manmachine

22 minutes ago, Purplsmurf said:

We didn’t. We paid to upgrade and didn’t get the extra points. It was the same on our last 4 comped casino cruises 

Sorry for that for you.  At least two cruises we have paid to upgrade to Aqua and received at least 5 points per night.  

On 3/17/2019 at 8:59 AM, Bo1953 said:

I have yet to visit Eden... maybe I will post about the aroma as being pleasant.. LOL

 

Especially if it is sage!

 

bon voyage

Sage is healing.

When you PAY to upgrade then yes you get the higher point level.  Or at least we always have.

On 2/19/2022 at 6:02 PM, CalTexCruiser said:

 

Ah yes.  Splitting 7s.  The bane of my existence.

 

I can't even remember the last time I won when I split 7s.

 

Huh?  Better that than to keep your 14 unless the dealer has an 8 or better.

4 hours ago, Liao said:

It is a very nice premium line, great service, usually very good food, lot of cabin/suite options for all styles and budgets,  Some brand new ships and some older ships, a bit of something for most tastes.

Premium?

5 hours ago, mom says said:

You did have a terrible experience (your husband had a worse one), but you really need to calm down. What you assumed was indifference by the crew was in all likelihood a measured approach to try to calm you down and not escalate your panic in the original incident. And sorry, but we are only getting your side of the story. We don't have any idea of how you conducted yourself at GS. Not saying you acted inappropriately; just that we don't know how that exchange went.

 

The med dept called you and told you that you would receive the necessary paper work. As long as you get it before disembarkation,  what difference does it make if it's today or tomorrow? You have no idea how busy the staff is in sick bay.

 

I hope that the bathroom situation has been rectified, and that you have been able to have your clothing cleaned and were able to replace any toiletries that were contaminated.. I would suggest that you have a meeting with the Hotel Director to discuss compensation for this, as well as coverage of any medical costs for your husband's  treatment.

So to nutshell your comment:   You got sprayed with *****, but you need to calm down.

7 hours ago, NekoChef said:

 

With respect to the crew, I believe that the daily gratuities are already viewed as a salary (#70).

 

The issue is that "daily gratuities" is likely deliberately misnamed.  My guess is that during the collective bargaining agreement negotiations, Celebrity/RCCL wanted to reduce the salary component on their financial books and thus increase their margins but wasn't opposed to the salary being asked. "Daily Gratuities" were the compromise to make everyone happy.

 

This was win-win because:

Celebrity – By having "daily gratuities" advertised as an "optional" component they could reduce their salary line on their financial books.

Crew – By having Celebrity/RCCL add the "daily gratuities" automatically with a time-consuming process to eliminate them, they could count on the salary they wanted.

 

The problem is that this doesn't work anymore as the cost of cruising has jumped dramatically and cruisers are looking for ways to save.

 

 

Afraid we’ll have to agree to agree 👍 

50 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

People should just consider the auto paid Gratuities as a service charger for use of the staff  than tip if they think it is appropriate 😁

 

Make it a service charge and it becomes salary.  Then you to tip on top of that.  Nothing like doubling up!

12 hours ago, gcornell said:

Crazy. I was recently on a liveaboard (scuba boat) with my family for 7 nights. They added on a $2,000 service charge or $285 a night. It was a lot but the service was amazing and the staff to guest ratio was 1:1.  At the end of the trip the was an envelop in our cabins for extra tips on top of the $2k. It remained empty. 

Le Petit Chips de Pomme.

19 minutes ago, crazyank said:

you don't,  anymore than you tip the cook in a hotel.

19 hours ago, Sherry MGM said:

I am sitting on an airplane cruising at 30 something thousand feet.  Next stop Miami, Florida.  I am trying to decide whether or not I can commit to a live cruise review.  I will do my best but I can’t guarantee regular commentary because you know, I will be on a cruise. Life gets busy on a ship.

