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Insisting a front-line person go to a website and read reviews takes it a bit beyond calling to log a complaint, even if you think you're being polite about it.  I think it's fine to call and complain but ask that they take your complaint, say your piece, and be done with it.  I believe the better way is to contact corporate headquarters, though.  As already mentioned, most call center workers are rated on how many calls they take; depending on the job, they're also rated on either how long it takes to resolve issues or how often they turn calls into bookings. 

In a former life, I worked in a national reservations center for a major hotel chain, and we constantly got calls from people in hotels when they would push the "reservations" button on their in-room phone instead of the "front desk" button.  We would try to politely tell them to hang up and try again (couldn't transfer them ourselves) but often you were stuck listening to people you couldn't help while they prattled on about any- and everything.  Enough calls like that in a shift would decrease your overall metrics if it kept you from booking rooms.

The bathrooms in Sky Suites have that same tub issue.  I don't know why X doesn't do better with their bathroom setups in general, but those high tubs feel really precarious, even without mobility issues.  Other lines have tubs like you would find in a house, so it's obviously a design choice on the M- and S-Class ships. 

Any truth to the rumor I'm starting that the cheese plate is now just unwrapped Kraft singles? 

Supplier issue means it's really an off-brand substitute (Krafteez™). 

Every few months there is this big blowup because they insist on using paying customers as guinea pigs.  Frankly, it makes me not want to book any sailing with them, even if they inevitably roll back the dumbest ideas after the outcry.  I don't appreciate paying the current (inflated) prices to potentially be a test subject at their whim.

I've done a few land trips in Europe with carry-on only.  It's a fun challenge.  I too was skeptical when the friend I travel with made the dictate on our first trip.  We were using the train system across Switzerland and Austria, and he didn't want us trying to lug big bags between train stations and hotels.  For that first trip, I laid out everything I thought I needed and all of it would not fit!  So, I had to edit what I already thought was the bare minimum.  It worked! 

For several trips, we've just scheduled a "down" day in the middle to do laundry and not be a tourist.  It's a chance to relax.  Also pairs well with a spa day sometimes (a pedicure in the middle of a trip can be a real lifesaver if you're doing a lot of walking). For other trips, we just have a plan in advance to send out laundry for whatever service is available wherever we are. 

A few tips I've learned are to wear jeans and whatever jacket or coat you're taking on the plane.  I also try to wear outer garments at least twice before washing them.

Yes, Infinity's last scheduled update got put on pause due to the pandemic so it's one of two ships in that class that haven't been given a makeover with no idea as to when that will happen in the future.

Aqua Class gives you access to Blu for breakfast and dinner, and it's a smaller dining room with theoretically better service.  Concierge is a veranda with some extra perks but not many to speak of.    Assigned dining for that level is main dining room.  The difference in restaurant access is the main difference between those two.  Both rooms are the same size.  Aqua Class also gets you Persian Garden access but that facility on M-Class (Millennium Series) ships isn't what they tend to show in the brochures (pretty underwhelming).  Everything else for both rooms will pretty much be you mingling with the hoi polloi.  Neither gives you exclusive priority at general ship facilities outside of the stated amenities. 

A link to the amenities associated with the room types (keep in mind that Infinity is Millennium Series when reading):

https://www.celebritycruises.com/cruise-ships/celebrity-infinity/accommodations

Cruise Critic has a section of ship photos:

https://www.cruisecritic.com/photos/ships/celebrity-infinity-196/

If you haven't read this recent thread, she gives some good overviews of her experience in Aqua and Concierge as well as food pictures and daily program sheets. 

The two items they're keeping can be made from scratch using supplies on hand.  Probably cutting a supplier cost for the other two.  

Pretty soon they'll be having cabbage soup nights in the MDR.  Chili for Chic Nights.  

18 hours ago, shirazcruiser said:

We have sailed in a suite on all of the S class ships except for the Reflection and I believe Reflection has approximately twice as many suites so is there a wait at the 6-6:30 dinner time?  We're sailing B2B soon and would appreciate any info!

My experience a couple years before the pandemic was that if you asked, they would encourage you to come after 8pm or before 5:30pm.  They were completely unwilling to do a reservation before 8:30pm any night (we kept asking).  We did show up around 7 or 7:30 a few nights and they seated us after a short wait.  Of course, someone is dining at 6pm, so it might be you.  If you crack the code, let us know!

It is lack of imagination at the management level that there isn't some way for a supervisor to override the limit in the computer to add a single extra package.  Have it signed off by someone else, if needed, to make sure it's not being regularly abused.  But I agree with OP that it's dumb that a single extra package could not be made available.

