alexandria

Good grief those trip reports just flew by!  I can imagine the trip did as well...

Safe travels home.

On 9/5/2024 at 12:00 PM, serene56 said:

I tried looking at those prices but it was 125.pp more then booking direct.   Whats the purpose of this?  

I've noticed that several times on Flights by Celebrity (FbC).  I looked at some domestic first class flights on Delta yesterday and found the price booking direct with Delta was about 15% less than FbC.  Not only that but FbC indicated any changes would incur a $200 fee plus any airfare difference, whereas Delta does not charge any fees for changes if booking direct.

For economy class, the airfares on FbC were 10%-20% higher on a few of the flights I checked.

While others report finding better fares on FbC, I have personally found that to be the case, whether on FbC, Air2Sea (RCI) or the Silversea Air Programme.  It pays to compare and book whichever option makes the most sense for you.

8 minutes ago, leaveitallbehind said:

Just curious, what is a "soda", as included in the Classic package versus a "premium soda" as included in the Premium and Non-Alcoholic packages?  Brand name v generic brand?

The included sodas in the Classic package are Coke, Sprite, Diet Coke, Diet Sprite and similar Coca-Cola products.

The non-alcoholic package includes all of the regular sodas plus the "premium sodas" which are the San Pellegrino Italian Sparkling Drinks, Red Bull and similar products.

So the OP calls this an "Ultimate Guide" and seeks that it be prominently posted at the top of every cruise line forum apparently as some sort of authoritative source of information?

And yet the first section wants to clarify and educate members here on what OP considers correct terminology but which is not consistent with terminology used by Celebrity and some other cruise lines.

And a significant part OP's post consists of their opinion? 

Not an authoritative guide, not anything to "sticky", just another tipping thread.  😒

DW and I leave next week for the Anchorage-Tokyo sailing of the Muse.  Attached is a copy of the pre-cruise transfer information from Silversea.  We considered whether to do the train transfer, the Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic or the bus transfer so I did some research on the various options.  I've also linked a trip video of both train options below.  Here's what I learned:

The ARR Coastal Classic departs the ARR depot in downtown Anchorage (not the airport station) at 6:45 am and arrives at the ARR depot in Seward (about 1/2 mile from the cruise ship terminal) around 11:15 am. You will likely have a couple hours to wait in Seward before you can board, embarkation time generally begins no earlier than 1pm (for our sailing it is 2pm).  There is no lounge or comfortable seating in Seward in the cruise terminal.  However, you may be able to drop your bags there and explore Seward for a few hours.  If you take the Coastal Classic, you also have to get your luggage to the ARR depot in Anchorage and then from the ARR depot in Seward to the ship.  The fare this season is $220 per person one-way for Gold Star Service.  They use two level dome cars; the lower level is the dining area, the upper level has forward facing seats and an outdoor viewing area.  There is also an observation car.  That fare includes breakfast, soft drinks and two adult beverages per person.  Adventure Class is $108 pp and just provides a standard train coach seat, you can purchase snacks and meals onboard.

The Silversea train transfer uses a chartered ARR dome car train with booth seating and a provides a modest box lunch.  You check in for the Silversea train transfer as shown on the attached document.  It departs the ARR station at the airport at 1:30pm (may vary up to thirty minutes either way, depending on your sailing) and arrives at the cruise terminal at 6pm (or four and a half hours later).  You drop your luggage when you check-in for the Silversea transfer at the hotel or Egan Center and they will deliver it to your stateroom.  It is just a few hundred yards from the train to the cruise terminal.  Last time I checked, the cost to substitute the train transfer was $210pp.

Transfer on a charter bus is included for all passengers who did not book D2D.  Transfer time on the bus is about three (3) hours and they begin departing from the Egan Center at 9:30am and the Silversea hotels at 10:30am.   Absent a major highway incident, the train arrives at the Seward Cruise Terminal about two to three hours after the arrival of the last of the transfer buses.  The highway and the train tracks run parallel along much of the route so the scenery is the same on those portions of the trip. 

Hope this helps.

Silversea charter train transfer Anchorage to Seward: 

Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic Gold Star Anchorage to Seward:

Silversea Seward Pre-Cruise Information.pdf

8 hours ago, Cruisegirl6 said:

Hello, the cruise is 8 nights ABC islands.  I have peripheral artery disease in both legs and an ankle and dealing with that, now I have balance/gait issues that they feel is due to nerve damage.  I am taking nerve conduction testing tomorrow, the results will be in on monday and I will be on the cruise.  I guess if I went all these weeks feeling like I am falling or passing out I can get through another week.  I just figured if the doctor ordered like prednisone or something that is common that I be able to get it and start it immediately.  There is a small chance the doctor get the results friday then I be able to get the medication, if there is one to give me, or monday the latest.  I thank you for your kindness, your help and god bless you.

