saltydoge

Just do what you would normally do on any cruise. You will not be in the way. The devastation is being overhyped in the media. Yes, the damage was serious, but you won't see much of it by the time you come down in November. Right now people are handling it well here and they won't resent anything. We need YOU to come down. Please.

Ocean Park is still flooded with water. Mobile service is still out. Half the island doesn't have clean drinking water. San Juan's airport is the primary landing space for supplies and personnel coming in via air.

Respectfully, when the infrastructure to support visitors (power restored to hospitals, uninterrupted supply lines island-wide, communications and mobile phone towers powered) is back up-and-running, I'll be back. In the meantime, the travel industry should do what they're good at — adapt to changing circumstances and prepare to accommodate government personnel, engineers, military and contractors that should be overwhelming the island to rebuild (if only we had the leadership to make this happen).

The problems being televised right now are due to labor strikes.

This is not at all true. You have been brainwashed by an orchestrated slander against organized labor. The only evidence of this is a Puerto Rican guy on YouTube saying it's happening.

Reports on twitter (no way to verify) is that the trucker union is on strike and that is why the containers from the ships haven't been moved.

I know reactionary garbage from the internet, especially on social media, tries to attack any form of collective solidarity, but blaming unions for holding up shipping doesn't account for the facts like:

1. Truckers, like many people in Puerto Rico, have probably lost their houses too.
   
2. There is very limited communication on the island, so even if someone was called into work, there is no way to notify them.
   
3. They know they have to get to work, but I'm guessing roadways were destroyed and/or they simply don't have fuel to get around themselves.
   

Also, if communications are out and people are struggling to find clean drinking water, what group of people — any people — would have the time to meet up and plan a demonstration or worker action? This is the fakest of fake news.

Royal & Celebrity are leaving their customers twisting in the wind until the last minute so they can keep our money, plain and simple. They know it's a disaster area and not fit for tourists. I'll be they're just holding onto the money to make the accounting books look good at the end of the third quarter, which if true is a huge disservice to all of us.

The airports don't have a working radar and the power grid is destroyed. Parts of San Juan, especially Ocean Park, are still flooded. Half the hotels are canceling reservations. Stop letting the accountants call the shots and cancel the sailings!

Patience, because the logistics, canceling sailings or whatever, can not be done in an instant.

 

 

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You're right — the logistics are probably a nightmare and take a great deal of time.

To everyone asking for patience, the Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company himself said he doesn't believe they can accommodate tourists until Thanksgiving, which sounds like an optimistic target date.

At a time when there are 3M+ people without power, clean water, food and medical supplies/attention, who the hell do the cruise lines believe they're fooling but themselves? For the love of god, if anyone at Celebrity is reading please do the right thing — not just for your customers, but for the people living through the consequences of Maria — and cancel the sailings. Use the Summit to evacuate Puerto Ricans to the mainland where kids don't have to miss a year of school and elderly people can get medicine and not die from the heat.

With the full appreciation Puerto Rico's tourism industry is the one economic bright spot in their multi-year recession, I cannot possibly believe cruise lines are still assessing whether San Juan is capable of hosting tourists.

We've all seen the devastation on social media and in the news — the floodwaters that haven't receded, the queues for rationed gas, the lack of electricity and running water and the airports that can barely accommodate relief flights. San Juan and the rest of Puerto Rico is not a vacation destination — it is a disaster area.

They don't need tourists, they need relief supplies.

When the hell are the executives at the cruise lines going to get this? Just take the losses and call up your re-insurance companies already — cancel the San Juan based sailings! They are not in a condition to receive visitors!

If you won't take it from me, then listen to what the Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company is saying on the record to the local newspapers.

Four big things.

1. I thought these ships were supposed to be SMALLER than the S-Class. The Edge is massive which, for me, is a turn-off. The best cruises I've had are on mid-sized ships, like the M-Class.
   
2. It looks like my iPhone turned into a ship. The design is stellar, but it's reaching a point where it doesn't feel like a ship-at-sea anymore.
   
3. Lots of pay-to-play areas, and I hate that they've cordoned off more of the ship for suites.
   
4. If I could afford the suite — why wouldn't I take the $40K to charter a yacht for a week for six of my friends instead of boarding this for myself and one other?
   

