Celebrity Silhouette Main Dining Room Experience an Embarrassment

[conquesodor]

13 hours ago, hcat said:

it speaks but not great!   Yikes!

 

It was delicious.

[HMR74]

47 minutes ago, doghog said:

1970, Lackland AFB. Drafted. I was 18 years old. And the food got worse after that at times. So just when you (not you specifically) think the food or a dinning experience is bad...

Our cooks showed me when the food came in how it was top quality and that then it was up to them to prepare it correctly. One day every week I was DRO and many of the base officers came to our "Mess".

 

My HS buddy signed up for Air Force and was at Lackland, and he did that rather than going to College. He was a trained truck Driver, the type with a long trailer.

 

When he got out in 68 or 69 he went to work for UPS when it was private and got the big  big payout when it went public. He chided us college boys who spent money for 5 years then started at the bottom of the corp ladder, and invited us out on his boat regularly after his very early retirement. 

[Cu@c2]

I was on the Millennium in Feb 2023 and they pretty well forced you to go to the MDR.  The meals were also the same every night and the portions were small. 

The ocean view cafe, other than the first day,  only had food, same selection EVERY night stations the stern of the ship.

 

I am going on the Silhouette Feb 2024  and wondering if anyone knew the prices of water, soft drinks and speciality coffee.   I am not a drinker and the price for a beverage package is RIDICULOUS!

 

 

[aaaaa]

The recent Cruise Critic guest reviews of Silhouette are weak but overall not awful.

[Guera53]

On 8/30/2023 at 1:59 PM, Cu@c2 said:

I was on the Millennium in Feb 2023 and they pretty well forced you to go to the MDR.  The meals were also the same every night and the portions were small. 

The ocean view cafe, other than the first day,  only had food, same selection EVERY night stations the stern of the ship.

 

I am going on the Silhouette Feb 2024  and wondering if anyone knew the prices of water, soft drinks and speciality coffee.   I am not a drinker and the price for a beverage package is RIDICULOUS!

 

 

I’m curious as well, and sail the Silhouette in November. Planning on bringing on soda water and Coke Zero. How much is that cappuccino?

[gapiro]

On 8/30/2023 at 6:59 PM, Cu@c2 said:

I was on the Millennium in Feb 2023 and they pretty well forced you to go to the MDR.  The meals were also the same every night and the portions were small. 

The ocean view cafe, other than the first day,  only had food, same selection EVERY night stations the stern of the ship.

 

I am going on the Silhouette Feb 2024  and wondering if anyone knew the prices of water, soft drinks and speciality coffee.   I am not a drinker and the price for a beverage package is RIDICULOUS!

 

 

Last week most soft drinks were $6 and were cans of coke sprite or fanta. Non alcoholic cocktails same price. Coffees too
the only free drinks were what you could get from the buffet vending machines. 

[HMR74]

2 hours ago, gapiro said:

Last week most soft drinks were $6 and were cans of coke sprite or fanta. Non alcoholic cocktails same price. Coffees too
the only free drinks were what you could get from the buffet vending machines. 

coincidentally I called X today to learn somethign n my Equinox cruise coming up in Jan.

I wanted to know if premium coffee for classic was different than premium and was told alcohol in coffee was in premium but not classic.

 

Then my next question was we can get premium coffee in Luninae and Blu , but can we get it in MDR and I was told probaby not, but it was only $6 per cup at El Bacio . The reason was staffing and that the servers in MDR would have to go someplace else to get the premium coffee and they did not have the time. I was told I could go out to BAcio and get a couple of cups and bring it back into MDR. I was  in shock, but thanked the person for being honest.

 

Then the rep added that whats included in classic and premium change depending on the cruise but that we would not find out til we were on board. He mentioned mud slides as an example of a drink that changes back and forth but if I have the classic it only costs $1 for a mudslide.

 

I actually do not mind upgrading for the $432 but if I cannot have an after dinner premium coffee with desert in MDR, well, that pisses me off.

