peteukmcr

 

One little gem He did pass pass while chatting this afternoon was that in the forth coming refuurb (revolution) there will be additional suites added to the s class ships possibly around the sky lounge.

We are sailing on Constellation on 12th Nov, I've just done our online check in and got the xpress pass but can't see the edocs or luggage labels anywhere. Should I be able to print them by now? We're in the UK and booked through a TA but I know when we sail RCL I can print it all out myself.

 

The website now seems to have locked me out of my reservation and is saying try again in 20 minutes:(

 

Thanks,

 

Julie

'Manage my booking' from the top of the home page

then log into 'My Celebrity' by clicking on the link

select 'My Reservations' from the account dashboard

then select 'Manage Reservation'

then select 'Before You Board'

On the next page is a hyperlink 'Print Luggage Tags' just underneath 'Before You Board' and when selected this opens the e-docs in a new browser tab that contain the luggage tags

I have looked to do this on website but can not see the option?

We just disembarked a few weeks ago from the Reflection and were confused by this system at first. When I read the Disembarkation tips, it became clear:

 

For Independent Travelers it said "We have assigned numbers to all independent travelers with a departure time - please wait comfortably in any public lounge. If the time doesn't suit your plans, you do not need to change your numbered tags as the number is for recognition purposes only. All luggage will be available at 7:00 AM inside the terminal."

 

It worked very well for us. When we were ready, we walked off at our leisure, there was no line (7:30 AM) and we easily found our luggage and were out the door. I was concerned that would be a busy time if people could leave whenever they wished, but maybe people didn't read the sheet (the back of the sheet had the suggested times to depart for each number, but didn't say they were suggested). It will be interesting to see if this works overall.

We had exactly the same on Reflection in May. We met our group who we were sharing a shuttle to the airport with and disembarked when ready and found our bags no problem and it wasn't at the time allocated to our numbered tags. I'm sure those with us who insisted on taking their own bags off didn't think it'd work, but it did.

Even if you embark in Italy, if your cruise does not visit a non-EU port you will be charged 22% VAT throughout the cruise whether at sea or not.

I'd upgrade before departure, either online or over the phone.

Talamanca is a very short stroll from Marina Botafoch where is suspect the ship will dock.

https://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/beach/talamanca_i.htm

I love it when there are lots of men wearing shorts on the airplane because I know it improves our chances of getting an upgrade.;)

ESTA is only applicable if you are from a country that is part of the visa waiver program and I can't tell where the op is from.

Please note an ESTA does not entitle the bearer to automatic entry into the USA. ESTA stands for 'Electronic System for Travel Authorisation' which means if you are eligible to travel, then authorised to travel to the USA but it is still down to immigration officials at the border whether you are granted entry when you present yourself to them. It is not a replacement for a visa.

This thread reminds me of 2 years ago when we didn't see one of these big bags for 3 days and the other for 5! Due to carry on limits you can see the size of my hand baggage. No room in there for full evening attire. Due to airport security, no toiletries either. [emoji853]

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The first silent disco on Reflection was in the Sky Lounge and as this is smaller than on other Solstice class ships due the suites on the port side, and as it was so well attended and obviously not large enough. So the second was in the Solarium.

Hopefully, so that this activity doesn't offend anyone on our upcoming Eclipse TA, and as the Sky Lounge is larger, then it will be spacious enough to accommodate everyone. Failing that Eclipse has Quasar a purpose built venue, self contained for music.

I was on Equinox earlier this year and they had the second Silent Disco in the solarium. I had no problem with the time of day but it was insane to do it on the second evening chic when most people are dressing up and therefore wearing much heavier clothes than normal. It was hotter than Hades. If you're going to do it in the Solarium, pick another night, Celebrity!

I think you are trying very hard to justify a rip off package.

 

£58 a day is an obscene amount to pay (and I like a drink) but I can see the link between you drinking in Manchesters most expensive bars and a cruise ship with a captive audience that won't allow alcohol on board bar the 2 bottles of vino.

 

However lets get real, you wouldn't actually spend that in Manchester, there are cheaper places to drink and you'd buy your own alcohol and drink it in your room / balcony. I really don't get this comparison between 4 star hotels / South east prices etc - normal people on shore just dont stick to a hotel bar day in / out and yet people constantly quote it as some kind of justification.

 

P&O have things just about right as it is and is the reason we won't be sailing on Celebrity again any time soon.

 

However its all a matter of choice and I respect that, if you're happy to pay it etc..

