Gracie115

True but I also seem to remember that the actual bar area is still not accessible for those who may be in wheelchairs. There are a few steps up to the bar area itself. I don't remember a ramp to get to that area, is there one? Neither of us use a wheelchair but last fall on the Apex I was recovering from hip surgery and still using a cane, didn't like this area for several reasons but the lack of access was one of them.

Same here...every time

Not only are there NO windows in the Martini Bar on E class ships it's more like a cavern at that bar. Situated basically between 3 decks, not accessible except by stairs from the top as I remember, and very loud music a good bit of the time. It is not a welcoming atmosphere although some enjoy it no doubt. Not for us. Much prefer the Ice Bar of the "S" class. Luminae on the E Class is closer to being a small MDR than a specialty restaurant for Suite class. Ask the wait staff that have worked on both which they prefer. We sailed on Apex twice and the staff that we spoke with prefer the other classes. (they do like the crew quarters more on E class) Luminae is far smaller and more intimate on both M&S ships. It is a VERY noisy room during busy hours and we were told that for the Beyond and Ascent it has been made even larger. This REALLY detracted from the ambiance in the room. We found Eden impossible to find a seat for any show unless you showed up WELL in advance. Most of the chairs have very low seats and are not particularly comfortable. The small "deli" type restaurant that serves lunch on sea days was good but again, if you didn't show up well before noon it was basically a "to go" experience as there was no seating available at a table. Something good? The theater. It is amazing, best we've seen at sea. Also, although we did not like the ship itself the staff did their best to take care of all the guests. Our room attendant, butler, wait staff were wonderful. We hope we encounter them again sometime but it will have to be on a different class as we have no plans at all to sail on the E class again. This class, in our opinion, was built for younger demographic and it appears they have achieved that.

All of this and more.....the "Martini" bar area is so loud that all we ever did was move as quickly past it as possible. It is so close to both the La Petit Chef & Fine Cut steakhouse that the music invades on the experience in those venues, especially La Petit

Agree, and we have sailed in a suite twice on E class. The retreat deck was nice but mostly unused by anyone, a shame that all on the ship were unable to access this area. The elimination of the Sky Lounge for all to enjoy like the S class was a bad choice. We may sail Celebrity again someday in the future, it will NOT be on an E Class ship.

OR you could just not cruise for awhile until the prices being charged are at least equal to the entertainment, food, service, perks being offered. That's the choice we've made. Our last 2 cruises on X in the Retreat left us feeling we are getting less and paying much much more. We'll just see how things are in a few years.

We loved Qsine, especially with at least a few other people. La Petit was good once on Silhouette, not good on Apex and we won't bother again if we ever sail X again. Qsine was always a fun evening.

What a wonderful report. We've been in one of the Penthouse suites twice, once in R614 on the Regal and once in one of the aft corner suites (can't remember the #) both are just lovely suites, the aft one was actually amazing. Both were pre Covid and not a lot went on in the Concierge lounge so it's very nice to hear that there are evening events being held in that venue now. We have a TA booked on the Sky and I'm sure we will utilize the lounge there. Hopefully whoever is the concierge on it at the time of our sailing will be as good as Carmen was on the Royal.

Truth. I'm not a business major either....and right now i'm betting the same is true of those making these decisions for Celebrity. Only time will tell if it works....in the meantime we aren't even looking at X sailings anymore, next 3 trips on other lines. (This after 30 plus on X)

We are booked on our 1st Viking cruise and wondering, since I know you have a lot of experience with Viking and also that you have done the Egypt trip with them, just how the dress is for dinners on that trip. Did you find it a bit more casual than other less adventurous trips? We'd love to be able to pack far less for this since it includes several flights and accommodation changes. I'm not asking if jeans are being worn as we have no intention of bringing any, the Egypt trip far too warm for jeans in our opinion.

We felt the same but since the top bucket list item is Egypt and Jordan and Viking offers a wonderful itinerary AND sells out years in advance we are booked in 2025 with a final pay of December 2023. All efforts to have that delayed have failed though they do have a policy if you have more than one trip booked with them they will move that date to 6 months our apparently.

As is most everything Celebrity seems to be doing these days.

Absolutely try it again. Princess is better in service and food than Royal and on par with Celebrity. We have been Celebrity cruisers for 25 years and sprinkled in quite a few Royal and several Princess cruises in that time now. Celebrity prices (and Royal) have gone through the roof, while cutting services, food and loyalty perks. For the first time since 1998 we have nothing booked with either of them, but DO have a Princess TA booked in 2024 and very much looking forward to it!!!!! Go for it!

Truth..... just one more "little" thing after another after another and another....... Celebrity WANTS a different cruiser and they're going to get it.

No have never sailed AZ and we tried to do the Baltics on Celebrity several times the last being April of 2020.....we all know what happened then. 😨

Thank you for that, and I have found the same in yours. We have nothing with Celebrity booked at this time and have no plans to right now which is the first time since 1998 that I can say that. Even during the pandemic we would book something and cancel(like so many) but I can't find anything now that I want to book. Itineraries don't change, prices are crazy expensive and there really doesn't seem to be any incentive for loyal customers. Have been looking around and some of Princess itineraries are intriguing. Their full suites are lovely and with their "plus" package include a lot of the same perks that X offers and some that are better (in our opinion). We'll see what the future brings... happy cruising to you.

Just another reason for our saying "BYE" to Celebrity.

Princess Cays is NOT an amusement park

Ah Princess..... you look better & better.

Interesting....we've been in full suites twice in 2018 & 2019 and knew nothing about this. Even did my own laundry during one of them.

We are in a full suite on Sky in 2024. When did they add free laundry to the perks? We were in a full suite before the pandemic and don't remember that perk.

Not in anyway to defend either Celebrity or Princess but your cruise summary doesn't include any Celebrity cruises. Have you cruised with Celebrity? We have cruised both and have enjoyed both but now find that Princess prices are more reasonable and food very comparable to Celebrity.

We loved our Crown Loft for the same reason on Harmony......great atmosphere.

AND the E Class...at least in the CS suites

We LOVE the CS on S class ships. Have been in them on all but the Solstice. We've been lucky to book the ones on the hump slant that have very large balconies. Yes, the bathroom is "small" and "yes" the tub is difficult to get in & out of, especially if you have mobility issues, (but nowhere near as bad as on E class ships CS) but the 2 entrances make it especially nice when one person is sleeping and the other is not. The suite is roomy, especially for 2 persons and we think far preferable to an SS. It may not have all the RS perks but it also doesn't have the generally MUCH higher price either.