ThursdaysChild

When eating in BLU earlier this year I was told they would be enhancing their menus because of the opening of Luminair.

On last fall's Equinox TA I was told by the F&B manager that the Blu menu would be changing in the coming year (2015). In April on the Silhouette TA, Jovel, the Manager in Blu, said he thought later this year or early next, as they had been working on some new menus. Beyond my next cruise, I have stopped booking AQ cabins precisely because Blu is the same old same old after 6 year and no longer worth the extra cost. When the new menus actually do finally show up, I'll consider going back to AQ. Until then, it'll be a few dinners in Select and mostly Specialty Dining. It'll cost me less than AQ fares.

Hi _ we are travelling with my cousin - he is early 60s - very energetic guy - self employed and works like a trojan.

His wife passed away with breast cancer four years ago now.

We took him with us last year on NCL (he had a studio) - and when we booked Equinox transatlantic this year we gave him the option to come with us and he jumped at the chance (even though he is paying double) and booked a balcony cabin.

We are in Aqua and he is select mdr - just wondering if may singles cruise Celebrity - is there a "singles" get together in the Today -

How have others found it..

I know he has had a few dating experiences -

Just wondering if he will meet some new friends etc..

If you are single or have travelled with a single - what has been your experience?

Many thanks

B

Blondie, I travel solo much of the time, and through participating in my Roll Calls, and just generally spending some time at the Martini Bar or the Sunset Bar, always meet other people traveling solo. Some are singles. some are married but with the husband staying at home because of work. There are often solo traveler get togethers planned but I rarely if ever go to them because by Day 2 or 3 we solo travelers seem to have found each other.

By the way, in all my X cruises (see my signature) I have met only TWO (straight) men traveling solo, and a ton of single, divorced, or widowed straight women. I always think that straight single men in their 60s are missing a great opportunity to connect with some fabulous, smart, independent and fun women in their age group by not cruising with X.

If your cousin gets involved with the Roll Call, and is at least a bit outgoing, he'll have a blast!

So we're nearing the end of day 2 of our transatlantic on the Reflection. It's my first time on her and she's a gorgeous ship. Previously did a 14-night Antarctic on Infinity, which was great as well. That was two years ago.

 

Here are some initial thoughts while I'm thinking them:

 

1) The ArtStudio is a really fun feature and a nice touch. The classes (10 people max) filled up _very_ quickly, and so it was a bit of a surprise to hear our art instructor explain that they're shuttering the program at the end of the year. I liked having an alternative to the normal entertainment on board, and today's watercolor course was really nice. I really hope X reconsiders closing the Art Studio.

 

2) Holy crap is Bistro on Five now woefully overpriced. I had heard it was slightly more before I got on board, and it was: $7 versus $5. Nope, not true. The host asked me if I had been there before and when I said I had, he mentioned it is now a $10 per person cover charge. This is well too much for an adjunct lunch option, even if they're including gelato now. I hope they do some basic market equilibrium studies and see that this price point isn't great. We really enjoyed treating ourselves a few days of our last cruise. The crepes were fantastic and it was a nice touch for $10 total. For $20 total, I'll pass and take on some of the many other options.

 

3) Specialty dining rates are eye-watering. I think Murano is now $50? Is that possibly correct? I have the specialty 5 dinner package (of which, many problems getting booked correctly, but that's for a different thread) and I'll keep buying the package, but this is disappointing, if we want to do it again this cruise. $40 was pushing it, $50 is again throwing off that price-sensitivity bell for me.

 

4) The tree in the atrium is fantastic. I love that. It's clever, it's beautiful, and it's really a wonderful centerpiece.

 

5) The fact that the library, "hideaway" and gaming rooms open up to the atrium is fantastic in theory and horrible in practice. Nothing like hearing a nascent art auction while trying to read. There are fortunately plenty of other places on board to do that, but comon: these are specifically supposed to be nice gathering places tucked away, like they are on every other ship I've been on. This is rough because there's no real fix here. They have extended the glass panels upward a bit, but then there's a small balcony portion that's normal height and so there's no sound blocking properties.

