stringbean10

Just now, TopoChico said:

Nope.

Weird - can't find it. 

1 minute ago, TopoChico said:

We can all read.  Let’s hear about some of your firsthand dining experiences, a paragraph about your personal experiences cruising X.  What ships have you sailed on lately? Where did you go. Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska? I mean, you sure have a lot to say about other people’s experiences. Let’s hear about yours.  What made you so angry that you need to pop off  to get a negative response. I don’t think you’ve gotten one positive response in the 827 + posts here. Let’s see some photos! 

Did you erase your other post? 

31 minutes ago, bonagrad said:

Do you feel better now, mocking us for being concerned about what we get for our money?  So glad you see $3K as a pittance!   It's embarrassing to stand up for ourselves as consumers?  I think it's embarrassing that you're ok with companies walking all over you!

Everything I've read on Celebrity's app says *menu subject to change.  They changed it. 

7 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

If only.....

This actually made me laugh out loud - bravo! 

10 minutes ago, AnnaNicole said:

That is not how profit is calculated.   LOL

Link to the article.

https://thehustle.co/the-economics-of-cruise-ships/

So people here are complaining about their own personal food costs (not to mention fuel costs) rising dramatically over the last several months but are unable to connect the dots.   Simply amazing. 

Also - 

Cruise ship fares tend to be a loss leader - especially at the lower categories.  They want you on the boat to spend your money.  Everyone seems to very impressed with themselves for spending  $3000.  Repeatedly calling X's offices - complaining and 'really showing them.'  How embarrassing.

1 hour ago, Goldenknight said:

 

 

Now, my opinion:  we live in Las Vegas.  Buffets at our doorstep, many of which did not reopen post-pandemic.  I asked the G.M. of M Resort here (once had an excellent buffet) why he chose to not reopen the popular M buffet.  His excuse:  too much food waste/food costs. It wasn't about that at all, it seems, based on the numerous buffets all over Vegas that did reopen. The queue to go to the Wednesday night lobster buffet at the Palms is typically a three hour wait.  Prices have risen astronomically here for buffets ;   Wynn dinner buffet averages $80 per person.  Queues to go are up to two hours most nights. Wicked Spoon Buffet at the Cosmopolitan has always had individually plated "small plates" of most of their food choices. . .  to minimize guests scooping huge quantities of food onto their plates.

It's just my opinion, FWIW, but this isn't about food waste/food costs.  If it was, the bean counters at Wynn, Cosmo, and so on would never have reopened their buffets and funneled their guests into the equivalent of the MDR (coffee shop, steakhouse, etc)

And, just like Celebrity, Wynn, Cosmo and all the others have shareholders to whom they are accountable.  Somehow, those buffets reopened successfully.

I mean .....I am speechless. 

1 hour ago, Goldenknight said:

 

1 hour ago, bonagrad said:

A lot of us are already booked and fully paid with other expenses like air and hotels already booked.  Yes, we will look at other lines, but that doesn't change the fact that we're not getting what we paid for to begin with.  The video in the original post shows that.

What would constitute a material change to "what you paid for"? 

I am curious how abreast of changes Celebrity should keep their customers. 

Should we get an email with every change?

Did they stop offering sports massages in the spa?  Should I get an email?  They reduced the buffet 1 buffet by 10%?  Took away two dishes?   Closing the main dining room 10 min earlier?   Changing the laundry detergent?  Stop offering a welcome drink? Change pillow suppliers?  

Once you make final payment - you are grandfathered in?  Should they have a particular dish set aside for people that booked two years ago because it was on the menu when they booked and that is what they paid for?  

Should they continue to waste Celebrities just as hard earned money on you with food waste?   Should they personally poll you and ask what is important to you and make sure that is all available from the day you put down your deposit to sailing date. 

What would make you happy?????? 

I'm just going out on a limb here and guessing - nothing. ever. 

2 minutes ago, 59impala said:

I don't think Celebrity is going to "save" it's way back to profitability by reducing the cruise experience. Reducing the cruise experience opens them up to a catastrophic failure in my opinion. 
Like most businesses post covid, they need to come up with ways to increase offerings to drive more income. Cruising is a discrecency expense for all of us and in times of high inflation, discretionary expenses are the first to go. For those that can afford to cruise, let it be Celebrity they choose. Celebrity cannot afford to make the cruise experience anything other than awesome for its customers, they want to still be there after others have failed, surely?

 

Im afraid, the shareholders may have to put their "investment certificates" away in the bottom drawer and forget about them for quite a few years. We all have those types of shares? Especially post covid. There is no quick fix unfortunately.