"Bad" is in the eye of the beholder.  There are certain things that make rooms less desirable to many.  Too far forward is one.  Limited view is another.  Some don't want public spaces above or below them. Lots of factors.  I'm sure X knows which cabins tend to be left in inventory from those who are picking their own.  Guarantee is the way they fill up the others.  It is the luck of the draw, though, since every cruise is different.  They are usually good about reassigning within the same category if you contact them, assuming rooms are still available.

Other lines handle their assignments differently and have their own rules.  Doesn't HAL tend to assign their guarantees closer to the sail date?  Easier to see inventory for upgrades at that point.  X is really into the paid upgrade scheme.

They will usually switch you if a cabin in the same category is available so call them with some choices from what's available.  However, I would note that this is the chance you take with any guarantee booking.  You get a lower price because you're letting the cruise line control where you end up.  Something to consider in the future.

There is no proof that anyone was sneaking anyone in.  Could have been prearranged & paid for or been some special dispensation that no one would know about.  I've seen the Retreat hosts regularly turn away people who wander in.  

^ ETA: there is no Tuscan Grill on E-Class.  Not sure why I typed that. 

What ship?  M-Class & E-Class have a little more flexibility with the layout than S-Class.  You can Google around for photos of each to find video walkthroughs and photo layouts. 

Most will advise to arrange for two tables back to back as an alternative.

The real takeaway is that the experience on a given ship isn't always going to be consistent trip to trip.

It's unfortunate that X is acting this way but this situation is like a commercial for cancel for any reason insurance.  If you don't take advantage of it, you're self-insuring losses like $6,000 in non-refundable airfare.  Particularly in this era where you're at risk of getting COVID and having to cancel at the last minute, you need extra protection (or be willing to eat the loss).

2 hours ago, OnTheJourney said:

I give up on adequately trying to convey my thoughts on this.

 

I think you've conveyed your thoughts just fine.  Most everyone just disagrees with the premise that there wouldn't be the same number of people lining up even if they opened at the stated hour.

They probably haven't decided what they're going to do yet since the current cruise is a different itinerary.  I would check once that May 21st cruise departs.  Just keep in mind that the menu rotation on your cruise may or may not be the same, and you won't really know until your cruise sails.  

HAL gets a bum wrap for age, too, but that is often just a function of itinerary.  Older people have the time and money to sail longer itineraries or during non-holiday periods (when I prefer to sail, too).  I'm sure there are plenty of NCL sailings where the average age creeps up.  A HAL 7-day Caribbean has a younger average age and plenty of family groups.  Lines like X, Princess, and HAL offer a different experience from Royal or NCL, so that is also a big factor.

That said, I've never minded being with older travelers.  People have their stories and are usually a delight to get to know, even within the confines of a vacation setting.  One of the fuddiest duddies I ran across was a newlywed couple in their late 20s who pre-judged everything and talked themselves out of even trying to have fun.  At one point they said that they never went anywhere twice because they'd never been satisfied with anywhere enough to want to return.  I felt a bit sorry for them.

Isn't there an insurance consideration as well?  You have so much time to get a pre-existing conditions waiver from deposit date.  

I was always under the impression that Caribbean in the summer wasn't a desirable time to travel due to the heat + you start running into hurricane season.  It was a necessity the last few years because a lot of the world was closed (also why there were Mexican Riviera cruises this year when X had seemed to abandon Mexico a few years ago).  

I would like to see them invest in different itineraries, both in ports visited and length of cruises (even if it was just segmented cruises strung together).  This is one of those areas where HAL has pretty much cornered the market and X could make inroads, I think.  

If people have a year, then they shouldn't be sending them notices that the expiration is approaching (with a date attached).  Even if it's an error, it's wrong for the company to operate that way.

Check out Reddit.  Lots of reports there from all over.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Passports/

Usually Arizona brand.  Reports over the past year are that availability can be very hit or miss (such as in the thread below).  She could always bring a supply with her just in case (and restock in ports if it's an issue on your sailing).

On 5/11/2023 at 4:50 PM, DisneyJen said:

Thanks everyone!

 

Last June we could order from Blu in Luminae.

 

Looking at the Celebrity App there is nothing on the menu for dinner the second night that appeals to either of us. I'm sure we won't starve🤣

Talk to the staff at Luminae on the first night and tell them your predicament with the menu for the second night.  They usually can come up with anything with advance notice.  Or course the menus could change between now and then, too.