Happy Cruiser 6143

4 hours ago, cbfb said:

Is there shade in the pool area at the Yacht Club? It was the last me thing we really disliked on MSC, no shade at the pool. 

Plenty of shade on the pool deck in Yacht Club.  Not necessarily right next to the pool, however.

5 hours ago, Liao said:

I really wanted to do a relaxing cruise this past December.  I booked a 4&5 nighter B2B, intending to almost exclusively stay on board other than Key West.  The mindset really is booze booze booze and I frankly have a hard time relating to folks who think a day at Senor Frogs is the journey of a lifetime category, so for now Im only booking TA’s with Celebrity.

There is definitely a different crowd on those shorter cruises, so combining them doesn't always work.  I just did one recently.  The upside was that there were few Zeniths aboard and we had two very nice, small Zenith dinners.

I agree with this requesting 10s nonsense and anyone who mentions it to me automatically gets no higher than a 9.  I am perfectly capable of making my own decision.  And if my butler called while I was taking a nap, that would have been the end of a good relationship.  There's a reason that Deep Sleep sign is on my door.

1 hour ago, jelayne said:

Agree,  they did not tell us we could invite anyone.  We were traveling with friends but our Z ceremony was just us, Captain and some officers.  When we arrived to be cleared by security to enter the bridge there were 3 security officers who looked around and said just you 2.  1st clue something was missing.

They didn't tell me either--I told them.  Was traveling with many friends & had attended a Zenith party for some of them the previous year, so I knew it could be done.  I just gave the concierge a list of the people I wanted invited and their stateroom numbers.  Asked her to invite the Zenith members on board also.  She had to reshuffle from the bridge to Blu because of the number of people, but she made it happen.  If you're traveling in an upper suite, I'd advise the landside suite concierge ahead of time.

7 hours ago, hcat said:

Wish  for cruises  to Trinidad & Tobago.

 

Went to Tobago on a Celebrity cruise last year.  Dangerous place for a woman on her own, one woman had to be rescued by the security personnel in the mall by the dock.  Had to take a Celebrity tour.  Trinidad is worse for crime.  A one and done for me.

4 hours ago, sheeng said:

Thank you Happy Cruiser and Jelayne. I’m just excited to chat and learn more but can be patient!

 

Sheila.

A suggestion for you:  on your Zenith cruise when you have your Zenith party, ask the concierge to invite the other Zeniths on the cruise.  That's a good way to meet some of them.

2 minutes ago, Cruise Junky said:

Adding to some of the excellent suggestions above, I’d like South Africa.  

Yes!

I'd like to see the return of the 14-night cruises in the Caribbean.  Or to Canada/New England out of Cape Liberty.  Sailing from Boston is not fun.  The terminal is old and the longshoreman's union prohibits Celebrity personnel from coming ashore to aid passengers.  It's ugly.  The short ones they're doing now may be bringing in the dollars but they're also wearing out good crew members with frequent turnarounds.

3 hours ago, sheeng said:

Another new Zenith here🤗  I applied to the above site and my application shows pending. I sent a screen Celebrity shot showing our full names, point total and CC #.

How long is the wait to hear usually? I’m anxious☺️

Give her some grace.  You'll get in.  She's currently overwhelmed by applications from Pinnacles.

52 minutes ago, Reel Love said:

Loving your review Georgia_Peaches! (as always!)  🙂

In your first post you noted that you are in the retreat....we (group of eight) are planning an Alaskan cruise and hoping to all book in a suite for the first time.  Question for you (and others who have sailed in suites before) - are folks in suites allowed to attend/eat in the MDR's if they don't like the menu in Luminae?  (Apologies in advance for what is likely a rookie question lol.  We are seasoned X cruisers but know nothing about suites).  Thank you! 

If you are sailing on an M or S class ship, you may order off the MDR menu in Luminae.  And you can mix & match.

I don't book sky suites because of these tubs.  Getting in and out is a problem and I've never seen grab bars, although I suppose they could have installed them recently.  As I said, it's been quite some time since I booked a sky suite.

7 hours ago, little britain said:

Is the 25% discount a one time use thing or can you use it on multiple reservations? 
thanks 

It applies every time one dines in a specialty restaurant.

3 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Not a video but I can’t be sure about “live” mode. Will check it out with my next round of pics!  Thank you! 😊

If your iPhone is automatically shooting in live mode, you can turn that off.

5 hours ago, Team Stag said:

Just returned from the Reflection. Retreat host ask for and scanned both our cards when we entered. Not sure if that’s new or not; but i don’t remember it in the past. 

I was on the Reflection in April and was never asked for my card in the lounge.

2 hours ago, A Pound a Day said:

 

 

According to the FAQ regarding The Retreat in general, one of the questions is:

 

Can Captain's Club Zenith members enjoy access to The Retreat Lounge?

 

and the response is:

 

No, Zenith Member Access to the Retreat Lounge has been removed (unless Zenith member is also a suite guest).

 

Just one more Loyalty "enhancement" brought to you by the fine folks at Celebrity!!!

