kencr

You can call and get them sent or not to worry since the porters do the tags when you arrive at the ship.[/quoteThis OK for curb luggage drop off.But last 2 ports (Amsterdam and Vancouver) we had to drag luggage into terminal and people who had porters writing luggage tags blocked the line of people who had their tags on their luggage.]

We were on deck7 7161 same problems

you can see straight out just not down for obstruction

for particle obstruction. on bump your view is 160 horizonal degrees instead of 180 degrees. I did not know I was in particle obstruction until I got home.

I would rate view problems as minor . I saw Venice and other ports with no problems.

On next 4 cruises I picked decks 8 and 9. The particle obstruction exists on all decks. But the veranda is larger than regular ones as a plus. Only been on Solstice class ships.

Wife and I did cruise last Sept.,weather was high 60s 1 st day. The next four days mid 70s. Seas were calm all 5 days.Kona to Helio Capt. sail passed volcano on south side of island at night. Tendering at Kona and Maui. Activities on board Lei making ( 2 classes and packed), Hula lessons, and ukalali playing. My third cruise on Solstice ,great service and food. Ship didn't have lawn grill and porch.Sushi on 5 is there , never saw many people using it. We got a 30% discount at Murano and Tustin, both were 1/2 full. Wanted to try a 5 days at sea cruise. Would do it again. We had a port side cabin for sun. Embarkation was not pleasant at Canada Place. 2 ships were embarking at same time, 2 floors one for luggage drop off and 2nd floor for check in. Canada takes blame. 1 hour and 15 minutes , usually 10 to 30 minutes ,

9never sw

May 2016 Baltic cruise Silhouette We arrived in MDR around 12 noon 50 to 60 people dining in middle of room. Menu had 3 app.,3 mains, 3 desserts. Enjoyed lunch , at least 1 main was veg. Way better than buffet. When we left maybe 80 people dining.

We also got to go to a sail off on helicopter deck. Drinks, snacks, and crew to converse with. Celebrity split concierge into 2 groups , 1/2 one day and rest on another day.

Sounds like each ship does luncheon slightly different.

1 Carnival Breeze Regal Princess (New) Eurodam Carnival Sensation Celebrity Equinox Disney Wonder Totals: 6 (16,968)

2 MSC Opera Totals: 1 (2,200)

3 AIDAluna Totals: 1 (2,050)

4 MSC Armonia Totals: 1 (2,163)

5 Brilliance of the Seas Carnival Miracle Veendam Totals: 3 (6,809)

6 Rhapsody of

The Seas Carnival Freedom Monarch Disney Fantasy Celebrity Summit Totals: 5 (14,333)

7 Carnival Vista TUI Discovery 2 Liberty of the Seas Totals: 3 (10,076)

8 Carnival Dream MSC Opera Seven Seas Explorer Totals: 3 (6,664)

9 Celebrity Silhouette Totals: 1 (2,886)

10 Riviera Totals: 1 (1,258)

there a number of days with one ship in port for March

What I do is type

"grand cayman port schedule 2018"

The easiest way is type

" port name ( ..ie port Miami) cruise ship schedules 2017"

this will list the whole years ships in port (dock number), arrival time and departure time.

It is critical at some ports because dock may hold only 2 cruise ships and other ships will dock a few miles away and have added shuttle to city.

Wife and I were on reverse cruise last Sept. on Solstice. When we got on board and got our free cocktail. There was a waiter 20 feet from us , back to wall and a clip board. I knew what he was there for. I wanted Tuscan and Murano , he said 30% off and we booked 2 restaurants. We booked dates and time right there. 1 minute for transaction.

Both restaurants were not crowded 50 to 60% full. Murano has a luncheon once in a while. ($30)

Wife and I ( 70) did Barcelona to Rome , Venice and 4 other ports.

Barcelona was nice 80s . 6 ports were 95+ and humid. Plus Rome and Venice were crowded , I mean packed. Dubrovnik , Montenegro and Malta were not crowded. Don't be fooled by a sign saying condition air , it means they have a fan inside. I had a digital thermometer on table on balcony and it never went below 78 degrees even at night. We had a good time, bring a hat, water and try to stay in shade. Last 4 cruises were NOT in summer.

We were on May 14 cruise last year. We got there 3 day early and weather was great 75 degrees and clear. On May 14 cruise day at 5pm it was light rain and 49 degrees. Light rain on 1st day in St. Petersberg. Like the others check weather (10 day forecast) for each port before leaving. May is a roll of the dice.

I was looking at London to Lauderdale this Oct, on Equiox only 2 rooms available on my TA web site ,Aqua class and $6600 pp cabin

Another reason for crazy prices there used to 4 ship doing TA in spring and fall. Now only 3 ships.

Wife and I were on Solstice in Sept.2016 Vancouver to Hawaii

1st day high 60s partly cloudy

next 4 days mid 70s partly cloudy

ocean some white caps. smooth sailing

had cabin on port side for sun.

