WrittenOnYourHeart

Well, they had improved communication by this summer then because the future cruise rep I dealt with was VERY clear that it was non-refundable. As for "missing" something, again, I must be the weird duck here but I always double check - on my own and/or through my travel agent (who also reminds me about the refundable/non-refundable option because she knows me...one of the benefits of having a regular TA you've used for a while) - for any changes since the last time.

I am aware. Yet they insist on blaming Celebrity and using the website as proof for their blame rather than putting it on their TA who should have been advising them that their deposit was non-refundable at the time of booking and reminded them of that when they called to cancel.

They do if you bother looking at the whole page. The fact that they have a box to select that states "Pay more for a refundable deposit" indicates that otherwise it is non-refundable. It's not their fault you choose to skip steps like insurance and dining preference.

Yes. The DJ and party are at Hideaway. They intend for it to feel "Vegas-style" and very much a party.

Regarding Hideaway...it is loud. There is a DJ for sure - possibly a live band in another area. I was on a beach bed at South Beach at the end that was just on the other side of the foliage between the 2 sections and maybe it was just the wind direction helping it, but I could clearly hear the music and the bass thumping from Hideaway. So if you're looking for someplace quiet, I'd definitely skip Hideaway. If you want to pretend like you're in Vegas, it's probably perfect for you.

100% this!!! Nothing worse than sitting down and discovering that someone who was wet sat there previously! Another line has returned to traditional muster drills - which i have no issues with - and I always have to check the seat in the theater before I sit down for the evening show as some people stay in the pool up until muster and then go and sit down wet. NOT FUN!

Huh. I have never seen “Continue” without scrolling all the way down anyway. But again I guess this is where I am weird…I always scroll down and check things (and for hotel bookings will read the rate rules before I click confirm). If you choose to just make assumptions and not scroll down - or check rate rules - that is 100% on you, not the cruise line.

This! You have to consciously choose to check the box saying you'd rather pay more for refundable - if you choose not to check that, you are by default selecting a non-refundable deposit. And if you're using a TA, yes - they should be asking if you want refundable or non-refundable. If they don't and book you in a non-refundable fare, then yes - the problem is on them.

You make the decision to click the box "I'd rather pay more for a refundable deposit" or not before continuing. They don't make that decision for you. If you didn't click it, you made that decision to have a non-refundable fare.

Do all of their tours pick up at the port? I'm interested in the one that does caves, turtles, and beaches but was not sure where you pick it up.

So it has changed from the policy quoted above where it said that the Sunset Bar was the only location cigars are allowed?

Absolutely on the Travel Agent and not on Celebrity. My agent knows me very well and knows that I'm prone to changing things up, so unless the amount of the difference is HUGE she automatically books me under refundable. That way I can cancel without losing anything OR move the date without the $100 penalty. I'd say it's time for the OP to get a new travel agent.

You're welcome! I'm glad I tried it - you never know until you try!

Thanks! Thankfully I'm not overly picky - as long as it's a red.

I'll be in Aqua Class on Beyond this summer (I got spoiled to Aqua on the Summit this past summer) and am trying to remember... With the welcome bottle of wine (on request) can you still ask to change it to a regular red or white? As a solo the sparkling goes flat before I can drink all of it (I'd rather not be passed out). Thanks!

I have to say what made me laugh the most on my recent Royal (I know not Celebrity, but same family) cruise was how most people argue to eat in the buffet so they don't have to dress up...yet I saw a lot of people dressed to the nines in the buffet. It's like they missed the memo on "buffet is so you don't have to dress" most people want.

You'd have to use the elevator to go down. They don't move the Magic Carpet with anyone on it for safety reasons.

Probably a function of it sometimes being an extension of the pool deck. Most bars around a pool I've encountered have plastic as you don't want glass up there.

I got a coffee drink or two from there. I didn't ask about gluten-free options there. It looked good if I could eat real bread though.

Thanks. Overall I had a good time. I splurged on a beach bed at Coco Cay, which gave me a nice zone to chill in. And I did love Spectra's Cabaret. I always sleep well at sea, so that's a plus!

To go in and retrofit outlets where none exist would take longer than the regular drydock - or even the revolutionizing.

