kwokpot

We did the Luminosa 30 TP from Seattle to Brisbane last September/October totally comped and a spa balcony, free drinks everywhere, and US$1,000 freeplay. It was a great trip despite having cancelled ports (Alaska was cancelled entirely and a port in the Philippines, 3 ports cancelled but 1 additional port added) it became basically a Japan cruise with 5 stops in Japan and 1 in a minor port in Indonesia. Our flights were all paid for using points. Starting with East coast to Seattle. Since one cannot fly non-stop from Australia to East Coast USA we decided to add an additional destination and after a couple of nights in Brisbane we flight non-stop in business class to Taipei, Taiwan which was a new destination for us. After 3 nights we flew direct to Vancouver in business class ( not enough points to fly biz all the way to East coast) then a separate direct flight in economy to East Coast. The Luminosa is indeed an older ship but being similar to the Spirit Class to was large enough not to feel claustrophobic and small enough never to be crowded. TBH the food was some of the best we've ever had in a Carnival ship. We've done several TPs on various cruiselines from the States to Australia and we've always enjoyed them. The first several days out from the West Coast are always very cold whether you go during the Fall or Springtime (the times TPs usually sail).

Gratuities are included but you are always welcome to give additional tips and we have always done that.

Your question is going to be hard to answer since what your husband likes and/or dislikes is the actual slot machine games rather than the layout and size. All the E-Class casinos are the same size and layout( same with S-Class ship casinos), so to properly answer your question you would need to tell us which specific slot machine games he prefers. Having said that we were on the Apex last July and my husband, who is the gambler in the family, enjoyed gambling on the Apex but he said the machines were tight and it was the first cruise where he didn't hit any jackpots (he normally hits several jackpots each cruise).

Here we go with different ships doing different things.

It's an adult-oriented Scavenger Hunt game but done in one room and participants play in groups.

Definitely not a corporate decision. Either they were low/out of stock on the ship or they just didn't bother to request the proper items.

We have a Hawaii to Vancouver cruise on Royal in May and with an even later flight at 10:30 PM we are getting a hotel room in Vancouver so we can relax, walk around town, have a nice dinner, then head out to the airport. We're flying Jetblue to NYC and having done this exact flight last year we know what to expect. In Vancouver there's a whole separate terminal wing for flights back to the USA which also clears Immigration and Customs at YVR. After that there's not much in the terminal and even the airport lounge in that wing closes somewhat early.

You'll have to make the arrangements when you first get on the ship.

It's not about the food or the choices but all about starting your cruise in a more relaxed environment than the hectic buffet. The food itself is what's normally served at lunchtime in the main MDR; grilled salmon, pasta, cheeseburger. If you can't make it no big deal. It's not like there's anything unusual or only served at that meal.

If they did this in a two week dry dock I fail to understand why they didn't at minimum renovate Michaels Club on the Reflection during its recent drydock. All indications was that it was going to happen on the Reflection. Luminae needed nothing on the Reflection.

I was on the Odyssey last July for a Greek Islands cruise and everything was the same as compared to Royal in the Caribbean. You're lucky you're going in May when there should be less families. It was a madhouse in July and one thing I did notice is that Europeans do like to sunbathe.The pool deck was packed, overwhelmingly so. More than any Caribbean sailing I have ever been on, and worse than Spring Break and Easter.

I was on the Odyssey last July for a Greek Islands cruise and there wasn't lobster on either Formal Night.

The primary purpose of the Pearl is to be a structural element to support the ship so that there can be panoramic windows on the Promenade. That they were able to create an attraction with it is an added benefit and wasn't the primary objective.

Having said that there seems to have been a few significant updates on the Infinity including Michaels Club and other public spaces.

Breaking news, but here's another thread with the same information. I'm surprised it's gotten so few mentions/responses.

Everything being equal Ascent for sure. The changes from the Apex are all positive.

Wait, is this breaking news? Are you implying that Celebrity has reversed course regarding Butler services for SS? I haven't read this anywhere else.

Celebrity could have had their cake and eat it too and not have created all this controversy if they had used an existing architectural term that most people know, a Juliet or French Balcony, which is exactly what an Infinite Veranda is. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balconet https://balconies.global/traditional-balcony-methods/juliet-balconies/#:~:text=Made famous by Shakespeare%2C made,floor of a residential development. https://bayareacablerailing.com/french-balcony-vs-juliet-whats-the-difference/#:~:text=a Juliet balcony is simple,you can lean out of.

I'm curious what airline and fare you booked that doesn't allow cancellations. Almost all major airlines now allow one to cancel a flight and receive future flight credit usually good for 1 year.

I need to start doing that, along with some of the other cruiseline loyalty gifts. I have bags of bags with bags, lol. I also have a drawer filled with hotel/airline/cruiseline slippers, some of them must be 15 years old. I have started using those both at home as bedroom-only slippers (besides my house slippers) and also bring a pair on trips I know won't provide them.

On our Ascent cruise last month the app clearly indicated there would be a change for a second lobster tail entree.

That has to be an oversight. We were also on the Beyond in 2022, Halloween sailing in Aquaclass and received a totebag. Many a times it's located in an area where you would least expect it, sometimes with the laundry bags, binocular, and umbrellas. We have always received a totebag in every cabin class. For people who haven't had one in their cabin, especially in Retreat Class, points to a deficiency to the cabin attendant rather than Celebrity eliminating complimentary toebags fleetwide.

All indications is your original disembarkation date is correct, 5/1. It coincides with the Honolulu Port schedule & the embarkation of the next cruise. Nothing shows it as 5/2.

Many times when there's two entrees I like, especially if it's a pasta dish, I'll have an entree as a starter, then another entree as my main course. As in the photos below on the Ascent, I chose the Cyprus Restaurant specialty entree pasta as a starter and then the Branzino as my main course.

I'm curious why do you think that department over anywhere else?