goofysmom99

Jim and Iain stay in suites, usually above sky suite. They're paying for their duplicate benefits of the suite. Their Zenith benefits (wifi, bevs, and laundry) have no value and don't cost Celebrity anything.

6000 points. Triple Zenith is 9000 points.

They already exist. 😉

I don't trust anything further out than what is happening onboard right now. So I took a look at this week's menu for the Constellation - no improvement noted there. I keep hoping, though, and will check their next sailing embarking Sep 4th. I've noticed Silhouette and E-class menus do look better than the rest.

This thread has certainly been enlightening. It's kicked me into researching several other lines to see what folks have to say about how well they handle gluten-free for all meals plus room service. Some look very promising and I've taken a leap of faith and booked two. Haven't been on HAL in decades (3-star but last cruise was Zaandam in 2002) but I'll be doing a deep dive today to see what might work. Very, very useful thread indeed. Thanks OP, Islander500. 🤗

😅 Same, same. Kind of like a drunk crashing from one wall to another (and burning in the process). So be it.

Pinball management?

I don't book suites because of the bathtubs, but if I have to find a silver lining to this latest round of cuts, it's that I can now book cruise-only in Aqua for slightly better food and ambiance than MDR. Then zenith perks would be a plus. I'm not holding my breath that X is going to lower fares commensurate with the loss of gratuities and OBC. Maybe they will for a few weeks initially to appease the faithful. Long-term? Not a chance.

No.

I have two cruises booked with Regent (Mariner) for less than $1K/night solo, including bus class air. All the stuff I receive as zenith is included in the basic fare (laundry, wifi, bevs, room service) and includes gratuities. BTW, the regulars say no additional tips are expected. Oh, and I'm receiving sizeable OBC for both sailings. I definitely like the refundable deposit (less $100 if you cancel), reasonably-priced business class air, size of the cabins, and.....a walk-in shower (the X bathtub combos are no-go for me). I look forward to being able to order dinner from the dining room in my cabin if I want to (probably won't, but I could). And I can cancel the air add-on if I can get something with points/miles (330 days out). I'm especially looking forward to being on a ship where everyone is "special." This class stuff with the mainstream lines has gotten silly; I don't want to have to book a suite just so I don't miss the magnificent Stockholm sail-in view. I personally liked Celebrity much better when the food actually was exceptional and all of us, all the way through PH, ate together in the MDR (DH and I cruised suites often back then). But those are just memories - the onslaught of downgrades from Celebrity since January has pushed me away to make new memories elsewhere.

Are the accumulating "little things" being cut still having little to no impact? One less thing to worry about if you're in a suite is how to best spend the suite OBC because you won't get any. Bummer....that would have taken care of the no-longer-included gratuities.

I'm still shaking my head that Celebrity made such a bone-headed, negative-publicity inducing "test" in the first place. People who don't cruise with X will still remember and associate the line with the ridiculous cookie headlines. Unbelievably stupid move.

That's exactly how I'm proceeding for the time being. My most recently booked X cruises are on S-class (V2 solo, $2600), specialties 10 nights ($336, bought during May sale), and 3 nights in OVC. I actually enjoy OVC dinner for gluten-free pasta and stir-fry. MDR is out altogether, included or not. E-class is a no-go because of the IVs; M-class because there's only Tuscan as a specialty for gluten-free. As long as corporate doesn't begin messing with the S-class specialty menus, I'm good. Should that occur, I'll forego the deposits. Definitely not the way cruising ought to be.

I know. And I also get better attention because of status. But on last year's TA, macaroons were the only option at al Bacio with my afternoon tea. At least they did hide them in the back for me (otherwise they'd be gone).

I'm stuck on Constellation for 16 nights (have reached the point I wish I weren't going). Somewhere on that boat someone had better have a take-away gluten free cookie available at times other than the very few hours the Spa Cafe is open. The Cafe al Bacio gluten-free cakes are awful; according to my friends who've tried them, much worse than the regular cakes. BTW, if you think the MDR menus look unappealing, just look at them from the perspective of someone with celiac. Glad I've booked business class to Rome since I'll need the extra checked bag to carry gluten-free foodstuffs. I also like the macaroons but usually they're the ONLY decent GF option; sixteen consecutive days is going to be tough. BTW, appears as though they've eliminated creme brulee from the room service menu = zero GF dessert options now.

Ditto. I have four cruises booked with X in 2024; two M-class dining in Luminae and two S-class (V2 & C2) dining in specialties. Also have two cruises booked on premium lines. Knock wood, I'll be keeping all four X cruises because there are friends involved. However, earlier today, I put down a 15% deposit (refundable except for $100) on a Regent 2025 cruise. I'm so disappointed in Celebrity management choices right now, perks or not, they're going to have to do a lot of backpedaling to (re)gain my future business.

Might be best to not discuss it and just try it. Posting about it may be the nail in the coffin.

I'm being vewy, vewy quiet but I have a call into my TA.

I'm shaking my head as I type this. Just when I thought the current MDR menus surely must have reached the bottom, nope, seems they weren't/aren't done yet. Checked this week's Connie menu and for Night 6, they deleted the Irish stew and substituted tilapia. Big sigh. I don't even want to bother sending emails to X anymore. They win.

I no longer book suites (SS or CS) because of their bathtubs. Even though I receive free beverage, wifi, room service, and laundry, those things won't make up for terrible MDR food. So, along with some other folks here, for the most part, I'll be paying more for more somewhere else. One nice benefit I've discovered researching other lines is most of the premium lines have fair solo supplements (not X's 100%). I know X won't miss me, nor I them in their present state. I will miss what they used to be, though (2022 and earlier).

The only other mains are the classics - grilled chicken breast (it's always dry), salmon, and "steak" (if you've had the steak before, you'll understand the quotes). And they come with mashed potatoes. Mmmm... 😉 The current menus are readily available to peruse on the app. Check any current M or S class sailing. If you don't know how to find them, just ask. E-class menus do look better, at least for now.

There is also Irish stew (boiled potatoes) on this menu, so except for the mashed potatoes, the carbs are the mains. Yum.

You're in luck. Since it isn't a highlight, you shouldn't be disappointed.

I just checked current menu on Constellation. The only gluten free choices most nights are the classics (which DO come with a yummy, cafeteria-style scoop of potatoes). I've successfully and happily cruised GF on X since being diagnosed with celiac 15 years ago. A menu like the one shown here means OVC or specialty for me. The turkey is GF by substituting a tasty scoop of potatoes. BTW, specialty on M-class is Tuscan. Period. LPC is silly for someone with celiac. The MDR classic salmon is pretty good but chicken is universally dry, "steak" is tough even if it's rare (and they have a very hard time with rare). I don't want to be stuck with salmon most nights; I make that often enough at home, and without the scoop of potatoes. The M-class and S-class MDR dinner menus right now, not some unknown future menu, are unacceptable. If this menu looks "OK" to you, then our standards for a MDR dinner are certainly oceans apart.

Doors on Constellation don't stay open so take a doorstop. It's tough to hold the door open and stay out the way of the scooter.