It's mathematically impossible to claim 95% of the passengers are rif-raf.  Just counting the exorbitantly priced resort suites proves that!

2 hours ago, C4HCG said:

Thank you, a very balanced post. I thought the previous post from @ChucktownSteve that inferred people who accept the current Celebrity offerings have “never eaten a good prime steak” was very unfair, you describe the situation well. For clarity Steve, we do fine dining and appreciate it, our different perspective is dining in my view not the most important aspect of a cruise. Does not make us what you portrayed or at least suggested in your post.  

Apparently you take everything I say literally?  I wonder if that is similar to the differences in American and British humor.  Or is that humour?

43 minutes ago, MamaFej said:

I'm not sure  its really about whether or not folks have or have not experienced quality cuisine. It's more about what they are willing to accept. 

 

Both of my younger adult kids were hoome Sunday. We ususally get Denny's pumpkin pecan pancakes together at least once each fall, and that's what we did. They were fantastic - for  Denny's pumpkin pecan pancakes. They absolutely met our expectations and had that nostalgia factor. They were not Misty's Sunday Brunch quality they were Denny's quality, and that was perfectly fine.

 

Misty's is a fantastic and pricy Sunday Brunch at a nice SoCal hotel. We pay for, expect, and get Misty's quality when we go there. We pay for, expect, and get Danny's quality when we go there. The prices of both have risen. the quality of each has stayed consistent. 

 

As I see it, the problem for some is paying for and expecting one level of quality and getting an entirely different one.  Other people are clearly okay with paying for one level and getting another. That does not mean they have never experienced good quality, just that they are okay with paying for better than they get. I don't think we need to accuse them of never experiencing good quality. 

 

 

True. I agree with expecting Denny's quality at Denny's prices. I would have those same expectations.

However, how would you feel if Misty's Sunday Brunch quality became Denny's quality but at Misty's Sunday Brunch price?

Your point of the quality of both has remained the same is key. However the complaint with Celebrity by many is the quality has not remained the same while they have continued to raise prices.

Personally I don't give a rat's you know what if most people enjoy the latest changes in Celebrity menus.  All that matters to me is I don't.  If I can find better cuisine on other cruise lines at a similar or even a little more expensive price, that's my prerogative just as enjoying their lessening of order options and beef cuts is yours reached my tipping point. 

At this point in my life, I've done well in the market and won't outlive my portfolio because I'm usually an under spender.  However when it comes to cruising, I've shifted my paradigm to enjoy. It's taken me a long time to reach that thought, so I suppose Celebrity moved the opposite direction for me.  Too bad because I used to really enjoy Celebrity until the death by a thousand cuts.

I had been in marketing over four decades. You can't call yourself luxury while over promising and under delivering. I believe we're seen the push back from the Celebrity loyalists over that but I'll bet they regret it too. I really wanted Celebrity to continue to be my go to line. That's why I'm so disappointed and upset.    They took that away from me.

However if you still enjoy Celebrity, by all mean I wish you happy sailings.  Only you will know when the time is right to change your opinion.    Good luck.

6 hours ago, C4HCG said:

Fair assessment and acknowledge you qualify it as a broad generalisation but I am a non-foodie for sure but can still appreciate food in the way you describe the first group do as I am sure many other non-foodies do.  I may well be stating the obvious there!

 

But I agree with your observation, those of us who can accept the current food offerings continue to be happy with Celebrity.

Sorry but I'm going to use another Americanized euphemism.  Those who have never eaten a good Prime steak believe a hamburger steak is flavorful, tender and very good.

It's all in perspective.

6 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

 When you share "negative" info, don't let the cheerleaders bother you, a tiny minority of them are investors anyway

You mean they bought their 100 shares for shareholder obc? lol

9 minutes ago, awhcruiser said:

Hogwash.  The Beyond has 4 dining rooms and we are not picky eaters.  

That's good. Celebrity likes you. You'll eat anything as not picky eaters. You are not alone. 

OK here's my perspective...Someone at the TA screwed up.  They don't want to pay Celebrity the retail price for the package.  So they're offering you a gift card for the amount because they have the cost of goods for what you buy which saves them money.  Therefore you have the leverage for restitution.

I would forcefully ask them to reimburse you the gift card amount for all the retail Celebrity prices of each of the individual AI components before the cruise so you can add it once you're on board. Include the Wi-Fi.  It won't cost you anything more.  However if you use their credit to purchase the packages on Celebrity, you'll receive 3% cash back on the purchase.

I suggest this solution because you don't want to sue or become confrontational. That is a win-win for both. You receive what you expected and the big box saves on the retail price what you buy due to the cost of goods at their store.

1 hour ago, Cruise till you drop said:

 

It’s interesting how many of these threads exist and I take them with a grain of salt.

 

First of all, I have never seen a menu with only one app and one main course offered so lets be real here.

 

Secondly food quality is quite subjective.  We’ve never had a situation that we couldn’t find something that we liked on a menu and didn’t enjoy it.  Not sure if our expectations are low or realistic but we’ve had cruises that there were people who seem to hate everything in the MDR and we actually enjoyed it.

