New Premium Selections in MDR

[Mark_K]

1 minute ago, ChucktownSteve said:

I attended a Chef's talk a few years ago where he disclosed the difference in the quality of meats served in the various dining venues.  The specialty restaurants received the highest grade. Dinning room next and buffet the lowest.  I believe that's why they're always covering those with lots of sauces to hide the fact.

So even though you're paying an up charge in the MDR, are you really getting the quality of the specialty restaurant?

I imagine that talk was about the standard meat cuts not the “upcharged” ones.  
 

I don’t know about Celebrity, but I seem to recall that when this first came out on RCI, the filet was touted as being the same one as served in the specialty restaurant.

[publicpersona]

  

6 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

If I wanted any of these premium selections I would go to a Specialty Restaurant.

 

 That is how I usually look at it. However, I don't mind there being an option to get a specialty dining entree in MDR. Perhaps we couldn't get a reservation or didn't want all the accoutrements of the specialty restaurant .. just hungry for a steak and the closest thing to it on MDR menu that night was pork and cabbage. I've done it once or twice I think.

 

 

6 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

they are not removing the main option for complimentary dining.  Where do you see that?

 

So I said no evidence exists that any such thing was being considered, and you asked me where I saw that there was. This is what makes Cruise Critic so special.

[prmssk]

23 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

If this program ever comes back- what would be the point of the upcharge in the MDR?  Just book a Specialty Restaurant instead.

If not all of your travel group wants to eat in a specialty restaurant.  Or if you want some things from the MDR menu but would like an uncharge steak or lobster.  Or to save a little money but still get something that is a step up.

 

To me, as long as upcharge items in the MDR don't replace things that used to be included, it seems like a net positive as it gives people more choices.

[ChucktownSteve]

7 minutes ago, Mark_K said:

I imagine that talk was about the standard meat cuts not the “upcharged” ones.  
 

I don’t know about Celebrity, but I seem to recall that when this first came out on RCI, the filet was touted as being the same one as served in the specialty restaurant.

They didn't have up charges in the MDR then.  Just because they're now allowing you an up charge, IMO that doesn't mean it's the same quality as the specialty venues. It could be the cuts you previously received for free in the MDR.

[bigbenboys]

1 hour ago, TeeRick said:

If this program ever comes back- what would be the point of the upcharge in the MDR?  Just book a Specialty Restaurant instead.

I need more research on the steaks. If I'm having a steak on a X ship. Which restaurant has the best quality steak. Specialty restaurant, Luminae or MDR with upcharge.

[ChucktownSteve]

2 minutes ago, bigbenboys said:

I need more research on the steaks. If I'm having a steak on a X ship. Which restaurant has the best quality steak. Specialty restaurant, Luminae or MDR with upcharge.

Next time you're on a Celebrity ship, why not ask that question of the Restaurant Manager?

[TeeRick]

To be clear, I am against upcharges in the MDR in general.  I know "complimentary" obviously means included with your cruise fare.  I think upcharges in the MDR for certain items will lead to upcharges for more and more items over time.  A slippery slope for sure.  This is yet another reason I would not pay any MDR upcharges supporting this practice.  If I really wanted for example the crawfish (ehh Lobster), I would go to Murano instead and enjoy the whole experience there.  Yes more expensive but I would normally go anyway on a cruise.  Again just me.  It is a situational choice as others have pointed out.

[TeeRick]

Would anyone pay an upcharge for "better" pizza in the OVC?  No I have not seen this practice.  But just asking.  

[Redrobo]

Recently of Silhouette using the MDR. I chose from the menu Lobster tail (no charge) however if I wanted more the price would have been $16.99 each as shown on the menu. I knew of the charge when I ordered the one tail.

All meals were very good and the service we had was excellent.

[Longhorn-ED]

14 hours ago, neverlaysup said:

We will be sailing with you and looking at the menu's, they look pretty similar to old menus. We will be on the Millie starting Friday for a quick getaway and will get to experience the "new" menus. I did see that they have the standard Lobster night on night 6 of my upcoming cruise but extra tails will cost. On some of our recent RCL cruises, every night they offered some upcharge foods in the MDR (Lobster, Filet Mignon and Surf and Turf). If that is was X is doing...no big deal to me since they don't offer those items typically.

Looking forward to meeting you on the cruise. We were L&S several times as well.

Ed

[Bandman]

I enjoy a good steak, while my wife isn’t a fan.  I would appreciate the opportunity to purchase a higher quality steak in the dining room than the standard sirloin, but for goodness sakes, don’t remove options. 

[horseymike]

3 hours ago, Redrobo said:

Recently of Silhouette using the MDR. I chose from the menu Lobster tail (no charge) however if I wanted more the price would have been $16.99 each as shown on the menu. I knew of the charge when I ordered the one tail.

All meals were very good and the service we had was excellent.

+ 18 % gratuity. One night when lobster was on the menu I asked if got something else would I get an OBC for $16.99 + 18% gratuity ? Needless to say, that did not go over very well. 🤣

[smtcan]

6 hours ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

If they want to be a Premium line they should bring back the All inclusive across all the cabins , with the drink package being the zero option , if you want alcohol you can upgraded

I don’t agree.  All inclusive has little value for us. We are very moderate drinkers and get 240 mins each of wifi as Elite+.  We pay the gratuities and come out way ahead of AI.