 

And we dine late so there is no rush to get us out. We can sit and talk with new friends in a quiet venue and we love it.

 

We were on Oasis last Thanksgiving and could not get premium coffee in MDR which BTW the food was great, choices, size, taste presentation etc.

 

We had to go to one location for premium drinks in the main open area and that was a 30 minute wait for coffee in a paper cup and if you want a refil its another 30 minutes.

 

I am losing patience with X. I just cancelled eh front end of a b2b out of concern that I could have 19 days on a ship where I am not happy, So I cut my potential losses to 9 days and if its a good experience no regrets, I will just book a few other cruises.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tigervixxxen]

I would caution against taking much of what a phone rep says seriously about how things work on the ship. They’ve been proven to be very unreliable. 

[giraffeman]

On 8/30/2023 at 1:59 PM, Cu@c2 said:

I am going on the Silhouette Feb 2024  and wondering if anyone knew the prices of water, soft drinks and specialty coffee.   I am not a drinker and the price for a beverage package is RIDICULOUS!

 

 

Don't know if they went up in price too, but you know the most likely will increase by February  2024 

 

• Soft Drinks: $3
• Specialty Coffees: $5 average price
• Energy Drinks: $6
• Water: $3.50-5

[Rustyman]

I’ve read a few comments on this and other threads criticising the rise in negativity of posts re Celebrity. In the spirit of being a Celebrity cheer boy, this thread apart, I do tend to agree. I feel it important for readers to be informed of Celebrity changes both positive and negative but am an optimist and am hopeful that Celebrity will read about concerns of cruisers and make the right decision on food.

Im hoping that if and when I post a new topic on here that it is positive and about how fantastic this cruise line is👌.

[HMR74]

4 hours ago, tigervixxxen said:

I would caution against taking much of what a phone rep says seriously about how things work on the ship. They’ve been proven to be very unreliable. 

Except this rep said he was just on a cruise a couple of weeks ago. 
 

and not unreliable, more often they are inconsistent.

 

often you get a very experienced rep and they are really good.

 

 

 

[TeeRick]

5 hours ago, tigervixxxen said:

I would caution against taking much of what a phone rep says seriously about how things work on the ship. They’ve been proven to be very unreliable. 

Phone reps are sitting in a call center (or at home) handling multiple cruise lines.  I think many have never been on a cruise ship.

[HMR74]

51 minutes ago, giraffeman said:

Don't know if they went up in price too, but you know the most likely will increase by February  2024 

 

• Soft Drinks: $3
• Specialty Coffees: $5 average price
• Energy Drinks: $6
• Water: $3.50-5

Plus the 20%. 
 

i have always had a package so I do not know if a second , or further cups of specialty coffee cost another 6  or more. That can really add up at breakfast, after dinner and late night. Which is one reason I take the package

 

 another is San Pelegrino where they serve small bottles snd that has to be per dollar.
We drink that stuff like water, and have 2 soda streams at home. 

anybody know?

[HMR74]

5 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

Phone reps are sitting in a call center (or at home) handling multiple cruise lines.  I think many have never been on a cruise ship.

I one reached the same rep on same morning when i called once for an x call and once for an RCL issue. 
 

but I can tell whether they are experienced or not and i bet most here also.

i have hung up on ones early in the call if it was going no where.

i have also been hung up on early because the issue was too complex.

 

there are special numbers to call the higher you are booked or status . 
 

My kids and wife have been on trips and were getting nowhere with airline to remedy it so they call me and i call airline using my number and it suddenly gets fixed. 
 

it was explained to me years ago when i was actively working. Not only did I have big miles, but many if my trips were last minute and big dollars.

 

now they have to figure in credit card mile for status which are not as good as miles flown.

[chemmo]

13 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

Phone reps are sitting in a call center (or at home) handling multiple cruise lines.  I think many have never been on a cruise ship.

