Bretty

On 2/8/2023 at 1:29 PM, david05 said:

You can also ask for a larger one before your cruise via MySaga (assuming you booked direct with Saga) and it should be awaiting you in the cabin (it worked for us anyway!).

Hi can you advise where in My Saga to do that? I can't find anything.  On my cruise last month the bathrobe was too small, and the largest the cabin steward could find was no better, but the spa robes were just perfect. Many thanks. 

I think you need to check 3 things here.

1. does the Cruise with confidence offer apply to your cruise? It covers cancellations up to 48 hours before cruise departure.

2. does the covid-19 assistance program apply? I think not as it covers sailings up to 31 January 2022 at present.

3, what does your travel insurance cover offer? Which is most likely your best option for assistance.

More information here: https://www.celebritycruises.com/gb/health-and-safety

Paul I’ve enjoyed your cooking posts on Instagram during last 18+ months.

But now, Paul & Edward back onboard a ship and posting a live blog… all is well in the world. Well, almost.

Lovely to see you guys back and taking a peek at the world through your eyes.

Enjoy your cruise. Now, more martinis and more foodporn please and thank you 😊 

Striploin and Sirloin are pretty much interchangeable terms although in the US I believe striploin refers to a cut from a specific section of the loin. Here in the UK they pretty much mean the same, and the ten sirloin is more commonly used.

I debarked a UK staycation cruise a few days ago on Silhouette. Ate at Sushi on 5 twice.

Lobster ramen - I counted 3 popcorn sized pieces of lobster tail. BUT, the broth was superb with lots of flavour and the noodles good.

Tonkotsu ramen - delicious, tasty pork, broth and noodles. However, it is not a proper tonkotsu ramen broth which is a thick fatty broth made from 12-16 hours cooking pork bones. But it still tasted good.

Ginger chicken gyoza - juicy and tasty.

Shrimp tempura roll was good and classic tuna rolls.

Sashimi and sushi (nigiri) all good, not great, but fresh and tasty and no complaints. I should know not to order omakase as the chef (wherever you go) always includes octopus and it’s my least favourite seafood. But I’ll eat it if served!

Very enjoyable and underused.

13 hours ago, sgmn said:

Hi, we've just booked Silhouette for later this  month and from what I gather from this board is that the invite/link to book the covid PCR test is normally sent out 3 weeks before departure. Does anyone have experience of last minute bookings? Will we still automatically be sent the link even though we're within 3 weeks or should I call Celebrity for guidance 

I would call Celebrity or message direct via Facebook or Twitter to get an email sent out ASAP.

12 hours ago, hawkesbaynz said:

I do not although am aware they will reimburse your for costs (Boots PCR as example) if you cannot get the Eurofinns free PCR sorted. 

 

There is a looooong UK Staycation thread which may help you.

 

I just saw that Celebrity demanded 4 weeks between vaccines. Mine was 22 days as I was a frontline healthcare professional and they were doing the initial NHS and elderly at 3 weeks so my September cruise now in peril!!

I had an email at 8am this morning that was sent out at 1:45am about mixed vaccines and something about being at least 4 weeks apart. I had to click to acknowledge, and when I did the webpage that opened said the response time had expired making me think they withdrew it. 
 

The current guidance on Celebrity website is that the6 will accept mixed vaccines, and that anyone having AstraZeneca mixed with one of the others had to have the AZ dose first and the other within 8-12 weeks.

I think you’ll be okay, especially if you haven’t had mixed vaccines.

Likewise I’m very surprised you weren’t aware of that at the time you booked. It has been that way since these cruises went on sale several months ago and is clearly sated on the website.

I’m sorry you feel the need to cancel, but under the current Cruise With Confidence policy you can cancel and get a refund if you wish (ordinarily after final payment you would not get a full refund).

7 minutes ago, gonecroozin said:

Hi, could someone please help?

How do I contact Jack or Sam on social media?

I have received my email with the PCR link , but my husband hasn’t. 
I have tried phoning Celebrity numerous times , but I have finally  given up .

You need to use Facebook or Twitter and then direct message from those platforms. Hope that helps.

5 hours ago, rachiem said:

Picking up from another thread (and being told when I booked 2 weeks ago) have the guidelines changed re touring on your own?