Please discuss your cruise plans, as well as the concern about getting necessary medication while away, with your physician.  It may be inadvisable for you to sail at this time with balance and gait issues unless you are prepared to possibly make your way around the ship using a cane, walker or mobility scooter.  Or it may just simply be inadvisable.  You and your physician need to make that determination together.

If your physician clears you to sail, he can go over any risks that would be posed by your doing so prior to a full review of all test results and proper dispense of any Rx that may be indicated.  Frankly, I would expect any licensed and competent physician would refuse to "call in" or send a new prescription to a pharmacy/drug store in a foreign country on your behalf before discussing with you the results and proposed treatment plan. 

And please, whatever you do, DO NOT walk into a business in Mexico (or any other foreign country) and ask for any type of medication.  First, there is a risk (perhaps substantial) that what they will provide you will not be genuine, pure, effective or unaltered.  Do you have any idea how many American citizens have died as a result of ingesting fentanyl-laced pills that were brought into the US from Mexico?  Many thousands.

Even if what you receive is genuine and safe, when you fill an Rx at your local pharmacy, the pharmacist knows what you are currently taking, whether you have any allergies and so on.  If there is the potential for adverse drug interactions or allergic reaction, the pharmacist can consult with your physician before dispensing.  And when dispensing a medication that is new to you, your local pharmacist will provide you instructions on how and when to take the medication and what side effects, if any, to expect.

Finally, from a legal standpoint, acquiring or attempting to acquire anything you would consider "prescription medication" in a foreign country can expose you to adverse consequences, including arrest and imprisonment.  It is simply unwise.

Again, I urge you to speak with your physician about your travel plans and your desire to acquire appropriate medication while on your cruise.  I suspect that if the physician does indicate it is okay for you to sail, since this appears to be a chronic condition, he/she will not discuss any treatment plan or prescribe any new medications for you until you have returned.  If so, please be sure you understand the risks of sailing without having a treatment plan in place.  And discuss with him/her what mobility assistance is appropriate to best ensure that you can cruise safely and minimize your risk of injury from a fall onboard.

Best wishes.

 

8 hours ago, Rewind said:

My DW pointed out the only improvement they could have put in would be a wet locker in each stateroom to hang your wet swimsuits / rash guards from when you come back from snorkeling.

On ships with self-serve laundry (like Silversea and Seabourn) we take a couple of mesh laundry bags.  I wonder if Celebrity would permit passengers to bring one in which to put those wet items and hang them with the wet suit down on the marina deck?  Or would there not be sufficient room with everything else that is already hanging there? 

21 minutes ago, Rewind said:

 

Yes walking sticks are provided.  They are wooden ones that come up to your waist and have a rubberized handle.  They are located just before you board the zodiacs.  If you think you want something better like a trekking pole, you will need to provide that yourself.

Thanks.  I live on about fifty (50) mostly-wooded acres in the country near the NC/GA/SC border so my usual walking sticks are picked up off the forest floor!  Just getting to use one with a rubberized handle is pretty fancy for me!  😁

Great "live" pics and reports, thanks so much!  It is fun to travel vicariously through well-written and photographed live threads such as this one.

Quick question:  I've read conflicting reports online...does Celebrity have walking sticks onboard for passenger use during excursions?

2 hours ago, Ciaranaman said:

Great details and pics!  I'm getting super-excited!  Only 20 months to go 🙃.   When you go on excursions, do you bring a daypack with you (like the one X gifted)?  If so, is there a chance that they get wet in the zodiacs?

Thank you!

Bernadette

As one who used to do a great deal of scuba diving around the world (and still snorkels as often as possible), may I recommend that you purchase an inexpensive dry bag for anything that you want to stay dry?  A small dry bag should work and then you can drop that into the Celebrity daypack.

I'm certain that even with the type of rigid inflatable boat (RIB, but commonly referred to generically as Zodiak) used on the Flora, items in the daypack are susceptible from becoming wet, either while on the RIB or during wet landings. 

Amazon has a huge selection of dry bags.

Thanks for the feedback!

6 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

In that situation  you may wish to avoid booking an Alaska or Iceland cruise.  

 

My experience has been that 99+% have raved about the enjoyment to see possibly a once in a lifetime Northern Lights experience.   I've never recall them making an announcement after 11:00 PM.  

 

I think it would be almost an impossibility on a ship but on a Pre-Cruise Alaska excursion the hotel had the option of having the front desk call your room should the lights appear.   There were probably fewer than 200 guests at the Lodge.

We've been on several Alaska cruises on other lines, including a few voyages where we had a wonderful display of the northern lights.  None, however, made announcements at night about them.  I recall that the cruise director on at least one of those cruises talked about how to see the northern lights during his normal "here's what's coming up later this evening" announcement.  I also had one or two sailings where they had a few paragraphs in the daily about it with viewing tips (one of them may have been the same cruise where a daytime announcement was made, I don't recall).

But in all of those cases, many passengers were already aware before boarding that there was the possibility of seeing the northern lights and those who were interested took the time and initiative to stay up late and look for themselves.  Quite a few of them were on their balconies or on deck to see them (without the need for a near midnight prompting from the announcement system). 

IMO, as a matter of courtesy to other passengers, those who really want to experience a "once in a lifetime" viewing of the northern lights can make the sacrifice of missing a few hours of sleep to watch for them so that everyone else may enjoy a peaceful night.  Of course, the fault here (if any) lies entirely with the officers on the Summit, not with the passengers who enjoyed the experience.

But clearly that is an unpopular opinion among those who have responded in this thread, including a couple who were incredibly disrespectful and unkind in their comments (subsequently deleted by the moderators).

On 3/29/2024 at 9:19 AM, drron29 said:

I agree that the evening meal in Kaiseki on the Dawn and Muse is not worth the upcharge and is a poor example of Japanese cuisine.

However on the Muse the Kaiseki evening meal is worth the upcharge being a Teppenyaki experience. certainly not the best we have had but usually we pay way more than $US 40 for a Teppenyaki meal featuring lobster, Waygu and fish.

Did you mean to say Dawn and Moon?

We'll be on the Muse next week and trying to decide whether make a reservation at Kaiseki.  Is there any more recent feedback about Kaiseki on the Muse?

I love how they really rolled out the "blue" carpet for you at GPS.  😉

These are great, thanks for taking us along!

Fair winds and following seas my friend.  🛳️

I get the enthusiasm, I do. And I'm glad that your wife was able to enjoy the experience.

One of our family members that we bring on cruises when he is medically stable suffers from several severe and debilitating conditions, including stroke pain.  It is often difficult for him to get to sleep and equally difficult for his wife who stays up until he is asleep so that she can try to help him get comfortable.  It is a blessing for them both when they get a decent night's rest.

I know what effect being startled awake would have on them both and I can't help but feel great sympathy to any on your sailing for whom the experience was anything but exciting and joyful. That's why I think there was a better way Celebrity could have handled this. That's all.

28 minutes ago, the penguins said:

you had better avoid Hurtigruten they announce the Northern Lights every time. Of course, if you book the right cruises, they also offer a free 7 night cruise if the Lights don't appear.

Thanks for the tip, I'll keep that in mind.  I do wonder whether Celebrity (and some others who cheered this late night announcement) gave any pause to consider those with medical conditions which effect their ability to sleep, or their ability to return to sleep if awakened by loud noises.  Or even just those "early to bed, early to rise" passengers.  Not everyone stays up late at night, even on a cruise!  I see from the comments that there were some who were very happy that the late-night announcement was made.  I hope, however, that their enthusiasm that an announcement was made does not reflect a lack of empathy for their fellow passengers who may not have been so pleased with Celebrity's approach.

Absent an urgent emergency situation, I would never knock on a neighbors door late at night, or call a friend, family member or work colleague at nearly midnight and risk interrupting their sleep.  When traveling, I endeavor to be a considerate "neighbor", being very careful not to disturb those in neighboring ship staterooms or hotel rooms even during the day, but particularly at night.  And when the officers on the Summit could have just as effectively communicated a message about aurora borealis at a more appropriate hour, I simply find it incredibly insensitive and inconsiderate to make such a late night announcement. 

In fact, NOAA can predict the intensity and location of aurora borealis about two days in advance (https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/aurora-dashboard-experimental)  UofA's Geophysical Institute does the same:  https://www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast.  The ship's captain nearly always announces weather forecasts...do the same for the aurora borealis late in the evening:  "If we have clear skies tonight, the northern lights forecast indicates you are likely to be able to view aurora borealis in the skies to the north/northeast.  If the northern lights are visible, the best time to see them will be between 10pm and 2am.  In order not to disturb your fellow guests, we won't make any other announcements tonight.  So keep an eye on those northern skies later tonight as we continue sailing towards our next stop, Ketchican.  Have a wonderful night."