 

So let’s stop with the generalizations and start to post details and facts that we can better grasp and make judgements on

By reading the various threads with comments about Celebrity dining and having experienced varied menu options on different ships within a short time period, I have determined that each ship is unique as things roll out at various times. Some of the ships may have the restricted menus while others haven't gotten to that point yet or may not.  However if the trend continues, I suspect the other ships will catch up at some point.  So just because some haven't experienced the pared down menus, doesn't mean they won't see it next time they cruise.

Some suggest Celebrity is doing this to push people towards paid restaurants.  Several years ago, I attended a demonstration by the head chef.  He admitted the cuts of meats varied by venue.  The paid restaurants received the best, MDR less and the lowest cuts were put out in the buffet.  That's just fact.

Therefore I discount any comments from posters saying how good the food is in the Specialty restaurants.  Because unless you're willing to pay extra for what many years ago was standard quality in the MDR, you're going to experience reduced quality or variety.  It's just business for the XX cruiseline.

The fact is that each individual can only better grasp and make judgements once THEY experience it themselves. There are many people that will think nothing is wrong with the quality or options while the next will feel they were cheated. Human nature.

BTW as a side note, my Dr has made me give up salt so I can't take anything with a grain. 😁

1 hour ago, hamrag said:

 

An example might help show what he means, as follows:

 

Let's say the total cruise price is 5000, and the TA offers a 10% discount in the form of a rebate off the cruise price or a cheque sent to you. If a rebate is chosen you will pay the TA 4500; If you go with a cheque, you will pay the TA 5000 and later a cheque for 500 will be sent to you.

 

In both cases your net cost would be 4500, described as 'a wash' because the end result is the same, albeit arrived at by different means.

 

In relation to the cc 3% cashback, if you pay 5000 by cc then you get 150 back and if you pay4500 then you would get 135 back, although he appears to not describe this element accurately!

TY for explaining my Americanize in detail for him. I didn't believe I needed to explain the little bit of "bonus" as being the difference of cash back between the two amounts.  However I now see people around the world have different perspectives on credit card usage and their perks...me not being familiar with CC's issued overseas.

1 hour ago, gold1953 said:

Then consider yourself fortunate. There are many who must consider price or stay home. You comment is insulting to many. I have met folks onboard who save for a long time to cruise

Baggy178 just above your post got a GREAT value that wasn't more expensive!

There are also some other cruise lines that give a better value than Celebrity at lower costs so there's no need to stay home.

I suspect Celebrity changed many of their itineraries to only 7 day turnarounds to attract more of the people who save for a long time to cruise. But with their pricing increases, that may be approaching becoming out of the reach of many.

4 minutes ago, rmedistro said:

But we already have implied value from givens such as friendly service, meals prepped from scratch, and a clean environment 

But what is the unique selling proposition that all the others don't have? I don't see Celebrity exceeding that implied arena as they used to be in those values for me.

17 minutes ago, rmedistro said:

Cracker Barrel has 20 meals under $12.00

Now that's value

There's more to value than price! If someone only looks for price, they don't understand value. Because many times value is much more expensive but a better value. However that is subjective by each individual.

45 minutes ago, blag said:

I am not familiar with the expression 'is a wash'. Even after on-line research, I regret to say that I don't understand what you mean. Please be so kind as to enlighten me. 

another idiom in the US:. EVEN STEVEN. lol  or six of one, half a dozen of another.  Both equal the same.

Aren't we full of useless expressions this side of the pond?

1 hour ago, C4HCG said:

Loyalty to any brand of anything is naive, apart from your football, rugby league or cricket team. Soon as you think you’re not getting what you paid for move on and who can blame you for that. And I sincerely hope the lines you go to you love. Us, we still value Celebrity and that’s a current and informed view having got off the Equinox last week. I do get tired of the constant digs at Celebrity from people on the basis of what they have heard or read, not you I hasten to add, and also think if people have moved why come here and constantly tell us where the grass is greener? Don’t get it personally.

I don't care whether any cruise line loves me or not. I look for value and what I get for my money plus the itinerary.  If those lines don't give me what I want, I can always stop cruising and replace it with other holidays.

A suggestion: if you're tired of anyone's digs...block us so you won't see our posts.  You'll be a much happier person. However I haven't totally given up on Celebrity.  I'm just waiting for their actions to come back to haunt them so they realize maybe their cuts didn't quite work out the way they planned.  If not then I will totally move on.

28 minutes ago, Loracpin2 said:

Used to be is spot on. RCI continues to drag Celebrity down as they continue to focus on both filling and continue building their "Mega Ships".  