[palmsandpines]

If Celebrity is hurting that bad that they must do an up charge, they should just charge $10 more for the cruise and call it good. Guest should not (in my humble opinion), be charged and up charge. Our last trip 3 months ago on the Silhouette was fabulous, except one night we decided to eat at the Oceanview and the choices were awful. I get not over cooking and wasting food, but still they should still over a nice product. That was the only thing that they got marked down on. 

[Chardonnay Char]

7 hours ago, prmssk said:

If not all of your travel group wants to eat in a specialty restaurant.  Or if you want some things from the MDR menu but would like an uncharge steak or lobster.  Or to save a little money but still get something that is a step up.

 

To me, as long as upcharge items in the MDR don't replace things that used to be included, it seems like a net positive as it gives people more choices.

I'm afraid your last sentence is exactly what would happen.  Eventually popular items -- even Steak Diane made with sirloin -- would disappear.

[Cruzinforpeace***]

20 hours ago, W283386 said:

Any thoughts on the new MDR menu that now allow puchases of lobster ($16.99), Filet Mignon ($19.99) or surf and turf for $34.99).  It is being tried on the Sillohoutte and probably rolled out to other ships.  Link should start about two minutes into video.

 

So sad we’ve been conditioned to accept what used to be normal cruise food as luxury.  Cruising’s definitely not what it used to be😢

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

7 hours ago, prmssk said:

If not all of your travel group wants to eat in a specialty restaurant.

 

Of course there is always the option to split up one night if some want to eat in a specialty and others don't.

[Cruzinforpeace***]

8 hours ago, ChucktownSteve said:

Why does Celebrity want to be more like RCL instead of the Premium or Luxury lines?  They do market that they are "luxury" but keep shooting themselves in the foot by these poor types of business decisions that alienate their cruisers. All the while Celebrity keeps raising prices into the realm of the Premium/Luxury lines.

 

During the pandemic, I was able to book suites on three Regent sailings last year for less pp/pn in the same SF suite size for less than Celebrity.  I could have lobster, scallops and filet every night in the MDR and premium 1LTR liquor bottles even in the suite.  Specialty restaurants were included.

They’re going to lose a lot of loyal cruisers.  I personally book looking at price and value and right now I’m not so sure our next cruise will be with X.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

51 minutes ago, smtcan said:

I don’t agree.  All inclusive has little value for us. We are very moderate drinkers and get 240 mins each of wifi as Elite+.  We pay the gratuities and come out way ahead of AI.

They could than do away with those CC perks and give our perks 

 

[palmsandpines]

Well with the smoking in the casino and the changes with lobster and steak, it appears they want to carve their niche in the lower end market and compete head-on with Carnival and MSC. They were trying to be an upper midscale, but they must have found that to be a hard market to do right and make money at the same time. Remember this all started with complementary room service going away. It's all about the $$ for any business. 

[ChucktownSteve]

45 minutes ago, palmsandpines said:

Well with the smoking in the casino and the changes with lobster and steak, it appears they want to carve their niche in the lower end market and compete head-on with Carnival and MSC. They were trying to be an upper midscale, but they must have found that to be a hard market to do right and make money at the same time. Remember this all started with complementary room service going away. It's all about the $$ for any business. 

It actually started long before that. Remember when unlimited bottles of water were changed in aqua class to one bottle the first day? How about when they went from a cabin steward and an assistant to only one steward doing away with the assistant?  Countless other cost cutting measures too. They've been heading down this path since LLP was transferred from RCL in 2014 and now the new CEO has to beat her cost cutting record.

in a statement announcing the change, Laura Hodges Bethge said "I look forward to building on the incredible achievements of Lisa and this world class team, as we continue to break boundaries and chart new courses in the industry,"

Edited July 5, 2023 by ChucktownSteve

[Bo1953]

10 hours ago, horseymike said:

Money grab at every opportunity.

Yes, then on the reverse many of us want to get the cheapest fare and AI possible... (tooth and nail)

LOL

 

bon voyage

[Brad1185]

I enjoy not seeing any prices on mdr menus. Hopefully this will go the way of their $10 burgers and hot dogs.  

[ChucktownSteve]

10 hours ago, Bo1953 said:

Yes, then on the reverse many of us want to get the cheapest fare and AI possible... (tooth and nail)

LOL

 

bon voyage

 

Bo, IMHO it's not so much that many of us want to get the cheapest fare but the best value for the amount paid.  Otherwise we would go to MSC, RCL and Carnival for the cheaper fare.

That's why I believe a lot of the people we see saying they're moving on from Celebrity are selecting Oceania, Azamara, Viking or the real luxury lines.  In some cases they may also be less expensive now than Celebrity. However I believe it's more about the experience, itineraries and food than price.

 

bon appétit

Edited July 6, 2023 by ChucktownSteve

[shipshape sam]

23 hours ago, TeeRick said:

If this program ever comes back- what would be the point of the upcharge in the MDR?  Just book a Specialty Restaurant instead.

Your suggestion is spot on!