Karen@Steve

Ah, but's 5 o'clock somewhere. Have one for me and stay cool! Only something like 128 days until my next cruise...Oh the agony.

 

As an aside - did not really like the shops on the Summit. I think of all the ships we have been one - five - I liked this shopping the least and it is reflected in the fact we just bought two t-shirts from the sale table!

I agree that the Summit has really poor shops. We didn't buy anything more an a shot class for DH's collection. The merchandise in the non-jewelry shops were over priced and poor quality. The good jewelry was just over priced.

I learned on my last cruise during the muster drill that not only was there no priority seating on life boats for Elite CC, but that my premium drink package would be of no use to me since there was no bar on the life boat.

Might as well be on the Titanic,at least they had ice.

OMG! You're killing me! LOL....

We really never had much of an issue with lounge chairs on the Summit. We don't really like being packed in like sardines so we always go up one level from the pool deck where there are lots of chairs. If we want shade we either went to the T-pool or we found some shade on the pool level if available or found some else where (one side of the ship is usually in shade).

If people where more considerate there would be plenty of chairs for everyone on the pool deck but people are as they are so we just don't get into the hassle and find our own place.

We booked a CC on the Summit last year which we felt was well worth it for the slightly larger cabin and balcony, not to mention the extra cruise credit which pushed us into Select.

On our upcoming cruise on the Reflection we booked a C2 which was about $100 more for the 2 of us versus a 2A. Again, we wanted the extra cruise credit but primarily we wanted the better location as the C2 allowed us to book a sweet sixteen on the back hump.

We also like the bottle of sparkling wine and the daily savories. Really not interested in the robes and such. The upgrade linens and towels are a definite advantage. Would a pay a lot more for the CC, no but I think we get our money's worth.

How many days ahead of the cruise did you arrive in Sydney? Thinking about this cruise but not sure we can swing 18 days with extra on either end.

National, Alamo, and Thrifty. In order to board the shuttle, the driver will ask to see your reservation, so make sure to print it out and have it ready. Port of Miami is a zoo on debarkation day and it is definitely a madhouse. To tell you the honest truth, spend a few dollars and take a cab to the closest car rental of your choice.

Thanks, I think I've decided to keep my Avis rental which was the cheapest of all the quotes by $20 at this point and just take a taxi. Cramped shuttle buses are not my idea of fun especially after a great relaxing cruise.

We're flying in and out of Ft Lauderdale. After we pick up a car in Miami we're visiting family north of Ft Lauderdale, staying overnight in Ft Lauderdale and then flying out the next morning. It will be easiest to pick up a car directly from the port and return the car in FLL.

DH and I want to pick a rental car after disembarking the Reflection. Do any of the rental car agencies have shuttles to pick you up and take you to the rental agency? I've tried calling a few of the rental agencies and haven't had any luck explaining what I want as there seems be a communications gap.:confused:

Anyone know or should I just plan on taking a taxi to the rental agency? The later seems counter productive in some way.

I guess everyone has their own expectations of what a Captain should be like but I would rather have a wanna be comedian than a grumpy Captain I never see or hear from, or worse, a cassanova that isn't paying attention that the ship is to close to shore!

Hmmm...wonder to which captain you are referring to...:cool:

I always feel confident that the Celebrity captains take their duties very seriously even when they attempt (and often suceed) to be humorous.

Sure, I'll add a few of mine:

 

http://smu.gs/12CJyK0

 

She's a great ship to shoot... so photogenic.

Super pictures. Really enjoyed these. Thanks for posting.

I hear there are some really big ones running around Florida right now :eek:

I guess the shortage is of the right kind of snail. ;)

Thanks for the review!

You do not have to dress up on formal nights as you can seek alternative dining in either premium restaurants, buffet or room service. All other times, business casual (ie kakhis, collared shirt) for you DH will do. If you plan on eating in the MDR on formal night then you should plan on at least a cocktail like dress, dressy pant suit for you and your DH should wear a jacket and tie).

Oh that's just mean :(

Now keep them coming! :D

I started laughing so hard, DH had to finish reading it aloud. Thanks for the great review.

I understand that you can arrange to have more wine brought on board and stored. You can request your wine from the wait staff in the dining venue who will retrieve it and automatically charge the $25 corkage fee.

We had some table mates who did that on a previous cruise.

The May 27th cruisers thank you. We have been anxiously awaiting these! Hope you had a wonderful time and look forward to your review.

Elite coupons from Feb 2011 - see attached.

Are there any coupons for Select and Classic members?

I believe the wine package include the tip which is a 15% added to the cost of the bottle. So essentially you are saving 15% with the package, perhaps more if you order a few bottles of the most expensive wine ($45).

"PS... As international travellers we gave up on physical locks years ago... (even the TSA ones) we now use those plastic strapping locks (see photo), they are a small deterent, most likely only prompting a thief to move on to someone's else luggage... BUT can be easily cut off by TSA if needed (ya know when Security or Customs have been in your bags they either do so with you present, or leave a note). But as I said, even if we find ourselves in a position where someone was to break into our bags, we don't pack valuables in our luggage, so not much beyond clothes and toiletries that they can take, so we can live without if need be (or replace fairly easily)."

Yup, two best pieces of advice...Don't pack anything you would be upset to lose and use the zip ties. We start with them at the very tip and then cut them open and reuse until they are too short. TSA even as rehooked them after opening our luggage for a random check (TSA love note left inside). Also, if traveling internationally you don't have issues with them breaking the locks if they don't have the keys or the locks just disappear.

All that have requested seating for 2 and didn't get, don't feel slighted. We always ask for a large table and the last cruises we ended up at a table for 2. Ah well. It's a crapshoot apparently.

I think the cruise lines should have to hold the HC cabins until something like 30 days out and then they should be able to release them so they can fill the ship. I personally do not like them but can see a day in the future when I might need one. I would really bother me if someone that doesn't need it gets one and I couldn't book one more than 30 days out. Of course, sometimes I'm sure they are just fully and legitimately occupied.

One of the things that might be nice to include, especially since the recent Costa cruise ship tragedy would be a small flashlight and a waterproof patch for essential documents. Just a thought.

One thing that is being overlooked is the cruiselines right (and obligation) to ensure that nothing illegal or dangerous is occuring in the cabin. The cruise company is the landlord and is also afforded certain rights, like the right to inspect the property as it were. Now I'm sure that this OP was not doing anything wrong but if the cabin steward is blocked from entering and the customer is insisting he not enter, there leaves room for doubt on the part of the cruiseline as to exactly what is going on here. For all they know, the OP (and I'm not suggesting they were) could have been running a meth lab in there or hiding a dead body! Let's face people (not the OP, certainly) do some strange and scary things.

Sounds like some give and take for all parties was called for with some better communication. Sorry you didn't have a good cruise but I think that much of it is a misunderstanding with a lot of overreaction on both sides. :rolleyes: