redrobin

On 6/23/2021 at 8:56 AM, azbirdmom said:

Almost everything I reported to the Ocean folks that wasn't functioning on my iPhone 11 now is working.  I was able to choose an Arrival Group for our August 8th cruise.  Can't choose a departure group but that may be by design.  What is odd is that we do finally show as Ocean Ready and in the Green lane.  However, there's a new field up at the top that shows a QR Code and Blue lane.  I've just sent that discrepancy back to Ocean group.  At least for me it is a step in the right direction but still buggy.

 

 

I, likewise, have the blue lane on top with the boarding QR code but the green lane on the bottom with the OceanReady Profile status. Wondering if anyone who has selected an arrival time has a green lane at both places, top and bottom? Perhaps the blue status up top is something that will update/change to green when the health status information is entered? I guess we'll see. I think I read that the health status can be entered 3 days before a cruise, and 'lane' status colors for boarding can be either green(preferred), blue or yellow. 

Hope you don't mind if I ask a related question. I'm also looking to sail on the Majestic, and all the club class mini's, likewise, appear to be booked, so am considering a full suite too. I've stayed in Princess suites before, but never on a Royal class ship. I'd appreciate any thoughts on differences, pros/cons between the forward Premium suites, the mid-ship Penthouse suites, and aft Penthouse/Owner's suites. Thanks!

That's disappointing. I'll be on the Millennium next month. I've cruised to Alaska with Brent Nixon as the naturalist. I thought his talks were excellent. 

I can confirm, based on communicating with Celebrity, that for my upcoming cruise I am ineligible to 1) receive a MoveUp email and 2) use the MoveUp link on the Celebrity website because the big box TA does not participate in the program. 

I don't know enough about how the travel industry works to understand why they wouldn't participate, especially since it seems like bids can be made without directly involving the TA? 

Thanks for the helpful replies, good information to know!

I'll be cruising next month and will likely put down a Future Cruise deposit and need to decide what to do. I'm using a Future Cruise deposit from last summer for my upcoming cruise. I was on a specialty cruise with a bigbox TA and, when asked, just automatically listed them on the Future Cruise form, without considering other options. 

I had a great time on the specialty cruise, which came with extra perks, and have had good customer service experiences with the big box TA. I got a nice deal for my upcoming cruise and also like receiving their cash card in the mail and 2% back. (An agent told me they don't get a commission and the cash card is a rebate to the customer for the $ from the cruise line? I didn't know that.)

However, the one negative I've discovered by reading the boards is that they do not participate in the MoveUp program. I confirmed that with Celebrity. While I book cabins I'd be comfortable in, I'd be open to bidding on upgrades for the right price. I'm familiar with a few online TA's, but haven't looked into any of them yet enough to be comfortable booking with them. 

Just curious, I know you can transfer a booking from Celebrity to a TA. Can you likewise transfer a booking from a TA to Celebrity? What about from one TA to another? For instance, I read in another thread that when you book onboard you have 60 days to move a booking from Celebrity to a TA. In general, what are the rules? Thanks.

For comparison, here's a link to a Princess whiskey menu I found when searching CC threads.

https://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/ships-and-experience/food-and-dining/Whiskey-Menu.pdf

Here's what the Princess website says:

A Worldwide Whiskey Adventure

From Scotland and Ireland to America and Canada, and onward to Australia, New Zealand and Japan, the distiller's art takes many global forms. You can explore them all from an expansive new international Whiskey Bar Menu available at The Salty Dog Gastropub and on other select ships*. Single malts and blends. Bourbons and ryes. Award winners, plus new and noteworthy discoveries. Sip a glass of an old favorite. Or try a flight that transports you to a world of fresh experiences.

Thanks for the responses. Looks like I'll need to peruse the bars and see what's on the ship!

The Premium Beverage pkg covers up to $15/drink, correct? If so, that Edge bar menu is a little misleading. The PBP lists a few spirits for $10/11. But, there's other whiskey $15 and under, like JD Sinatra Select or Oban 14, that should be covered too, correct, or am I missing something? With all the Johnnie Walker's listed, wonder why Black wouldn't be there?

Thanks for the reply! That was a question I had. I wasn't sure if Cellar Masters only had wines or if it carried spirits too. 