The new protocols on Celebrity suggest that you can if the port allows https://www.celebritycruises.com/gb/health-and-safety

I assume that these are up to date as it mentions the US change for the PCR testing starting Aug 1st.

Any ideas??

The link you’ve posted is to the ‘overview’ page, you need to look at the the country specific requirements in which it states, and has done since the UK cruises went on sale, that you can only leave the ship on a Celebrity organised tour on the cruises out of Southampton.

I’m on the 14th August cruise and emails I’ve had over the last few days indicate those rules will remain in place.

I will not be getting off the ship, but not because I’m not allowed to go independently, just I don’t want to. I actually think this rule should stay in place during this season to keep pax in bubbles. I know that might go against popular opinion, but controlling how people socialise off ship is crucial, especially with the spread of the virus at the moment. And I know that we’re all double vaccinated etc and therefore highly unlikely to get very sick, but there’s a bigger picture in terms of potential spread to crew and the impact that would have taking several crew members out of action. There’s also the risk to cruising in general which has a lot to prove about safety after what happened with several ships at the beginning of the pandemic. I want to be able to cruise and travel like everyone else, but I also want to be able to do it whilst managing risk and with an eye on the future so I can travel next year, and cruise, and hopefully then, get off ship and tour independently.

imho, holding out for a change to allow independent tours this season is futile. It’s highly unlikely to happen. I may be proved wrong of course, but I’d rather put my energy into enjoying the cruise that I signed up for with the restrictions I knew would be in place. I’m less likely to be disappointed that way.

Happy cruising 🛳🚢

6 minutes ago, isdoo said:

 

Yes you can. 

Ta

Morning all, here's a quick question for those who have already sailed or are currently on board and in The Retreat dining in Luminae.

In Luminae can you still request to order from the MDR menu? I'm travelling with someone who can be a picky eater at times and just want to check things out ahead if possible. I know that, pre-apocalypse, one could order from the MDR since they're on the same deck and the galleys are adjacent. But I want to know if that still applies now.

Many thanks.

As of today this policy has been extended for bookings up to 31 August 2021.

I don’t know much about the option to test at Boots stores, but I know some people on the current UK season on Silhouette have booked them, but are yet to have tests. I think.

Maybe check out this thread to see if anyone has actually done it via Boots, I follow the thread but can’t actually remember!
https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2782365-silhouette-around-britain-staycruisecations/

Also here’s a site where you can find links to a number of private test providers in the UK including folks arriving to the UK:

https://www.covid19-testing.org/travel-testing

The best offer guarantee, afaik, refers to price - I'd be more interested in a price drop than double loyalty points but YMMV.

2 hours ago, Wichenford Wolf said:

The latest rules say that cruise ships can now take 50% of their capacity, which in the case of Silhouette would mean 1,443 passengers (compared to 1,000 until 19/7).

 

Our 14/8 cruise is still being advertised widely and I guess Celebrity will want to fill to the legal capacity.

Our sailing for 14/08 is no longer available for booking, hasn’t been for at least a day or so. Maybe this one is already at capacity?

1 hour ago, hawkesbaynz said:

Elite Perks. Have gone down effectively with All Inclusive but beneficial for some:

https://www.celebritycruises.com/gb/captains-club/tiers-and-benefits

 

Feedback has been good if you read the posts.

 

As for the weather.. who knows. I have sailed (in yachts) in August in winter storm like weather and had balmy Wintry days in December.

 

Some folk have managed to get 30% NHS or Military discount for August trips. There is 10% for Captains Club if you can blag membership with your Royal status.

 

INterested to hear about the Travel Trade discount. My wife's job involves auditing Carnivals Medical Centres so I wonder if she could blag discounts too (not for Celebrity as I am an ex-military nurse and do quite well) 

 

No idea about passport. Perhaps someone has been will feedback. You are not leaving the UK so imagine Driving Licence would be fine. Could always ask the rep or even a 'soon to go' roll call

You need some type of photo ID, and when you do online check-in you have to give details. The options we’re passport of driving licence and you have to input numbers and expiry dates etc. Whichever you use I assume you then take to port for boarding.

3 hours ago, downsmead said:

Planner for day whilst we were in Liverpool (21/07/21)

Oh wow, they showed the same film 7 times throughout the whole day... they could at least alternate a couple of films a day. Not that I want to sit and watch a film necessarily.

