CruizinSusan70

44 minutes ago, chamima said:

 

I meant Reserve, Signature and Main.

It seems Reserve and Main are pretty much the same menu so now just wondering about the Signature.

 

(And I have to say, while we like most things on Princess better, the dining situation on Celebrity really IS much better. The menus in MDR, Blu (Aqua class) and Luminae (suites) are totally different from each other.)

Yes, but you're looking at the comparison from the point of view of those that stay in suites.  If you look at it from the point of view of those staying on board in inside, Oceanview and regular balconies, which is a much larger quantity of cruisers, it's a whole different comparison.  The Sphere Class does have the three different types of dining on decks 6, 7 & 8.  On Celebrity's Edge Class, traditional dining has been eliminated and they don't have anything comparable to the American Diner.

As usual, one's perspective is skewed upon the type of accomodations that you're staying in.

1 hour ago, DaisyRose said:

My cruise is not for more than a year.  I am disappointed that O'Malley's is only open for dinner, especially since I splurged for premier and have casual dining available to me.  I find that the dining room and buffet are always so crowded at lunch time on sea days.  Since it's only open for dinner, I would miss a nice dinner in the dining room for pub fare.  If anyone on board feels the same way as I do, wishing O'Malley's was open for lunch on sea days, would you please mention that on your post cruise survey?  If enough people mention it, maybe they will change it and open it for lunch on sea days.  Thanks so much!  And Thanks to Canadian Burger for a most wonderful Live From.  I've enjoyed all your posts and pictures!  Your pictures and commentary make me wish I was going on the ship tomorrow!  Don't know if I can wait another year and a half!

Much can possibly change over the next 18 months.  You do have another included option for lunch on sea days and that would be the American Diner on deck 8.

5 hours ago, phabric said:

On the Sky in Feb, I asked if we could use 1 casual credit at Alfredo’s for 2 people.  It seemed he was used to being asked. Each ship might be different, so ask when you check in to be seated.

I will add that if they do indeed allow you to use a plus credit, any extra additions will be subjected to the additional 18% gratuity.  

9 hours ago, chamima said:

 

So I remember the question being asked if the menus were the same in all three restaurants but i don't remember @CanadianBurger or anyone else answering it.

When you ask about all three restaurants are you meaning reserve, signature and main or deck 6, deck 7 and deck 8 of MDR?

13 hours ago, Pixelskaya said:

45.00 + 18% gratuity for 6 cocktails is not a bad deal.

My problem with Spellbound is I don’t want to have dinner there in front of a magician, I just want to try the bar.

True, but if you have the Plus package your drinks are already included.  Regarding Spellbound, extremely disappointed it's got a dinner attached to it.  Drinks and show for 39 is what I was hoping.  352 for two after gratuity because dinner is factored in makes it a big no from us.

4 hours ago, lennythenose said:

I didn’t ask my question right. I know we can go anywhere, my question is if we do eat lunch or dinner in the Signature can we go to the American diner later that same day for dessert or snack. 

You have your eye on that banana split, don't you Lenny.

12 hours ago, FLAlaska said:

He really loved it, didn't he?

Well, no dinner involved and comped of course, why wouldn't you like it?

With there being so many different people from different countries the entertainment is different so that language would not be a barrier.  There is also no piano bar or comedy club and they even had opera.  The multiple language announcements usually occur in the cruises that sail in Europe.  The two cruises we sailed in 2018 and 2023 in the Caribbean only had announcements in English.

9 hours ago, Pixelskaya said:

We are a group of 6. I know what I’m ordering as soon as we board 🐙🍸

45.00 + 18% gratuity.   Remember, Spellbound is only 149.00 + 18% as well.

6 minutes ago, WonderMan3 said:

Banana Split from the American Diner. Photo from Julie K.

That looks delicious.  14 days in the Caribbean this fall.  A few of those will be consumed by myself and DH. 👍

44 minutes ago, 555 said:

 I could see someone hogging a chair while they went elsewhere for a while.

Wow.  People would actually hog a chair. 😉😉😉

1 hour ago, 555 said:

Even worse might be someone sitting in your balcony chairs if the general area gets filled. 😄

It's a gated community.  You need to have a medallion hooked up with one of the 20+ cabins along that strip in order to be there legally.  I know you were making a joke, but at least the extra loungers outside the cabanas are padded, unlike the sanctuary.

5 minutes ago, CanuckCurlers said:

Do you have to pay the cover charge if only going for drinks?

There is no cover charge.  If you wish to get food during the hours they make it available you can either get the app/entree/dessert for 14.99 or buy them a la carte.  The 14.99 deal is free if you have the plus package using one of your two allotted casual meals or free if you have the premier package with the unlimited casual meals.

If only going for drinks, it'll only cost you the price of your drink.

On 2/24/2024 at 9:55 AM, louden said:

The "Plan" has always been promoted as "Princess Plus"  initially sold at $50 then increased to $60.  Last fall the press release simply stated that the "Princess Plus" plan now included the two casual meals with no reference to when one subscribed to the plan or any suggestion that if you wanted this "perk" you could upgrade.  The language was inclusive with no exclusion for early purchases.  Old Plus packages were included in the new provision for $15 drink limit but did not provide for the "Juice Bar".  We were on a 10 day trip.  Why would I pay a $100 upcharge to obtain a $30 meal promotion?