 

6) That also said, the fact that X had the good wisdom to create a buffer sliding door for staterooms near the atrium elevators is brilliant. I don't hear anything and my room is RIGHT off the elevator. (1605)

 

7) The unlimited internet plan is great. For less that you used to pay for 1600 minutes, you get unlimited. Why this matters isn't because I was ever expecting to use all 1600 minutes, but because for as slow as the internet can be, even simple things can take awhile, so it's great to not have to obsessively worry about logging out and preserving my minutes. (I know plenty don't bother and want to be fully unplugged, but it's nice to check in on pups and make sure my partner hasn't burned our office down, etc.)

 

8) I'm torn on Alcoves. We have one booked for Wednesday and it should be fun and a bit of a spoil, but I can absolutely see the point that it's a lot of essentially wasted space, and a bit odd in its configuration.

 

9) I do love the actual lawn. It's just a really neat touch.

 

10) I'm getting a more distinct nickel-and-diming sense from Celebrity which bums me out a bit, than on my last cruise. Beverage packages are pushed like cocaine, but I'm hoping that ends around day 4. (I'm a teetotaler, so they simply don't apply to me.) The shift in pricing upward without compensating features to match has been discussed at length here, but I like feeling like I'm getting a good value and not feeling like I have to shell out for anything approaching a reasonable experience.

 

It's early, but I'm enjoying things so far. Blu is great (though our sommelier was VERY slow with the check, so much so that it never came, for which the m'atire d had words) and Tuscan Grill was also tasty. Tomorrow is Murano, which I expect will be functionally identical to SS United States on Infinity (but ~$10 more pp than two years ago?)

 

Curious if you all agree or have other comments on these observations. I'll be checking in, what with the unlimited internet!

Thanks for a great review of the first two days. I leave on Silhouette's TA in 5 days and so am curious to see how my experience tracks with your experience.

GH, BRAVO! Well said! Other than the repeated itineraries (my list of cruises is shorter than yours) I could have written your post, and you have said what I have been feeling. I feel, especially as a solo, that Celebrity does not value my business (exclusively AQ with the exception of two short Summit cruises in Concierge Class). The latest mis-step with the beverage package increase may have been the last straw. I just feel the customer focus is gone, and while I have cruises booked into early 2017, I may look to replace some of those with vacations somewhere that I am shown better service.

Celebrity needs to pay attention to comments such as ours or risk losing some very loyal customers.

Let me post a different slant on this question. We haven't left Celebrity...for the past three or four years, we have been very loyal to celebrity (100%)...but that changed this year and our next cruise is on Holland American (our first on that line). We now also have cruises booked on Oceania...but yes, we do have two 28 day B2B cruises booked with Celebrity..one in 2016, one in 2017.

 

Why did we "stray".

 

1) we book aqua...we like blu....we are just tired of the menus and I almost dread seeing those three dishes of whatever with the celery stick and two carrot sticks when I sit down to dinner....no change in crudites ever..not even an olive for a change, no real change in the menus....it's gotten dull and repetitive. In fact we booked our 2016 b2b in a C2 cabin for a change.

 

2) The constant reminder of change...which in this context is pretty much take aways. String Quartets, flowers, mixed fruit bowls, chocolates (now back), the OJ situation now and so on...there's always something new missing on each cruise.

 

3) Itineraries...we've traveled a great deal..when we get to Grand Cayman on a ship, the sting rays spell out "welcome back GH" on the bottom under our balcony". Celebrity seems to have the same cruises to the same ports. Our next cruise does 5 stops in Iceland...can't do that on celebrity...not sure if you can even do 1 or 2. With limited ships, I guess they have to appeal to the masses..but we don't like repetition.

 

4) You're never sure who is giving you the right information when you contact celebrity. I can't tell you the number of times I've called, gotten information, called back to confirm only to find out that the first person gave me wrong information...or is it the second person? It's gotten so I only call celebrity as a last resort. Celebrity Cruises (cc id) is helping here so that's a plus.

