HMR74

Best off if you are lucky when something like the wire is ingested. I am really surprised, thinking about it, that they do not have an "error on the cautious side" policy/process (good business practice to bring one down to the medical facility for an evaluation asap. Also perhaps part of this is the stock prices of cruise companies have tanked, and RCL is by far in better shape than NCL or CCL. Short of cash balances; would not be a surprise . Mr. market knows what's happening.

Just curious as I did not see the date of this particular cruise in any post (as I quickly ran thru the posts) but what was the date--I assume recently , but I hate to assume. I am concerned even before this that the "vibe" on E class is different that the vibe on S class, and while I like Reflection, which will be revolutionized before the 2023 Med season, next years Reflection itineraries were not as desireable to me as Beyond or others by X, and I went into the Beyond 2023 sailings open eyed on higher prices (which are now much higher). Being optimistic, (and formerly in restaurant business) I will attribute most problems to a new ship and still messed up crew staffing, however, I have 6 months before final payments are due. So I have time to process and evaluate all this being able to see reviews coming. I already had a back up plan for a land based trip tied to the post cruise Italy stay which adds Greece and Israel. The X CEO Med 2022 Cruise on Beyond has yet to occur, I beleve. She should be made aware of the problems. Hard to fix problems you do not know about and sometimes the customer is best at pointing out the problems. That said, I heard complaints about APEX internet and I wrote management -----and mgt "assured me" that it will be fine, thus I feel real assurred, lol; Can't wait till Starlink internet is available onboard. As to the Captain, the person in charge is responsible for the entire shindig, so somehow this needs to get to Capt Kate now , before LLP is there. If Kate does not know about the problems then whats missing is some sort of communication format so she or he can see if something is happening thats out of the norm expected. Unless there is an expectation thats its ok for a certain number of guests to dine with wires in the still frozen fish. It's like the 5 second rule for food thats fallen on the floor. edit: btw, what gets measured gets done in any business. Everybody in the chain of command should have to sign off on something that goes wrong (of magnitude of the type like wire in food) , to make people accountable. Yes, we know 9,000 full meals are served on a typical day on a 3,000 person ship. on certain things there needs to be zero tolerance for errors.

correcto-and there are no rennovations planned other than for I think refelection. But where would they put it? The answer depends on whats making the most profit and least profit for X ongoing after the initial halo effect. Eden a big winner based on space being allocated. Cruise lines stocks have been hammered the past couple of months. Oil and food costs dinging them all . So far. X seems to be dealing with it from pricing perspectives and occupancy levels seem to be going up, but far from what they need. . That might be a stretch if cancellations start moving up. Airline flt cancellations are problematic. Lots of moving pieces. Whack a Mole style. One problem goes away and another problem pops up. As I said in an earlier post, I am thrilled I am out of corp management. too many issues on different levels to deal with including keeping customers/guests coming back

sometimes the simple pleasures of life are the best. Not KFC, but broasted chicken. Years ago I almost had my wife convinced we should buy a unit that broasted the chicken. Favorite meal is chicken and when I BBQ, my wife makes certain I do not overcook it but we know it has to be cooked. Now, I have a Ronco (remember that) Showtime BBQ and do everythign from chicken on the spit to steaks, including standing rib roast to burgers and fish. My main comment on Luminae is X needs to up the game there becuase its upped the game elsewhere on board. They need to find a way to make it really more special --yet I guess Le Voyage stands in the way. There is little room to maneauver. BTW, Luminae is more than dinner, its Breakfast, Lunch and cabin service too. Blu skips lunch whether in port or at sea. But Blu pretty good also.

on the electrical. on S ships normal balcony cabins, the only plugs are I recall 2 US at the desk. we bring the 2 ship approved extension cords with multiple outlets and that covers 2 IPhones, , 2 Ipads, the cameras, the various bluetooth headphones, the bluetooth selfie stick,and the small bose bluetooth speakers we take into port to listen to mp3's walking tours. Don't forget the outlet needed for the notebook laptop and you have a spaghetti nighmare, now aided by I think 4-6 different type connections, usb, usb c and b , and the old ones for something ipods and my bose ,mall portable speakers. ON the internet, did you all see where RCCL is hooking up with Elon Musks internet system where speeds will be fantastic. They are trying to fast track FCC approval. . We will need the fast internet to send money to use to pay off the higher cost of everything on the cruises now, including this fast (vs the current dial up type internet which is already rate expensive. ) Imagine booking a cruise where the internet is more than the remainder of the cruise cost.

Are you in sky suites, or the bigger suites, where the cabin is better suited for dine in and you have the no extra cost option of specialty

nothing beats fresh top quality ingredients, a great recipe and top drawer preparation. A 14 day TA presents big challenges.

