Equinox Mast Grill Now Extra Cost

[Baron Barracuda]

On last Equinox sailing after long day ashore often returned to ship hungry around 4pm. Buffet is closed from 4 - 5:30 so only free choices were burgers at the grill, pizza and room service. Grill was always active for sailaway. Now I guess it's just pizza and room service.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Just thought I'd share this. I sent the following email to CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo:

 

I am writing to voice my displeasure over addition of extra fee burgers and hot dogs at the above venues and the relocation of the included burgers to the Oceanview Cafe.

 

As anyone who has cruised before knows, the convenience of a quick burger for lunch while lounging at the pool, particularly on sea days, without having to change from one's bathing suit to go the OVC for burger that has been sitting in a pan, only to return to the risk of losing one's lounger, is a very popular option.

 

The addition of a high quality burger at an extra charge is a welcome choice. However, by choosing the present location, there are two aspects lacking in addition to the relocation of the standard burger: available seating and table service.

 

Please rethink this.

 

Thanks for your consideration,

Impressively within an hour of my sending it, a person from the executive offices called me (& come to think of it, I did not include my phone #, only my CC#, so she had to look it up) to thank me for my input. Aside from the usual smoke blowing which I won't get into, she said that there is an active conversation ongoing regarding the new setup, & that concerns like the ones I and others have expressed are being actively discussed right now.

 

I did not bring up the Kobe/fake Kobe aspect which seems to be taking on a life of it own. My main problem is not that they added the extra charge burger, but that they made the standard burger less accessible, & that for the extra charge, there should be ample seating and table service.

 

Whether or not any changes result from this remain to be seen, but I'm glad that they responded so quickly. I'll give them a E for effort.

 

Interesting. That's where I think they made their big mistake. Those sitting by the pool just want a quick bite for lunch without having to go and change clothes. If I'm going to pay $10 for a hamburger (with or without pretend Kobe beef), I expect to be seated at a table, have a waiter take my order, and have the hamburger delivered to me. Pool grills are meant to be informal, not "gourmet" food destinations.

[CRZR58]

If X had decided to have an extra charge burger almost anywhere else on the boat, they wouldn't be getting a lot of the well deserved complaints. It's not just that it's an extra charge, it's that you can't get anything that isn't an extra charge poolside. Lawn club or Gastro Pub extra cost burger? No one complains.

 

They compounded the problem by misleading advertising regarding the Kobe beef. If they'd said x% Kobe style beef, they could have eliminated most of the rest of the complaints.

[4cats4me]

Just thought I'd share this. I sent the following email to CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo:

 

 

 

I am writing to voice my displeasure over addition of extra fee burgers and hot dogs at the above venues and the relocation of the included burgers to the Oceanview Cafe.

 

 

 

As anyone who has cruised before knows, the convenience of a quick burger for lunch while lounging at the pool, particularly on sea days, without having to change from one's bathing suit to go the OVC for burger that has been sitting in a pan, only to return to the risk of losing one's lounger, is a very popular option.

 

 

 

The addition of a high quality burger at an extra charge is a welcome choice. However, by choosing the present location, there are two aspects lacking in addition to the relocation of the standard burger: available seating and table service.

 

 

 

Please rethink this.

 

 

 

Thanks for your consideration,

 

 

 

 

Impressively within an hour of my sending it, a person from the executive offices called me (& come to think of it, I did not include my phone #, only my CC#, so she had to look it up) to thank me for my input. Aside from the usual smoke blowing which I won't get into, she said that there is an active conversation ongoing regarding the new setup, & that concerns like the ones I and others have expressed are being actively discussed right now.

 

 

 

I did not bring up the Kobe/fake Kobe aspect which seems to be taking on a life of it own. My main problem is not that they added the extra charge burger, but that they made the standard burger less accessible, & that for the extra charge, there should be ample seating and table service.

 

 

 

Whether or not any changes result from this remain to be seen, but I'm glad that they responded so quickly. I'll give them a E for effort.

 

 

 

What is the email address?

 

 

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[Ma Bell]

That was the problem I had with it too. Great that they were still going to have the burgers but most people grabbing burgers and dogs are by the pool. If they want to sell high end burgers they need to have a place for people to sit down and have some service.

 

The other problem is the Ocean View is crowded as is and they don't need even more people from the pool area going in with wet swimsuits and perhaps causing some slips and falls because of drips on the floor. This was not well thought out.

[richsea]

What is the email address?

 

 

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iLutoff-Perlo@celebritycruises.com

[richsea]

Agree Ma and Linda. An additional premium burger, fine, it's anotger choice. But not at the inconvenience of getting their standard burger, though some may disagree. Heck, I think the location of the Mast grill on S class is kind of out of the way, up a level from the pool! Also, make the venue at least appealing by providing table service and adequate seating.

