1 hour ago, NMTraveller said:

Does it list Luminae in the cruise contract?  If not it is something that can be taken away.

Going...Going..Gone...ITS a Home Run!!!!

1 hour ago, NMTraveller said:

In the other referenced thread some posters felt that the OVC was not utilized enough by most cruisers on the ship.

 

You could apply the same logic to specialty dining, Blu, and Luminae as they are utilized by cruisers on the ship less than the OVC.

 

What percentage of cruisers on the ship use Blu every night?

What percentage of cruisers on the ship use Luminae every night?

What percentage of cruisers on the ship use (name your favorite specialty restaurant) every night?

 

Much less than 18%.

Preach On Preacher!!!

5 hours ago, bnurick said:

Currently on The Edge. The dinner buffet does not have the numbers to support a 100% open buffet. It seems there is more demand for main dining at this time. I do not feel they are cutting back, simply aligning supply/demand. The breakfast and lunch is at full operations. We ate pizza today, very good. 

Are you in a Suite?? Aqua Class??

40 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

I understand your position...

 

We travel in Sept with 14 others and I will send everyone an email to alert them of the possible changes to dining aboard our ship...

 

This way they can be prepared for what "some" consider to be bad and know that better will the order of the evening... we shall see for sure.

 

bon appetit and bon voyage

“Some”?!!?

1 hour ago, Cap_D said:

All of the terrific suggestions for how to salvage the dinner OCV or alternatives require more effort, and may actually expose the poor quality and selection at the MDR(s). 

 

Celebrity seems deadset on underperforming and alienating customers either now to those that know, or on the cruise that only learn of all of this when they go to their first dinner.  They will have already searched high and low for over hyped Eden Cafe that is open once per cruise (no matter how good it is, it's a fail due to being closed) for a few hours, and likely to have skipped the MDR for lunch, if it's even served.  

 

The irony is the PR on the menu changes on Royal is all about faster dining times. Following along, the RCBlog (private website) has an entire article with time counts on it.  That's helps to feed anxious passengers, and to free them up for other activities.  Meanwhile there's no rationale or cohesive approach to dining given what has occurred on Celebrity.  And, the lower quality and a push of people to MDRs...and looking for a desirable meal or watching the food service staff (who can't leave the shop either) do their thing has become the nightly entertainment activity. 

 

Taking people's money and time for the bologna bar, cold pizza, etc. or the 3 bits of protein in the MDR is robbery.  If the operation is not supportable they shouldn't have offered and designed themselves into a situation for a cruise that supposed to better or on par wjth CCL, RC, or NAL or our local pizza, McDonalds, or grocery store.  All of which operate with shoestring staffing at higher wages than any cruise line and seem to handle volume just fine. 

Please don't put Celebrity's OV options in with McDonald's....Its insulting to McDonald's!!!😁

3 minutes ago, cw2go said:

I want to express that no one is "steerage" and cruising in an OV or Interior stateroom has no barring to this situation. We are all worthy of respect and what we purchased from Celebrity should be honored. 

 

I have 10 cruises booked, all prior to Jan 1st

I am staying in Interiors up to Aft Balconies. I have sailings in Alaska, Caribbean and Europe. This said, I base my accommodation preferences on the itinerary and budget that suits me. This has nothing to do with NOT being able to afford Room Service Fees or The Suite Life. I can afford the $24,000 suite (boasted about previously) if I chose to but I opt for other stateroom categories. When I booked all of those sailings, a plentiful buffet and room service were included in my fare wether I opted to partake or not. I am not nearly as upset as others because I seldom utilize these options but this doesn't make it okay nor negate others feelings of being slighted in the cruise experience they hoped for. 

 

Those who choose to book suites are just as worthy of respect and we shouldn't begrudge them.This isn't about status!

 

The one who needs to communicate with their customers and hasn't is Celebrity. The one who made these drastic changes without any warning is Celebrity. I am focusing my frustrations towards them because my fellow cruisers are not to blame. 