Cool.

1 hour ago, 59impala said:

The shareholders may not care about their customers vacation, but they may care when they have NO customers at all. No customers mean bankruptcy. 

 

The customer decides where their hard earned dollars are spent and there are many vacation choices out there. It is very hard to win back a loyal customer once they have left. 
Yes, inflation is high and food prices are "up there," but surely Celebrities pricing has reflected these increased costs?

I actually think the OVC should be revamped, maybe with cooked to order proteins to avoid wastage but leave plenty of salads. 
The main thing I learned in business is never piss off your customers. You will suffer. 

it seems even those in Suites are noticing cut backs! Talk about Celebrity biting  the hand that feeds them!

I agree with your ideas regarding revamping the OVC. 

No, I do not think their current pricing reflects 30 BILLION in debt at 11%.  

1 hour ago, RichYak said:

Another shareholder perspective.

For a publicly traded company shareholders are the REAL customers.  Corporations actually owe a fiduciary duty to their shareholders.  They are legally obligated to look out for shareholder. What are shareholder interests? Increasing profitability and share price. 

They do not care about most value for their customer's vacation dollar.  They have to find the pain points - to offer the least to make the most!  Capitalism baby! 

This may be it for you.  I bet it is not for many others - including the woman who pays $24k for her suite. I promise you they care more about making her happy than you.

The fact is she is subsidising your vacation.   All the people so upset about the buffet, yes they can lose your business.  Easily, if they keep the high dollar folks happy. 

The vibe of this just reeks of entitlement - which ??? It's like freaking out at Target.  Celebrity is not a super luxury brand or experience - it's nicer.  Like Target is nicer than Walmart.  It's still mass market. It is still a business. 

Several people have mentioned the Bellagio/Ceasar's buffet as a bench mark 'good' buffet.  That runs about $50-65 pp,  Works out to be $700 per double occupancy room on a 7 night cruise - are people willing to have that baked in to their fare?  Would they be screaming about the "outrageous" price increasess.  Should they spread out the cost among and everyone else subsidises your buffet preference?  I don't eat there. Is that fair/good value for other passengers?  

I don't mind the ala carte pricing.  It makes me feel like I am spending my money on things I like most.  Speciality restaurants, alcohol, casino and spa passes.  If they returned the buffet to it's former 'glory' and charged would that make people happy? 

As of September 2022, RCL has a $30 BILLION dollar debt load - that they are paying 11% interest!  It is honestly difficult to wrap your head around 1 billion dollars much less 30! Yes, changes will happen - so will be good and some will be bad.  They are trying to become profitable.  They have a big hole to dig out of here. 

Right now this freak out reminds me of when they stopped doing midnight buffets with the weird carved fruit, ice sculptures and chocolate fountains.  Do I miss it? no. Did anyone stop cruising over those cuts? IDK 

12 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Completely agree!  I would also expect a soup and salad station, and something ethnic...maybe change it from night to night.  Having said that, I have often wondered about the amount of food waste generated by buffets...it's got to be difficult to gauge how much to prepare for each dinner service.  Food waste hurts the bottom line.  Somehow, Celebrity may need to cut the fat up top and hire someone to figure out a formula that works...because the current buffet situation isn't going to work...

Maybe I'm missing it - but the 'reduced' buffet did have 2 soups.  A turkey carving station - something 'ethnic' - the chop suey, a salad bar and a dessert station. 

11 minutes ago, TopoChico said:

In your first post on this thread, you proclaimed 

Buffets in general are disgusting

I wouldn’t expect you would see a difference. Nor do I understand why you really care to comment about them any further at this point. 

Yes I did.  "Buffets in general are disgusting" I proclaimed for all the land to hear! 🤣.

And you are right, I think I'll leave all the handwringing over a lack of hotdogs alone.  Y'all have fun!

“The food is terrible—and such small portions!”

The buffet looks the same to me except for quantity. 

2 minutes ago, TopoChico said:

That video was extremely sad. That’s what we and many others looked forward to.  We also don’t do the shows or the trivia or any of the activities. We go for the ports and the food. 
I believe this is a giant misstep that they will be quickly correcting.  We were on Royal in April and it was almost as bad.
 

 

8 minutes ago, jean87510 said:

This was made 1 month ago on the Equinox.  Compare it to the view made recently.

