phoenix_dream

15 minutes ago, jelayne said:

If Zenith by status match from Royal then I don’t believe there would be a Zenith ceremony. 

Correct.  And if for some reason they do start adding that in addition to all the other perks they get which are so much better than our reciprocal ones , then I think it will start a mutiny!

Obviously it's been quite awhile since you priced cruses because the suite pricing has been outrageous for a long time now.  They are selling them out on almost every cruise so it will not change until/if that does.  I hear what you're saying about the smaller, luxury ships but that is not an option for me - not enough to do and I have a tendency towards seasickness so prefer larger ships so I don't have to be constantly medicated.

4 minutes ago, canderson said:

Definitely a factor when buying trip insurance.  As the birthdays roll on, the actuarial tables really don't work in our favor!  Besides inflation inflation, we've got to deal with the age inflation part of the equation as well, and it's really starting to show up in premiums for these policies as we get older.

In coverage as well.  For GeoBlue, my husband (a few years younger than me) has I think it was $1,000,000 of a certain type of coverage - mine the most is $100,000.  I may be off on the numbers a bit as I don't recall them exactly, but the difference in coverage is huge.  I understand why, but still....

9 hours ago, MikeMary4449 said:

FYI:  For people who travel frequently, you might want to check out GeoBlue's annual policy.

Mike and Mary

We cruise a lot (6-9 per year these days) so that is exactly what we use.  We also have a certain amount of insurance through our Medicare Advantage policy, as well as some non-health trip cancellation insurance through our credit card.

I recommend contacting an Alaska travel agent and booking a post-cruise trip through them.  Did that years ago and for 3 days we saved $300 per person and had a wonderful time.

Can you tell me if Fazli is currently Maitre d' in Luminae and if so, if he will be there through November?  Met him as a waiter over 20 years ago and last we sailed Reflection he was Maitre d'.  Our waiter was Putu if that rings a bell as well?

I would also say Day 3 but can't say for sure.  They never do it the first or last night, so of the four other choices the most common would be the sea day.

My answer is simple - do you want a real balcony?  If so, you need to book Retreat (other than a few sunset verandas I believe).  Otherwise it really depends on your budget and how you use the facilities.

Good heavens, the things people notice and complain about.  Blows my mind sometimes.  I've sailed 81 times on Celebrity, including many back to back cruises, and I never even noticed which songs were playing and definitely didn't care.  It's background music not entertainment per se. Now, the production shows not changing in 10+ years, that's another story.  

20 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

I think that day is coming up...  Anyone that has followed the airlines will know that they are bleeding cash and laying off employees.  Plus surprised to see open first class seats on my last flights.

 

Yes,  cruises are booked a year or two in advance, so this will probably take a year to catch up with them.  But travel is slowing down ...

Travel is slowing down?? I wish.  I Travel a lot, on land and on cruises. Everywhere I go (in my case this year, the US) places are jammed. I'm in Vegas as I write this. I expected crowds over the holiday weekend but thought it would ease up by midweek.  Nope. Wall to Wall people and casinos jammed.  They said hotels were 92% full this weekend.  These trips are often not planned years or even months in advance like cruises. And planes? I've flown a lot this year with planes always 95-100% full.  People are still spending like crazy and many racking up credit card debt like never before in history. All you hear about on the news as well as campaign trails (both sides) is how high prices are and so on. I don't disagree that they are but you'd never know it by the crowds everyplace in my travels !

23 hours ago, hcat said:

 

Hard to generalize...

We are older cruisers..

We buy photos,  take Celeb excursions,  book spa treatments and Specialty dining. 

 

And a nice  piece of jewelry  now and then..

 

We have more time and money  than when we were young! Seven to 10 days is a perfect cruise

It is generalizing for sure, but honestly I think you are in the minority as far as your spending goes. I also have more money now and of course more time. So I take a lot more cruises- 7-10 per year rather than perhaps 1 or 2 at most. I never buy photos anymore, have learned to book my own excursions if any, save my spa treatment for half the price on land, and have more jewelry than I can ever wear. Everyone is different but I suspect there are more 60yo+ cruisers like me than you based on observation and conversations onboard. 

20 hours ago, canderson said:

It certainly didn't used to be a problem.  I remember fondly when Constellation got all of the true deep Caribbean / ABC (usually just AC) cruises of 13/14 nts.  Most sailed at capacity, and if you wanted a decent cabin, you needed to book early.  I think they called them "Ultimate Caribbean" cruises.  Now the only way you can get 14 nts is to take a trans-canal trip or one of the 'slower' transoceanic cruises.  Seems like they're even speeding up the TAs now, and those tend to book full as well, and the slower the better. 

