rakes5

Here is the official recipe from Chambord.

But... My DW likes the raspberry flavor and does 1 oz Chambord, 1 oz Pineapple Juice, 1-1/2 oz Vodka. (she actually does 2-2-3 for a larger 7 oz martini instead of the smaller 3 oz one.) On board, she always asks for a little extra Chambord. ;)

I just called the captains club and was able to upgrade at the $10 +18% or $11.80 per day, for three of my upcoming cruises.

The representative had told me it was going to be $14 a day, but when she checked, they still all came in at $10. She told me that they’ve been told it was going to go up today, but I must’ve been lucky and got in before IT entered the price increase. For once, a good thing from their IT department.

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I took the whole ‘wait for a shakdown’ very seriously. The first passenger cruise of Edge is 11/21/18 and I picked a cruise 4 months and 19 cruises after and cruise on 3/24/19....sound good??

 

OK: In truth, we already had plans set for Nov/Dec; teach classes on travel and wine tasting (just an excuse to drink wine with nice people!) in Jan-Feb-Mar which meant the cruise in late March was the earliest I could make it.

 

It’s hard to be truthful instead of looking like I actually had a plan! I’d love to be going early.....kind of like being a Plank Owner.

 

Heck, in 1997, our first Celebrity cruise was on the Mercury for a Thanksgiving family cruise. That ship entered service 27 Oct 1997, so we were aboard less than a month after, and it was Great!

 

But we were on the Reflection on its first TransAtlantic and she had engine issues and the Canary Island call was canceled to give more flexibility to remain on time arriving in Miami.

 

Den

You were lucky you didn't pick one week earlier, as the 3/17/2019 cruise was cancelled for a charter.

Another fancy resort, and it looks like lots of tour boats stop at this beach too

 

This is Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountian, where Juan Pablo of The Bachelor fame was filmed according to

The Ultimate Guide to The Bachelor 2014 Filming Locations in Saint Lucia :cool:

The way I describe it to previous Celebrity Cruisers is that each of the four themed restaurants have their own "Classic" menu.

If you plan on eating one of the changing menu items, there is no reason to request a change to a different restaurant. But, if you look at one the daily menus, and see something you don't like, then you now have 4 different "classic" menus to choose from, fi that's worth the trouble of changing.

How did you get into this it doesn’t offer me the option on our reservation for 2019 but I am in the Uk

Received an email from Celebrity to book dining.

But also, if I went into my reservation, and chose manage reservation, dining was available.

Our trip in in March 2019.

According to the new deployment schedule, Independence shows "coming soon" after July 2019

http://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2019_2020/2019_2020_DEPLOYMENT_SUMMARY_GUIDE

On our upcoming cruise the dining packages are 3 nights for $109, 4 for $125, 5 for $159, 6 for $192, 7 for $217

The opening schedule for the remaining deployment:

 

Week of Mar 05, 2018: Europe phase two summer 2019

Week of Apr 02, 2018: Seasonal Caribbean/Northeast winter 2019/20

Week of Apr 09, 2018: Australia/Asia summer 2019 - winter 2020

Week of Apr 16, 2018: Short Caribbean summer 2019 -winter 2020

Week of Apr 30, 2018: China phase one, 2019

Week of May 15, 2018: China phase two, 2019

Which release would Fall TA, Europe to USA be?

Don't know the amounts, but watched it being made. They used Bols Crème de Cassis, not Chambord.

Pour Bols Crème de Cassis into a glass.

Blend Ice, Mango frozen mix, and Malibu Coconut Rum.

Dupm blended ice over Bols Crème de Cassis.

Pour a floater of Bols Crème de Cassis over the top.

Enjoy!!!

The first days daily says the House band is Dancing Town. Robert Diem is the guitarist

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Here is the letter from the captain

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Watched your sail away on the Ft Lauderdale cruise cam and noticed the wind was strong enough that a tug was required. Hope the seas calm soon.

 

 

 

A quick question, on the Silhouette in a few weeks and wonder who the house bands are? Also who is the guitarist? Any thoughts/comments on how good they are?

Not sure. They haven’t been playing outside. Tonight the daily just says house band or classic string duo.

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After almost 30 cruises, we are on our first really rocky cruise. We are stuck in a low pressure area, and it seems to be following us. We were supposed to have 2 sea days to Antigua, but today the Captain announced we are skipping Antigua, and slowing down. We will call at our next scheduled port of Barbados on time.

At least no rain just mostly cloudy, with brief periods of sunshine. Very windy everywhere.

They used to have a special needs form that you filled out, and submitted on-line,

Now they still have a form, but you have to fill it out, save it, and email it.

Might as well just email them with a request as suggested above,

Here is a link to the form if your curious.

https://www.celebritycruises.com/special-needs/medical-needs

Wow, hefty charge. Guess it makes sense if it's used enough.

The Chase Reserve Card is a great deal the first year, but you need to travel frequently. for it be worth it the second year.

They give you a $300 (not $200) travel credit each calendar year. It's important to note that it's calendar year, not anniversary date. I received my card in March of 2017, and paid the final payment on a cruise right after that. I received a $300 credit right away. My December 2017 billing date was through December 2, so last week I had a $11 Uber charge, and received an $11 credit the same day. Then, I made another cruise final payment, and received the remaining $289 credit. So, I received $600 credit on that one $450 annual fee. However, now that I received the 2018 credit, even if I pay the $450 fee for 2018, I will not receive another $300 credit. That's the main reason it's difficult to justify for the second year.