It seems to me that such an approach would be win-win for all.  Am I wrong about that?

Oh, I'm certain that many enjoyed the viewing.  They are quite spectacular.  I'm just flabbergasted about the late hour of the announcement. 

In all of the many dozens of cruises I've taken over the course of nearly fifty years, I've only experienced a couple of nighttime announcements and they have all involved emergency situations.  I've had the same experience on red-eye flights.  No "sightseeing" announcements have ever come from the cockpit during the nighttime hours that passengers were generally sleeping or resting.

Northern Lights are a beautiful sight to behold, but do I understand correctly that they made the announcement about them at 11:30PM?  😲

I would be pretty torqued if I was awoken by three loud bongs and a "look at the pretty sky" ship-wide announcement at 11:30pm. 😠

They should have just made an announcement earlier in the evening along the lines of "for those who are interested, be sure to keep an eye on the skies tonight, it is the beginning of aurora borealis season and you may see a spectacular light show later tonight.  Come on out on deck or enjoy the view from the Observation Lounge which will be open all night"

IMO, announcements after a certain hour should be strictly limited to emergencies.

Just another example of "cheapening" what was once a premiere luxury brand. But regrettably Silversea isn't alone in that regard.

6 hours ago, hcat said:

glad it worked out. with the limitations  noted.

 

just curious if SPA hydration qpuld be the same as  a medical service

 

our friend's son has this done at lical hosp..outpatient center.. seems to take a few hours when he goes???

Not just no but he** no. 

"Are you here for a shampoo and style or an IV?" 😲

19 minutes ago, canderson said:

If I understand the original post, yes, they do.

 

FBC has access to a great many flights that don't show up on the online FBC web site.  My next cruise is an example of that.  If there's a real desire to book flights through Celebrity, it's always best to do your own search for a couple of itineraries you like, and start your live conversation with FBC with those if you don't find them on the FBC site.

My response was to OP's inquiry "How did they (travel agents) see flights but you can’t see them yourself online? I would have preferred to book direct."  The TA and consumer both have the same access to flight schedules and pricing using tools like Google Flights and (at least according to my TA) if a flight doesn't appear on the FBC site when a customer is searching, the TA won't see it on the FBC site either.  

I suspect OP's TA did exactly what has been discussed upthread.  Found flights that worked for the OP using whatever search engine they use for that purpose (similar to Google Flights, Skyscanner or ITA Matrix) and then called FBC to book through them.

5 minutes ago, Tigermad said:

But I have EasyJet and Vueling flights booked (both non stops) for this trip that the travel agent could see but I could not (see screenshot in my post above). All done through Celebrity.

I have heard that sometimes Flights by Celebrity can book flights you or your travel agent select if they fall within some specific parameters (dates of travel, cabin class and airline) even if they don't appear on the Flights by Celebrity search.

However, I have not had that experience.  Each time there was an excuse why they couldn't book it (we don't use XXX airline, we don't book business class flights to that destination and so on).

24 minutes ago, Tigermad said:

Try finding Gatwick to Venice VCE May 5th returning to Gatwick from Rome FCO on 16th May using celebrity’s flight search. 
 

That's a reason not to use Flights by Celebrity and book it yourself.  Here are your options if you book it independently:

32 minutes ago, Tigermad said:

I looked on the flights section on the celebrity website. I did a search and none from Gatwick to Venice. They are economy flights that were booked in the end but surely I should still have seen these?

My experience with Flights by Celebrity has been very poor each time I considered using them.  Most recently, when I booked a Galapagos cruise, their flight selection was limited to economy seats on just two carriers.  No business class at all and nothing on any other carriers, including AA (apparently due to a contractual dispute between Celebrity and AA).  And to book with Celebrity would have cost me substantially more than the airfare booking independently.

I also have found that much of Celebrity's marketing of included airfare to be quite deceptive.  When they market "Free Air and Savings Offer" promoting "Flights on Us", if you look carefully at the various fare options, Celebrity charges significantly more when they include airfare vs cruise only.  In what universe is that "free" or "on us"?  When I have looked into using Celebrity for flights, I have not found any value to using them.  Others, however, prefer a "one-stop" approach where the cruiseline handles everything, even if there is a premium associated with going that route.

For those and other reasons, I have just stuck with what has always worked for me.  Booking my flights and any pre-cruise and post-cruise accommodations separately.

They don't.  How did you "look online" for the flights you wanted?

If you are flying into Rome or Athens, I found multiple daily non-stops for LGW-FCO and for LGW-ATH and it only took me about two minutes on Google Flights.