Equinox Menu - Main Dining Upcharges Showing on App

[HMR74]

A secret on hamburger vs steak.

 

The government reports inflation monthly, and our social security is based on that inflation number

Its significantly understated but why?

Its not really an inflation number but a cost of living number.

That means, and this happens, when a filet gets too expensive the government assumes people moved down to a cheaper cut of beef and then move fown to hamburger.

 

It in their eye the public changes to checken or pork, or Sea bass to talapia

And thats how they keep the inflation doen. A couple of entitles  redo the inflation as if they did not do this and both come up with inflation being double what the government reported.

Arthur Burns was fed chair under President Carter and to him the inflation number seemed to high so he just changed it with a pencil.

 

now its all about substitutes  and product improvements  whether you want them or not., eg, you buy a car the first year seat belts came out--it costs more however it has seat belts so they can say no price inflation. But then again the car costs more .

They can do anythign to change the prices including changing weighting.

 

In any event sometimes you just want a good burger even though you know you paid for a full meal. Do you know if you are getting prime, choice or select or McDonalds quality.

There are so many ways to game this it is amazing .

But with comouters the cruis elines know statistically what seniors cost them and what kids cost them and everythign in between.

 

And they are refining it all the time and the answer on equinox tests wil be if they can get away with lowering standards they will.

 

I personally do not need to pay for the Beyond/Ascent  type ship but higher pricing has trickled down to S class.

The cruise business is a tough busienss, but I have confidence mgt wil continue to find ways to screw it up.

 

If I was a top manager in thebusiness, I woudl want to somehow learn what the effect on cruising would be if stock and bond portfolion and 401k's declined by 50%. Would customers be nonchalant over booking suites?

 

Or if banks had a big problem, bigger than the March liquidity problem caused by a run on banks, and cash and CDs could not be withdrawn from banks  like what happened in Greece and Italy in 2008. That would mean we could not pay the balance in full at day 90.

 

But don't ask me and call me a debbie downer, as I only did that sort of questioning for 30 years, and I am getting  quite careful now with my assets.

 

If the cruise lines need to generate more or better cash flow, ask why? And How. And what if they do not.

 

Anyway, I am done but thats how I think.  I do not want to leave myself open for a catastrophic result.

 

 

 

[conquesodor]

9 hours ago, Silkroad said:

I mean exactly what I said. The Premium wines I have found available aboard Celebrity ships since October 2021 have - with few exceptions - not been the same quality I found pre-pandemic. I am always pleasant to the wine stewards, but they can’t supply something they haven’t got. Chianti Classico means nothing in itself. Some Chianti Classico is lovely while some is rubbish. I post based on my experiences and my taste buds. You post based on yours. 

 

Exactly. I was just curious what your idea is of a "premium" wine. That will mean different things to different people. I think I have an idea of what your idea is now.

Edited June 27, 2023 by conquesodor

[kruzerci]

38 minutes ago, HMR74 said:

A secret on hamburger vs steak.

 

The government reports inflation monthly, and our social security is based on that inflation number

Its significantly understated but why?

Its not really an inflation number but a cost of living number.

That means, and this happens, when a filet gets too expensive the government assumes people moved down to a cheaper cut of beef and then move fown to hamburger.

 

It in their eye the public changes to checken or pork, or Sea bass to talapia

And thats how they keep the inflation doen. A couple of entitles  redo the inflation as if they did not do this and both come up with inflation being double what the government reported.

Arthur Burns was fed chair under President Carter and to him the inflation number seemed to high so he just changed it with a pencil.

 

now its all about substitutes  and product improvements  whether you want them or not., eg, you buy a car the first year seat belts came out--it costs more however it has seat belts so they can say no price inflation. But then again the car costs more .

They can do anythign to change the prices including changing weighting.

 

In any event sometimes you just want a good burger even though you know you paid for a full meal. Do you know if you are getting prime, choice or select or McDonalds quality.

There are so many ways to game this it is amazing .

