cruisestitch

Yes you can drop your carry-on bags in the room and pick up your keys and then go out exploring the ship or having lunch. The room may not be completely cleaned on your arrival but you can set your carry-on bags inside and the steward will work around them

I have seen both of these in use recently

Yes the restaurant “deal” probably would have been offered regardless of supposed change in status.

I am in a standard veranda room and everything is fine. As I walk around the ship, I see a few scuff marks here and there but nothing broken. There are some missing floor indicator buttons on a couple of elevators but that’s being really nitpicking. I generally don’t go to the shows in the theater so I won’t be able to help with that. The entertainment around the ship is very good, especially the solo guitarist who has a very nice voice. my only complaint is the internet. It was difficult to get it set up and it seems to turn itself off intermittently. I have premium on my iPhone and standard on my iPad and I can’t access cruise critic on the iPad. It’s very slow on both devices.

The point situation is unchanged, AFAIK

It’s funny, as I was sitting at Café al Bacio today looking across toward the gelato stand, I was thinking how beautiful the M class ships are with their use of warm woods and comfortable upholstery fabrics. I love the open spaces, and cozy nooks. I love the quiet elegant bars. I do miss the deck 3 specialty restaurants that disappeared when Tuscan went in, though, Ocean Liners and its sisters. I do mostly sail S class ships these days and they took a little getting used to. I remember how much I hated the color-changing neon lights in the dining room when I first saw them. But I do like Murano and the aft-facing Tuscan (can’t stand Petite Chef, though!) I am vehement and vocal about my dislike of e class and will never sail on one again.

I do not know about the affogato. cafe as Bacio has always been a bar and as far I know you can order a variety of liquors there

They did not have any pre-made pasta casseroles at the buffet yesterday. I didn’t go today.

Always after, never mid cruise.

The point system is still connected to Azamara. No one knows how much longer that will stay however.

They will work.

Yes all the ships have a coffee cafe. Some also have a satellite location in the buffet.

A few tweaks since I last posted photos in November 2021

I am on board now and a/c in all public areas is working fine. My stateroom as well. Can’t comment about anyone else’s stateroom of course……

I don’t drink martinis so I can’t help with that. The dining room tonight was no slower than any other cruise I have been on, which is to say, allow two hours for dinner. The food was very good. I had the steak from the children’s menu and it was tender. Most everyone else at my table had the jerk chicken and enjoyed it. Really it was no different than any other cruise. This was the six o’clock traditional seating,

It has changed to self serve since then

No it is open to all guests

It has changed since then

Last week I went to lunch with a large group of friends. The restaurant made it clear that a mandatory gratuity would be charged. It happens. When I get my hair done on Celebrity, a mandatory gratuity is added to the bill. It happens. I don’t like it, but that’s what I have to pay and I understand it.

Not just Celebrity, that happens on many ships. Keeping them crisp and fresh is nearly impossible at sea.

Delayed departure for “navigational reasons”

The only complaint I have right now is that the Wi-Fi system is very clunky in terms of how you connect to it. Here are the instructions and notice number six telling you to repeat two or three times, it took me four times to get a connection

I am having a hard time uploading photos and I don’t know if the problem is with the Wi-Fi on board or something else. Here are the officersI am having a hard time uploading photos and I don’t know if the problem is with the Wi-Fi on board or something else. Here are the officers

I will let you know about the dining room. Lunch today was at buffet……plenty of seating….self-serve as I expected it to be.