derekjp47

21 minutes ago, mlmbar said:

I heartily agree! I was in 1605 on the hump and LOVED it so much we are booked again in same cabin for November. I also have had Mohs so appreciate the shade. We loved Blu! All I can say is, people have their opinions and much I read about Aqua is from people who have not  been. If you don't like it , don't do it but don't ruin it for the rest of us. BTW we are paying less for Aqua than a Veranda is going for today 

I fully agree with the previous comment, we love the Aqua cabins because of the overhang, been under solarium many times without any issue, and Blu is terrific.

Thanks for the quick response, that’s what I thought, a bummer.

I’ve yet to see a question or comment regarding the balconies, if they can connect to the one next door like the traditional balconies do now.

I was very surprised to see the balcony configuration that creates a large number of restricted view balconies.

I saw that MSC is now matching loyalty status with other cruise lines. Would this help Celebrity and Royal Caribbean? I'm 14 points away from Platinum on Carnival and could probably convince Cindy to do a back to back to get to the next tier. Some folks don't want to leave and venture out because of their perks but would if their loyalty was recognized. This would sweeten the pot and help fill up some of those winter cabins in the Caribbean. Some of us might even try something more upscale like Azamara.

Who really sails for the loyalty points? That’s the farthest thing from my mind when booking a cruise. Itinerary, ship and reputation top my list. The perks that come with points are really over hyped.

I'm hoping the app will be updated for our cruise. It's a 9 nighter and at present we only have menus for 7!

Just curious, why would you want to know what you are going to eat for lunch two months from now. Their are so many alternatives on the ship, I can’t imagine you won’t find something to your liking.

Very true! They feel that the passengers just doesn't trust them to do a good job unless they receive a bribe. A pleasant "Thank you" works wonders.

We always bring a small gift as a gesture, something like a nice box of chocolates or similar. We enjoy having a friendly relationship with our room steward and wait staff, it makes for a more pleasant experience.

You have to be careful because part of the trip you will be connecting to Canadian cell towers, can be quite expensive, check with your provider for the right package. Having said that, I’m a proponent of turning off you phone for 23 1/2 hours a day on your cruise, you’re on vacation, leave it alone and relax, life will go on without you for two weeks.

I’m always amazed at the interest people express about internet utilization on the ships. IMO, I want to get away from all that stuff when on a cruise. I can see checking once or twice a day if you have any important messages, but beyond that you might as well stay home. Yet on every cruise I see people constantly checking phones and pads for various things. Come on folks, you’re supposed to be on Vacation !

The wines on the classic beverage package are not the best ... the label would be something similar to:

St Francis or Benzinger Chardonnay (just ok)

Wente Cab (which isn't too bad)

Pinot Grigio, Shiraz, Merlot, Prosecco, Port .... unknown vintner

 

The Kendall Jackson is on the premium package, not the classic. If you are a lover of better wines, you will definitely do yourself a favor by upgrading to the premium package. What is nice is that they will allow you to do so on day 2, 3 or 4 so you can determine if the classic package is sufficient for you and will prorate the upgrade charge for only the days you use it. Also, if you have the premium package, you can purchase a wine that is above the upper limit (I think it is now set at $13 per glass) and only pay the difference. If you have the classic package, you will pay the entire charge if you want a glass of wine over the $9 limit.

It is my understanding that they changed the Classic plan last year so you can now buy better wines and just pay the difference, same as premium.

Hello!

 

 

I've decided to take a cruise (Vancouver to Alaska) on Celebrity Cruise lines. This will probably be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I'm wondering what the best options are to make it as amazing as possible!

 

 

AquaClass's amenities sound appealing, but so do the Suites'. Food and drink will be a big part of the experience. What dining and beverage packages are available? Luminae or Blue? What are your dining experiences at those restaurants? What are their menus like, and which is better?

 

 

What have your overall cruise experiences been like?

 

 

Hoping to have a wonderful cruise!

Can’t go wrong with Celebrity in Alaska, same experience as Princess, except Celebrity goes to Hubard glacier. Princess does offer more choices of itineraries due to the six ships in the region versus only two for Celebrity. Balcony room is a must.

I believe it's silly and unfortunate based upon my observations of the continuing scare mongering of the environmentalist movement most of which is just an attempt to convince the gullible to donate their money. JMHO.

Have you ever seen the photos of the plastic islands in the pacific, they are huge, and guess where the plastic came from, just look in your mirror.

Thanks for the heads up.. we will bring a few plastic straws along with us assuming we can still get canned soda. We'll also bring some plastic cups and utensils, just in case.

 

Water in cans is okay with us but the liitle milk type water containers they have at some hotels are awkward for some uses....more so with a paper straw!

You’re a real big help toward solving a problem, better idea would be for you to stay home.

We encountered the same situation several months ago, had to cancel three days prior to cruise. The most important document you need to submit is the letter from the doctor, and the second important letter is one from Celebrity detailing what you paid and what credits they provided, which includes the port fees and taxes. Celebrity issued our credit within days without us having to even request it. I contacted the Captains club and they assisted in providing the letter detailing the charges and credits, they indicated this was a regular request they deal with. The email letter from Celebrity came within an hour. I filed everything online, but it still took a month to get reimbursed.

Avoid celebrity. Not what it once was.

Besides many issues like entertainment one worse than the other.

Tender in Shetland islands 2 hours to get off ship. Get very little time in port because not enough tenders.

Using 2 80 passenger tenders to get almost 3000 off the ship.

Stupid dump awful.

Have tenderd many ports pri

 

Princess, Cunard and others never such a stupid ridiculous experience.

Any line is better than Celebrity!!!!!

 

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Relax, you have nothing to worry about, after all you’re going on a cruise so be excited about it. Have trust in the captain, he’s going to keep everyone safe. Enjoy your cruise and don’t worry about the weather.

Plenty of discounts available onboard, especially first night, you may end up with a better deal overall.

Nothing to worry about, I would be shocked if they don’t work it out for you to dine together.

If they want to up sell or offer products, I don't have a problem with it. Advertise them online, in their brochures and in the dailies. But don't have people hawking them like Carnival side show men at every turn. I don't want to have to refuse the up sell every time I order a drink. I hate having to run the gauntlet of these guys hawking beverage and dining packages as soon as I step on the ship at embarkation. I don't want to go to a show or demonstration on board, only to find out I have to pay for it. Entertainment is supposed to be included in the fare. Celebrity is in danger of turning into Carnival. I originally chose Celebrity because they had more class than that.

 

There are ways to sell these things more discretely, without becoming annoying.

I totally agree with the OP. I have been on many cruises, and I have yet to experience the upsell aggravation some are complaining about. First of all, many folks are going on their first cruise and don’t know about the various drink packages or specialty restaurants. Secondly, some of you that are complaining that it wasn’t like that in the past, is because they didn’t have the various packages or specialty restaurants in the past. The OP is correct, the lines are in the business of making money for thei shareholders, and they operate on razor thin margins. On any given cruise, the difference of making a profit on that particular cruise sometimes comes down to bar sales or specialty restaurant business, it’s that close. Finally, just enjoy your cruise, yo’re on a vacation that millions wish that could take, so be Thankful.

I'm clearly missing something because I simply do not get all the hype about ANY cruise director, much less Mr. Spacey. Are there really that many cruisers out there dependent upon a single person to ensure that a good time is had when they cruise? I've seen him show off his silly socks before and I guess it's sorta cute, but I've never looked to a cruise director on any ship that I've ever sailed to ensure that my days and nights were adequately filled with entertainment. So, it's an honest question.. What do CD's actually do, behind the scenes, that is?

I’ve been on several cruises with Richard Spacey and he is absolutely the best CD at sea, so much energy and fun, keeps you laughing constantly. Having said that, Sue Denning is a close second, she is absolutely marvalous, especially if she puts on one of her performances.

A good cruise director can make a world of difference for your experience, go on a few cruise and you’ll see what I mean.

Thanks for your post. Everything you described about Viking is exactly why we just booked a cruise on the Viking Star next year.

 

"the Viking product is great if you love to read, love classical music or quiet piano music. The evening entertainment is decent with a collection of singers, and the band excellent. But the songs so far have definitely appealed more to a older generation. Not really a club for dancing if you enjoy that. The pool is definitely quiet, no games, but no music either"

 

Sounds like what cruising used to be before it turned into an over-amplified, alcohol-fueled, county fair with the Beverly Hillbillies and their feral children.

If I wanted that atmosphere I would move to a nursing home.

I was reading a current message thread here about a recent cruise on Summit. A comment was made that Summit will be taken out of the fleet in 2018. It was stated as if it was a matter of fact. Did I miss something? Is this true? I know that 2 new ships are on the way, but this doesn't necessarily mean that ships are leaving.

It’s absolutely amazing how these stories get started. If you do any fact checking at all you can see the Summit is available for Bermuda cruises through September 2019, then other cruises beyond that. Fake news !

We aways get off the ship at every port...problem....can't find an excursion we want to do that doesn't break the bank...we have 2 kids along too...wanted to do day trip to Nevis but heard boring for kids and it's expensive! !

 

Will we really be missing out a ton if we don't check out St Kitts?? Also heard it's not the safest.......

 

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The train ride tour is tremendous, lots of fun for whole family, get to tour entire island.

We will be traveling with our 9 year old son as well as with grandparents. We are doing the August sailing from Barcelona to Venice on Constellation. I am wondering how to arrange transportation into cities - mostly to Florence and Rome without paying for an excursion. Does Celebrity provide transportation only? My son is open to all experinces so we aren’t worried about entertaining him and prefer to do the cities on our own. Since we will also have grandparents (mid 70s) with us we need to figure all activity levels in terms of ease of getting into the cities. Open to trains but how far from actual ship are the stations? Thank you for your expertise😀

The ports are a significant distance from both Rome and Florence that you would be taking a big risk trying to see those cities using public transportation. My first recommendation would be to use your roll call and see if you can join up with some other passengers and arrange a private tour. It is by far the best way too see both cities and maximize your time and at a reasonable rate.

Second option would be to use the cruise line transportation into each city, then walk around on your own. Please keep in mind the two cities are quite large and can be confusing to get around, quite easy to get lost without a guide.

Decide before hand what sites you want to see the most, then plan from their.

I originally posted asking if the Dining Package was worth the money, but realize now I should have asked my question a little differently... for those who have previously been on a Rock & Romance Cruise - is it “doable” to purchase the Dining Package with concert schedules? We won’t get the actual schedule until mid February and since this is our first time on this cruise, we are uncertain as to how the concerts work. We don’t want to miss any of the performances. Our only experience has been with the Rock Legends cruise and each group/Artist performed at least 3 different times, making it easier to see them all. Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide!

Just take Anytime dining then you have nothing to worry about, dine according to the show schedule.