marycruz

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Settling in to a new room is always both fun and full of work. 

 

We met out Room Attendant, Apollo and our Suite Host, Alexander.   Both really nice and helpful in getting everything together.  Honestly I'm going to stop wasting my time with the Shoreside Concierge as nothing got through to them with my regular requests.   Nothing big and they took care of them quickly.   I just have a few standard requests.   2 Isotonic pillows, an extension cord, a booking for Tuscan on the first night and  swap the Champagne to Chardonnay.   All were taken care of efficiently and Mar, the Retreat Host got us into Tuscan.

 

Being a long cruise I decided to purchase Iain a Premium Bar Setup with Grey goose.  Alexander even being on the ship for 7 months had never heard of one so said he would sort out.    In the late afternoon a knock came at the door and the Grey goose was delivered by the Bar Manager.  

 

Just one problem yet to sort out.   Our room was absolutely freezing to the point I had to put a sweater on.    Alexander had maintenance look at it when we were at dinner and when we returned the thermostat was finally working and we could control the temps.    Especially on a cold weather cruise we wanted to make sure we had heat.

Same here on our May cruise.  Our requests relayed to the shoreside concierge were not relayed to anyone on board.  We also had Apollo!  He was great. In Luminae we also had a great waiter.    His name was Yuda.   Could you let me know if you see him?  He may have gone on vacation.

46 minutes ago, loug1601 said:

Hi Kathy,

 

Since you live in PA, you may be sailing from Bayonne NJ. We have sailed 4 times from Bayonne since the Covid restart. Once on Anthem of the Seas and three times on Oasis of the Seas. All four times in a Grand Suite. There has been NO Suite boarding line in Bayonne during our sailings. 
 

We went to the front of the line and asked the employee who was checking for arrival times, and he said there was no Suite Boarding Line, but he ushered us into the line where he was. 
 

It was rather embarrassing, even though no one said anything. Things are changing so rapidly, I don’t know what you will encounter. Our last cruise was on Oasis in June 2022, approx 7 weeks ago…no suite boarding line. 
 

We are sailing on the Oasis again in September in a Grand Suite. I’ll wait and see how the boarding goes. There was a suite line once you entered the terminal.
 

We are just so happy to be sailing again, and having our loved ones in good health. 
 

Pre Covid, I just don’t recall if there was a suite check in line. Pre Covid seems like an eternity ago…

 

Pat

Well this is very strange.   We just sailed from Bayonne in May and there was a suite boarding line.  They also have a suite waiting area inside the terminal.  This was on the Celebrity Summit though.  There was an area outside also that was marked for suites.  We are on the Adventure next month out of Bayonne so it will be interesting to see if Royal doesn't have anything for suites.

40 minutes ago, SilkySal said:

I also have a B2B2B in October of this year from PC on Mariner. The 1st leg is a 5-night and the other 2 are 8 nights which include Bermuda on the 2nd two legs. Now what? Shall I assume that they will test us on board before continuing to Bermuda? Ken? Anyone? TIA!

Yes we were told that on our Oct cruise to Bermuda they will test us on board.   This info came from MB's office.   Maybe requirements could change by then but who knows.  

Well apparently people are still having to call Bermuda for their approved TA.  Someone on the Royal Caribbean board just called since they hadn't heard anything.   But I believe if you don't have that just bring the receipt from Bermuda and if there are folks from Bermuda there they will get the approval for you.  That's what was happening in Cape Liberty.   As I had been told by several people nobody was denied boarding..   Yes, I would be worried going to the port without the approved TA.   Not a pleasant way to get ready for a cruise.

However, once on the ship all this if forgotten and a great cruise is awaiting!

On 8/2/2022 at 1:23 PM, njhorseman said:

Bermuda changed its procedures since you cruised in May and you are no longer required to upload your COVID test results in order to to have your application approved . That was the piece that caused most of the delays as no one could be approved any earlier than two days prior to embarkation. Now you just upload your vaccination record with your application and you'll receive approval on that basis. You then just bring your COVID test results to the cruise terminal for examination at check in. That relieves the last minute crush of applications.

I found out about this after we came back.   Needless to say we were not happy after everything we went through to get the approval, along with everyone else who went through it.   Yes, I think the folks going now will have no problem boarding with the Bermuda TA without having to load the test 2 days prior.

2 hours ago, njhorseman said:

The poster is in the UK so the toll free number is useless to them . Subsequently they said they'll wait until they arrive in the US on Friday.

Yes I saw that after I posted and tried to delete but I couldn't find where to do that.  We had to call when we were waiting for our approval and called the wrong number.  It wasn't the 800 number and we waited 45 minutes in the queue.  It ended up costing alot of money but we did get the approval.  There were several people at the port without the approval from Bermuda but they had officials from Bermuda there at the port to help.   Some people didn't know they were there but were allowed to board and told they would let them know on board of their approval.   Most we spoke with said they were never notified once on board.