I thought this as well after my December 2014 cruise on the Reflection. Lots of promotions in the daily schedule, with even the cruise director announcing more sales than activities every day. What I noticed as well on that sailing was that the passengers were terribly obnoxious. I think all those negatives just fed off one another.

Contrast that to my sailing on the Summit in December 2015. Incredible crew with the best attitude and great working relationships with one another. The other passengers were a delight as well. I noticed there was a lot less emphasis on up-selling everything too, which didn't make the vacation feel as "cheap" as it did on Reflection.

I share in your frustration of your trip, though would encourage you to give it another try. I do wish it were a more "consistent" product though.

Our Third Celebrity cruise (on Eclipse) was a disappointment. We had viewed this line as providing upscale fun. On this cruise

 

-- over half of the activities on the daily schedule were something happening in one of the boutiques or shops. And those activities/sales did not even happen as or when advertised many times

 

--The live entertainment we had enjoyed at cocktail hour/sail away was not on the schedule most days. Some scheduled entertainment was cancelled to allow the foyer to be used for a selling/auction event.

 

--The majority of the passengers had beverage packages, which Celebrity seems to have paid for by cutting staff. If you enjoyed attentive, personal service from bar staff in the past--forget it--they had their heads down slinging drinks--no time to smile or talk or to mix a very good cocktail--Passengers asking for nuts or chips to accompany drinks at the bars were told that these were not available.

 

-Sommeliers no longer talk to passengers in the MDR--they were running around with four half full bottles of wine in their hands, filling glasses

 

--We concluded that the big increase in Beverage package passengers has changed the Celebrity experience into something like an extended "Booze cruise "--they appear to have chosen to cut a lot of the luxury and fun service items , figuring that customers won't mind as long as booze is free??

 

Doesn't work for us--we are very disappointed.

Thanks everyone for all the positive comments about my review. I will give Celebrity another try in the future. I like the suggestion of trying Celebrity in the Mediterranean with later seating dining. :)

Bryan, if you want the real Celebrity experience of days-gone-by, I encourage you to book the Summit for a Caribbean voyage on Celebrity. Much better itinerary, amazing crew and staff, and most importantly NONE of the cheap sales pushes you get from people in the shops and in the daily program. I did Reflection last year solo —*it mirrored your experience (lots of sales pushes, disengaged diners, and few pool loungers). But my experience solo on the Summit two months ago was the exact opposite (not at all salesy, great food and company, and pool chairs everywhere).

Like night and day.

Thanks for the help!

I'm afraid it'll break in my checked bags —*can one bring wine aboard in their carry on?

Family as in "Friends of Dorothy"?

Yeah!

Heading to San Juan a couple of days early to get into vacation mode. Was wondering if any family was planning to be on board?

Have to say that I agree —bring back the strings! I would be delighted if they played in the MDR, it adds a bit of ambiance and class.

On Reflection last year in the Caribbean, the pool deck music was canned and way too loud. Had to move to the Solstice Deck to get some quiet, but even there you could hear the thumping.

Tell me about Celebrity, we've gone on 3 Carnival cruises,1 upcoming on RC. We don't have any kids, do RC walls, zip lining. What kind of activities do they offer, do they have American food, or just fancy. Difference between M and S? Is there enough pools or is it just one pool.

Not sure by the way you worded your sentence if you don't do climbing walls and zip lines —*

I'm in my thirties, gay, and enjoy Celebrity. Can't speak too much to the activities as I usually just relax and do my own thing or hang out with friends. I know there's anything from trivia to wine tastings. You won't find a sexy man contest on the ship, a wave pool, or nightclubs that usually go past 1AM. For food, they have anything from burgers and pizza to lobster and caviar.

Celebrity is a bit quieter and a bit more upscale than other lines. You won't find many kids on the ship. They have a lot of bars, and the liquor is always top shelf. I hear the shows aren't that bad.

Exactly what Richpontone said. :-) I have noticed that the LGBT/FOD meetings on NCL's newer ships have been very well attended when I've cruised on them. Anywhere from 35-50 folks nightly.

