cruise101

Many thanks for all your speedy responses.

In response to your question, my questions were related to the Koningsdam.

We have sailed with HAL before, but our last cruise with them was some 5 years ago. Can anyone please provide guidance re the following:

1. Does HAL still run computer classes and if so is there a cost associated with it. The last time we sailed with HAL, they had Microsoft running some very good courses which were all complimentary.

2. What is HAL's current pricing structure for internet use and is the internet high speed (like they have on Celebrity). Also are there are Mariner discounts for past HAL guests.

3. I also recall reading somewhere that one can access the daily shipboard program (newsletter) on your smart phone. Does this require you to download any HAL apps in advance and also, do you need a paid internet connection while on board to enjoy this privilege?

Thanks in advance.

We will soon be sailing on the first leg of 2 B2B cruises. We have a decent OBC on the first of 2 B2B cruises and are wondering if during the first cruise we can use ur OBC to book and pay for shore excursions for the 2nd of the B2B cruises.

Any guidance is much appreciated.

We have sailed both X & Princess before (and also HAL). We have enjoyed X & HAL. However, MUTS on Princess really got under our skin. If you are concerned about "loud", MUTS just ditched Princess for us forever. Blaring sound at MUTS at all hours was not our cup of tea. X is polished and I cannot think of any time when sound was an issue on X (or HAL for that matter). In fact we did a TA last fall on the Eclipse and thoroughly enjoyed it. The entertainment (especially the CD) was excellent and with the additional hour each sea day, we rarely got back to our cabins before 1AM (and yes, we are classified as senior citizens). In our opinion, there is nothing that'd hold us back from sailing X. In fact later this month we have convinced one of our friends from down under who has never cruised before to join us on a Med cruise on X. I think you'll enjoy X (especially their S class ships).

I realize that this thread relates to upgrading from classic beverage pkg to a premium one. In a response Wine-O makes reference to only one person in the cabin being able to get a beverage pkg. My understanding (probably incorrect) is that one person in the cabin cannot have a beverage pkg, and that to get a beverage pkg, both passengers in the cabin require to buy one. Is this true? We have friends sailing with us on an upcoming cruise, where they dont have a beverage pkg. included as a perk. The wife does not drink, so would it be possible for just the husband to buy the beverage pkg - i.e. only for one person in that cabin. Thanks in advance for your responses.

While I know we are not allowed to name TA's we've always used one who often is sponsoring X cruises on the cruise critic website's weekly 25 best cruise deal emails. If you check those out you'll find them. Sometimes they even sponsor the whole email. The one we use is open on Sat., not Sunday, but when you are travelling, they do have contact number for day of travel problems.

I apologise in advance for my ignorance, but can you please guide me as to how one can sign up or where one can find "cruise critic website's weekly 25 best cruise deal emails". Thanks in advance.

Given the relatively recent introduction of chic nights on X, I thought it'd be interesting to conduct a straw poll amongst those who have recently sailed (i.e. after the introduction of chic nights) and those who are planning to sail within the next 6 months.

If you have recently sailed, what percentage of men do you think wore formal (tux or dark suit) on chic nights. If you are planning on sailing within the next 6 months, are you planning on packing a tux/dark suit.

Your observations/intentions will help me with my packing decision.

Thanks.

We have over the years sailed several cruise lines and based on our overall experiences, have over the past year chosen to make X our preferred cruise line. We have 2 upcoming 15 day cruises between now and the end of the year. In addition, we have always promoted X as an up-market line with our friends and folks that we have met on other cruise lines. For one of our upcoming cruises we have even convinced one of our friends who have never cruised before to join us. Now, I feel a bit guilty given the changes X is contemplating, effectively taking X a few notches down. Personally, I believe (and this thread is clear evidence) of many of their loyal customers possibly ditching X as a result of this not so well thought through change. The loss of loyal customers and the increased cost of bringing them back to X (if at all this is possible) is likely to far exceed any benefits that X mgmt is hoping to reap from this move. Hopefully someone at the top will reconsider the brilliance of this decision.

We are looking at options for getting from Rome to Civitavecchia. We are aware of the rail option (from Terminni station) but since we are 4 of us we'd prefer getting picked up at our hotel and driven to the port. There are several providers on this service which one can find on the internet, but I am looking for specific suggestions based on your personal experiences. Thx in advance for your help/guidance.

