starri

If you are simply comparing Celebrity to Carnival...we agree that Celebrity is still the better overall product (but for how long?). But you should consider that there are at least 25 cruise lines (we have been on 14) each of which has pros and cons. Celebrity is in the process of eliminating many of their "pros" and increasing its cons. When DW and I first started cruising on Celebrity (back when they still had the old Meridian) we really liked the line. Over the years they kept improving their product (and their ships) and we were hooked. But since the era of LLP, things have been in a rapid decline coupled with major price increases. We are starting to question the price/benefit of cruising on X...versus several other cruise lines.

 

Hank

For a good while, I would say.

Perhaps as a remnant from my days as a TA, I'm fascinated by the back-end business of the industry, and in this quiet time before I start my residency, I've been reading quite a bit of the other CC forums just to get a feel for what's been happening on the other lines. Looking over at CCL and RCI, I don't think we're being subjected to nearly so many little cutbacks as those lines have, from Carnival's new one-daily room servicing to RCI's decision to start charging a fee on all room service, no matter the time. And frankly, some of the photos of the food on a few of the other lines are downright unappetizing. I don't necessarily like how large the charges for the specialty restaurants are, but I think at least in the case of Murano, it's a decent return on investment. Tuscan, I'm not so sure about.

In any case, this is just unfortunately a model that a lot of the travel industry is going to be trying to follow, given how successfully the airlines have socked a fee onto everything, from checked bags to a halfway comfortable coach seat. There's just some psychological block where we gravitate towards a low price, even if we end up paying twice as much on the backend.

I currently find the value for what I get a fair exchange. Prior to the switchover of Michael's, I remember it being fairly empty (and apparently still is, for better or worse) even when everyone could use it. And I personally do not miss the lavish buffets at all, because while they may have been neat to look at, they were so wasteful given how little of the food was actually consumed.

If I get to the point that I don't think I'm getting my money's worth, I'll look elsewhere. But I can tell you that when we were looking around to get some ideas for next year (my 40th birthday), the nickel-and-diming turned us off RCI, as much as we wanted to try an Oasis-class ship, or stay close to home and go on the Anthem. However many little cuts X is (or is not) giving us, it's not nearly as bad as its big sister seems to have.

Gave up on them a long time ago. Usually spot family throughout our journey so it's never been a problem. The stigma of FOD is rather alarming and nobody really cares anymore if your gay or straight.

Would that that was completely true.

Yeah, to me the smoking policy is a huge upgrade, and I say this as an ex-smoker.

Perhaps it's just something that comes from maturity, but current-day X is a product I like a lot more as an almost 40-something than the guy in his mid-20s who went on his first cruise on the Horizon in 2004. Before his first X cruise last year, my husband had only been on Carnival, and from about the first minute we walked onto the ship, he never wanted to do anything else.

Hear obc $2000 plus inclusive drinks on board for everyone.

 

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Dang. That's pretty generous.

I mean, I know this was a colossal screw-up, and clearly some of the reports said the way the immediate issues were handled in Barcelona said it wasn't nearly as smooth as it was on paper, but that's quite a bit more than just pro-rating the missed days.

Still, all my sympathy to those who had a dream trip messed up.

Am I the only who never actually at the burgers at the Mast Grill?

I mean, I understand why this is annoying or even a deal breaker, it's just not something that I'd miss. Now the transition from Bon5 to Son5, that annoyed me.

I'm originally from the States, and I lived in NYC. Now I live in Israel. I have no use for bravado. I know what an act of terror is, and what is not an act of terror. To set aside that distinction is to accept terror as a standard part of our lives. That is the true giving in to terror, the true allowing of terrorists to win. No accident, or selfish act, is comparable to an act of terror.

I've been gay-bashed twice in my life. Smaller scale, perhaps, and I escaped with bumps and bruises, but if I didn't go for the bravado, I might never leave my house.

You see it your way, I see it mine.

I'll still be traveling, too, but I always cringe at comments of the sort "I'm more in danger being hit by a drunk driver".

 

The car being driven by a drunk driver is not a weapon that was carefully planned specifically to kill and maim as many innocent bystanders as possible, all in the name of some ideology.

No, the car is driven by a craven person who has no regard for the safety of anyone around him.

I live in New York City. It takes a lot to scare me.

Nope. I'm in much greater danger of being killed by a drunk driver.

Yes, Indeedy. I wave may magic wand and -- ping -- you are a Moscow mule.

 

 

(Definitely need a cruise).