The Ships Captain is responsible for it all. In the entirty, if there is a problem that is seen in many of the ships, where the company has to address it via more money being spent or support in other ways the Capitans should pressure management. A process is needed where if the captains cannot get it fixed themselves they need mgt support. Now, a new problem is shortages of food regardless of the reason. A ship finishes one cruise and has 8-10 hours at most to totally provision it before the new cruise starts. Getting that food and whatever else is needed on board in that time window is difficult espeically if ther are only a few boarding points. Do not forget that all perishable food is inspected. Glitches are more permanent now than 6 months ago. and then what if diesel fuel goes into shortage. How are they going to get everything delivered timely. Dunno. The new logistics reality. But then again cruise companies are selling a vacation a week or two or more away from the routine. If they cannot deliver that vacation experience they have a real problem.

we have dinner early at home but late on cruises. happy hour in room at 5 ish, show at 7 or 7:30 (7 preferred) , perhaps a drink in bar before and take to show, then dinner after the show and walk around after dinner. stop for a nice coffee-with E class we have the Club where we can hide out of its cool or too windy on top. Since Eden has entertainment that can be good too. nice thing about non peaks travel period is us older folks are on cruise and "we" in general wind down early. For those of us who like two stay up late, its usually a quiet ship.

Just for the record, when I bbq, my wife fears my overcooking it. Whatever it is. On tuna, I am on top of it to just sear it. Being a cook/Chef is not easy-it is very hard work. But if I was a betting person, and I do bet, I bet the chicken got warmed up. A second otr3rd time.

This problem is new and we have not cruised since late 2019. So its a thing I have to experience myself to evaluate. The higher price I can live with esp on Beyond which has so much to do viz a viz entertainment and just hanging out at for example sunset bar. Or if I want the retreat outside bar. Or outside the Oceanview bar. However, I have this crazy notion that if the disappointments are discussed here some will be addressed. Is the Luminae kitchen on Beyond actually up on the upper deck with Luminae-if so, that does make it difficult to get MDR selections. But on the other hand it should ensure better preparation and delivery. So far on X the disappointments have been few and not show stoppers. I heard RCCL is making FCC permanent. I used to have small, very small, investments in a number of upscale but not premium restaurants and I would go there with the principals to these places. They would order several dishes for us and we would share and they were testing the outputs. I cannot begin to explain how upset they were if something came out of kitchen for them and was bad, like overcooked. They instituted a process at each place to have someone checking QC of dishes just before they were picked up by servers. They even random selected output for temp and taste. Hot Soup should be hot. Iced cream should not be served 1/2 melted. The restaurant buiness is a difficult one, but can be managed properly.

by the way, to some degree the "mystic" of a Chef Boland inspired menu at Luminae has been depreciated in favor of Le Voyage. Many here have expressed disappointment with the preparation of the Chefs recipies (eg overcooked chicken) I think more that its a limited menu that is part of the problem and as I have stated the other venues esp MDR have caught up with Lumunae, which is why I point out that X has to step up its game at Luminae, whic until Le Voyage was supossed to be the top restaurant on board. The new location on top with the windows is a nice plus. It is also a matter of expectations. If your expectations are low you will not be disappointed. by the way, I have been told in S class MDR that burgers on board are intended to be well done, not pink.

And all I am saying is since X upped its game on food for MDR and OVC , it needs to up its game on Luminae if it really wants to compete with smaller premium lines. The CEO did say last year it would, with beyond target the large ship premium. for the most part it has done that but the memo on improving Luminae was apparently not sent out. The now disproportionate higher pricing in retreat, not affecting me as i booked before prices went really nuts, is a problem. thats the disappointment. Again, being in a suite and going to a specialty venue should be just for chance of pace, not because you are disappointed in Luminae.

Its not special, its the perceived value. bigger cabin, bigger bathroom where two can get ready at same time. too bad thats not offered ala carte. the real balcony vs IV. room service is nicer. Early disembarcation nice at each port. private lounge. if luminae not up to snuff it devalues it all. Part of problem there is they upscaled mdr but increased retreat price moreso % wise.and the smaller 4 mdrs give and enhanced better intimacy feeling while adding suites and increasing size of Luminae takes away the Luminae feeling. X should take this as constructive criticism. I read an article a couple of years ago that validated that suites are highest margins on board all cruise lines. There is a breaking point somewhere.

here is another idea for X-Luminae becomes just one more specialty choice for the ship but Retreat Sky suite guests have choice of the specialty and Luminae with no upcharge with a way of garanteeing Retreat guests a table among those places. The prices are high and if X does not get its act together , is the upcharge really worth the Retreat Club, private deck and butler. I stil think they have to make Luminae on par with the premium small ships and I believe few now think thats happening, Perhaps it was not now and it cannot be blamed on restartng otherise the 4 MDRS and specialty dining would not be as good as they are. Its one thing to go to specialty dining just to break a routine, its different if its far enough below expectations that you feel it. And then after paying a nice upcharge for Retreat/Luminae, you have to pay $55 a person plus grats to go elsewhere. Thats another $132 just for dinner to get the quality and or service or ambiance you want and thought you paid for, That exclusively for Retreat guest losses its meaning. eg, I have been pretty happy in Aqua for several thousand less PP.

