floridatravelersforlife

We also did two since last year. The Reflection during T week, last year was 10 for food quality, service, MDR alternatives and wait times.  This past August the Summit was 8,6,9,10.  We are on the Apex for T week in a couple weeks, and I think the ratings may suffer

Just saw your post.  We were on one of the Inaugural Infinity cruises to the Antarctic peninsula  back in  February 2010.

To answer a question you didn't ask:  The earlier the season, the better chance that you will successfully reach each of the destinations. We missed the Falklands due to heavy weather and had to initially divert from crossing the Drake passage due to a huge storm. We still hit part of the storm with 10m seas and 75 knot winds.  We went to Ushuaia first and then to the Peninsula.  The rest of the trip was uneventful. 

Some cruises are on flat water .  But if we were to do it again, we wouldn't take the chance to miss any of these important stops.  

If you have a home remote for a Samsung, bring it with you. Most times it will work, but you have to find the hdmi input and have a cable to connect.  A problem if it's wall mounted and there is no side input.

Alternatively try the following:

Press ‘CC’ button on ship remote (above green button)

Press ‘Menu’ button on remote (just below yellow button)

Pops up screen on TV

Scroll down to “Support”

Scroll down to “Source List”

Those arrogant tourists will spoil it for the rest of us.  Japan is sensitized to the Princess covid cruise that caused havoc when the Covid pandemic began.   I understand their concern.  Things don't look good for our March cruise.

We are on the Nautica sailing around Japan Mar 2023.  I have a very specific plan on whether or not we will sail.  Penalties for us start Nov 21st.  If all the players are not in synch, we are out - Japan and Korea allowing cruise ships,  as well, other Asian countries on the earlier itineraries opening  up.   

If there is no resolution by Nov 1, I plan to ask my TA to request either waiver of penalties for the first round or delay penalties to Dec.   A no answer means no sail for us. The alternative is to buy refundable Air and lodging, but that is super expensive.  

7 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Good luck --- I have a Samsung remote and it no longer works out of the box.   At a minimum you have to first press the CC button (which put you into the first part of the setup) on the ships remote and then you can use the Samsung remote to change sources.   Like I said before -  on Summit when I used my Samsung it kicked the TV out of the ships system and the ships remote would no longer work.   

Funny I was on the same cruise as you and my Samsung remote worked fine.  I used the remote only to change the input, relying on the ship remote to do the rest.  On the Thanksgiving cruise last year, I had the ship IT department open the box under the TV in the RS, to give access to the HDMI inputs. The Reflection did require the cc process.

We just bring along our home Samsung remote to enable changing inputs.  

We use Tea forte at home.  We buy it from specialty tea vendors on the internet. Amazon has some also, not as fresh.  I guess we will have to add that to our bring on board list.  I think is is a supply chain issue, since some of the ingredients comes from Sri Lanka which is having a quasi civil war due to covid lockdowns and bad government finance.

If Japan allows independent travel by individuals, that's great, but if ship arrival agreements are delayed, I'm switching to an air/hotel scenario.  I'm not going to risk making final payment and hope the cruise lines can reach an agreement with  Japan and Korea in my case.  Too much wishful thinking.  There are so many  variables - country politics, Variant  B5,6,7 ???, local constituents opinions.  Around early November, I plan on asking Oceania thru my TA on the status of their commitment to the cruise and if they would be willing to delay final payment provided guarantees were close at hand.  Recommend everyone does the same.  I am sure O would rather complete  the cruise instead of cancelling, since they have to move the ship eastbound.

8 hours ago, BruceMuzz said:

Current rules and regulations for foreigners to enter Japan are changing very rapidly right now. As of today, foreign flag cruise ships are not even allowed to enter Japan.

But all that may be changing very soon.

Japanese Immigration is expected to make announcements in the next week or so.

I'm crossing my fingers. Please keep us informed

I have Verizon prepaid ($25.00 per month) and I used it on a cruise to Canada, Greenland and Iceland.  ON board the ship I used the Verizon Wifi calling through the ships Wifi for outbound and inbound calls and some Facetime.   On land  I switched to local Cell Service and was charged $10. per day.  All very convenient and solid.

19 hours ago, BruceMuzz said:

Japanese Immigration is very, very slowly relaxing entry requirements for foreigners.

Currently they are allowing a limited number who purchase packages from a limited number of Japanese Travel Agents to have special visas that allow them to visit Japan.

COVID jabs and PCR tests are still required for entry, but that may be relaxed soon.

 

There is still no discussion on allowing foreign Cruise Ships into Japan again.

If Japan does open up to foreign ships, at least one other East Asian nation must to the same before the ships can come. Like the USA and Canada, Japan has cabotage laws that require a foreign flag ship to visit another country during your cruise.

All the "experts" here in Japan are speculating that Japan will be fully open to foreigners and foreign cruise ships sometime in Spring 2023.

Thanks, for the info, but the hope of a Spring reopening does me no good.  We have to make final payment by Dec 15 and not having a definitive ruling makes it impossible to book the cruise, air or hotels.  I hope we will hear something more firm by early December or a full cancellation.

Thanks for this article. I'll wait until final payment and then evaluate the situation.  Sounds like another year to wait.

Japan has relaxed its entry, US Citizens only need to show Covid cards.  But there is no detail on freedom to wander around.  My ta told me that prior, tourists had to book a complete package, no independent  tours.