In actuality, Princess Plus started @ 40.00 per day.

6 hours ago, DELLA1955 said:

Do you need a reservation to book O’malleys or Alfredos?

They don't take reservations.  Alfredo's could be very busy on sea days at lunch.  At this time O'Malley's is only open for food at dinner time, but other times for drinks.

2 hours ago, startedwithamouse said:

Could have dynamic pricing?

That's a Royal Caribbean exclusive.  🤬

14 hours ago, Osa J said:

  Also my cabin will be on Deck 5 towards the front left of the boat...is this a fairly "good" area to be in if I'm prone to motion sickness?

You're on the lowest deck of passenger cabins and I will infer you're possibly in an ocean view cabin as well.  This is good since you're low and if need be can look out at the horizon.

5 hours ago, mtnesterz said:

I don't drink, but even I must admit, that sounds delicious!

Years ago my parents took a cruise/land package to Alaska and the train they were on I think was the McKinley Explorer.  The train specialty drink consisted of a cup of coffee with a shot of Peppermint Schnapps and a packet of hot chocolate mix stirred into it.

23 hours ago, mpdog42 said:

But if you get just the plus,Aren't fees waved for Room Service as well?

Honest Question

Thanks

Yes

37 minutes ago, tw67 said:

I also own stock. I like that extra OBC. How about paying for the cruise itself? 

You can use the gift cards to pay everything cruise related.  You can also use the stock OBC to buy gift cards in Cherry on Top to use on a future cruise. 100 minimum purchase and even 136.42 or anything you'd like.  

1 hour ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

 I read that people come on the ship with tupperware containers and bags and when they put the bowls out they empty them into their bags and tupperware. smh

We never witnessed that on our Meraviglia sailing, but if it's indeed true, that would be even lower than the Loyal Royals calling Carnival the Walmart of the Seas.

2 hours ago, LatinaInTexas said:

I will sail them again when they come to Galveston. My biggest letdown was the lack of comedy on my ship but the other entertainment made up for it.

No comedy and no piano bar combined with too much European skewed stuff is what turned us off to MSC.

2 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

 

I will probably try Seascape when it comes to Galveston. They have status match and matched me up to gold which is their equivalent of platinum. Hopefully they'll match me again up to Diamond when I get there. 

 

But I will never book one of the solo cabins like they have on that ship out of Brooklyn. Where there is no real bed. Just a couch that folds out. Never. I need a real bed. It doesn't look like Seascape has those fortunately.

The match is a one time thing.  So hitting Diamond on Carnival won't get you Black with MSC.

6 hours ago, KKB said:

I think it was the out of NYC thing--heard lots of bad experiences on MSC out of there; Carnival Venezia too. Again, not sure why. We sailed RCCL out of NYC & not strange issues.

 

Why is Celebrity in your rear view? Eclass ships are our fav for sure.

Tho generally these days Princess & NCL are winning--with Princess Plus & free at Sea, the others just can't compare once you add perks.

Celebrity I watch for good deals...

 

Celebrity is in our rearview mirror because of their changes with their drinks packages.  I'm ok with the classic but my DH likes to upgrade to the premium.  Until our 18 day B2B on them last year, the charge to upgrade was 10 + 2 for grats per day.  It's now 20 + 4 and both occupants need to do it.  So what was 12 bucks a day for 1 is now 48 a day for 2.  The removal of gratuities in their package also costs an extra 250 or so to a 7 day sailing.  We usually stay in an inside HC cabin and like to keep the costs as low as possible.  Comparing X to Princess price wise is a joke.  Because of this and the way that we've enjoyed our previous two B2B's on Princess, we currently have 11 cruises booked on them over the next two years consisting of 28 on Sun, 28 on Star and 35 on Enchanted.

9 hours ago, WonderMan3 said:

Celebrity was my go to for years but their pricing has gone out of control on top of them taking away things that used to be included (like gratuities and onboard credit from the suites). I recently booked 2025 and 2026 cruises on Oceania and Princess respectively because Celebrity was around $8K more expensive for similar itineraries/cabins. All the cruise lines have gone up in price and removed things but with Celebrity it’s exponential so I’m trying other cruise lines to see what my new go to might be. 

We cruised on Celebrity 9 times over the years in 4 different classes of ships.  They are currently permanently in our rearview mirror for various reasons.  The recent price increase, no longer including gratuities in their package and the main reason is because of the changes with their drinks packages.  It used to cost 10+2 to upgrade pp and only 1 person in a cabin could upgrade if wanted.  Now, it's 20+4 to upgrade and both need to do it.  So what used to be a 12 per day charge for one is now a 48 per day charge for 2.  They have also eliminated many drinks from their classic package so you're left with beer or rum & coke or basic stuff.  Nothing even remotely like a craft cocktail.