MagPie60

We are peasants who did a move-up to a lowly SS on Ascent at the end of January. We mostly wanted the bigger room and balcony, but were prepared to suffer the horrors of having to go to Luminae and enjoying the Retreat deck. Oh the pain! I read the indignant Butler threads here and was prepared never to see a butler. We did see him, but never utilized his services because like I say we are basically poor, low-class plebeians. Also he was running his feet off for the high-and-mighty ones on our deck. I liked the Retreat deck mainly because it was quieter than the steerage pool decks. The only time we couldn't avail ourselves of an umbrella was when it was too windy. Drinks were offered by exceptionally pleasant and helpful servers on a regular basis. Perhaps we got good service despite being the scum-of-the-earth occupants of a SS, but because we were polite and friendly to the servers? I dunno...it's hard to tell? although watching some of the entitled, unbelievably rude people there treating the staff like lowly peons was horrifying and illuminating. We did go to Luminae on the first night, and listened to the woman next to us criticizing the food, berating the staff and then wondering aloud to her husband if Future Cruises would be able to cancel their next booking in the Emperors Suite (or whatever) and move them to Silver seas (or whatever) It really spoiled the experience for me, although I enjoyed the food and the service. The rest of the time we did speciality dining or went to the MDR. We went to Luminae for breakfast on disembarkation day and it was so good. I wish I hadn't let Lady Muck ruin it. I like to balance value with style. I would definitely use Retreat again if the price was right, but am also happy to stay with the lesser classes in basic staterooms.

We were on Ascent 28/1- 4/2 and our impressions were very similar. We had moved up to a SS which we LOVED, but apart from the Retreat pool deck we didn't really utilize many suite services (least of all the infamous butler) Such a beautiful ship, with so many places to sit, relax and enjoy. The food was very good. In the open Atlantic seas there was a bit of creaking from our balcony doors and walls but not enough to be disturbing. I need to write a full review.

Just off Ascent. Room 10147 SS. A little bit of creaking, maybe a bang or two on the first night, and last two nights when we were back in the Atlantic. No problem at all. Absolutely adored Ascent and would be back on her tomorrow if we could.

Quite agree. If readers don't like it - they can skip it. We are on Ascent on 28/1 sailing, and flying from Calgary on Friday. I will be sure to post pictures of everything starting with our runway-facing hotel room the night before. Just because I can.

Take up Cross-stitch. It is very portable and very soothing. I will be bringing some of mine.

DH and I did 6 Celebrity cruises in the pre-pandemic era. It was definitely our line of choice and we weren't particularly interested in trying any other. When we did the Eclipse to Alaska this past summer, I had read some of the doom and gloom here especially pertaining to the food. So was prepared for something terrible to be slopped on to my plate every night. Guess what? it was totally fine. I noticed a couple of small changes none of which made my cruise bad enough that I swore never to darken their gangway again. We are booked on the Ascent in 2 weeks and I am looking forward to it very much. There is a certain air of entitlement in many (not all) of the complaints I see here. People who feel like their years of "loyalty" to Celebrity aren't being rewarded to their satisfaction, or that their elevated status is not being acknowledged appropriately. It's ...interesting. I personally don't give a a damn about having a butler, or eating in a luxe dining room even though we did move up to a Sky Suite. That's not why I cruise.

Sucks. I'm just going to say - Vancouver in August to board the Eclipse to Alaska was no better. We (Canadian and American passport holders) lined up in some arena-like building for almost 3 hours to do US border formalities. There was NO water, no circulating air and no washrooms without leaving the line and going back to the end. Our "foreign" friends (Australian passport holders) were cleared and on the ship at least two hours before us. We witnessed one old gentleman suffer incontinence while waiting. There were also line-jumpers facilitated by the staff. I will never embark ANYWHERE in the world, ever again without an empty bladder, 2 litres of water and a couple of fans.

Might just be one of the most pompous things I have ever read. 🙄

Yeah - I wasn't talking about your daughter. I was referencing OTHER PARENTS who travel with a child who is not theirs, and the fact that they have to produce a sworn statement from the actual parents that the child has their permission to travel. AND that cruise people and airline staff understand these documents because they see them every day. I am done. Let us know what Celebrity says. It will be interesting to have the follow-up.

