TribeHokie

@Biker19 the reason for the speculation is that I bid on three room types and only received this email for one of them, so I assumed the other two were no longer an option. The one that I got the email for is also the one that we bid highest over the minimum.

I did a quick search of RoyalUp but couldn't find an answer specific to my question. I am sailing on Enchantment in three days and just got an email today that my RoyalUp bid was not yet accepted but could still be accepted by the onboard staff up to the time we leave port.

I am new to this process and am trying to decide if I should increase my bid or not. My search of the boards showed mixed results in bids ultimately being accepted or rejected as of departure, but no one talked about whether or not they increased their bid last minute.

I am assuming that if I'm getting this email it is because my original bid was in the top percentage for the room type and they are trying to see if anyone increases their offer last minute (it would be a very nice upgrade for very cheap, even if I doubled my offer). But some posts I have seen say that this email means there are no more upgrades to give and it is now based on cancellations. 

Any thoughts or advice? I would happily increase my bid if I'm at the tipping point but also don't want to get hopes up if this is just RCI keeping us on the hook.

On 8/13/2021 at 4:40 PM, keesar said:

We had a sudden change of port.  I noted a huge line at the Excursion Desk.  Modified and booked a whale watching/beach excursion from my room on the tv.  Easy.  Others who had waited in line were disappointed as the excursion had sold out in a short time. 

That's awesome!

1 hour ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

Aqua class is non suite.

I'm quite aware. Hence my question about what it has access to.

Thanks Terrydtx for your answer.

We just got notified last night that half our ports for the 8/15 sailing got changed. This throws a huge wrench in our excursion planning since we are within a few days of sailing.

My question to you is, does aqua class have concierge services for excursion booking or do we use the same desk as the non suite guests?

Thank you for this live thread. We are boarding the 8/15 sailing for our honeymoon and are soooooooo excited! Also doing aqua class for the first time so very interested in that specific experience for you.

How full is the ship? And specifically are there crowds at the pools or lines at Blu for dinner? I've never had a wait at Luminae, but not sure what the differential in number of passengers is between the classes.

7 hours ago, Miaminice said:

And that’s the flaw in your logic. That was then…

 

A bit harsh, I was just stating my experience for context. Thank you anyway.

On 8/5/2021 at 5:17 PM, hcat said:

AQ no longer has a priority line...they board by suggested arrival times from what has been posted. Only  Suite guests have a sep line and entrance..

Really? Since when? On my last cruise in 2019 on the Summit they had their own line, and when I rebooked this cruise in April of this year the literature still listed priority boarding as an aqua perk.

Although between our late arrival time and the likelihood that they're not at 100% capacity I doubt it will be that bad.

Anyway thanks everyone for your responses. We will have a leisurely morning and bottomless brunch at the pub across from our hotel before mosying on to the port around 2. Honestly I don't mind skipping the embarkation day buffet battle royale. just super excited to finally be back on a ship!

Due to circumstances beyond our control we are only now able to get our online check-in completed before our 8/15 sailing on Equinox out of Ft Lauderdale. The earliest arrival time we could get is 3 PM. My question is, since this is for a wellness check but we are fully vaccinated and will have our (hopefully) negative test results in hand, does anyone know how strictly they are adhering to these times? We are spending the previous night in town and have to be out of our hotel by 11. I'd prefer to go straight to the port and have lunch on the ship but if they're going to make us sit there for three and a half hours we can find something else to occupy our time before joining the corral.

We have an aqua class cabin fwiw. Not exactly suite class but I know they have their own boarding line. First time for us!

24 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

 

We also ate at Tuscan when we were on the Summit in September, and the gnocchi were horrible.  Totally dry, overcooked and hard like little cannonballs.  I mentioned this to the server and she told me this was how they prepare them!    Well, I guess that was the truth!  😮

 

 (I had the same dismal gnocchi experience at Tuscan a year ago on the Silhouette.  The only difference there was that all of the food was mediocre or worse.) 

Glad it was not just me and my expectations! Gnocchi is my favorite pasta but they way they prepared it ruined it.

I actually also was at Tuscan on the Silhouette several years ago but thought it was really good. Did not have the gnocchi though ; ) 

I was on board about a month after the refurb. I hate the new interior design but mostly because I am a big fan of the classic "clubby" dark wood look. If this were my first cruise ever I would have liked it just fine.

