Jim_Iain

We were sailing on Ponant. I don't drink alcohol but Iain was pleased with it and found it of good quality. Like all cruise lines they have an extensive list of wine by the bottle. Unlike most main stream cruise lines. All the wines are included in your fare. Being a French Line of course all of the lines were french. They had a selection of 6-7 and the waiters just constantly come by and makes sure glasses are kept full. Everyone on the ship has the equivalent of of a drink package that includes beer, wine and well drinks. Iain upgraded to the premium package because he enjoys Grey Goose. He also had the ability to order certain wines by the glass. He is normally a Chardonnay drinker but found a French Rose that he enjoyed and normally had that with dinner. He never ordered any of the higher priced wines. The food is totally different and would put even Murano to shame. Foie Gras cooked to perfection, Caviar, Filet of Lamb, Venison more tender and tasty than any steak I've ever had. Portions are on the small size but that is a perfect portion for us. Many that order steaks that a 1/2 pound or more would be disappointed. I won't even go into the french pastries and deserts. One day for lunch in addition to the luncheon they had Alaska King Crab and Lobster tails.

As many indicated. The OVC is where you will see local quinine or theme . Each day they have a Theme and also themed stations. On our Singapore to Australia cruise stopping in Bali they had an Indonesian theme day. They also usually have an Indian Station, Mexican and Stir Fry. I've also had French Theme and British Theme that come to mind. On our New England Montreal cruise the F&B manager soured Nova Scotia Lobster for the Lobster night in all restaurants. Was far better then the Warm Water lobster.

I've actually tried it - I also am a techie living in Silicon Valley and worked in tech and internet technology before Windows, Apple and Web Browsers. To me it makes sense. I use to test vulnerabilities (hacking) to test security holes. I still often like to play to see how far I can get in a system if I find a hole. On Celebrity ships like many companies, you have an Internet (connected to the outside world) and an Intranet - for internal server connections only. That is how companies store data accessible only employees and not the outside world. Celebrity or any company can open specific ports on their intranet an allow connections to the outside world and create white lists to specific external sites. I've been on cruises that required documentation (during Covid) or arrival cards and created links on the Computers in the Internet Cafe to access the countries website without an internet account. From the iCafe you can also log onto Celebrity Site and I believe RCL. Would love to hear otherwise and which ship -- would be fun to explore. Just because I haven't been able to send an iMessage doesn't mean there is a means on another cruise line or a ship I've not tried it on.

On the subject of Single traveler fares. A well know person who use to be the moderator on this forum posted information from an email a member received from Laura - Not allowed to post the link. "A member received a personal email from Laura Hodges Bethge, stating that later this week, the Solo Fares will return to 200% or less, on at least 75% of all X sailings throughout all of their deployment, and all regions of the world. I'm very pleased that Laura Hodges Bethge, and Celebrity listened to everyone's feedback. "

They always open Luminae for lunch on embarkation - Many suite guest go direct to Retreat after boarding. On almost all cruises i've been on - Luminae opens for lunch at 11:30 until approximately 2:00. On turn around day they are also open from 6:30 - 8:00. When we did a stay aboard we could stay on the ship until 1 hour 30 minutes prior to departure. There were also many TA that came aboard for a tour and lunch. When time to leave the ship an announcement was made.

Personally I am usually more concerned about Noro per-cruise on Airplanes and Hotels. I always bring Alcohol and disinfectant wipes and first thing I do on an airplane is wipe down touch surfaces and tray. Hotels much the same but the first thing to be wiped down are light switches and the Remote Controls for the tv's Since their is no big news reports about outbreaks on airplanes no one goes ballistic. Remember most cases on ships are brought aboard by passengers ---

