Covepointcruiser

If TK is to be a truly luxury dining experience they will turn down the rock music. It is played loudly while you eat and try to have a conversation. It is definitely not music for dining. The food is good although the portions were large and wasteful. They do try to up sell special cocktails and wines.

We loved the Porch on the Reflection. Everything on the menu is included in the $30 cover charge. You can also exclude some of the seafood on the tower and ask for extras of what you like, i.e. shrimp and lobster tails. We also enjoyed the white sangria served there. We even asked for the sangria when we ate next door at the Lawn Grill. The Porch has great atmosphere and the wait staff is excellent.

We are considering a Viking Ocean Cruise. What concerns me is the stampede towards the buses at the end of the “christening”. I would not have expected this from passengers on Viking, sounds more like Carnival!

Doesn’t even need to be a reasonable amount. Just put luggage tags on the cases of water and soft drinks. This is the only way to avoid paying for water and soft drinks on the ship.

Seabourn provides soap powder but it you use laundry softener bring dryer sheets to use when you dry your clothes. I als have no problem taking no clothes out of the washer and placing them in a basket. Someone probably forgot and got involved in a game, conversation or fell asleep. Be sure to double check the washer to make sure all of their items are removed.

We always bring a bar of our favorite shower soap with us. My husband does not like shower gel and deteststhe tiny bar soap. It’s not much added weight and it makes your suitcase smell great.

There are no themed parties on Celebrity. They do have 60’s, 70’s, disco parties but they star after 10 pm. They should also have a silent disco which is fun. You wan’t see anyone dressing differently. It is a casual line at best and many nights people dress as though they are going to a neighborhood store. No jackets, no dress shirts, you are lucky if the men wear shirts with collars. Many folks enjoy the casual vibe. You can dress for dinner but you will be in the minority even on chic nights.

I also start packing ahead of time for a cruise and have a dedicated packing room. Enjoy your cruise!

We would never cruise on any cruise line over Christmas. It is a very special time at home and with our church family. Cruising during holiday times often attract a different type of passenger. Certainly more children.

We cruise Cunard for the tradition and the elegance. We are not foodies and try to not overeat on cruises. Have always found something to eat, especially fish. We love the pub for a casual lunch or dinner.

If you do not enjoy Cunard, especially the QM2, there are many other choices in the market.

You are missing the point. The fiords make them no money. The tours do. My husband was speaking with other people who were equally upset. They have a choice on where to go, and obviously the $$$$$ is the determining factor.

You are mistaken, we took the same cruise and there was an expensive overnight tour in the fiords. The ship paused and passengers were taken to a smaller boat. They did a water tour and a land tour, met us at the first port in New Zealand. So yes, Celebrity lost a great deal of money skipping the fiords.

Do Butler's still line up in the foyer and escort the suite passenger into the theater. DH and I find that rather uncomfortable and would prefer to seat ourselves. However, we do like the roped off location for the views. Going to be in SS on upcoming Eclipse cruise.

Yes, the Butler wants to escort you. We no longer take advantage of this as it is awkward as we are so much taller than most butlers and we don’t care for the seats.

Pretty funny stuff, especially since all us white folks look the same, how could they possibly pick out the suspicious ones.;p My wife gets felt up every time she goes thru TSA, but not because she's 7 shades darker than me, her insulin pump seems to look suspiciously like and explosive device. They pat her down, swab her pump for explosive residue etc. We are used to it now but it's still a little irritating.

My husband is always pulled out for a pat down because of an artificial hip. It’s a pain but that is just the way it has to be, we are all penalized because of terrorists and other maniacs. Just cope with it, global entry or expedited clearances does not stop the extra screening.

First, everything old is new again. In the old ocean liner days there was a strict class structure, especially for dining. Cruising did away with classes of passengers, and now the class system seems to be coming back, with dedicated lounges and restaurants. The ships, of course, keep getting bigger. My first cruise was in 1987 on Home Lines Homeric (boy I still miss Home Lines). That was a large ship at 45,000 grt, and 1,200 passengers. Now, 230,000 grt and over 6,000. It's all driven by economics. If they could build smaller ships and still make money, Azamara would be building new 700-1,000 passenger ships, instead of recycling 16 year old ships. Economics drives the price bundling too. The cruise fare for my 1987 7 day cruise, inside cabin was more than the fare for a veranda today, and in 1987 dollars. The difference was that in 1987, drinks were $2 or $3, not $14. The annoying nickel and dimeing and constant sales are the only way to keep the fares steady. I don't like it either, but it is what it is.

In the old, old days of cruising 1961, there were no classes on cruises. We traveled in cabins without restroom, insides, lowest category, and we had free access to all area of the ship. They was a first class large siting room and a first class promenade but on cruises they were open to all. On transatlantic crossings there were classes. Cunard has several dining room depending on cabin but other ships had only one. There was no lido but there was a buffet once a cruise in the promenade. They did have midnight buffets.

I love the QM2 and especially love the days at sea as there is so much to do. We love the speakers who are always a step above Celebrity.

