Port Power

13 hours ago, bohaiboy said:

Yes, and a few days later they were right back at the same level,  And we were onboard 30 days.

We never watched TV but they felt compelled to watch a movie or news every afternoon 2-5/6 PM  Luckily they did not at night.

So the noise issue was only for a few hours each day?  I must say that it is unlikely I would even be in my cabin much during those hours, but obviously you were.  

A pity you didn’t mention it to your butler, who might have been able to fix it as @drron29’s did.

13 hours ago, mysty said:

Yesterday we did an excursion out of Ketchikan, Alaska called the Alaska Lodge Adventure and Seafest.  We really enjoyed it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I did that one last year. Loved it!  The rain forest walk was very pretty.  I am usually not one to get my fingers messy, but I dug into this food with gusto!

Thank goodness I will just be in transit on June 1st!  (Glasgow to Oslo using classic rewards, hence not direct.)

5 hours ago, gnome12 said:

I just got my invitation to book my transfers. I'm trying to set up a Blacklane account, and it keeps rejecting my passwords. The only thing that comes up green is that I don't use my email or name. I have tried a number of options, all with at least 8 characters, at least 1 capital letter, at least one number and at least 1 special character. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

It looks like $ is not considered a special character.

I have never had a problem creating an account.  However, Blacklane is very helpful if you email them with your concern.  I wasn't able to book a return transfer once because the duration wasn't long enough.  They telephone me, fixed it and sent me another link.

1 hour ago, Safari-Wom said:

I just faux booked a Retreat sky suite for 2 people June 2025 = $7321 or $3661 per person.  I went back in and booked Retreat Sky Suite for 1 = $10542 before taxes.  So, I’m not much at math and not sure how others were figuring the percent difference but I see that my half of the suite for two would be $3661 and I would pay, as a solo $10542.  The cost as single is not double the total cost of the suite for 2.   Any way you look at it, solo cruising is expensive.

I think that is a glitch in Celebrity's system.  As I mentioned previously, if I seriously wanted to make that booking, I would telephone Celebrity or my TA for the correct price.

But also as mentioned, if it was the actual price and I still really wanted to go on that particular cruise, I would use my son's name but he would not cruise.  Actually, though, I would walk away and find a better deal!

Or go to Crystal, which has lovely solo ocean view cabins, around 600 guests and always organises a pre-dinner cocktail hour for solos.  Oh, and premium drinks and WiFi is always included.   

6 hours ago, Safari-Wom said:

I posted the original question about cruising solo and I’m no longer very nervous about the solo part (thanks to the kindness of the folks responding), but am increasingly incensed about Celebrity pricing with this string of posts. I’m just going to vent…at length…sorry.   I paid a ridiculous sum for solo because I’m used to traveling at least twice a year and haven’t been able to for a couple years due to my and my friend’s age & health.  I got itchy feet and decided that I could handle a cruise by myself,  especially since I can embark close to home without exhausting air travel.  And I figured that I had saved a significant amount of money by not traveling and could splurge on the Retreat class of cruise….even solo.  Now, I’ve just realized that having paid thousands of dollars for the cruise & three excursions, I didn’t get an OBC & possibly didn’t get what I thought was the “included” drinks package and upgraded wi-fi…. I think I fouled up with the confusing ‘check out’.  Maybe the later is my fault but I’m blaming Celebrity 🙂  ANYWAY, I saw the post about Norwegian and MSC (?) not charging the single supplement so I checked out Norwegian and found that to be true.  I could have booked a suite in their comparable (to the Retreat) ‘Haven’ for less than half what I  paid Celebrity and with all the bells & whistles.  Not expecting sympathy because many would probably think I was foolish to pay that exorbitant fee in the first place when I could have paid lots less for a solo cabin, but part of the cruise experience for me is to relax on my cabin veranda and to enjoy my own surroundings….especially solo.  It’s too late & costly to cancel now but I’m through with Celebrity (always been my favorite). Im not wealthy & am currently on a pretty ‘fixed income’ but I didn’t go into debt for this & after sleeping on it, I’ve decided to just go head with the trip and enjoy it.  I will meet with the Retreat concierge when on board about the OBC and other perks I thought I was getting but, regardless of their response, I’m going to just ‘get over it’ and enjoy beautiful Alaska at this point.  I’m new to the Cruise Critic forum but enjoy the camaraderie of fellow cruise enthusiasts.  My trip isn’t until June 21, but I’ll post about my solo experience during or after.
 

