Awful State of Ocean View Cafe for dinner

[NutsAboutGolf]

2 minutes ago, stringbean10 said:

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! 

 

Totally agree however they may not be able to change/cancel.  The good news is they can arrive a few nights early and/or stay a few nights after the cruise

[sarbah77]

9 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

This is what my DW said.  This is NOT what we paid for.

 

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.

[stringbean10]

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. 

[sarbah77]

33 minutes ago, RichYak said:

What changed in the last 24 hours?

 

That's between us and the cruiseline!

 

(okay. jk. OBC; enough to cover ordering room service every night)

[Guest TopoChico]

21 minutes ago, Salt Lifer said:

I love how the Celebrity die-hards, groupies if you will, are trying to defend Celebrity on this.  I am sorry, but that food looked about as unappetizing as you can get.  I have seen more appetizing food options (not to mention a bigger selection) at the local Golden Coral.  I would have had difficulties finding enough to eat that night  Cutting down the number of options is one thing but cutting quality is something else.  If food waste and costs is an option then having a full pasta station and a carving station with multiple meat selections would be two smart options.

 

This, combined with the new MDR menus that lack quality fish and meat cuts and little imagination, are really leading me to believe that Celebrity is trying to push passengers into paying extra for specialty dining.  

 

It is too late to cancel our upcoming cruise, but this certainly isn't what I paid thousands of dollars to experience.  It is disappointing.  We were about to book another X cruise but have now put those plans on hold while we research other options.  I think most cruisers don't mind paying the price for a quality product, but we expect to get what we pay for.  

We did all the specialty dining options available to us.  We did the Steakhouse option  twice.  Cutbacks in all were very noticeable as well. They were Outback/Olive Garden quality. The sushi option was just a rip off of epic proportion. 

[NutsAboutGolf]

44 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

I think the bean counters at Celebrity were hoping to make these changes under the radar. If not for CC they would have succeeded.

 

Their strategy in 2022 seemed to be raise pricing of items at separate times.  Biggest increase was the specialty restaurant fee increase along with adding a separate charge of 18% gratuity

[stringbean10]

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"?  

[LGW59]

27 minutes ago, Salt Lifer said:

I love how the Celebrity die-hards, groupies if you will, are trying to defend Celebrity on this.  I am sorry, but that food looked about as unappetizing as you can get.  I have seen more appetizing food options (not to mention a bigger selection) at the local Golden Coral.  I would have had difficulties finding enough to eat that night  Cutting down the number of options is one thing but cutting quality is something else.  If food waste and costs is an option then having a full pasta station and a carving station with multiple meat selections would be two smart options.

 

This, combined with the new MDR menus that lack quality fish and meat cuts and little imagination, are really leading me to believe that Celebrity is trying to push passengers into paying extra for specialty dining.  

 

It is too late to cancel our upcoming cruise, but this certainly isn't what I paid thousands of dollars to experience.  It is disappointing.  We were about to book another X cruise but have now put those plans on hold while we research other options.  I think most cruisers don't mind paying the price for a quality product, but we expect to get what we pay for.  

So if someone posts here that they loved their cruise and had great meals etc etc that makes them a die hard or groupie?  But if someone, like you, posts here how awful it was for them, does it become gospel?  Or maybe it just IS each of the posters own persononal perspective/experience.  

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

Just now, LGW59 said:

So if someone posts here that they loved their cruise and had great meals etc etc that makes them a die hard or groupie?  But if someone, like you, posts here how awful it was for them, does it become gospel?  Or maybe it just IS each of the posters own persononal perspective/experience.  

 

Thank you! I had been looking forward to sharing my experiences on my birthday cruise to Bermuda in July, but I'm afraid to now because if I actually have a great experience (as I'm expecting to - yes, I'm an optimist, but that's who I've always been) I'm afraid it will be discarded as being a "groupie". Can you even be a "groupie" if it's only your second cruise with a line?

[Guest TopoChico]

6 minutes 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.

You should be very annoyed.

[terrydtx]

18 minutes ago, MamaFej said:

My spouse follows several Celebrity groups on the Platform Which Must Not Be Named. The same concerns are being expressed there, rather loudly. There are also the same sorts of cheerleaders admonishing folks who have the audacity to expect what  they paid for, as well as lots of people emailing LLP's office and encouraging others to do so. 

 

I imagine the same is true on other social media and message board sites.

On that platform we can't name, of which I am a member there are over 40,000 members and many many upset Celebrity customers expressing similar concerns as here. There is also a Retreat only group and they are not happy with the Luminae menu changes like beef tenderloin being changed to broiled sirloin and no lobster surf and turf, it is now scallops and pork belly. Blu is also getting a lot of attention over the decline in menu offerings and quality.

[anniegb]

12 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

Totally agree however they may not be able to change/cancel.  The good news is they can arrive a few nights early and/or stay a few nights after the cruise

UK does not have refundable deposits.  A few days ?? - count weeks 🙂

[stringbean10]

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. 

[flviking]

We are on Infinity in less than two weeks.  One important part of the YouTube video was the changes from December to January.  We had great cruises in 2022.  We will soon find out how the experience and our perception of value changes with the January 2023 changes.

[dcbiker97]

19 minutes ago, stringbean10 said:

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! 

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.  

