Robert de Beaumont

Surely once past bookings dry up, these changes are going to adversely impact their load factor sometime in the second half of 2024? Maybe that’s what it will take. I’m remain hopeful the market will discipline Celebrity and a change on leadership occurs that will put things right. Meanwhile, I’ll enjoy Oceania!

After my trip on Beyond next week, my next cruise is on Regent (Seven Seas Splendor) and the one after that is on Oceania Vista. Considering both of those included airfare and transfers within the cruise fare (not to mention gratuities — and Regent even includes shore excursions), they’re really only marginally more overall than the total cost of the Beyond trip.

Same here.

Yes, and they are expected to be cash flow positive in 2023 (after being $2 billion negative in 2022). They’ve done well increasing margins. But demand for their product is elastic; and, as you note, they might kill it with a combination of continued cutbacks, perceived erosion in value, and just plain bad PR. Time will tell. We’ll see how demand looks for 2024.

Thanks so much 😊

They have a selection of ports, but the Tokaji and Sauternes are not offered these days — not since Covid. More’s the pity! The 20 yr port is nice though.

Thank you! Good to know. I don’t think much of many of the rotating selections.

Hi all, My apologies if the following question has been asked and answered. I’m not great at searching the forums. Question is: can you order an item exclusive to one of the main dining rooms in another main dining room? For example, could I order something from Normandie’s menu in Cosmopolitan and vice versa? I know they call them “exclusives” for a reason, but I have heard of others doing this and the wait staff obliged. Not sure if this still happens or if X stopped permitting it with all its changes. Thanks!

I hope you and the other passengers will share your views in the post-cruise survey!

Did they push through a recent price increase on the so-called “premium” options?

I’m on the Beyond on the Sept. 8 sailing and things seem to be moving and changing frequently. I thought night 7 was lobster night and now it’s not.

Sooo . . . I sent a rather candid (though still polite) email to Laura Hodges-Bethge yesterday. Just moments ago, I got a phone call from 305-539-6000. A Miami number, which made me think it could be from Celebrity. Sure enough, a Google search showed this is Royal Caribbean Group’s corporate communications number. I didn’t answer. But a few minutes later I got the following email. Of course, it’s just corporate spin, but I was rather surprised they attempted to call me by phone — and on a Sunday. I hope they truly are going to approach changes more carefully. Here’s the email: “I hope all is well.As a member of her Executive Team, it is my pleasure to respond on behalf of our President and CEO, Ms. Laura Hodges-Bethge. I am pleased to inform you that as of yesterday, August 26th, we have discontinued the test offering of a warm chocolate chip cookie for a small fee for our guests.Receiving honest feedback from our guests is critical to our efforts to do better as a company. This is why we truly value your additional input regarding the areas of service that we could improve upon. We are always challenging ourselves to perfect the onboard experience, and, with your help as our partner, we will rise to the occasion.Once again, please accept our gratitude. Your thoughts and feedback mean the world to us, and we hope to welcome you both back on board soon!”

This is it precisely. I couldn’t put it better. The cookie fiasco was very ill advised, cheapened Celebrity’s brand image, and repulsed many loyal cruisers, like us. It’s not the cookie in isolation; it’s the cumulative effect of changes over the last several months: shrinking MDR menus, MDR quality degradation (low-cost fish, such as Tilapia; even a hamburger as a “test” on Equinox); new room service charges; reduced offerings for Aqua Class; elimination of dedicated butlers for Sky Suites. These are just the items that come to mind.

I must agree with you! Also, it’s not just the cookie. It’s the cumulative effect of that with all the prior new charges. I do still hold out hope that X reverses itself. They did with dinner cutbacks in the Oceanview. But the proof will be in the pudding, and meanwhile I’ve made my new bookings with different lines. I do plan to enjoy my sailing on Beyond (13 days to go!) to the full. Hopefully this stupid cookie thing will still be in its pilot phase on the Equinox!

Precisely! Hence the eye roll 🙄.