Arubamoose

Last year we did the Apex in February. We were SO BLOWN AWAY by our total experience on that ship we booked B2B on the Edge coming up in three weeks. I am really praying that I am not regretting that decision. I can understand some cuts are needed to be made to reach some sort of profitability in the near future. But Celebrity has been the cruise line known for their cuisine going back to the days of Michel Roux. I betcha Daniel Boulud is not happy with his name being associated with the stuff that they are serving now. At the time we were forced to book AI because that was all that was available. As Elite, the price difference is tremendous for the value that I will get from AI. Would rather have booked non inclusive. But we really enjoyed the Apex. The meals were great - heck there was even a meat orgy in the buffet one night. Will I enjoy the cruise and ship? Most likely - it's our annual get outta winter getaway. Anywhere warm is desirable. Will I be disappointed compared to our experience on the Apex? Probably. I was planning on booking at least three more future trips while on board but I don't think that will happen. May even consider cancelling our already booked future cruises.

We were on the Apex last winter in cabin 7119. Last year that category was a 1A. This year I think they changed it to a P1. Outside port hole obstructed view. Our only obstruction was the "porthole" itself. No window washing equipment. We liked this cabin category and would book it again. I wasn't sure about liking the Infinite Veranda and the price point at the time was great. It was just like a regular balcony cabin except for the porthole view. Google pictures of it. That's what made up our minds.

I just checked my Edge cruise planner and Deal or No Deal is not available. Under casino it says AMAZING EXPERIENCES COMING SOON.

Mine peeled off on the Odyssey in October. Twice. No problem for Guest services to reprint.

The last time we were in Curacao, we rented a car from Advance. Pre COVID. The owner - Celestino - was great and the car and GPS was awesome. You do not need a boat tour....the turtles are right at the beach. The fisherman have a huge circular net pen with bait fish that they use and the turtles FLOCK to it. Also saw huge schools of other smaller fish to the right of the cove by the rocks. Great place to snorkel and cheap Amstels.

I agree that's it's misleading. Think of Florence - where are they ported? Livorno Think of Paris - where are they ported? Le Havre Think of Rome - where are they ported? Civitavecchia You have to do your research.

The cost of our tours this October from Ashdod with GTI were as follows: Jerusalem and Bethlehem were $99. Lunch was on your own and we spent about $20 each. Masada and Dead Sea were $115 and $25 for Masada and $15 for Dead Sea. Again we spent about $20 for lunch.

We heading to St. Kitts shortly. Been there many, many times on a cruise stop. Looking just to spend a short time on the beach. We've done Carambola, the Marriott, Shipwreck, Discovery and made it all the way out to Cockleshell. We've done town tours with Thenford Grey and the train. We've never done Frigate Bay as a beach stop. Looking at pictures of the beach - it seems that there are a few places that will do chairs and umbrellas. Monkey Bar? We really don't want to go too far. Any suggestions?

This needs to be upfront and out there in a heading of it's own. I grabbed it from another posting where it was buried. Below is a link to video posted on YouTube from Apex with a detailed walk through of the Oceanview Cafe dinner cutbacks from the Traveling Gamblers who were on a B2B (December and January 2023, and know their OVC offerings): Very, very sad. I know that they are trying to save their $$$ but this is just pathetic. I hope that the bean counters at corporate are aware of this bad publicity.

Looks like you had a great time! What tour operator did you book your Ladera VIP tour with? The ones I found on line (Trip Advisor and Expedia) did not include a catamaran back to the ship. TIA!!!

I have not been on any Royal ship that had Stevia. Always brought my own.... I hope Celebrity doesn't change that!! I prefer Fields and Select Rooibos tea ... Royal no longer carries that brand and I see that Celebrity no longer does either. Oh well.

SueMo's report on the dining is just awful. I am hoping it is better on the Edge. We shall see in four weeks! If it is not better - I am certainly not going to book any more cruises with Celebrity and will rethink my 2024 bookings. Shame - our Apex dining last year was spectacular.

I love Ale-Handsome!! He was awesome. And Captain Leo was amazing - especially under that pressure.

If you want to eat your heart out....check out BennyBrun's reviews on the Apex. Granted it was Jan 2022 but wow! We went on the Apex in February and it was the best. Go to post 721 and 779. This is a buffet!! We are going on the Edge B2B next month and I am not happy with the cutbacks especially compared to our awesome Apex cruise. Will make the best of it.

