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Charla, I am so sorry for you loss and current lack of care for animals. I will be on the this cruise and I know first hand how our animals affect your vacation plans.

While we only have two dogs, they are very important to us and while I like to think I'm in charge, I am no way in charge. The 16 year old beagle believes that he should be fed at 3:00 AM and you can guess how this ends.

7 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

</rant>

@DaKahuna Love the fact you properly ended your <rant></rant>

I sailed one Super Bowl Sunday and the game was on TV and in the Theater with hot dogs and other foods. I have also sailed during the playoffs and was able to find a bar that had the game on, so it really shouldn't be too much of an issue if you wish to see the games.

To me required gratuities equals service fee. I still would never consider removing them, but I don't believe you should attempt to call any required additional monies as a gift of appreciation. 

And no I'm not against tipping additional for service. I do this almost every time I order a drink from a bar. I also do when I attend specialty restaurants. Not the fault of the staff that the service fees pay their meager salary. (Only speculating on the last comment)

I wasn't the greatest in school, but 40% off every occupant would = 80% for double occupancy. 75% reduction does seem like a better value when only for the second occupant.

I could be wrong, and if you ask my wife she will tell you I usually am.

We also have an upcoming cruise scheduled for the end of January and when I first read about service being eliminated I was indeed disappointed. We will choose to visit Oceanview occasionally in the evening. I was relieved to learn that the choices were limited but not eliminated. There have been times that I have wondered around and didn't really see anything that appealed to me, but ended up just grabbing a salad. Didn't leave hungry then, probably wont when we visit the next time in the evening. 

I had thought that I would just pay the 10+ grats for getting room service and see if I could get it delivered to the Oceanview. I should be really easy to spot, the guy with his wife holding her head down in shame while is ginning from ear to ear. Since I'm fairly twisted it would be worth twice the price just to see if it could/would be done...

I purchased this as well, but I believe it means that for the low price of $9.99 I get the opportunity to go to the iLounge and purchase an Upgrade from Basic to Premium for the low price of $9.99 per day. Am I hoping that it's for the entire cruise, yes, but I not going to hold my breath.

44 minutes ago, alyssamma said:

I purchased too, but see my screenshot above. It's pretty clear it's for the entire cruise. I plan to take it in case there are any issues...

If I read the Overview you carry this voucher to the iLounge and are able to upgrade from Basic to Premium for 9.99 per person per day as opposed to the entire cruise being 9.99. I hope I'm wrong because I took a chance anyway, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

Looking forward to it.

My wife and I went to the Porch once and I was asked if I had a reservation. I asked whether I needed one. I was told "Yes" to which I stated I would like to make a reservation for two at the time of now. I was seated immediately and was thanked for making the reservation. 

Yes I thought it was strange since there was only 1 table with anyone sitting there, but what the heck, a few extra words from me and everyone went away happy...

In some aspects the sparkle for a cruise diminished back in 2018. I felt as though I wanted something different and I tried other options. Fast forward to today and I'm excited to be cruising in November.

I do not cruise for the food. In fact I eat because I'm hungry, bored, happy, sad, etc... but I eat so fast that the taste eludes me. My wife on the other hand savors every bite, or at least that is the way it appears to me, and I spend most of my time patiently awaiting her to finish so I can continue my day. Of course this happens on the sea and shore so food really doesn't hold my attention too much.

I totally enjoy vacations on land, but I have an aversion to drinking and driving and I do enjoy a few "adult beverages" in the evening. So I either forgo drinking or I pay for transportation, which by the way seems to cost a lot more now that it did 40 years ago. 

My better half loves to sunbathe and can spend all day reading while lounging in the sun. I enjoy spending time with my spouse, but I can only take brief periods of this activity.

So I guess that I am really looking forward to cruising again. I can spend time doing what she loves, and wander off and be happy myself. Only time will tell whether the sparkle will remain, but for this moment in time I believe that cruising still does have the same sparkle that it once did.

I was really glad to hear that you will not need the additional prescriptions. My spouse changed doctors and without warning, the new primary care physician did not renew her antidepressant that she had been taking for the last few years. It was not a nice experience. This was all during COVID and the state of the world along with the sudden withdrawal made like extremely difficult for my better half. 

6 hours ago, locksley10 said:

I have never lost weight on any cruise. Have you?

I have.

Of course it had little to do with food, and more to do with activity. (I am usually sedimentary while at work) 

I have enjoyed this thread. Some of my fondest memories revolve around bars, alcohol, and drinks of all kinds. I am also very impatient and knowing this I have always found my way to the bar when I perceive that I might wish to partake of some adult liquid libations.

