Disappointing Equinox Cruise - Is this Celebrity-wide?

[peachcreamsicle]

My husband and I just got back from a 9 night Equinox cruise.  I must say, we definitely noticed decline on Celebrity in terms of the dining options and level of service.  
 

There seems to have been a huge decline in the quality and quantity of the Celebrity menu.  The oceanview cafe was a madhouse at peak times, with nary a place to sit.  My husband and I are younger and active, but I definitely felt for those with older cruisers with mobility issues… having to search high and low for a seat while balancing a plate of food.  The buffet was often repetitive and certain offerings were just plain bad.  
 

Main dining has also gone downhill, with slow service, limited choices and smaller portions.  When I was especially hungry, I’d often feel tempted to order multiple appetizers or mains, but this would mean spending hours in the dining room waiting for our waiter to meander over at his leisure.  We would just fill up on bread then duck out.  
 

The final insult was that on the final day of our cruise, we were charged for having taken something from the minibar in our room, when we hadn’t.  I contacted Celebrity and they told us it was probably an oversight, but still left me with a negative impression.  I asked how I can prevent being charged erroneously in the future, and the Celebrity rep suggested having my room steward come take an inventory of our fridge before we leave the room.  I’ve never had this happen on any other cruise, nor have I ever had to have my fridge inventoried in the mayhem of departure day.  
 

My question is, is this just Celebrity now? Or just the Equinox? Are there other cruise lines that are still good? 

[asctony]

3 minutes ago, peachcreamsicle said:

My husband and I just got back from a 9 night Equinox cruise.  I must say, we definitely noticed decline on Celebrity in terms of the dining options and level of service.  
 

There seems to have been a huge decline in the quality and quantity of the Celebrity menu.  The oceanview cafe was a madhouse at peak times, with nary a place to sit.  My husband and I are younger and active, but I definitely felt for those with older cruisers with mobility issues… having to search high and low for a seat while balancing a plate of food.  The buffet was often repetitive and certain offerings were just plain bad.  
 

Main dining has also gone downhill, with slow service, limited choices and smaller portions.  When I was especially hungry, I’d often feel tempted to order multiple appetizers or mains, but this would mean spending hours in the dining room waiting for our waiter to meander over at his leisure.  We would just fill up on bread then duck out.  
 

The final insult was that on the final day of our cruise, we were charged for having taken something from the minibar in our room, when we hadn’t.  I contacted Celebrity and they told us it was probably an oversight, but still left me with a negative impression.  I asked how I can prevent being charged erroneously in the future, and the Celebrity rep suggested having my room steward come take an inventory of our fridge before we leave the room.  I’ve never had this happen on any other cruise, nor have I ever had to have my fridge inventoried in the mayhem of departure day.  
 

My question is, is this just Celebrity now? Or just the Equinox? Are there other cruise lines that are still good? 

Have Cabin Stewart Empty your frig the first day unless you are going to use it.

 

All cruise lines are doing the same thing. Times are changing and not for the better. 

Price increases on Cabins, Beverage Pkgs, Specialty Restaurants, etc. 

 

Happy Cruising!! & Holidays!!!

[peachcreamsicle]

1 minute ago, asctony said:

Have Cabin Stewart Empty your frig the first day unless you are going to use it.

 

All cruise lines are doing the same thing. Times are changing and not for the better. 

Price increases on Cabins, Beverage Pkgs, Specialty Restaurants, etc. 

 

Happy Cruising!! & Holidays!!!

Ohhhh, thanks for the tip! I had no idea that was an option.  I hate having my fridge cluttered with things I don’t want / didn’t ask for. 

[mrgabriel]

6 minutes ago, peachcreamsicle said:

My question is, is this just Celebrity now? Or just the Equinox? Are there other cruise lines that are still good? 

 

We've been on four cruises since the restart and have had mixed experiences. We have not been on Equinox but have been on Solstice (twice), Silhouette, and Eclipse. We had one poor experience - on Solstice in September this year. The Silhouette cruise (a TA in April this year) was fantastic - like definitely one of the best ever. I think it comes down to management on the ship. On Silhouette, we spoke to the senior officers many times and the F&B Manager spent a lot of time with passengers in all of the dining facilities - they weren't cursory conversations, he listened intently. Flip side - on our Solstice cruise a couple of months ago, we never saw the Captain or any of his senior team members. They didn't socialise, speak to you around the ship, and even all stood together and talked at the Senior Officer Party. First time we have EVER experienced that. Even the Captain's Club Hostess didn't make an effort to greet people at the morning coffee. Some managers are better than others - and it sounds like whoever is leading on Equinox is probably more like the last group we encountered on Solstice. 

[C4HCG]

Seems like the Equinox not popular at the moment, another thread relating poor experiences. Seating problems in the OVC I would think are common on most ships at peak time and an irritation that you just have to live with. 
 