But with comouters the cruis elines know statistically what seniors cost them and what kids cost them and everythign in between.

 

And they are refining it all the time and the answer on equinox tests wil be if they can get away with lowering standards they will.

 

I personally do not need to pay for the Beyond/Ascent  type ship but higher pricing has trickled down to S class.

The cruise business is a tough busienss, but I have confidence mgt wil continue to find ways to screw it up.

 

If I was a top manager in thebusiness, I woudl want to somehow learn what the effect on cruising would be if stock and bond portfolion and 401k's declined by 50%. Would customers be nonchalant over booking suites?

 

Or if banks had a big problem, bigger than the March liquidity problem caused by a run on banks, and cash and CDs could not be withdrawn from banks  like what happened in Greece and Italy in 2008. That would mean we could not pay the balance in full at day 90.

 

But don't ask me and call me a debbie downer, as I only did that sort of questioning for 30 years, and I am getting  quite careful now with my assets.

 

If the cruise lines need to generate more or better cash flow, ask why? And How. And what if they do not.

 

Anyway, I am done but thats how I think.  I do not want to leave myself open for a catastrophic result.

 

 

 

???

[RichYak]

11 minutes ago, kruzerci said:

???

[dlh015]

4 hours ago, sunlover33 said:

This business of changing the offering after booking has to stop, it’s unethical. 

This was the single most irritating thing that I experienced in a Sky suite this past January on the Equinox. Everything else was great...service, etc, etc. If I hadn't insisted at GS that I had signed up for premium breakfasts in my stateroom, afternoon snacks, etc, I wouldn't have gotten them. I was informed that these changes started with my cruise. They did not put up any resistance at all when I pointed these things out. (I had hard copy with me of the bookings and dates...)

 

I did get the all the 'trimmings' I had thought I signed up for. But I'll admit I was unhappy that I had to make it happen. BTW, there was no hostile exchanges...it was kinda like they knew it was coming. Thank goodness...I certainly didn't want to start my cruise with some sort of nasty thing!!  

[tigervixxxen]

I preface this by saying I have not been on Carnival since the pandemic but we found their food is actually creative and has flavor variety. This menu is trending toward assisted living offering. There’s really nothing beyond soup and salad for appetizer. The main entrees are just very basic and standard. If this is how it’s going to go on my upcoming Solstice cruise my husband won’t go to the MDR half the time. It’s not because we need an expensive piece of meat it’s because there’s probably only one item we’d each order. 
 

I don’t mind the surf and turf up charges, I agree with those who have said it’s at least an option over needing to book a specialty meal. The cheeseburger is one item and my husband would probably order it so that’s not an enormous issue either. It’s that I could probably count on one hand the number of dishes I’d be excited to order and that’s a problem going on a 17 night cruise. 

[sunlover33]

9 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

I agree with your premise yet in our cruise contract it does state they can make changes/removals of menu items, they can practically close the buffet for dinner, add new fees, increase existing fees, etc.  There's already been a lot of this for 2023

Just because they can, shouldn’t mean they do. We can also choose to stop cruising as it wasn’t the contract we signed up for. 

[sunlover33]

8 hours ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

But not wanting fancy food does not mean someone wants a cafeteria either. Nothing wrong with wanting a hamburger served to you at a table.

Be careful what you wish for, you may just get it. 

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

2 hours ago, sunlover33 said:

Be careful what you wish for, you may just get it. 

 

Again, I have NO issue with them having something less frou frou as a choice on the menu. I'm not a food snob.

[sunlover33]

15 minutes ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

Again, I have NO issue with them having something less frou frou as a choice on the menu. I'm not a food snob.

Neither am I, but if I wanted burgers I would go to Mc Donald’s, or while onboard the mast grill. That’s not what I pay Celebrity prices for in the MDR. 

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

1 hour ago, sunlover33 said:

Neither am I, but if I wanted burgers I would go to Mc Donald’s, or while onboard the mast grill. That’s not what I pay Celebrity prices for in the MDR. 

 

Again, it is ONE OPTION on ONE NIGHT.

