ScubesDad

5 minutes ago, mom says said:

 

Yes, for those so highly averse to even a whiff of cigarette smoke, simply walking down the opposite side is a simple and easy way of avoiding it. Considering the exceedingly small number of designated smoking areas on ships of this size,  I'm still amazed at the amount of sanctimonious whining that goes on. It's not as though it's the least bit difficult to avoid if you simply pay attention to where you are and where you're going.

 

Now if they would also ban perfumes (and those who insist on dousing themselves in copious quantities of it) in all indoor spaces, and restrict the offending wearers to an isolated designated  "odoriferous" area, I would be a happy cruiser indeed.

Well said, especially the second paragraph.

7 hours ago, chemmo said:

We are the last Eclipse cruise before she goes in next year. Our final port is Singapore. As our itinerary is not a standard one (Tokyo to Singapore) I would assume she is being refurbished in or close to Singapore. I don’t know if that helps...

4 hours ago, ScubesDad said:

Millennium was done in Singapore.  If Equinox is arriving in Singapore on the cruise prior to dry dock, then it is a safe bet that the work will be done there.

My error, I read through the thread quickly and misread Eclipse for Equinox.....

As noted it is two fixed seating times per evening. We did it last summer and thoroughly enjoyed it.  We felt the food quality was quite good, probably because the menu is fixed.  Not sure it is something we would do very often, unless they changed the menu.  As previously noted when we did it the restaurant was about half full.

We recently sailed Millennium after she was "revolutionized" and Qsine  was not converted to LPC.  Not sure what that means...........

We have had this happen twice.  Not to alarm you or cause  undue stress, however, Celebrity is slow to reveal what the issue is. In some cases there is no need to worry as it is just internal administration,......but sometimes..........  For us, One was for a dry dock and the other was for a charter.  The dry dock one we were notified very quickly and it was sorted almost immediately.  The charter dragged on for about 2 months before they confirmed the fact that the ship was chartered.  in both cases it was about 16 months before the cruise, and more importantly before any airlines were accepting reservations.

Millennium was done in Singapore.  If Equinox is arriving in Singapore on the cruise prior to dry dock, then it is a safe bet that the work will be done there.

10 minutes ago, Lance881 said:

The 737 Max 9 is a longer version of the 737 Max 8.  Assume the only difference is length of the fuselage.

Canada has grounded both max 8 and max 9.....so most likely same issue

I don't think boutique is  reasonable comparison.  The definition of boutique hotel is quite vague; however, it generally means a small stylish hotel generally located in a fashionable urban area.  Having just completed 14 nights on Millennium, just out of dry dock after having been revolutionized....it doesn't meet the criteria.  Small, certainly not...Small would be 900 passengers.  Stylish, all depends on your perspective...my opinion upscale IKEA...pleasant but not upmarket.  You can't compare apples and oranges. 

I would say whatever Celebrity is doing is failing to appeal to their long term clients as many are leaving....evidence, all the recent sales to attract future bookings.  Millennials aren't looking for long holiday ie 11 - 14 days, they want 5 -7 days.  given all the passenger capacity coming online in the next few years, they need to get it right or participate in some discount pricing to fill the ship. JMHO.

I don't think boutique is  reasonable comparison.  The definition of boutique hotel is quite vague; however, it generally means a small stylish hotel generally located in a fashionable urban area.  Having just completed 14 nights on Millennium, just out of dry dock after having been revolutionized....it doesn't meet the criteria.  Small, certainly not...Small would be 900 passengers.  Stylish, all depends on your perspective...my opinion upscale IKEA...pleasant but not upmarket.  You can't compare apples and oranges. 

I would say whatever Celebrity is doing is failing to appeal to their long term clients as many are leaving....evidence, all the recent sales to attract future bookings.  Millennials aren't looking for long holiday ie 11 - 14 days, they want 5 -7 days.  given all the passenger capacity coming online in the next few years, they need to get it right or participate in some discount pricing to fill the ship. JMHO.

I am the original poster  of the pictures for 6146 which were posted on fb.

