The Retreat versus Concierge Class and adding Specialty Dining

[RichYak]

10 minutes ago, TommyD3 said:

Basically was concentrating on the $450 pp.pd and ocean view cabin comments.

Well, instead of calling me out for something I didn’t say, maybe open your mind and read the whole comment. The sentence you didn’t concentrate on was only 2 words long and would have saved us all this trouble. 

[dock]

@bnurick appreciate the comparison. 
It got me thinking about our Winter’24 cruise.

 

I booked an Aqua Sky Suite but when cf to a CC ( AQ C is sold out so can’t compare) it’s a good C$3000  more , even after I’ve factored in updating WIFI , more Specialty Dining etc. 

 

We booked NRD so are staying put for this cruise,  but have decided on O for our summer ‘24 cruise. Price points were very comparable to Retreat. 
 

Moving forward though, I’ll be more inclined to book AQ Class on X (we like Blu) and do more Speciality Dining. 
I can forgo the Retreat deck and lounge.

[mahasamatman]

I don't see the point of booking all those specialty restaurants. They simply aren't worth it on Celebrity. I would just stick with the main dining room.

[RichYak]

9 minutes ago, mahasamatman said:

I don't see the point of booking all those specialty restaurants. They simply aren't worth it on Celebrity. I would just stick with the main dining room.

Depends on which ship. On E-class the numbers might work. On M-class, no chance. 

[dock]

@mahasamatman,  we got off Equinox 2 weeks ago and MDR was really bad imo. Been cruising with X for decades . While we’re not brand loyal , it was our favourite line. 

Rated food a 2 on the survey. 
Poor cuts of meat, no flavour, cold Escargot, items missing from dishes. 
 

We were limited to a few SD places and once onboard woudve gone more than twice but times available didn’t suit. 
OVC for lunch was a 10 imo. Great Indian and Italian food.
 

We did the buffet  twice  at night as food in MDR just didn’t hit the spot. 

Crew were wonderful. 
 

Will be trying E class and will see therafter. 
 

[bnurick]

28 minutes ago, mahasamatman said:

I don't see the point of booking all those specialty restaurants. They simply aren't worth it on Celebrity. I would just stick with the main dining room.

I will reply with more care tomorrow, but my MDR experience on the Silhouette was a non-starter for me. As such, I need to upgrade that experience. Strictly a personal decision, just an experience preference which I am willing to pay for.

[wineoclock]

We were super impressed with Blu on Silhouette. We’d have gone for Blu again on Apex (May) if it wasn’t for the IV. 

[bnurick]

11 hours ago, dock said:

@bnurick appreciate the comparison. 
It got me thinking about our Winter’24 cruise.

 

I booked an Aqua Sky Suite but when cf to a CC ( AQ C is sold out so can’t compare) it’s a good C$3000  more , even after I’ve factored in updating WIFI , more Specialty Dining etc. 

 

We booked NRD so are staying put for this cruise,  but have decided on O for our summer ‘24 cruise. Price points were very comparable to Retreat. 
 

Moving forward though, I’ll be more inclined to book AQ Class on X (we like Blu) and do more Speciality Dining. 
I can forgo the Retreat deck and lounge.

Thank you.  After a transatlantic in CC with specialty dining most nights and pizza the others, The Retreat with ongoing changing of the product and higher deposit it’s hard for me to say access to the areas and Luminae is worth $5K+ now.  Most nights I don’t care for the Luminae menu selection.

 

10 hours ago, mahasamatman said:

I don't see the point of booking all those specialty restaurants. They simply aren't worth it on Celebrity. I would just stick with the main dining room.

I did not care for MDR on my last cruise.  I loved Murano, Tuscan Grill and Sushi on Five.

 

9 hours ago, wineoclock said:

We were super impressed with Blu on Silhouette. We’d have gone for Blu again on Apex (May) if it wasn’t for the IV. 

We have never tried Blu, but we might need to give it a chance.  Thanks!

[wineoclock]

We actually preferred it to Luminae. We met a couple who were in the retreat & ate in Blu most nights. 
 

Those damn IVs 😬 I like my balcony too much. 

