TheHawk1

Just off Apex a few weeks ago and of the 4 MDRs, we enjoyed Cyprus the most, in terms of great service and quiet atmosphere. Though Normandie has some of the best specialty menu items. Also did Eden for dinner on the last night and it was, of course, the best meal of the entire cruise.

Will be interested to hear how this goes. I've read the sea crossing can be unpleasant, depending on weather and swells.

I would ask for just the lobster and hold the roll. That looks like more bun than anything else.

I have been looking for one of these reviews. Just put a future cruise deposit on this itinerary on Edge. Can't wait to hear about your experience.

I'll bet you instill these same fine values in your children as well.

Was on Symphony last fall and MTD worked fine, up to a point. I made all MDR reservations months in advance of sailing. For 4 of the 7 nights our reservation was 7:00 pm and we were always seated promptly, at the same table and with the same server, after night one. So, it was almost like choosing a set dining time, only with the flexibility to not have to eat early at 5:30pm or late at 8:00 pm. But where the process broke down was on the 3 nights I had made a reservation for 7:30 pm, because those were longer port excursion days and I didn't want to rush for dinner. On those evenings, our "regular" table was gone and they scrambled to try and find us another suitable table, usually involving a wait. So their process isn't really set up to accommodate "My Time Dining" in the way I would expect it to work.

Just off Apex a week ago. On SV, there were two loungers, two chairs and a table. It was a little cramped, but I'd much rather have the loungers there than none at all.

I had a Sky Suite last year and boarded at 10:30. This year, I had an SV, which is why I stayed up until midnight on the day of check in, to get an early assigned boarding time, which ended up being 11:30 am. Trust me, having a suite last year was much easier 😄

So, following that logic, the next time I'm on a crowded flight and assigned Zone 5 or 6, I guess I'll just push my way to the front of the line and board with Zone 1, because being assigned a boarding group doesn't really matter any more apparently.

There are over 2,800 passengers on Equinox (the OP's ship) and I'm sure Celebrity doesn't want them all showing up at the same time, which is why they assign boarding times in the first place. The only people who can show up at any time are suite passengers. The rest of us should stick to the time we're assigned and then everyone has the same opportunity to board quickly.

Sure, consider your boarding time just a "suggestion". Great news to those of us that sit up until midnight the day that check in opens, which is what I did several weeks for a recent cruise, so that I was able to receive an 11:30am boarding time. But let's have everyone just show up when they feel like it. Doesn't seem fair or appropriate to those of us who actually follow their assigned time.

Just got back from a cruise stop at Grand Cayman, where I thought I was following the advice described here. Jumped in a shared taxi at the ground transportation area of the port with other strangers and when we reached Public Beach was told to pay $12 pp for round trip. Tried to tell the driver we ust wanted to pay for one way, but was coerced into paying full price and guaranteed a return time. When it came time to return to port, of course no taxi in sight. Had not thought to ask for a return ticket, so all we had was a wristband with the driver's name, which was not transferable to any of the other taxis. So, ended up paying a second time for a different taxi to take us back to ship. Felt totally scammed by this situation. These taxis should have better regulation, so beware.

Just got off Apex and had an SV on Deck 9. Not a peep for seven nights.

Just got off the March 2-9 Apex sailing and found Eden to be the highlight of the week. If you stick to the seafood options, they were all excellent and service was on point. It’s my second Eden experience and I feel it’s the best specialty restaurant on E class. As for Rooftop Grill, we considered it, but every time we went up to that deck to the Sunset Bar or just walking around, it was a gail force wind event. I can’t imagine trying to eat dinner up there under those conditions.

I took this tour last February while on Edge and thought it was definitely one of the better excursions offered by Celebrity. Have been to St. Kitt's several times and always found it boring, but Nevis seemed a little more authentic. The bus tour was interesting and the lunch and beach break, while short, were quite good. And the ferry ride back was a nice way to cool off at the end of the day. I highly recommend as well.

It would be better if you took a picture while they were actually sitting there. A little public shaming never hurts to call attention to such rude behavior.

Why, when Oasis class has been so popular and such a money-maker for them? Personally, I think RCI has taken a step backwards with Icon class, e.g. too big, too garish, too child friendly, etc. I'd be much happier seeing a new Oasis ship, as the Oasis and Allure are approx fifteen years old and getting a little long in the tooth.

There is an 11 day Celebrity Cruise in 2026 that has the same itinerary, but you disembark in Auckland, rather than taking the extra sea days to go back to Sydney. I'm thinking of starting my vacation in Australia for a week or so, then doing that cruise to tour parts of NZ I wouldn't otherwise see and then having a few days in Auckland at the end before coming home. Hopefully it's a good plan.

Yes, that is the one I was referring to. Coincidentally, both reviewers seem to be Canadian, so you would think they would be easy-going about everything, as we're all so gosh darn polite 😄

There is another Apex review on the boards now, from the same cruise I believe. They seem to have had a more positive vacation than you, so I hope theirs is closer to my own trip when I board Apex in two weeks. I found it interesting you focused on the interaction with your wait staff rather than the food itself? Personally, I don’t care whether I develop a relationship with crew members. Sure, it’s helpful if they know your drink order or coffee preferences after night two, but it won’t make or break my dining experience. I’d much rather the food be good and I get in and out in a timely fashion, so I can spend my evening doing other things.

There really is no nice way of saying you’d rather not spend your vacation with “those people”. But I get your point.

Is “gen pop” the new politically correct term for riff raff or hoi polloi?

Cured tuna, salmon sashimi, beef tartare, pig's foot carpaccio... just some of the delicacies currently on the Luminae menu. Celebrity couldn't pay me to eat any of those. And please don't tell me that my palate just isn't refined enough. When I'm on vacation, I want to eat food that I will enjoy, not a bunch of raw food that someone else has defined as elevated cuisine.

I’m not sure that people who are paying Retreat prices should be told it’s only a place for foodie snobs, otherwise eat elsewhere? Hardly the definition of good customer service. I’ve experienced Luminae recently and would agree with others here that it was the least impressive of the suite perks.

Last October on a Sunday, walked off the ship at 7:00 am. No line for taxis, and was at the airport by 7:30. Flight to LGW was at 11:15. I was completely bored waiting at gate for 3 hours. I’d say you have more than enough time, but there could be other extenuating factors.