abbydancer2003

Greetings from SFO, where for some reason I booked us on a Red Eye.  We're off to Ft. Lauderdale for B2B on the Beyond for two weeks.  How did this come about?  

My sister and I were on the Beyond in February.  I learned from the hostess in Luminae that the lovely Maitre'd was moving to a different location, and that the Maitre'd from the Equinox and later Eclipse was coming and bring Jesus (everybody knows Jesus!) was coming over in March.  We had our megatrip in late March, and I was a poll worker in early March, so I couldn't come back.  However, we had nothing between early May and August, so I picked a 6 day followed by an 8 day in June.   I learned from someone on the Solstice with me that I'd booked the Presidents cruise for the first one.  Quite by accident.

Air from SF to FLL was ridiculous in first class, but, if I took the red eye, coach was pretty cheap, so I booked the middle seat as well as aisle and window.  That should make it more comfortable.

Glen is telling me it's time to board, so I'll have more tomorrow.  

On 6/20/2024 at 11:24 AM, Trevor Fountain said:

This link should confirm. https://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/

Thanks.  We're on Apex August 16 and 27, and I see it will be at City for both.

When we did it on Royal (Symphony) to Apex, we asked for the last luggage tag for airport transfers.  By the time they figured out what to do with us, and waited for some stragglers (last bus), we could get right on board.  Lyft would have been around 8.00 plus tip.  We could have walked if it wasn't humid, raining and we were shlepping luggage.

2 minutes ago, shirazcruiser said:

Thank you so much! I never knew you could do that. After looking at the current sailing and the next one, they show Sirloin steak on the 1st night in Luminae and not Filet mignon as I’ve had in Luminae every single Celebrity cruise I’ve sailed on. I hope that’s a mistake. 

If it's sirloin and you want Filet you may be able to ask for it.  On Apex in December, I pretty much ordered a filet almost every night.

Interesting, since when we were on the Solstice from late March to early May, the were rolling out the new menus.  For example, on the first cruise, the special Daniel Boulud menu had the old menu (with the raspberry Vachain) every night.  On the second and third cruise they mixed it up, some nights that, some nights the new menu with chocolate pill.

5 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

 

 

I agree with Arzeena.  We did our only move up from a balcony to Aqua for our 12 night Asia sailing on Solstice.  When the our A2 cabin was assigned about a month before the sailing, our Cruise Planner showed us getting 60 Club Points (5 points/night) instead of 36 (3 points/night).  But as per the MoveUp rules, when our cruise was completed, we were awarded 36 points (screenshot).  

 

We had the same thing.  Sky Suite to Royal Suite.  On the web, for upcoming cruises, it showed the points for the Royal suite.  What we got was the points for the Sky Suite, which is what we were expecting, since that's what the terms say.  

In 2019, we had sky suites, and the price of a Celebrity Suite dropped to within a couple hundred dollars of what we paid.  We paid to upgrade, since I needed the points to make Elite (I'd be 6 points short in the sky suite).  We got the points.

2 hours ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

I always try to be proactive - while servers on cruise ships are usually great, they're not mind readers. They can't know you want coffee or tea if you don't ask. If I want some, I'll ask for it when I order my dessert.

Exactly.  Although, on our B2B2B on the Solstice, we had the same assistant waiter for the 2nd two cruises (Luminae).  He always brought me coffee, and always asked DH what he wanted, since he'd sometime change his order or skip it. 

21 minutes ago, upwarduk said:

Agree. Although they show in my History, they do not show when I sign in.

 So, I will wait until after 22nd June and see what happens then.

I can see them stopping these PUPs, considering all the problems that have been reported.

I think that's usually the case.  I can see them in my history and then, within a few days, they show up in the app and the total.

1 minute ago, Margarita Jane said:

I thought we were suppose to be rewarded 30 PUP, but I got 3. Did I misread this?
 

10 Power Up Points equals 1 Captain's Club point.  So 3 points on your account

18 minutes ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

No. I was stupid and didn't because it has never been an issue for me before. But I guess I told them enough about the webinar they are giving them to me (in July) "as a one-time gesture of goodwill".

I once entered my CC number wrong, and they did the same.  

4 minutes ago, upwarduk said:

I’ ve never confirmed Go Green with the State room attendant and have always been awarded the extra points.

I've never had an issue, until last January when they didn't get added.  I called, and it was fixed about a week later.  That's when I started doing both our names, and checking on board.

1 hour ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

Oh wow! I have never had to confirm with my stateroom attendant. Guess I’m going back to the page to re-sign up and screen shot either the confirmation screen or the “you are already signed up” screen.

 

Wonder how I can show proof of solo occupancy in the cabin…

I don't think I've ever seen a "you are already signed up" screen.  I'm trying to always ask.  I also always do it twice, once under my last name and once under DH, because I'm not sure if it has to be the lead passenger and I'm not always sure who the lead is.

Mine posted correctly.  643 to Zenith.  We'll see if it happens next year.

6 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

Do you really think they get the time off if they aren't doing turn down service or they get to work at a slower rate having less rooms to service? How is not turning down or making up a bed effecting the environment other than mine?