I believe it was the first time I was on a cruise when I had someone come around and ask if I wanted a beverage and I said “Yes.” The waiting for them to return with my beverage for me was almost painful. I calculated that I could have found my way to the bar, ordered the beverage, found my way back to my seat, consumed said beverage, and presented the empty container to the waiter upon his return. Well not really but at the time it seemed that way. Lesson learned, if I feel I must have a drink, I usually find my way to the nearest watering hole and partake.

I also will often act as wait staff for my spouse since that’s how we first met. I presented her with a rum and coke, and she presented me with the keys to her heart. I guess I understand that when you are tasked with serving alcoholic beverages to adults on vacation, sometimes there are way too many customers to be served and not enough time to do it.

On 9/18/2022 at 5:28 PM, kywildcatfanone said:

What I mean is we booked something called Elevate, and it is supposed to contain the classic alcohol package, the wifi and tips. 

I believe that Elevate has the Premium Alcohol package with Tips and Surf WIFI. At least that is what it was when I signed up for it.

32 minutes ago, zitsky said:

Ok so my TA agrees that Wi-Fi is shared, one person at a time.

 

I’ve only done this once two years ago.  Can someone remind me how you logon and log off the Wi-Fi network?  Is there a web page you go to?

I don't know that I agree with that. When I look at a cruise that I have booked and have the Elevate package, when I view Order History I see two line items. One with my name and another with my wife's name. While I do agree that WiFi upgraded is not part of Elevate, but is included in the AI. 

I find this topic extremely entertaining. The things some get worked up over amazes me. Of course I will admit that I get worked up over a lot of other things, food just isn't one of them. 

I haven't been on a Revolutionized ship, so my comments are purely speculation. It has always been my opinion after reading what others have said about the comfort level of the chairs, the business decision made was due to have the cruiser out and about spending money. 

I don't see where any cruise line makes any additional money if the passenger can spend all day on a balcony relaxing in a comfortable chair. If you aren't that comfortable there, then there is a good chance you will seek other places where there is a chance they can entice you to purchase something. Now I understand that my opinion is purely just mine, but if I were wanting to increase revenue, I would want to have customers out and about so my excellent staff could really make them feel special, not so much enjoying the confines of a cabin.

We actually had very good luck with Cruise with Confidence. We cancelled on Dec 24 for a Jan 2 cruise and received the credit back to the credit cards on Jan 14th and FCC received today. I am truly sorry that others are not experiencing the same results.

My go to is going to be a Petron Margarita followed closely by a Gentleman Jack and Ginger. Of course I never pass on a Crown Royal on ice.

Not a wine connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination, but I have always found some wines to my liking. 

19 minutes ago, Inspirazione said:

 It looks like it has been updated to cover sailing through May.  Or perhaps I am reading this wrong....

What does the current Cruise with Confidence program offer?

Our current Cruise With Confidence program offers guests the ability to cancel their sailing for any reason, within 48 hours of their sailing date, in exchange for a 100% Future Cruise Credit for amounts paid toward their cruise fare; The program also offers our Best Price Guarantee allowing guests to change their price or promotion up to 48 hours before sailing. These benefits are currently available on reservations made by January 31, 2022 on sailings departing on or before May 31, 2022 (June 30, 2022 for AUS/NZ), excluding reservations for Celebrity Beyond. The ability to reschedule or Lift & Shift a booking to the following cruise year at existing rates expired on January 31, 2021 and is no longer available within the Cruise With Confidence program. Guests who would like to reschedule their sailing for another date must do so at prevailing rates.

 

There is a difference between the Cruise with Confidence page/tab and the FAQ. On the it states:

You have up to 48 hours before you sail to cancel and receive 100% Future Cruise Credit to use by May 31, 2022 toward any sailing through December 31, 2022, or one year from your original sailing date, whichever is late

It looks like someone saved it with the filter of Reflection as the ship and a specific cabin. You might be able to download the file and remove the filter... 

The only question I would have is whether I had to pay the increased cost of an Always Included fare on the third person. If the fare was increased I would assume that all of the amenities would be included. 

Just my two cents worth.  

4 minutes ago, SNJCruisers said:

Seagram's VO...or Crown Royal

I vote for Crown Royal!!!

There are Classic and Premium Bar Setups that can be purchased. Bailey's is not in either one of those setups I would assume. 

While we always get a beverage package, we purchase a Classic Bar Setup so we can have a drink without having to bring one back to the cabin. Although I also utilize the "Stop by a bar and get a double shot" from time to time.