As you have booked The Retreat, the premium drinks package and premium WiFi is included.

My advice is never to book online.  Once you have the information you want, ring Celebrity or a good cruise TA.  My TA gave me a further $500 discount and US$94 OBC due to their relationship with Celebrity.

As @goofysmom99 stated, never believe what Future Cruise people tell you.  I once booked for two passengers, but my son didn’t board.  No problems at all.  I let Celebrity know a week before via my TA.  They cannot charge any more for a paid up cabin.  I’m not even sure that would be legal?

On 5/16/2024 at 7:50 AM, Damager said:

How do you Solos feel about the relatively new Celebrity policy that charges Solo cruisers not only for 2 people per cabin (which I understand), but also charges an extra large fee for the fact that you aren't now a revenue opp for 2 drink packages, 2 wifi packages, etc, etc.    I had a cruise specced out on the Celebrity site, and the single price was $825.  I assumed my price as a Solo would be $1650 (plus all the fees).   The minute I shared that I was a single, the price jumped to $2450.   An $800 penalty for traveling solo.   This sucks for solos.

I don’t believe this is true.  I booked a solo Sky suite yesterday with only a 75% solo subsidy.  Two days ago I booked a solo infinite for two cruises in November 2025, but I did check out other categories and they also came out at 75% more.  For one cruise there was a ridiculous price (more than double), but I put that down as a computer glitch.  
 

If charging double the per person rate PLUS an extra fee, Celebrity would be crossed off my cruising list.

If you didn’t actually call Celebrity or your TA for the correct fare, how do you know this is a new “policy”?

2 hours ago, mwne2nks said:

Clips just go in the trash  after they aren't around for 30 minutes or so. 

That might be considered stealing personal property.  Better to let the pool staff take them.

Norway only has one time zone, so I doubt the ship would be different.

I was recently at an international airport that I usually sail through.  This time it took over two hours to get through immigration and security.  I concur with @FlyerTalker, don’t do it.

5 hours ago, Lookingtocruise42 said:

Yes, the pool and hot tubs have been wide open. We saw some people in the pool today right after the Hubbard Glacier (which we had very clear skies for).

 

Here is a tour of the room: 

The review will be coming, I'm working up categorizing things now.

 

 

I might not ever leave the suite! 

4 hours ago, Lois R said:

New specifically for Silver Note, I hope that is what you meant. All the other restaurants do open at 7.

Yes, Silver Note is the restaurant we have been discussing  regarding opening earlier than 8pm.  Also, I seem to remember that the singer doesn’t start her first set until 9:00pm.

1 hour ago, agape01 said:

Your timing is wrong 

 

Silver Note opens at 7pm and there are 3 seatings of 1hr for each seating.

 

Those times are the arrival times to the restaurant, to stagger output from the kitchen. They do not mean you have an hour to eat your meal!   The 7pm opening is new to many of us though.

I'm taking my Bogs for wet landings and general wandering about on land.  Not hiking boots because I don't hike.  All the expedition crew just wear their Bogs when on land (apart from proper hikes).  Some passengers like to leave their Bogs on the jetty and change into sports shoes if walking around a town.

13 hours ago, agape01 said:

One thing that Silversea does not allow you to do is to make reservations for multiple venues on the same day.

For example, I would like to go to Silver Note at 7pm have some bites then head over to The Grill later for some hot stones steak. I am not able to do that. 

It would make more sense to book The Grill for dinner, then later pop into Silver Note and sit at the bar to listen to music.  No booking required.

7 hours ago, Guinness1000 said:

The HAL WC prices came out yesterday, but since it's going to be on the Volendam you have to book a Vista Suite if you want a real balcony and those start at $52K/pp. That's too much for us, at least right now.

I checked out the HAL website for the 2026 world cruise. A pity there aren't more balcony cabins.  If I were to go on a World Cruise on HAL, I would want a balcony, so I priced the Vista suite as a solo.  The fare was practically the same as the Crystal World Cruise in a luxury window cabin, with many more benefits and fewer people!  Back to Azamara.

2 minutes ago, islandwoman said:

I'm reading positive comments about Azamara's world cruise.  If I were to book it, I'd want to do so well in advance and at my age, there's always a possibility that I might have to cancel.  I looked up Azamara's payment and cancellation penalties

https://www.azamara.com/booked-guests/before-you-board/payment-cancellation

but can't see whether they are different for the world cruise, as they are on some lines.  Can anyone answer that question or direct me to that information, please?

