theSHAH

Sharing soda and sharing alcohol are two entirely different scenarios. The cost to the cruise line of those sodas out of the freestyle machine is like less then a nickel a cup. If it's "stealing" it's akin to picking up a dollar on the ground someone dropped over the entire cruise. I plan to get the deluxe package on my next cruise and hand off my souveiner cup to my soda-addicted friend as I don't drink any soda at all.

Title says it all. I've actually tried digging for what seems like a simple answer but could not find one. If one were to purchase the deluxe drink package, do they also get the souveiner cup for the freestyle machines?

I thought we were the only ones that didn't feel paying for meals at the Specialty Restaurants. I don't have a problem with the food in the MDR and I'd rather spend my money on a restaurant pre or post cruise than while I have a perfectly good meal waiting on me in the MDR.

Specialty restaurants made sense when they were like $20-$35. But at $50+ your logic applies perfectly. There is a perfectly fine meal waiting, why spend the same amount of money as it would cost to eat at a restaurant pre/post cruise?

It gets to the point that you are already a paying customer. You have paid good money to be on this VACATION, but it almost feels like they are giving you the trip for free in exchange for sales pitching you. You are supposed to be allowed to be calm and relax, not constantly on edge being sold something.

I booked a trip 2 months ago and in those two months the cost of the same ticket has literally doubled. Basically just watch the prices, as they fluctuate a lot. What a "good deal" is depends on a lot. Not all 7 night trips are equal. A European itinerary can be more expensive then a Caribbean one. 7 nights on the newest and greatest ship running the same exact itenary as an older boat will be more expensive.

Hello all,

How far in advance do you book your hotel? I'm sailing on Jan 5th 2019 and haven't booked my flights yet and likely do not intend to for a little while longer. I have a feeling high traffic hotels such as around the port of Miami may fill up and raise prices sooner then flights. Would you book your hotels further out then your flights? At around what point do you pull your trigger on the room?

Bonus for any suggestions on Port of Miami hotels that offer free airport/cruise port shuttle transportation and are simply clean. (I know this information is abundant on this subforum, but figured to ask if you're already here).

To bank off this thread a little instead of making my own, how many children can I expect to see on Celebrity during a Greek Isles cruise in October? I've only ever cruised RC during the summer months and wondering how many less kids I can expect on a line and itenary that caters to them a little less during the school year

The classic package does not include virgin frozen drinks if that is what you are asking. You would need to upgrade to the premium.

 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/things-to-do-onboard/onboard-packages/beverage-packages/non-alcoholic-packages

That's just kind of silly. Ain't no one getting a premium package to drink themselves silly on mocktails

What date is your sailing? Portland is an awesome little city. I would definitely save an appetite for a meal there (Portland Lobster Company is wicked good if you are going to be there in season), when it comes to stuff to do it's really up to what you like. I would personally try to visit the Allagash brewery if I could, I have also taken a harbor cruise which was pleasant. Just walking around the city itself is quite an adventure honestly.

How unfair is it to call Jamaica a wasted port of call due to safety concerns?

I didn't have too much of a choice over the date we booked, it's a family trip and evidently this date range worked perfectly for everyone else. As I stated, it worked out pretty well. The Packers will be on a bye during one of the weeks and playing a primetime game the other (so it should be easier to find somewhere on the ship). Worst case scenario would have been to simply use a VPN onboard and utilize my Sunday ticket. Football is super important to me for sure, but it wouldn't have been devastated to the point I would let it ruin the trip, I would have figured it out.

$12.95 is just obnoxious. That is more then what you would pay per person on a land JR. This venue was reasonable when introduced at $5/pp

It just blows my mind how Royal make their spas like a dungeon. They should be a priority area to have sweeping oceans views like spas in other ships

My entire extended and immediate family has spent at least some, if not extensive time working in the car sales industry. Those manufacturers surveys you get directly influenced your salesperson's income, this also goes for service advisors as well as other associate in the dealership. Knowing that someone compensation is tied directly to the survey results sways me to blindly give all 10s. In most cases when you go out to eat, even if service was sub par you tip SOMETHING, right? As someone stated here, a "9" is seen as a failing grade, this is true. I can see why it is important to make sure clients know this because most of us would assume "8" or "9" are high marks.Why not give them their 10s, it costs you nothing and likely gets them paid.

