Elvis1209

On my March Breakaway cruise, they ran out of Amoretta and Pina Colada mix! That meant no "Godfathers"! The liquor store had plenty of Amoretta. We just passed the hat and bought our own bottle and had it delivered to the bar. But how can you run out of Pina Colada mix? That's a cruise staple! Elvis

Unless it ends up on the 6 o'clock news! Elvis

I can't speak for the Celebrity Retreat as I've never sailed in it. I can, however, speak for the Haven on NCL. Our last cruise was in March out of New Orleans on Breakaway. We had a Haven Spa Suite that was outside the Haven proper. So, we had to go one deck up for meals if we wanted to go to the Haven Restaurant or Lounge. Didn't mind that at all! I didn't find the service at the Haven Restaurant slow, as some have said. The private pool area was nice with a pool and two hot-tubs. There were two children (only two) that were running amok in the pool area. Their parents did nothing to control them. We were sitting in one of the hot tubs, the one that was marked "Adults Only", when the little darlings tried to dive in. Both my wife and myself told them that this hot tub was for adults. The little boy, who I think was doing the talking for the duo said "We're in the Haven. We can go anywhere we want!" I moved over next to the child and said, "If you come in here I'll have to break your little arm". (I saw Steve McQueen use that line on a kid and it worked very well!) It worked just as well for me! The children always gave me a wide berth for the rest of the cruise! I'm getting off-topic here. My next cruise is on Silhouette in an Aqua Class cabin. I hope to get upgraded, but if we don't, no biggie! My Haven cruise was at 65% capacity. When we speak of the good old days of cruising, this is what we're going to refer to. Like I said, I can't speak for Celebrity Retreat (yet), but I would have a very hard time sailing on NCL and not be in the Haven! Elvis

My thoughts exactly! Elvis

Food??? What's that? Elvis

I'm a purist! As far as I'm concerned there is only one drink that should bear the name "Martini"! The only variation should be either gin or vodka. Me, I like a vodka martini, preferably with Belvidere vodka, with three olives, the way James Bond would take it! Elvis

We've done it twice on RCCL. It has always been a good time! Meet some great people and had some great food! Elvis

I was in San Juan a few years ago. Where the ship docked the locals set up booths to sell their wares. There was a little old man that set up a folding card table and was hand rolling cigars. I bought a couple from him with the intention of smoking them on the ship that night. I have to say that they were the best cigars I ever smoked! They were full bodied with traces of spice in them without even a hint of harshness to them! A few years later I returned to San Juan and looked for the old man. I couldn't find him. Elvis

Don't punch the card! Get the lanyard pocket. Elvis

Having only been on two Norwegian ships (Escape and Breakaway) I can't speak for the whole feet. But the thing I'm looking forward to the most for my upcoming Escape cruise is Prime Rib in the Haven Restaurant! What can I say? I'm a carnivore!!!!!!! I must say, that Porterhouse looks mighty good!!!!!! Elvis

BLT's with extra bacon!

And the cigars are usually not stored properly so they tend to be dry. I take approximately 15 sticks for a 7 day cruise. Elvis

When I was on Summit we always smoked at the area on deck 4, never at the Mast Bar. The area on deck 4 is kind of isolated from the rest of the ship and nobody has any reason to go there if they are offended by smoke. As to buying a stick onboard, I've always found that the cigars on a ship (Not just Celebrity, any ship) are not stored properly. I've found them to be too dry. I always bring my own humidor with about 20 cigars. Capping of the night with a cigar and a cognac is a tradition with me. Didn't they always do that on Titanic? We all know how that turned out! Elvis

It is a shame that the cigar lounges are being removed from the RCCL ships. They were very nice. There was a bar in there and a dedicated bar person/waiter. I was on a cruise once where the captain held a question and answer session. I asked him if it was true they were removing the cigar lounges. He said yes, the cruise line felt that they weren't generating enough revenue. Okay, that was what I expected to hear. What did they replace some of the lounges with: card rooms! They replaced low revenue producing areas with non-revenue producing areas! At least with Celebrity I know there is no lounge. If you want a nice lounge I would suggest Princess,. Norwegian, or Cunard. Every evening on a cruise I like to have a cognac and a nice cigar. That's what they did on Titanic. We all know how that turned out! Elvis

Funny story: at my retirement dinner I wore my tux. People were actually giving me their drink orders!!!! Elvis

I'm sailing on Silhouette in Feb. of 2023. I'm going to bring my tux! I love to wear it! Since they relaxed the dress code it doesn't get much use! Elvis

I will be on Solstice in February. Where is the smoking area? I like to smoke a cigar every night. Elvis