 

This buffet video in the first post is not acceptable! No matter what stateroom we reserved or how often we eat there! It needs push back from all of us! Celebrity needs to know their customers aren't happy, isn't this why they beg us for feedback at the end of every sailing? If this is still the buffet caliber on my Beyond sailing next month, I'll report to Corporate my opinion even if I never take a single bite. 

 

As I mentioned earlier I also believe that Celebrity should Grand Father in RS fees for those previously booked or add OBC.

 

 

Patty 

 

 

 

Thank you for saying this!!...In today"s America is all about" ME" and" MY" situation.....not let's work as a Team or together to solve a problem....

5 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Let’s get this out of the way….. if you enjoy dinner in the OVc you should give careful consideration before selecting Celebrity.

Celebrity pumped it up a bit for our late night in San Juan, but last night was back to bare bones. No carving station. Only fresh made to order was pasta (again). Second night in a row I had a Caesar salad and a pita wrap for dinner. The pita itself was gross but the veggies and tzatziki sauce were yummy. I know it’s a buffet but I rarely choose food from heating trays.

 

 

Every single station. It was French Night. Where’s the ohhhh-laaa-laaa?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are this pictures from "Mutiny on the Bounty".??...😁

21 minutes ago, Cruising Cindy Lou said:

I will say I am starting to hear other cruise lines are making last minute changes to help with their costs and people are not happy.  Lots of lines going to 1 times a day room service, increase in tips, cutting room attendant pay and NCL cut one of their big production shows.  A lot of big time cruisers are blowing up their UTube channels complaining about all the changes.  I am happy to be back cruising.  2.5 years with no cruising made for 2.5 very depressing years.  I sure hope that the industry can find a solution that works to keep them floating, but also keeps cruisers engaged and happy. 

Food is a whole other story..Its not like you can call Grub Hub or Pizza Hut from the ship....Speaking of Big time Youtubers...have not heard a word about Celebrity major changes on any of their platforms except for the Traveling Gamblers

41 minutes ago, cw2go said:

 

 

I do think it's only fair that those who booked their cruises before Jan 1st would be "grand fathered in"  with Room Service privileges, without paying a fee plus grats. This could have been a great alternative for those who were expecting a plentiful buffet. 

 

That was a perk that was available when booking, that imo should remain so. It doesn't effect me as I am not a room service user but it was an included option, without extra expense, at the time of my booking. 

 

Patty 

Have spoken twice to my TA stating this very thing or a least the OBC to cover the charges....Response from Celeb...Crickets....

1 hour ago, davekathy said:

Are you new to the CC mod squad (host). I don't recognized your screen name. 🙄

Notice how people like to deflect instead of talking about the issue...Reminds me of a lot of people in a area called DC....

6 hours ago, TopoChico said:

Honestly, that’s just a classless perspective. A $24,000 cabin doesn’t come with class.  You have to bring it with you. 

Bamm......Mic Drop times 1000000000000000+

10 hours ago, southernbreezes said:

I looked at Oceania also, but no way. Just compare any of there ships to say the Edge. The Edge has so much more to offer...just the pool deck on the Oceania turns me off plus Edge has more dining options, bar options, the ships are just to small to offer what Celebrity offers in a ship. Food sorry but our food on all our Celebrity ships have been excellent as well as service in our Suites. Our April cruise is on Apex 15 nights and yes the Celebrity Suite we booked was expensive but life is short. Cut backs who really eats dinner in the Ocean View Cafe it is empty at dinner. Who needs a second lobster tail. Room service we stay in suites only order coffee in the morning its free but I would gladly pay a service charge to wake up to my fresh coffee. Our hotel in Venice 2 cups of coffee from room service was 35 euros I walked to the lobby and got ours.

And that's a word from out Sponsor....Celebrity Cruise Lines and their wonderful Marking Department

Lets give them a hand!!!!

21 minutes ago, Cap_D said:

At this rate, how much longer until Celebrity is serving leftovers from the crew mess?  They really have an awful PR department and are doing all the TAs that have been promoting Celebrity on YouTube no favors. There will be videos of dancing Captains, and happy faces on TA live chats, a possible deletion of negative comments by some, and other attempts to put lip stick on the pig, but these cuts are drastic and as stated  worse than the Golden Corral.  That applies to the MSRs, and maybe Blu and Luminae too. 