 

Try getting a suite on the 2025 WB TA on Constellation.  A glorious 16 nts, but fully booked, and has been for a while.  You can still get the odd suite on other, shorter WB TAs in 2025.

 

Side note:  Well bummer -- Celebrity just quit showing ALL prior cruises with them in the "Points History" section of the CC portion of the site.  That's why I couldn't confirm the expression "Ultimate Caribbean".  Anyone know when that started???

 

The reason is simple IMHO. Longer cruises are 95% older cruisers. I've been on many.  Despite their claiming otherwise,  they don't want us older cruisers. We don't spend as much on shore excursions ( been there; done that), picture packages, the most expensive restaurants etc.. They want the 30-50 year olds, preferably the ones with money.  Unless management or marketing strategy changes we are out of luck. Lately we just do many b2bs, but those aren't as nice as they often repeat ports, offer less port variety,  and of course have the turnaround day hassle which isn't that bad but it does lessen the enjoyment 

6 minutes ago, rbelshaw said:

I think the saying goes - don't quit your day job

9 hours ago, CapeLibertyGirl said:

My feeling still is the Eclipse needs a good cleaning and sanitizing. There are so many cases especially on the August cruises. They need to start testing the staff/crew more. This strain of Covid is more more contagious then others. If so many cruisers are getting ill certainly the ships people are too. We as passengers expose them then they carry it around. Again, we had a wonderful cruise on Eclipse to Bermuda (8/4) in our Sky Suite expectations were met. We did 15 prior cruises on Summit to Bermuda although sorry it repositioned Eclipse was just as great.

That has zero to do with the increase in cases.  It's happening on land every bit as much as at sea.  There are pros and cons of all companies but in my lengthy experience with Celebrity I can tell you unequivocally that they are very, very good with their cleaning and sanitizing. 

3 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

They still have 7 + day cruises during this time period. ABC islands is one. This is one ship doing short sailings. Times are changing indicated by the reduction of traditional dining and formal nights. The new generation of cruisers aren't stuck behind a desk anymore. They have remote jobs that allow them the freedom to work any place.  These short get away itineraries are perfect for them.

Never said they were gone, just that there are fewer options.  I should have qualified that to say also for those of us who are not fans of E class ships.  And there most definitely are.  I have a particular interest in this change as my favorite ship for years (Equinox) is one of the ones taken away from 7 night cruises to go to the shorter ones (don't recall the timeframe, just know it is affected).  I am on one of the ABC cruises you mention.  Almost every berth sold, and prices were high.  Another impact for people who prefer the 7+ night cruises.  Not that many cruises aren't higher priced nowadays, but this is most definitely having an adverse impact on many of us

3 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

All lines have been discounting during Hurricane season for years. You are more likely to fill the ships for 3 and 4 day runs with people who can drive to port than those who would want to fly in at this time of year for longer itineraries, given how flights get canceled. Also Families don't travel at this time. It's the end of the summer and they are focusing on going back to school. Schools in Florida have already returned in August. You can only fill ships with seniors, couples and singles. These short trips are very appealing to those groups. Now that I live in Florida I don't need 7 beach days of palm trees and tee shirt shops. I wasn't even looking for a Caribbean Cruise. Our plan was to tour Florida on land trips since we have only been here for 18 months. I couldn't pass up a cheap opportunity to go to Key West without a 6 hour drive.  If you'er not sailing on a "Booze Cruise", why does it matter what Celebrity does  to fill these ships. They are probably making more money on two short runs than they are with one 7 day run. Twice the chance to sell on board services which is where the money is. People will book these milk runs just to gamble. 

Why does it matter? For one, very important thing, it takes away options for those who prefer 7+ night cruises which historicly described the vast majority of loyal Celebrity cruisers! And even on Celebrity these tend to be booze/party cruises,  at least as compared to the usual Celebrity cruise.

2 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

For the life of me I will never understand the mentality of buying loyalty status. It seems that to some status is more important than the vacation.  There is nothing in any of these programs that is so great that I would compel me to do this.  Not to mention the top tier seem to be snobs in the way they turn their nose up to Royal Caribbean passengers. I have saved more money and have seen far better ports not being loyal to anyone. After this quickie sailing I'm returning to Princess after 10yrs for Europe.

I cared about getting to Zenith.  Free premium liquor, free premium wifi, free laundry.  Those are fantastic perks. And we're not all snobs and have nothing against the Pinnacles. What we are upset about is the signicantly lesser perks we get if we sail Royal compared to what they get. Example- we get 6 free drinks (water, pop, alcohol) they get unlimited premium drnk package. Fair? Hardly.

