Bo1953

Hello all, we must remember rather it is tripinsurancstore or insuremytrip or other agency that can offer multiple options vs single source options is just that... TA's and cruise lines usually only offer a single carrier which then can either manage well or offers the best remuneration etc.. we like to think that we are being looked after by these trusted points of contact.

I also have to remember that others experience are very important in making these decisions and my 'claim' experience may and can vary from someone else's, which does not negate or reinforce others, it is just mine. Thus making the reviews and comments for this thread important because there are intricacies/details which I would not think about were I to file a claim.

Another reason to shop around as one, hopefully, does when purchasing other personal lines of insurance such as auto, life, health, dental etc.. or hopefully many of us do this. Then select, based on perceived value and coverage make the purchase.

Sometimes we purchase base on easy, sometimes no brainers, or whatever values we attach to such purchases... etc...

bon voyage all and I trust most of us find this thread very helpful and filled with guidance not only for travel but for personal items...

bo1953

Last year took a cruise on Equinox and throughly enjoyed it and have booked an upcoming Caribbean cruise on Silhouette.

 

On Cruise critic noted what I think is a significant rating difference between the different S class boats. Ranked below by %

 

Equinox - 90% (901 reviews)

Eclipse - 88% (944 reviews)

Reflection - 86% (658 reviews)

Solstice - 83% (1309 reviews)

Silhouette - 82% (744 reviews)

 

 

That level of disparity (82% - 90%) got me wondering, Solstice being the oldest of the lot might have some excuse but the significant (or what I perceive to be significant) lower scores for Silhouette have me worried.

 

It appears when comparing the Equinox to Silhoutette that average ratings under every single category are slightly weaker (Dining, Public Rooms, Cabins, Entertainment, Spa & Fitness, Family & Children, Shore Excursions, Enrichment, Service and Value-for-money)

 

The other observation which i haven't mathematically quantified but looking at the last two months reviews it appears that there is a remarkable drop in the ratings for Silhouette which I suspect would take a long term to factor into the average reviews which would have accumulated over time.

 

which is leading me to wonder if there is some across the board reason people's experience haven't been as good or just some misleading stats based on to small a sample size?

 

staff? captain? (don't they rotate?)

itineraries? (both seem to do europe and caribbean)

space planning? (are the differences big enough?)

reviewer bias?

 

Thoughts appreciated?

Outside of an out and out sinking of the vessel, which other sources have you used to make this decision to be worried?

If only CC, then I recommend that you may want to never consider any cruise line, then vessel which meet your ranking desires and then report back as to how you rank it.

With very limited input you can only make a very limited decision as to the real quality of cruise line or ship, that is unless you place all faith and value into what you read here exclusively? If so, then the question does become mute in my opine, yet no less valid...

bon voyage regardless of what you choose to do.

bo1953

Thanks for the response.

 

That doesn't seem to be the cause. When I select 'Best' I get a drop down of 6 cabins. If I search by cabin number it shows unavailable. If I back up 2 pages and skip past the 'Best' page I can select the cabin by searching for the cabin number. I guess I didn't accurately describe my sequence of the process.

 

Thanks again.

Another option would be to place a 24 hour hold on the cabin you desire, call your TA or X tomorrow to get it sorted out for what you desire. That would work, right?

bon voyage

Well, to say the least, I look forward to seeing some of your videos on my next X sailing if the current one is so bad....

Otherwise... I will be forced to watch this, eh? :D

That's exactly why it's an insult. Their pricing implies that we can't.

.... or just post to CC for someone else to figure it out. :D:D:D:D

The website does show panini, but others on CC have said it is now a seafood place. I was hoping someone who was onboard could confirm.

I recommend that you go with the website vs what you may be reading here, in this case, as the website is probably the most current menu and actually what is being served on-board, for now.

You also can go here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2242853

Which is a better place for your query, I think.

Bon voyage

Generally speaking, especially for people to whom internet is important, the Go best plan can be advantageous. For long cruises go Bigger is good if you take gratuities and are in a Concierge or better cabin.