6 hours ago, bikerunner said:

You will never notice a difference if signing up or not signing up, my last 7 cruises all go green, and did not notice a thing different than when I did not sign up.  Room turned down, new towels if I needed, ie left on the floor, etc.  I pay attention to the room cleanliness, ie ran hotels, and always did 10-20 room inspections a week with the Hskping manager. The only time I had to call GS one time was when I could not find the laundry slip.  The staff does not get extra time off, they have other tasks that will fill in the space, everything from wiping hallway walls down to vacuuming.  

Go Green has never meant completely skipping the evening service.  It's supposed to be towels and trash only.  Oh and chocolates on the pillow I guess.

1 hour ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

Still nothing for me.  Perhaps all of the flooding in Florida will delay the points for a few days.

I don't think the flooding is even close to the 2023 flooding.  And hopefully it resolves soon, because we head to Fort Lauderdale in a week.

11 minutes ago, jajsmom said:

I asked about that.  The Xpdedition suite on the Xpedition was 12 points per day. Changing to the Flora, the Sky Suite with Veranda is 8 points per day, but the Sky Suite with Infinity Veranda is 12 points.  Celebrity considers the Xpedition suite and the Sky Suite with infinity veranda to be identical. But to me one has a veranda and one doesn't. We also needed the 12 points per day to bump up to the next level.

Thanks.  If they move up the sale, at least I won't lose points, but like you, I don't consider it a veranda either.

35 minutes ago, jajsmom said:

Well, after several hours on the phone today, just wanted to share the information we received. You are given three choices: 1) cancel for full refund, 2) move to any cruise on same ship in 2024, or 3) change to the Flora in 2025.  With this option, you must sail the week you were currently scheduled to sail or the week immediately preceding it to keep your current rate. Also, we had been in an Xpedition Suite with Veranda, but could only change to a Sky Suite with an Infinity Veranda.  I had wanted to "downgrade" to the Sky Suite with Veranda, but I was not allowed. Sailing with Lindblad was not an option. If there are no Infinity Verandas available on your specific sailing, they can bump you up, but not down. Also, you must make the change by October 5, 2024.

Just curious, would you now get the 8 points a night for the Sky Suite?  I'm in an Expedition suite for our cruise, and the points are critical for my 2025 plans.

1 hour ago, Stem to Stern said:

How much did these ships sell for?  Were they advertised for sale?  I did not see them on yacht world, but I did see two listings for Millennium-class vessels.  
 

I know this is old news.  A “Price Drop” designation is next to the price on both listings.  One is priced at US $150 Million while the other is $125 Million.  I wonder if these listings still have any relevance with regard to Celebrity’s evolving fleet.  

Coincidentally the keel-laying ceremony for Xcel took place today.

I think the M class listing has been there for years.  Someone said that sellers just list them, and if there's interest, they'll contact the owner to see if they want to sell.  There's been speculation that they might sell the Infinity and Connie, but they just updated both.

We're usually in sky suites.  A few months ago we won a move up bid to an RS - I got an email about a week or so later (move up awarded a month before) with a lot more detailed questions.

About a month ago, I had a problem booking a flash sale on a dining package for our cruise later this month, so I called the retreat.  I pressed the option for sky suites and got the same person who'd helped me when I called when I had the RS.  And she was very, very good and I had the problem solved within 3 hours

I have always rececived my points, although I think one time I had to call for the points.  Now I check when I get onboard.  

2 hours ago, mahdnc said:

Hopefully Celebrity winds things down in a manner where the onboard experience of the final cruises is not compromised.  The wildlife will be there regardless for sure. 

Fortunately, (hopefully) we're 4 weeks before the last cruise, so hopefully business as usual.

8 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

I’m not sure if I understand the concern. Celebrity will sail both ships until the end of this year. They will then be sold to Lindblad in 2025 and then renovated. If you are on a 2024 sailing, you are good.

That's my take unless I hear otherwise.  We were originally going in October (moved twice to there) and then we got the Save the Date card for a family wedding, right in the middle.  Our first thought was to move it to 2025, but December of 2024 was a lot cheaper.  Glad now we did that.

9 minutes ago, billc23 said:

Celebrity originally had ordered two Floras but did not have the license to operate it in the Galapagos. It affected their other Galapagos ships too. Silversea purchased the ship and named it the Silver Origin. Similar to the Flora with a different cabin configuration.

 

I would not be surprised if Celebrity pulls out of the Galapagos market at some point in the future. It is their only expedition sailing, whereas Silversea has many expedition sailings. Celebrity is becoming more focused on 7 night high profit cruises and not the variety of sailings that one finds on Princess, HAL, and others. Time will tell...

Interesting thinking, and I'm not sure you're wrong.  I'm glad that we have our December Xpedition sailing, which we will do.  

1 hour ago, cruisetonowhere10 said:

My TA has been in touch with Celebrity and it sounds like Lindblad is buying those two ships and the crew.  My sailing is not canceled but I can move to Flora.  Little bit of a quandary on what to do…will need to speak with DH as well.

When is your sailing?  We're on December 7, and maybe, if we can move we should.  What would an Expedition suite get us, I wonder.

We're on the Xpedittion in early December, so I guess we're still good to go.