tfred

I could see why X is no longer your exclusive cruise line. They seem to be emphasizing certain geographic areas - Caribbean, Mediterranean and Northern Europe with regular cruises. Secondary, seasonal geographic ports (Asia, Alaska, Canada etc) are the same ports every year. The ships are getting bigger and more frenetic - especially outside Retreat. As an aside, we have been on Apex a few times in The Retreat and love it. We are pretty happy to float around the Caribbean for a week in January When were on two weeks ago, there were no shortage of pax who love the E Class concept and treating the ship as a floating resort. They are very happy to stay on the ship and watch the same shows on each cruise If you are looking for a sense of adventure with "different" locales, X is not the line to be on Royal Corporation should do a better job in pushing the disaffected to Silversea instead of having them wander to Oceania or Regent. Some cruise itineraries are better on other lines. We are taking a Rome to Venice cruise on Silversea this summer. Smaller ship, smaller ports, less confusion. Price was the same as Apex

I looked at that cruise too and it is attractive, but it is really one of the few 7 day Caribbean that Regent runs Most are 10-14 days with a bigger total. Better value for sure but the total cost (and time away from a job - assuming that person is still working) is not the meat of the market. Regent has 1 or 2 seven day cruises in the spring Caribbean market X has 5 a week in Edge class ships No one really knows the booking success of suites for X. We just got off Apex in a SS an everyone was talking about re-upping for another suite on X while we were in the lounge or at dinner. Time will tell

Regent, Crystal (and to some extent Oceania) only make sense if you re booking a sky suite (or better) on X. The per diem costs between the two can be very competitive at that level. What bumps up Regent is the inclusion of excursions. Assuming that you are doing excursions on X then it is pretty close. the downside of non X cruise lines in the Caribbean is longer cruises that cause the total price to be higher than one would like. A fun one week cruise on X Sky at a "reasonable" price can be another story on Regent - gets pricey

We priced a SilverSea 12 night Med against a 12 night X. SS was actually the sam eprice and then you add in included excursion for SS - it was an easy choice. Also, SS is a small ship and can get into small ports X ships are the big ports and generally those ports are 1-2 hours from the city that you want to actually want to visit Caribbean is different. X sailings are easy to get to (FLL/MIA), while small ships have unusual homeports that are challenging to get to

the Elevated looks like more fun. Why these aren't included for a suite is beyond me with Retreat prices these days my guess is that a number of all of these wines will not be available - judging only by my history in previous Retreat sailings also - no desert wine listed. I think in the past they were, although hit and miss availability

This I think the main part of the ship is pretty much the same as before and that was a good product. The Retreat area (which we stay in these days) is definitely priced too close to the Silver Sea, Crystal and Regent for our taste We have booked a 2024 Med cruise on Silver Sea for the same price as a equivalent X. Smaller ship, smaller ports and a bigger dining choice. The problem we have is that we like to take a post holiday cruise in January. X has been an easy choice (we live in south Florida in winter) and a 30 minute drive to FLL is a no brainer - just pick the Saturday you want to leave . The lux ships have unusual home ports, longer cruises than we want. That said, when Retreat was $6k it was a good value. At $8k it's ok, at $10k I really question the value. The $2 up charge for drinks is just something that annoys me and is just tacky.

I think that is only on non Edge class ships as those ships have a shared kitchen Edge class kitchens are not close to each other. Some people get lucky and are allowed to order from MDR but I wouldn’t count on it. Blu and Luminae aren’t designed for diners in the “I don’t eat that - fish, meat, foods that touch “ crowd.

take a look at the JW Marriott Marco Island website. In the Dining area you can scroll the menus of various on site restaurants and see prices for spirits and wine. X is marginally higher for similar offerings They are just trying to get close to land resort prices. Also look at the room rates for standard rooms - no real view, king bed. This week they are $1275/night ! That is Ala carte - no food or booze. X is certainly looking at that site and saying we can do that too and give you a suite.

You can get salmon, chicken or steak plainly served You can also ask along the way for menu items served without sauce. They can be somewhat creative if you give them 24 hour notice.

X will know the results pretty soon - within 2 months. The first month will be the settling in period and then a better idea in month two Half of the wine by the glass menu is an uncharge and apparently the same with brown liquors It is difficult to ignore all the $2 choices and the results will be easy to see at corporate Long term is the fallout from the now "good, better, best" liquor program. people thought they were buying "best" but it is now "better "

X knows the numbers of who eats and doesn't at Luminae. The MD from Luminae actually called our friends and wanted to know why they weren't eating at Luminae and why were they at Blu. More of a concern about table side service rather than food I think. We like both Blu and Luminae for what they are . I have seen posts along the way that Blu and Luminae should offer MDR offerings on the menu by deleting some present items. I think that many people expect MDR food in a nicer setting and better service and that isnt with B or L It isnt Cheesecake Factory

This is true. Newbies are from land resorts like Marriotts that everything is ala carte and is expensive. JW Marriott Marco Island can be $800/night for a standard room plus food and booze-another $300. On X you are getting a suite for the same price. regent, Crystal et al are somewhat unknown on the Newbie cruise world and in the Caribbean they have unusual schedules (Tuesday departure) from harder to get to originating ports (Barbados). A European cruise is a no brainer for lux lines. Cost competitive and better everything for a port intensive vacation. Small ships go to small ports. Big ships go to big ports.