 

Everyone needs to do their own math and decide what works or doesn't work for them. Celebrity isn't in the business of teaching math and spoon feeding people. They are in the business of taking our money.

 

I like having options and choices, and am very Capable of doing the easy math required to determine which package works. For some of my cruises, Go big and Go best are good and I'd be a fool to take go better. But if on a 14 day cruise in concierge, go better saves me $26.

 

All promotions and perks are not going to suit the needs of all people and circumstances.

 

Like when people would complain that they don't drink so the drink package was worthless with 123, but the gratuities weren't as valuable as the beverages so celebrity was screwing them.

 

Book go Big and be done with it, forget better and best exist, or do math and see if it works.

 

I'll do the math and see what works, just as when I explore resident rates, and seek group bookings and make last minute cabin changes and have to consider the value of lost perks versus savings on reduced fares.

 

It's only an insult to our intelligence, if we aren't intelligent enough to do the 3rd grade arithmetic.

Can we get a Bon Voyage! A++++

Thanks CG - my sentiments exactly.

Sometimes gift horses are made into glue... ;-):D

I believe this would be a totally subjective thought. If you think you would have challenges with either a 'partially' or 'fully' obstructed view, you may need to reconsider your selected cabin class.

And tell us about it and post to the cabin compilation postings if not there already....

bon voyage

Thanks for the reply. I must have known this but never considered the possible implications before.

 

Using contractors for these services cannot absolve the cruise line of responsibility if things go wrong. As has been pointed out, neither can the signing of a piece of paper absolve the contractor itself.

 

I am not trying to offer legal advice by the way! (I don't know who Judge Judy is, but I think I get the point).

 

Does anyone from Celebrity read these threads? If so, does action get taken do you think?

WW - you cannot seriously expect ANYONE from X to comment on this thread without any 'real' facts?

Additionally, it would be totally irresponsible for them to answer such questions in a public forum such as this.

Enjoy your cruise...

From some of the reviews I have seen it can be pretty bad. Although the YC seems to mask many of the complaints.

LOL, then again from some of the reviews one can read on CC X appears to be pretty bad, too... ;-)

It is all in the eyes of the beholder, for sure...

My goodness, the Cheerleaders are alive and well on this thread :). We have also had our share of issues with Celebrity alternative restaurants (including an awfully prepared Veal Chop at the Tuscan on the Silhouette) so we understand that things go wrong. And like the OP we have had all kinds of apologies, gift offers, visits from management, etc.

 

But this is just not good enough! When things go wrong in a restaurant it should be corrected on the spot! A next day apology does little to wipe away the bad taste. And our experience with Celebrity is that they are very good with "after the fact" apologies and incompetent at making things right at the time!

 

And before the Cheerleaders jump on me I should add that we are big fans of Celebrity and Elite Plus. Most of the time Celebrity is great (we think the best mass market line). But they do screw up, and it often seems to happen in alternative restaurants.

 

Hank

I think, from what I read, the M'D wanted to do something right away but was rebuffed (I understand in the midst of upset and on principle, for which I do not blame the OP).

I hope my experience in the AR will not mirror the OP's, but no worries I will be expecting to be delightfully surprized... ;-)

I must say, that I too, Am very happy with X staff and service before my sailing. Even though I booked through a TA.

They have been good about follow up on many of the emails sent. Some responses were six (6) weeks out, but guess what my cruise is eight (8) months out so an immediate response was not needed.

Thank you X customer service reps who followed up, even though the answers I wanted in one instance was not happening, which is fine.

Net-Net, I Am happy they were able to assist and solve your issue to your satisfaction.

bo1953

A little off topic, but can anyone tell me how many formal nights are on a 10 day cruise and when would they be (used to be 3 but not sure if that's changed).

 

Thanks for your help...would like to plan specialty dining nights.

http://www.celebritycruises.com/frequently-asked-questions#faq479

RS and PH already get premium beverages, so that's not needed. They already get unlimited internet, so that's not needed - there is no reason to go best in these suites. These perks are included in the lowest fare, even if booking senior or discounted fares, as part of the suite Perk program.