 

5)Lack of consistency. Four M class ships...with different smoking areas...do I book a rear cabin on deck 11 or not (is there smoking on deck 10 or not?)...it seems to depend on ship...and perhaps sailing. Are bloody mary's served in the captains club cocktail event...not on the menu but I never had a problem ordering one in the past (remember we've cruised a great deal on Celebrity), but the last cruise the head bartender told me it wasn't on the menu....huh? I can get it free for breakfast but not at the elite cocktail party...really??? (I know this is some hq decision, but I have a problem with things that just don't make sense). Changes like that are just annoying..and sometimes it's the little things you remember.

 

6) When we started sailing Celebrity, we felt loved...or at least valued. For whatever reason that's not our current feeling. The recent laser focus on suites has really turned me, a repeat aqua passenger, off. Nothing specific, but I feel that we (non suite guests) get lip service..."modern luxury" and advertising. I guess to some extent I've begun to feel like a number rather than a valued customer. Of course this is subjective....maybe I participate in CC too much.

 

7) If I have to think of one event that changed my viewpoint about Celebrity, it was their attempt to drastically reduce the classic drink package...and the way it was handled. I guess I was disappointed to see how little Celebrity seemed to care about customer relations, perceptions and the importance of repeat customers.

 

So for us, it's not about leaving Celebrity....it's about when/why did we start to look and book with other cruise lines rather than being fully "loyal". I still think Celebrity is the best of the mass market cruise lines...but they have to keep earning that "badge" on each cruise. Never assume you don't have to care about keeping long time repeat customers....I think that's something that has stopped resonating in Celebrity HQ.

I am sorry to say that it appears that Chesterh has passed away. There are several condolences posted to his Facebook page. Thanks for all the laughs in your writing Chester and Godspeed.

My sincere condolences to Kris and the rest of Chester's family. The CC community has lost a family member.

Yesterday I was told I am cancer free, today a gin and tonic never tasted better, and tomorrow I don't care what it cost. In two weeks time my cruise will never be better...

 

It's all perspective...

Congratulations! May you continue to enjoy good health and your gin & tonics for years to come!

You got misinformation. The correct information which I just got from Captain's Club who got it from Resolutions is this:

 

If your classic is already in your booking it is worth $49. If you upgrade to premium after April 20, you will pay $16 plus 18% gratuity because the premium will be $65 and they will charge you the difference between $49 and $65.

 

My suggestion is to wait until April 19 before we pay $10 to upgrade as I hope Celebrity will do the right thing and accept that if, after April 20 the classic costs $55 and the premium costs $65, there is a $10 difference - no matter when you upgrade and no matter when you receive the classic.

The only problem is that I called Captains Club and the woman I spoke to had no idea how it would be handled, and asked that I call back on Monday. The 6th. :rolleyes: More and more, X shoreside operations are becoming a terrible joke of poor customer relations.:mad:

Also in agreement:mad::mad:

I agree as well. Also, consider the latest news about the Beverage Package increases and Celebrity trying to get an artificially inflated upgrade price from Classic to Premium. Between all of these, plus how I am treated as a solo, I feel disrespected by X and that Celebrity doesn't value my business. And as someone who not only runs a global company with heavy customer service focus, but is also a black belt shopper/consumer, I can tell you this is poison to a business.

Bad move, Celebrity. Very bad. Your target market...the very demographic you are lusting after, is VERY discerning, and these recent tactics are the quickest way to drive new (and old) customers away.

Good question.

Does this mean that individual drink prices will increase starting April 20?

 

Decison is easy for me.

I will upgrade on line before the deadline. Spend my OBC on something else on my cruise in 2016.

