Csardas

I'll be 60 in 2020 - gulp! We've cruised QV and QE but not done a TA on QM. Unless the lottery obliges, I'll still be working and stuck with the school holidays - 2 weeks at Easter, from end of June to middle of August and a week in October. Given we've always been stuck with those parameters, we've don't want to do the Mediterranean again. Any brilliant recommendations/suggestions for a maximum 14-17ish nights? The actual birthday doesn't come in any of those dates but I'll just designate a specific day to be the day!

Thanks

S

Thanks Luvscrusn! Like you we like to eat late and with the same staff so we’ve chosen the Late seating. We like a nice relaxed dinner, sometimes with a rest between courses, and it’s so much easier with the same waiters every night!

Hi Gonzo70. Lol, but I’m afraid they were not kidding. It was the most bizarre stuff I’d ever seen. Usually, as you say, the lobster is cooked first, meat removed from the tail and claws and then sauce made, lobster and sauce combined, put back in the shell and sometimes a breadcrumb/cheese mix put on top and grilled. It reminded me of the processed chicken ( in shape) that you can get in some salads. You would have needed a ruler to have hand cubed real lobster to those precise dimensions!

ORV, we haven’t sailed with Celebrity yet. Our decision to try them this year was, in large part, informed by our disappointment with Oceania. I appreciate that Celebrity comes under the “mass market” tag but we’ve got realistic expectations re the food. Reading on this board and elsewhere has made me aware of the many positives it seems to offer. Sorry to have perhaps hijacked this thread but food isn’t everything in a cruise experience unless it’s sold as the USP and doesn’t deliver!

Happy cruising to all on your next voyage.

Yes, Thermidor is a French recipe that I have eaten many times and even made myself but what they did to the Lobster meat I have never seen or heard of. Our friends confirmed that processed lobster, in cubes, is for sale in the US.

We were on Riviera last July and I had a totally new “lobster” experience in Jacques. I ordered Lobster Thermidor, and apart from the very bland sauce, what was truly shocking were the perfect cubes of “lobster”. I have never seen anything like that before. American friends we made on board confirmed that re-formed and re-shaped lobster is a ‘thing” but not for me!

As with most of the meals in the dining room, it was also tepid. Our experience was not “the best food at sea” as Oceania state.

Me too. We went on Reflection last year in the Med during the peak summer season, end of July into early August, and never again - the extra deck of cabins definitely made a difference, everywhere felt crowded. The grass on the lawn was never visible due to the bodies and towels 2 inches apart. It was the first time we have witnessed ‘drunks’ causing issues on an X ship. The whole experience made us consider carefully what to book for this summer - hence our trying a different line (and we have 2 current placeholder reservations with X and another one with Royal, so the decision wasn’t taken lightly).

 

I have stated previously that it would have to be a very special itinerary for us to even consider Reflection again in the Med at the height of the summer season, and we’ve taken many cruises in Europe. So, that’s why my vote would be for Connie ;). Obviously, other opinions will differ as everyone wants something different from their vacation.

Heart sunk when I read this! We're on Reflection from the 9th to the 20th of July in the Med. Scottish and Irish schools will be on holiday but isn't that too early for the English schools??

Will I manage to get a French Martini on the Classic package if I specify the Classic package vodka?!?

Just booked Arcadia.

Thanks to you all for your help and contributions.

No contest Arcadia every time. Can’t help with port of Amsterdam.

Thanks. Would you mind telling me why you prefer Arcadia?

Hi.

Thinking about booking the 5 night New Year cruise in Dec 2019. We've never cruised with P and O before and while I've had a good read on the website, I'm hoping that you nice people will help.

We'll be 6 adults, ranging from 28 to 85 - 3 generations, so adult only isn't an issue. We like late fixed dining.

Given the variable weather at that time of year, which ship is most likely to be able to get into Amsterdam?

Websites are a good start but can't help with intangibles like atmosphere on board,etc.

Which ship would you suggest and why?

Thanks!

Yes Hank, and rather worrying!

This is a really interesting thread. We’re relatively new cruisers, 2 and half years, but really love it. We met some great people in the smoking section on Oceania’s Riviera last year, frankly the only great part of the cruise( the people, not the smoking!) This July will be our first Celebrity cruise and I’m reassured by this nice friendly board. Perhaps we’ll be lucky and make some lifelong friends.

Why in this world with all the modern no wrinkle fabrics,any one need a steamer, or even have your clothes pressed by the ship.

Because my summer wardrobe consists of cotton/linen and other natural fabrics. I loathe polyester and most “ modern no wrinkle fabrics”. I agree with the other poster that Celebrity’s rationale is financially driven and that it is very poor that they don’t provide self ironing rooms/facilities as other lines do.

Hi,

First Celebrity cruise next year and know there are no irons available and that you can’t take your own, but hand held steamers came up on another board and wondered if anyone knew if they are allowed or had used them?

Do you get small bottles of water on the Classic package and would they leave them unopened? If so, are they just still water? I prefer sparkling but I think that's the top package?

:) Thanks all! I’ll just stick with fixed. This is a very helpful board.

Hi. We booked late fixed dining for our first Celebrity cruise but I didn’t realise that the seating was downstairs and select upstairs. Is either nicer than the other?

Despite open seating on our last cruise, we ended up eating at 8:30 every night anyway. We don’t like to be rushed, like a break between courses, and we don’t drink our coffee with pudding, only afterwards. I got fed up having to explain this every evening as we were never seated in the same area apart from 2 evenings. Also, the food was invariably only tepid and it got tiresome sending it back and having to explain that we wanted hot food! That’s why I picked fixed late to have the same table every night.

However, I’ve read some posts about upstairs being nicer and a “private” area for Select dining. Does anyone have experience of either/both areas and would help with their experience? Thanks very much in advance.

We are booked in for the night before our New Year cruise on QV. Looking forward to trying it.

So am I.

These transfers seem ridiculously overpriced. Even although there are only two of us, we'd be cheaper with taxis.

We're doing an 11 night Western Med next July. My husband will be taking a smart linen jacket and for the "chic" evenings at least a suit, if not a dinner suit.

I just haven't decided yet!

Queen Margaret.

It's really amusing that almost all the advice is given by men who focus on the minimum one can get away with. I guess it's just a sign of the times.

 

People who try to look nice always will and others will get by. You just have to decide which person you are.

Well said!!

On Med/Europe cruises most passengers do tend to dress up on Evening Chic nights. My DH usually wears a DJ or a Suit but others can be seen wearing a smart Jacket /Trousers

Glad to read this. We'll be on Reflection in July 2018, around the Med and we will dress as you do.

Just depends if you want to be chic or not.

Agree!

We'd all be "comfortable" in our pyjamas. What's so bad about making some effort to dress up and look smart instead?!?

sammybonny, I would buy some food/snacks/drinks at the airport, past security. Our Titan flight on 19/8 back from Trieste, took off around 15;30 and there were THREE sandwiches left to buy! Breakfast at 8am was a long time ago!

I'd be interested in the table for two availability too. We've cruised on Cunard and once on Oceania and don't mind that the twos are close together. As another poster said, it can be the best of both worlds-private conversations and chatting to the neighbours about our day etc.

We're booked on Reflection, July next year, 8:30 sitting. How good are our odds of getting a two?