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Spif Barwunkel

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Cool Cruiser (2/15)

  1. Lots of huffing and puffing and roiling air swirling about this thread. To the point where it might actually register a wind rating on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Fortunately, no serious injury or property damage. Typically, as in many of these happenings, there is no solution and once the debris is cleared, we can only anticipate that, at some time, there will be another wind event. It's inevitable. Some folks choose to move elsewhere, resort to name-calling, wax poetic, trade automobiles, and seek counseling. Others understand the nature of it all realizing that climate change, in one form or another, is to blame.
  2. And you know what, SL, despite that human firewall, I'm sure that on occasion some unintended verbiage slips through for all to see. Communicatively, everyone will "look like idiots" at one time or another. Agreed? I am more amused when the critics pointing out the error(s) are they themselves quite capable of doing the same.
  3. Kind of like the pot calling the kettle black, Jim. We all have occasion to need a look over the shoulder. Of course, it starts with our own review. How many times does that not happen?
  4. A lovely yacht, in lovely waters, sailing a lovely itinerary. Beyond being spoiled and pampered - as you should be - your photo ops will be beautiful. It will be great to see what this level of cruising is all about. Very kind of you to let us know.
  5. Excellent! Considering your response, you will certainly experience X's good vibe once again. Never mind the higher prices, you have already paid your money so that did not dissuade you. Changes in seven years, certainly, but I wonder if you will even notice, and if so, are they really that significant. You be the judge. Other than that, it's business as usual. The occasional hiccup, the occasional deviation from the "routine", an unplanned/unexpected occurrence, always a possibility. That being said and going back to those CC creds, it seems like your enthusiasm will be anything but curbed. Your enthusiastic expectations should reflect that. We are on Eclipse in August, New England and Canada. Expectations are high, as they have always been when cruising with Celebrity.
  6. Judging by your CC creds, I would think that you would have been keeping track all along. "Minimum expectations" equals minimum good times. If it works, continue to let the posters set the table for you, that way you can return in whatever frame of mind suits you, with none of the responsibility.
  7. On a ship, with a few thousand other folks, plumbing issues can certainly be an issue. Probably 95 to 99 percent are attributable to ignorant passengers who have no idea about what can go into a toilet and what should not. Kind of like the garbage disposal in one's kitchen. A toilet has a lid for a reason, or two or three. Put the lid down when the toilet is not in use. Not to minimize what happened here, but perhaps you would have been spared the indignity of getting up close and personal to this shipboard incident.
  8. Is this much ado about nothing, or is this thread actually getting somewhere, different? I personally have no need for protractors, slide rules and spread sheets. Even my abacus cannot determine the ideal solution. You either tip or you don't. You either will or you won't. Go with your personal flow and then give a tidy sum to each of the major players.
  9. If there was just a modicum of refreshingly new ideas and tipping talking points, this particular thread could actually have been the much-sought-after Holy Grail of gratuitous gratuities. Unfortunately, like many that have gone before, and many that will come and go after, that is not the case. There is no miraculous cure for "tipping syndrome" because symptoms manifest themselves in various ways, and how each of us deals with our own personal affliction is private and should not be subject to another's scrutiny. In the eyes of the beholders, there should be no right or wrong here because how each of us determines our best course of action is all that matters. Fortunately, tipping issues will never prevent us from living to cruise another day.
  10. It is difficult for me to understand how folks can have such a difficult time using FBC. We have always had good experiences the many times that we have used them. I have to believe that in most cases it is user error and/or the inability to best use the system in one's favor. We have a European cruise in May/June '24 and a New England/Canada cruise in August/September '24. Both flight arrangements were made through the cruise line agency. We have been kept apprised of all flight changes and the fact that airfare payment is not required until final cruise payment makes this an attractive option for us. We do make our flight arrangements far in advance as soon as the dates appear on the airline website, about 330 days out. It is absurd to think that you can book too soon. Our seats on the flight to London are now $4000.00 more than when we booked. This is what we do. When our cruise dates appear on the airline website (in this case, Delta), I go to the website, select the flights, select the seats, call FBC and give them the information. Delta allows you to choose seats at the time of booking and without payment. In this case a Delta partner, Virgin Atlantic, is the operator and although it is a Delta flight number, we check in at the Virgin counter. I was given the option to check in through Delta or Virgin. Had I chosen Virgin, seat selection may not have been available until final payment or perhaps not until check in at the airport. There are variations on the theme - if you will - so it pays to know that even partners have differences. When I am finished with the airline booking, I receive an invoice with all necessary information, and I can periodically check my status through the Delta reservation number and the Virgin number. It is quite easy when one knows what to do. It is quite easy to blame someone else when one does not.
  11. I wonder if IV naysayers would have been more accepting if Celebrity referred to them as French Balconies. That fits the description by having a window that opens and closes. But now you get to the part where a French Balcony typically has no table or chairs. So, if that were the case and in order to fulfill the exact definition, Celebrity would have no furniture on those verandas. Does that work for you? X would certainly not have to worry about foot stools. Know what you are getting, or don't get. Too many variables to worry about one definition.
  12. Again, RY, disrespect is kind of strong, but I'll give it to you if it makes you feel good. I do not empathize with anyone who berates Celebrity because of differences in how one defines veranda. If you want to play that game, you deserve what you get. And you know what, Celebrity does not have to draw it up according to anyone's specifications except their own. Shouting down X because of a lack of due diligence and a lackadaisical attitude about what one is spending lots of money on, deserves no support. It's a lesson learned. C'mon, RY. It takes no effort at all to read about IV cabins. It's not about how one defines veranda. It's about how one accepts the functionality of its design. If you book an IV and you don't like it, it's on you. Noone else. I like "these things."
  13. "Superiority complex" may be a bit strong RY, but I'll give it to you if it makes you feel good. I will counter with confidence and assuredness that my research into what I am spending my dollars on enables me to understand more about what I am buying. That way, I own the transaction and I am totally responsible for the results. Post #156 says it perfectly. They cruised in an IV, they did not like it, they will never cruise in one again. Concise and to the point. As to blinded by reality, my eyes are wide open and the reality that I see is a Celebrity cabin category that works for me. It's okay that an IV cabin does not work for you or anyone else who considers them to be an aberration. I like "these things", you don't. I will book 'em, you won't. It's as easy as that.
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