cavaaller

@mahasamatman thank you for the reply, just to be sure: are we talking unlimited water in the stateroom?

will be traveling with my walking impaired dad and wondering whether I should arrange for a private transport instead of the handivan: My TA offered to order a handivan via celebrity but she could not tell me, what exactly that would entail - dad can walk a couple of steps but is painfully slow - I don't see us using the transfer bus being in the way of all the impatient pax wanting to get on with their holidays. Can you tell me: what is a handivan, how is the X- Assistance port side handled (regarded embarkation and getting off the ship in the ports) we will take our own wheelchair. thank you in advance - the situation is totally new to me and very recent, so I am a little anxious if traveling is such a good idea otoh do not want my parents to miss out on this (maybe last chance) experience

Do you get all the amenities that come with an aqua class balcony room when in the AS? (we will have the premium package and I am especially interested in whether we would get daily bottled water and/or Sodas? I know some cruisers have reported that they did get sodas but I wonder whether that was just coincidentally / at the discretion of a nice retreat host person or if it is a real perk that comes with the suite). thx ❤️

Of course we will use the Restaurant - but it is nice to know that on some nights we have other options. Thanks everyone

I am new to Cunard and could not find the definitive answer to my following questions - maybe s.o. could help me? - if I purchase the premium soft drinks package pre cruise and find out after a couple of days that I would rather like to upgrade to the beers, wines... option. *) can I do that by just paying the difference or would I need to buy a whole new package *) would I need to pay for the whole cruise or just for the remaining days? - if I stay in a Q2 suite, can I order (all) my dinner-meals in suite? - would it be possible (for a charge and with prior notice of course) to have items off the Verandah delivered to the cabin? thank you for your help.

Thank you for another fabulous blog. I admire your planning and your writing skills!

Thanks again form this marvellous review! I hope you have a wonderful post cruise stay and a safe trip back home!

@villauk I read about the mosquitos in a German travelblog (https://wanderweib.de/tipps-wann-du-nach-japan-reisen-solltest/#Juli). Can you tell me about your experience from last year ? You say it was "bad" but the fact that you are going again seems to indicate that it was not unbearable??

I just found your blog and read it in one swoop. It is really well written, interesting and informative. Thank you very much!

Thank you, @tjunmin, @gcornell and @Ken the cruiser for your very helpful answers!

I would like to ask for input from someone who has experienced this itinerary first hand: I heard that the ideal time to see Asia (Japan) would be spring or fall but my only option is July/August or December (no cruises to Japan then). Now I read that not only will it be unbearably hot and humid but it is also mosquito time - which should probably tell me that it is a stupid idea but I just cannot let go of this cruise... The itinerary would be Yokohama - Shimizu - Osaka _ kochi - Hiroshima - Busan - Aomori. Please tell me: how unbearable is unbearably hot? Can it be compared to the weather in the Caribbean? Are the mosquitos a threat? Thank you in advance for any input you can give me! I ask this question in the Celebrity forum because the cruise is on Millennium

exactly! it is the little things like expedited delivery service (? or was it special delivery?) or the concierge's response "don't worry about it, it is done!" to the question "could you try to get us in at Eden tomorrow? or "of course you can have dinner in the suite tonight" I do not NEED to send out laundry 3 times a week but for the price I am paying, I'd like to think that I could if I wanted/needed...

We did sail post Covid on Fantasia. Service was stellar but food was plain awful! And I am not a picky eater. It was not a question of preparation but one of quality: Tough, old meat, no fresh vegetables at all. The nibbles in the top sail lounge repetitive and really basic. A huge difference to Celebrity (and Azamara). Of course: it was just one week and could have been coincidence.

we have cruised in MSC's Yacht Club many times - I did not think that I could compare Celebrity to MSC - it seems like a completely different experience. I have to admit, that the butlers are more attentive. But the food is not as good on MSC as on X imho.

it was worth it last time - but as I said, I do not really know how the experience has changed hence my question...

that is what I was afraid of: the beginning of a series of cutbacks while prices seem to go up and up... if I may ask: in hindsight: do you regret having booked the suite?

My last (and only) experience in a top suite was in 2022. Things, that we cherished and were important to us were the option to dine in the suite ordering from (at least Luminae, but preferably from) speciality restaurants as well and a fridge stocked with water / soda. We also liked, that we could send out laundry more than twice per cruise (we did not send out more than two bags full of laundry but we did send out a shirt on three occasions.) I also liked, that we got 400 USD pp OBC. These perks seem to be gone now (eg the OBC) - although I cannot find proper documentation. (there used to be a grille with the exact definitions of the suite perks - either it has been hidden or all the perks are gone?) I consider a cruise in a Penthouse-Suite. So: If you cruised in a PH lately could you please tell me - is it (still) worth it? Has much changed?

@The Salties experience has me worried: For half a year now, I have been asking for my loyalty status to be corrected. "Don't worry, the team on the ship has the correct information" Many passengers complain that the OBC information is misrepresented online "Don't worry, the team on the ship has the correct information, just take your documentation" and now, with the correct documentation - they do not believe the customer? Really??? They obviously do not know what is what! IMO it is not asked too much that a customer can be sure that the contractually agreed services will be adhered to! I don't want to be on the burden of proof and argue with Guest Relations on my vacation. The service team can be as magnificent as they might....at some point you have to be allowed to say that it stinks! the Salties, I am really sorry you have to go through this!

We did this tour last April and were dropped off here (red dot) Basilica Santa Croce:

thank you @beatnix 😀 that helps a lot!

so kind of you to offer that... 😄 ...I do have a question indeed: Do you remember, where your drop off point/meeting point in Lucca was? I found this map: it would be a real help to know, if you were left in the center, at a parking space or rather at the foot of the town wall??? thank you again!

While searching for reviews of the "Lucca on your own" excursion I came upon your fabulous review @Jellifer. Thank you very much, you visited many of the ports that will be on our next cruise so this is a real treasure.

Thanks a lot for this great review!

I am happy for you. Our's is still at 0 😞

Filled out 5 forms, sent many emails, called 3 times, they keep telling us they cannot display the correct status nor can they move the booked cruise to the correct (old) account. It becomes more and more difficult to believe/accept as time (6 months) goes by... maybe the plan is to create a new loyalty system and everyone will start at 0 - why else would they not make a visible effort