I'm referring to visiting bars that provide the same level of comfort and style akin to that found on a Celebrity cruise ship, not the local pub. so I would spend that in Manchester, believe me and so I stand by my report that £58 a day for 2 people is not unrealistic when comparing land based prices.

Remember I said that that amount can include non alcoholic and alcoholic drinks too. People seem to forget the amount that they spend on soft drinks, the price of those in a bar are pure rip off on land. That's how bars make money. Go for breakfast at a well known pub chain, the breakfast costs £4.95 each but the total bill for 2 is in excess of £17 due to 2 coffees and orange juices. Now that is obscene. So I will continue to justify a package thank you and get 'real'

Tea tray and kettle in the cabin isn't a USP. Celebrity now provide one on UK departures.

 

Celebrity $65 premium drinks package is extortionate, however when compared to drinks prices it looks good value, 4 max priced ($15.50) drinks will cover your money.

So for £29 per day (including gratuity) all top shelf drinks are covered, plus premium water, specialty coffees, freshly squeezed juices (you don't have to drink alcohol all day to get value from these packages) and wines.

No brainier for us to spend £880 for the 2 of us for a 15 night sailing as opposed to that amount for a 7 night sailing which has been the case before.

Everyone of our other Celebrity sailings have included the 'classic' package in the fare which, for the cost of less than 1 Martini per day we have upgraded to take advantage of the better selection.

£29 a day is a great deal in my opinion. I agree full price isn't, but you rarely have to pay that.

Spending on 4 coffees, 4 glasses of wine, 4 mixed drinks (double measures to match what Celebrity serve) amounts to around £62 here in Manchester, so that's more than the £58 for 2 premium packages and I haven't touched the bottles of water or soft drinks that are available in that price too.

IMHO break it down and these packages disliked by many can be very cost effective.

We like to give wait staff and bartenders some extra cash when we close our tab at the end of the night. We always tip in USD but if we are in the Mediterranean should we tip in EURO? It doesn't matter to us. What do you think the crew would prefer? I am assuming it would be EURO as they can use it off the ship.

 

Thoughts?

This is especially beneficial for their 'essential' personal purchases.

You would think if one books a nice vacation on a cruise, they would have sense enough to dress appropriately. Perhaps not on Carnival lol, but any other line. It's just standard protocol that you and I understand. [emoji16]

 

 

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Actually on my one and only carnival cruise (doesn't mean there won't be more) people dressed better on the first night than I've sometimes witnessed over 13 years of sailing on RCI. Just saying.

Remember this thread is only about first night. And we'd have loved to have dressed appropriately, but not even having yours bags on the ship somewhat restricts your clothing options.

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I've cruised enough to be Elite and can honestly say that I have never seen shorts in the dining room on either the first or last night of a cruise. Surely you have a carryon bag. No, due to the carry on restrictions on many European low cost carriers which we use to/from Rome (these are the only direct options), this isn't a practical solution. Maybe where you come from you can lug a full cabin sized carry on bag onto the plane, in many cases we can't.

There is no reason to wear shorts unless you are tying to make a statement.

So the statement I'd have been making would be 'the airline lost my bags' so this is it. Oh and BTW what does being Elite level have to do with it? It can happen to anyone.

I wear shorts to board the ship and I don't take long pants in my carry on. So, if luggage doesn't arrive I'd be wearing the shorts to dinner and not think twice about it.

 

Some people have issues as you can tell. Shorts to dinner on the first night in definitely a first world problem!

 

enjoy your cruise

We had the pleasure of sailing with John on several occasions. You captured his essence perfectly.

Pete, it was listed in the daily newspaper on our Celebrity cruise a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately it's now called the LGBTQ meeting. Usually at the Martini Bar or World Class Bar. I hated to ask but unfortunately found out the Q at the end was for Queer. Apparently the US gays want to take ownership of the Queer term when for us it's already covered by the LGBT term. For us using Queer is a backward step and unnecessary. I long for the days of the friends of Dorothy meetings now. The US ships have the friends of Bill W meetings and yet don't need to spell out that this means Alcoholics Anonymous.

 

 

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Apparently the 'proper' terminology is now LGBTQ+ according the those a lot younger than I.

I also object to the term 'Queer' because 40 years ago it was definitely a derogatory term and led to many cases of abuse. However, the young LGBTQ+ 'set' don't know about that period and I doubt want to know.

Btw the 'Q' is supposed to be used for those who do not fit into either gender and consider themselves 'non binary', '+' on the other hand identifies those who are pan sexual, asexual, gender fluid, two spirit etc apparently. :eek:

British Airways failed to deliver our bags in Rome when we arrived 1 day prior to sailing out of Civitavecchia on Constellation due to the regular break downs of the baggage system in London Heathrow Terminal 5 (it still happens on a far too regular basis).

Even though we cross pack, that's no use when all bags are not delivered.

Anyway we spent the morning of sailing running around Civitavecchia purchasing essentials and a few bits of clothing.

Once on board we filed a report with the concierge and she was excellent in chasing the airline.

If I heard anything (which was little from the airline before we set sail) I passed it onto her.

One bag was sent to Naples and picked up by the Celebrity port agent and delivered before we sailed from Sorrento. So by day 2 we each had some more clothes.

Celebrity provided a tux, shoes, shirt etc for no fee for formal night.

The concierge kept on to the airline and made sure that once the other bag was found that it was sent to the next port which was Athens, just unfortunate that we had another sea day before reaching Athens where our bag was delivered just before we went ashore for our excursion. So finally after 5 days (4th day of the cruise) we had all our clothes.

All in all, without the help of the concierge I doubt we would have seen the bags again before the end of the cruise.

I know she had a hard time that sailing as there were 30 staterooms with no bags. She said it happens every cruise and so they have good communication with the airlines.

Good luck.

For those of you who have done silent disco-----I have seen but not participated.

 

If you chose "music A" and your husband/SO/dance partner also choses "music A," are the headphones in sync as far as music and tempo? Basic question is if you want to dance for example a swing or chacha or rhumba etc. with your partner are you in sync musically with the headphones on?

Silent disco is one of my favorite shipboard activities ever! Absolutely hilarious![emoji23]

 

 

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Can't wait to see how many we have on Eclipse on a 15 night TA!

The only thing these endless dress code arguments achieve is to put some people off cruising with P&O. As a Carnival shareholder I don't like that.

Most people do buy new clothes for a holiday, but going to the expense of a dinner suit they are unlikely to wear again unless on a cruise is totally unnecessary, when any suit is perfectly acceptable, and when people on here state that is the dress code and that's what most people wear is untrue!

This forum puts the fear of God into new cruisers, including myself, before I went on one and saw the reality. If all you're trying to do is put people off cruising you're doing a good job. As for my comment about keeping it in the 1900s...a dress code is fine, if kept modern. P&o are trying to do that by saying a suit is fine. A dj is NOT compulsory! In this day and age we holiday to relax and enjoy our hard earned money not to be scared off by old style cruisers. Plus a cruise is not as expensive as you like to think. Rather much the same cost as a decent package holiday. I work for local government and have only had two 1% pay rises in over ten years. So austerity has hit us hard. Being frightened and bullied by the high brow brigade into buying unnecessary clothing is ridiculous. I do not "say absolutely anything to get my point across" I'm telling the truth! New cruisers take no notice of those saying you have to have a dj, you don't! Go on your holiday and enjoy and pray you don't have the misfortune of bumping into one of these old fashioned liars! I spent a fortune on clothing for my family for a cruise that was simply not needed because of stupid comments on here!

Just call Celebrity! Till they admit there is a problem and fix it, I am not wasting my time.

 

We also are now looking at Princess for our next cruise which ticks me off LLP!

Up until today I've had no issues with the X website, even the new design.

I've made our cruise planner purchases for our upcoming sailing in 88 days (beverage, speciality dinner and internet packages) and it showed the shore excursions purchased at a discount on our last sailing on Reflection.

So, as I normally do I added reservations for select dining at midday today, no issues accessing my reservation nor updating it.

Decided when I got home to pay the balance (not due here in the UK until 56 days out, so Sept 1st).

Could login but couldn't access reservation using Microsoft Edge (ironic seeing next new ship is Edge!). Just a blank page.

Managed to access using Google Chrome, but guess what? Outstanding balance had increased!

Couldn't see why so called Celebrity. Apparently for no reason the system had recalculated the prepaid grats to the new amount.

Then discovered my Captains Club membership was no longer Elite and the number was incorrect and my date of birth was also incorrect.

Took several attempts to get everything corrected.

Very disappointed with Celebrity, makes me very nervous about accessing the reservation online in future and needless to say I didn't make final payment until I could see everything was rectified on an updated invoice and I could check everything in the cruise planner was still there. Took 2 invoices to ensure everything was rectified.

Appeared extremely popular, especially early evening May Reflection sailing. Not sure if that was due to popularity or discounts though!