8 hours ago, sunpsyche said:

All of us theater buffs knew what you meant! 

And we can probably sing the whole show!

"I am what what I am, I am my own special creation..." 😎

13 minutes ago, Denny01 said:

We need to cruise together! I’ll make statements with lots of errors and you can nicely correct me!!! Got to set up another Around the UK, or TA from Southampton, or something that starts in the UK so we have an excuse to hang out for a week or so. Just a fantastic time. 

 

I said how much I loved traveling in the UK and a friend said it was because we speak the same language. I hesitated and reminded him that I had to turn on Closed Captioning when I watched British mysteries because I missed have the words! Oh well. Not only deaf, a bit slow on the uptake.

 

Isn’t it lovely that this thread has gone quiet on the original reason and we can just go off on it!

 

den

 

 

What was the original topic again? DYKWIAs trying to haggle a table in the buffet or something right? 🤣

Me correcting you makes me sound awfully like one of my old school teachers... maybe not such a good idea!

I have to turn up the TV on those shows, not because I’m deaf but because the actors all speak so softly, captions might actually help me.

If we ever cruise together you can call me Betty (and I’ll call you Al 😉).

3 hours ago, Denny01 said:

Oops! I continue to make errors……the movie was The Producers!

I think then you might have been thinking of Nathan Lane who starred in both The Producers and Birdcage.

On 7/20/2021 at 12:30 AM, Denny01 said:

Great, and one of these days, I’ll start using 21century words and work myself out of the 50’s! “And I bet having a spouse who is in their early 40’s helps!”. 

 

Being dyslexic or just waaaay to quick on the keyboard, i read ‘Betty’ instead of Bretty….Ha!  

 

Den

Okay I had to come back to tell you this because I think you'll find this funny. I did.

This morning I've had a nice chat with an X booking agent in the US to get a price adjustment on a cruise next year. Gave my name and booking reference and she says "uh oh, looks like me made a boo boo", and then proceeded to tell me that I'm listed on the reservation as a lady 🤷‍♀️🤣  "and you don't sound like a lady to me". Cue lots of sniggers from us both.

So she said "we need to fix that" and I told her I had visions of me turning up to board in a wig and a dress. We had a good laugh at that one.

Happy cruising 🚢

I've not had chance to see the Magic Carpet yet (our Apex cruise in May was canx), but I'm pretty sure I'd be okay. After all I like walking out on glass walkways such as CN Tower Toronto, the cliff walk at Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver, and come to think of it, the suspension bridge itself - which sways and sways... I remember some people literally crawling on their hands and knees across the bridge, determined to cross it but terrified.

And yet, you won't get me on a big ride like a rollercoaster 🤷‍♀️

8 hours ago, miched said:

To help clarify this I seen a rate of $325/night pp in a suite.  I looked at booking it as it seemed reasonable.  The rate was for a SS guarantee.  I proceeded to see the final cost.  It didn’t include or show any perks In the final cost.  I then chose to book a SS again at the higher rate and the final cost showed all the perks of premium bev pack, grats, internet and SBC

 

Contrary to belief suites don’t always include all the perks.  You do get the amenities that come with the suite but may not get the perks.  There is a difference between amenities and perks 

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

 

 

I read somewhere here on CC that guarantee bookings in any category don't come with the perks included, whether it's always included or some other promotion.

I’m planning on using some euros that I’ve had for god knows how long which won’t get spent otherwise as we have no plans to go anywhere else.

My understanding is that the staff would be grateful for whatever and can exchange onboard or between themselves if they want. And as Silhouette is cruising Europe late September and October euros may be useful.

8 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Bo -   You have me laughing on the floor.    

 

The guy inside the room definitely looked like he was a deer in the headlights with his pants down.

 

I also was on a flight and someone tried vaping in the 1s class restroom.   The alarms went off and he did receive a stern lecture about violation of  federal regulation..   I guess the alarms are sensitive to the  Vapor not the smell. 

I triggered the fire alarm on a flight once with deodorant spray after freshening up in the bathroom after a long haul flight! I got a stern telling off and from then on, whenever in such situations I switched to solid deodorant sticks!