Whether it's scotch, bourbon, blended, single malt, rye.... where do you go on board to find your drink of choice? I'll be sailing on the Millennium, but am interested in what's been the experience on other Celebrity ships too. I'll have the Premium Beverage Package, and have found a recent list online showing what whiskey that should include. Are the included ones readily available or do you need to seek them out? What bars tend to be better stocked? How about availability in the dining rooms? Recently I've been favoring peated scotch, so hoping a nice dram of Lagavulin or Laphroaig won't be too hard to find! Thanks for any thoughts, tips, or suggestions!

Looking at the July 12 Millennium Alaska sailing out of Seward, there's a row of a dozen Aqua class cabins currently available on deck 9. I'm just curious why there would be a cluster of staterooms open so close to sailing when other categories have a few open cabins randomly scattered. Were they being held by a group and recently released? Could it have something to do with the Millennium being Revolutionized? Thanks!

Thanks for the replies!

Quick follow-up questions.

Am comparing a GTY Sky Suite or CC stateroom on the Millennium. Any locations concerns with doing that, I assume the location should be OK for any of those cabins. I'm guessing there's a likelihood that the Sky Suite may be an accessible cabin?

Have stayed in CC cabins before. Only late seating available in CC, when I prefer early or flexible seating. If I go on the waitlist and check onboard, how likely am I to be able to switch to early or flexible seating?

Have never stayed in a Celebrity suite (only Princess suites). I know it's subjective, but would welcome thoughts on dining in Luminae compared to the MDR or between a Sky Suite and CC stateroom in general. I'm deciding if the suite is worth the higher price to me.

Thanks!

I booked a future cruise onboard last summer. The booked cruise included the $100 deposit, OBC, Go Better, and Summer Sale rates. I'm now looking to change cruises to a last minute cruise this summer. I've never done that before, so I'm a bit confused how it works. I understand the $100 deposit and OBC can be switched to the new cruise. If I change stateroom type, I assume the OBC will be adjusted upward or downward. Is the new cruise cost just based on current prices, or can they transfer offer codes from last summer? I saw that Go Big, Better, Best no longer exists. Thanks. 

You might want to check out KapohoKine Adventures. They provide some of the Hilo Princess excursions as well as tours you can book directly. They've been actively updating their website, and starting tomorrow their tours will include VNP.

I got the offer and am past final payment. I'd like to purchase OBC to try and get the credit. On the Cruise Personalizer there are options to pre-pay gratuities, purchase casino credit, reserve specialty restaurants... What's the difference, can't generic onboard credit be used for all of those expenses? Thanks.

Thanks again. The BVE is something I had heard mentioned, but never really considered before. I have been toying with the idea of arranging a multi-generational family cruise with some first time cruisers. The BVE might be a good introduction for them too, to gauge their interest, in addition to picking up a FCD. I don't see it mentioned anywhere, are there any age restrictions for the BVE?

I thought the answer would be no, but figured I'd ask. I, unfortunately, don't have a FCD to use with the S&S now. I'll likely just book a future cruise under the S&S, and still purchase a FCD in October to have on hand. Thanks!

I will be cruising with Princess in October, the first time in several years. I plan to purchase a Future Cruise Deposit onboard. However, I also like the Sip & Sale promo going on now, which I read isn't offered very often, and ends Sept 5. Is there any way that I can take advantage of both the FCD and S&S on the same cruise or am I out of luck and need to pick one or the other? Thanks!

Emerald, 10/4, 15 days, mini suite (M1-ME), $999/person, full suite (S3-S4).

I'm heading to Alaska this summer and have a question about Celebrity's shore excursion cancellation policy. The Celebrity policy states:

REFUNDS AND CANCELLATIONS: Shore Excursions can be cancelled or modified up to 24 hours prior to scheduled tour departure for a full refund. Under no circumstances will refunds be made after an excursion has commenced. Tours involving flights, trains, special events, overnight stays, hotel stays, Celebrity ExclusivesSM, and Private JourneysSM must be cancelled 30 days prior to sailing to avoid cancellation penalties.

Most threads mention the 24 hour cancellation period for excursions. But, do the seaplane/helicopter tours in Ketchikan and Juneau have a 30 day cancellation, as stated above, since they include a flight? If so, what is the cancellation penalty? Thanks!

My family had a bad experience with Princess last year.

 

We knew we wanted to go on another cruise, but with a better company. We wanted a one way, because you see more. Celebrity had the itinerary that fit our requirements. From people we talked to before we booked, all that took Celebrity loved it.

 

I hope this helps.

 

P.S. We are taking our two daughters, 14 and 16, again. They should have a great time.

quickfingers,

Just completed my first cruise with Princess, and would cruise with them again. Just curious, what made your experience bad with Princess last year? Thanks in advance for any details!