cruisellama

In some of our local restaurants, I've seen a tiered tip rate - from 15% to 25%. In other regions, I've seen a rule of thumb of 2x the sales tax. I've been in the 18-20% level since Covid shutdown.

This might be dated, but I heard the walkout could happen on Nov 17th, IF AA didn't not provide a counter offer to the FA position. The "lack" of a counter would trigger a next step by the union. I think a counter offer was presented, but I don't know where negotiations sit. I do know it's not settled yet. I too have flights during this tenuous period.

It will be interesting to see. Every Edge class ship has been able to incorporate some "lessons learned' from the previous ship in the class (within design reason). We found Beyond to have fixed nits on Edge and Apex.

Excellent price. Some friends just upgraded also for $6.99 on Reflection Nov 24 - ABC itinerary -

Publicly traded companies have an obligation to increase the value of those companies to the stockholders - yes the mass marketed lines can increase the bottom line by increasing efficiencies through technology and automation, reducing personnel costs. If the service / experience become negative to the point of losing a customer base, then they adjust the other way. Those of us who remember a "better" days of more attentive cruising are not the new market lines are positioning to capture. They're setting up for the next generations that don't have the same expectations (experience) we may have had. They'll expect technology and experiences over the personal service touch. If you like cruising, you don't have to necessary adapt. There is also the option to go to a premium, inclusive experience line. We're being nudged that way. We'll see what things look like after getting through the planned 2024 bookings.

I watched Laura's webinar on this topic and was impressed that she agreed with guest concerns after experiencing the menu on the Equinox with her team and directed change to the fleet. We' be sailing in a couple of weeks -updated menu should just start rolling out.

You can't know what will happen, but if you look back on Covid, they played a game of getting people to make final payments, then once in the window, cancelled the cruise. So if you let them cancel, you get a refund, if you cancel on your own by not completing final payment, they keep more. Plan on it going and put the burden on them to cancel. That's how I'd play it. (Had a similar situation during Covid - and that't how it played out- made final payment then they refunded everything once it was cancelled.) Additional thought, if Israel is only a stop and not an embarkation/disembarkation point, , they'll just change the cruise itinerary to stop at a different country and the cruise would not cancel - just change.

That was/is (on some ships) Michaels club. I thought that included Zenith, but guess it also accommodated Elite and Elite +. (I never saw E, E+ admission, so removal must have happened before I made it.) Zenith still has Michaels/Retreat access.

Celebrity ships lack the spare "real estate" to add a separate high tier club. (If you look at their current on board Captain's Club space - it's pitiful - CC rep desk and a few chairs.. Their business model relies more on buy-in for some level of inclusive perks. ie - "money can buy you love.. ". If you look at higher end lines, you're paying for greater inclusivity of on-board benefits like dining, drinks, etc. Getting a few drink coupons doesn't really help you out on the high end line as you've already paid for it.

Maybe the name tag?

Past years, I've seen it in December. (If you're sailing over the Thanksgiving holiday period - you can see some onboard next cruise office)

But they lay out d'oeuvres during that timeframe. When it's crowded - I don't even bother. "Trial" of some sort makes sense.

Could this become the beginning of combining/consolidation of all three line reservation staffs?

Fantastic documentation - quality photos - you could publish the Twangster Cruise Coffee table Book.

Very interesting. I wonder if they're offering RCL sailings on Celebrity - I'll check that out next month.

A show element would make sense. If if offered, how many passengers would be in the "ability window" to use it? All the liability concerns are well founded.

Anyone sailing Eclipse Nov 17th this year? Our first time departing from San Pedro.

Don't forget to use your complimentary laundry benefit!!

Interesting, a couple of weeks before this was announced we were discussing why the Diamond lounge was named/branded the Diamond Lounge as its actually and "upper tier" benefit - D, D+, P. I can see how the renaming makes sense to all the upper tier, would think it could confuse the newer cruisers who will mistake it for just being a member of the C&A program.

I wouldn't see a merger happen, especially with Silver. Its business model and target client base is different. If R and X were to merge, it could be a sign of a closer integration between the two to combine leadership positions and reduce G&A across those 2 lines. Personally wouldn't want to see it as they each have focused guest experiences and I believe both would suffer with the compromises that would ensue.

Simply stop by one of the bars prior to going to dinner and pick up a glass of wine. No issue bringing it from the bar.

I'm amazed how you're able to curate your cruise experience seemingly real time.. This one is really great.

Same kind of thing happened in Key West where they limited the size and number of ships that could visit.

Won't be sailing Icon in awhile. First as a new class with new propulsion , water treatment architectures, and crew training/reorientation, it's going to have some bugs. For the high price, I'll wait until everyone is trained up and bugs are sorted out. Let the market sort it out first. As far as Coco Cay - its seems kinda redundant to what the ship offers.

As Allure is the original configuration, and not as many toys as the newer ships, it seems there was a lower percentage of families with children sailing on-board the times we sailed. This is NOT a quantitive assessment, but didn't seem as crazy as Wonder, Symphony, Oasis.... Could be the times we sailed, but seemed tamer. Not sure if others have this subjective observation.