[Toofarfromthesea]

It may be a deceptive practice, but I doubt anyone is deceived. I find it hard to believe that there are people who know what Kobe beef is who ever actually thought they were getting half a pound of it on a burger for $10.

 

Just as most 'prime rib' is not Prime, and no one thinks it is.

 

So I am not really shocked, SHOCKED that Celebrity uses the same kind of marketing BS that virtually every other mass market business uses.

 

And while I am sympathetic to the resistance to change, I am not sympathetic to the argument that this potentially interferes with Pax being able to monopolize loungers.

[ChucktownSteve]

So I am not really shocked, SHOCKED that Celebrity uses the same kind of marketing BS that virtually every other mass market business uses.

 

You mean that Celebrity is no longer a premium cruise line but now just another mass market one? Some people here will be sooooo disappointed in your opinion.

[DYKWIA]

It may be a deceptive practice, but I doubt anyone is deceived. I find it hard to believe that there are people who know what Kobe beef is who ever actually thought they were getting half a pound of it on a burger for $10.

 

errr well here's one person who appears to have been deceived

Follow up to my post above.

The 'new' burgers ARE Kobe Beef so MUCH better quality. Not saying this makes things right, just the way it is....

I think that whilst many people know that Kobe Beef is an expensive luxury product few people understand laws on provenance or the true cost of the authentic product.

 

This kind of marketing might be acceptable in the USA, but it clearly assumes some expert knowledge by the customer. This is not acceptable in many other countries (countries that Celebrity does business in) and goes way beyond Advertising Puffery, namely the legal way of promoting a product or service through hyperbole or oversized statements (this is Modern luxury) that cannot be objectively verified (This is Kobe Beef can be objectively verified).

[shipfriend_max]

You mean that Celebrity is no longer a premium cruise line but now just another mass market one? Some people here will be sooooo disappointed in your opinion.

 

IMHO already longer Celebrity is no premium anymore. So many "premium" features (brunch, tea time, sushi, petit fours, sorbet) have been removed, which seperated them from other cruise lines.

But Celebrity is raising prices, either for the cruise fare or the onboard costs (the highest among the major cruise lines), and now charging for standard items like burgers.

This one should call"premium"? :')

[Hlitner]

As one who spent a couple of years of his youth living in Japan, I am somewhat annoyed by what is pawned off as "Kobe" or "Wagyu" beef...in North America. If it does not come from Kobe, Japan...it is simply not the real thing. Nearly all the so-called Kobe sold in the US is not real Kobe....but rather beef that comes from cattle that perhaps can trace their linage back to the cattle one finds in Kobe. Back in the 60s I saw how they make the real thing...and its quite a process including daily rations (for the cattle) of beer, massages, etc. Its quite an amazing process and results in fantastic beef that is amazingly tender and flavorful. I once had "shabu shabu" made from the real thing in an Osaka restaurant. Fifty years later I can still remember that beef literally melting in my mouth. yum,

 

Hank

[Gonzo70]

It may be a deceptive practice, but I doubt anyone is deceived. I find it hard to believe that there are people who know what Kobe beef is who ever actually thought they were getting half a pound of it on a burger for $10.

 

Just as most 'prime rib' is not Prime, and no one thinks it is.

 

So I am not really shocked, SHOCKED that Celebrity uses the same kind of marketing BS that virtually every other mass market business uses.

 

 

This goes far beyond "marketing BS" and clearly constitutes false advertising. On land this behavior is illegal (not sure of the implications of such false advertising at sea). Multiple people on this thread alone were clearly deceived, the OP, Bo and others. This is totally unacceptable behavior by Celebrity to call their burgers "Kobe beef" - if they are being deceitful about that, are you really confident the brand name jewelry they are selling in the on-board shops isn't knock-offs? What else are they falsely advertising? They need to correct their menus ASAP and issue some type of apology.

[hcat]

If X had decided to have an extra charge burger almost anywhere else on the boat, they wouldn't be getting a lot of the well deserved complaints. It's not just that it's an extra charge, it's that you can't get anything that isn't an extra charge poolside. Lawn club or Gastro Pub extra cost burger? No one complains.

 

They compounded the problem by misleading advertising regarding the Kobe beef. If they'd said x% Kobe style beef, they could have eliminated most of the rest of the complaints.

 

Agree 100% , location and convenience of no charge dogs and burgers is key...upcharge fine elsewhere for those who want them

 

We used to be treated to ice cold wash cloths & sorbet poolside...that's when we were still enjoying Modern Luxury Celebrity Stlye!

[kathynorth]

I hope they don't make that change on the Summit when we board her Sunday!!! My cousins 16 yr old son can't wait to eat burgers to his hearts content!!!

 

 

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I'm just off the Summit and the burgers were still free last week.

[Swagner36]

I was on the reflection in January. They had the lawn grill where they had gourmet burgers for an up charge. The grill was full. It had an air conditioned enclosed seating area. The burgers were very good, but also had the poolside grill where the burgers were included.

