tfred

You should probably take everything on this site with much skepticism. There are a few folks that are always negative about everything. Usually revolves around no more unlimited lobster tail or triple cut prime rib every night. Also where’s my free drinks. They also haven’t sailed in 2 years. the X product is high quality. Somewhat different than a few years ago but almost every hospitality segment moves as consumer taste change.

Doubt it

next up - dogs

Palermo is too far and too risky for a day trip. Traffic in the city is impossible. Taormina or Catania are better choices

X knows all the demographics of Captain's Club members and the profitability of that group. Every perk costs money internally and they weigh the cost vs the benefit to X. If it doesnt add to X profitability or keeping "profitable" pax then it gets diminished. X isn't looking for ways to hang onto low profit customers no matter how "loyal" they may be. Looking at these forums there is no shortage of "where's my free drinks, forward view, I dont use the spa etc" people. X is not looking to lure those folks back. They want the land resort crowd that spends money on services and get them onboard an X ship.

I've never had a "hard sell" in the spa. Do they ask? Yes. Then I just smile and say no and that is that

you are right but X is not up at night trying to get low profit customers back on the ship again. Future programs will add value at a higher cost not offer less expensive options

doubt that new builds will affect pricing. Ships are becoming floating hotels that offer range of experiences for different levels of pax. 30-50 % of pax (depending on the port) never get off so where the ship goes is sometimes a bonus but not the reason to cruise in many cases

bad news - no cruise line is looking for your usage profile. They won't be sad if you are not on board. They won't chase you away actively but if you leave for Princess I think that X will be OK with that You dont buy liquor, take excursions, eat at specialty restaurants or use the internet and I assume do not use the spa- all high profit items. Buying the room alone is a low margin proposition for any cruise line and they dont start seeing better profits unless you add on items Las Vegas figured out years ago that the idea of low rate, high volume with $8.99 Prime rib buffets was a quick way to lose money. Now it is high room rates with expensive restaurants and shows.

we thought the food in Luminae was excellent but I would use the word inventive for the menu. "Normal ingredients but with a definite twist. They also have the everyday items like steak, salmon and chicken. They also have a kids menu which I saw some couple (amazingly ) eating from we have stayed in AQ and dined at Blu. Very good but food is more of an edge than inventive. I wouldn't think that you would need specialty unless you are big steak eaters - then Fine Cut would be your choice. Luminae and Blu are not going to serve a prime rib, although there is a very good ribeye available some nights

Why wouldn’t they be.

I wouldn't count on MDR food being offered in Luminae on E class. There are everyday items or kids menu available as alternatives Did you just not like the menu items offered or was it not how you normally prepare that menu item? Luminae food is definitely "inventive" and one shoal die prepared for that

this is a classic "I only like what I like " food review. When everything is bad then I question the review. I have eaten on S and E class in Blu, OVC, MDR and Luminae in the last two years- all very good. All well prepared - whether you like the selection of menu items is another story food menus on board are changing and it isn't going to be prime rib and lobster every night anymore for any number of reasons Some people are very "selective" eaters and they should find cruise lines that cater to that - HAL would be my first choice.

Martini bar is good but loud. Eden is more relaxed with acoustic music.

we took a 45 minute boat ride to White Bay. Docked at a pier and then 5 minute transport in a small bus to the beach. All in all a nice day

didn't say they cant be seated together. However if the suites are sold out chances are that Luminae may be busy with many of those tables set for 2 or 4 There is a long banquette that would be best for a large party - that banquette is also used for the 2/4 seatings depending on the time and rush. You only need one part of 2 in the middle of the banquette to derail the 10 top idea

there really aren't that many long tables in Luminae to accommodate 10. I would go to the restaurant at boarding and talk to them. Probably the best would have a set time for the group to eat and stick to that Groups of 2 and 4 are what they are prepared for at anytime - not 10

Blu menu is somewhat edgy so be prepared for that. We like it but if you are a "selective" eater you may be uncomfortable. There is the everyday chicken, steak or salmon selection. You also may be able to order off the MDR menus but I wouldn't alway count on that

this a land hotel would never allow on site upgrades at a low price since it trains customers to wait until last minute for low cost rooms or upgrades

most of these food discussions are related to "I dont like that kind of food or I never had it like that -aka selective eater'. Too much fish, not enough fish. Meat but I dont like lamb, pork or sirloin.... This forum is littered with these comments . I would like to see what they eat at home. If the menu had stayed the same from whenever most people sailed the complaint would be - "the menu never changes" to my view the menu has evolved like any restaurant from 5 or 10 years ago. X isn't crazy - they follow food trends and try to replicate that in the menus. We have eaten on S class and E class in MDR, Blu and Suites and find the food selections pretty good and prepared well. X isn't going to have a 10 page Cheesecake Factory menu available to flip through

I don’t believe it. I have eaten the buffet for breakfast and lunch and it was very good. What do you consider good food ?

we booked a 10 day Silversea Italian cruise (Rome-Venice) in f 2024 at the same price as X Suite. SS had smaller ports with excursions included. SS isn't as casual on board as X but we can deal with that SS also doesnt have the big nighttime shows but these cruise is more port intensive so I am sure that a full day off ship will put us to sleep earlier than normal. I can survive without Silent Disco this time

not always money, but one way flight to Barbados to board a ship are $300-400. RT ORD FLL are 200-300. Plus the general complexity of flying to Barbados, hotel there etc. Not difficult, but not as easy as FLL sailings with easy hotels, flights, transfers

pretty easy to get to FLL or MIA with a direct , inexpensive flight from almost anywhere in the USA. Flying to Barbados is an expensive multi stop flight. San Juan is better but no much in the way of direct flights add all of that together then X looks like an easier deal

why would they start discounting big time now? Still plenty of time fro last minute people with money to book. Move up lookers are always on the prowl even last minute