I don't think you understood what I was saying? Maybe read my post again, paying particular attention to the bit about lawyers letters. I never said the kid was not theirs.

I don't think that the average worker at a port of any kind understands the ramifications of either adoption or acquiring a passport. However they do understand lawyers letters of permission. People who are travelling with children that are not their own HAVE to have them stamped and witnessed etc. Been there, done that. Anyway I am a person who likes to prevent problems and make my life easier, so apologies for trying to be practical.

https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/border-security/how-airport-and-seaport-employees-can-help-stop-human-trafficking/ My biological daughter was asked if I was her mother when she was about 8 or 9 - crossing a land border into the USA. We are obviously the same race, and she resembles me quite strongly (poor kid) Again, I can understand why the OP was so upset, and feel that PE and/or Celebrity were over-zealous to say the least. Just not 100% convinced the issue was entirely about race.

Before Covid I volunteered at a major international airport in Canada. We had extensive training in the subject of child trafficking etc. Even as volunteers we were expected to be aware of the issue, and what to do if we suspected something was wrong. Therefore I understand the mind-set behind the actions of Celebrity or the port officials. However it does sound like they were a bit heavy-handed, and I can also understand why you were upset. Perhaps in-lieu of dragging the relevant paperwork around with you, you could get a lawyer to do a legal affirmation stating they have seen the paperwork and she is indeed your daughter etc.

This can't be real Who in this crazy, cruel, unequal world gets so upset - to the level of a law suit - about a butler?

Thanks for the review. Glad you had a good time. The way I read "the sky is falling posts" is that they are 90% some-level-of-elite and/or suite guests. For the rest of us hoi-polloi everything seems to be pretty good. We were on the Eclipse to Alaska in September and it was almost perfect. And contrary to what I saw someone write here - I have more than one Celebrity cruise under my belt (I think it is 7) and they were all pre-pandemic.

This fills me with such relief. We got a move-up to a SS on Ascent, and the thought of someone unpacking my stuff and running my bath makes me feel very uneasy. I guess I don't have the Downton Abbey approach to life.

See to us Canadians the USA actually IS a foreign country. And we have very different laws on some things...like guns.

I wish Celebrity would pay more attention to the cabins in the older ships. Yes, most people spend their time elsewhere, and yes, the public areas are beautiful but I am a person who likes to be alone sometimes. Grubby or dated bedrooms are not my thing.

We have only ever sailed on the S Class ships - Equinox (2010) Reflection and Eclipse. 7 cruises in all the last one on Eclipse to Alaska this summer. Overall I think the ships themselves are perfect. The only thing I didn't like on this last cruise was our stateroom. It felt tired, grubby and had a weird smell. The curtains weren't the plush, purple overlay but simple white lightblocking plastic drapes which judging by the holes in them had been stabbed a few times. The TV's are also past their prime (not that we watch a lot of TV) We are booked on the Ascent in January so I will be interested to see the difference in the public areas. I am already mourning the lack of Sky Lounge because that is my very very favourite spot on the S class girls.

Gosh yes, I understand that because my reading comprehension is excellent. I made a clear point that it was an entirely different situation, but all knowledge is useful at some point IMO. OP is rather vague about the provenance of his aging passport, but if he is a Canadian citizen (maybe you didn't see the Canada/USA in his info??) my last paragraph is totally pertinent. Otherwise they - and you - are totally free to ignore my post.

I wouldn't chance it. I did an Alaska cruise out of Vancouver, returning to Vancouver in early September with only 3 weeks eligibility left on my Canadian passport. (Not my usual way of living life, but we had a terrible summer of family injuries and personal illness) I researched the rules and found out that for Canadian citizens visiting the US the passport only has to be valid for the duration of the visit - which mine was. I also had the back-up of my valid Nexus card and a handy - but dusty - British passport. At the Port of Vancouver I was denied entry by the machines at US pre-clearance and sent off to chat to an officer who was very relaxed and waved me through. Now you are not dealing with the US CBP at the point of check-in/embarkation but Mexico, Bahamas and the Cayman's may have their own set of rules which the cruise line has to enforce. I renewed my passport immediately after we got home via a Service Canada office. I had to wait for 2 hours to hand over my forms etc, but the passport was issued 7 days later, and on my doorstep 5 days after that. So a decent turnaround time.