[LGW59]

5 minutes ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

Thank you! I had been looking forward to sharing my experiences on my birthday cruise to Bermuda in July, but I'm afraid to now because if I actually have a great experience (as I'm expecting to - yes, I'm an optimist, but that's who I've always been) I'm afraid it will be discarded as being a "groupie". Can you even be a "groupie" if it's only your second cruise with a line?

You should post your experience and not feel any angst whatsoever, it's your experience and no one can make it otherwise.  I've seen your posts, esp about your looking forward to this upcoming BDay cruise, I hope you have a fantastic time!!

[Guest TopoChico]

10 minutes ago, stringbean10 said:

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

 As a fine diner in 3* Michelin chef restaurants only, you can clearly see in the video that the offerings are not an acceptable or proper full dinner buffet. Why be an agitator? 
 

[terrydtx]

1 minute ago, stringbean10 said:

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. 

We looked at Virgin, but so far I have not found an itinerary we would be interested in. We are done with Caribbean cruises after this summer and we prefer cruises in more exotic places. We also want longer cruise of at least 10 nights or B2B ones with 2 totally different itineraries.

[Cap_D]

 

With regard to cutting entertainment, there's not much that can be cut before the ships become a bunch of bars, low wage staff, a relatively small pool for the number of people, and increasingly mediocre food and presentation.  There are a few LED screens and speakers that are already installed, sunk cost in multipurpose venues (that sit vacant a good part of the day), and a handful of performers and instrument players.  It's all a bit opaque before one gets on board, and lightly staffed.   Much of the entertainment is pre-recorded Deal or No Deal, self-play (like the casino, silent disco or singing Sweet Caroline in the plaza (that seems to pass as entertainment from what we can tell), two ping pong tables, coloring like in nursery school in Eden (that was an activity we saw on Edge), the bartenders at the Martini Bar, and officers answering questions or playing trivia to avoid boredom and saving Celebrity money.  

 

100% agree re the soup kitchen reference.  The quality and combination of items just doesn't fit, nor does the reduced OVC when considering the rest of the available options whether included or for an upcharge. 

 

And, from what we can tell, the Rooftop Garden Grill is not even always open (missing from cruise planner for an April cruise), so that eliminates the one speciality option that is closest to cooked to order, with simpler prepared mains that can't be masked by sauces or steam.  The menu at Rooftop Garden Grill has also been reduced from what we can tell.  The other specialty restaurants with perhaps the exception of a prime style piece of beef at the steakhouse seem like one and done type experiences, and there's nothing quick or relaxing in their design or execution.

 

There's also nothing Gen X or modern about 4 MDR banquet style dining rooms.  As has been discussed, the menus and quality has been reduced, and there's only a small number of themed items per menu.  E.g., no Italian restaurant for a mass audience has as few Italian dishes as the faux Tuscany on Edge class. 

 

The dinner options, including the so-called leftover buffet, presentation, and so on don't compete with options that exist in everyday life, other travel experiences; and they're definitely not aspirational. 

 

There's a real need for Celebrity to rethink the venue configurations, menus, and food quality instead of haphazard cuts.  Otherwise, they have nothing except some pretty ships, and a number of aging ships.  For example, they could reduce the number of banquet style venues, and add more cooked to order, or food hall options that are appealing - and appropriately sized.  Mediterranean done as a food hall could probably net a few more options using the same base ingredients, e.g., the Cava quick serve chain, and space.  Not like the food in the MDRs is freshly prepared, in any event.  Most people see past the china and table cloths when the quality doesn't match).  Moreover, most of the MDRs and specialty spaces go unused a good portion of each day, as does the OVC.  Perhaps not the greatest design if it requires a full ship and 2018 food costs to support.  

 

 

Edited January 16, 2023 by Cap_D

[stringbean10]

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. 

[Honolulu Blue]

15 minutes ago, stringbean10 said:

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

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

[Guest TopoChico]

4 minutes ago, flviking said:

We are on Infinity in less than two weeks.  One important part of the YouTube video was the changes from December to January.  We had great cruises in 2022.  We will soon find out how the experience and our perception of value changes with the January 2023 changes.

We were on in November.  I now believe our sailing was one of the first testing very noticeable cutbacks.  When I wrote about it, I was treated by others who were not on my sailing, had not been for awhile, or were on other ships, as though I were lying. While it does not make me happy at all to see that this is actually a thing - because I was hoping maybe it was a fluke - it does validate everything I said we experienced. 

[twincheryl]

1 hour ago, NevadaCruiser2023 said:

I do agree, though, that those who booked prior to these changes, are justified in feeling a tad upset.  This reeks of bait and switch.  Celebrity may have smoothed over feelings by saying "we're changing some pricing on the cruise you've already booked/paid for, in order to maintain a sense of fairness, please accept this $xx in OBC, we hope you enjoy your vacation". 

Hmmm… no sign of any OBC offer after they called following my email… but maybe we’ll get some after my next email from Apex in less than 2 weeks… or from the next 7 cruises we have booked.  🤣🤣🤣
 

Going to try and stay positive about the possibility of things improving a little bit… that’s all I ask… at least grill station and maybe pasta station on a few nights!

[stringbean10]

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! 

 

[Accessor]

16 minutes ago, stringbean10 said:

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. 

 

Great article for those considering Virgin! 

"Another Dream Vacations owner, Trapper Martin agreed. “I am a foodie for sure and have been on 140 plus cruises. For us, being onboard for almost two weeks and eating in all the restaurants at least twice, the consistency and quality of the food was just outstanding.”