TeeRick

It is Spiny/Rock Lobster tail, not Maine cold water (real) lobster with claws. The Spiny (or Caribbean) lobster is actually a large crawfish and is not even in the lobster family. But some people are just fine with it and look forward to it. But definitely not a Maine lobster if that is what you are expecting.

Canada Dry has a small amount of ginger extract from ginger root. Not sure how much. Probably much less than capsules or chews. Serving Size: 12 fl. Ingredients: CARBONATED WATER, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP AND LESS THAN 2% OF: GINGER EXTRACT, NATURAL FLAVORS, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM BENZOATE (PRESERVATIVE), CARAMEL COLOR.

You can buy chewable ginger online or in most groceries and pharmacies. Works for me.

Sorry to hear that but I was just trying to make a general statement - maybe a bad one? - based on comments here and my experience. There will be differences depending on ship, crew, etc. And personal experiences one way or the other. But it seems overall the Luminae products has been good for a lot of posters.

The Covid booster vaccine (and Flu vaccine too) is still a good strategy. Many people are ignoring the vaccine booster. But get it a few weeks before the cruise IMO. It might help you get only a mild case of Covid if exposed on a cruise.

Appetizers look good!

I'm not sure that most would agree here that the Luminae experience, service and food generally have gone downhill. We had a wonderful (the usual) experience on our last Equinox sailing earlier this year. And we have dined in Luminae across many ships and did not notice much difference this year. Most of the downhill discussion here has focused on the MDR.

On smaller RCCL ships, I think you can have breakfast and lunch in a specialty restaurant set aside for suite customers in Chops on the non-CK ships. But yes, dinner in the MDR, Windjammer or specialties.

We will be dining in Coastal Kitchen which is like Luminae. Not in the MDR.

To be honest, all cruise lines have become much more expensive and have cut quality and services. There is no safe place. We need to choose an itinerary and ship that we like and suck it up I guess. Or find other vacation choices besides cruising. We have found excellent deals in land vacations. We also book vacation homes. We booked one on the beach for a month this coming winter. About the price of a Sky Suite for the two of us for a week. We are definitely doing much less cruising in the past year and have only a few booked in the next two years. None on Celebrity. After years, sad to say.

Terry- this is very much the truth. I find no major difference anymore between Celebrity and RCCL - other than the ship size of course. Celebrity is no longer a step above (IMO). Our next two cruises are on RCCL in mid-level suites - so no butler (genie) - which I don't really care about. But we have WiFi, Coastal Kitchen, Suite Lounge, etc. With our D+ benefits we get plenty of included drinks even if we go out of the Suite Lounge, or go to the Diamond Club. Gratuities are not included anymore for either line. These suites on our next RCCL cruises are less expensive all-in than the lowest level Sky Suite on Celebrity. So we have switched for now. We are going on RCCL in non-vacation periods so not as many kids. But we really don't mind the RCCL higher energy experience. Others here will gasp at that of course! Yeah we are still giving our money to Celebrity's parent corporation RGG.

Perhaps that covers some of it but many people here are still signing up for suites on multiple cruises by the posts here. And complaining about it but still paying. Quite a few love Celebrity and their ships and the Retreat. So that will not change but some people (like me anyway) have finally moved to some other options after many years sailing suites on Celebrity. Eyes open now.

Celebrity does not really think you are stupid. They are reacting to market conditions and to a customer base still filling their suites at elevated prices and lesser service and amenities. Now maybe that is stupid?

We will join you on May 25th on Indy.

I have the same question. We are doing the 2-BR grand suite on Indy in 2025. Agree that the suite amenities are less than newer ships but price is still high. But we booked it for the nice itinerary (Canary Islands, 12 nights). We plan to use the SL and D+ benefits for drinks. Probably pay for WiFi or use our D+ benefits there too. Maybe get a specialty dining package. I think breakfast and lunch available (in Chops?). It will be fine for us. We have mostly cruised Celebrity (in the Retreat) in the past few years. We have a CL suite upcoming on Symphony in Feb.

@Mick B We just booked the 2025 Canary Islands cruise on INDY May 12 2025. Is this the one you booked too?

Thanks everybody. We just booked a 2-BR Grand Suite on Indy for the 12-night Canary Islands in 2025. Booked mostly for the great itinerary. It is an aft-facing suite (6716) with a huge balcony. This one has a jacuzzi on the balcony too. Anybody stay in this suite or something similar on Freedom Class? I know Indy was "amplified" a few years ago so a more recent renovation. On the downside, the suite amenities are not great for the price (no CK, no free WiFi) like our Symphony cruise in a couple of months in a CL. It does have a SL. I guess we can buy a specialty dining package. Between the SL and our D+ level, we probably do not need a drink package.

We are in a CL suite on Symphony this coming Feb. Looking forward to your comments as we usually sail in the Retreat on Celebrity. A few years ago we did a back to back on Edge (in a CS) and Harmony (in a CL). We wrote a comparative review on it.

That's interesting. My dw loved the two levels and two bathrooms.

On Oasis Class we like deck 17 which is a smaller contained area of suites directly next to the Coastal Kitchen and Suite Lounge. It is pretty quiet compared to the rest of the ship. It is convenient. We usually go for a Crown Loft which is similar in price to a Grand Suite and still cheaper than Celebrity Retreat.

We have sailed RCCL many times and enjoy the experience. We go back and forth depending on the deal and itinerary.

As I mentioned previously, some good deals on suites (above JS) with CK dining and Suite Lounge on RCCL ships. We have booked for less than a Sky Suite on Celebrity. Even a better deal if you have Diamond or above benefits. So goodbye Celebrity for at least the time being.

I'd support no cell phones in dining venues. At least for talking. Texting would be fine.

And importantly they fit under the Bridge of the Americas on the Pacific side. That is the other big issue.