Reel Love

5 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

The lobster showed up on my menu.  I guess that no lobster for Asian cruises was short lived.

Maybe they took the lobster from the Equinox and sent them to your ship 😄

Just checked X app menus for our upcoming cruise and the lobster is not listed anymore in the MDR (it was when I looked a couple of weeks ago, and had the * indicating the upcharge to order a second one)

Thank you OrcaGirl for a great review so far!  Looking forward to following along  😊

So glad for you that the phone and passport issues were both resolved......was feeling panicked for you by proxy just reading about it as can relate, lol (my hubby lost his wallet on our way to a cruise once....luckily found out within about 20 minutes where it had dropped out of his pocket and within an hour had it back in hand but an absolutely horrible way to start a cruise!  Especially when the border agent was giving us a hard time about re-crossing the border to get back into Canada to pick it up.)  Anyways, have a fabulous cruise!!!

Our favourite ship also!  Cannot comment on the food or anything else that is currently happening onboard the Silhouette as we have not sailed her since just before the pandemic.  But at our last sailing (Feb of 2020) she had just undergone a major refurbishment so was in excellent shape.  You say that you do like cleanliness....every X ship we have sailed on including the Silhouette has been very clean so hopefully that continues and should not be an issue.

I think I saw a thread titled something to the effect of "Just got off the Silhouette this morning" or something like that so should be some good up-to-date info there.  Enjoy!  

4 hours ago, jelayne said:

One reason is they are short staffed.  The specialty restaurants on all 6 sailings we have been on in the past year have only been booking to 50% because they don’t have staff to handle more.  Staff shortages can be seen in slower beverage service, cabin attendants handling more cabins,  waiters handling more tables. 
 

Some crew chose not to return after Covid, others are hampered by delays in getting visas.  Our cruise at the end of October we had over 100 brand new crew board to begin training and there were at least another 100 who had been on for 10 days and were still learning their jobs 

So while they aren’t turning away bookings they aren’t dropping prices to fill the ships which would further impact service until they can get staff trained and on the ships.

Thank you so much, jelayne.  Makes sense.

David you are hilarious!  Loving your review so far and all of the laughs you are providing!  Thanks for giving us something fun to read after work every day!  Have a fabulous cruise😊

2 hours ago, jalves said:

If they can make the same money from fewer guests it works to their advantage.  

True!  

On 1/25/2023 at 8:30 AM, terrydtx said:

As long as people continue to book cruises, prices will increase, service along with food will decline, and Celebrity will laugh all the way to the bank. This once great line is being destroyed by the bean counters. The longtime loyalists are being driven to look for better cruise line options.

Great post terrydtx and agree with all of your comments.  But where I honestly become a bit confused and hoping you or someone else can help me understand is how/why they continue to raise prices when the ships are not sailing full?  I have read several posts of some ships sailing a few hundred to even several hundred passengers below capacity so to my way of thinking, would Celebrity not lower the prices to fill the cabins?  Granted I have a pretty rudimentary understanding of economics lol

8 minutes ago, stellarose said:

swizzle inn for my 50th!!!!

Heading to the original or South Shore location?  Or both lol???   Happy 50th!!!

7 minutes ago, MamaFej said:

My theory (for which I have no proof, just a gut instinct) is that "last minute cruise deals" are a thing of the past since cruise lines have started the Move Up bid program with PlusGrade. At least for suites, Aqua, and Concierge, and maybe verandas. If they can fill those categories with move ups, they can choose to offer last minute deals on the insides and ocean views without lowering the prices on more expensive categories. 

 

 

MamaFej completely off-topic but love the words inside of your flower!!!!!  (fellow Ukrainian here lol)

Agree with those who have mentioned the Swizzle Inn (their motto is Swizzle Inn, Swagger Out! 😉  They are delicious!!!).  It is kind of 'tradition' to go to the Swizzle Inn on Bermuda and enjoy a pitcher or two (there are two Swizzle Inn's on the island.....the original one is out by the airport). 

Dockyards as previously noted is also a lot of fun, and lots of good places to eat in Hamilton.  A fabulous island with beautiful beaches.  Heck, sorry.....I just realized that I did not add anything different than anyone else has posted lol.  Anyways, have a fabulous anniversary/birthday cruise!  😊

1 hour ago, Lisamarie18 said:

We were on the December 22 equinox sailing. Made reservations for our group of eight for most nights. Showed up on the first night and was told that the reservation didn’t mean anything and that we would need to wait. This of course made no sense to me because what was the point of the reservation? A manager came up while I was speaking with the hostess and he did get us seated. After that, it seem to go more smoothly, they would save our table for us. 

