Jim_Iain

I have used NordVPN and Express VPN without a problem. Only caveat you need to install it prior to the cruise. I've noticed that the blocking is done by DNS and any search for a word with VPN in it will be rejected. Once installed no problems at all. I've used it in the past year on Apex, Silhouette, Solstice and Summit.

Linda - I'm not sure if they did a retrofit but when I was on Summit in August/September of 2022 there was a small elevator Starboard far forward (hard to see if you didn't know it were there but very visible from the Retreat Deck. They also have an ADA compliant ramp up to the upper area. You can also see it in this video

Thanks - I was just checking our itinerary for the 3rd segment of the World Cruise I guess won't be stopping in Cairns. We instead will be going to Yorkey Knob and Airlie Beach. We also won't have an overnight so I guess no problem for us. Curious about B2B in Sydney? Are you able to do the regular B2B processing and return to the ship or do you have to stay ashore for some period of time?

I've personally been very successful with streaming media. As @keesar indicated that it may depend on proximity of your room to a router in the hallway. Premium using Starlink has been very stable for my needs. Other Factors that may affect your streaming pleasure - 1. Providers caching ability (Netflix is very good) 2. Whether the streaming service has geographic streaming restrictions. Some providers to not allow streaming content outside resident country.

I can tell you for a fact that there are far more choices available on both MDR Menu and Blu Menu that that offered in Luminae. I see MANY reviews by MDR and BLU diners that also say they have no complaints about food and service in their assigned venue. All I can say is 'You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time"

LOL...

Personal experience has been that as many things on Celebrity the service is consistently inconsistent and depends on the Butler. Some of the newer butlers stick to the letter of the rules while many of the seasoned butlers know how and are willing to bend the rules.

Not sure if there is a generic email address. I always get messages from Concierge****@celebrity.com (*** is the name of the Concierge) Wonder if there is a generic concierge@celebrity.com???

It is very easy to put someone on you IGNORE LIST. That way you don't see their posts unless you choose to. If enough follow suite he will soon have no audience.

Thanks for posting - I've never done an overnight that shut down tenders in the evening.

I've always said if you don't like the response of a Celebrity Agent - call back and you may get a different answer. Your experience is why I choose to transfer my booking to a TA. I then simply call or email my agent without a wait time and it is his task to get the reduction or explain why. While I don't know the specifics of you booking my experience has been that AQ come with Drinks, Gratuity and tips. In the past you once could purchase a Guarantee Cabin at a lower price that did not include perks. Having said that - My experience is that price matching is done on a like for like basis and perks of the new offering may be different than you existing reservation. If you have a regular AQ cabin they will not match an AQ Guarantee Rate.

Summit has a Retreat Sun Deck with Cabanas, loungers and a hot tub. The bar service is done in a back room and attendants available for your food and drink needs.

I've visited on a Sunday and found most of the restaurants, shops and venues were open. If I recall some shops didn't open until noon. We also did it on our own via train and loved our outing.

Was on Summit a year ago and was very pleased with the food. As for S Class have been on both Solstice and Silhouette. On both M and S Class we are able to order from both Luminae and MDR menu and probably order from the MDR menu about 50% of the time- mix and match. Really didn't notice much decline in the food except for awhile they were serving something called a Manhattan Steak (MDR) Not sure what type of cut it was but was round with no marbling and pretty tasteless. We are not big meat eaters so may affect our experience as opposed to you. My only disappointment was on Apex with poultry dishes. It had nothing to do with the quality of the food but the chef destroyed every poultry item I ordered. Got to the point our waiter would stand by him when he cooked. The Poultry Chef left at the end of the TA and on the next cruise the poultry was perfect.

Have to agree --- Many tourist with or without a tote bag are so obviously a tourist they draw immediate attention to themselves. Having lived in the U.S., Europe and Asia we often kid and say want to play - "Spot the American". All too often the way one dress (men with Bermuda short, black knee socks and sandals) and what they carry (maps,phone etc) is a instant give away.

Generally it opens exactly at Midnight (port of departure time). I often check in at 9:00 PM PST for a departure from Fort Lauderdale. To check the exact date look at checkin on the app and will show the exact date.

Haven't done an overnight in Cairns but all other ports they run the tenders 24 hours a day. During the late evening hours the frequencies are reduced significantly and may even be on demand basis. Many small town like Cains roll up the streets pretty early. What comes to mind was that we overnighted in Lahina. The crew were really excited as they wanted to go into town after their shifts ended. They were really disappointed as almost everything was closed and they were back on the ship by 11:30.

For us we find the Concierge more convenient as she is booking live while you are standing there. Instead of going back and forth with the butler with 8pm not available but get get you 8:30. I've also found the Concierge and the Restaurant managers have more clout getting you in if "fully booked".

My experience in the past was that they will cook to order if you wish to wait but they usually cook them and put them in a heated pan and the other servers serves from the pan. Usually they are only sitting around a minute or so but have had some that were so dry they were not pleasant.

Yes to both- I've posted a number of tutorials. They recently added an option on the main screen of the tv for Streaming. You click the link and it pops up a window with a code. You go to tv.Celebrity.com and connect then you use the casting function on your tablet or phone. Originally you would need a HDMI connection cable from your iPad to the TV. Then follow this tutorial.

I guess Laura Hodges Bethge is trying to put her mark on Celebrity. I have to agree that this is not the way you change an amenity that was advertised as part of the fare you purchased. IMHO they should at least be upfront and make an announcement and potentially a gesture of good faith to those affected.

Nah... I just bought the winning Mega Million Ticket. LOL When I read the information I was thinking that next they will kick Sky Suites out of Retreat and it will be just like when Retreat was first opened - CS and above only. Let me just say that upper suites were complaining like the sky had fallen. "It will be so packed it will never be the same again-"

Good point. I was thinking that possibly a Blue Chip Booking might not include either but that is pure speculation on my part.

Looking forward to following along. Great start to you vacation.

We recently cruised for 6 weeks on Apex. We found the food to be very good and plentiful even in the OVC. To my knowledge there are no plans to change the menus except for occasional tweaks and substitutions. Ours was a cold weather cruise and the Pool Grill wasn't open and hamburgers were cooked at the OVC and were cooked in advanced and stacked - chose not to have one.