poffles

Congratulations on your retirement!  Don't be nervous ... you are going on a cruise !!!!!!!!!!!

Of course there is truth among what you are reading but all that type stuff will fade away when you are boarding the ship, getting to your room, sailing away.  Things change but don't let it all get in your head to ruin something that you should be looking forward to with excitement.

Happy cruising 🎉 🥳

On 8/25/2023 at 8:08 PM, irvington said:

Some positive observations:

- Not sure I commented on Oceanview, but it is great. Philip eats there all the time and says there is a lot more choice than there was 2 years ago. The times I have accompanied him I have been positively impressed for lunch and dinner. I think breakfast is not the best.

Interesting the differing experiences.  Recognizing that each ship might be different, I was on the Edge in April and in Oceanview I thought breakfast and lunch were good but dinner was extremely lacking with so many empty stations; those that were available were very repetitious dishes which is pretty much what others had been reporting but I was hopeful. I do hope that things are going back to prior times with more selection in this venue, I really missed the station where you could select quick cook protein they were grilling fresh (chicken, port, steak?).

On 8/22/2023 at 7:41 PM, Jim_Iain said:

It is Live Nova Scotia Lobster.    The MD indicated that everything at Eden is Fresh and that if supply chain issue arise they do not substitute.   

Love our NS lobster ... so good cooked fresh then straight from the boiling pot to my plate!  Jim you are making me rethink my supper tonight 🙂

17 hours ago, poeticlicensed said:

I'm generally not a fan of search functions, but on CC, you need to make sure you change the default from "any search words"  to "all search words".  I get better results that way. I wish they would set the default to that, because sometimes I forget to change it

Exactly ... I used to like the search before an update along the way. Prior search you could choose titles only at the beginning instead of after in the search results window.  Took me a bit to realize the change, either way it definitely requires tweeking (filter fun) of the results to get to real relevance.

48 minutes ago, jean87510 said:

I don't think it is the titles that are the issue.  It is the inability of some to use a search function to find an answer.  

Yes the search function is also great but personally when I utilize search I often filter down to 'only in title' to try to fine tune the results so titles matter even with search.

9 minutes ago, Pinboy said:

LOL-- How d'ya think I felt when I ordered a scoop of gelato and the young lady ( very pretty ) put 2 scoops into a cup and when I told her we were Elite, she took 1 out-- " You only get one "she said. ( Absolutely true story ).

 

.....

That's more serious than the " only one scoop " of gelato, so I left.

This made me laugh because my last cruise it was day 4 of my cruise and I went for my 'free' gelato and the one behind the counter said (repeatedly) you only get this once, saying it like if I already had it I can't do again ... ya I know I kept saying first visit ... it was a bit bizarre.  They may have also been saying one scoop but I didn't register with all the only once mantra.  Also 'absolutely true story'.

Darn it I want my 'free' gelato .. give it to me NOW!  And sheesh one would think you would get two scoops as Elite LOL

1 hour ago, kiwichick62 said:

From what I know - The flash sales seem to occur every 4 or so months but it seems random which sailings qualify for them.  If you do purchase excursions and a better price comes along  (or you change your mind) you can cancel your booking and purchase again at the new price.  There is a risk that when you cancel and go to purchase again your excursion shows as sold out.

 

45% off is likely the best we are going to get - I purchased 4 excursions for our May 2024 cruise.

 

So yes, I would recommend booking shore excursions now.

 

 

Ditto this ... 45% is the best I've seen.  I actually had one booked that I cancelled and rebooked and for the two of us it went from $97 to $65 US.  Some might think a pain to bother especially if credit cards in the mix (vs OBC as some might use) but it was worth it to this Canadian where $32 US savings is even more CAD!

Aside from the type of seperation suggested here, the more subcategories you have in a forum the less content you will get in each. We would end up with many of them more empty of content than one might expect and everyone would ultimately flood back to where it began in the one covers all.

As someone elses suggested, better use of subject titles would be a huge win.

I know this isn't the ask but perhaps of interest (subject to change daily 🙂 ) 

Classic:
Non-premium bottled water

Specialty Coffees & Organic Teas
Sodas (Coca Cola products)

Juices

Premium (and Zero):
Premium bottled water (Evian, Perrier, San Pellegrino, Panna)
Specialty Coffees & Organic Teas

Sodas (Coca Cola products)

Juices
Red Bull Energy Drink
Frozen Smoothies
Vitamin Water
Bottled Iced Teas

3 minutes ago, Not a username2 said:

Yeah what is with that? So it's only benefiting people that buy "Cruise Only" packages? I still get a pre-paid tips that I can't delete added on my balance when I have all inclusive. It's getting ridiculous.

I'd call if I thought there was a chance to make an argument and win.

So not calling 🙂

1 hour ago, mom says said:

Having a hard time deciding if this is elitism at its worst, or populism. Neither are appropriate IMO.

 

Should NCLs forum be split into NCL Haven and NCL steerage? How about MSC Yacht Club plus MSC for the masses. And then there's Cunard for commoners and Cunard Grills. I'm sure the mods have nothing better to do. 

I ditto'd what you said bascially saying the same thing ... overlooked yours before I responded.

This post stirs something up in me for some reason, just sounds so out there.  Not even worth a vote even though implied by my response(s).

This post feels more about instigating something than anything to be given serious thought.   No other cruise line forum does this and all of them have similar areas .. NCL has Haven ... MSC has Yacht Club .. do they separate discussions?