 

SO all that's missing is OBC and Gratuities - there were not part of Suite perks, though they were part of the all-in 123 when that was the promotion in place. So those aren't taken away from suites, they were taken away from everyone.

 

So take the standard Go BIG! for the $300 OBC or Grats for $16.45 x 2 = $32.90/day for cruises 10 days or more.

 

Then don't pay the extra for go bigger, since it costs more to buy than the perk.

 

It all works out.

As a usual, thank you for explaining the program CG...

http://www.celebritycruises.com/ships/celebrity-solstice?tab=Deck_Plans%2Fships%2Fcelebrity-solstice%2Fdeck-plans

http://www.celebritycruises.com/onboard-celebrity/gateway

http://www.celebritycruises.com/onboard-celebrity/cruise-restaurants-main-dining

Some good reading for several of your questions.

bon voyage

n2cs - Thank you for posting this...

We have always bought wine as we go and have not had the beverage pkg. With the premium pkg. will Cambria Chardonnay be the best California white by the glass ?

This question may be impossible to answer. As noted elsewhere and on other threads, wines change and by the time of your sailing, this particular vintage may not be available.

If you would like to have this vintage, just to be safe, bring a bottle or two with you.

Bon voyage.. bo1953

How can I tell if the sofa is near the entrance door or the veranda on an ocean view veranda room?

I know that every other one the sofa is near the door but I prefer near the balcony.

I an specifically interested in Vista deck 8 8232 thru 8250.

I think the rooms with convertible sofa beds and upper berths have the sofa bed near the balcony.

Anyone who has stayed in any of these rooms, what was your room number and where was the sofa?

thanks:)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=911018

Yes, what is your question(s) or issues? What is the sailing info and etc.???

motherchic,

 

Thanks so much for offering your input. Very helpful.

 

I like the idea of getting to know tablemates and developing relationships with them over dinner. And I find that I can really get along with almost anyone. But I worry that we may end up sitting with people who are not gay-friendly. And this is not something I want to deal with on my honeymoon!....Am I worrying for nothing?

 

On the other hand, my grandmother recently told me a story of a cruise that she and my grandfather took where they (in their 50s or early 60s) were seated with a bunch of young couples who made them feel young again!

 

Barry

Barry,

Not to worry, we have found it to be quite a rare occasion where ones orientation was an issue.

Like mentioned before, if you have any issues bring it to the M'd and it will be handled without any problems. X really wants to insure that all guests have a wonderful experience. If that means changing tables in the MDR, then that is what it is...

Congrats, enjoy your cruise, and bon voyage..

bo1953

Hi folks,

I think I posted this once before, but still continue to see the same questions regarding gratuities, how many formal nights, laundry, bringing alcohol onboard, etc. etc.

 

Here is the FAQ link from the Celebrity website:

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/frequently-asked-questions

 

It contains a wealth of information and can easily be bookmarked for future reference.

 

The "site map" (listed at the bottom of the main Celebrity page) is also another great tool. Unfortunately, it is not currently available! :o

Thank You GG.... ;-)

very doubtful there was a really date change - think of the effect - it'd affect every cruise before and after it, and these boards would be SCREAMING about itinerary changes.

CG - you are so right on with that.... 500+ posts about it for sure.. LOL

We are on X Silhouette, 7 Feb 16 Western Caribbean... anyone else possibly on this one?

Hello

 

We are scheduled on the Equinox Aug 1. Just received an email from Celebrity offering us the to consider alternatives to CT tour from Livorno due to crowds in CT.

 

Does anyone have a recent experience with Celebrities excursion to CT from the Livorno stop. We know it is 1.5 hours each way from Livorno and CT is busy during peak months ... I do recall a posting where the reviewer mentioned there were huge lines for the trains and the place was great but overwhelmed so lines everywhere that took away from the experience.

 

thanks in advance for your feedback

 

Regards

M

You may want to try the 'Ports of Call' board here on CC. You will be able to read more about that port and others.

Bon Voyage...