciated!   Summit in 75 days and Equinox in 432.  Looking forward to both. 😄

 

23 minutes ago, mmeg29 said:

 Thanks for that info - truly appreciated!   Summit in 75 days and Equinox in 432.  Looking forward to both. 😄

By then this will be resolved- I am certain!! Will post an update following our July sailing. We too look forward to every cruise!! 

[helen haywood]

2 hours ago, ShipMonster said:

Well after reading this thread I called the family member that booked our NOV cruise on the EQUINOX and said people are on here saying the AC cabins aren't receiving priority embarkation, daily water ECT. My family member is a loooooong time cruiser of X and isn't worried. They think it'll be worked out by the time we get there. 

 I have a question. Can you take the table from inside the cabin and put it on the balcony to make a bigger table/foot stool? I don't cruise often but I love eating on the balcony in peace, this is important for me when cruising.

 

 

Whether of not priority embarkation is offered may be up for debate, but the daily water for Aqua Class is definitely gone and has been for some time.  That will not be "worked out by the time" you get there....

[ak1004]

We did have priority embarkation on concierge class. Sparkling wine and rest of the items are delivered on request. 

[lovedecruise]

Yes, deck 12 is the pool deck & deck 14 directly above has seating. Deck 14 is always our preferred but generally gets very crowded and almost impossible by late morning. Deck 16  always got those guests who enjoyed some quiet & being away from the crowds on decks 12 & 14 AND once those decks filled up. With deck 16 now reserved for suite guests, there no longer is a place for the overflow and for those who simply prefer a quieter area. DH & I from time to time went up there as well. Unfortunately deck 16 is no longer an option for us. In addition for those suite guests who don't want to go to 16 they will be looking for chairs on 12 & 14 anyway!!! Between the footstools, change of those comfortable balcony chairs  & now this, we are not sure what to expect on our favorite Solstice ship in a few weeks. Hope that explains.   

 

Hi, when you are on the Solstice, could you please report back about the current situation with the balcony furniture.  We are booked for January 2020 and are so hoping there will be comfortable lie back balcony chairs along with footstools as we use our balcony alot.  Many thanks

              

 

[keesar]

8 minutes ago, lovedecruise said:

Yes, deck 12 is the pool deck & deck 14 directly above has seating. Deck 14 is always our preferred but generally gets very crowded and almost impossible by late morning. Deck 16  always got those guests who enjoyed some quiet & being away from the crowds on decks 12 & 14 AND once those decks filled up. With deck 16 now reserved for suite guests, there no longer is a place for the overflow and for those who simply prefer a quieter area. DH & I from time to time went up there as well. Unfortunately deck 16 is no longer an option for us. In addition for those suite guests who don't want to go to 16 they will be looking for chairs on 12 & 14 anyway!!! Between the footstools, change of those comfortable balcony chairs  & now this, we are not sure what to expect on our favorite Solstice ship in a few weeks. Hope that explains.   

 

Hi, when you are on the Solstice, could you please report back about the current situation with the balcony furniture.  We are booked for January 2020 and are so hoping there will be comfortable lie back balcony chairs along with footstools as we use our balcony alot.  Many thanks

              

 

 

Don't worry.  On cruises in Alaska, there were hardly any people sitting around the pool.  Too cool and lots to see and do in Alaska.  

 

On Solstice, we had comfortable but very tired looking balcony chairs and table.    Needed a good painting and/or staining.  We did have footstools. 

[bandp407]

3 hours ago, lovedecruise said:

Yes, deck 12 is the pool deck & deck 14 directly above has seating. Deck 14 is always our preferred but generally gets very crowded and almost impossible by late morning. Deck 16  always got those guests who enjoyed some quiet & being away from the crowds on decks 12 & 14 AND once those decks filled up. With deck 16 now reserved for suite guests, there no longer is a place for the overflow and for those who simply prefer a quieter area. DH & I from time to time went up there as well. Unfortunately deck 16 is no longer an option for us. In addition for those suite guests who don't want to go to 16 they will be looking for chairs on 12 & 14 anyway!!! Between the footstools, change of those comfortable balcony chairs  & now this, we are not sure what to expect on our favorite Solstice ship in a few weeks. Hope that explains.   