I'm back! And lesson learned!!! Royal is not for me anymore - at least not their larger ships!! Anthem was totally full (4905 passengers!!) with 1600 under 18s and it was so obvious - especially since our first 2 sea days and last day and a half of sea days were too cold to be outside (and the afternoon of our first returning sea day we encountered rough seas so Flow Rider, climbing, and iFly were all cancelled meaning everyone was inside. I'm glad I tried it - now I know. And I did love Spectra's Cabaret in Two70. But other than that, I am ready to be back on Celebrity in July!! (Also Disney in November for my best friend's wedding. I actually really like Disney...kids tend to stay in their clubs which don't have the random hours of opening or closing like RCCL did.)

That has to be the easiest debarkation ever. After an early breakfast in the Windjammer, I went back to my cabin to brush my teeth and get my stuff, then headed down to Deck 5 to get in line. I was in line by 6:30 or so and I was at the back of the sculpture there. I think it was around 6:50 a crew member came down asking us to make sure we had our SeaPass cards in hand, so that was a good clue we were about to start moving. And sure enough, we did. Quick trip down the escalator and then walking through the area where they were putting out baggage and a stop at the facial recognition screen at customs and I was outside. A bit of a struggle to get a signal (T-Mobile is not the greatest at the port), but I was in an Uber by 7:01 and home by 7:45! Merida is doing well and is doing her velcro cat routine. 🙂 So... My overall thoughts... I'm glad I tried such a large ship. Granted, part of the issues may be that it was a totally full sailing with 1600 under 18s on board - and that both of our sea days going down and the better part of both returning were cold so everyone was inside - but I don't think a ship this size or larger is for me. I am not one who needs or uses things like bumper cars (those belong in amusement parks, not on ships), Flow Riders, or iFly fake sky diving. I've done my 3 previous Royal cruises on Radiance- class ships (I'm only missing the Serenade to complete the set), and that size feels about right for me. But as I said, I'm glad I tried it. If you don't try you'll always wonder. Leaning into my teacher side, here's my list of Glows and Grows Glows * Spectra's Cabaret. Hands down this was the highlight of my cruise! * Beach Bed on South Beach. I'm not 100% decided on Coco Cay overall (it's extremely busy, and it feels like a lot of space is devoted to the water park which is not my jam. * The serving team of Don and Zaq who I had both nights I did MTD and was in Silk. * My solo balcony cabin. Yes, it's small, but I don't pack a ton of stuff and I don't need a lot of space. As my TA said, "Everything you need, nothing you don't". Bonus for the extra large balcony...I just wish it had been warm enough to actually enjoy it! * The Bionic Bar was cool. I do wish they had other flavored vodka options than Vanilla as there is a drink I would have love to have made but it requires raspberry and blueberry. That's just me though. It was cool to watch the drinks be made and see the recipe. * Though I'm not a pool person, I love that they have a solid adult-only Solarium - which is made possible by having the option for the indoor family pool. I can only imagine that when the ship they're getting next year which doesn't have that enclosed area the adults will lose that space for the first 2 days so kids have somewhere to splash. It is LOVELY to have a quiet retreat area to chill. Grows * Their gluten-free game. While I didn't go hungry, this could definitely be improved. Particularly with selection. I was shocked that they don't have gluten-free chicken fingers (or nuggets) - especially as a cruise line that partners with Autims on the Seas. As a teacher of kids with autism, I know a lot of them are on gluten-free diets, and many of them have food issues and often only eat chicken fingers/nuggets. There also seemed to be issues with fries - at Chops, they appeared to have been baked, not fried, and at the MDR brunch, the steak frites was only steak...though ketchup was brought. The 2 dinners I was in the MDR - one of which I had pre-ordered, one I had not - were well done and I had options. I will say Celebrity does a much better job at actually labeling things - both on the menus and at the buffet. And Disney flat-out has allergy menus for all of its MDRs. * Other entertainment shows. I lasted 5 minutes of The Gift and not super long at We Will Rock You (though my escaping that one was less obvious since during the afternoon show on Day 7 we started hitting rough water so a number of people left unable to handle the movement...I'm sure people just assumed the motion was bothering me) * Nassau. Grated I'm not sure where else they would go, but that port is over-done. * The entrance to the Solarium Bistro being only in the 18+ area since kids are allowed to eat there. Because the entrance is inside the 18+ area, kids do come into the 18+ area for that. Most leave after, but... (Royal isn't alone in that awkwardness. At least the Dream class ships on Disney have the forward stairs/elevators that open onto the adult pool area, so kids are constantly walking through to get to the all-ages pool area.) Overall I did have a good time, and as I said, I'm glad I tried it. Thanks for following along!

I think that was last night. Not positive. Thank you!

Brunch was no problem (other than the no frites). And other than the server I had the port day I went to breakfast having some attitude, breakfast was no problem.