We sailed on the Equinox in September this year and our experience of the MDR the opposite of yours, our wait staff Reggie and Ronnie, couldn’t do enough for us. Luck of the draw I guess.

Edited December 20, 2023 by C4HCG

[Charles4515]

14 minutes ago, asctony said:

Have Cabin Stewart Empty your frig the first day unless you are going to use it.

I have them do that but I noticed they just throw the stuff in a bag and keep them under the bed or in the closet or somewhere. LOL. I don't think the cabin steward does the billing. Some other crew member checks the fridges. 

[NMTraveller]

We were hoping that the new menus would solve the mdr issues.  I guess not.

[PTC DAWG]

1 hour ago, peachcreamsicle said:

My husband and I just got back from a 9 night Equinox cruise.  I must say, we definitely noticed decline on Celebrity in terms of the dining options and level of service.  
 

There seems to have been a huge decline in the quality and quantity of the Celebrity menu.  The oceanview cafe was a madhouse at peak times, with nary a place to sit.  My husband and I are younger and active, but I definitely felt for those with older cruisers with mobility issues… having to search high and low for a seat while balancing a plate of food.  The buffet was often repetitive and certain offerings were just plain bad.  
 

Main dining has also gone downhill, with slow service, limited choices and smaller portions.  When I was especially hungry, I’d often feel tempted to order multiple appetizers or mains, but this would mean spending hours in the dining room waiting for our waiter to meander over at his leisure.  We would just fill up on bread then duck out.  
 

The final insult was that on the final day of our cruise, we were charged for having taken something from the minibar in our room, when we hadn’t.  I contacted Celebrity and they told us it was probably an oversight, but still left me with a negative impression.  I asked how I can prevent being charged erroneously in the future, and the Celebrity rep suggested having my room steward come take an inventory of our fridge before we leave the room.  I’ve never had this happen on any other cruise, nor have I ever had to have my fridge inventoried in the mayhem of departure day.  
 

My question is, is this just Celebrity now? Or just the Equinox? Are there other cruise lines that are still good? 

Random charges can happen on any line..not sure why that would be insulting.  

[bikerunner]

I think there are just inconsistencies thru the fleet.  I was on B2B on Silhouette over Thanksgiving and found the food in MDR very good to great.  Usually in and out of MDR a little over an hour, we had anytime dining and usually ate around 715ish. Portion size was fine I never went to the OVC when it just started serving lunch as this is peak time and everyone needs to be there it seemed,  wander in after 1245-1 and never any issues with finding tables.  

[peachcreamsicle]

6 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

Random charges can happen on any line..not sure why that would be insulting.  

Maybe, I’ve just never experienced that in 15+ cruises on multiple cruise lines.
 

Also, we weren’t provided a paper bill like on previous cruises.  It was just emailed and had I not opened the PDF, I would have missed the charge.  It makes you wonder if they’re just sneaking it on there.  Just a reminder to look at your bill 🙂

[peachcreamsicle]

9 minutes ago, bikerunner said:

I think there are just inconsistencies thru the fleet.  I was on B2B on Silhouette over Thanksgiving and found the food in MDR very good to great.  Usually in and out of MDR a little over an hour, we had anytime dining and usually ate around 715ish. Portion size was fine I never went to the OVC when it just started serving lunch as this is peak time and everyone needs to be there it seemed,  wander in after 1245-1 and never any issues with finding tables.  

That’s good to hear.  I’m hopeful these issues aren’t Celebrity-wide as I’d hate to abandon the brand.  

[peachcreamsicle]

1 hour ago, C4HCG said:

Seems like the Equinox not popular at the moment, another thread relating poor experiences. Seating problems in the OVC I would think are common on most ships at peak time and an irritation that you just have to live with. 
 

We sailed on the Equinox in September this year and our experience of the MDR the opposite of yours, our wait staff Reggie and Ronnie, couldn’t do enough for us. Luck of the draw I guess.

I’m assuming that the masses of people in the OVC stemmed from the lack of alternative dining options.  
 

The main dining room was slow and lacklustre and the mast grill offered lukewarm burgers that had been sitting out in the open air for some time.  Other than those two, I can’t really think of any other included dining options. 

Edited December 20, 2023 by peachcreamsicle

[C4HCG]

Just now, peachcreamsicle said:

I’m assuming that the masses of people in the OVC stemmed from the lack of alternative dining options.  
 

The main dining room was slow and lacklustre and the mast grill offered luckwarm burgers that had been sitting out in the open air for some time.  Other than those two, I can’t really think of any other included dining options. 

At peak times we always find the OVC to be busy, breakfast and lunch. 

[If only]

8 minutes ago, peachcreamsicle said:

Maybe, I’ve just never experienced that in 15+ cruises on multiple cruise lines.
 

