NMTraveller

Well let's count the numbers. The blue chip club is offering free E class cruises to fill up their ships. You don't have to be vocal to go someplace else. E-class is a less desirable vacation IMHO. Who is the majority that is going back? Perhaps the suite cruisers? OK. I get that they have the retreat and they did not have most of their amenities taken away. Most of the positive reviews are for the suites. The IVs are the most complained about gripe that I have ever heard about on a cruise. People should not be complaining on a cruise unless the accomadations are sub-par.

Just open and close your window at home. 🙂 Or if you have a convertible you would have a triple infinite veranda.

You mean high energy like Carnival? At least they have real balconies.

🙂 🙂 I must admit this is probably both the best argument for E class and at the same time the funniest. 🙂 If the upper tier (AKA cash cows) did not like forward looking views and balconies why is E class offering them? This is a luxury that even us peasants enjoy on S class. 🙂

If Celebrity has an S class ship on the new schedule I would choose that. If it is E class it would depend upon the price difference. The E class is a lesser ship IMHO unless in a suite. I would probably just choose NCL for the real balconies.

Exactly. There is a reason they put the bridge on the front of the ship and not the rear. There is a reason the suite guests get a forward facing view and real balconies... Sky Lounge was a nice quiet place you could go to relax in the evenings as well. Eden in the evenings has entertainment and is loud.

Celebrities IT and Data Science department is not the best by any means.

They are making the offers because Celebrity is having difficulties filling the ships. The same for HAL. They figure that you may spend some money while on the ship.

Are their tiers and do they tier match other casinos?

So how does one sign up for the Blue Chip Club? On the ship? Can you sign up before?

Hmmm. I was wondering about this same topic. We exclusively dine in specialty restaurants ... We were wondering if Blu was better...

I like Sushi on 5 for the Seafood Tower.

So did we run out of E class cheerleaders? 🙂 For all of the numerous posts on this topic I have never heard a reasonable response to this topic: "If X think IV verandahs are so special why do they not put their suite guests in them?" As from Post #101. In most threads, but not a good answer yet.

If you are into packed bars you will like the E class. If you like relaxing quiet bars you will like S Class. They do not have to be elbow to elbow and loud and shouty to be a gem.

OK. The same for my HAL offers. I suppose that they are just trying to fill ships that have below average bookings with paying customers or customers that will cover the cost of the cruise and have some potential to pay more.

The only thing missing from E class to complete the ambience is rock and roll piped in at 120 db. If you are for loud and shouty ambience, why not loud music?

Just curious how one gets these Blue Chip offers? If it is casino, how much does one gamble to get the deals? I get deals from HAL all the time for free cruises, but I have no idea how I got on their list.

I wish that it was rougher for my 2 cruises. Smooth as butter... One was a bit windy but not very rough. Now if you go on a smaller boat to Delos you might notice. I like a little bit of chop at night and I sleep like a baby.

Maybe you could ask your neighbors to quiet it down a bit. Perhaps they are on their honeymoon also. 🙂 If they can't move you to an inside perhaps try ear plugs.

I think that you must also consider the quality of the bars. For example sky lounge on S class beats anything on E class. The Martini Bar on S class is smaller and more intimate. I can get a drink in a timely fashion. Craft Social vs Cellar Masters... LOL. The one positive that they added on E class was the World Class Bar. The Magic Carpet is just too windy. S class has hands down better bars with a more intimate experience. E class is more loud and shouty. The only E class bar you would find me at would be WCB. That is not much choice. On S class it could be martini bar, cellar masters, wcb, or sky lounge. Numbers or quality. I will take quality. Yet S class has more usable quality bars.

I thought that the Magic Carpet was the windiest place on the ship. I have some pictures to show it. My recollection is that it was laughably windy when the ship was moving.

OP, I agree 110%. From the IVs to the missing Sky Lounge I view it as a hot mess. The only way I intend to sail again on E class would be due to itinerary or if in a suite. The suite cruisers seem to like E class more. I think that you barely touched on the differences...

So I looked into this a bit. AND: "Not only will there be 60+ days worth of blackout dates, but on top of that travel can only be confirmed the day before departure for domestic flights, so you really can’t consistently rely on this to get anywhere. We also don’t know what inventory this availability will come out of, which seems like an important detail." I suppose that to me that the dealbreaker is that travel can only be confirmed the day before departure... It kind of sounds like they are doing a fire sale for their unsold seats. Probably a good deal if you are flexible and don't have a cruise or sailing to meet.

Milford Sound is one of my favorite destinations. I have really enjoyed your pictures. My only recommendation for Milford Sound would be to do an excursion and get off of the boat if you have not already done so. It is a lovely lovely place.

NCL lost one of my bags on my first cruise with them that they eventually found. Not a good way to get new cruisers to book future cruises. Talk about stress. They have a kit where they give you t-shirt, toiletries, etc. Very, very cheesy. I laugh at the experience now. But I learned to just let things work themselves out. Perhaps be more concerned on the 2nd day.