The Fun Researcher

20 minutes ago, ISABELLA said:

Reisling is offered by the glass. I didn't care for it.

Is there anything you did like about  the equinox?

I'm trying to remember, is there anywhere else on the ship to get a specialty coffee?  What I mean by that is anything more than black coffee, or with cream?

3 hours ago, Mum2Mercury said:

'Bout 20 years.

I guess folks focus on different things for meals.  We certainly pay attention to the bread service, something our family looks forward to each cruise.  The variety (especially of the rolls offered) was much broader pre-covid.  Not even close really.  Happy sailing.

2 hours ago, Rjbobalou said:

Café al Bacio in the morning was the worst service on any of my 58 Celebrity cruises

What hours were the worst?

How many folks are in each session?  We have four booked, but maybe adding a couple more.  Thanks in advance

Great review OP!  Gets me excited to try this class of ship!!

I'll make sure to say hi if I see ya!

5 hours ago, RedIguana said:

Are you on the 19th sailing with us?

 

Yep!  All 11 of us.

On 12/11/2023 at 8:40 PM, Ocean Boy said:

The MDR provides quiet family time? I remember, back to when we actually used the MDR, that is was noisy, dinner was interrupted by photographers, and crew singing and parading around the room.

 

The WJ is not as quiet as it used to be as it seems like more and more people are giving up the MDR but if you go a bit later in the evening I find it quite nice.

6 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

Totally understand. I just couldn't figure out how the person that I quoted was finding quiet family time in there.

Yes, it's been quiet. 

The singing is typically one night, two max.  We don't see as many photographers as we used to, maybe once this past 7 night cruise, and as soon as they arrive to the table we just say "No Thank You" and they disappear.  We also request a table away from the main walkways or main entrance so that helps.

1 hour ago, Mum2Mercury said:

Take it from an excellent baker:  Royal's bread has always been good, but it's never been anything more than you can get at your local Food Lion deli.  I can make far better bread in my own kitchen.  

I agree with that. 

However, what Royal offers now is limited and sup par. Dry bread slices and paltry roll offerings vs what we had in the past.  Something I'll have to remember on my survey.  I really miss the onion rolls.  I think they still have the rolls with the pine nuts on top.  Those definitely go first at our table.

20 hours ago, teddie said:

My recent Anthem sailing (11/26/2023 - 7 Nights Caribbean/Coco Cay from Cape Liberty) was my 10th RCI cruise, and second on Anthem. but included many firsts:

 

• The first cruise without my husband--he couldn't get time off from his new job and I went with a good friend instead. It was fun and relaxing, but I still missed him!
• Only went to one show:  the High C Horns tribute to funk and Stevie Wonder.
• Played trivia for the first time!  (I aced the Beatles Name That Tune)
• Had a massage--first time ever! It was very relaxing!
• First time the internet was truly excellent
• MDR losing its allure -- only had two dinners there. I just wasn't wowed by the choices or the experience.  Waiters were lovely though.
• Did not attend the second Formal Night--unheard of for me.
• First time breakfast in the Solarium Cafe--it had everything I needed for a good hot breakfast.
• Had most dinners in the Windjammer--Found the experience to be positive for the following reasons: flow of people/layout of the food stations, variety of choices, food temperature, and service.  All very good.

 

NOT A FIRST: I overpacked.  Again!

 

Teddie

 

Fun confessions.  🙂

Re the windjammer, do you think you would feel the same if MDR menus were back to pre-covid variety and quality?  I guess what I'm asking is if you're converted to a WJ person more so now regardless of what the MDR is offering? 

What really interests me about the WJ is the spontaneity and variety.  Would love to go whenever we feel like we're done with our afternoon activities. The way Royal has completely screwed up MTD has also forced our early seating to be way too early...  

What I'm leery of with WJ dinners is missing our quiet family time together.  Maybe we'll just have to bit the bullet and try it sometime

16 hours ago, Another_Critic said:

Apparently I'm the only one that thinks Quantum class WJ is a jumbled maze with people going in all directions.  I've sailed 83 nights on Quantum class (Quantum and Anthem) and still do not like the layout and the [lack of] passenger flow.  However, I do like the aft outdoor seating area (omitted on Odyssey 😞 ).  

 

Disclaimer:  I've only eaten breakfast or lunch in the WJ, no dinner.

I'm with you.  Quantum class WJ ranks just above the Oasis class (worst WJ).  Much prefer Voyager and Freedom class WJ.  We can make any of them work, but our last two cruises have been on the Anthem and Quantum and the WJ is chaos compared to the two aforementioned classes.

1 hour ago, diesel1973 said:

Was on her for the Halloween cruise. Just normal wear and tear. Nothing that would affect your cruise.

55 minutes ago, horseymike said:

I think the overall condition of the ship was quite good. The maintenance team can be seen around the ship painting , working on different things,  ventilation system , food preparation equipment,  etc. 

They really stay on top of things from what is visible as a passenger in the public areas.

I heard the ship is doing a TA to Barcelona in April of 2024 , at which point it will undergo a 20 day dry dock.

Thank you both for the replies.  Excellent feedback.  Much appreciated.

OP, yeah we are sushi lovers as well and really miss the offerings they had at the entrance of the Windjammer on those ships!

There are only a couple of Elite benefits we're looking forward to next week, our first time Elite on X.  The Elite breakfast (if we're up for breakfast) and the laundry service.

I wish X did the 4 vouchers daily like Royal.   Happy hour from 5-7 doesn't work for us.  It's when we're typically getting ready for, and at dinner.

Fortunately we got the "all-in" for a reasonable price this time.  Can't wait to sail X again, only 8 days!

8 hours ago, ESweets said:

Thanks you for your review! I love hearing some good reviews as we will be onboard 12/19. May I ask about the current entertainment/shows? 

see you on board!

OP or others, how is the condition of the ship. Been a while since drydock. In good shape or is there more wear and tear than normal

Thank you for the review!  We’ll be sailing her in 9 days.  Is there still twice a day room turndown?

12 minutes ago, time4u2go said:

I've been thinking the same thing. It was always an option.

34 minutes ago, cruiseboy89130 said:

You always had the option to lock out the 2 times service - so raving about it -  is just stupid!

I might be missing the point.

For those that liked twice a day service, and now have no option other than once a day (and don’t like that). …What’s stupid?  

2 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

There was a short period of time when all-inclusive was the only option. However, it wasn’t that long before that went away. Now there is an option to add all-inclusive to most bookings but it isn’t required.  My reduced bookings comments is based on what I have heard from TAs (I never use one but two of them live within a block of my house) and more importantly what I have seen when booking cruises. Right now fares on Celebrity are significantly lower than RCI, especially comparing new ships for both cruise lines. I am still amazed what people are paying to cruise on Icon and now Star, not to mention current prices on other RCI ships.

Thanks.  This upcoming sailing will be the first time our grown kids (now 16-22 yrs) will sail X.  If they really like it we'll definitely be looking at X more for future bookings.  The elite benefits aren't as good as Diamond on Royal, but if the "all in" price is still good then it doesn't really matter.  My main concern is the lack of activities and entertainment vs Royal.  Of course, X has some nicer amenities vs Royal, so we'll see what they think.

1 minute ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

That’s a good example but I think their reduced bookings was likely a factor too. I have been cruising on RCI and Celebrity for years. For the majority of this time cruises on RCI, in general, were significantly cheaper than Celebrity. Right now, and it’s been this way for awhile, the opposite is true, which is why I have a half dozen cruises booked on Celebrity over the next five months. I think Celebrity made a big mistake moving to all-inclusive fares. Based on what I am seeing in their cruise fares they still haven’t recovered from this move. Granted this is just my opinion. There could be other reason(s) why fares on Celebrity are overall pretty low these days. 

Not arguing, but reduced bookings?  Haven't heard that.  We have a sailing with them in 9 days, so I've been over in that part of these boards and hadn't seen that.  We love Celebrity too so happy to sail with them to mix things up.

We had a gap sailing Celebrity from 2017-2023 so I don't know the booking changes they made during that time.  Did Celebrity ever have it where you HAD to choose the all-in and couldn't just choose the base fare?  For our cruise Dec 19th we have 4 bookings and only 2 of the 4 are "all-in"  The others are base fares.

3 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

What did Celebrity change based on complaints? The one big change I know Celebrity made fairly recently was eliminating the all inclusive fares (WiFi, drinks, gratuities) for all bookings (it is still an option for most bookings). But that change was made because bookings significantly decreased when they implemented this change. RCI is not going to make any changes based on complaints when their bookings have never been better despite price hikes in every area (cruise fare, excursions, packages, etc.)

For one, adding back the "classics" and other popular items back to the MDR menu

I typically use both.  App to quickly lock in our arrival time for our multiple bookings, and then later I use my laptop to fill in the rest.  I really should take a look at trying the app for all of it.

With so many cameras around the ship you would have to be pretty stupid to try stealing on the ship, especially since the victim would certainly know and report it.  Of course, stupidity runs in those that steal... so there is that. 🤣

6 minutes ago, HappyTexan44 said:

All this talk about skunk weed makes me extra glad for our promenade view rooms.   I'd be ticked if I'd paid for a balcony I couldn't use.   
 

One of these days we'll try one of those out.  We're happy sailing interior or Balcony.  Balcony really isn't that big of an upgrade to us.  I know, I know but we like the outdoor spaces around the ship rather than sitting alone on our balcony.  I do like being able to quickly and easily look out at port in the morning.

23 minutes ago, Scottdalfonso said:

That comment about being an empty space wasn't about ice cream.... it was about the sky pad area. 

Well that's true as well. 😂😂  Aren't they removing that as well, if they haven't already?