Also, we weren’t provided a paper bill like on previous cruises.  It was just emailed and had I not opened the PDF, I would have missed the charge.  It makes you wonder if they’re just sneaking it on there.  Just a reminder to look at your bill 🙂

We check our bill on the Tv in our cabin & take a picture of the final on the tv, last morning of the cruise.

[rotoal]

1 minute ago, peachcreamsicle said:

I’m assuming that the masses of people in the OVC stemmed from the lack of alternative dining options.  
 

The main dining room was slow and lacklustre and the mast grill offered luckwarm burgers that had been sitting out in the open air for some time.  Other than those two, I can’t really think of any other included dining options. 

The Spa Cafe is a nice alternative - even if it is for a “pre-lunch” before heading over to the OVC after the lunch rush.

[cruisestitch]

1 hour ago, Charles4515 said:

I have them do that but I noticed they just throw the stuff in a bag and keep them under the bed or in the closet or somewhere. LOL. I don't think the cabin steward does the billing. Some other crew member checks the fridges. 

That is correct…it’s a different crew member who services the mini bar

[paulh84]

The food troughs at the buffet are always a madhouse during peak breakfast and lunch. That definitely isn't anything new or unique to Celebrity. 

[PTC DAWG]

27 minutes ago, peachcreamsicle said:

Maybe, I’ve just never experienced that in 15+ cruises on multiple cruise lines.
 

Also, we weren’t provided a paper bill like on previous cruises.  It was just emailed and had I not opened the PDF, I would have missed the charge.  It makes you wonder if they’re just sneaking it on there.  Just a reminder to look at your bill 🙂

I view it on TV…

[Ex-Airbalancer]

“the dining room waiting for our waiter to meander over at his leisure.  “🙄

people in the GTA sure are mean now , I have always seen waiters bust their asses in the MDR 

 

 

[Charles4515]

11 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

I view it on TV…

I check it on the app or the TV.

[ArgoNereus]

We're on Constellation for the past three weeks and have no complaints whatsoever.  We eat in anytime dining, seated at 5:30, order almost immediately, finish by 6:15, (no dessert).  Food has been hot, and only on one day have we found nothing appetizing.  We arrive in the ocean view cafe at 11:30 prior to the rush and always find something to satisfy our cravings.  Cheese selection is awesome.  Now if we could only find some parents who can control their toddlers, we would have a perfect sailing.  Officers are visible and friendly.

[George C]

We have done 4 cruises post Covid , first on one of the first sailing after Covid was fantastic but we were in penthouse. Then did two royal suites on summit and a sky suite on beyond, food in suite restaurant definitely not as good as before also same for specialty restaurants.

[MISTER 67]

We’ve been on 5 Celebrity cruises and 9 overall since the startup in the fall of 2021, 3 of the Celebrity cruises were on the Equinox with one each on the Infinity and one on the Reflection, we have 4 booked for 2024, 2 on X and 2 on Princess. All the Celebrity cruises were pretty darn good with no problems with food or service in the MDR. As far as the OVC we think it’s the best buffet of all the major cruisel lines, food and variety has always been very good. Have things been as good as before the pandemic, probably not as we aren’t happy with costs of just about everything going up while there have been cutbacks here and there, there’s been high inflation and the cruise lines took a beating because of the pandemic with no income so we have a choice, we can continue to cruise or find somewhere else to spend our vacation dollars but check out prices of Las Vegas or Disneyworld and we still get the best bang for the dollar cruising.

Edited December 20, 2023 by MISTER 67

[markeb]

2 hours ago, peachcreamsicle said:

Maybe, I’ve just never experienced that in 15+ cruises on multiple cruise lines.
 

Also, we weren’t provided a paper bill like on previous cruises.  It was just emailed and had I not opened the PDF, I would have missed the charge.  It makes you wonder if they’re just sneaking it on there.  Just a reminder to look at your bill 🙂

 

Your bill is in the app and updates almost in real time. It's also available on the TV. I'm glad they don't stuff a hard copy statement on our door anymore. I think most of us don't want a bunch of paper to just throw away.

[markeb]

3 hours ago, peachcreamsicle said:

The final insult was that on the final day of our cruise, we were charged for having taken something from the minibar in our room, when we hadn’t.  I contacted Celebrity and they told us it was probably an oversight, but still left me with a negative impression.  I asked how I can prevent being charged erroneously in the future, and the Celebrity rep suggested having my room steward come take an inventory of our fridge before we leave the room.  I’ve never had this happen on any other cruise, nor have I ever had to have my fridge inventoried in the mayhem of departure day.  

 

I get it, but that's hardly unique to Celebrity or to cruising. It happens all the time in hotels. A few years ago, a number of hotels went to automated inventory systems (touch sensitive) for minibars. If you picked an item up to look at it, the system charged you for it, even if you set it back down.