Easy decision for me on the upcoming TA as well. I just won't buy the premium drinks package. Period. Bring on 2 bottles of wine, buy a few martinis and a few drinks at the Molecular Bar, take advantage of Elites' drinks which I normally never do, and out of the $975 budgeted for the Premium Package I may end up spending $375. Thanks Celebrity; my liver and my budget thank you.:rolleyes:

I don't know how you can do this, the difference between the classic and the premium is still $10. The perk is for the classic package, not $49 towards a package

Tartantiara, thank you for this. I thought I was the only one that that questioned Celebrity's math, and you summed up quite succinctly the issue. We purchased with a perq of the Classic Beverage Package, NOT an allowance toward same.:mad:

If you upgrade pre-cruise before April 20th, you’ll only be paying the current difference to upgrade to Premium ($10 per day + 18% gratuity).

 

If you upgrade pre-cruise as of April 20th or onboard as of April 6th, then you’ll be paying the new upgrade rate to Premium ($16 per day + 18% gratuity).

I'm sorry...I don't think I understand you correctly. You can't possibly be saying that you are effectively downgrading the value of the Classic Beverage Package that so many cruisers got as a perq. Because I have CAL on 5 of my upcoming cruises through 2017, and if there is a $10 difference in value between Classic and Premium, whether today or in 2017. then that, plus gratuity, is all anyone should be paying to upgrade. Anything else really is deceptive and smacks of gross dishonesty.

I booked 2 cruises yesterday. The price today is at least $100-$200 more pp than I paid yesterday. Where is the sale?????

The last cruise I booked, a 9 nt Europe sailing in a solo occupancy veranda, costs me $449 a night but includes all three perks, a value for me, as a solo cruiser, of $928.38 ($108 grats + $300 OBC + the drinks package at $520.38) Don't get me started on the fact that I pay for two fares but don't get credit for the price of the 2nd fare's gratuities or drink package, so X makes more money on me than 2 in a stateroom, especially since I always upgrade the drinks package and then pay overages on that.

That same cruise, 6 days later, costs $240 more for the same veranda category, and adding the missing perqs, there's an effective price increase of $1168.38. "Unbelievable" indeed, Celebrity. :eek: :mad:

Hi all,

 

Our new promotion is "Unbelievable vacations, unbelievable new rates," and can be found here: http://www.celebritycruises.com/htmlpage/unbelievable-rates-offer

Sadly enough, dear Celebrity Cruises, your unbelievable new rates are shockingly unbelievable. I have been sailing Celebrity exclusively since 2009, nearly always as a solo, and up through 2013 I was paying in the range of $225 to $350 per night single occupancy for an AQ cabin. For my 2014 to 2016 cruises, when I really began seeing 1-2-3 on all but my Transatlantics, the price range per night in AQ jumped up to $450 to $575 per night but included Bev Package, gratuities, and OBC. As a result, my 2016 and 2017 cruises have been booked in non-AQ/non-CC staterooms to save an average of $50-$80 a night.

Now, no OBC/grats/Bev Package, and veranda cabins are running me, for solo occupancy, about the same or 10% more for any new bookings I am considering. All of these price increases, coupled with the subtle but never ending degrading of the "Modern Luxury" experience makes me quite sad, and I suspect I need to look at alternatives to Celebrity for my future vacations post 2017. And based on talking to fellow cruisers, I don't think my feelings are unique.

The Daily Herald:

 

MAHO--With the necessary permanent closing of Maho Beach (see related story), the Government of St. Maarten has allowed a maximum 3,000-person private party there with two local bands from noon today, Wednesday for those who want to celebrate the thrill of seeing planes land and take off up-close one more time.

 

<snip>

 

gary

 

:)

This is my favorite quote from the news article:

"La Primier wonders why these thousands of mindless people do not check in for a one week stay at any airport hotel such as JFK, LAX, O'Hare or Charles de Gaulle.

It was pointed out to her that most visitors who enjoyed the Maho Beach experience were from cruise ships. Her reply was that most cruise ship passengers were afraid of flying; hence they flocked like geese to Maho Beach to witness aircraft nearly beheading people en masse. Confirming and justifying their fear of flying, these passengers returned in total reassurance to the safety of their boats."