 

Even if they have a more casual option every night among the other fancy things, no one is holding a gun to your head to make you order it. 

 

Fussing about it being on the menu as a choice is like going into an ice cream store and saying "I hate chocolate, so no ice cream store should offer that flavor."

[bEwAbG]

Just now, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

Again, it is ONE OPTION on ONE NIGHT.

 

Even if they have a more casual option every night among the other fancy things, no one is holding a gun to your head to make you order it. 

 

Fussing about it being on the menu as a choice is like going into an ice cream store and saying "I hate chocolate, so no ice cream store should offer that flavor."

 

I think you fail to appreciate that people are upset that by offering that "one option on one night" that they're downgrading the menu pretty significantly for everyone who doesn't want a hamburger because it takes the place of a more traditional choice.  If you want a hamburger, there are already places other than the MDR to get it. 

[cw2go]

1 hour ago, sunlover33 said:

Neither am I, but if I wanted burgers I would go to Mc Donald’s, or while onboard the mast grill. That’s not what I pay Celebrity prices for in the MDR. 

 

Simple fix~ don't order it. I seriously don't understand the uproar over this. The buffet was decimated in January and so many people defended the waste avenue for the change but those same people are now besides themselves over a burger. Not suggesting that it's you, just an overall observation. 

 

I don't go on cruises for yoga classes or water aerobics but I don't begrudge those who partake. I am not a fan of soul music but I watched many who do dance their hearts out. 

 

Celebrity is changing, there's no stopping it and I actually believe they 100% know what they're doing. This is about moving forward in the industry not staying stuck in the past. I am sure there has been enough research to know what the numbers are for old school cruiser preferences vs the new. The age of those currently booked and at what time those booking took place. They are adapting to what they see coming not what's always been around. 

 

I've said before that I believe we are their new target so maybe that's why I'm not nearly as bothered. I actually liked the IV and I don't mind variety and letting different styles evolve. I am happy to see Celebrity visit CoCoCay, hubby loves to play like a child and I enjoy walking off a ship without the barrage of vendors, hunting down a taxi and then having to do the same for our return to ship. We aren't millennials, retired 55 and 59 yrs old so speaking only for myself, it's not just about a number, it's about your desire, young spirit and willingness to embrace something new. 

 

To sum it up, in my experience and for most of those reporting here, the MDR food has been meh at best in the past few months so if they can produce a "good" burger, let's have it! 

 

Patty 

 

 

[NutsAboutGolf]

5 hours ago, sunlover33 said:

Just because they can, shouldn’t mean they do. We can also choose to stop cruising as it wasn’t the contract we signed up for. 

 

It WAS the contract we signed up for.  Yes, we can stop booking future sailing but if you're already booked, you locked into that contact that allows X to make passenger unfriendly changes

[sunlover33]

35 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

It WAS the contract we signed up for.  Yes, we can stop booking future sailing but if you're already booked, you locked into that contact that allows X to make passenger unfriendly changes

Sadly  I do have to agree with you. But it’s not the way to keep loyalties. As others have pointed out,  maybe I’m no longer the age group they are aiming for. But let’s just see who has the most cash to splash? No mortgage, dependants and big pension 😂 I’m sure there are other vacations who are more than willing to take my money. 

Edited June 27, 2023 by sunlover33

[NMTraveller]

With todays announcement we are due for more hotdogs,  pizza, mac and cheese, and hamburgers and waterslides.

 

Celebrity is going for the much younger demographic...

Edited June 27, 2023 by NMTraveller

[C4HCG]

14 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

With todays announcement we are due for more hotdogs,  pizza, mac and cheese, and hamburgers and waterslides.

Due to adding one new stop off in the Caribbean that won’t affect sailings anywhere else? Not sure I follow your logic.

[NMTraveller]

Just now, C4HCG said:

Due to adding one new stop off in the Caribbean that won’t affect sailings anywhere else? Not sure I follow your logic.