 

Hi, when you are on the Solstice, could you please report back about the current situation with the balcony furniture.  We are booked for January 2020 and are so hoping there will be comfortable lie back balcony chairs along with footstools as we use our balcony alot.  Many thanks

              

 

We will be on the Equinox, a Solstice ship. Once back , yes, I will post the situation with the balcony furniture. Hopefully the hotel director made a "special order" after reading all of this - ha ha!!!

[Iamcruzin]

I just returned from Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas.  We stayed in one of the cheapest balconies and we had 2 foot stools. A few weeks ago I was reading on the Princess board that they removed the chair out of the stateroom. These cruise lines that are supposed to be a step up from Royal, NCL and Carnival are just grasping at straws to save a few bucks off of the bottom line. At this point may as well  just book an ocean view room if you can't sit comfortably on your balcony. If I have to start packing make shift chairs and foot stools I may as well just go camping.

[81Zoomie]

While everyone is focused on the foot stools, you may want to have a peak at the new balcony chair pics posted on facebook (Equinox Group).  They look like outdoor dining chairs.  They have upright low backs and DO NOT RECLINE!  The comment said this was a Sky Suite.  We love our quiet time on the balcony.  These chairs will not enhance our experience.

[rushedmom]

The picture above is the current Equinox sky suite balcony setup. We asked for footstools but there was no more available (or so we were told) The new chairs were really uncomfortable and the table was rough. We were in 1248 last year and then again last week. Lovely aft balcony but the new furniture limited our time out there because it was not comfortable.

[ipeeinthepool]

1 hour ago, rushedmom said:

The picture above is the current Equinox sky suite balcony setup. We asked for footstools but there was no more available (or so we were told) The new chairs were really uncomfortable and the table was rough. We were in 1248 last year and then again last week. Lovely aft balcony but the new furniture limited our time out there because it was not comfortable.

 

Now you are seeing the effects of having someone that has never been on a cruise ship design the furniture.  

[rushedmom]

Exactly 

[lovedecruise]

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

[4cats4me]

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.  

Edited June 19, 2019 by 4cats4me

[yorky]

6 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

 

Now you are seeing the effects of having someone that has never been on a cruise ship design the furniture.  

To be honest it’s been evident for a while, has she added any furniture that’s not form over function?

[Mynki]

44 minutes ago, yorky said:

To be honest it’s been evident for a while, has she added any furniture that’s not form over function?

People blame Hoppen but it's ultimately LLP who approves all designs. 

But if anyone personifies 'style over substance', 'form over function' or as we say in the UK, 'all fur coat and no knickers' it's LLP. 

[Gracie115]

9 hours ago, 81Zoomie said:

While everyone is focused on the foot stools, you may want to have a peak at the new balcony chair pics posted on facebook (Equinox Group).  They look like outdoor dining chairs.  They have upright low backs and DO NOT RECLINE!  The comment said this was a Sky Suite.  We love our quiet time on the balcony.  These chairs will not enhance our experience.

 

WOW!!!! THIS from the line that puts so much accent on the "suite" life....  Who in the world would actually think these are comfortable chairs?   If they think doing things like this will get people out of their rooms and into the bars, casinos, shops spending money they are right about one thing...it will get them out of the rooms....and then off of X ships and onto ones that are more accented on making their guests happy.....

[the_dylaness]

Ugh!

We have two Equinox cruises booked, one in January (sky suite) and one in Feb (AQ and Concierge rooms.)

 

The furniture on the sky suite looks horrible.  I will definitely be requesting some other type of chair.  I am traveling on this trip without my kids and fully intend to spend a good bit of every day on my balcony with a book and a glass of wine.  Not sitting up in something that looks like a cheap version of a dentist office waiting room chair.

