phoenix_dream

17 minutes ago, nbturfman said:

Realistic is having done it year after year roughly 20 times now, enough said

And I have had two cruises sailing from US ports where disembarkation didn't even start until 9:30. Relatively rare? Yes, but I've encountered it twice so that is realistic to me. 

1 hour ago, kwokpot said:

Not true. March 17 2015 on the Constellation before Celebrity started marketing to a wider demographic and going to Cococay. 

Having said that it was a bit less crazy than the Royal ship a week before on a s2s. 2nd & 3rd and 4th photos are on the Royal cruise a week before. 

Was this by chance March 7th rather than March 17th in 2015?  I was on that cruise.  A 5 nighter on Connie with 700 college kids from two Florida colleges.  Just after drink packages were introduced.  The 21+ year olds were loading up on shots, putting them in their own containers, then giving them to their underage friends.  Tables of kids in the MDR were having shouting contests between tables.  Kids were getting drunk and running down the hallways knocking on doors at all hours of the night.  Young "ladies" (and I use the term loosely) were in tiny bikinis standing on lounge chairs at the pool doing dances that would make Miley Cyrus blush.  Kids were being wheeled in back to the ship in wheelchairs at some ports because they were too drunk to walk.  A couple of kids were kicked off the ship in Cozumel because they were drunk and broke some of the deck furniture.  Eventually the staff had a "take back the ship" meeting to try to figure out how to manage the chaos (I was told this by one of the senior officers).  

So anyone who thinks this can't happen on Celebrity is being naive.  One reason I am so unhappy about their decision to add so many short cruises to their Caribbean offerings.  Not saying they would all be like this of course as most will not, but anyone who thinks oh no, not on Celebrity can get back to me for more horror stories.  

2 hours ago, Loracpin2 said:

I could be way off base but I honestly don't think Celebrity is the choice for Spring breakers!!!

 

Tell that to the 700 college kids who were on a 5 night cruise with us on Constellation a number of years ago!  It was a madhouse beyond belief.

20 hours ago, lovescarborough said:

7pm and 9pm just over a week ago. The cast productions were new and quite good too. 

Just to clarify so as not to get anyone's hopes up. The cast was new. The shows have been around for years. The new cast did a good job I thought 

23 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

They don't always have them and is decided by the Captain and CC Host.   Most of the time when they open them for sail away is a port with an interesting Bridge, Statue or view.  

Possibly due to the ports they decided there would be little interest.

It was Bonaire each time where I know we've done them before.  But the Captain attended each of our two Zenith lunches and I'll take that over a sailaway every time!

On 2/2/2024 at 9:20 PM, D. B. said:

We were just on Equinox and it was Concierge guests Only.

 Sometimes we were invited just by being Elite+?

We also were just on Equinox.  Zenith level and Aqua Class.  No invite. On now in a suite and Zenith no invite. Not sure if they even had one this sailing? I usually don't attend anymore but found no invites strange.  Overall experiencing great service though. 

On 2/2/2024 at 9:31 PM, D. B. said:

Herer's a hint on something that worked  for Me.

 Before we got to Elite CC statis we would go to the Theater and when the first Ships Excursion group Number was called we would just blend in with them as they went to the gangway and off the ship and onto the Tender. .

 No one ever looked at any number stickers or ask us for them.

 The old saying is "If you Look and Act like you Belong nobody  gets suspicious"

And if you do something selfish and inconsiderate it's OK as long as you don't get caught? Geez. 

If it's for safety reasons I guess they don't care if their suite passengers fall overboard! They all have footstools still (at least on S class). Or are they considered too sophisticated to do that???  Very disappointing for those of us who spend a lot of time relaxing on the balcony. 

We have always gotten notified one way or the other, sometimes within a couple days of sailing 

2 hours ago, mahdnc said:

 

They need to put a bulletin out for my hometown of Chicago.  Sadly, we have 23 murders YTD.

As a Chicago suburbanite I don't disagree,  but at the same time when one compares population numbers, even including vacationers, I would say the Nassau numbers are way more proportionately. 

21 minutes ago, 018041 said:

Fantastic! Is it common to see this request or is it difficult for the wait staff ? I guess I want to make sure that I am not holding up the rest of my party while I order something from a main dining room (escargot, French onion soup, shrimp cocktail). Or from BLU (lobster, scallops etc.)