Many thanks Northern Aurora & Grandgeezer. I very much appreciate your speedy responses. Very helpful to know the details you have provided. Grandgeezer enjoy your upcoming B2B on the Silhouette.

We are booked on 2 B2B cruises (Mediteranean followed by a TA). Unfortunately, we were unable to secure the same cabin for both cruises. Can someone who has been in a similar situation please help us understand how Celebrity handles B2B. Having never done a B2B cruise, I am specifically interested in answers to the following:

1. Do you need to pack all your luggage at the end of the first cruise and if so do you move the luggage to your next cabin yourself or does the ship crew take care of that?

2. Do you have to get off the ship, then re-check-in at the port for the 2nd cruise. If not, how do you get your SeaPass for the 2nd cruise?

3. If you have a balance on your Shipboard credit account at the end of your first cruise, can you transfer it on to your next sailing?

Any other advice/guidance based on your own personal experience would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

We are considering a Transatlantic crossing from Europe to US in the fall. Any suggestions as to which would be a better cabin selection choice (starboard or port side) would be much appreciated.

Thx.

Thx everyone for your prompt responses. Just a quick note to say that I have as yet not received any response from X re the question I post to them via email yesterday. If I do get one I will post it on this board. Thx again & hoping that there will be no shenanigans on this matter when we try to embark at Southampton.

Good afternoon all:

We are booked on a Transatlantic cruise leaving out of Southampton. Boston will be our first port arrival in the US. I have seen some discussion on our sailing's Roll Call board re the requirement for non-US citizens to obtain an ESTA (Electronic Systems for Travel Authorization) prior to boarding the ship. However, since Canadian citizens do not require a visa to enter the USA, I had assumed that there was no requirement for Canadian citizens to obtain ESTA for this cruise.

I received an email from Celebrity this morning saying that we should have an ESTA or else we will be denied boarding on to the ship.

I reviewed the US Embassy in Canada website, which states as follows:

"On 12 January 2009, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) introduced ESTA, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization. This online system is part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and all nationals or citizens of VWP countries -- excluding Canada -- who plan to travel to the United States for 90 days or less for temporary business or pleasure under the VWP need to receive an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a U.S.-bound airplane or cruise ship."

If anyone has personal experience on this matter, I'd appreciate hearing (before its too late to apply for an ESTA) Celebrity's policy in this regard. In response to their email of this morning, I have also just sent Celebrity this question, but I am not sure if the mail-box from which the original note was sent is being monitored. Hence the questions.

Many thanks for your assistance.

Behram

Thanks for an interesting & informational thread. A quick question: if you bought some OBC through the gift page, would you expect to see that appearing on your e-docs?

Thx to everyone for all the insightful responses, and especially to HelenHaywood (HH) for sharing her experience on this subject. Well, I bought myself some OBC this morning (or so I think). I completed all the information for the order and then pressed the Submit button. I never got any acknowledgement that my request was processed - no email and most regrettably, no evidence from subsequent web pages that my request was in fact successfully processed.

In fact my recent experiences with Celebrity's website has been less than ideal. In fact there is a thread on this board titled "I really hate Celebrity's website" and while I haven't read it, I can relate to the title of this thread. Each time I have attempted to interact in any meaningful way with X's website, I have experienced frustration to varying degrees. I am concerned that we have a little over 4 weeks before our cruise commences, and just hope that I get some form of confirmation from X re the purchase of my OBC before we board. As one of the posters on this thread states, I am certainly not looking forward to having this issue addressed through Guest Services once on board. If I see nothing appear on my credit card statement in about a week, I'll take HH's recommendation and contact X directly to check on the status of my request. Sorry for venting!!!

Many thanks WestLakeGirl. We are from Canada and I just checked that a $25 SBC costs us $30.60 in Can funds. The resultant exchange rate (1.22) is much better than the prevailing official exchange rate. So definitely worth it. Thx for your guidance.

One more question, if I may: Can you use SBC that you have purchased to pay for the gratuities?

Thx again.

I recall reading somewhere that you can buy SBC/OBC prior to boarding. I looked up the Celebrity website and couldn't find a link to buying OBC. If you have bought this before, would appreciate you providing a link on the X website.

Also is there any real advantage in buying SBC/OBC prior to boarding the sailing. Thx in advance.