 

Melissa

I'm surprised it took so long for someone to make that joke.

The taste depends on the brand of ginger beer. There is Goslings, Bunderberg and Fever Tree to name the brands that they have had on board. Sometimes if you order one they may also use ginger ale.

I hope not. Ginger ale is too sweet.

AFAIK, the only thing that Sprint charges for outside of the US are voice calls and SMS, including over Cellular @ Sea. I know I was able to use my data plan in Mexico last year and didn't get billed for it.

Are they good?

I like them because they're not too sweet, and I really love the spiciness of the ginger. I don't really like sweet drinks, but I can do a Pimm's cup because of the cucumber and lemon.

What is a Moscow mule? :confused: Never heard of it.

Vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice. Usually served in a special copper mug.

Lived on these on Solstice last October! The barman in Ensemble Lounge made the best one ever. I would often stop by to get one, or he also worked at the Sunset Bar so also got them there during the day. I know Mast Bar also made them but w're not as good IMO.

We're also on the Solstice. Do you remember his name?

I'm not really going on the cruise to drink, but I need a libation or two in evenings.

Yay! Thanks so much.

Dumb question I know, but I've been wondering this for a while, and I don't think I've seen it answered. Obviously not offered in Vintages, the Martini Bar, or World-Class, but what about at the Sunset Bar or in Michael's?

Also, Pimm's Cup, same question.

I've never done an inside cabin, but if it was the only thing I could afford on an itinerary that I desperately wanted, I'd do it in a heartbeat. And it being pitch dark would be a huge bonus for me, because the smallest amount of light bothers me; even with blackout curtains, I wear a sleep mask.

We have an SS on our now tantalizingly close cruise, but that's because it's for several special occasions (my husband getting his Masters, my graduation from medical school, and the honeymoon we put on hold for almost six years) and we've been saving for it for a very long time.

But go, have a good time, and spend that money doing awesome things in awesome places.

Are there any recent Luminae menus from Solstice?

I can't speak to the Eurodam, never having been on HAL, but if you're looking for "what to pack," I found this list. It's geared toward women, so just make the appropriate adjustments. I'm also considering purchasing some of the gear, like the waterproof jacket when I actually get to Seattle for embarkation.

As far as excursions go, what do you like to do?

The M-class Turkish bath was one of the most relaxing experiences of my life.

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I doubt it would require purchasing a WiFi package. Probably, those features would be free on the WiFi.

I don't know if I want to be tethered to my phone either, but I can see the utility of it. For the suite guests, contact your butler or the concierge from anywhere on the ship. Book your shore excursions. Make spa appointments and dinner reservations. Check your SeaPass balance. Be able to pull up Celebrity Today from anywhere.

Still think that mirrored wall looks suspiciously like a movie screen...

I'm wondering if it might be an LED screen, not for movies, but for projecting different kinds of images and short video clips, kind of like a screensaver. Carnival Vista has something like that in its lobby bar. I would expect X to be a little more classy.

My AppleTV has a screensaver that shows these rather astonishing hi-def flyovers of different land-, sea-, and cityscapes. There's this one of Dubai at night that's completely hypnotic.

I'm overall impressed. I really like the idea of the Magic Carpet (not crazy about the name), although the track better not be orange when she finally sets sail. Even just for a platform for tendering, that seems like a huge step forward. And the new tenders seem really cool.

My favorite thing is the Rooftop Garden. It takes the Lawn Club idea, but makes it a little more useful. The Central Park/Boardwalk is one of my favorite parts of the Oasis-class, and this looks like a more refined version of it.

The Retreat doesn't really bother me. It's basically just an expanded version of Michael's, and since all of the lines seem to be shifting towards it (and heck, Cunard's been doing it all along), it pretty much had to happen. Since this is the first time that it's been a purpose-built space and not cordoning off something that use to be communal, I think it's actually an improvement.

Assuming the prices don't go insane, we're planning on booking an April '19 EC when we're aboard Solstice this summer.

I suspect that my husband and I are also exactly the demographic they're aiming the E-class at, so if that's true, they hit the bullseye.

I'm hoping the pricing won't be too out of control too quickly. Planning on booking onboard for an April 2019 sailing.

I would be concerned about the lack of privacy, but I imagine it will only move during the times that people are likely to be out and about.

I do wonder how noisy it will be, especially when they lower it in the morning to load the tenders. I also think the new tenders themselves sound great.

And I wonder how durable the mechanics are going to be. Still, the props, azipods, and stablizers hold up under much more rigorous conditions.