Over the past 23 years I have probably always been very positive about Celebrity. We have sailed Exclusively with Celebrity for all these years. The reason we stayed with them was they had a Good Product, Good Food, Good Service and recognized and rewarded their guests in their Captain's Club Program. My last live review wasn't negative but I did point out some things that have pushed us to the point we took our first Non-Celebrity Cruise in September. After our month cruise on Celebrity we ended up booking one Celebrity Cruise and have booked 3 Cruises in the past 2 weeks on other lines. Have we deserted Celebrity? No but they have lost an exclusive Suit Passenger. Their main failure to us is that they have Diluted 100% of the value of being a Zenith Member that travels in Retreat. If one looks as the definition of a Loyalty Program they have Failed. Just my opinion and we finally decided to talk with our feet. Our displeasure was enhanced on our last Edge Cruise. The main issue we had was in Luminae which we have always loved. The food was often cold in the middle while sitting on a plate so hot you could hardly touch. Chicken and Fish which have always been perfect were delivered so over cooked we didn't eat it. A carbonara which was excellent on the first cruise was delivered like a big glob of pasta starch on the next cruise. Also on 3-4 occasion dishes were delivered with one or more of the components missing while the other persons meal was perfect. These cruises also were during the cruise when suddenly they raised wine prices while at the same time being out of about 40% of the wines.. I know Supply Chain Issues.. In all cases if Celebrity had been upfront and transparent would not have caused such an uproar On the positive side the Chef did ask if he could make us something special for dinner and rewarded our request with a beautiful Steak and Guinness Pie. He also surprised me with getting Chef B's permission to make me a Pistachio Raspberry Vascheron We will be on an S-Class B2B in April Sydney to Vancouver and hoping they will win our hearts again. Even if they do we are no longer dedicated and will be choosing our future cruises by destination and directing our searches on smaller ships on the more luxury lines.

My understanding is it isn't available in US ports. Seen it in many European and Asian ports. When we did it you had full access to the ship - Al Bacio was open during and after B2B processing and once Ocean View was flipped over to lunch (just before boarding begin around 11:00 ) in OVC, Pool Grill and Luminae when opened. I don't know about Alaska hopefully someone on an Alaska Cruise could advise.

While slightly off topic. We were traveling as a group of 4. Instead of taking the train we rented a car instead and drove all the way over to the Yukon - Carabou Crossing. The road follow a similar route to the train and was substantially less expensive. Wonderful day and saw soooo much.

Recently on a cruise an agent stopped me in the terminal and asked what a Zenith was as he had never seen a Zenith Card before. We are not one to flash it around and normally hand it to a bar server upside down.

I thank you will have a wonderful trip. As I said most of the Southern Crossing have really been perfect. Northern crossing are a totally different story. In the med itself never had a prolonged rainy cruise and been sailing the me for 23 years. Normally quick moving showers then sun again. The storm we had came out of no where while docked in Toulon. It was more like a Microburst. When it hit chairs went flying and Star Code announcements to close decks. It was on an Edge Class ship (Celebrity) and tore a 20' x 40' patch of metal ceiling strips off. It took them the full crossing to repair mostly decorative trim.

Sorry to hear. We have other friends that are on a B2B and said things are still staff served. The numbers being reported by Cruise Hive are - The number of guests onboard for the sailing was 2,056, and 68 reported symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. This is a total of 3.31% of passengers, well over the 2% threshold when ships are required to report cases to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP). In addition, 7 of the ship’s 948 crew members (.74%) also reported similar symptoms.

You will not be able to use iMessage unless you are attached to the Internet. You can message others using the app (not very good) using the FREE INTRANET (not connected to the outside world)

Curious as to the reputation of local nursing homes that daily have friends and family leaving nursing homes, hospitals, restaurantsaand schools with Noro and never even notify the local newspapers or health authorities. I'm not attacking but simply always amazed when people on CC go nuts when there is an outbreak on a ship but ignore that 99% of infections are taking place around us daily. “The CDC estimates only about 1% of annual U.S. norovirus cases happen on cruise ships. Rates are much higher in schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and restaurants, which collectively account for about 91% of cases.”

I remember some pretty good fritters many years past. Think I saw them in the past 1-2 years but were tiny and really not very good. Recently they have been having the Sticky buns... but not really sticky...just a little goo in the middle.

We lived in Dublin for 3 years and all kids of surprises with different meanings - I purchased A Valance - which in America is something to goes at the top of drapery --- When I opened it, It is what we call a bed skirt or bed ruffle. Oh well, back to the store and this time I just described what I wanted. I do read all the dialogue on dress "code" - maybe that's the problem - everyone needs a magic decoder ring. Personally my standard is I dress the way I would if going to a Nice Restaurant or Resort. We usually wear a sports jacket and Bow Ties on dressier nights on some cruise lines that have a dressier night. For normal evenings we don't don the ties but often wear jackets. Will be sailing on Cunard prior to our first cruise on Oceania so will be bringing Tux with us.