 

Right.  That's what I read.  

2 hours ago, NorthStarStateCruiser said:

Zenith members still have access to the suite lounge if their status was achieved with captains club points. Status match Zenith members (pinnacle) are allowed access on a space available basis.

Where did you read this?  I didn't see it.  I just saw the statement that Zeniths would no longer have access to the Retreat Lounge.

15 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

 

One of my points of interest that I am hoping to see is Whidbey Island...there are several ways to get there, including car rental, but I'm not sure how feasible the trip will be.  Although I am a southern gal, I was born on Whidbey Island (Oak Harbor) where my dad was stationed all those years ago.  It may be that I will just have to wave as we pass the island on Friday afternoon.  I am open to suggestions on places to visit!

 

 

If you're unable to figure out an easy way to get to Whidbey Island, I highly recommend the Chihuly Museum.  I understand the desire to visit a place where you lived previously.  My dad was stationed in San Juan for three years, and the housing where we lived is no longer--it is part of San Cristobal National Historic Site.  It was great fun living right on the ocean and playing in the moats as kids!

18 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Awe, dang it!  I'm too proud of my bargain not to find an opportunity to wear it!  Glad to know you've had pretty decent weather otherwise.  I'm expecting a bit of rain but I'll survive!  Temps look to be in the low 50's most of the time with morning lows in the high 40's.  I can live with this for sure!

You'll enjoy it if you're going to Hubbard Glacier.  I just thought it was too much to drag along with me.  And you did get a bargain!

11 minutes ago, Mark_K said:

I think it’s only referring to people who are Zenith by way of status match.

I didn't read it that way.  Will test it out on my next cruise which I booked in AQ under the assumption that Zeniths would have access to the lounge.  If they're taking this benefit away again, the hell with them.

I have no intention of cruising RCI, so I don't care about the benefits there.  However, Zenith access to the Retreat Lounge has been removed under this "wonderful, improved" program.  That I do care about.

20 hours ago, goofysmom99 said:

A good place to meet folks is Cafe al Bacio.  Because it's always crowded, people will invariably ask if they can join me or I'll ask if I can join him/her/them.  It's been pretty foolproof for 16 years.  I'm still traveling with people I met there over the years.  On S or M class ships, you can request a table for 8 for early or late dining.  Or, the 2-top tables are so close together, that unless they're particularly antisocial, you can't help but speak with your neighbors.  When it's a good mix, it has frequently led to all of us requesting a larger table together each night.   

 

 

I second the idea of meeting people in Bacio.  And close together two tops.

I've been on 4 Alaska cruises, all wonderful.  Never once did I take my Land's End puffer.  The first one, in September, I took far too many sweaters.  Never wore most of them.  I think we had one day with a moderate amount of rain.  The other 3 cruises were in the spring--still snow on the mountaintops and the waterfalls were running.  On one of them, it was so hot in Juneau, we wished we had shorts!  Very little rain on those cruises either.  The big rains seem to happen in the summer.  I've had friends who went in July and August and it rained the entire time.  If you can fit it in, a floatplane trip with Island Wings in Ketchikan was the best excursion ever.  Michelle, the pilot and owner, is awesome.  https://www.islandwings.com/

I'll bet you have a wonderful time!

I never use room service any more, but it used to be that one could just call room service and they would come and get the tray.  No idea if that is still the case.  Seeing all those trays in the hallways is disgusting.

I was on the Celebrity Reflection in April which was the first Celebrity ship to stop at Coco Cay.  There was also a monster RCI ship in port with us.  I expected to find the island over run with people.  Not so.  There are plenty of areas with no charge, including places to get food and drink.  There is a free tram which takes you around, or you can just walk around.  Harbor Beach and Chill Island are just to the left of the Arrivals Plaza.  Neither beach was crowded when I was there.  I didn't get off the tram at any of the beaches to the north, but I suspect they were similarly uncrowded.  No need to spend any money at this stop.  Your drink plan from the ship will work here.  Maybe be wary of the Island Market--magnets which I'm used to paying $5 or 6 for were $16!

The person you spoke with clearly did not know what he was talking about.  Blu is the assigned restaurant for everyone in Aqua Class.  Those in AQ suites have a choice between Luminae (the suite restaurant) and Blu, the AQ restaurant.  Just ignore him.  All will be well on board.

2 hours ago, jcpc said:

The PH is a very pricey cabin.  I was lucky enough to sail PH a few times on M-Class ships (Summit, Constellation and Infinity) when pricing was "reasonable".  No way would I now pay what they're asking for a PH suite.  The Sky Suite is a great cabin also.  Try your luck on the Move Up bid process (but only bid on Royal and PH ....... the bathtub in the Celebrity Suites is a real killer - I think you need to be very agile in order to manage getting in and out of that tub!)  Good luck and enjoy your sailing no matter which suite you choose to sail in.

 

I agree.  I have sailed three times in the PH on M class ships when the price was within reason.  Unfortunately, it's not within reason or my budget any more.