 

I have 2 upcoming cruises booked.  We go on cruises for the ports.  We just recently sailed in a suite for the 1st time on RCCL.  We usually have balconies and insides.  We never go to the pool.  We don't like the shows.  We don't do trivia.  We go to the gym, sit in the shade with headphones, nap when a sea day.  We go to bed early as we are exhausted from the ports.  We only ask our room steward for extra pillows at the beginning of the cruise.  We like the buffet as we hate MDR experience.  When I watched the prior video and saw what was going on on the Apex, I was surprised and thought it looked like my hospital cafeteria rather than a cruise I had just paid $5000 plus dollars for. and another I have spent $9000 plus dollars for.   It is just shocking to see that display.  My husband commented his work cafeteria has better selections then that and they pay for it and probably a lot less than we do with a 9 day and an 11 day cruise.  So I will probably head back to Royal and land vacations because it is cheaper. I can go to less expensive venues or cook if I stay at an air BNB and I can wear my shorts and t shirt when I eat my dinner and not have to worry about my Chic dress code while eating cafeteria food.  The other issue I have is we pack lightly especially in the Caribbean as we have one checked suitcase for the husband's free diving fins plus all our other snorkeling needs.  We do not want to have to pack MDR clothes as we like to wear our gym clothing day and night as we are on vacation.

Yes, it sounds like you would be happier with a dive intensive land vacation.   You would get more time diving and spend more time in the area. 

5 minutes ago, Honolulu Blue said:

My definition is one of the buffets that virtually all Celebrity ships had before January 1, 2023.

I bet Celebrity's legal team disagrees  - I bet the current offerings are vastly different then when I first sailed Celebrity in the 90s.  Should I be up in arms and demanding OBC because it is different now?  Things change - some for the better some for the worse.  Would you rather sail on Celebrity's oldest ship with a December 15th buffet or a brand new ship with a reduced buffet?  There isn't infinite money - they have to make choices.  The nice thing is - you get to make those choices too! 

3 minutes ago, dcbiker97 said:

I agree with you 100% but some of us have valid  reasons for doing so. My partner is allergic to all seafood and also has some other  eating issues so I’d never be able to go to a place like Japan without being on a cruise.  

I get it - my dad has mobility issues and it is a wonderful way for him to travel.  It's nice to have options. 

Just for fun - here is an article detailing Virgin's target market: 

https://www.travelmarketreport.com/Cruise/articles/Who-Is-the-Ideal-Virgin-Voyages-Client

Is there a lot of overlap between their stated target and people angry about a reduced buffet?   I don't know. 

1 minute ago, sarbah77 said:

 

This is what I'm saying - this isn't what I paid for/this isn't the promise of what I booked. If I booked the cruise when they promised a full dinner buffet and they've taken it away and it replaced it with nothing, why shouldn't I be annoyed? From what everyone says, it's not like I can get a proper dinner elsewhere without a long meal or an extra fee.

What constitutes the definition of a "full dinner buffet"?  

2 minutes ago, TopoChico said:

So my cruise story joke starts out as: Two Gen X, a Millennial and a Gen Z’er go on a cruise….

If they were targeting Gen X they better get a better scope. We were none impressed. Across the ages. 
 

What other great options are available? On the ship I was on, there are three specialty restaurants and a buffet. We did them all. They’re not all Mega ships, ya know. 
I find it interesting that you take a viewpoint where Celebrity is somehow targeting a finer generation of people by offering less and charging more. As if being chintzy will attract a new generation of snobs and elitists and the rest can put their wife beater T-shirts on and go to - Galveston 😂 on Carnival.  

How does the rest of the joke go?

Gen X is  43 year olds to 58 year olds.  That is a wide spread. 

Check out articles on their target market - what jumped out at me is they state their target market is 'women' who's house hold income is 75k+.  Interesting. 

15 minutes ago, anniegb said:

My next Celebrity cruise is a Japanese itinerary.  If I cancel, I will replace with a land tour with luggage sent ahead etc. Carnival 3 day ex Galveston doesn't quite cut it.  I agree though not the same market,

 

Different strokes for different folks.  A land tour would be much better suited to visiting japan.  Why visit a country like Japan to eat at an American mass market cruise line buffet? I think you will have a better time on the land tour - by far! 

1 minute ago, Accessor said:

 

Why? this is so much fun!

Hahahahahahaha!  it is kinda - lots of diverse opinions.  

Just now, Accessor said:

 

Easy, Virgin! Unless, of course, you have kids. So nice to be on adult only ship!! Food compares to paid restaurants on X but with no charges....fresh, creative, and a whole new exciting world awaits! We are done with X and have a Virgin 8 day at end of month. Will be our 3rd Virgin cruise...

 

Curious how many pax that have cruised X have tried Virgin?

Cool.  Then I'd get off a Celebrity message board and head on over to Virgin.