[adolfo2]

17 hours ago, bnurick said:

I know there has been A LOT of discussion regarding changes to all booking levels.  It seems the new normal is here to stay and like others we are shopping around now.  Below is the math for a January 2025 10 night cruise on the Beyond at a difference of $5,666 or 38%.  Which option would you chose Sky Suite/Concierge Class?

   

 

Some people buy a Mercedes and others a Subaru 

[George C]

The prices for suites are getting ridiculous, last November I got beyond sky suite for under 3k per person for 7 days with 400 OBC per , now it’s way over 4K . My solution was booking an oasis class rccl grand suite for less than 5k total , I will miss outdoor retreat but not that much. I wasn’t that crazy about Luminae on edge class.

[bnurick]

9 minutes ago, George C said:

The prices for suites are getting ridiculous, last November I got beyond sky suite for under 3k per person for 7 days with 400 OBC per , now it’s way over 4K . My solution was booking an oasis class rccl grand suite for less than 5k total , I will miss outdoor retreat but not that much. I wasn’t that crazy about Luminae on edge class.

I agree 💯.  The prices and uncertainty of the product going forward has us not booking anymore X right now. Just working through all options.  Cruise lines with low debt loads seem to be where we ultimately head.

[swjumbo]

Having done all classes on S and E ships we won’t do suites unless it’s an amazing offer.

 

With all the upselling and bidding for the Retreat their areas are always busy. We ended up in the regular hot tub outside of the Retreat Sun Deck on Edge as it was empty compared with the constant full hot tub for suite guests.

 

Luminae has, on both classes of ship, been ok but on one Silhouette trip we ate in Tuscan every night.

 

Concierge Class? Not worth it.

 

Aqua? Absolutely because of Blu but only if we get a successful upgrade bid.

 

The long and short of it is that a regular cabin with a regular veranda and a drinks package should suffice.

 

Be nice to all staff and there will be no need for anything else. The occasional tip will also be gratefully appreciated!

 

Then you can look at the suite guests being escorted off the ship at the end of the cruise knowing that you’ll be on your next trip very soon because of the money you’ve saved and they probably won’t!

[TommyD3]

22 hours ago, mahasamatman said:

I don't see the point of booking all those specialty restaurants. They simply aren't worth it on Celebrity. I would just stick with the main dining room.

MDR menus on Celebrity are getting REALLY bad. Here is the Apex chic night menu from last night:

 

[bnurick]

38 minutes ago, TommyD3 said:

MDR menus on Celebrity are getting REALLY bad. Here is the Apex chic night menu from last night:

 

We have decided anything they charge extra for is good.  Just how it is now, in our opinion.

[ladylemondrop]

That MDR menu looks like the always available selection and then the premium selection but where are the other options? Or are there really none?! Awful. I wont be paying extra in the MDR for anything, having already paid for the cruise, and then paying for speciality dining, they will be charging for napkins next! 

[chemmo]

On 8/3/2023 at 1:55 AM, TommyD3 said:

MDR menus on Celebrity are getting REALLY bad. Here is the Apex chic night menu from last night:

 

Surely that isn’t everything?

[Lena11033]

2 hours ago, ladylemondrop said:

That MDR menu looks like the always available selection and then the premium selection but where are the other options? 

 

I agree this doesn't look like the whole menu

[Mark_T]

That looks like the wrong Chic night for the lobster, and it is missing the speciality items from each of the 4 MDR's ...

[TommyD3]

3 hours ago, chemmo said:

Surely that isn’t everything?

That is the right side of the MDR menu. They also have the left side which has the restaurant specific appetizers (3) and entrees (3) that are the same every day. The big change on the right side is the "Classic" every day items have merged into the appetizer and entree sections with only maybe one other option. All of the fancy entree items like Beef Tournados, Rack of Lamb and Shrimp Scampi have been eliminated !!! Actually the $20 up-charge (plus gratuity) Filet Mignon sounds just like the old Beef Tournados that was free !!!

Edited August 6, 2023 by TommyD3

[bnurick]

My new view is all future cruises I purchase will assume a-la carte-dining. Skimpflation will be what it is, unfortunately.