I understand and there is a supply demand issue which drives prices.my 2023 cruises were driven by Itenerary and Beyond had the best for us. eg Reflection is just doing western Med and basically back and forth between Barcelona to Rome. And also from what I hear from others, whenever X offers a new great sale, the top prices goes up by a couple hundred more than the discounts and deals. And if we booked before 2022, with higher costs for fuell and food and higher inertnet charges and new higher drink packages, somewhere it alll has to shake out. My point is there are increased costs, and with the E class MDR and from what I hear about the Oceanview Cafe being better, Luminae is not as special as before (except the location) . X needs a bit of a make over of Lumanae menus, (keep the burger please but even then the burgers have improved on ships "complimentary" venues" ). Remember on S class the main differentiation of Suite class was Luminae and the MDR was no big deal like the 4 are now. Perhaps if X is saying its Premium big ship strategy is complete, it has to compare or exceed The Oceanic and Regent in Suite class. Or discount the specialty restaurant for Retreat Guests.

There are a number of other Guests fond of Retreat who have noticed that X has stepped up its Game on food esp in the Edge Class. Many have also notices Lumane has not changed much-but the prices on Beyon Suite class have increased in a far more % than prices in onther classes. In my case, up 32% since December. It is time X step up the game at Luminae. Le Voyage is what Luminae shoud be.

Very true. But also now with the OBC its easy to grab a meal r two at secialty

do not ever underestimate the value of being nice to staff and treating them well. After the 2nd night the staff figured out what I liked to drink. that night they brought all three to the table as we sat down, and with a smile. I had to stand up and give them a high five and the same for the bread basket. Same for after dinner coffee. It makes all the difference in how much more enjoyable the cruise is, having a good rapport with the staff.

yes, but also have other things. If you miss it the first day, you get a second chance that Friday as its repurposed into turkey casseroles etc. which were actually pretty good 🙂

I am about 7 miles east of you and I say u r correct, but its the sq footage PP/guest and Beyond is about the same as edge and Apex, the location and windows will make it look larger on Beyond. Might be too bright in there. Like Blu, after 8:30 PM it starts getting real quiet.

Luminae on Beyond is proportionately increased in sq footage to match the increased number of suites.A big difference is the upper deck forward and I think kitchen faciities right there. As for noise, the windows, of which there are many are angled for the aerodynamics up front, however they wil also throw noise down into carpet to keep the noise from bouncing, vs previous luminaes had vertical windows or walls where the noise just bounced around. This is better but it would have been even better if there was more space allocated to ii. That would require giving up 1 or 2 penthouse suites. No way, Jose. Some of the suites added are aqua suites where I beleive those the guests can go to Blu or Luminae, vs the normal Retreat guests can only dine in Blu if there is space.

almost everything in life is subjective. I like baby backs that are chewy, wife and kids and grandkids like fall off the bone. Who is right? The family says they are because they are the majority. What do they like in a vacation? Anything I pay for. My priorities are set. Seriously, someone has to have rather high standards, and be too picky, to not like Luminae, or Blu or one of the 4 MDRs on Edge Class and of course specialty dining. I am ok with buffet if not too busy which is an oxymoron at breakfast and lunch. Yogi Berra; "Nobody goes there anymore its too crowded"

What are the most critical issues on selectign a cruise company or ship to book Itinerary Service Food Condition and amenities of ship Cost Intangibles (is the vibe right for you) Rank them however you may wish, but they all figure in and for the people wanting to discuss only specifically Luminae, it is fair to compare Luminae to the smaller premium ships because when you book you book the"package" . And according to X CEO Perlo the X strategy is to go to Premium large ship vs premium smaller ship. So things like food do matter, as well as comparative price andentertainment which by nature of the smaller ship probably cannot compare. So do you prefer small ship vs large ship. Oh, and lifes decisions and preferences are subjective. For the

We looked at Oceana but did not follow thru as their policy was also full pay 6 months out but also I recall at least double the deposit over X. With all the uncertainty we had and still have I just did not want to lock up more $$. its also that X esp the beyond has more and a variety of things to do on board than the premium ships that are smaller. it is nice we have good choices.