Hawaii warm 80s no rain on 10 day cruise

ship did not have lawn grill and porch.

after dry dock in Oct. who knows if they were added.

we have been on Solstice 3 times and love ship and crew

I have only been on Silouette and Solstice but on 5 cruises.

Murano hands down . Murano offers a lunch ($30) but not every day to see if you like it. Murano is usually not crowded day or night.

We were on Silhouette ( Baltic cruise) last May ,We never made reservations , We Arrived at any time on deck 4 starboard side. We never waited more 2 minutes. Last Sept. on a Vancouver to Hawaii cruise on Solstice select diners were mixed with people with reservations and was not pretty. The ships maybe identical but not how they are run.

Have you documents in hand with credit card and passport. There are 30 people to check passengers in. I usually arrive at 11:30 . If 5pm departure get there by 3:30pm . Check in takes most of the time 10 to 25 minutes. Vancouver is an exception. Have a nice cruise.

We just boarded the Solstice in Vancouver in Sept. for Hawaiian cruise. 15 feet from free boarding cocktail was a waiter with clip board against the wall. I knew what he was there for. I said Murano and Tustan. He said 30% off. I said sold and he booked time and dates. In 5 cruises I have not been pestered by sales man as some people have stated selling beverage, photo or food pkgs.

Viking web site is interesting. Has free excursions at ever port, Has washing machines on every deck. All cabins have balconies.Plus what Azulann said. Please review your Viking cruise .

My wife and have been on 3 Solstice cruises. Took Aust. NZ cruise Jan 2014. Great cruise. Was on ship in Sept for Vancouver

Hawaii cruise. I have never passed a crew member or officer without a hello with a smile. The Solstice ships (5) all get 82 to 86 ratings. CDC inspections 6 of the Celebrity 9 ships got an 100% rating. No other cruise line was even close.I have read 1000s and 1000s of reviews. A very small percentage give low ratings 10 will give 4 or 5 rating then 1 person give a 1 or 2 rating then the next 10 give a 4 or 5 rating. I throw out the one very low rating. Any problem we had was fixed promptly.On my cruises (5) the cruises tend to be retired 70% 60 or older,20% 45 to 60. Very few children and never felt crowded and peaceful cruises.

In Sept.2016 still no Lawn Grill and no porch. But ship went in for a dry dock in late Oct. I have not heard what changes were made. Ship was christened 2008.

I don't know if CDC standards are included in Cruise Critic ratings but 6 of the 9 Celebrity ships got a 100 rating. 2 others were in high 90s. No other cruise line was even close.

I have been on 5 Solstice Class ships in the last 5 years. I have eaten at all restaurants except Ilumina.

I would rated them a 4 or 5 star. When I see a cruiser rate dining a 1 or 2 star on Celebrity I say REALLY you ate 15 to 25 meals on a cruise and all of them were sub standard. 9 out 10 cruisers rate Celebrity dining a 4 or 5 star. I question your judgement .

As a side comment the last CDC inspection of the 9 Celebrity ships 6 of the 9 got a 100 rating. No other cruise line got that many.

We were Silhouette on Feb. western Caribbean cruise 2015.

8 pm lawn grill dining. Plastic wall were down but still cool. Bring jacket, sweater or something. We sat next to plastic wall.

On our first Celebrity cruise in 2012 My wife's 2 bags were held on deck 2 for having an iron in one and a bottle of vodka in the other. All was held till disembarkation.

We did 12 day Rome ,Naples,Venice,Malta,Montanego and Dubrovnic in 2012 Aug. every port 95 degrees , humidity. Bring hat, Italian cities crowded, lots people selling junk. If I were to go again middle of Sept. I was 70 yrs old.

conditioned air does not mean Air Conditioning

We were on Silhouette in May 2016 Baltic cruise

lunch menu had 3 starters , 3 main courses (one fish, one meat and one pasta) and 3 desserts.

maybe 75 pp at 11:30 and when we left maybe 100 pp.

What surprises me is that each ship has different standards for service, food and other little things. Select dining was handled differently on Silhouette then Solstice.

Silhouette was orderly and only select diners on starboard side deck 4.Solstice was messy, mixed diners, reserve diners with select diners, one line and wait line.

Except for the first sitting in MDR, I had never been rush at any of restaurants on a Celebrity ship. 5 cruises on Solstice and Silhouette ships

The Murano and Tustin which I eaten many times are rarely crowned, usually 1/2 full. I eaten in Select MDR last 3 cruises , same there no rush.

I have been to europe 5 times and including 2016 for ground tour by auto and never rushed and I had to ask for bill at every restaurant.You can stay as long as you want.

It is a different attitude in Europe and cruise ships than in USA.

We got off in Hawaii a day early. Go to Concierge desk deck 3. Tell them a few days ahead your plans. We were tendered , crew handled luggage to dock.