20 hours ago, bigbenboys said:

I just dont see what people see in Glacier Bay over Hubbard Glacier. Photo of Hubbard. Also what is nice about Seward Alaska is spending a few days in Seward and doing some great excursions to see wildlife. We did this sailing on Millie a few years ago.

I agree. I'm sure Glacier Bay is awesome,  but so is Hubbard!

2 minutes ago, hrhdhd said:

Hubby and I do aisle seats across from each other. I'm not doing middle seats just so he gets his preferred seat.

We have done this before - I feel ya.  Lately we book an aisle and a window, and hope the middle seat stays open.  If not, we (very politely I assure you, and with no rancor if denied) ask if the person would prefer the window - which they do 99% of the time.  Which leaves me in the middle

Just now, doghog said:

We don't go to either. 😆

I dabble a little in the casino just to have a bit of fun - I don't expect to win a lot if at all - it's just a little adrenaline rush to pass the time.  It blows my mind how people will gamble a lot on ships when the odds are so very awful compared to land casinos.  For example, my go to game is video keno.  In Vegas, if you hit a certain amount of numbers you may win $1175.   On the ship for that same scenario you win $250 - big difference!  But some do. And some win "free" cruises for their efforts, but those free cruises likely cost them double what they've donated onboard.  

57 minutes ago, Celebrity Snowbird said:

Had the same experience on Eclipse a few months ago in South America/Antartica; multiple days of no access to Sky except for Park West guests (all with premium bev package).  Was told the art sales reached many millions of dollars!  Revenue wins every time.

It is all about the $$$.  I was shocked on a recent cruise to hear how much some people were actually spending on that art.  It blows my mind.  For heavens sake, why do you need to take a cruise to buy art?  Go to an art gallery.  But people do, and apparently they spend tons of money.  I know Celebrity is a business and all businesses are in it to make $$ but some of the things they are doing towards that end these days are really changing the experience and not in a good way. 

6 minutes ago, Moxiefurball said:

In Aug 2023 while on a Princess ship many got Covid. We did not . I have found that if you are extremely careful , it may greatly help . Keep hand sanitizer in purse or pocket at all times, in dining room, after touching menus, clean up, try not to use the public bathrooms so if you can go back to cabin  try to,  I do avoid the buffet , but we used to avoid it before Covid as well. But again, you can have a carefree time by just being more careful .

And sadly sometimes no matter what you do, you still get sick.  On a cruise a couple years ago, was very careful - wearing masks, sanitizing hands, staying away from crowds where possible, etc.., etc..  Still caught it.  Fortunately it was like a bad cold at worst.  It's here to stay, much like the flu and head colds.  I will say that since Covid I have been masking on all flights and that has helped tremendously in cutting down the number of colds I have caught.

4 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Appreciate the opinion, Renee but I think it’s rude for one to recline their seat. I once sat behind someone who reclined as much as possible thus creating limited access to the tray table. Now I just book the first row. Agree to disagree. 😊

I always recline my seat just a little bit because if I don't I will experience back pain that will last for hours if not days.  I do it slowly, and as I said, for just a small amount. I don't consider that rude.    What I do think is rude is when, without any warning, people slam their seats all the way back with no regard or consideration for who may be behind them and what might be on their trays.  But overall, the seats are built to recline.  So calling someone rude for reclining seems a bit off the mark to me, especially on long and/or late night or very early morning flights.  The real issue is the airlines building seating so tight and uncomfortable that it affects others when you recline (not to mention being squeezed shoulder to shoulder, which is often the case for me as in order to sit next to hubby I am always in the middle seat)

And I'm not sure what this discussion has to do with zip ties - boy, has this thread gone in a different direction!  My bad for even participating in that change.

I have been on cruises with large groups where public areas were occasionally closed off but this is ridiculous!  I would be furious with them, especially on a colder weather cruise with a lot of sea days.  That's just not right.  I have a b2b cruise on Eclipse in January for 19 days, with a lot of sea days and I am not in my usual sky suite this time so will be out and about more.  I will definitely not be a happy camper if this is going on then!

14 hours ago, odyssyus said:

I already confirmed it on the Reflection.

apologies - I forgot that.

Interesting that so far only the Reflection is reporting this.  I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that it is that ship that is starting the 3 and 4 night sailings which attract an entirely different (and likely rowdier) crowd, as well as a lot more kids.  Hmmm.  So tens of thousands all need to suffer because a few people can't behave themselves.