Absolutely! I have clear memories of a rep trying to convince me a RS was a bigger room than a PH on the Eclipse as the RS was the biggest room on RC! When she finally got the information up (which we directed her to) her understanding of perks included/needing paying for was scary as she tried to sell us a premium drinks package! Needless to say we decided not to go ahead with booking…
 

We have found  UK TA’s lacking in general knowledge of cruises and sometimes have a real preference to recommend one line over another…

[GonzoWCS]

Interesting read. Thanks for the information.

 

Cheers

[phoenix_dream]

14 hours ago, tigervixxxen said:

I would caution against taking much of what a phone rep says seriously about how things work on the ship. They’ve been proven to be very unreliable. 

100% agree.  They try their best I presume but they are very often wrong about many onboard things.  Best to get your info here on Cruise Critic or when you board.  

[gapiro]

11 hours ago, giraffeman said:

Don't know if they went up in price too, but you know the most likely will increase by February  2024 

 

• Soft Drinks: $3
• Specialty Coffees: $5 average price
• Energy Drinks: $6
• Water: $3.50-5

Much to the anger of my wife , energy drinks aren’t in the classic package. Even though it says for drinks up to $12 (says 10 online but onboard they say 12)

[odyssyus]

On 8/19/2023 at 10:03 AM, mnocket said:

If this report is representative of where X is headed, we can't blame it on  trying to cater to younger customers.  They tend to be as much foodies as we old timers. School lunch food is not going to cut it. Mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables as standard sides will drive most away. Either this report is an anomaly, or X is in greater financial stress than their earnings report indicates. 

They have figured out the younger crowd will pay for the specialty dining.  Low budget food in the MDR is a good way to drive them in that direction.  

[HMR74]

3 hours ago, gapiro said:

Much to the anger of my wife , energy drinks aren’t in the classic package. Even though it says for drinks up to $12 (says 10 online but onboard they say 12)

that cut off has gone from 9 to eiither 10 or as you say 12, which is not as much % increase as the price of cruising. Meaning they get us for an extra buck or two each time we upgrade a single drink

[Fly and Sail]

I've read the first page, including the OP's post and this (13) but there have been similar reports in various social media groups and as expected you had all kinds of responses. A few people who agreed and provided documentation of a similar horrible experience. Then the typical apologists who'd even applaud when X starts serving a dog's turd on a paper tray.

 

I did three AQ sailing in the past three months and food was vastly different on each trip:

 

• Millennium, Panama Canal: BLU was ok, food often underseasoned, Oceanview good quality
• Solstice, Alaska: Awful, both BLU as well as Oceanview, though Oceanview was the best choice
• APEX, Norway: BLU good quality and service, Oceanview good quality, Mast Grill: LETHAL

 

I believe that Celebrity tries to put on their A-game on the Edge Class ships, but the others are being neglected and fed to the dogs. RIP!

[kwokpot]

9 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

I've read the first page, including the OP's post and this (13) but there have been similar reports in various social media groups and as expected you had all kinds of responses. A few people who agreed and provided documentation of a similar horrible experience. Then the typical apologists who'd even applaud when X starts serving a dog's turd on a paper tray.

 

I did three AQ sailing in the past three months and food was vastly different on each trip:

 

• Millennium, Panama Canal: BLU was ok, food often underseasoned, Oceanview good quality
• Solstice, Alaska: Awful, both BLU as well as Oceanview, though Oceanview was the best choice
• APEX, Norway: BLU good quality and service, Oceanview good quality, Mast Grill: LETHAL

 

I believe that Celebrity tries to put on their A-game on the Edge Class ships, but the others are being neglected and fed to the dogs. RIP!

I'll have to agree with your assessment about the Edge Class vs the other ship classes. Although there are reports for people not enjoying the MDR food on the newer ships I think the majority of the reviews here on CC support the assertion of newer ships, overall better food. I was on the Solstice in February and Apex in July and although I felt the Oceanview Cafe on Solstice was very good, it was even better on the Apex. I'll agree the MDRs on the Solstice was only OK and far superior on the Apex. 

[aaaaa]

The newer ships have the Edge.