stickey_mouse

Good day,

I’m hoping to book a cruise on a future Celebrity sailing of the Norwegian fjords, but I’m just not sure which stops/ports are the best. Can you help? Which of the following are highlights, and which can be skipped? The various port options include the following:

Alesund

Bergen

Flam

Geiranger

Haugesund

Kristainsand

Molde

Nordfjordeid

Olden

Stavanger

Thanks!

Forgive me if this is readily available, as I cannot locate it. Is there any sort of seating chart for the MDR for the Celebrity Summit? I'm in the process of figuring out table/seating assignments for my group. There are seating charts available for the Holland America ships that we used with great success in the past, and I was wondering if Celebrity has something similar. 

Thanks!

6 minutes ago, gerelmx said:

The Summit has not suspended/canceled the sale of any cruises in the month of October.

That’s what I observed as well. I wonder what prompted this thread?

When is this dry dock supposed to occur? I cannot seem to find it. 

46 minutes ago, Seaworthy71 said:

Hello stickey-mouse, May I inquire what cruise line You used for Your Japan trip?

Thank You,

Suzanne

None of them, sadly, and probably won’t for a while- we ended up adopting two kiddos. Japan remains on my bucket list, though! 

I would love to visit Manchester and Liverpool one day. I’m an Everton fan, but please don’t hate me for it. 😜

Thanks, everyone, and Merry Christmas. Itinerary A will be a little difficult for me, given the timing (work demands), but I'm glad to know it seems to be an overall favorite. If B or C win out, I'll try to arrange additional time in Kyoto pre or post-cruise. I'm also dying to see Tokyo Disney. 

23 minutes ago, BruceMuzz said:

Japan isn’t really having any struggles - other than the US Military problems.

But the people trying to visit Japan are really struggling.

 

Option A is superior because it lets you spend more time in Kyoto / Kobe. It also is a bit earlier in the Autumn, which will probably give you better, warmer weather. Due to the Cabotage laws, your ship must call at a non-Japanese port. Option A takes you to Busan, which is quite interesting; shopping, dining, sight-seeing.

 

Option B takes you to Jeju Island in South Korea. Jeju is South Korea’s version of Okinawa. Very nice, but not too much to see or do. The November timing is somewhat risky for weather.

 

Option C loses due to the Ishigaki and Jeju stops.

Okinawa and Ishigaki are nearly identical. They are both really beautiful semi-tropical islands with nice beaches. No need to spend 2 days for that. Jeju Island is a third semi-tropical island stop with little to see or do. The November timing is somewhat risky for weather.

 

Having said all that, it is looking less and less likely that you will be able to visit Japan or Korea in 2022. Hope you have a Plan B - and maybe Plan C. 

Thank you. Only interested in comments about the itineraries at this time. I appreciate the feedback. 

15 hours ago, BruceMuzz said:

I really hope you get the opportunity to visit my part of the world next year. But at this point, it is not looking very good.

This week the Japanese Government renewed the restriction on any foreigners visiting Japan for any reason. This restriction will continue in effect well into 2022.

 

The US Military bases in Okinawa now have more COVID Cases than all of Japan.

Additionally, with all the problems America is experiencing - and the incredibly high COVID infection and death numbers coming out of the USA - Japan is considering placing a longer ban on US Passport holders visiting Japan.

There is a rapidly increasing chance that no Americans will be allowed to visit Japan anytime in 2022.

 

If it does work out for you - and I really hope it does - your option A is the best choice.

Thanks- I'm well aware of the struggles facing Japan right now. Please expand on why A is the best choice. 

I'm honing in on a cruise to Japan. All are 12 nights and on the same ship. I am having trouble deciding. Any thoughts on these three itineraries? Which would you select? I realize B and C are very similar, with the only difference being the days around Kyoto. Does this make any difference? Thanks in advance.

