Nicstucruisers

Well, Celebrity canceled this excursion. I’m extremely disappointed after canceling our sea plane excursion in Juneau for it. Can’t win them all.

Did they say why they cancelled it. I was looking forward to your review. We have it booked for our cruise later this summer.

Grey Dog,

Another great review.

Looking forward to Part 2 as we gear up for our Pacific Coastal Cruise in September.

No wine tastings??

A famous film director said “every film should have a beginning, middle and end, but not necessarily in that order”. So too with cruise reviews? – let’s see.

 

I’m a frequent Celebrity cruiser, sailing regularly with Joan, my starter wife still after 39 years. We enjoyed this same itinerary on Reflection last year, so back again but armed with the BBB beverage package and Ultimate Dining package.

 

Having completed two dozen Celebrity cruises since 2000, I remember talking with a Pinnacle-level cruiser on Royal Caribbean. He said he avoided Celebrity because he found those cruisers too ‘snobby’. Despite this slur on Celebrity being too snobby, I kept my white gloves on and did not challenge him to a duel. I tried to behave as a gentleman – remembering that one has defined a gentleman as “one who is never rude unintentionally.”

 

CRUISE-CRITIC RALLY CALL

IMHO Cruise Critic would benefit from a widely recognized identifying rally cry to take it to the next level. We are already familiar with kids in the pool yelling “MARCO” to be answered “POLO”. We also recognize the prideful “Aussie-Aussie-Aussie!” lead with response “Oy-Oy-Oy!”

I humbly propose we board members call out the rally signature “Cruise Critic, Cruise Critic” with full-throated response “Wine-Whine-Wine”.

 

DEBARKATION

Our sailing had quick-easy debark starting about 7 am for walk-offs without checked bags. We went around 8:15am after full breakfast in the main buffet. There were two ship security checkout spots funneling to 1 terminal ramp to the Customs queue.

 

Celebrity offers and we used Delta Luggage Valet at $20pp fee (provided boarding pass and special tags to route checked bags to home domestic airport) The ship collected the applicable bag check charges. Next was $30 metered 15-min cab to Delta at MIA to await 2pm flight.

 

Before 11am, MIA airport food court kiosks had major beers at $7.50-8 a bottle but at 11am $9 20-oz drafts available (trying to slowly detox from shipboard beverage pkg.)

 

The “Luggage Valet” concept, as rumor has it, triggered a beta test of the next level of convenience, “Wardrobe Valet”. This program eliminates luggage altogether, enabling cruisers to rent an entire week’s wardrobe delivered to your cabin. Men and women’s styles are matched to the itinerary. For Europe, the beta test offered men the Henry 8th or Louis 16th outfits. Unfortunately, in testing women cruisers were disinterested in either the Anne Boleyn or Marie Antoinette ensemble.

 

For Hawaii, the Wardrobe Valet tested a his/hers “Tiny Bubbles Don Ho” ensemble. However miscommunication between mainland and island staffs about the clothing selection for the ‘Ho’ package led to some unanticipated and regrettable interaction with Hawaiian vice squads.

 

But the “Wardrobe Valet” concept shows such inherent potential that, rumor has it, beta tests proceed for renting a “Norovirus Garment”. This is a minimally visible full-body haz-mat attire that can be donned as the occasion warrants. Manufacturers for Zip Loc and Saran Wrap may be competing.

 

FOOD - Specialty Restaurants Ultimate Dining package is $203 pp for 7-day trip allowing daily choice of any specialty restaurant, plus The Porch Seafood and Raw Bar ($25 a la carte) and Bistro on 5 ($10 a la carte). The pre-cruise-purchase 5-dinner discount package locks you in to a set number of dinner visits to specified restaurants.

 

Dined at The Porch 6 times, Bistro-5 once. The Bistro Special of Day on Friday is short ribs which another cruiser told me was very good. I had Chick Pot Pie (Tues? special) which was just ok.

 

At Porch, skip burger and half roast Cornish hen (chewy - my own and another's experience). Mussels’ chowder was great, Seafood Tower great, lobster roll very good (can request fresh without mayo sauce). Jumbo shrimp cocktail great, lobster bisque great. Vanilla cheesecake mousse very good tart/sweet.

 

Urge you to make all specialty reservations at beginning of trip - or risk shut out except at 6pm or 8:30pm. You can call and adjust any later if necessary.

 

Qsine was better than last year. Painters Filet Mignon was the best by far. Persian Kabob was a lot of food but seemed like just chicken with paprika so we suggest pass. Chitini (Chinese sampler) and Taj Mahal (Indian sampler) were ok.

 

Visited Lawn Club Grill three nights. Skip the ribeye - filet or kabobs (chicken tandoori, shrimp-scallop, and tenderloin) much better. Even manager agreed the filet was better than ribeye. Wifester enjoyed her lamb chops one night.

 

We both enjoyed the filet and Sea Bass at Tuscan and the Lobster Tail at Murano.

 

Specialty lunches were available on two sea days at reduced price but with limited menu. We had seafood at the Porch those days.

 

EMBARKATION Boarding for the Dec-12 Reflection trip was delayed by a 'bomb hoax'. Later I saw a cellphone pic of crewman in handcuffs on sidewalk below ship.

 

We had arrived at noon but everyone waited 2hr 45mins before boarding. Most stood in stationary line on concrete with only walkway’s overhead cover from sun. Elderly with canes or other difficulties had minimal benches for relief. A few temp wheelchairs and bottled water eventually were brought out to the lines. Each cabin received $50 OBC for inconvenience.

 

Your cruise doc contains recommended arrival time. If you can get there 1:30-2pm you usually are past peak crowds. After 27 X cruises over 15 years, we’ve have only had 2+ hour delays 3 times. Once the entire port was delayed because of a FBI on board drug bust. Another when the ship delayed boarding for extra 2 hours deep-cleaning for noro – many did not see or heed an email notice sent advising of the delay.

 

While standing in line during the boarding delay, I noticed the preponderance of couples traveling. I pondered on the institution of marriage. This led me to remember one man’s explanation that “women marry men to avoid having to stay among other women.” I also heard that Celebrity stopped publicizing ceremonies for the renewal of wedding vows after Guest Relations was flooded with hopeful individuals asking about expiration dates.

END OF THE BEGINNING

Greydog

Thank you for the awesome review. Hope to cruise with you again soon.

Are they serving champagne when you board ?

Thank goodness for this thread otherwise I would not know anything. Finally made it into the building. 2.5 hours in line.

Karen' date='[/size']

If you read back in this whole thread, there are opinions both ways. I choose not to tell the Casino Manager as I do not want them to sway the group toward one machine or another. I also feel that if you alert them far enough ahead of time, they MAY possibly be able to set the machine to not pay off as often. Do not know that is a truth but it just the way I personnally feel. Many others that have posted here feel that you should notify the Manager in advance. Just do what you feel is best for your group.

Hi Ann,

Hopefully, you are still monitoring this site. I am organizing a slot pull for my upcoming cruise on the Allure. I have participated in one but never organized one. I hope it will not be too difficult. I would appreciate if you could share the spreadsheet, reminder and any tips. You definitely, seem to be the forum expert on the subject. My email is rosens@bellsouth.net

Thanks again.

Nicole