Of course every port could be handling things differently.  This was at Cape Liberty in May.

39 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

Yes, the TA is required.  You won't be permitted to board your ship without it.

Unfortunately you may have to spend the money for a phone call to solve the problem. 

 

There is an 800 number to call.  It's in the Bermuda Travel website.

2 hours ago, Cruise a holic said:

We were in a jr suite.  Previously on the adventure we were in an owners suite. Imo no value.  I am a diamond member had a lounge and got 4 free drinks.  No suite restaurant on the adventure.  When in a suite we had access to a specialty restaurant for breakfast only.  No real suite deck.  Bleacher chairs in direct sun only.  My dh has had skin cancer on his nose and face and he isn’t allowed in the sun.    The jr suite gave us more space and that was the only benefit.  The ship needs major dry dock for all cabins and suites 

Thanks.   We're on the Adventure in Sep and will have a GS.   I knew about the breakfast in the specialty restaurant from our cruises on the Explorer and Liberty.  I had heard RC was trying to set up suite restaurants on the older ships but I guess that didn't happen.   It was the same on those ships with the chairs in the sun only so we didn't sit there either.  They just didn't look very comfortable anyway.   Agree they need dry dock!

5 minutes ago, Cruise a holic said:

We were on the Adventure in May- different itinerary.  Was a true disappointment- you can read my review on Adventure reviews.   The ship was very crowded.  The cabins old .  Full of rust and stains- our toilet stopped working and needed repair a few times during the cruise- the food- was poor.  Ship was so understaffed.  We tried to get tender tickets to go to maine, and their was a horrible crowd in the promenade of a few hundered people- so we left and decided not to get off the ship.  I wonder how many people got covid after that cruise.

 

We enjoy Royal and are Diamond members.  We have a cruise in two weeks on the Oasis- we are in suite class so can try to isolate if the ship is full.  Going foward- Oasis class only.  

If I may ask, were you in suite class ond the Adventure?

2 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Linda,  Who's the current Captain?

Dimitris Petras.   Not sure the spelling is correct though

1 hour ago, Carlo16 said:

Our Oasis cruise is finally here. Does anybody know the boarding procedure for suite guests in Bayonne? Will there be a separate line? I’m traveling with a vaccinated 9 year old. Will I have to wait in a line with him to confirm his status before going into possible suite line? 
 

thanks 

Yes there is a separate line for suite guests in Bayonne.   Your  9 year old should go with you in that line.

14 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

It may surprise you to know that some people can be happy and enjoy a cruise and still not care for some of the features on a ship.  I too have spent time in that suite both pre and post change and, in my opinion, many of the changes were not an improvement.  I think I have a right to my opinion as you do to yours.  My opinion in no way invalidates your enjoyment of the suite.  It's just my opinion.  It didn't keep me from enjoying the suite.  There are many things to like about it.  You found the seats on the verandah comfortable.  To me, they were rather hard and uncomfortable.  Just two different impressions.  And I preferred the individual chairs in the previous version of the living room.  Just a personal preference--I believe we all have them.  Life would be pretty boring if we all liked the same stuff.

Totally agree with you regarding the verandah chairs.  We never sat out there due to the fact that they were very uncomfortable.  Ditto any chairs  in the suite.  We will be going on the Constellation next time and are looking forward to the suite they way it used to be!

Last month on Summit it was deck 7 forward of the midship elevators, both sides.   However, we were on deck 6 and the cabin next to us was under quarantine.

No.  We never met one, only the two ladies in the retreat lounge.

1 minute ago, st5310 said:

Going on the Summit soon in a Sky Suite.  Hoping someone can tell me who the Retreat Host (or onboard concierge) is.  Thanks.

Last month they were Penelope and Mar.   They were very nice. 

21 hours ago, RTR 21-0 said:

Anyone booked a hotel in Rome through Celebrity?  If so, which one and location?  Pros/cons booking hotel with Celebrity?  Never been to Rome but I've been told by several people to stay in the city center.  I'm going to check out the Rome forum but any and all suggestions are appreciated!

We stayed in a Celebrity host hotel a few years ago.    Celebrity used this as their hospitality hotel.  They set up in the lobby and also had a tour set up to take those staying in Rome to the different sites.   It was great.  We stopped at one other hotel and picked up a few more Celebrity cruisers.  We put our luggage on the bus and they dropped us off at the port after the tours.

4 hours ago, glentally said:

AND they all had the "cure all", "save the world" vaccines and boosters.  

The covid vaccines and boosters do not prevent you from getting it.  They just help with avoiding serious complications and hospitalizations, at least for most people.