 

Last November my husband stated that he wasn’t interested in travelling between Christmas and Easter because that is snowmobile season and he wasn’t willing to give up any time on his machine.  I thought that my machine won’t miss me for a week and I would like to travel.  Little did we know at that time that we would have so little snow in central Canada that we have only been able to ride twice this year.  Not that I needed permission but I asked him if he would be OK with me going somewhere and he gave his blessing…what a sweet man.  So the next day I booked myself into an Aqua class cabin on the Reflection cruising February 25.  A 6 night duration with stops in Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Bimini.  I decided that this vacay would be all about ME!  Recently the magical mixture of poor diet, no exercise, too much alcohol and every woman’s favourite - menopause, have really caught up with me and I’m not feeling great about myself.  I plan to eat sensibly, drink alcohol in moderation, drink lots of water, get lots of sleep, do yoga and stretch, walk laps, learn how to meditate, think positive thoughts only, and basically try to be a better person.  I figured that if I put it in writing on the internet I would be much more likely to actually accomplish some of these things.  Feel free to hold me accountable.

I also plan to have fun, I would like to see a comedy act, visit all the bars (even if I only have the occasional cocktail), silent disco, meet great people from all over the world, visit the casino, and whatever else that floats my boat, pun intended.

 

I have been thinking about doing a live review for a while now.  Seems like every woman that I tell about this trip looks at me wistfully, fully envious of what I’m about to do.  “Sounds like heaven” is a phrase I heard more than once.  I know that I am very fortunate to be able to embark on this journey and I welcome all to live vicariously through me.  

 

I was supposed to catch a connecting flight in Toronto to Fort Lauderdale but upon reaching the gate in Toronto the gate agent told us that anyone connecting to FLL needed to go to the customer service counter.  That is NEVER a good thing.  At the counter they told me that they changed the FLL flight to a slightly smaller aircraft and I would now be departing Sunday morning for FLL.  I said no, that won’t work as I will miss my cruise, you have to get me there tonight.  I pointed out that I booked this flight back on November 8 and that I have silver status in Westjet’s loyalty program so why am I getting bumped?  The agent couldn’t answer that but then spent the next 10 minutes on the phone trying to find a flight for me.  She offered me a flight to Miami arriving approximately 10:00 PM.  Sometimes ya gotta roll with the punches.  After what felt like several miles of walking (hello exercise) I arrived at my American Airlines gate.  And on that flight is where I write this, complete with turbulence delayed inflight service, 2 loudly crying toddlers to my right turning the overhead light on and off in the mostly dark cabin and somebody playing a video game with the sound on despite several flight attendant announcements to the contrary.  Positive thoughts are not currently what’s on my mind lol, I may have to indulge in some alcohol tonight.  Oh look, the drink cart!  I notice she isn’t charging anyone for the adult beverages and there’s nothing better than a free drink so don’t mind if I do thank you very much.  I said drink less, not go dry and dammit I deserve it.

 

So after landing in Miami I collect my bag and get into a cab to take me to Fort Lauderdale where I am spending the night at the Four Points by Sheraton Dania Beach.  The elderly driver asks me where that is so I tell him the street address.  He tells me to find it on my GPS, I can’t do that because my phone is dead and there was no way to charge it on the airplane…in 2024.  He has a phone but refuses to look it up and starts driving, on the freeway doing 40 mph!  It was terrifying.  We were constantly honked at and I was sure we were going to be rear ended.  When he finally gets off the freeway he turns right even though I said turn left.  He drives a couple blocks and I very firmly said that he had to turn around and go the opposite direction and he just stopped dead in the middle of the road.  Yes, more honking.  Finally the hotel is in sight, I point it out to him and… he goes past it.  I get him turned back and into the driveway of the hotel when the hotel shuttle bus pulls up behind him and honks at him to move.  I could not wait to get out of that vehicle.  He opens the back and puts my suitcase on the ground and steps beside a pillar to relieve himself right there in the front drive of the Sheraton.  Just wow!

 

Check in was quick and easy and in minutes I was in my room which is clean and inviting.  I was going to say that I can’t wait for my adventure to start tomorrow but I think that it already started today.  More tomorrow good night for now.

