OT-Miami

I don't use a TA but have a dedicated Celebrity vacation planner who we've used for years and has always been very helpful. We recently inquired about changing our onboard booking to the same itinerary on a different date. My CVP confirmed that any change would be considered a cancelation and re-booking, and we would loose the OBC. I believe that it has to do with the fact that we are dealing with non-refundable booking vs refundable...

Hello CC! We are considering our first ever NCL cruise for a 2024 Alaska sailing. The itinerary is similar enough to our currently booked Celebrity sailing, the pricing is better, and the Free At Sea promo is sounds interesting. We are considering a regular balcony cabin. My questions are about NCL itself and not the Alaska sailing: Gratuities: FAS includes grats. for the bev pkg and specialty dining, but how about the daily grats. for crew, etc? Beverage Package: We enjoy the specialty coffees (2-3 per day for each of us) included Celebrity’s beverage package, as well the convenience of the included bottled water. Is there any coffee included? Is bottled water available for purchase onboard (it’s not available at all on Virgin – BYO refillable bottle)? Extras: I’ve read comments on other boards about the frequent nickel-and-diming on NCL, is this an exaggeration or what should I expect to pay extra for? Airfare: The pricing looks great, but flights are confirmed 30-days prior to sailing? Any flexibility? We prefer to fly a couple of day early, is that possible? We’ve sailed Carnival in the past, and our most recent sailings have been on RCL and Celebrity, so any comparisons are greatly appreciated. TIA 😊

Wonderful review - thanks for sharing! We are planing our first Alaska cruise beginning of May 2024, so I've really enjoyed following along. Safe travels!

Can you please elaborate on the bus to Seattle? We are flying round-trip to Seattle but sailing out of Vancouver, so we are looking for options. Thanks 🙂

We will be sailing Alaska out of Vancouver, but flights from MIA / FLL are insanely expensive. While we can fly to Seattle for about half the price, changing our departure port is not an option. We plan to fly 2 days before sailing, so we have some time to make our way to Vancouver from Seattle, just trying to decide if it would be best to rent a car and drive, take the train, limo/car service, or other...

There is no fee. Simply select the amount you want to play - it will download to the machine immediately and appear as a casino charge on your onboard account. If you don’t play all of the funds you simply cash out for a voucher for future play, or cash at cashier. On Equinox there is a sign at cashier with detailed instructions for downloading funds. Losing money in the casino has never been easier 🙃 Good luck!

I paid $89.91 for a 9-night sailing, so approximately $10/day with my 25% captains club discount.

I called this morning and was able to apply the CC discount to the already discounted upgrade cost. Try 800-722-5941

I upgraded my wi-fi this morning for our upcoming sailing. CC Select members get 25% off any wi-fi package, and the discount also applies to upgrades. DH & I have the AI basic wi-fi, so I only needed the upgrade for one of us. I called X and was able to upgrade 1 device to Xcelerate Stream for $89.91 for our 9-night sailing, so about $10/day, using OBC.

We have always dropped off bags with porters curbside before parking at Port Everglades. Our last post-pandemic cruise out of PE was on Edge, but same experience on Equinox pre-pandemic.

@sunsetme That's good to know, especially since we're travelling during hurricane season and storms are likely to pop up at any time (like the one currently brewing in the Southern Caribbean). By any chance do you recall the cost for the cab each way?

We sailed once on Edge and twice on Equinox (pre and post partial revolution). We did not try the Infinite Veranda, opting for the Sunset Veranda on Edge, so our experiences on both ships have been with traditional balcony cabins. The Edge bathroom was very spacious for a non-suite veranda cabin. Obviously, Edge is a newer ship with a very modern décor. Equinox received a partial revolution in 2019, which updated many of the common areas and upper-class cabins, but most of the cabins only received a basic refresh. Our Equinox cabin had new bedding but the same tired carpet and worn couch. We found Edge to have fewer bars for just enjoying after dinner, basically Martini Bar (which is great by the way), Eden (also very enjoyable) and of course Sunset Bar. Our only experience with the Magic Carpet was as a bar during the day, and it was really nice to sit out and watch the sea go by. On Equinox we really enjoy live music at Ensemble Lounge, World Class Bar, and Craft Social, in addition to Martini Bar, Passport Bar and Sunset Bar, plus Sky Observation Lounge. There is no public space at the front of Edge – all of the forward areas are reserved for the exclusive use of Retreat guests or Aqua class guests. Deck 12 forward on Equinox has the Spa Veranda, which is a great place at the front of the ship for sail-away that is open to everyone. The four MDR’s on Edge are all different and beautiful, we enjoyed them all, but they might not be as enjoyable for those who prefer to have the same wait staff each night. The food was very good on both ships and we received excellent service all around. I honestly don’t think you can go wrong with either ship, but if I had to choose a favorite it would be Equinox. HTH 😊

Wondering if anyone has seen any resolution to this issue, as our order histories are still showing the beverage packages cancelled...

I will add my vote for Ensemble Lounge. A very relaxing place to enjoy great live music with well-made cocktails to finish off the night.

Does Equinox sail to Alaska?