We were on the last viable Celebrity cruise on the Eclipse as COVID hit. Boarded the Eclipse on March 1st - Buenos Aries to Santiago, Chile. Did Iguazu for a few days beforehand. We used Tours by Locals because their tour allowed us to visit both sides in one day. We stayed at the Hotel Viale. OK rooms, GREAT roof top bar overlooking Foz do Iguacu. DO NOT MISS the Brazil side. When we landed in Brazil - they had just had their first case. March 14th - cruising stopped and we were to be booted off our B2B to San Diego, except Chile wouldn't let us in. Had a free cruise back to the US and got off March 30 as scheduled. The weather in March was lovely in BA. Iguazu was hot. As we got around the horn to Ushuia we needed light jackets. Weather wise it was a slam dunk and a great way to get outta winter in NJ.

Don't laugh - one of my favorite restaurants in Atlantic City - Dock's Oyster House - has a Lobster Mac and Cheese served in the shell on their Happy Hour/ Bar menu that is to die for. But they use real LOBSTAH.

I had an absolutely fabulous agent with a different agency who left because of COVID. No bookings, no money. Didn't blame her in the least. Been there - I used to be a travel agent - 9/11 did me in - so I was very sympathetic. They switched me to another agent who basically ignored me with a booking that I had with four other couples on a Viking two week river cruise. Left them in a flash after that. I had used the above agency on occasion when they had great group space rates. I now found a great agent with them. He returns my emails promptly.

We too have been cruising a while (1989). Never done HAL, never done Princess. D+ on Royal, Elite on Celebrity. Done 45 days on NCL and a blip on MSC and Carnival. We cruise mainly for the itineraries except for when we do the Caribbean to get outta winter. Celebrity is our winner hands down - especially since we were on the last viable cruise around the horn as COVID hit. They shut down as we had a two week cruise back to San Diego. No one could get on in Santiago and no one could get off. They treated us wonderfully during the tense way back. Free cruise, Free wifi, Open bar (keep the inmates amused and drugged). I will reserve judgement as we get on the Edge in a few weeks. Loved the Apex last year. Hope the cuts are not that drastic. May be the time to try other lines.

I have found those pesky little tags months later annoying the poop out of me. They are very stiff and very tiny and they put them in the oddest of places.

Absolutely! I salivated over his review before we went on Apex. We had such an amazing time on Apex that we booked Edge for B2B this February. I am not expecting the same experience but hopefully it will be good. I've never been on a bad cruise.

I am sure that all the cruise lines are going through the same thing. Heck - the cost of a land vacation has gone up to with a reduction of services provided and staffing shortages. I wouldn't want to be a travel agent now! (I was one pre-9/11).

This is not just a cruise industry problem - it is rampant throughout the travel industry. We have timeshare in Aruba - two weeks at Thanksgiving. Not high season. Our costs this year for airfare, booze, meals, groceries, car rentals, etc. were 25% higher than last year. We did not do anything differently. The service at our resort has been cut. No more daily maid service, yet our maintenance has gone up. Our trip in February 2021 (at island wide 35% capacity) in high season was a real bargain. Airfare alone was less than $300 from NJ. If I book now for November, I am looking at $1600 in economy! Prices everywhere has gone up and cutbacks in service abound.

And I just got an email. Needless to say I am shocked! Thank you for taking the time to contact the Executive Offices at Celebrity Cruises. I am pleased to have this opportunity to respond on behalf of our President and CEO, Ms. Perlo. Mrs. Moose, it was a pleasure speaking with you today. Thank you for your very valuable feedback, we are looking forward to welcoming you on the Celebrity Edge on February 13, 2023. For your convenience, my office hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm EST. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Adela Mormeneo Celebrity Cruises Executive Office Phone Number (US & International): 305-614-1343 ExecutiveOffice@celebrity.com

I JUST wrote to the email provided. lLutoff-Perlo@celebritycruises.com My husband and I are sailing on the Edge B2B this February and have concerns about the reported cutbacks to the Oceanview Cafe. I understand that all the cruise lines are scrambling to recover from the pandemic and have taken on enormous debt that now needs to be repaid. While we do not frequent the Oceanview Cafe on a regular basis for dinner - we do visit a number of nights for their themed menus and great variety of desserts. We do feel that this cutback smells a lot like a bait and switch. We loved the Apex last year and was looking forward to the same experience on the Edge. We are booked on and were planning more cruises on Celebrity (despite being D+ on Royal) because of their superior product. I really don't want to cancel and find a different line (or simply bank our money until the cruise industry sorts out the madness and competition resumes to reclaim and retain cruisers.) Alas, we're too close to sailing to cancel without large penalties, so we'll just travel as planned and hope for the best. I ACTUALLY GOT A CALL FROM HER OFFICE!!! I didn't catch the woman's name because I was in shock. She thanked me for my loyalty as an Elite member and hoped that the changes would not be as drastic as reported. Moral - nothing may be done but at least they are listening and hopefully it won't be drastic. If enough people complain it may spur them to do something.

At $139 pp (even with a $65 food credit and taxi) - I'll book through the resort. $42 with a $20 food credit is a no brainer. Does any one have a way of getting in touch with them via email instead of calling?