rmalbers

None on Jan EQ Caribbean x cruise.

I've said it before on here: it won't make any difference for the new people that have never sailed in a cabin with a true balcony, they just won't know any different. People that have had and like balconies are aging out, basically every day, so it's just a matter of time and there won't be any IV discussions. It just another change with cruising, and changes with cruising have always happened over time. Other cruise companies are doing it also, it's about cost savings.

Wow, that's amazing, I wonder if it's a sign that the FCC is about done moving thru the system.

Sure seems like X's IT department strikes again, I can't believe they didn't notice it sooner rather than later.

But are the bars all open onboard, lol!

I think the cruise/s that X does to ancient sites/ports is a good way to see them because a lot of them were/are along the coasts. As far as European cities, a cruise is not really a good fit.

Those are great rooms and with the aft stairs on M class it's real easy to get to a bar!

I did a couple of move up tries but when the move up bids are more than the price of eating in specialty restaurants for almost every meal, that's too much for me, especially ships that don't have the real retreat upgrades.

The mini bar was empty in my CC cabin on EQ the end of Jan. 2023. I assumed the company that ran it went out of business during covid so I didn't ask about it. (I've often wondered how old that stuff in the mini bar was, in the past, when it was stocked.)

Sounds like there might be something mechanical going wrong with it, probably with the 'rollling' mechanism or something.

I've been on deck 12 cabin 2149 on EQ and deck 12, same cabin, on EC. At times you could definitely hear stuff above but it didn't bother us, that's why I've picked that cabin twice. It also really wasn't a problem while sleeping. That cabin is the aft most on the side of the ship and has a slightly larger balcony. I love deck 12 because of the pool level and it's easy to get to a bar, buffet, and other upper levels of the ship. Of course all this is very much a YMMV type of thing.

Yes, I've also noticed exactly what you are talking about. I might try an E class ship if they start doing longer cruises somewhere I want to go.

Yes, I agree, the escargot I had were great and larger than what I had on the previous X cruise, they were so tiny it was funny. I also used a tip I got here about dipping the bread in the escargot butter!

I looked at the Apex food pictures in the link above, the only dish pictured that I had on EQ was the duck and the duck it was good. I have had it before on X and it seemed the same as before. Most of the dishes pictured were not on the MDR menu on EQ at the end of Jan 2023. I have seen that before, it looks like the menus on E class ships have better selections than what is/was on EQ. Another good dish I had was a spicy, thick fish that was really good (I think it was Cajun something maybe) and actually was a little spicy, real change for X on that one.

Very nice review, a guy I golf with took a spill getting off a river cruise gangplank and really messed up his shoulder. It's no picnic out there, I need to watch out more and be in less of a hurry myself!!

1) Mine wasn't on 12. (cabin 2149 on 2023/jan) 2) yes but no menu, it's like their regular lunch menu, basically.

The shrimp weren't 'that' good.

That reminds me, the shrimp cocktail now (at least when I was on late Jan, EQ) only has three small shrimp on it/in. Not sure if that was just temporary or not.

I haven't been following to close but I think the whole 'problem' was created by 'asset quality'. They needed money and had to do a 'fire sale' on their bond holdings, which, these days with the interest rates climbing, well, no one wanted them and they lost billions.

The gov't has already let it fail, it's in receivership. The gov't will have to find a buyer or liquidate it's assets.

I'm sure they may try that but finding a buyer for those old ships is going to be a real problem. China is their only hope. That's why X/RCG had to put up their E class ships as collateral to get the loans.

Yup, you're right!

Ya, I think staying out of the elevators and using the stairs is the best approach to avoiding 'issues'.

When I was on Octantis late last summer (Great Lakes) people where dressed 'business casual' in the sit down restaurants. That grill at the buffet was great!

I've been in the far aft cabin, deck 12, on the ships side (with the larger balcony) (2149) of two different S class ships and I love the location (pool level). I have heard, I think chairs, moving above in each of these cabins but I don't have a problem with it, it doesn't happen often at all. But I'm sure it's a YMMV type of thing. Anyway, on S class that part of the ship is the only place I'll book. (I take the stairs a lot.)