mlmbar

After seeing the cabana, we just moved to a reserve mini suite. We thought the cabana would be a bit more open and not a room we would make a lot of use.   Additionally we were on deck 9 forward, practically at the bridge. Seeing the size of the ship and the locations of the reserve cabana  mini suites ( deck 9, somewhat forward) we changed to deck 15 midship. The location was important and we doubt that we would make much use of the sun deck since it doesn’t seem to have shade 

The cabana mini suites on the cabana deck have always been open to the cabana deck with “balconies” right on the deck. We moved our reserved cabana mini suite off the sun deck to the cabins next to the sun deck. 

Just off of celebrity equinox after being on Sky and Regal. Way too many cutbacks and nickle/diming. Last time on celebrity for us   Level of service was nothing like we had on Equinox 2019. We are Elite and saw few perks. 

24 minutes ago, tfred said:

the "we like everything about Blu except the food" comments strike me as strange. Who goes to a restaurant where they don't like the food then asks for a menu from a different restaurant ?

I never said that. I think a lot are missing the point that sone of us are making. I liked Blu FOR THE FOOD. I also liked the ambiance. However, my last trip, a few weeks ago, the food was very disappointing and how would I know that before going there?  

Who said a menu makes them puke? Third grade palate? Just because people do not like how the menu has changed and has the audacity to criticize doesn’t have anything to do with a sophisticated palate or not   

On our two other cruises on equinox, we loved blue, and looked forward to dinner. Every night. My point is, it’s not the same. The menu choices are not as appealing, and this comes from corporate. We had the ribeye steak the first night, and it was nothing like, the picture shown here. It was dry and tough 

Where did I say I wanted to eat a piece of beef every night???  I rarely eat beef. I also do not eat lamb and veal. The menu was not very varied and I am not a real picky eater. I have seen many here discussing the menu at Blu lately and saying that it is not real appealing so they order from MDR. There were many people on my cruise ordering from MDR. 

The menu on Blu has deteriorated. I am NOT a picky eater but found nothing appealing on the menu every night. The filet that we ordered on our first night was a poor cut of meat and like shoe leather. If they want to discourage people from wanting an alternative from MDR, maybe they should adjust the menu to appeal to a broader group of diners

12 hours ago, georgetheblue said:

Will be on Connie, assigned to Blu.  The Blu dinner menus make me puke.  I don’t eat duck, pheasant, veal, lamb.   I plan to ask for the MDR menu every night in addition.  I understand this should not be a big deal since MDR and Blu are basically in the same room.  I chose an aqua suite for cabin location, Persian garden entry and the fact that I will not be waiting in a long line for a table to open up in MDR.  I refuse to deal with OVC carrying a tray around looking for an open seat.  Perhaps if Celebrity had given me more OBC I would have booked a Tuscan Grill package for the entire cruise now that I can see the Blu menus on the current sailing.

I could have written this! We were on EQ Oct 14.  Third time on EQ and third time in Aqua.  We booked AQ for Blu, cabin location, and previously a few other amenities that have now been eliminated/.   Breakfast was fine in Blu and dinner was terrible! We are not picky eaters but pheasant, duck and veal we do not eat either. First night we tried the filet from the " favorites" menu and it was AWFUL, Tough, bad cut of meat. We couldn't finish it. Next night we chose from MDR and it was great. Every night after that we ate MDR menu because every night the Blu menus were unacceptable,  We did not go to MDR instead of Blu because we had paid to eat in Blu AND liked the intimacy and quiet.  If we ever sail X again, and that is unlikely, we would not spend the money for AQ 

21 hours ago, hcat said:

great attitude!  why pay extra when value is not there.  We are booked in AQ, SV and Concierge for our future X cruises.. 

 Quite ambivalent abt the new ship

Xcel

We were on EQ Oct 14 in AQ. Third time on EQ and the cutbacks were very apparent. We always loved Blu and main reason for AQ. Service was impeccable and breakfast wonderful. Dinner was awful and we are not picky. We had the filet first night and it was like shoe leather and could not finish. Rest of week we ordered from MDR menu because nothing on Blu was appealing. No perks except two bottles of water daily. AQ not worth it at all. 

The pool in the sanctuary is supposed to be for signature guests. The wake pool is for everyone 

I just mentioned a few places. I don’t know them all. The ship hasn’t been finished so none of us know.  If you don’t think there is enough then don’t book it 

There are outdoor spaces facing the ocean Outdoor dining, wake pool, jogging , 

I totally agree!!!!

20 minutes ago, Pixelskaya said:

I found it very expensive, but that’s because I was spoiled by last year’s Norway & Iceland cruise on Enchanted Princess that was crazy cheap (they had to fill the ship in a couple of months) 🥲

Understood. My reserve cabana mini suite with plus package is only $450 more than mini suite on Sky. I don’t think that is bad 

12 minutes ago, jangor said:

Booked on the same date, same category and felt the price was in line with previous Princess cruises.

Congrats!! Yes, I was surprised that the price was very reasonable. Cannot wait! 

