SbbquilterUT

There are many good videos on Virgin cruises. New and shiny with innovative ideas in design. Food is reported to be very good. For me many of the furniture designs are very low seating - problematic for more senior sailors but we are not their target demographic. We have several friends who cruised on Viking and had a great time, none of them are remotely pretentious.

We look mainly at travel costs and Seattle works best for us (less expensive and better options to get home in 2 flight segments). We have sailed out of Vancouver as well and it is nice but that terminal can be very hectic as well. Pier 66 in Seattle was perfect for a light passenger sailing. Have sailed Pier 91 several years and it is hectic getting into the front of the terminal (we tend to hop out and walk which is not everyone's choice. Once inside we were on board quickly so the actual terminal did not make an impression.

The spa is not named Persian Gardens therefore our Elite benefit does not apply. I was surprised that when I paid for an expensive treatment on the Apex even that did not grant me access to use the sauna and steam room as I would at a spa on land.

That is what we have seen - we paid to upgrade to Aqua but it does not become AI like purchasing Aqua at full fare.

You will still get your Elite minutes. When you go to sign on the choice will be streaming (Elite minutes). Once we used ours up it will revert to the other WiFi option. Each Elite should create a sign on and you will get your 90 minutes.

The coffees are covered by the Classic package as well as soda and water as far as non-alcoholic. Some juices may be covered but I am not sure.

Just notified that we would need CoVid test within two day of sailing on the Anthem of the Seas (sailing from NJ on May 1) also vaccine required for everyone over 12. Not sure which country on this itinerary require it but that was our notification.

Your classic package includes almost everything that the Zero does - excluding vitamin water, Red Bull and smoothies in the spa cafe. I would call again to talk to someone else if you are trying to downgrade the Classic to zero proof. Since it is a different code than classic, with the AI program that may be an issue.

My understanding is they are hired through an agency - I would contact the Miami home office for guidance on where to apply.

We enjoyed the ferry ride to Nevis from St. Kitts.

We had reservations but there was no separate line for those with reservations as they were seating people as they walked in. We found it easy to get a table at about 6:40 as those diners heading to the 7pm show were clearing out. Even managed tables by the window some evenings.

One more consideration after living in that region - it is very hot and humid in June through August. Travel in a shoulder season (spring or fall) will be much more comfortable.

Barcelona is a great city to visit so add some time there before you board. We arrived around 11 which was not busy at all. Like any cruise things change each week but it is fun to eat in the morning, then we walk to Las Ramblas and buy fresh flowers at a stall. Perhaps pick up some treats at the Mercado then head to the ship.

Best tender experience was on the Celebrity Apex - the Magic Carpet is used at water level so much easier to board the tender. Rode it in Ireland and was a lovely day with no waves smooth ride.

On Coco Cay we walked all the way to South beach and it was lovely - quieter and nice beach. Livelier at the pool.

Sorry - Oceanview would be it. Any other juices would come with a charge.

No card needed for us - we had to show our Diamond status on the RCCL website.

Continental breakfast is free. Hot items will be charged. Our 1/21 cruise still shows $4.95 room service charge for late night, no charge the rest of the day.

I never have - you will need to leave the ship as they have to have all passengers exit the ship. You will then be lead back on board, there may be a delay or maybe not.

We have Celebrity cruises booked for this year but also have RCCL transatlantic and Viking River. Next year brings on a Viking Ocean South Pacific and Oceania 14 day - both new experiences that we are looking forward to. Celebrity pricing has crept up enough to make those new cruise lines interesting to us as well as the smaller size ships and interesting itineraries. Loved visiting Iceland, Ireland and Norway on the Apex in August but noticed even then reduced selection in the Oceanview during the day and particularly in the evening (seemed to be reheated from lunch with the exception of the stir fry and grilled meat station).

We are now looking specifically for itinerary, we are maturing and I want to see different ports while we can fully enjoy the experience physically. This year brings a relaxing Celebrity B2B Mexico, then a 14 night TA on Anthem of the Seas (DH really likes the ship and there will not be lots of kids on this sailing), European river cruise with Viking, and finally 7 night Alaska with Celebrity (finishes off our FCC). The following year we are sailing Viking Ocean and Oceania for their smaller ship with more interesting itineraries. Want to travel while it is fun and spend all our kid's inheritance. 😂

We have had Beyond the Podium speakers on 7 day Alaska, 14 day TA, 14 day Southern Caribbean and 12 day Central America and Caribbean. No speaker on Norway but we were in port 4 of the days so the speaker would not have enough opportunity to present information.

We had a lovely evening at Sky Lagoon - water is not blue but you look out over the bay and much less crowded. Also closer in to Reykjavik.

Pack drawer items - cabin attendant put hanging items on cart as well as suitcase and moved it to the new room. If it is not finished yet we could access the safe and put our valuables away.

We have stayed in inside cabins the majority of our cruises and are happy to sleep like a baby - particularly helpful during summer Baltic cruises where it is light very late. We have also enjoyed other cabins but still look to insides to stretch the budget for B2B cruises.