I found no problems holding my partner's hand while strolling the deck on the Norwegian Jade out of Rome last year. No bad stares nor bad actions as everyone there is trying to enjoying their vacation.

Their "Friends of Dorothy" meeting had only five or six gay and lesbian couples at their daily meetings-about a half of the gay couples on the ship.

So there you are. Norwegian if you want your money's worth but gay travel agencies don't seem to book that line that often.

This has made me reconsider NCL in a possible trial run of another cruise line!

UGH, I posted the same type of poll. Had I seen yours, I wouldn't have. I'll see if I can get mine deleted. :-) Happy cruising!!

But did you contribute to mine first?! :D

Michael's Club on X is not separation for people ? Special corner in DR for VIP or whatever level they are on X it's not offensive? :rolleyes:

Cruising has never been egalitarian. On Celebrity, one can count several different ways they segregate passengers. If you are not an Elite member, you are prohibited from going to Elite events at different venues. If you are not sailing in a suite or in Aqua Class, you cannot take partake in their restaurants. Based on your position, it is my understanding that you would not take advantage of Captain's Club events or sail in a suite or Aqua Class because you would be aiding in the marginalization of other passengers.

Let me be clear: I'm all for perks (butlers, in-cabin meals, super-wide balconies) if you pay more. But do three whole decks of the ship need to be cordoned off? I don't think they do, and I'm sure there are more creative ways to enrich the experience of a suites guest that haven't been thought out yet.

Hey MSC, I hate your decor. It has that dated, kitschy feel that you can find in abundance at resorts and cruise ships around the world. Celebrity on the other hand — magnificent! The design of their ships really accentuates the modern in Modern Luxury.

As for the ship-within-a-ship concept, I think it's offensive. Don't get me wrong — I'd love to be able to find a spot at the pool more easily, but not if it comes at the expense of separating myself from the rest of the ship, which leads me to my final point....

I strongly believe that segregating passengers to give the illusion of luxury and exclusivity is an incredibly lazy business decision. I understand that guests in suites pay more and should therefore be entitled to more perks. But to separate people physically? That marginalizes passengers in an entirely new, and incredibly uncomfortable way, and I'll have no part in that.

If Celebrity ever moves towards this model, you can count me out.

Do people generally get vaccinated before a Carribean cruise? My co-worker is encouraging me to get Twinrix vaccine. Is this necessary? (I should probably ask my doctor but thought I'd get an opinion here first).

Hi there.

Twinrix is a combination of the hepatitis A & B vaccine. If you haven't been inoculated against hepatitis before, you may wish to consider it whether you're leaving for the Caribbean or not. It can protect you against contracting a liver infection at home and abroad, and is usually recommended before overseas travel.

Definitely talk to your doctor though, because, I'm not one.

As you can see from my signature, our favorite lines are Celebrity and Azamara. We are very loyal to both lines and they have been very good to us. We always feel welcome and never have to hide who we are. We have many crew that we met that are now good friends.

Wow, no kidding! That is a ringing endorsement for sure.

Salty Doge, What date are you sailing in March? we are on the Silli in March as well, March 27.

We'll be missing each other I'm afraid. I'll be sailing on March 6 — doing the Cozumel, Cayman Islands, Falmouth, Labadee itinerary.

Then my Wife wakes me up and give me the orders we shall unpack first then sort everything out thennnnnnnnnnnnnnn.

In Nov 2014 we had over 100 folks from our roll call attend my PIPH sailaway on Constellation. I think I can honestly say that a good time was had by most of them....

By the time the hordes have arrived, we are happily into our prem pkg.

And then....all bets are off.....

You guys are your stories... are the best.

Hey fam —*just booked my third cruise ever in March. It's with Celebrity, and I've always found the experience to be elegant and LGBT friendly. That said, I've been thinking what line I'd select for the fourth, or if I should stay brand loyal and stick with X.

Curious to know, as fellow LGBT-ers, your thoughts on:

• What line you enjoy sailing?
  
• Why you enjoy sailing on it?
  
• Any pro-tips or general advice for the LGBT cruise passenger?
  

First post on this section of the board as well, so also consider this post as a hello!