:eek::cool::D

No, my beef is with people who book multiple cruises with no intent of keeping all their bookings. I've looked for the thread that was on Azamara last year and couldn't find it. The cruise lines did not make the rule that one should book multiple cruises based on promos and one day it will come down to X expecting us to pay final payments sooner or making cruisers pay a penalty for cancelling. Azamara already charges $25.00 per person if they cancel. Don't be surprised if you see X imposing penalties.

I've looked at a couple of cruises where there is hardly no availability and then suddenly there are numerous cabins available....after the final payment was due. What that boils down to is people having to make last minute decisions and booking last minute flights. Personally, I do not book a cruise unless I plan on taking that cruise.

That's my opinion and I would not book something with the thought "that I can cancel it but at least I booked with a promo." :rolleyes:

X runs the same promos all the time. I've booked all of my X and ACC with promos but I've also kept all my bookings and did not cancel.

So, have you never purchased something and then returned it? Bought three dresses or handbags to take home and see what you still love after a day or a week or two with the intention of returning any that you realize you don't need or want? Particularly if those items are on a special limited promotion and you can't wait a week or month to decide? I don't know a single woman that has never done this. So, what's the difference?

Celebrity has it's policy about cancelling and I see no problem with booking cruises that I think I can or want to take, but cancelling if something better comes along or I decide for whatever reason not to go. And as you can see by my signature, I not only book many cruises, but I take quite a few, and am booked through 2017. All on Celebrity, so I can't comment on Azamara's policy but I wouldn't pay $25 to cancel.

As Bill said, your complaint (though I am not sure exactly why you ARE complaining :confused:) is with Celebrity's policy, not fellow cruisers' actions.

My favorite wine on Celebrity is MER SOLEIL. It is a Chardonnay. I think it was $25 a glass.

And that is what I pay for a bottle of it at home. It's a yummy chard, that I first tasted onboard Celebrity, and now I buy it a case at a time. And speaking of Caymus, my understanding is that MerSoleil is also from the (extended?) Caymus family.

Maybe ships don't have noro and they're serving these:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Haribo-Sugar-Free-Gummy-Bears/dp/B008JELLCA

 

Just read a few revies, including this one:

 

http://www.amazon.com/review/R3FTHSH0UNRHOH

 

Thanksfully, I don't like eating Bears. Sugar free or otherwise, maybe that's why I've never had noro

 

Say no to sugar free bears.

Happy sailing,

SummitJenna

Sugar-free or not, it seems Celebrity always has Bears on it's annual October repositioning from Cape Liberty to Puerto Rico. Even if I don't eat any

Bears, will being on the cruise with them nearby (especially at the Martini Bar!!!) put me at risk for Noro?:eek:

Last year I went to the Guest Relations desk and they gave me some forms to fill out. On each one, I specified who I wanted to get the extra gratuity and how much. It came off my sail and sign card.

Is this what you are trying to do also?

LOL...sure, I watched my ex-travel buddy do this. Interesting that it was on her stateroom acct in one (not big) lump sum. Next time, ask your waiter or stateroom attendant if anyone EVER gets that extra in their own pay. It all goes into one pot.

I am aware that most people give extras in cash at the end of the cruise. I prefer to avoid carrying cash.

 

 

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I traveled several times with a travel buddy who insisted on putting whatever extra gratuities she wanted to give the waitstaff or stateroom attendants on to her onboard account. She literally would go to Guest Relations and tell them the amounts she wanted to give each, e.g.: $20 for the assistant waiter Samir, $30 for the stateroom attendant Elizabeth, etc. GR would then add one single charge for the amount to her acct. When I first saw this on our first trip together I told her I doubted X had a sophisticated enough system to give the extra gratuity to each individual, and suspected, at best, it went into a general pool. Amazingly naïve as she is, and also being one with zero understanding of computer systems, much less Celebrity's mess, she refused to believe that was the case.