Welcome to South Florida!  I am laughing so hard I am crying… hope it gets better and fast!

55 minutes ago, hcat said:

We had a great cruise a week ago on ASCENT...no issues other than loud music and  overcrowded at the outdoor pool.  X is  getting back to where it used to be with good food, live music, shows and guest speakers etc.

 

   We do not sail Carnivore and left Royal C yrs ago... I see no similarities!

Hmmm.  Deep discounts for 3rd and 4th passengers in the same cabin… short cruises to RCCL private island with water slides… formally announcing kids hours in previously adult venues… selling what were Suite and loyal guest perks to anyone who will pay…

Nope, you are right.  No similarities at all!

Coming soon:  the Celebrity Hairy Chest Contest and Duck Hiding Competition!

50 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

The reluctancy of Celebrity employees to enforce the rules is changing Celebrity from a Premium Line to Royal 2.0.  Five star hotels do not have this issue with kids consistently running around the halls.  The rules are enforced. Therefore they command a higher price tag.

 

From:

Relaxed Luxury ™ to Luxury LOL ™

I agree 100%

1 hour ago, PTC DAWG said:

Has that been the case in the past?  I’ve never noticed it..realize this not a brand new policy

I have seen children in the Solarium before, yes, both during the ‘allowed’ hours and also during the ‘not allowed’ hours.  Staff ignored them during the ‘not allowed’ times.

Here’s the problem.  The type of people who will cause problems with this policy aren’t the type to read signs or feel the rules apply to them.  So they will bring their kids in at other times.  And we know how reluctant Celebrity employees are to enforce the rules because of potential blowback to them personally from the violating cruisers.

17 minutes ago, cheeseheads4ever said:

Last year we got or should I say my DW got free cruises through the blue chip club. Since the first of the year we only get $200 off a room through Blue Chip.

Was your Blue Chip offer for a free room? Not to be nosey. Just curious.

Congrats by the way.

 

Offer was for a free veranda on a shorter cruise or ocean view on longer cruise on newer ships.  Free except for taxes and port fees.

1 hour ago, hopeless holiday booker said:

How fantastic.

 

If you don't mind me asking - do you gamble a lot.  Some people seem to get offers and others never get offers!  If it sounds like jealousy - you're not wrong!

We are mere Onyx and Amethest level.

DW and I both got Blue Chip offers.  Picked a cruise and called Blue Chip to book two cabins.  Call was answered after one ring.  Person in other end was cheerful and very helpful.  Preferred date was available and soon both cabins were booked.

Haven’t seen this in a long while….

On 1/24/2024 at 2:50 AM, the penguins said:

Bet you still have clean towels, sheets, napkins, etc.

Yes and I tip my cabin steward and dining crew.  

18 hours ago, maureenk said:

Am I being naive or are the prices for Eden and Fine Cut on Edge excessive?!  Im thinking we already are entitled to a nice meal in the dining room. While I’d love to try them both, not sure I’ll spend for them if my shipboard credit ends up being refundable. The fees seem high then they tack on another 20% for gratuity. I’m all about different and new experiences so I get that AND it’s vacation so why not live it up?!  Do you feel these are worth the surcharge?  Seriously interested in opinions. Thank you!

There is a very good reason for your perception that these prices are high.  
 

They are.

Laundry staff?

54 minutes ago, cruisestitch said:

Here are some things to consider regarding removing the tips

 

1. You won’t directly see all of the people who would be sharing in the auto tip. You will see your room steward and your dining room waiter and assistant waiter, of course, but the rest of the staff would be impossible to find to give cash tips to.

 

2. when you remove the auto tips, it goes as a black mark against those staff who are most directly taking care of you. That isn’t your intent, of course, but that is what happens.

 

3. after having removed auto tip, any cash tips you give to the housekeeping and wait staff must be turned into the pool so they don’t get to keep those directly anyway. Only if the auto tips are in place can they keep any cash tips that you give above the standard gratuity.
 

 

Probably Skol.

Don’t be judgemental on a boat like Thee Sillhooet based soley on the dinning resteraunt.