No...the Badge is just hung by a lanyard around your neck... LOL. While I didn't get a Blazer when I hit Zenith - You do get a Zenith Lapel Pin - Which I've never taken out of the box.

Mine haven't posted yet either. I'm waiting a couple days before calling in.

Found a fun graphic - While a jacket is not required the graphic says more than 1,000 words

Regarding Muster Station - You will have it written on your SeaPass and one on the ship or slightly before it will show the exact location on your seapass. In addition it will be clearly shown on the back of your stateroom door. While they now do Virtual Safety Presentation you are required to go to your Muster Station to know where it is and to be checked in physically (scan of SeaPass) after boarding. Depending on ship you may be able to obtain (not bring one) by making a request to your Stateroom Attendant. Some of the ships that are based part of the year in the UK have a supply. I always travel in suites and upper suites have them automatically and in Celebrity Suites I have been able to obtain one (based on availability) by making a request to the Butler.

All you need to do is present your card at Al Bacio it is already coded that you are a CC Elite+ and your status will also so on your SeaPass. No action other than ordering is required on your side. Enjoy as many as you wish. At Al Bacio they also have free pastries in the morning and cakes and sweets in the afternoon evening.

While we have not sailed Oceania we have done about 12 Southern Crossings - almost all in November. Except for saying that weather can be unpredictable. The generalities would be that the temperatures will be mild in much of the Med - the average temperatures were High 17-18 C (65is F) and night time lows 10-11 C (50ish). Of course at sea with heavy winds you may have a wind chill factor. It is perfect for sightseeing but not really sunbathing weather. As you head south to the Canaries - day highs about 25C (77F) and low 18 (65F) A day after leaving the Canaries the weather has usually been really nice and people will break out their swimmers and sunbathing will be common. It will remains like that for the remainder of your cruise. I've had both smooth seas in the Med as well as some pretty good storms. One time it was strong enough that the ship I was on sustained damage. For the crossing the Southern Crossing is generally the best and smoothest but November is still within the Hurricane Season so rough seas are possible. 90% of my southern crossing have been like on a pond. Best advise - pack for a layered look and have sweaters or light jackets to use as needed.

I was just asking my husband who is a Scott ... he says yea we don't have Country Clubs... I asked what do you have and he said a Member of a Golf Club... Of course I next asked how would they dress if you were a member of a Golf Club ---- He replied "Country Club Casual" or "Resort Casual" I was having fun with this as often different words have such a big difference between English speaking countries. Searching a UK Site found a good graphic - from what I read - men with or without jacket and with or without tie. Now this is of course just a guide and I'm sure some will dress better and some more relaxed.

Log onto Captain's Club - to the Right of My Cruise & Points - Click Points History

Per USA Today - The last paragraph puts cruise ship Noro in perspective - It is much more prevalent in nursing homes than cruise ships. Nearly 100 Celebrity Cruises passengers got sick in a norovirus outbreak during a sailing that ended Friday. Among 2,056 guests on board, 92 reported being ill on the line’s Celebrity Constellation ship, along with eight crew members, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their main symptoms were vomiting and diarrhea. Celebrity increased cleaning and disinfection and isolated those who were sick, among other measures, the CDC said. The cruise line did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment. The ship was on a cruise to New Orleans, Louisiana, Belize and Mexico that departed from Tampa, Florida on Jan. 3, according to CruiseMapper. The news marks the first outbreak of gastrointestinal illness on cruises that has met the CDC’s threshold for public notification this year. The health agency logged 14 in 2023 – three of which occurred on Celebrity ships – higher than any year between 2017 and 2019. Norovirus was listed as the causative agent in all outbreaks but one last year. Norovirus is often associated with cruises, but Ben Lopman, a professor of epidemiology at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, told USA TODAY last year that cruises constitute a "tiny minority of norovirus outbreaks.” Most of them take place in health care settings like nursing homes.