If I had to grade the renovations I would give it 75%...it is not a fail, but it certainly not a home run.  as many have noted the  balcony furniture is a massive failure the table and chairs are barely functional, the couch is nice but not practical...The previous furniture was better, and existing furniture on the S class is superior.  balcony is a failure.

There is no table in the room.....a small end table arrived day 3 it is ok to hold a drink or two but that is all.  as noted there are no bedside lights..major failure.    The inside couch is not convertible to a bed...room capacity is only 2 people. 

As someone mentioned it is form over function...looks nice but not  very functional.   As noted the desk chair does not go under the desk...in fact the desk is so low that my legs do not fit under the desk unless I stretch them out.

The whole thing looks like it was designed for people who are on the smaller side of average.  there are some  very small chairs in the Retreat Lounge that no full size individual is able to fit into.  I will upload pictures when internet becomes more stable.

The Retreat deck does provide food and bar service.  The food is more small bites,  not an extensive menu.  The staff of Luminae does service in Luminae, Retreat Lounge, and Retreat  Deck..so they do get to know you and your preferences.

The bathroom has small issues, which can be easily remedied....but it will take time...for example no make up mirror, and the lighting in the bathroom is about a metre behind you and there is insufficient lighting to do the simple things like shave.  Also for the ladies, no leg bar in the shower, and no space to place your own shampoo etc if you choose the bring it.   Also the shower has a $19.99 hand held shower head.....they could of put in a rain head....... The vanity sinks have no plugs  to hold the water....useless.  

My personal opinion is that the overall concept was fantastic, however it did not translate well into the small details.

Primary reason we chose this room is for the size...would definitely  choose it again....in fact we did for The Summit in 2021.

I will provide more pics of the ship and comments over the next few days.

It is all good, don't sweat the small stuff,  I am off to explore Ha Long Bay.

Cheers.  Claude

With respect to the original question DW packs her own,  I tend to use whatever is available.

8 hours ago, drakes2 said:

If anyone is from the East Coast of Canada a company in Newfoundland called Purity makes a ginger cookie. If anyone can get their hands on a box they are excellent for nausea.

Love those ginger snaps.  have probably eaten a ton.....could be why I don't suffer from motion sickness.

14 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

 

You make these sound mutually exclusive, as though people giving cash are somehow unkind.  

No they definitely are complimentary, as you move along the needs continuum cash is replaced by other motivating factors.  that is why the comment cards, guest questionnaires,  and client feedback are so important as addition rewards are based on them; for example time off in port to go ashore and escape for a few hours.

It is not an either or situation.  Multiple forms of recognition have a multiplier effect on behaviour.

Never said treats rather than cash...do both. Do something creative...just don't give them meaning less trinkets.

For example we are on a cruise next week and in addition to the prepaid grants, we expect to spend an additional an equivalent amount in supplemental grats.  I also have about $25 in chocolate to be split among 8 to 10 people....small price to pay for making someone's day........

One solution does not work for everyone.

I guess there will be two schools of thought: cash vs kindness.  there is an extensive amount of articles in people management and HR theory which indicates once basic needs are covered money loses some importance as a motivator, and sell esteem takes over.  By treating people as people rather than as "machines" will increase productivity. 

Recent news articles suggest there is a significant mental health issue among cruise ship employees, caused by the stressful work environment.

Actions sometimes speak louder than words.

That's all I am going to say about that. "Forest Gump"

Newbie2006, do what you feel is proper.  remember that the space allocated to each crew member in their living space in very small, so "stuff " from home is meaningless to them. However, in our experience a simple act of kindness goes a long way.  We will always pick up high end chocolates, always something that is individually wrapped, and leave them for our room attendant, waiter, bar staff, whoever.  The feedback is always a genuine sense of thanks.  Not sure why this is...but I think it is because you recognize them as a person not just an employee.  in the case of chocolate we have learned that it has "value" on the crew deck and is a highly valued item which can be bartered for something else.

This is not in place of the gratuities, or any extra grats you may wish to give.  this is just a small act of human kindness....the same a paying for  the morning coffee of the person behind you at the drive through.  I once brought back a cigar to our stateroom attendant because he wouldn't get time off to get out to get one for himself.