 

 

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[Toofarfromthesea]

It is the way of the world. Lots of wines are called Sherry and Port that don't come from Jerez or Portugal, respectively. Just to give a couple of examples. There are many things like that.

[Husky61]

If the hamburger is good and I want one, I'll pay the $10. Would not bother me.:)

[DYKWIA]

It is the way of the world. Lots of wines are called Sherry and Port that don't come from Jerez or Portugal, respectively. Just to give a couple of examples. There are many things like that.

 

It might be the way of the USA but not the world, yet. Sherry and Port have protected status within the European Union. No different to Champagne.

[villauk]

It might be the way of the USA but not the world, yet. Sherry and Port have protected status within the European Union. No different to Champagne.

 

Or Cornish pasties ;p.

[ECCruise]

Glad Celebrity is making these changes. The Free burgers will continue to available AT THE BUFFET so people will have to walk another 50 feet. celebrity is a Luxury line and a Luxury Burger will be fun to try. Our experience at the burger bar is that they are pre made frozen and mediocre so we welcome the change. Also.....Maybe the cost will cut back on the lines....some people are tight..if they want free burgers by the pool.....perhaps its time to change cruiselines.........

 

Celebrity is neither a luxury line by any stretch nor are the for-cost burgers not previously frozen. Do you think they have beef on the hoof and butchers on the ship?

[johhnnyt]

I was on the reflection in January. They had the lawn grill where they had gourmet burgers for an up charge. The grill was full. It had an air conditioned enclosed seating area. The burgers were very good, but also had the poolside grill where the burgers were included.

 

 

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Agree, thought they were delicious and worth the $10 for the platter

Like anything else if you don't like it, you don't have to buy a thing. If it makes money it will stay, if not they can always try something new. I wish they would get rid of that terrible pizza at the buffet and put a real pizza oven out there. I'd gladly pay a dollar or two a slice for good pizza

[ChucktownSteve]

Agree, thought they were delicious and worth the $10 for the platter

 

Like anything else if you don't like it, you don't have to buy a thing. If it makes money it will stay, if not they can always try something new. I wish they would get rid of that terrible pizza at the buffet and put a real pizza oven out there. I'd gladly pay a dollar or two a slice for good pizza

 

Correct. The problem is the cheap ovens either never get to temperature or the crew doesn't understand what a good pizza is and takes it out too soon because they can't keep up with the demand.

Edited July 19, 2017 by ChucktownSteve

[miched]

Hi miched! I would think that you and your wife probably are in the minority, which is neither here nor there. The point is that the Mast Grill on S ships and the Grill on M class ships has always been a popular place, especially on sea days, for people hanging by the pool who do want to eat a burger on a cruise, to just walk up and get It, without having to change out of their bathing suit, going to the OVC for a burger and then coming back to the pool to find their loungers taken. Also, the burgers in the OVC are sitting in pans for who knows how long, & truly are hockey pucks.

 

If Celebrity wants to offer a premium burger(I won't even get into the semantics of what they're made from), fine. But they should not offer it by inconveniencing their guests; having them travel for a free burger.

 

I guess it's human nature that if a change doesn't affect you, it's OK. I know when I heard about the for pay burger on Constellation, I didn't like it but thought at least it's not on my Equinox sailing....WRONG! But unfortunately, Celebrity's trend lately is to pick, pick, pick away at the things that many loved about them. Sooner or later, everyone will be affected by a change or a cut that they personally feel is a big deal. Just a matter of time.

 

 

Very valid comment. Reminds me of a few years ago when I wrote a post about how things that I noticed were being elimated or being charged for.

 

There were so many posts for the cheerleaders here that told me that I had a bad attitude, and that they could see that I wasn't happy with Celebrity and that I should just quit sailing with them.

 

I stopped posting for over a year but lurked and found that those that made those comments were now complaining about the same issues. I wasn't complaining just posting my observations about the cruise I was on.

 

Problem is it isn't unique to the cruise industry where you book something in advance and then things change before your reservation.

 

We have a room booked at a casino in Vegas. We were just sent a email that parking is no longer included. There is now a $20 per day parking fee. You want a longer close to the pool? Pay for a cabana to have a nice cushioned lounger reserved for you

pool side. Other wise it is a webbed lounger wherever you can find one

 

 

I can see the cruise lines doing this in the future along with charging a "resort" fee.

 

 

When does it end? Some sporting events charge a seat fee over and above the cost of the ticket along with premium prices according to the team they are playing and the day of the event.

 

 

 

 

I remember years ago someone mention that the way things were changing in the MDR eventually the standard will be SOS for dinner and porridge for breakfast. Everything else will be a added cost

 

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌞

[CCruiser1234]

If good burgers well worth it, I couldn't take the stuff they had before, it reminded me of my Navy days

 

 

Johnny, you didn't like the sliders or midrats? [emoji23]

Thank you for serving.

 

 

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