3 hours ago, thebutlerdidit said:

I’m a little confused now because I recently watched a review of a Sky Suite on the Summit that did show a grab bar in the shower. Is it possible that some have them and some don’t? I’m not sure if I am allowed to  link to a YouTube video,  but I’ll try. 
 

 

Yes it is possible because we had one in our tub/shower combo.

3 hours ago, thebutlerdidit said:

I’m a little confused now because I recently watched a review of a Sky Suite on the Summit that did show a grab bar in the shower. Is it possible that some have them and some don’t? I’m not sure if I am allowed to  link to a YouTube video,  but I’ll try. 
 

Yes it is possible because we had the bar in our tub/combo in the sky suite.  

1 hour ago, Redtravel said:

That’s crazy.  Just don’t book sky suites.  We thought about upgrading to suite. After looking at these photos, chose to stay in concierge.  The killer for us was the bathroom. Hate tub shower combos. It’s one of the most dangerous places in any bathroom.  On a moving ship with no grab bars?  What were they thinking?

I would encourage anyone who wants to go in one of these sky suites to write to Lisa and tell them you've heard about this safety hazard and want the bar in your shower/tub combo  (also ask for them to put the shower line back in - there's no place in there to hand wet bathing suites or anything).   We did that prior to covid and right after the "revolutionized" suites.   I know the veranda cabins have the lines in the shower which were put back in after the ship was refurbished but in the sky suites something was not done.   They did put a shower bar in for us and the shower line.  Not like the old suites where they had a long bar and the side and one in the back of the tub but it is something to grab onto getting in and helps getting out.

2 hours ago, Laurab23 said:

I am sailing on Summit Friday and itinerary has not been changed (yet).

 

Laura

It has now.  We're going to Bermuda first.  Just got the e-mail.

12 hours ago, woldridge said:

Overall, very nice cruise. We are staying on for the next cruise but in an aft CC cabin. They let us move our stuff tonight as the room was empty. All unpacked which will make a stress free tomorrow.

 

The new room is so much better, but of course smaller. Lots more drawer space , and even more closet space. Magnetic walls, grab bar in shower as well as a clothes line. Shelves in the bathroom. Huge aft balcony with 2 chairs, 2 loungers and a table.

 

I will do a review of this room in a few days.
 

Barb

Yes a friend was in a verandah cabin after the reburb and had lots of drawer space, shower line and bar and hooks in bathroom.  She also had little shelves on either side of the sink.  They took them out of the sky suites.

14 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

Thanks for letting me see your suite.  No way I would pay the premium that cabin commands.  Not sure I could live in there.  The loss of the walk-in closet is too much.  And as I get older, that tub, which used to be difficult, becomes insurmountable.  I will be changing some reservations.  Thanks again for the heads up!

One of the things you can do is write to Lisa's office and ask them to put the grab bar and shower line in the suite you reserve.  They should respond.  I'm not sure why they didn't put those things back in.  When we cruised on Summit after the "revolution" and saw the closet we were shocked.  Why would they do that?  Also a friend of ours was in a verandah and had a shower line and lots of drawers (and they weren't on the floor) and I believe a bar in the shower.   The pre refurb tubs had a nice long bar in there and also a bar in the back of the shower.  All those were removed.    We are on Summit next.  Hope you have a great cruise.

1 hour ago, AF-1 said:

So is this suite pretty much that same on all class ships or just the ships which are in same class your the one your sailing? Thank you for your feedback.  I have a sky suite booked next year an d it will be my first time sailing Celebrity

The sky suites are revolutionized on the Millennium and the Summit.   The Infinity and Constellation are not.  These are the M class ships.   The plan, from what I understand is to revolutionize the Infinity and Constellation but I don't know if or when it will happen now.  The Solstice class and E class ships are totally different.   When we first cruised on Summit after the refurb it actually looked like they forgot the finishing touches.   We were disappointed.  So we're going to the Constellation next year. 

1 minute ago, woldridge said:

I meant to mention not one grab bar in the bathroom/tub. Also no clothesline. Thanks for asking.

Thanks.  We actually liked the old layout much better.  The sky suites had a large closet (almost double what they have now).  The bathrooms had 3 shelves behind the door and now there is one.  Not sure why they would take them out.  That's where the towels used to be.  Oh well.  At least we can cruise!

19 minutes ago, woldridge said:

Anything else you want to see in the room, just ask and I will try to accommodate. 
 

There are definite differences on a cruise with 360 people vs. being fuller. Not all so great, but what the heck. It is a beautiful day for sailing!

Do you have any bar to hold onto in the shower?  How about a shower line?  They took all of that out after they "revolutionized" the ship.   I was hoping they put them back in all the suite cabins.