It is an attempt to attract a younger demographic with kids.  When was the last time you went to a waterpark with slides?  Hamburgers on the menu.  Step by step.

[C4HCG]

Just now, NMTraveller said:

It is an attempt to attract a younger demographic with kids.  When was the last time you went to a waterpark with slides?  Hamburgers on the menu.  Step by step.

Couple of years ago, I love water parks. And hamburgers. 

[HMR74]

18 minutes ago, sunlover33 said:

Sadly  I do have to agree with you. But it’s not the way to keep loyalties. As others have pointed out,  maybe I’m no longer the age group they are aiming for. But let’s just see who has the most cash to splash? No mortgage, dependants and big pension 😂 I’m sure there are other vacations who are more than willing to take my money. 

my wife just told me that two couples we know are using Gateway tours for a 10 day escorted trip to Spain with airfare (coach I assume and wonder how many stops and changes) and lunches and a few dinners included for about 2k per person. Thats 400 a day per couple

 

thats about the rate for equinox inside cabin  without airfare for a 10 day cruise.

[HMR74]

4 minutes ago, C4HCG said:

Due to adding one new stop off in the Caribbean that won’t affect sailings anywhere else? Not sure I follow your logic.

included, not complementary, with a stop at coco cay is the lower end fare of hot dos burgers etc, if you want nicer you pay.

 

if you want a cabana you pay, if you do not turn inyour towell, or if they do not record it,  happened to us, you pay and thats $50, then debate it when you see the bill.

It also alows then to cut out another port but I bet port taxes do not go down. Kind of a blind item.

And the water parks and other attractions cost big money.

Our grandkids enjoyed it, however if an X ship isther with 1 or 2 Royal ships and a lot of kids, you end up staying on the ship. or stay at the high priced cabana area.

 

 

[C4HCG]

4 minutes ago, HMR74 said:

included, not complementary, with a stop at coco cay is the lower end fare of hot dos burgers etc, if you want nicer you pay.

 

if you want a cabana you pay, if you do not turn inyour towell, or if they do not record it,  happened to us, you pay and thats $50, then debate it when you see the bill.

It also alows then to cut out another port but I bet port taxes do not go down. Kind of a blind item.

And the water parks and other attractions cost big money.

Our grandkids enjoyed it, however if an X ship isther with 1 or 2 Royal ships and a lot of kids, you end up staying on the ship. or stay at the high priced cabana area.

 

 

Simple solution - I won’t book a cruise that stops there and if I do I will know what to expect. For now we have 3 cruises booked with Celebrity, are happy with the prices paid and are looking forward to them. We will judge each on their merits afterwards but not going to get wound up by any of the changes they propose, or any negativity here.  If they disappoint we will move on, from Celebrity and from here. 

[HMR74]

2 hours ago, cw2go said:

 

Simple fix~ don't order it. I seriously don't understand the uproar over this. The buffet was decimated in January and so many people defended the waste avenue for the change but those same people are now besides themselves over a burger. Not suggesting that it's you, just an overall observation. 

 

I don't go on cruises for yoga classes or water aerobics but I don't begrudge those who partake. I am not a fan of soul music but I watched many who do dance their hearts out. 

 

Celebrity is changing, there's no stopping it and I actually believe they 100% know what they're doing. This is about moving forward in the industry not staying stuck in the past. I am sure there has been enough research to know what the numbers are for old school cruiser preferences vs the new. The age of those currently booked and at what time those booking took place. They are adapting to what they see coming not what's always been around. 

 

I've said before that I believe we are their new target so maybe that's why I'm not nearly as bothered. I actually liked the IV and I don't mind variety and letting different styles evolve. I am happy to see Celebrity visit CoCoCay, hubby loves to play like a child and I enjoy walking off a ship without the barrage of vendors, hunting down a taxi and then having to do the same for our return to ship. We aren't millennials, retired 55 and 59 yrs old so speaking only for myself, it's not just about a number, it's about your desire, young spirit and willingness to embrace something new. 