My biggest complaint about the refurb is, as some others have touched on, the primary goal seemed to be form over function. In our cabin specifically (sky suite attached to PH) there was very little storage, especially in the bathroom. Zero cabinets, just an open shelf under the sink. Good thing we had no rough seas, but our toiletries were scattered all over the place instead of nicely put away in drawers and cabinets. Also in the bathroom the giant shampoo/conditioner bottles had no home other than the ledge of the tub, but we use the shower, so we awkwardly balanced them on the tap handles or left them on the floor. Giant shower, no shelf.

Probably the most amusing bonehead choice was the tiny chairs in the retreat lounge. There are at least a dozen of these little round chairs and backless stools that the average adult would only be able to fit half their backside on. Luckily it was not very full so there was never a seating shortage but still...

As for the rest of the ship I was pretty pleased. Plenty of public spaces, although I did lament the loss of the library. We did not eat in the MDR but the buffet was fine. Standard cruise buffet but the new layout is much more accessible. The specialty restaurants and Luminae were very good, although I will say the gnocchi I had at the italian restaurant was terrible. 

There was plenty of activity all over the ship so even though this is a smaller class you can usually find something to do or somewhere to hang out. I will definitely be back.

On 5/26/2019 at 1:01 PM, djh said:

I too am interested in what was wrong with Rhiannon. We have never experienced her as our concierge (although she was supposed to be our concierge last year but Sheila came back early). Since we will be on board at the end of June, any input would be greatly appreciated.

Same here. @goldsmip115 I see you pm'd the OP but if she really is that problematic hopefully you have information you would be willing to share publicly?

Definitely bummed to hear the full bar is no longer there. That being said, the last time I was on Silhouette the bartender in Michael's was quite slow anyway due to the fact that (according to him) he had to keep sending for missing items from the outside bars. 

We will see how this goes on Summit for my July sailing. Considering I hate the new look of the Lounge anyway if the service is no good I will just find somewhere else to hang. R.I.P. Michael's Club.

22 hours ago, Wine-O said:

Oh, the trials and tribulations of those who book suites.  

Thank you for your valuable input 

Just returned from our first Celebrity cruise and enjoyed it overall. The only reason for writing this is to say how terrible (and possibly dangerous) that the muster that we attended was. We have close to 50 cruises under our belts - almost all of them on premium-plus and luxury lines and have never experienced anything like this.

 

The lounge where it was held was full beyond capacity. Not only could we not sit down, we could barely stand -- we were like a room full of sardines. Could not see or hear much. Our biggest concern was the lack of air in the room. Someone did say that muster was taking longer than normal but that does not excuse the uncomfortability that Celebrity put their passengers through. A couple of people almost passed out (it was also extremely warm) and a few kind hearted people gave up their seats for these people.

 

As we all know, muster is suppose to be about safety but there was nothing safe about the environment where the muster for many of us was held. The room was definitely over capacity and difficult to breathe in.

So dramatic

This is going to be a contentious opinion because the Aqua class loyalists tend to defend their territory fiercely, but I do not consider Blu to be a major upgrade from the MDR. It is basically healthier versions of resort-style fare. There is the benefit of your meal coming from a smaller scale kitchen, so it isn't quite as subject to the banquet service downfalls. I still don't consider it to be near the upgrade that Luminae is.

Since you are not spa people I am not sure how much value you will get out of this upgrade, though I do highly recommend you give the spa amenities a go since you have pretty much unlimited access.

It depends on the kids and the time of year. As one who went on Celebrity in the summer when I was around 13 with a brother who was 16 we had a great time. He did all the teen program stuff and while I had that option I tended to do more solo relaxation. If the kids are independent or don't require too much oversight to have a good time then they will be just fine. Also, as others have said, if you go during peak family times there will be plenty of other kids for them to get into trouble with.

I was on the Silhouette for a transatlantic last year. I tried the gym several times on those sea days in the afternoon and it was always packed. I got on a broken elliptical once. Ended up just doing laps around the track. If you're into free-weights though they were usually available.

This has been quite the amusing read. A few observations.

1. There is a lot of wailing about "visible" and "in your face" perks. Using these terms implies that you are one of two types of people: someone who is not receiving the perk and is resentful/jealous, or someone who is receiving it and feels shameful/guilty/embarrassed. My advice for the former is to stop caring about what others can afford and focus on enjoying yourself. My advice for the latter is don't use it if it bothers you. To use these perks and then scream about how unfair they are is simply hypocritical and silly.

2. Speaking of hypocrisy, how has no one caught on that those complaining of a class system in this thread also are arguing for perks based on loyalty status? Is the loyalty program itself not also a division of class? I have loved my three Regent cruises just as much as a high loyalty member has loved their multitude. But if I save up for a couple years to treat myself to one sailing in a nice cabin is it not elitist for a higher loyalty class member to say I'm not allowed to have the perks that come with it simply because I can't afford to cruise as often as they do?

3. I shake my head every time I read about someone 'working hard' to 'earn' a particular status. You're on vacation being waited on hand and foot. No one ever had to suffer or sacrifice to make the next loyalty tier so stop acting like the added perks were so hard-won.

4. It is funny to see how some find ways to argue against data when it doesn't go their way. It sounds like we have settled on the poll being equally split. In case you couldn't tell already my vote would be for Yes.

At the end of the day Regent is going to do what is best for Regent. With the exception of a very select few we are all just dollars and cents to them so they don't really care whether a few people are bothered by some new policy or other. Let it go and just enjoy your life and vacation.

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;*

courage to change the things I can;*

and wisdom to know the difference.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Forums mobile app

Currently on the Equinox and the occupant of the Penthouse Suite next door has been playing Mary Had A Little Lamb badly on their piano for the past hour which we can hear through the wall. It's 11:30PM, think it's time for Mary to put that lamb to bed!

Hope our neighbors didn't mind my two minutes of Heart and Soul yesterday...it is just so hard to resist ; )

Sarcasm will get you absolutely nowhere, especially when it's misplaced. Welcome to Cruise Critic!

Thanks

If you are an MDR person then I would say there isn't much difference. However, if you depend on a higher quality of dining then don't go HAL.

Facilities-wise they are very similar. Crew/service-wise I would give Celebrity the edge based on my own experience but it varies too much to definitively say one over the other (non-suite that is)

Poor planning buddy. Easily remedied.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You're all clearly missing TWG_ag's point. The OP asked for ways to miss the lines (note, lines PLURAL) and he delivered. The general consensus (as you have all proven) is to try to get there early, wait a bit for boarding to start, then rush to the common areas and wait for your room to be available. When the masses all have this same mentality you're with the majority waiting:

- for boarding to start

- in line at the buffet

- for rooms to open

 

 

I don't believe anyone missed the point of the offering of an alternate suggestion that is not with the majority, however when an opinion begins, "You guys have it all wrong..." as TWG_ag's did, it's bound to get the responses it did. In a later post downthread, he did state there is no right or wrong time when to arrive, but in the beginning he did tell them they were "wrong" in arriving early and why.

 

As for the OP's original question, Bayonne traffic is light on Sundays(way lighter than it is on the weekdays, that is) so either arriving early(10-10:30am) or late (after 1pm)both have benefits and drawbacks that have been discussed. Definitely make sure you have up to date GPS and/or bookmark a website like http://www.localconditions.com/weather-bayonne-new-jersey/07002/traffic.php in your phone, and the passenger can keep an eye on what's going on in real time. Enjoy your cruise, and enjoy Bermuda, it's one of my most favorite places.

Oh so a rule of CC is that you can never say anyone is wrong? Good to know as a newb poster.

Anyone here ever traded it for a bottle of Prosecco? I remember reading some had done that.

If you're going to trade it for Prosecco you might as well save yourself the hassle and use it for mimosas. Unless you drink Prosecco straight????

Everyone has a different strategy, but you do realize that some people are rushing off to catch a flight or avoid traffic, right?

Poor planning buddy. Easily remedied.

WE don't have it all wrong, we just choose to get there early, you don't.

Exactly. We like to be at the pier around 10 AM. That way we drop off our luggage, park, check in and boarding usually starts between 11 am and 11:30 am. Then we can relax and enjoy the ship before we have to unpack and attend muster drill.

 

Also when you arrive early you have your choice of good parking spots. You know what they say, "the early bird catches the worm."

Exactly. The very essence of getting on board early. Why wait somewhere else instead of ship?

You're all clearly missing TWG_ag's point. The OP asked for ways to miss the lines (note, lines PLURAL) and he delivered. The general consensus (as you have all proven) is to try to get there early, wait a bit for boarding to start, then rush to the common areas and wait for your room to be available. When the masses all have this same mentality you're with the majority waiting:

- for boarding to start

- in line at the buffet

- for rooms to open

As TWG_ag states, arriving later bypasses all of this. No waiting for boarding to start. Quicker check-in. No line to eat. No waiting on your room. How is that not more enjoyable than the stress of the throngs of people who *just* *can't* *wait* to start their vacation? I'd rather immediately start it than wait around with it just out of reach. But please do keep disagreeing because

I am not telling you to do it my way, in fact my way only works if everyone else rushes to be first.... Either way, have fun and enjoy your cruise. My next one is April 23rd. :D