11 hours ago, tcc8v said:

I was booked on a Celebrity fare that includes the classic drink package.  My wife and I don't drink much.  Can we exchange this package for the lower cost zero proof package?  Or do we have to upgrade (and pay more) to the premium package.

 

In the alternative, on my last Royal Caribbean cruise, my Celebrity elite status entitled me to 4 free drinks per day.  Is there a similar benefit on Celebrity?

Not the answer to your question but curious, if you don't drink much (which I translate to mean alcohol) what would the motive be for paying to upgrade to premium (if you can't exchange to zero).  There are many things included in the Classic, though of course there's a bit more in the Premium like Evian and Perrier and 'real' OJ.

It does sound like others have done the exchange to Zero package though so hopefully you can do that.  It really should be presented as an option upon booking AI... Classic Package or Zero Proof no matter the age.  Happy sailing!

5 hours ago, tigervixxxen said:

About a month ago the upgrade from classic to premium was at $9.99 per day so it does happen. 

I've been watching sales closely and that must have been only select ships/sailings because it has never appeared at that price for me and I check pretty much daily.  I do have some memory of people saying this but it never was the case in mine, another case of randomness in offerings I guess.

I keep watching.

46 minutes ago, SactoSkip said:

Just my thoughts on premium drink package upgrade. We are in aqua and get the basic package and I drink beer and wine with dinner. The upgrade is about $700.:we decided to just pay for coffee drinks as they are about the only thing we would use it for besides upgraded wine at dinner. I do not think their premium wines are that special and I think I can suffer with a mediocre red and save hundreds of dollars.

I have thoughts on this too ... I also have the Classic package and keep contemplating an upgrade and these sales come around and the upgrade cost is never aligned with the sale on the full package which right now shows 35% off ... the upgrade remains at 5% off (I get better with elite discount) and I don't understand why this isn't 35% off too.  Why oh why is the upgrade not 35% off too ... ugh.

Equally they never discount the Zero package the same amount but this difference I can reason a bit in my mind.

26 minutes ago, ymncruise said:

I like that you can see your point balance and offers online with Royal without having to call and wait on hold. 

This ...!  I would welcome not having to call to find out what you would never otherwise know.  I have received nothing via email for a while now but call and they have something so this could be a welcome change. Guess time will tell.

32 minutes ago, ISABELLA said:

More people will be booking cruise only.  No way new perks worth $150/pp per day.

 

Agree 100% .. many like me do not want wifi so AI becomes just the drinks so the math becomes much clearer.  Even if a person might consume that in a given day, everyday a person would be unlikely to drink enough coffee, water and alcohol to cover the cost paid.  Unless the cost is going to go down ... HAHAHAHAHAHA

I am doing similar in November ... Apex to Reflection.  Though this thread FLL Terminal Transfer was about Celebrity to Princess there was some answers to the scenario you (similarly myself) will face for the first time. 

Looking at this site it appears that taxi transfer is a flat rate so it would seem (as many are advising) a taxi might be the best option and the least pain in the backside 🙂

Cruise FAQs (porteverglades.net)

'How do I transfer from one cruise terminal to another if I’ve booked back-to-back cruises?

If sailing with the same line, call that cruise line to make arrangements. For those sailing on different cruise lines, taxi transfers between terminals are possible within the Port at a flat rate of $8. There is no negotiated price for ride-share services.'

13 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

All you have to do is click Unsubscribe at the bottom of one of those emails and they will stop. I clicked on it a few days ago, and none have appeared since.

I did the same a few days ago as they were just ridiculous and overkill.  Have not had any since.  I have no problem with marketing email but sheesh.

8 hours ago, bigbenboys said:

It has been awhile, but on the Edge it was held at The Club. 

I think you are referring to something else, the Elite Happy Hour is not 'held' in a single venue, it's a defined list of drinks that can be ordered at most bars (some excluded) and they scan your card to know you are Elite to get them free during that 5-7pm timeframe.

11 hours ago, long time lurker said:

When we arrived at terminal 29 there was a free parking shuttle that took people to the garage by terminal 25.  That is how we got to terminal 25 for our side to side last March.

Well that would be perfect if it works in reverse, will have to check this out.

Sorry to the OP, I didn't mean to hijack your thread but I guess it's all relative in nature.

9 hours ago, wrk2cruise said:

You don't want to walk between 25 and 29.  They may not even allow it for safety reasons.

Oh ... well there's that 🤔

18 minutes ago, Jeremiah1212 said:

 

E class ships get priority at Terminal 25. Terminal 29 is also commonly used by Celebrity. It's a mile of walking between 25 and 29. Not that it can't be done but the port is not pedestrian friendly at all. I would get a cab. Terminal 21 is across from 25 but I don't recall Celebrity using that one often. 

Thanks you for speaking to what I believed might be the scenario.  We may still venture the walk but will look around when we arrive for the first cruise to take in the area.  Definitely want to be sure the walk is not too terrrain challenged. We've gone out of that port a few times but never assessed it for this.

I was also interested in this same information.  Actually B2B both Celebrity ships but they only have one terminal so not sure how far away the second ship will dock if both there the same day.

Terminal 25 is the main one but where they dock a second Celebrity ship ... not sure ... thinking Terminal 29 as that appears to be a share between a few.  Thinking maybe walkable if it is but looks can be deceiving.  I hadn't even considered there might be a shuttle, very interesting.