I know this is a question that has been asked time and time again, but I haven't seen it here lately and thought I'd gauge what people are doing nowadays. Do you guys take your passport with you off the ship each time you go ashore?

It seems very risky, but it also seems as if it's pointless to bring with you if you don't plan on taking it off the boat just in case

Thanks for the input all. Less kids and a classier atmosphere then Royal will likely be appreciated because this cruise I will be embarking with my parents, one of which who generally dislikes cruising because of that reason. But in regards to food all I seem to see his MDR, buffet, and Mast Grill. Oasis on Royal has MDR, buffet, sorrentos, Johnny Rockets for breakfast, Dog House, Wipeout Cafe, Solarium Bistro, and Cafe Promenade. Nonetheless I am very excited for the trip and feel like it may be a quieter experience then the Symphony of the Seas sailing I have booked in January

Hello all,

I have booked my first non-royal cruise basically ever (with the exception of a NCL cruise almost 20 years ago). I understand Royal owns Celebirty, but there still seems to be some differences between the lines. Based off my brief research it seems Celeb has much less in the way of complimentary dining with a lot of things being either specialty or suite specific and I'm anticipating feeling left out in that category. What are some other differences you guys would care to point out? I am sailing on a European itinerary on the Reflection. I sail virtually exclusively Oasis class on Royal

I tend to leave $20 for the attendant on top of my prepaid grats. I suppose if you have been particularly messy or made plenty of special requests some people here likely leave more. Always seemed fair to me

theSHAH: I will be on Equinox next week with an internet package, so I will test it out. As to the Pats game, I see a rumor online that it will be a Sunday night game on November 4. We will be in Amsterdam that night, but of course it would be on at a very late hour if the rumor is correct.

 

Tom & Judy

You were spot on, Nov 4! So I can still plan to see that game live. Also week 6 is a MNF game so it should likely be on a TV somewhere and week 7 is a bye. This couldn't have worked out better

NFL schedules out later today. I’m interested to see what games we’ll have for our October Symphony of the Seas TA. Two Sundays on board in Playmakers (October 28 and November 4th). The 1:00 pm games will be just after Sailaway from Barcelona on the 28th.

 

Cheers

Tom

I have a Symphony cruise booked during the wild card round of the playoffs in January. Symphony has a brand new dedicated sports bar spanning the entire boardwalk neighborhood. I have confidence that finding my game on that sailing will not be difficult

Here are the offerings and prices: Xcelerate Internet at Sea packages (Mar 2018)

 

From my recent personal experience (Jan Infinity 2017 & Jan Solstice 2018), the internet is too slow to do any streaming. However, the internet speed was dependent on the number of people using it (much faster in the early morning) and so if you are going to watch a 1 pm ET game from Europe, you may have a chance.

 

I noticed the above (and new) brochure says that the on board internet is now designed to handle video streaming with further improvements being made across the entire fleet by this month.

Thank you for the info. I gotta say this pricing is obnoxious, nearly 4x what parent company RC charges for Voom. I guess I will also know much more at 8pm EST tonight when the schedules are announced. Here's to hoping both the Pack have at least one by week while I'm going and they are not going to New England during the trip (really really was hoping to go to that game live)

To the OP,

I once got horribly sick after a RC western Caribbean cruise a few years back. I started feeling the tinge in the back of my throat on the last day and thank god it didn't really hit me until I was at home in bed, but damn did it hit me like a concrete block to the face. I just chalked it up the all the germs you come in contact with travelling.

How reliable is the WiFi on board? Can I count on it to stream the game? Also, this is my first time Celebrity, is there any other option besides buying an unlimited package for the entire cruise when I only need two days? Parent company RC is my usual cruise line and I know they allow a daily package.

Aw, what a bummer

Please forgive me if this has been answered before, I didn't come across it anywhere I looked,

I know status between the two loyalty programs are recognized, but can points also be earned? Would a 10 night sailing on Celebrity award 10 points to your C&A?