I also received $100 credit to get global access (or $85 for TSA), which I didn't already have. But, you can only get one credit, and can only use the benefit once every 5 years, so, you couldn't use it one year for you, and the second for your spouse. Therefore, it's not a benefit for the second year.

I was also fortunate enough to get the card last year, when they were offering 100,000 bonus points if you spent a certain amount in three months. Now, I think thing they are only offering 50,000 bonus points. Because I had used it to pay for a cruise, I easily spent the amount. The 50,000 points is worth $500 if you just redeem it for cash, but you can transfer it to many other points programs on a one for one basis. I have transferred it to Southwest for flights where I got more than 1.6 cents per point. Also you can use the points to purchase hotel, flights, and other travel at a 20% discount. So I have booked pre-cruise hotels that would have been $200 for 16,000 points. The bonus points are only for the first year, so not a benefit for the second year.

As mentioned, there is no foreign transaction fee, and the exchange rate has seemed very reasonable the few times I have used it internationally. I also signed up for text alerts when there was a foreign purchase, and it was nice receiving a text with the US$ amount while I was still at a register, when using it recently in Canada, where I had data for Canada included.

They give you 3 times the points for both restaurants and travel. As the OP asked, I have used it on cruises, and all the on-board charges have earned 3 points. I also have a Chase Freedom card, that has quarterly 5% rewards on certain categories, and you can transfer the points form the Freedom card to the Reserve card on a one for one basis.

The airport lounge access is OK, but only available at limited airports. In Chicago, it is only available at O'Hare, and only at the International terminal, which is separate from the other domestic terminals.

There are other benefits, such as trip insurance, and some other benefits.

But don't dismiss it. If you cruise, you will get at least one $300 credit, and if you don't get the card until later in the year, you should be able to get an additional $300 credit. Add that to the bonus points, and the $450 annual fee is easily covered.

We have Celebrity cruises booked in Jan 2018, March 2018, and Jan 2019 that stop in Antigua.

I looked at one excursion (See Antigua by Sea) that we were thinking of taking on one of the three cruises.

In January 2018 it is one of the few excursions without a discount, and it is $109.

In March 2018 it has a 20% discount and is $98.10, so that would make the regular price , $122.62

On our Jan 2019 cruise it has a 20% discount and is $109, so t.he regular price would be $136.25

So, maybe the price is increasing, and I should book now, or... it's just another example of Celebrity's creative math.

Oh, and one more thing, and I saw this on more than one excursion, if you look at details, it shows for the footnote for the Prices Starting From*

as

*Saving is applied as 25% off to each guest(s) package.

Royal's Quantum Class ships have also had this ability for some time.

I bet the new Edge Class ships will also have this capability.

Looks like the settlement might be around $6 each.

But the lawyers will take 33-50%. So more like $3-$4 each :D

I was curious what the Cashmere Mattresses and Bedding Collection was, so I did an online search, and found these two interesting websites.

Testing a $50,000 Mattress

HEATHERED COTTON-CASHMERE BEDDING COLLECTION

Wow !

11,579 of these might be a little costly. :evilsmile:

Today, I called the 800 number. I was told that this is a standard letter that they send for all Globus / Avalon / Monograms inquiries.

I was told that I could get Distilled water only on the Avalon ship. As we have 2 days in a hotel pre-cruise, they would not provide water for pre or post stays.

I also asked about how long an extension cord I would need, and was told that there was an outlet near the bed.

I searched the River Cruising thread and didn't see this discussed.

I am bringing a CPAP machine on our upcoming Avalon Tapestry II Paris - Normandy cruise.

I am familiar with ocean cruising, where I have been able to get a gallon of distilled water, and an extension cord if no outlet is near the bed.

My TA sent in a special needs request, and here is the response from Avalon:

As we are spending 3 days pre-cruise in Paris, I will probably purchase distilled water, as their letter doesn't make it a sure thing that they will have water. First it says I have to purchase on my own, then says I can request when I board if traveling on Avalon.

Does anyone have experience with this ship and can tell if you were able to get distilled water, but more importantly how far the nearest outlet is to the bed?

Just to let you know crystal blocks are on the way via USPS Priority to beachammo, cruzingduo and ARCruisinNana. Expected delivery days are 9/27 or 28 (according to my receipt. I have also e-mailed each of you with the tracking number just in case!!!!

 

TonyL128 - we will ship you the Oasis for your Harmony after we get back home (10/4). I need your address.

 

I still have one Oasis block to trade - still looking for:

 

Quantum

Independence

Voyager

Empress

Enchantment

Majesty

I have 2 Independence blocks. and will be getting my third in November.

Interested in trading for an Oasis, if the shipping cost isn't too high.

How much was the USPS Priority shipping cost?

I have sent an email from my screen name at aol . com

So I discovered who chartered the Edge for March 17th. The company is Continuing Education, Inc. Credits while you Cruise, it's a Medical continuing education cruise, sponsored by the American Medical Association for Physicians, Attorneys, Psychologists, Doctors of Pharmacy, Dentists, Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners...........so basically BIG PHARMA is hosting a wonderful week on the Edge. Here is the website with the info www dot continuingeducation dot net

I don't think they are chartering the whole ship. I have seen similar continuing education classes offered on previous cruises I have been on. They have the lectures on sea days, in one of the conference rooms onboard, and get assigned some "homework" to do on other days. They pay the fee, get some education, and some vacation time at the same time.