 

To sum it up, in my experience and for most of those reporting here, the MDR food has been meh at best in the past few months so if they can produce a "good" burger, let's have it! 

 

Patty 

 

 

we have used X for ourselves,  and take Royal Oasis class for kids and grandkids. Two distinctly different types of cruising.

 

I do not think they know whay they are doing. They have a younger less experienced management  in there now, and that has biases to what young people want.

 

X already priced a lot of existing customers  out of their ships -if only cutting back from say 6 cruises a year to 4.

 

The younger kids we refer to, like our kids ages in the 40's are big spenders.

But as I hinted yesrterday they have not experiences a real recession or market shake out. For them its only been good times. Sooner or later its going to happen and whether the kids are professionals or in family business, everybody feels it and the first things to go will not be food clothing and shelter, but expensive stuff. and thats the catch here. Whats the cost of a nice cruise for 5 people peak season. With airfare, transfers and hotel the night before.

Our  airfare alone was nearly 8,000 for 8 of us last Thanksgiving and that was coach. 3 hotel rooms 1,000. and a $200 dinner.

 

and then the add ons to the cruise.

and as I said if we have a tough recession, the highly leveraged industries, like cruising, wil see shakeouts.

 

The young management has no clue what to do--I have seen it time and time again. People and businesses are just not prepared for it.

 

 

 

 

[cw2go]

22 minutes ago, HMR74 said:

we have used X for ourselves,  and take Royal Oasis class for kids and grandkids. Two distinctly different types of cruising.

 

I do not think they know whay they are doing. They have a younger less experienced management  in there now, and that has biases to what young people want.

 

X already priced a lot of existing customers  out of their ships -if only cutting back from say 6 cruises a year to 4.

 

The younger kids we refer to, like our kids ages in the 40's are big spenders.

But as I hinted yesrterday they have not experiences a real recession or market shake out. For them its only been good times. Sooner or later its going to happen and whether the kids are professionals or in family business, everybody feels it and the first things to go will not be food clothing and shelter, but expensive stuff. and thats the catch here. Whats the cost of a nice cruise for 5 people peak season. With airfare, transfers and hotel the night before.

Our  airfare alone was nearly 8,000 for 8 of us last Thanksgiving and that was coach. 3 hotel rooms 1,000. and a $200 dinner.

 

and then the add ons to the cruise.

and as I said if we have a tough recession, the highly leveraged industries, like cruising, wil see shakeouts.

 

The young management has no clue what to do--I have seen it time and time again. People and businesses are just not prepared for it.

 

 

 

 

 

You keep posting your version of an economics course, not sure why but okay. The bottom line is that these ship are sailing at full capacity, are being booked with the new younger management you describe and at the higher price points. I am one of them, I have many sailings booked with Celebrity on different class ships with different itineraries. I am also someone who wasn't completely blown away this past Feb on Beyond. In time what you predict might come to be but maybe not, we shall see. For now it appears People Want To Have Fun and are willing to pay for it while eating a burger and paying menu up charges which is what this thread was about. 

 

Life is only lived once and for years many lost time and loved ones that they can't get back so the new trajectory imo is that travelers/vacationers are willing to sacrifice in some areas just to Enjoy and Experience life. 

 

Just another point of view, 

Patty 

[HMR74]

6 minutes ago, cw2go said:

 

You keep posting your version of an economics course, not sure why but okay. The bottom line is that these ship are sailing at full capacity, are being booked with the new younger management you describe and at the higher price points. I am one of them, I have many sailings booked with Celebrity on different class ships with different itineraries. I am also someone who wasn't completely blown away this past Feb on Beyond. In time what you predict might come to be but maybe not, we shall see. For now it appears People Want To Have Fun and are willing to pay for it while eating a burger and paying menu up charges which is what this thread was about. 

 

Life is only lived once and for years many lost time and loved ones that they can't get back so the new trajectory imo is that travelers/vacationers are willing to sacrifice in some areas just to Enjoy and Experience life. 

 

Just another point of view, 

Patty 

Just put me on ignore if you do not like what I post.