 

What's left after these cuts to make a compelling case for Celebrity?  Monin syrups at the bars, lemon squares, a friendly crew, cleanliness, a free bag of laundry for repeat customers?  Surely it's not OBC offers, which is seemingly a dodge to make passengers responsible and at fault when they choose poorly for dinner ("darn, has I just gone to xyz"), a way to spur DIY entertainment ( e.g., can always sit in the casino if they cut the one guitar player and sell off the headphones for silent disco, and use up the OBC), or buy used luggage.

 

The charade of Celebrity's design and service based experience is up.  A few bartenders and a captain making martinis and dancing on the bar like they are at Coyote Ugly or in Cocktail doesn't make a vacation or make up for fish sticks, pork belly or bologna bars. 

 

At the least, Royal must have master purchase agreements with suppliers, and so on, like major restaurant chains. And, most of what is being reported is well beyond anything like a slight cutback and, the cost savings can't make much of a difference so bad as to necessitate bologna. 

 

People don't suddenly want crap now anymore than they would have when the new ships, kitchens, menus, staffing, etc were designed in 2017 and 2018.  Even on Margaritaville Cruises with reports of mold and many issues, they get marks for a burger, as does CCL.  Even Royal has its  chicken shack on Coco Cay, and onboard options, which while not immune leave more room for their downward spiral or to spread out costs). 

 

What will Celebrity be  known for in the coming weeks and months?  

 

Meanwhile, the ships and model were designed poorly if they can't support the slightest changes in food costs, available labor or dining preferences.  It's as if Celebrity has just given up despite having low staffing costs, the potential for modern kitchens (seems like they messed up here, and built spaces and prep methods that are only able to handle banquet dining) and other factors in their favor.  

 

Sadly, it doesn't even seem one can buy into a quality meal at the specialty dining options.  Post cutbacks it appears the quality and options doesn't even approximate anything from a comparable themed restaurant on land.  All the cash or (fake) OBC in the world may not be able to get one a meal as good as a land steakhouse, BBQ restaurant, Italian (red sauce or otherwise), or Asian restaurant with sushi.

 

Imagine paying 25k+ for an upper suite for 7 nights in the Caribbean on an E class ship and being told the option tonight is pork belly, an oddly cut fake NY strip, or top sirloin?   Is there at least a secret stash of prime cut meat in cryovac and someone that knows how to prepare it without a sauce intended to mask the quality of the food served to anyone else?  And, it doesn't seem like the Fine Cut place comes close. 

Serous Mic Drop with two snaps up and a Twist…

4 minutes ago, ptcflyer said:

Best trips are right after major disasters, pandemics, and geopolitical events.      Scored a $999 round trip to Hong Kong with 5 nights hotel... on Cathay Pacific right after Hong Kong Bird Flu in 1998.      Toured South Africa as one of a few tourists and was only one of two guests at an entire Game Lodge (Sabi Saba) in 1994 right after terrorist attacks and Nelson Mandela was freed.   Flew on the Concorde round trip to Paris for 175,000 sky miles with only 30 passengers on the plane soon after it resumed services from its crash.     Toured an empty tourism Thailand during and after the Student Riots in May, 1992.     Was one of a few tourists with empty game lodges and excellent rates after the Terrorist attacks in Nairobi.    Cruised on a half empty Viking Cruise Ship for the 2021 / 2022 World Cruise (138 days) that was affected by Covid....  had huge rebates.... nice upgrades..... and paid about 1/2 of the typical daily rate.   Had to be tested every day and the entire itinerary changed the day before we left...  but it was an incredible journey.    Right now, Celebrity and other cruise lines are giving away cabins to small time gamblers on their gambling lists.   I have booked a dozen free cruises on Celebrity (Just pay taxes for verandah or higher cabin).... traveling all corners of the globe.   (Thanks to slow Covid recovery... and Celebrity aggressively trying to fill cabins).      The best and most memorable adventures are when you dare to go ....  when nobody else will.       Next trip:   The Mexican Riviera on a seemingly empty Solstice....  Single 7 Day Verandah Cabin... for $223.00.   