 

Also on CC and AQ I want my footstools.  What else exactly am I paying for in CC- oh- embarkation lunch.  Wow.

 

[etmanch]

On 6/16/2019 at 9:34 AM, peter pan said:

While the lack of a footstool should not particularly make or break a cruise it does impact my cruise.  I  like to sit on my balcony to read or just watch the ocean.  Because of back problems I NEED something to elevate my feet.  It’s just how it works for me.  The lack of footstool is another disappointment in the “revolution” for me.  This is just one more “little” thing.  It  adds to our consideration in booking new cruises.  More cost, less amenities.  The thought of packing an inflatable beach ball is not in the part of the plus column when I plan a cruise.

I too suffer from degenerative back pain (Spondylolysis at my L5 S1) and the footstool was something I was looking forward to having on our balcony.  Guess I will have to see what I can come up with if Celebrity can no longer afford to provide their paying passengers with a footstool. 

[the_dylaness]

https://www.celebritycruises.com/things-to-do-onboard/staterooms/concierge-class-stateroom

 

Lists for both CC and AQ "Veranda with lounge seating" (regular veranda says "veranda with seating area".)

Is this what it always said or is this new?

[vtcruising]

1 hour ago, yorky said:

To be honest it’s been evident for a while, has she added any furniture that’s not form over function?

This made me think more about her designs in total. Though haven't been on EQ or revolutionized M Class yet, but my impressions of Kelly designs on the Edge:

Wins:

-loved the actual dressers with multiple deep drawers in the regular cabins and suites - finally, I didn't have to squeeze 3 shirts in a 2 inch deep drawer or throw everything into a pile in a cubby.

-liked the Jewel Box (white box for charging devices) - it was not a pretty thing, but functioned well for us.

-I don't know if you count the bathroom fixtures as furniture, but I loved the bathrooms in the regular cabins and the suites - I am so spoiled now. The showers, tubs, sinks, storage were all excellent, IMO.

-the Retreat Lounge furniture was generally lovely and comfortable - many comfy couches, chairs and lots of coffee tables in addition to regular tables and bench seating or chairs near the food service station.

-the Retreat Sundeck furniture had a few chairs that were weird and looked hard to get in and out of, but there were many comfortable loungers with tables large enough for drinks, a book, etc.

-Luminae was beautiful and comfortable.

 

It makes sense that they made the Retreat beautiful and comfortable. When I gave feedback initially about the lack of balcony furniture for a sky suite (on first cruise with paying guests), I was told that there were lots of comfortable loungers on the Retreat Sundeck. That was their original vision.  They did start giving loungers to the sky suite guests soon thereafter because of the feedback.

 

Failures:

-balcony furniture

-Tom Tom "coffee table" in living space - little overall value and easy to trip on, though very good conversation piece (fun to mock)

-couch too firm for us, with arm only on one end - good for pillow storage

-not enough shelf space in living area

-what's wrong with having one drawer in a bedside table so that I can put certain things that I keep at the bedside out of sight? Don't let your imagination run too wild here. 😉

 

So-so:

-vanity - nice idea to put full length lighted mirror behind vanity that slides out of the way, but with so little shelf space, I kept stuff there and didn't want to move it to see the full length mirror

-the King bed (may not have been her idea) was roomy and we slept well, but the size really impacted others things that could have been better about the space (like the IV veranda space).

--I saw all of the upper suites and they were a mix of comfortable-looking furniture and things I would never be able to get into or out of - they were full of knickknacks, vases, etc. that didn't always add a lot to the decor, IMO. Many didn't have tables comfortable for eating on their balconies. Few had loungers.

Edited June 19, 2019 by vtcruising

[ipeeinthepool]

1 hour ago, yorky said:

To be honest it’s been evident for a while, has she added any furniture that’s not form over function?

 

I just hope they can temper her effect on future builds and future revolutionized ships.