Most E class ships will not let you do that as their kitchens are literally at almost opposite ends of the ship. Haven't sailed Ascent.  Sometimes they may accommodate you if you give them a days notice 

Onboard now. It's been a little different this sailing as they have a new production show staff who just joined. They did Life earlier and tonight I think is the Broadway show ( forget the exact name). We were hoping for Topper but nothing yet. On this cruise they have only updated the app the day before or even day of. We've had a lot of guest entertainment,  mostly very good- more than usual I suspect to fill the gap while the new staff gets fully acclimated 

I would vote for S class. Love M class but not as many options.  Really don't care for E class overall but I agree their shows are the best. I have to have a real balcony, especially on longer cruises so I would only do E class in a suite. But I much prefer S class due to design.  Could never find seats at night in Martini bar area or Eden on Apex. Even in the theater people were standing literally 2 rows deep at the back of the theater. 

Yes there is a free bus to shuttle you and I agree it can be a hassle,  even Celebrity to Celebrity.  Went from Apex to Reflection last year. When we exited no one outside had a clue where we should go. Finally person #5 or 6 that we asked pointed us to the right bus. They took us to the other pier then we had to stay outside in the hot, humid weather for about an hour before they let us in (and we were in a suite). I agree with staying onboard as long as you can then grab a taxi unless the pier is close and walkable,  which it usually isn't 

On 1/24/2024 at 11:24 AM, jelayne said:

Elite+ dining discount is 15%, we have only been able to get it when we book on board.  Booking before boarding the discount isn’t applied.

However if you ask they will adjust it when you dine. Be firm about it as most people don't know to ask so the waiters may have never had to do it before. We've done that multiple times as we have a Zenith discount and don't want to miss out on that. Ridiculous that the systems can't be programmed to automatically apply it.  That is, they could be but they don't bother.

It all depends on the ship and current Maitre'd or maybe restaurant manager. This sailing in Blu on Equinox we always could. 

Decoy is back in premium package on Equinox. Conundrum is still overpriced. 

23 minutes ago, cruisestitch said:

No only same ship.  Switching ships you are on side to side cruises, not back to back.

We got it on a side to side cruise sailing next month. Same day disembarkation and boarding another Celebrity ship. I didn't think so either but we thought it wouldn't hurt to ask and lo and behold the answer was yes.

5 hours ago, 45december said:

On EQ now. Decoy added back to premium pkg. 

Sunday Jan.21.

I understand you could not get it in Luminae?

3 hours ago, C-Dragons said:

True loyalty… what does that involve?

To me true loyalty is how many days you've sailed Celebrity.  I get tired of sitting in CC gatherings where they announce with great fanfare the amount of cruises taken and 90% of the time its fewer than I have, but I earned my level (Zenith) from booking more than 70 cruises, not sailing in high level suites. To me true loyalty means number of days, not how many cruises, and not how rich you are. It used to be that way,  after the initial debacle of number of cruises which had Florida people gaining status so fast with 3 and 4 nighters they could jump on for a long weekend. Now it's all about $$ spent, period. Frustrating. 

2 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Agree.... I remember setting up a Roll Call 23 years ago.  While there were not as many participants everyone was very active and We had a party in our RS for about 30.   For some reason that Roll Call all the participants really became close both before and after the cruise.     I look back to those days with fondness.

 

While CC doesn't permit us to discuss TA (even back in the Good Old Days) there are ways to communicate outside the restrictions and I receive a couple emails a week from people asking for a reference. 

 

Having said that I'm surprised at how many personal e-mail I receive when doing a Live Post from people that respond to something I say.   All too many no longer post on CC or Facebook because of being attacked, demeaned and insulted by others and now refuse to post publicly. 

I found a lot of truth in your last sentence.  I've been attacked (directly and indirectly) here on CC, interestingly as both a Celebrity cheer leader and a complainer. Don't know how I can be both lol. But other sites like FB can be so much more vicious. I've probably blocked at least a dozen or more people. Just blocked someone today who literally argued with everything I've ever posted on a site of which we both belong. First I got roped into defending myself until I asked myself the question,  "why???". A person who obviously just wants to cause trouble is just not worth the effort.  There are a couple good sites moderated well. But sometimes the "roll call" type can really get out of hand. 

Have done ABCs 12 times on Celebrity.  Always switch to local time, including the cruise I am currently on

95% of the time no problem.  I have had a couple cruises start disembarkation as late as 9:30, so delays can and do happen.  Have a backup plan

I have changed from being a huge, very loyal fan to being someone who will enjoy the parts of Celebrity that are still awesome,  like the staff, but for the first time in around 30 years will consider other lines as well when choosing a cruise.

3 hours ago, Mimiya11 said:

Babies and children are not common on any of the Celebrity cruises we have been on over the years.  

 

Agree though, that is a parenting fail and they should have left with the baby.  

 

If you haven't cruised lately things have changed.  Not tons of kids but a lot more than there used to be for sure, especially cruises 7 days or less