Someone who has done a world cruise might answer that question.  However, I always pay the deposit on my platinum credit card, so travel insurance commences immediately. If I had to cancel for medical reasons, any non-refundable deposit would be covered.  Also the air fare that I usually book 11 months in advance.

4 hours ago, MamaFej said:

After posting, I checked Endeavour Roll Calls and I see that others have needed to rent. I should have thought to check there before posting. 

That does surprise me.  I am sure I read that boots are included on Endeavour.  I remember being disappointed because I was booked on Silver Wind and either had to rent boots or buy my own. (I bought Boggs.)

8 hours ago, rojaan19 said:

Time for some of my photos  !  

Fuji View Hotel and grounds -  the hotel  has extensive grounds = acres  ! going down  to   a large lake.

 

 

 

 

These two  photos are from the other side of the lake to  the hotel.  =

 

 

I have many completely clear photos of Mount Fuji from when I was there in late March last year.  However, I do not have any of when I stayed in the same hotel where you are.  Fog completely blanketed everywhere!  We sailed across the lake in fog.  The next morning I could just see those stone "picnic settings" and the edge of the lake, but no further.  Mount Fuji was just a figment of the imagination.

So glad you had such a lovely, clear day there.

36 minutes ago, Lois R said:

Hi,🙂 I sailed Infinity many years ago. Hope you have a good time. She is smaller than the E class ships too. She is the group of Celebrity ships called "M" class. (the M class are the Millennium Class).

Lois, I have sailed on Celebrity Infinity through the Panama Canal in the past and liked the smaller ship.  Also C. Millennium Hong Kong to Singapore. However, in this post I was referring to the solo infinity cabin on Celebrity Edge, responding to @DavyWavey70 when he said he is going to post his video from his January cruise in said cabin.

14 hours ago, DavyWavey70 said:

I’ve just been working on my latest holiday vid Lois that features the solo verandah on the edge. Hopefully will finish it before you sail.

I have booked the solo infinity for November next year, Sydney to Tassie, and then to NZ.  You inspired me to try it.

2 hours ago, Janet&Carl said:

 

 

Come on the 2026 with us - fellow Aussies onboard.  We used to live in Perth and still have family there.

I have a cruise booking in March 2026 that I cannot cancel. Otherwise I would be on board with you. I’ll look at partial world cruise.

2 hours ago, 2ndsailing said:

Our Azamara World Cruise included businrss class airfare to Fort Lauderdale and home from Barcelona, one night pre cruise at the JW Mariott and a gala party, some money towards excess luggage, can't remember cost, a large obc around $7,000, some special events and our charter flight to the Taj.

I think they are now giving you money towards those flights instead of booking them, not sure on that. Also we have had great Azamazing Evenings and guest entertainers.

I have to say the food has been outstanding and there has been deck parties, and many special events. 

It has been a fabulous experience. 

 

I would definitely take Azamara over Princess any day.  A whole different cruising style.  Azamara is more premium, and with a better staff:passenger ratio.  Plus smaller ships and a more personal experience.

On 5/11/2024 at 3:42 PM, Janet&Carl said:

I think after months and months of debating, adding up new ports vs already been to ports, sea days vs port days we have almost very nearly 😉 made a decision to sail our WC with Azamara.  Lots of considerations including the ambience onboard, but the major one was the ports and not only the new ports we will visit but how long we spend in each port.  MSC was close because of the cost, they included drinks at meal times and shore excursions. Costa had very little time in port, HAL didnt have very many inclusions so everything was extra, Princess had good itinerary going places we want to go but their seaday port day ratio let them down.  Oceania didnt include drinks and Viking was booked out in the category we can afford so its Azamara.   We can no longer afford 2025 due to DH having the past 5 months unemployed and eating into our savings.  This will be a once in a lifetime deal for us so we are pleased to have made the decision.

Thank you for doing the research for me.  I figured Azamara would be my next world cruise. 😀

3 hours ago, les37b said:

 

100% agree. Miyako not only set up the stands, dancers etc and send off, but the shuttle busses that were laid on and funded "by the "mayor" of Miyako. The town itself wasn't too memorable, but the welcome and friendliness of the people (especially the kids) was second to none.... and the send off blew me away. Could still hear them 30 mins after we left! Very humbling. Long my SS continue to support this town. 

 

May 5th was out International date line pass - so gutted it wasn't the day before so we had 2 May the fourths! lol

 

 

I always made a point of hanging over the balcony or deck to wave goodbye.  Not just because I enjoyed the drumming and music, but also to show appreciation of the effort the towns went to.