Itinerary A

Itinerary B

Itinerary C

Just off the N.A. and loved the Christmas decorations scattered about the shift. Nothing too in your face, and just enough to remind you what season it is. I also didn't mind the Christmas music, but it disappeared halfway through the cruise thanks to a petition signed by many of the passengers (I believe the smoking section had a lot to do with it). So funny, and they got their way! Never heard it again. 

9 minutes ago, rothbury said:

You didn't say when you were taking your cruise but personally; I'd be keeping an eye on the requirements.  Yesterday the news reported the Norwegian Breakaway returned to New Orleans with 10 positive covid cases on a fully vaccinated ship.  Just a few minutes ago that number had increased to 17.  I can guarantee you the CDC is looking at this carefully.  If the numbers continue to grow or another ship has an outbreak I would look for the requirements to change. 

Just yesterday another thread was started that HAL is no longer testing onboard prior to disembarkation.  I think this is all getting complicated and changing almost daily. 

We depart this Saturday. 🤞

Hello! Just trying to get my facts straight here. For Americans going to the Caribbean out of Florida, is any testing required upon returning to Florida (either to disembark, or to board a flight back to the Midwest)? Thanks! 

10 hours ago, ShipWalker said:

Christmas season has started on the Nieuw Amsterdam. Christmas music everywhere during loading. Decorations everywhere. And a large gingerbread town display. (With a train)

 

 

 

Thanks for sharing this! My wife is going to love this when we board next Saturday. Please let us know if the Christmas music continues throughout the cruise. 

I like both brands and would give the preference to Celebrity, but only by a hair. However, I have sailed Holland 4 times and Celebrity only once (the pricing and itinerary from Holland have won most head-to-head comparisons, thus far). The main reason I prefer Celebrity is their ships: they embrace the open floorplan concept and tend to have very good space-to-passenger ratios (I'm referring specifically to the Solstice Class, arguably, the best-designed ships ever), whereas Holland is very old school, with ships made of mostly tight, dark spaces and long corridors. The Pinnacle Class is a step in the right direction, but they have a ways to go. But like others have said, if you are going suite, I think you have to go with Celebrity for Luminae.  

I wouldn't expect a dry dock any time soon. Cruise lines are short on cash at the moment, and it just isn't in the budget. 

I'm a 30-something and about to go on my 4th HAL cruise. I enjoy HAL very much, though I also love Celebrity and Disney. As I get older, I appreciate the finer things in life a bit more (relaxation, good service, and good food), and HAL delivers on that front. I'll be honest- based on your original post, I can't guarantee you will have as much "fun" as on the other lines or even like it as much, but I doubt you'll have a rotten time. I think it's definitely worth a try, especially if you find a price and itinerary to your liking. 

The Current Captains page has been updated! However, it contains mostly short-term information. 

Thanks, everyone!

A few follow-up questions:

Is governor's beach as beautiful as the one right outside the ship? I assume it's much less busy? Is it too far to walk? 

Are the beaches farther upshore accessible via golf cart, if we rent one? 

This question is particularly silly: for all the snorkelers, do you bring your own equipment? I don't own any but would be willing to purchase some pre-trip. 

Thanks!

How is the beach right off the ship? It looks a little crammed/hectic. 

11 minutes ago, Seasick Sailor said:

You are correct. Unless you want a fabulous beach day with killer drinks, there's not much to do. Our 1st time we rented "the ride from hell scooters" and a "private driver, just for tips" to the lighthouse. There are lots of friendly donkeys and some horses roaming around. I bought a mask and a bracelet. 

 

Our 2nd time we stayed on board and I had a massage. 

Any beach in particular?

There does not seem to be a ton of things to do in Grand Turk. What is the favorite thing/excursion you have done there (HAL-sanctioned OR private)?

Thanks! 

I hope they bring them back as well!

16 minutes ago, caviargal said:

I attempted to purchase one for the cruise we just took and was told they have been discontinued. 

This is what I had feared. Thank you. 

Have pre-purchased dining packages been discontinued? I cannot find information about them on the website, and on the page where I can pre-book specialty dining, spa, excursions, etc., the page does not load after clicking on "Dining Packages."

Thanks!