We take absolutely nothing of value when travelling.  I wear my wedding band which matches my DW's and a signet  ring.  DW wears her band and uni grad ring.  Some plain gold necklaces and that is it.  Our carryon is a backpack which holds the must haves.. A "go bag" of sorts...camera, meds etc.  Nothing we take is irreplaceable and sentimental.

A few years back, while on a cruise I was wearing my watch, presented at retirement, and one of the shop employees on board commented "I guess you don't need a new watch" that was the end of it, as you never know who is watching, and taking notes. 

Have significant family hand me downs all of which are safely locked up at home. 

Don't need the additional worry when travelling.

18 minutes ago, arsenalboy said:

Watch a proper game like UK premier league football

 

LOL

Our daughter spent 4 years in the UK, and our son lives in Asia, where for the first two years his flatmates were from the UK......well versed in the intricacies  of "round ball" football.

Thank you for the review.  I too am looking forward to the rest of your postings.

However, I am interested in your comments re MSC, I have heard good things from people I know who have really enjoyed MSC.....

2 hours ago, PLSK said:

Yup spoken like a true Pats fan.  Shouldn't you be worried about beating the Chargers first?  

P.S.  I would love nothing more than a chance to beat the Pats in the AFC championship game.

Not sure what the Pats had for breakfast, but they are playing a serious game today.  My prediction was saints & pats at SB, with Pats taking it. I'm feeling a bit more confident after what I have seen today.

Even DW is wondering what this new game strategy is.

You may get your chance to see them in the championship game.....but taking the win, im not so sure.

My gut tells me Brady wants another ring and then he is going to announce his retirement.

13 minutes ago, UKPete71 said:

Both games in the theatre or just the Superbowl? 

Two years ago it was S class and it was Superbowl in theatre.  year before it was M class and it was SB in the space outside Sushi on 5 and Cellar Masters .they rolled in a large tv and moved out a lot of the furniture it was mostly standing room only. 

I've been in the theatre once before...5 years ago???  but can't remember which ship..not sure if it was championship or SB.

If you have an active roll call have everyone stop by guest relations to inquire about the game.  Also if the connections gathering is before the game to give them enough time to set it up, ask the HD or other senior officer to set it up.

We have been onboard several times for both the championship games and the Superbowl game.  it will be available. Two years ago they played it in the theatre and provided a small buffet of munchies....of course the bar was available in the theatre.

Don't discount the Pats......

I agree that sales are below expectations and they need to sweeten the deal given the price level.  Due to the fact the go best offer is specific to the Edge, that leads me to believe the expected crossover of existing clients to the new ship hasn't  materialized.  Also, the word hasn't  had a chance to fully get out to the broader cruising community, so no new clients have been attracted to the brand.  as noted, early reviews are mixed and more heavily skewed to the negative, certainly unexpected.  I would be comfortable postulating that there may be some interesting discussions going on behind closed doors.

Thankfully they stepped up and resolved the issue to your satisfaction.

I think part of the issue was a breakdown in communication/understanding of what was being offered.  Very rarely does a massage run for the stated time; usually a 30 minutes massage is 25 minutes, 1 hour is 50-55 minutes, and an extended massage is about 75 minutes of true time with the therapist, while it is billed out at 90 minutes. The remained time 5/10/15 minutes is for you to disrobe, relax, and get dressed.  

Under the Steiner management I once had a deep tissue massage which I can only describe as a complete waste of time and the worse massage I have ever had.  I complained to the spa manager and received a complementary replacement, with a different therapist, which ranked itself as one of the best I have every received.

Again, glad to hear they stepped up and resolved it to your satisfaction.

As previously mentioned there is no right or wrong answer; it is a person "comfort " decision. We have looked at a few pre/post packages and decided against them solely on a cost basis.  We no longer will consider a pre/post package unless we consider language to be an issue or barrier to our enjoyment. 

We have been in England for the past three summers..all pre cruise. (Our daughter was working there....)  We spend two trips exploring in and around London and were able to travel with ease. The transport system is amazing, busy and crowded at time, but amazing.  the system looks daunting; however there are route planning tools which simply the process.  Hotels are expensive; however, there is an extensive array at all price points.  the advantage of DYI is to see what you want...

From a practicle point of view you could probably squeeze an extra day or two in London for the same cost.

The rail network is quite extensive, it is so far superior to anything we have in Canada. It is very easy to get essentially anywhere you desire.

On ‎12‎/‎17‎/‎2018 at 10:31 PM, lovey1103 said:

Anyone out there have a sense if prices will drop due to the instability of the US stock market?

Unfortunately plenty of investors are pulling back and thinking twice about their spending habits.

Any comments or sense how this may affect travel?

My short answer is yes I think prices will drop, not so much in the short term, but for cruises happening in the 9 months and longer range.

The first reason is economics; there is a continued slowing of economic growth and couple this with the central banks strategy of continuing interest rate increases that will place increased pressure on economic growth.  The global political environment has moved into the realm of uncertainty.  The US mid term election has changed the outlook for the next 2 years.  Brexit is resulting in increased uncertainty as the deadline draws closer.  China continues to push the limits.  All of these contribute to significant levels of concern and uncertainty.  Finally investors look at all the changes and uncertainty and tend to draw pessimistic conclusions, and take a defensive position.

However, I feel the most price pressure will come from the client conclusion that Celebrity has become overpriced for the product offered.  Celebrity has been drinking too much of the marketing Kool-Aid and is believing the hype, while the clients have been stepping back and scratching their heads, as evidenced by the mixed and varied reviews of Edge.  

Celebrity has been marketing themselves as a Luxury product, and quite possibly the upcoming changes to the "Suite Life" may make that realistic; the prices have certainly increased to the point where there is little difference in the price point of "X" vs the price point of a traditional luxury line.  For example,  our two med cruises in 2017 and 2018 averaged out to C$900 per night for two people in a S1.  Our upcoming spring 2019 is C$1,525 per night for an S1; however some of that is due to the distance travelled  as there is a significant distance involved.   I am looking at a fall 2020 med cruise which is pricing out at C$1,480 per night.  All of these were and are on the Reflection which will not be Revolutionized until the very end of the process, 2023 I believe.  The experience I enjoyed in 2017 and 2018 will be essentially unchanged to the experience in 2020 and 2021 yet I am paying a significant difference.  (Yes, I realize there is some effect of a currency slide on the part of the Canadian dollar but not to the extent of 60%.)  Just to show how inconsistent the process is, we had booked Millie for Asia in Feb 2019 and were bumped for the drydock, so we switched to the second cruise out of drydock and the price was C$925 per night, S1. In addition our spring 2020 on the Equinox post revolution is C$1,120 per night, S2.

The 2019 cruises are safe as they have already been planned and essentially paid for; however, anything after that is in doubt.  I can travel independently at a significantly lower per day cost at essentially  the same level of comfort.  We do it now, our upcoming February trip is 28 days of which 14 is on a ship, yet my cost per day is significantly lower without compromising comfort for the week before and the week after.

Celebrity has placed too much emphasis and focus on their new demographic target which I feel will not work out for them.  Cruising has always focussed on a more mature client, which has worked well. Our first cruise with "X" was in 2001 and we were without a doubt among the youngest on the ship.  However, significant increasing in cruise ship capacity over the past few years has increased the competition, and when the markets start to turn, and interest rates start to increase, family focus will return to the basics and ensuring the mortgage is paid and food is on the table.  At that point in time cruise prices will slide as everyone fights to fill their ships.

The largest portion of passengers are American; however, a significant portion, as previously commented, are Canadian, British and of course European. Also, Celebrity have moved into the Australian market. As the economy moves through the next phase of the cycle the first to feel it will be the non-Americans, who will reduce there demand, resulting in increase supply and lower pricing, at which point we will all jump back in...…...

Just my two cents worth.

Rest assured there will be kids.  most North American schools will be out for the summer, and a large percentage of European schools as well.  At that time in July not a large presence from the UK..  August will have many more children on board. We cruised the western Med this past July and there was a significant number of children  but not as many as previously in August.