CHEZMARYLOU

C-Dragons, I disagree. Once downgraded it will stay downgraded and will become the new normal. Why upgrade if you are getting away with the downgraded menu and bookings are staying the same. If you do a search on other reviews by this couple there are probably more recent reviews, albeit pre Covid, with more recent menus which had much more in the way off offerings than what is available today.

Some of you might remember the reviews by The Pressmans, complete with menus. Here's a link to menus from 2014 for comparison to current offerings. Panama Canal menus (thepreismans.com)

I wash in cold water but have no interest, space or time to hang to dry. Still like the robes and might buy two on our last Celebrity cruise.

2 sizes: small/medium, large/extra large, and I understand they shrink. I've given 4 sets away and have 2 from our last cruise. I really liked the robes.

We cancelled our March 2024 cruise in a RS on Beyond. We have a December 2024 cruise in the PH on Beyond that we still want to take and we booked it at a very good price with the included gratuities and OBC. I have an open passage that we booked on our September cruise that I will probably let expire or cancel for several reasons. One is because our CVP was laid off and I am p#%#@ off. She provided excellent service for 10 years and always gave me a heads up the day before new itineraries were released because we would discuss what we wanted to book next and booking higher level suites you have to move quickly. After next December if we continue to cruise it will be on another line like Oceania or Regent.

This is an interesting discussion that I would not have been interested in 2 days ago. How does one go about finding a TA vs a big box store? I know names cannot be mentioned but where do you start?

I tried a TA twice and did not have good results. We lost our cabin once because final payment was not submitted to Celebrity. Started working with CVP and have been very happy with the service over 25 cruises.

Apparently outsourcing, possibly to Mexico and the Philippines. There is a recent thread on this topic.

We were in the PH on Edge and Silhouette after sailing resumed and on Equinox at the beginning of September. Service was the same as we experienced before Covid. The butlers and cabin attendants took care of every detail and virtually anything we asked for, including bringing extra bottles of wine and switching the standard champagne in the suite to Veuve. It was several levels above our RS experience on Reflection over New Years.

@The_Big_M is correct. We often saw our butler helping the cabin attendant with some cleaning. They also provided the ice, chilled champagne, brought food/drinks and removed the dirty dishes and glasses, took and returned the laundry, brought our luggage and helped take it from the hall for disembarkation. Granted, this is referencing higher level suites so might not apply to SS but someone has to be tasked with providing these services and it doesn't seem the Retreat Host will always have time to provide attention to details.

Maybe food will improve. I just heard from my vacation planner that 26 planners, her included, were laid off.

We had it on Equinox in the PH with high seas. Once they calmed down the creaking stopped. Put a pillow over your head if all else fails.

I am not naive enough to believe that the fare in the Retreat will be reduced because of the loss of the gratuities and OBC. Time will tell. There are a few bookings I am watching to see what the pricing is like after October 4.

How about the changes to AI, including the Retreat. Our loyal guests told us they no longer wanted gratuities included and OBC in the Retreat. Actually, I don't remember this being addressed about the loss in the Retreat but I think the answer would still have been the same: Our loyal guests told us, etc.

I would call. The one we purchased expires in a year. If we don't use it within 6 months we lose the obc that comes with it.

We wouldn't pay for it either but if they are charging $79 I would expect a buffet and martinis from the martini bar at minimum. Not just cheap sparkling wine and mimosas. 😁

We were invited for the sail away from St. Maarten on our recent Equinox cruise. Very few guests attended and the sailing was delayed for a medical emergency. We left after about 15 minutes.

We got special order filets in Muranos by requesting it a day in advance. We were celebrating our anniversary and it probably did not hurt that we bought some expensive wine several times in Muranos.

I'm still trying to figure out what our booking confirmation says. Might have to wait until tomorrow after a few cups of coffee vs tonight after a few glasses of wine.

We are starting to look around after 25 cruises with Celebrity and just cancelled our next Celebrity cruise. We still have one booked for December 2024.

There was no entertainment on our Equinox cruise last week that motivated us to attend. Even the duo in the lounge had strange music selections.

I think the lack if water provided to suites has made its way up to Celebrity Suites also. Now need to be Royal Suite or above.

I think this topic was a one and done. There was an improv comedian and her husband on board for the cruise and this was presented by him. I don't think it is an ongoing topic.

There were 3 or maybe 4 Beyond the Podium events about the history of Buddhism.

We were on this cruise also. We did not care for the entertainment. We went to the Taj dinner and really enjoyed the food. The only complaint was that we were seated by the entrance and once the music started in the atrium we could not really enjoy it. We left before we had dessert. Food, service, staff and ship were all great.