I think that your interpretation of the word “everything “ is at issue. look at the app, Jan 7 sailing of the Ascent. Go to dining, Cosmopolitan menu and then look at the wine list. It apparently is updated (unlike the dozen or so that I see in posts or just about any of the ships. ). It is also different than Luminae for that ship strangely enough that wine list has both a Premium and a separate Elevated I think that the rather wordsmithing of that e mail to you says that if this on Premium you get it included. Also offerings may be an up charge. That is the elevate list.

The X memo is not actually clear. It sounds like all glass wines are included within the Retreat area are in but random posts say not true.

we know people who didn't like Luminae either. They are very "selective" eaters and that isn't what Luminae caters to (although there are everyday choices available). Luminae service is great and my only thought was that Luminae couldn't whip something immediately for their tastes and that was a problem for them. . The menu is the menu and that isnt apparent from the X website. Blu in its own right has a bit of an edge to it as well but evidently it is more acceptable.

I received something like that as well as a VM. Really no detail. Is it everything with no up charge or just at or below $17? I have also seen 3 different "current" wine lists - 2 on line and 1 on the app. Really none are the same as each other. The app has 2 different wine lists and it depends on the ship. Ascent seems to be the "current" one and definitely has some variety We are on Apex next week and that seems to be the old list. Again, after dropping $8k on a suite I am somewhat less than thrilled to be dinged for $2 on basically everyday wines. I could see a $15 charge for something that is truly unique, but the $2 is just tacky.

us too. It was an insane price

Yep. We booked a 12 night Rome to Venice cruise on SSea for 2024. It was actually cheaper than the Celebrity 12 nighter in a suite. Smaller ship that can go into smaller ports AND included excursions These are easier to decide than the standard Caribbean 7 night. Those are in and out of south Florida Even though we live in FLL area in winter trying Seabourne or SSea generally requires, flying to the port (probably not direct) and then another day or two in a hotel. Traveled for business my whole life so I know ho to do it. Just something about driving 30 minutes to Port Everglades that makes it easy. If I was still working the X model makes it very easy - fly to FLL on Friday, embark on Saturday and the fly home the following Saturday

if I was X I would be trying to raise my prices to keep them equal to land based resorts as well. Why give it away? Some of this depends on who the new suite customers are If they are brand new then that is what they are used to buying on land (Lets get a suite!!) then that is what it is. They really have no expectations of what goes on especially with Luminae and to some extent with the PDP. The Retreat lounge and sun deck are easy to understand for everyone. The established suite pax (those on Cruise Critic for the most part ) know that the PDP and Luminae included all those wines as of last year - X just moved the goalposts Lumina isnt just a better MDR - the menu definitely has a twist a that is impossible to tell from the X website. I like it but, there are no shortage of pax on FB that dont like the menu The PDP sounds pretty inclusive to the average new pax (who is paying more than $17 for a glass of average wine at a resort - no one) Their problem is getting dinged for $2 when they just dropped $10k for a suite. No one is going to like that for wines that they probably recognize as everyday Costco selections No one expects Barolos to be included with no up charge X should extend the Eden model of obviously different/better drinks and charge $10 more for those wines/spirits - but they have to be better. $2 is just the beginning of the "oh, come on" discussion with the Somm that doesnt make anyone feel good.

It may be that this gentleman’s very recent departure (from VP Food and Beverage to VP Hotel Ops) has caused this change Q4 2023 whoever the new person is may be the one who caused the change.

With the purchase of a $10k Sky you would think that anything on this list would be included it also doesn’t match the app. How hard can this be ?

I would be alot happier if the PDP wine selection was a tad more expansive Mouton Cadet red blends are pretty low end for "Premium"

Blu food is good - we like it. Food is always subjective but there isnt anything weird on the menu. Blu itself is smaller and great service. $70 for the upgrade is a good deal I dont see a problem at those times.

we have done some of the DIY vacations (tons of air, CC and hotel points) and had a great time as well We like an easy winter vacation (we live in south Florida) and a cruise a good choice Been on a few ships and like X. Although we had done two Crystal River cruises and they were phenomenal Really benchmark material X (The Retreat for us) has been great. Service, food, booze all good. The "magic " does wear off after a few cruises but what should remain is seamless service with an exemplary experience. On Apex in 10 days so we shall see if the money is worth it. A few other cruise line options for this kind of money

unfortunate That would not prevent me from having a good time ( I can survive on Aberfeldy ) but the chipping away at the edges is a problem. We aren't huge drinkers but better quality than I drink at home is something that I liked on previous Apex Retreat sailings