On 8/17/2023 at 2:33 AM, wineoclock said:

Just thinking of switching our June cruise in a CS on apex to sky Princess (can’t remember which suite) but unsure. 

Sky Princess is wonderful. RCI/Celebrity for years and Elite. Tried Princess after the restart and love it. We are on Equinox Oct 14, only because we had non refundable deposit, and then Sky and Sun Princess  We love Wake Pool, Retreat Pool, Sanctuary, International Cafe, Piazza and mini suites, Their specialty restaurants are as good as X or better and much cheaper. No 20% tip either, We are in Aqua on X and are very disappointed at what we are reading has been eliminated. Will see in a few weeks 

Have not been on Celebrity since 2019. Sailed on Regal and Sky princess since and loved them. We are on Equinox for third time in October and this will be our last Celebrity. Very disappointed at the pricing and removal of many perks available to Elite and to others. I am hopeful that our cruise in October in Aqua will not be a disappointment. We are booked again on Sky and on the new Sun .Princess  Pricing was MUCH better than Celebrity for mini suites and the new cabana mini suite on Sun.  Will report back after Equinox 

2 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

Milton!!! Is just, pending on traffic (LOL), 35 minutes away... 

 

We are in RB (not proper but zip)....

 

How long will you be in town?

 

Chat later.. bon voyage

LOL Pending traffic this time of year could be hours! I am there at least once a month all year. LOVE it there. We go to RB off season. Great restaurants in the area and we use the beaches mainly on the bay  Short visit this time.  Later!!  

2 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

My Bad, I did not intend to insinuate that ALL issues can be resolved via X's website, which is patently clear, knowing the issue you were referring to, it would take human intervention to correct....

 

IMO, training in any company is always evolving, improving (hopefully) and becomes overly helpful no matter the point of contact.

 

I could not even venture to guess how often a situation similar to yours comes up to many of the CSR's, yet I trust if there are many, then it is noted by trainers so they can get the info to the front line on how to handle.

 

Happy to know that it is corrected at this juncture and I trust you have a great sailing despite the time it took to correct.

 

bon voyage

 

 

LOL NO, you are not bad! Yes, four hours wasted but it was solved. Training is the key but it isn't being done completely. I am familiar with this because my daughter faces these challenges all day with her job. She deals with the outsourcing people not being fully trained and she is the troubleshooter. 

BTW my travel partner lives in LSD, Milton. Heading there tomorrow

20 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

Since there are over 1,800 agents involved in booking cruises here in the U.S., I Am sure you can find  one that will be helpful to your specification(s) as a few of us here on CC have.

 

Then when they become overwhelmingly less helpful, or we do not or choose not to understand the dialect (U.S. regional or international) of English they speak, we move on to another agent/agency... where they will speak just like we want them to.

 

Many of us use agents to handle issues so we do not personally need to be on the phone for 'hours' at a time to get resolutions/answers/responses, often times. Those of us who choose not to use agents are doomed to be on the phone, potentially, for hours trying to get something resolved or changed or explained or corrected. This is by choice, not necessarily by chance or is it???

 

Been there, done that and not going back unless I cannot avoid it... all in the name of 'control'.

 

As in the OP's issue, a quick search of X's website would have presented the answers, easily and without waiting on hold!!!

 

At any rate, enjoy the sailing and I trust all is to satisfaction from this point, during the sailing and after the return...

 

bon voyage

I do not care to use a travel agent. Been there , done that. My daughter works in the travel industry and is constantly unraveling TA mistakes. I like 24/7 availability  As far as my issue, there was NOTHING on the website regarding rewards points. If they are going to make these available, then  their people should all be trained in where they can send a caller with a question about points rather than incorrect info, hold, or send back to Bank of America which sends you back to Celebrity   

12 hours ago, Cruzinforpeace*** said:

I like to have control of the reservation myself.

So do I. I have never found a TA that was helpful  Also, that is not an answer to the problem. That just allows the problem to continue

12 hours ago, blueboro said:

It is not just you.  I was on the phone for almost an hour a couple of weeks ago trying to book our party of 8 in a specialty restaurant using on-board credit.  Took almost an hour to finally tell me they could/would not be able to do it.  Then, we booked 2 parties of 4 thru our travel agent and X booked the incorrect night, cancelled previous reservation for the evening they incorrectly booked, and then cancelled a different specialty restaurant reservation a few days later.  Our travel agent said she had never experienced such bad service.

No it is not you! Last week I lost 4 hours of my life dealing with a number of "agents" because my final balance was incorrect when My Rewards credits were not put onto the balance. Long delay to just get an answer, very heavy accents, put on hold often and agent returns with no information, transferred to someone else but put in cue so more wait time. After three and a half hours I was given the number to call, agent knew just what I was talking about, and solved the problem in 15 minutes., He then took my payment and immediately sent a confirmation.  All of this could have been solved if their agents were properly trained and if there was less outsourcing.  

I did not use that word to be insulted. 

I disagree!  After having done many cruises with RCI and Celebrity, I find service on Princess to be equal or better. Maybe I am not demanding enough??