Everyone needs to come to their own conclusion in their own time frame.  I realized it a couple of years ago but still booked Celebrity until I did a reflections cruise in Dec 21.  Their menus had already been paired down to not much choice and the buffet was low cuts of meat in heavy sauces to hide it.  We did an S1 suite aft the following Feb on an E class and I noticed cuts then.  But I've always been somewhat of a foodie because I am willing to pay for great food but not mediocrity. Someone else referred to is as school cafeteria food in another thread. lol

I followed those with three Regent cruises at less pp/pn than Celebrity suits but the food was so much better.  Lobster, scallops, USDA prime beef and more on the everyday menu in the MDR. Their prices have come up above my comfort level now because their largest ships are 750 passengers which fill quickly. 

The smaller ships usually have a more interesting itinerary.   That's why I also like Azamara.  If celebrity ever reverses course, I will consider them but they're on the race to the bottom with the other mass market lines.  I understand that. They don't want me as a cruiser I suppose.

Speaking of itinerary, Celebrity used to do more 12 night plus itineraries.  I prefer those up to 18 nights. However Celebrity decided they prefer the quick 7 night turn around to make more money. That attracts a different type of client to fill their ships.  More power to them that has to work. 😉

The bottom line is I have never seen so many formerly loyal Celebrity cruisers feeling the same and jumping to other lines.  I hope the people who still enjoy Celebrity continue booking them.  That way they won't clog the reservations at the other elevated lines thereby increasing rates. rofl.

I place mashed potatoes in the same category as scrambled eggs from a liquid carton.  No way!

My TA offers the ability to take the rebate off the cruise price or send a check.  Since my credit card gives me 3% cash back on Travel and the discount or rebate amount is a wash, I decide to take the rebate then take the CC cash back as a little bonus.

Instead of mashed potatoes, they will serve* (with 24 hour notice):

french fries

Pommes Frites

julienne fries

scalloped potatoes

baked potato (maybe an up-charge)

boiled potato

potato salad

cubed raw potato

Only kidding. Eat your mashed potatoes and lump it! 😁

As a very minor shareholder, I want them to squeeze every penny profit then can out of cruisers.  And they're doing an EXCELLENT job of it.

Because my TA sends me a rebate for $1,200 to $1,500 after the cruise depending upon the cruise's net cost. That is in addition to any perks included with the booking from AZ. 
 
Additionally, if there is any problem, they have to deal with customer lackofservice and I don't. They also carry more weight with AZ booking many cruises than I do individually.

5 hours ago, Xerxes10 said:

Steve, any thoughts on why RCL is doing so much better than NCLH?

Nope. I'm not smart enough. lol

1 hour ago, jeb_bud said:

@ChucktownSteve You’re right that NCLH hasn’t been a great investment. If you think of the shareholder credit as a return on that investment it looks like a pretty good dividend. A $100 OBC is about 6% of $1728. Longer cruises or more cruises drives the dividend up. 

That’s one way to look at it if you were going to spend the cash on what you’re forced to buy while on the cruise at probably an inflated price. 
 

My DW got several Mary Francis purses.  However, what else is there to use it on Regent worth the dividend?
 

I’d rather invest it in something that gives a much greater return on investment, then spend that on my cruise.  

Yesterday, NCLH was up 11.52%. but in the last 52 weeks it is up only 1.79% including yesterday's gain. As of yesterday's close, is it worth $1,728 dollars to buy 100 shares to receive a couple hundred dollars of OBC where their cost of goods is minimal?

IMO, it's not wise to purchase stock if the only reason is receiving OBC.  NCLH also doesn't pay any dividend.  I suggest asking your financial advisor his feeling about NCLH's potential price growth.

In January 2021, expecting cruise lines to gain with the end of covid, I am down almost 23% with NCLH while the same purchase of RCL June 2020, is up 86%.

8 hours ago, newlondon said:

I second visit the Intrepid. I served 3+ years on USS Essex the first of the Essex class.

The Intrepid is one of only two still floating. 

The Yorktown CV-10 is at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant, SC just across the harbor from Charleston. 

If you ever visit Charleston as a Port of Call, I suggest visiting them.  They have several dozen aircraft on the ship and land-side.  They also have the destroyer USS Laffey, DD-724. The ship that wouldn't die.

We visited last year when the Navigator did an overnight in Charleston.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

On 9/6/2023 at 4:32 PM, Keys Kathy said:

Celebrity is starting their new "All Inclusive" on Oct 4th. 

 

If I am reading it correctly, it looks like the only things included are a drink package and wifi. No more tips. I am sure the price for AI hasn't dropped. Another rip-off from X. Thoughts?

 

ENHANCED FLEXIBILITY AND CHOICE

 

Starting October 4, 2023, newly purchased All Included packages 
will include our most popular amenities, Classic Drinks and Basic Wi-Fi 
for all guests in the stateroom. These inclusions will continue to provide 
a significant savings of $200-$800 per person compared 
to onboard pricing.

 I own a bridge in Brooklyn I'm willing to sell you a piece!  All included IS NOT Celebrity.  It's the LUXURY lines. 

Celebrity's ALL included package is ALL they're willing to give you for the price they're willing to charge you.

If you believe them, you really should buy parts of my bridge! It's priced at 50% off the second piece after I raised the price 200%.