Eventually your luck will run out….Glad I am retired and no longer have to deal with Civilians (People like this) as a first responder….,

On 1/13/2023 at 12:31 PM, LB_NJ said:

On Constellation now and confirming $9.95

🤬

2 hours ago, grandgeezer said:

You can still book airline tickets and hotel rooms through travel agencies. With the manpower you have now you are only booking 1/3 of the cruises. Simple math says you have to triple that to get to 100%. Improve the website, kidding right? I’ve been on this board since 2003 and they were complaining about the website then, and it’s now 2023 and the people still complaining about it. Where’s the financing going to come from, last I read they were about $20,000,000,000 in debt.

If the solution is as simple as you say, the first step would be to clean house in Miami, they should have fixed it a long time ago.

Unfortunately I see TA’s..in the future going the way of Blacksmiths 😩

1 minute ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

 

I didn't think the corkage fee applies to screw-off bottles.

Any fee for the “paper bag” ?😀

On 1/15/2023 at 9:05 AM, LMaxwell said:

Less than 5% of current bookings are FCC's. 

 

I would suggest they start charging corkage at time of boarding. That's $20 per bottle of revenue and no one is restricted from having what they want. Only those that want to bring wine are charged. It is totally optional, non-punitive, and does not negatively impact my experience to add that charge. Other cruise lines already do exactly this and there is *no* logical counterpoint to it. 

 

Other than that, Celebrity can make unpopular and shortsighted decisions on their own; a better thread would be suggestions for improvements. 

Would this fee apply to bottles of “ Nightrain” or Mad Dog20/20????😱

21 minutes ago, kayehall said:

I am aware that the cost of food has skyrocketed.  And cut backs are pretty much the norm right now.  But not everybody likes Oriental cuisine.  The variety seems very limited.  That pizza has got to be like cardboard.  The pasta dishes are probably stuck to the pan.  I see they were carving turkey.  How about complimenting that with mashed, stuffing and fresh veggie.  Good sides for a meat selection would be scalloped potatoes or mac and cheese.  And they should have 1 station for burgers/grilled chick sandwiches/hot dogs open.  How about beef stew and biscuits?  Switch it up.  IMO.  (tired of watching football...LOL)

 

This!!!! 

3 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

It has always been an option for staff to eat in The OVC as there is a dining venue for them already...

 

bon appetit and bon voyage

Would you like to eat in the staff  dining room?

Cutbacks in Food & Service:

Inflation….Supply Chain Issues…Covid….I Love You….Checks in the mail….Illuminati….UFO’s

Anymore Excuses???

7 minutes ago, RD64 said:

Agreed but people are not going to cancel. They will continue to cruise and complain after the fact.

That’s shows their Pretty Stupid Doesn’t it?Change for the better will not happen until people vote with their Money!!

22 minutes ago, RealBatman said:

I'm surprised that this is an issue. Having done a fair number of cruises, we NEVER eat dinner in the 'cafe'. We have always cruised Aqua and so would not give up Blu for the cafe! But that's ok, obviously there are other people who prefer it.

 

Like Jeal, it bothers me about the waste of food - especially what I've seen in Oceanview cafe at the noon hour. Mom always said: "If you take it, you eat it".

Sorry to hear your needs are not being met. 

Time to get out the PomPom’s!’

6 hours ago, grandgeezer said:

They have a whole office full of big bucks management that get paid to figure out what to do, let them earn their money. I don’t think the general public knows enough about the whole operation to come up with anything that would save any significant dollars. Awhile back, I suggested the start the fuel surcharge, and even start charging for luggage handling like the airlines do, but that didn’t fly because it would add cost to the cruisers. They, instead, jacked up the drink packages and internet, and that seems to be accepted. With the pandemic, and now inflation, people are more worried about the financial well being of their family than a industry that only a small portion of the world’s population can afford even if they wanted to. 

Are you ready?.....Here we go.....Mic Drop!!!!

25 minutes ago, Mark_T said:

It is not unusual, as long as it is on the guest copy of your invoice it will only take a few mins to sort out onboard if it doesn’t show up on your card onboard. 

Thanks I have it…