So we asked. Everyone. I love talking to the X employees and officers. To a person, everyone we asked about this said that any extra gratuities put on a guest account must go into the general pool because they get nothing beyond the cash tips as extra. Over four cruises together, and literally dozens of staff and two junior officers in housekeeping and hotel all said the extra put on the account never goes directly to the intended recipient but is divided among all crew.

Please carry enough cash to provide extra gratuities. That and a few thank you notes. Really, recognizing great service with a note of thanks and some cash goes a looooong way towards a great cruise.

Steak, wow I was thinking of cucumber slices over tofu.

Puhleeze! :rolleyes: One of the best filet mignons I have each year is during my cruises on X while dining in Blu. And because so often I can't finish it, I beg them to give me the smallest. I think that's been around 5.5-6 oz. Also their rack of lamb and short ribs are excellent. Enjoy Blu. I will be doing just that in a bit less than 3 months.

Hi - I've been playing with going solo on Reflection in Feb or March in Aqua Class, but I'm getting a little scared off on the news of waits for eating. Did any of you Reflection Blu folks (or folks who ate at Blu on other ships) notice how they handle solos? I don't want to have to wait even longer because I'm a second-class citizen....

 

Mosey

Mosey, I usually travel solo and nearly always in AQ, up until my recent bookings, that is, where I am forgoing Blu in favor of Specialty Restaurant dining. (After so many cruises in AQ, the same 5+ yr old Blu menus have gone stale for me.) Anyway, as a solo you wait no longer than the couple or group of 4 behind you. You'll get the first table available to the next in line, unless you are waiting for a specific one or particular server. Just do not let them seat you where you do not wish to be seated. I can only think of once or twice where the host tried to hide me next to the service area door and I politely but firmly asked for another seat.

Definitely worthwhile, both the workshop and the stemware! I never cared for Sauvignon Blanc, and was so-so about Pinot Noirs. Then I tried the Riedel Workshop on Silhouette in 2012. Wow...what a difference the Riedel glasses made, even though I had a full set of Orrefors stemware for the various wine types. I've since totally fallen in love with Pinot Noir and really enjoy Sauvignon Blanc. I was drinking my Pinot Noir from a standard Cab/Merlot glass and the few times I tried Sauvignon Blanc it was definitely in the wrong glass and tasted like swill to me.

We had no martini menus on Solstice from Honolulu to Vancouver and no noro either. We were told they were being reprinted. I got online and downloaded them from the net [emoji14]

 

 

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Cruise Junky, I was on that cruise with you. They WERE being reprinted because after the Sydney to HI leg they went back to US pricing of drink + gratuity rather than the gratuity included price. Additionally, all of the wine prices increased on that second leg, so all the menus were updated.

There were plenty of threads around that time (My/June 2014) about how prices increased but price thresholds on the drink packages did not, so more things were at added cost.

I'm a big dog lover myself, had one my whole life, but if I came accross the situation I read about regarding this eccentric couple with a pair of Yorkies on my cruise, the dogs would have a long swim home. That is so selfish of this couple and demeans the true purpose of service dogs.

Reminds me of a story I was told while traveling to London years ago: on a very crowded standing room only bus at rush hour, an American tourist pushed back to the middle of the bus to see a well-dressed woman on one seat and her little pampered pup taking up the entire seat next to her. Four times this Yank asked the woman to move her dog and give up the seat for someone else, and four times the woman adamantly refused. Finally, the fellow reached over and grabbed the dog and tossed it out the window, and turned to offer the seat to an older woman who'd been standing in the aisle. As she moved to sit in the vacated seat next to the now stunned pet owner, she said "Thank you young man, but you threw the wrong b***h off the bus".

I travel solo, and go AQ as often as possible, solely for Blu and the quality of food, service, and overall dining experience there. However, even I have my limits and since I pay double the fare for solo occupancy, if AQ costs me more than $40-$45 a day more than another non-AQ balcony stateroom, I pass on AQ and just do Specialty Dining each night.