Yikes!  We are a group of seven on the Equinox in June and have booked our reservations in MDR already but seemingly this no longer matters.  For your saved table, did your group attend the dining room at the "same time" as your original reservations or did you have to go earlier than the time you had reserved?  Any advice/insight would be appreciated.  TIA

So wonderful to read your enthusiasm!!!!  Hope you find the rest of your cruise is just as fantastic as the first couple of hours that you were onboard, and looking forward to reading more of your impressions.  Enjoy every minute of your first cruise on Celebrity  😊

Ugh.....sorry to hear of your experience steveculf.  I certainly hope that your cruise experience was wonderful but as you noted, understandably overshadowed by concern regarding the flights home.  

57 minutes ago, mahasamatman said:

 

I didn't realize they add them one point at a time...

Lol.....I didn't either until it happened to me 😄

Just logged back in and lo and behold the remaining four missing points of five from the last webinar are there.  Strange but will take it!  Saves me a phone call tomorrow lol

Thank you so very much drakes2.  Truly appreciate it!

Btw off-topic..... I think it was you who commented the other night in another post about enjoying wines out towards Niagara Falls area?  Not sure what you specifically enjoy but two (unsolicited lol) recommendations are Domaine Queylus in Vineland for some beautiful reds and if you enjoy sparklings, KEW Vineyards in Beamsville offers some of the loveliest around our area.  Thanks again☺️

Ugh!!  I only received one point instead of the five.  I have been lucky to escape the curse of the PUP IT issues of missing points until now.  And of course these points would put me within three of the next tier.  Can somebody please share the number to call to get this corrected?  (sorry never the took the number down previously as never had an issue and have no idea how many pages back it was last listed).  Something obviously registered at their end that I watched it if they provided a point!  TIA to whoever can help me out with the number.  

4 hours ago, pilot said:

Was on Equinox last October.  Room guy told us Safety Officer would not let him open balcony partitions. 

Aww nuts!  Was any explanation provided?  

4 hours ago, NC Fred said:

 

Leaving on the Equinox in two weeks with the same situation of 3 adjoining cabins. We would love to open these partitions and have the use of all 3 balconies.  

Please come back to this thread and let us know the result for your cruise aboard the Equinox.  Exactly the same situation as you with three adjoining cabins on this same ship in June with the same plan of requesting they open the balcony partitions.  Had no issue the last time we sailed the Equinox with this request but that was several years ago so maybe it's changed.

If this is indeed a new policy would be curious to learn the rationale behind it.  One would think with the multibillion dollar debt they are dealing with, along with recent cutbacks in food/quality, reduction in OVC offerings at dinner, new room service charges, etc., and then dealing with the fallout of these decisions from unhappy cruisers, they wouldn't have the time or inclination to worry about a policy to not open connecting balcony partitions at a customers request?  But that's just my way of thinking.  😊

Regardless, I hope that you have a wonderful cruise aboard a truly great ship! 

Wonderful review ADPMOM!  Thank you so much for sharing your time, thoughts and some absolutely fabulous photos with us (that one of the moon with your "real" camera (vs. your iphone) was amazing!)  Enjoy your next cruise  ☺️

So sorry to learn about Mr. Chemmo.  You and your hubby always provided wonderful and very helpful posts.  Sending hugs to you and your family, Mrs. Chemmo.

2 minutes ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

 

At least in I can purchase Club Orange on HAL

Pardon my ignorance Ipee, but what is Club Orange?  Have never sailed HAL.

1 hour ago, terrydtx said:

Totally discussing and how can anyone continue to dine in the MDR with these changes. I looked at the MDR entrees in the app for our June Equinox cruise and I did not find any pork and beans. However, several nights the fish entrees are Tilapia and Cobia both trash cheap farm raised fish. Also saw roasted turkey and several baked chicken breast dishes and way too much paste. None of these I consider gourmet or fine dining fare. Good thing we will be in Luminae for our meals.

We sail the Equinox in June as well and after reading your post I'm now afraid to go on the app and look at the menus lol

Echoing the sentiments above.... Very much looking forward to hearing the side by side comparison with X and the Yacht Club.  Like many others on these boards, MSC YC has recently been under consideration for future cruises for us.

In terms of input as to how to best provide the threads, I am no help as I have never done one myself (although have certainly benefitted greatly from yourself and others who do "live froms" and very much appreciate the effort!!).   However that being said I think my vote would be with Option 2 that you offered, but of course would want you to do whatever is the easiest/works best for you GenX and will certainly follow along no matter how/where it is presented.

Can't wait!!!!  As always, have a fabulous time!!  ☺️

Thank you so much mahdnc!   ☺️