The Connie is an older Celebrity ship so it doesn’t have all the specialty venues that are on the Solstice class ships. Unfortunately for several of the ports they will dock quite a ways from the main destination. The QM2 will often use the tenders that will bring you closer to the main attraction but it will depend on the stop.

We have cruised on both but the QM2 World Cruise segment will be extra special.

There are two dessert shuffles on the dessert menu. I had both last week. Not at the same meal. They are the Grand Mariner Souffle and the Chocolate Souffle. Both are outstanding. Comes with white coffee ice cream on the side.

 

Murano is outstanding on the Silhouette.

What is “white” coffee, I have never heard of it?

Fast enough to stream youtube and Netflix.

It’s not that fast on a transatlantic perhaps because so many people are using up the bandwidth th stream videos.

We send our laundry out 4 times on a 12 day cruise, We are Elite Plus so we each get two coupons. It allows us to travel with just carryons if we choose.

So true, however the included laundry is only wash and fold. It certainly is not for anything that you want wrinkle free. They will also pit annoying scratchy tags on every item you wash. It helps to peel the tags off before you wear that item of clothing.

No perks are available on transatlantic repositioning cruises. You can get free drinks in Michaels Club but it will be very busy as all Suites , Celebrity on down, we do all their drinking here. They will also carry out beverages rather than spend money at other venues. At times the hostess will stop this but I have seen men stuff all of their pockets with beer cans.

If you book a Royal Suite or Penthouse premium drinks are included everywhere on the ship. In addition you can dine at Specialty Restaurants for all lunches and dinners.

We have been on Celebrity many times and over major Christian holidays when no minister or priest was onboard. However, there were always Friday night services for Jewish passengers but I don’t know if a rabbi is always on board. We have been in the main dining room when a rabbi was conducting services at a large table.

Used to see towel animals frequently but not any more. Doubt stewards have the time. In 2016 X switched from cabin stewards working in teams to operating solo and in the process reduced number of stewards around 30%.

Have cruised on Celebrity since 2000, and have never expected towel animal. Might have seen one once or twice. It is a regular on RCL so you should frequent that line if these are a must have.

On my last cruise, we were on the second part of a back to back a lady who was a bit loud kept pushing herself on us! For example we were invited to dine with the officers and she was put out because her & hubby were in a suite and had not been asked. The best bit was one night in Captains lounge she says who would want to be on deck 2 or 3 those rooms have no windows and might even be under the water level! Wow we were in OV and have done inside balconies and above. Enjoy our cruise no matter where we sleep. Dianne

Where is the Captains Lounge, have never been there.

When we were in a Royal Suiteon the Reflection we only ate breakfast inLuminae. Since you have already paid the up charge to the RS, you have paid for all meals in specialty restaurants. We liked the Porch or Lawn Club for Lunch. We are not big eaters so we often just had the flatbread and salad at the Lawn Club. The portions at the Specialty Restaurants are huge and we did not want to return home with extra pounds. Ask your Butler to have an evening cocktail party in your Suite with the other Royal Suite passengers. If you get along you may want to dine with some of them for lunch or dinner. We received no attention from the Michaels Club hostess as she was too busy with the many sky suite passengers to assist us. The Butler, however was helpful when he was not in the 9 other Suites he was responsible for including the Penthouse. They are stretched very thin!

Please help me to better understand the dining on the Equinox. We will be new to Celebrity and will be in a Royal suite. Where are we supposed to eat? Blu? Luminae? Specialty restaurants? Which is best and which would be appropriate for a special occasion celebration? Oh, I am having a hard time finding deck plans. If possible, please tell me which deck the restaurants are on. Thanks!

We were in a Royal Suite on the Reflection. Since all Specialty Dining was included we only ate breakfast in Luminae. We had Lunch in the Lawn Club, Porch, or Sushi on 5. We had dinner in Murano, Tuscan, or Lawn Club. With this suite you already paid for the Specialty Restaurants so why not use them? We are not big eaters so some evening we would go to the Lawn Club just for the salad and flatbread. The Porch is also very good if you wanna lighter meal.

We had a Royal Suite and the bed in the master was closer to a queen size but did not have the length of a stateside queen. It was not two single beds pushed together. The twins that are pushed together in other Suites are not the size of stateside twins so the bed is not as large as a King.

DW is looking forward to chic nights in March. So much so that she made me buy a decent black suit. I have to be laid out in something I guess.:halo:

I would certainly appreciate your new suit. On our transatlantic on the Refection we did dress for dinner especially on chic nights, however most people went from sloppy to sloppier. Didn’t see shorts in the MDR but saw them everywhere else.

lol :)

 

Someone mention, that cruise lines have no incentive to enforce any policy and I agree as he mention airlines too do not really enforce the luggage restrictions either for carry on.

In the old days, 60’s, my parents would reserve two deck chairs in their preferred location. Their names and stateroom would be attached to the chair. As kids we liked it because we would always be able to find our parents. There was a cost but it was for the entire cruise. Folks would line up to reserve chairs after boarding. Some chairs were left open but many were reserved. Worked well and seemed fair.