kwokpot

Yes BUT those restaurants were replaced fleetwide on the M Class ships with Tuscan Grille years ago, so you must be talking about a LONG, Long time ago. Edit: Based on your sailing profile in your signature the last M-Class ship you sailed was in 2012 on the Constellation. That's a long time ago.

Exactly. No sparkling water.

Great idea. There's a Millennium itinerary that's starts in Bali and ends in Singapore and is basically the same ports as the itinerary the OP posted but in much better order (Phuket is an overnight and one should stay off the ship in an hotel). If the OP is interested in the ports of the posted itinerary they should seriously reconsider this alternate itinerary with multiple sailing dates. Then they could stay several days pre-cruise in Bali and enjoy the Phuket beaches. Edit: Also overnight in Penang!

I would agree with your suggestions. We did a land trip to Bangkok and then onwards to Phuket during Christmas and NYE. It was a perfect combo of temples in Bangkok and beaches in Phuket. We were able to witness a New Year's lantern launch on the Phuket beach at midnight; it was one of the most magical sights I have ever witnessed.

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Do people go on Asia cruise itineraries for the beaches? I admit I'm not necessarily a beach person but I view Asia cruises as vacations to explore the culture and nature vs sitting on a beautiful beach. If it's a beach cruise vacation but not the Caribbean then for me it's has to be Hawaii. Maui, Kauai and Oahu has some of the best beaches in the world.

Top 5 cruises in no particular order 1)Around New Zealand ending in Sydney. 2) Hawaiian cruise that visits all four islands 3) Vietnam cruise from Singapore to Hong Kong 4) Baltics cruise including St. Petersburg 5) Europe cruises that include Spain, Portugal and Italy

Asia cruises are wonderful to explore different cultures. Having said that IMO this particular itinerary isn't the most exciting. I would highly recommend a Vietnam cruise, which either starts in Singapore and ends in Hong Kong or vice versa. You'll visit Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong with all ports worth visiting and you'll experience at least four different countries. I've been on 109 cruises and my Vietnam cruise with Celebrity ranks. among the top three cruises and top travel experience I've ever had

If that was the case they could have created a brand new cabin category that would have a a sky suite type balcony but aren't a Retreat Class cabin so not to overload the Retreat facilities. They would price it higher than an IV cabin but less than a sky suite.

As I have said in other threads on this subject the E-Class must have some structural limitations on the type of cabin mix since all E-Class ships including the Xcel which is being built now basically has the same amount of IV cabins which makes up the majority of cabin types. Other ships that use this cabin design such as MSC World Europa and the new Icon of the Seas have IV cabins as only a minority of cabin type and not majority, so that's why I feel it's a structural limitation.

That's a great alternative to an IV cabin on an E-Class ship since the veranda is a separate, exposed-to-the-elements space, albeit quite narrow. Another more universal name for the cabin would be a hull balcony cabin, since the balcony is located within the hull of the ship. It is more enclosed than other types of balcony cabins but it's an actual separate space apart from your cabin.

This is the cafe we went to in one of the towns around the Lake. They have excellent pastries. We then walked around the lakefront. Vendors were just setting up their booths around the lake. We spent about 30 minutes and then proceeded to the castle. After the castle we just told the driver to take us to the airport. It was a great way to end our Greek Islands cruise trip with a relaxing and beautiful lake, picturesque towns, and a beautifully restored castle with all sorts of exhibits inside. https://goo.gl/maps/8toq4w1QhrvV5LuNA

Not true. I highly, highly highly recommend Lake bracciano and castle Orsini-Odescalchi. What you want to plan is exactly what we did. https://odescalchi.it/ We had our private transfer do the following : 7:30 am pick up, visit Trevignano Romano for Cappuccino and stroll around the Lake Bracciano, at 10 am visit the Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano, stroll in the town and head to the Airport. We had a wonderful time and again, I highly, highly recommend this little trip. Here are some photos of our trip to the lake and castle.

Reservations can be made for early and late dining times.

Yes, you are absolutely correct, the IV cabin feels like a room with a big window, like a patio slider, but instead of opening it from side to side, it opens from top down. It's a great cabin as long as you realize what it is, and what it isn't. In a traditional balcony cabin, you step outside of you cabin to a separate space that's exposed to the elements. In an IV cabin you can't do that, since there isn't a separate room, you're always in the same room. The frosted bifold doors are more like room divider screens to create a pretend separate balcony space. But it's all pretend, you are never in a separate space exposed to the elements.

But I don't understand your comment below. OBC from Celebrity depends on the particular cruise fare, sailing and Celebrity promotions. If the cruise fare you choose to book your cruise has OBC, you'll get it, you don't have to ask for it. By the same token just because you ask for OBC doesn't mean you'll get it, it doesn't work that way It has to be part of the cruise fare that you're choosing.

What are you talking about?

It's been like that for years.

No and no. OBC has nothing to do with your Captain's Club Level.

Very surprised about that. I was on the Apex this past July and asked about that after eating there ( Le Grand Bistro) and they said no, since they don't have takeaway cups there.

One way to denote the poster is an experienced cruiser to give their opinions more weight vs someone who's only been on 1 or 2 cruises.

I'm curious if you remember which show it was that you didn't care for?

Many a time I'll order an entree as a starter and a different entree as my main course, especially if there are a couple of entrees that I know I will enjoy. This happens whenever there's a pasta or risotto entree that's appealing to me. For example the photos below show the specialty pasta from Cyprus as my starter followed by the fish entree. Both were excellent.

Were you planning on sitting down and having the coffee at a table? The Elite breakfast never does takeaway beverages of any kind.