Raxter54

Appreciate the inputs. Some decisions to be made...

Not a photography question, but maybe some people with optics expertise could recommend a good set of binoculars to take on a cruise. Looking for something with an 8x or 10x magnification, and 40-50mm objective lens. if anyone has a recommendation, a suggestion, or any experience with them, I would appreciate hearing it. Thanks!

Yeah, very confusing to say the least. 🙄

According to the Celebrity website, the last cruise of the Apex in October 2024 is the 12th, an 11 night cruise that starts and ends in Southampton. The next scheduled cruise is a 12 day trans-Atlantic on November 9th, starting in Lisbon and ending in Ft Lauderdale. That leaves a 16 day gap, plenty of time for a 2 week dry dock....

Yeah, which makes you wonder - 3 years in service, and almost 1 1/2 years of that in "moth balls", why does it need a dry dock anyway? Just curious....

Here's the e-mail about the dry dock. Looks like some of the cancellations are due to rescheduling after the dry dock. Yeah, 2 weeks is just a refurbishment time...

The Apex is now scheduled for a dry dock in late October 2024 into November. I was wondering if anyone would know how extensive Celebrity dry docks are? Will it just be a "refurbishment" dry dock, just tidying up things, or will it be extensive, adding new venues and upgrades? Just curious, since we sail on her in February 2025. If nothing else, maybe she'll have that "New Ship" smell when we get on 🙂

Don't really like any of the Celebrity shore excursions for our Feb 2024 Apex cruise. We've done Nachi Cocom numerous times in the past. Was wondering if anyone had recommendations for another all-inclusive day-pass location on Cozumel. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

That about sums it up. Luckily we purchased the soda package back in June of last year, before it disappeared. I assume it will be honored for our February cruise. I guess us non-alcohol drinkers who have been thanking the buyers of the alcohol packages for subsidizing part of our cruises are now being forced to ante up like the drinkers 😏 Not looking forward to lugging 12 packs of soda on the ships...if the cruise lines don't get rid of THAT option....

No. You buy the basic package, and add on what you will need/use, then go sailing. IMO....

Quick question - what sodas are available on the Apex? DW will be disappointed if they don't have Dr Pepper or Mr Pibb...

Doing away with a $9 dollar a day soda package and replacing it with a $30 a day non-alcoholic package seems like a money grab to me.....

Something strange is going on I purchased the Soda package for Deb and I for our Feb 2024 cruise on the Apex. Just got on the Celebrity website to see if the price for the Soda package had dropped (so I could cancel and rebook at the lower price). But... no Soda package is showing up for purchase, only two different drinks packages and a non-alcoholic drinks package. Glad we booked it when we did. Makes me wonder what kind of package will be offered to us when we board....

Much appreciated. You would think Royal could change the luggage tag notification to say "Available 30 days prior to your sailing." 🤔

Just a quick question - when are luggage tags available to print out? We are now at 43 days til we cruise on the Allure OTS on Feb 12th, Check-in has been completed, arrival time selected, all info uploaded, boarding pass loaded. But the "View Luggage Tags" section is greyed out and says "This guest is checked in. Their luggage tag is still processing, so come back later to print a copy." I would think since they have our name, our booking number, and cabin number, it wouldn't take much "processing" to produce a luggage tag. I know, 1st world problem.....

Did it on the Allure in 2019, looking forward to eating breakfast there again this February...

Just received an email from "info@princessupgrade.princess.com" with a chance to bid for cabin upgrades. But clicking on the link, it goes to "upgrade.plusgrade.com/offer". Is this legit? Does this 3rd party handles Princess's upgrade bidding program? If it is legit, one more question - we currently have a mini-suite on the Ruby for our February cruise. One of the upgrade bids is for a "club class mini-suite". Is this an actual room upgrade (where we would be moved from our current room) or just an upgrade to amenities? Asking because I don't see a listing for "club class mini suite" on the Princess website... TIA for any information...

Our first Princess cruise is in February. I've ordered our Medallions to be delivered. Does this change mean we will have to pick them up in Galveston?

+5 for the Spiro Agnew reference 😁

Hmmm, never considered using the app. Might be a possibility...

Being a new Princess cruiser, I was wondering what dining options were available on the Ruby Princess on embarkation day? i assume the buffet and Salty Dog Grill would be open, but was hoping to avoid crowds as much as possible. Are any of the MDRs open that day?

Feb 19 2023 will be our first ever Princess cruise on the Ruby Princess. How far out from your sailing date will you be able to select your arrival group on the Medallion app?

That would put you between decks that have SV cabins above and below you. Not sure how noisy it is over Eden, but this would definitely be quieter...

I'm wondering if it has to do with the fact there are no Princess ships sailing out of Galveston until the Ruby Princess moves there in November?

Well, I went into the medallion app, went to the shipping section...and it says shipping to the port is not available🤨 Guess I'll wait a while and see if it becomes available closer to final payment time...