I am on the Mar 23 Nautica cruise around Japan and I am holding off booking air and hotels until more details evolve.

Any thoughts or details?

On Sept 7 , Japan relaxed its Covid entry restrictions, as a result of declining Omicron infections.  Does anyone have more insight into the new rules  I read  a Covid test is required, like the US prior to June.  I also learned from my TA that previously to Sept 7, a tourist had to travel under a total package (air, land transport, tour, return) by a travel company to enter the country.  

WE are booked on a Nautica cruise for Mar 23.  I am reluctant to book airfare, hotels, until further details are available. This is our fourth attempt  to visit Japan.

Date of Cruise:      8/7/22                                                                                                                                           

Ship:      Summit                                                                                                                                               

Cabin #:       8104                                                                                                                                                      

Deck #:        8                                                                                                                                        

Cabin Category:        Celebrity Suite                                                                                                                                                      

Cabin Location:         Mid ship on the Hump                                                                                                                                       

Bed Position:        Inside no view                                                                                                                                           

Balcony Type:             Swing Door Double width                                                                                                                                     

Balcony/Window Size:         4 6x 4 panels                                                                                                                       

Balcony/Window View/Obstruction:          none                                                                                                              

Balcony Overhang?:           yes                                                                                                                                           

Magic Carpet Issues?:                  na                                                                                                                                 

Noise Issues?:                    none                                                                                                                              

Wind Issues?:              none                                                                                                                                    

Connecting Cabin? Where Does it Connect?:       Yes Another Celebrity Suite

Suite Details:   Kelly Hoppen clutter on surfaces and floor.  No place to lay something down.     Ask butler to pile it all in a corner.  Sitting furniture is uncomfortable ,clumsy and difficult to adjust.   

Bathroom is awful.  Doors swing wrong way - Interfere. Shelves are behind door.  Tub is nearly impossible to get in.  Dangerous.  No grab handles .  We are fit and flexible but we needed a step with a handle to get in which the Stateroom attendant found .  The Jacuzzi tub is very narrow.  Warning it is very difficult to get out of the  tub.  There is no electrical outlet in the bathroom to plugin a hair dryer - must use the outlet in the closet with bad light.                                                                                                                                 

Advantages/Problems/Comments:     Great location, very quite, good size living area, good views on the balcony.  Bad- bathroom design, dark closet,     

the balcony is on a slant so many cabins can see your balcony                                                                                                                 

Would You Book It Again?:No

Photos or Photo Links:

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13 hours ago, asnaleah said:

The CS pictures are nice, but oy, that darned bathtub!

I do like the dining table. Is there a dining table in the CS on Silhouette?

You comment on the bathtub is an understatement.  My DW and I are active, fit seniors and we had to order up a step stool to access the tub in 8104.  I see slip and fall if the seas are heavy. And there are no grab handles.  Nevertheless our 8/3 itinerary on the Summit was one of our top five.

12 hours ago, abbydancer said:

I noticed much the same, and did the same about removing the tshatshkes.  On the second cruise we might have switched the desk chair with the balcony chair since on the first cruise, the second bed (with sister so separated) was next to the desk and we couldn't get around the chair.  On the second cruise the nightstand was next to the desk so we had a bit more room.   Still not at all practical.

 

I assume the bathtubs were very high before the revolution.

I published a Ship Review on CC, which was published yesterday. With three reviews so far, lots of similar themes on clutter, awkward positioning of furnishings.  

Sent in laundry on the Infinity several years ago (when they built those AQ suites on the top of the aft deck.  Did not get is back.  First they tried to say it was delayed, then lost, then they sent me tattered gross pieces that looked they went through a lawnmower.  Spoke to the hotel manager and the Financial Mgr.  They offered $250 future cruise credit.  My stuff was worth 4x that amount.  No resolution.  Talked to Celebrity Miami, customer relations still future cruise credit plus $50 for a 15 yr customer with 25 sailings. (I think they had money problems for a while).  Well I voted with my wallet and sailed with Oceania for five years until post covid when we had a family Thanksgiving cruise, last year.  Celebrity's bad customer service created Oceania as a favored cruise line for me along with an opportunity loss for Celebrity  of  $200k.   

2 hours ago, Beamafar said:

Never thought we’d be considering Oceania (enjoyed several MSC Yacht Club cruises.  Now trying Azamara and giving X another chance with the Retreat experience after a disappointing cruise in an SS on Millie at the time Luminae had just been introduced).  If neither live up to our expectations, we will definitely be prepared to pay the extra for the experience we’re looking for. 

We made the transition to Oceania suites in 2015.  We do Celebrity when family members get together for holiday cruises.    

This thread got me thinking.  Are there any problems using these tests outside the US?   

Reflection hands down

1 hour ago, Airbalancer said:

Doing an Arctic cross this summer of the Voyager of the Seas a L&S from 2 years ago 😃

I actual like a Virgin Voyage cruise or Azamara cruise for Oct 2023 though the Suez Canal since it stops in Egypt 

Edge going though the Suez is very much like the Conny cruise we took in 2017 

How about extended side trips off the itineraries to the Taj Mahal, Katmandu in the Himalayas, Machu Pichu?   You have to make your own arrangements and debark and embark on your own. 

We sailed the Edge class with their dinky safes 😝 Did the old safes from before the  conversion carry over? Particularly interested in the Suites.

Every bathroom on board has a shower wand.  Just sayin!