Shipswap

If I am remembering correctly, the Maginot excursion with Avalon was to Ouvrage du Four-a-Chaux. I could have the name wrong, but the excursion was near Strasbourg.

We did the Maginot Line excursion with Avalon. It was exceptional!

You didn’t say what Nationality passport you were needing to renew. If it is Canadian, ours came through in a little over a week this past September. This was done at just a Service Canada site and not a Passport office.

Express Service would be much quicker again.  The Covid backlogs seem to be a thing of the past, thankfully.

Thank you so much for the temperature chart. This will be a great starting point to try to predict the temperatures for next year’s cruise.

The pdf is showing up as ‘unavailable’ to me so I am unable to open it.

I do thank you, Jazzbeau, for your effort.

We’ll be doing the Douro next September but with Emerald. Could you keep us informed of the temperatures you’re experiencing along the River? 
Thanks

5 hours ago, Cruise till you drop said:

When we were told that we couldn’t have a lounger for safety reasons, the cabin steward said the previous people who occupied our room went a little drunk crazy and sounds like the loungers went overboard.

 

I have no idea if this was true or a line and no way to verify.  But if true, somebody seriously ruined it for the rest of us 

 

These people would have sailed in mid March 2023 on the Edge in an 11th floor SV

 

Personally I think it was a parrot line to start to wean pax from SV loungers but who knows

 

You seem to have been given a very strange explanation. And the solution to dealing with the alleged incident makes little sense. Surely chairs and tables being pitched overboard would be a more common threat, if such a thing even happens.  I agree, that the entire incident is fishy. 

 

1 hour ago, Jeremiah1212 said:

 

I've experienced both. Including one of the SV's on E class next door to the aft Sky Suites that are really too narrow for 2 chairs + lounger. I think the lounger on SV's in general is the exception not the rule.

We were on Apex in a SV next to the aft Sky Suite. We brought the 2 chairs into the room( there is additional floor space in a SV as compared to an Infinite) and had plenty of room for the two loungers. It worked out perfectly.

As an aside, I am racking my brain to find a reason why a lounger creates a safety issue more than a chair and table. I’m sure I could come up with a bizarre situation, but nothing that supports a ship by ship situation.

 We spend most of our free time reading on the balcony. Losing the loungers on the SV is probably the last straw for us on Celebrity. 
With all the recent changes, I feel that Celebrity just doesn’t want us anymore. Sadly, it’s probably time to move on.

Beanie713, May I ask if you received the new or old version of the passport? Thanks

1 hour ago, bassethounddog said:

No response so far from Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. 

Thankyou on behalf of all of us here for submitting the photo.

It’s really no surprise to see that it has been ignored. But oh, wouldn’t it have been amazing if she had stepped up and stated that the lobster entree wasn’t up to Celebrity standards!  
Unfortunately,that kind of leadership isn’t seen very often these days.

Someone should invited her to dine with them in the MDR on lobster night!

We had no issue as a group dining on Apex. With linked bookings, they knew that we were together and planned our table accordingly. We started the cruise as a early seating but during the cruise, the ship turned into select only dining.  Our ‘ select ‘ became a six o’clock booking each night and we just chose a different restaurant. Our group just moved as one, and table preference seemed to move with it.

I would suggest speaking with a Maitre D as soon as you board the ship. They are very accommodating. Another idea is to call Celebrity. I believe that they can prebook the select seating time for your group as well.

On 2/16/2023 at 5:23 PM, bassethounddog said:

My lobster dinner from recent Silhouette cruise. 

This photo needs to be sent to Lisa Lutoff-Perlo 

I agree that taking off the automatic gratuity would be a black mark against a staff that would only be only be addressed by pooling the individual tip. The person you wish to thank would not come out ahead, and have to make explanations as well.

3 hours ago, JFontaine said:

I don't really have a position on this, but if part of your gratuities are going to the MDR waiter, as an example, and you don't show up in the MDR but instead order room service, why are you paying tips to the MDR waiter?  Or are you really paying his/her salary?  I get this could be a 4th meal, but I kind of see the point. 

I’ve had the same thought in regard to the gratuity in the Specialty Restaurants. (I’m not begrudging staff their tips,)

We were on Apex and the aft cabins are larger than the regular ‘ balcony ‘ rooms. They also have full size lounge chairs. I would grab any room that’s available.

8 hours ago, LaCal said:

If a $10 charge a few times a weeks gonna make you change to another line then maybe Celebrity wasn’t for you 

 

Most cruise lines now charge for room service delivery 

It’s not just the added fees that depress me, but the constant downgrading of what was basic amenities and services.  As someone who has cruised for decades, the experience of being nickel and dimed  is most annoying.  We just booked our fourth River Cruise and I must say that having ( most) everything included is refreshing. 

Just state the cost of the vacation experience, let me pay it and then enjoy the holiday.

The room service charge will really affect me as I always order breakfast on excursions days.  We have one cruise planned with Celebrity this summer but after that I might be looking to Holland America again.

When we were on the Apex in May, the station was staffed and everyone entering was given a friendly but firm reminder to wash their hands. I never noticed anyone sliding by ( and I was really watching!).

I’m sorry to see the decline in Health protocols.  Another knock against the Celebrity brand.

We are sailing with Celebrity in May out of Southampton. We are researching pre cruise  hotels nearby.

Does Celebrity have a dedicated dock? What nearby hotels would be recommended? Any insights are most welcome.

 Thank you everyone!

I’m looking at medical travel insurance for Seniors, considering Medipac. Is there a better option?
Thankyou.

We were in SV 12261 and we didn’t experience any noise from above.
 Our balcony had two lounge chairs and two regular chairs when we arrived. We didn’t need to ask!  The SV rooms seem larger than the Infinite      Balconies. I’m going to speculate that the extra space is what would be the ‘ balcony ‘ portion of an Infinite room.   In any case, we brought the two chairs from the balcony and placed them inside the cabin to give us more room on the balcony.

 I will also mention that some people have a concern about soot landing on the balcony furniture, we had none.

We loved the SV on Apex, and the Sunset Bar is just above you!

So happy that it all worked out. Enjoy your vacation!