mahdnc

Traditional balconies are replacing the IV balconies? It's going to be named "Divide" with an even larger portion of the ship set aside for Retreat guests?

The iLounge is located on Deck 6 by the mid-ship elevators. Solstice iLounge, Dec 30, 2019

Interesting. Thanks for posting.

I have seen the Hot Glass Class on sale, but CaroleSS's advice is very good: book now and if you see a sale afterward, you can always cancel and rebook to lock in the savings. My family made the wavy bowl as well as several other pieces on Christmas Day 2019 while on Solstice. We packed it very carefully in our carry-on luggage and managed to get off the ship at Sydney and flew home to Chicago without breaking it. The Hot Glass Class doesn't offer anything to pack it in other then maybe some bubble wrap. So you're pretty much on your own. If you know that you're going to make a wavy bowl ahead of time (we didn't), you can at least come prepared with materials and a plan. If you'd like, I can measure the dimensions of our wavy bowl if you're thinking of bringing some kind of rigid box or container to house it in.

I have both apps, but prefer Uber because it had more of an international presence when I was using them while in Europe and Australia. I am not sure if that is true anymore.

@zitsky, here is the link to the old website where you could download shorex brochures for specific sailings. It currently doesn't work (at least for me): https://www.celebritycruises.com/excursion-brochure/celebrity/

For those that are interested in seeing more online information besides the standard Celebrity web page, here are some interesting websites from the two companies contracted to run the Hot Glass Class: Hollywood Hot Glass: based in Florida, this is Celebrity's current vendor since late 2018. Their web page shows you the options for the things you can make (no prices) and there is even employment opportunity information. Corning Museum of Glass: Celebrity contracted this famous organization to introduce "Hot Glass at Sea" on Solstice, Equinox, and Eclipse starting in late 2008. Their museum in Corning, NY is very impressive and is well worth a visit if you are in the area. One odd thing about their Hot Glass at Sea web page is that a picture of Silhouette is shown which never had it as that space was used for specialty restaurants.

Before the pandemic, you could download from the Celebrity website the shorex catalog for any cruise which contained pretty much all of the information that you would see in your Cruise Planner including pricing. The catalog was completely up to date which allowed you to save different time versions of it. Here are a couple examples that I saved from our Dec 23 2019 Solstice sailing: shorex catalog on Jul 12 2018 and Apr 29 2019. Sometime during the pandemic, Celebrity stopped providing it. Now that things have fully resumed for a while, hopefully they will bring it back.

We don't buy shorex directly from Celebrity very often. However during our last cruise (Constellation, Oct/Nov 2022) the only excursion that we bought from Celebrity did undergo a name change although I the essence of the tour didn't change. It was a sail and snorkel trip at Nassau. We also purchased an advanced snorkelling excursion at Mystery Island from Celebrity for our April 2025 Transpacific cruise. Last week we were notified by email that it has been cancelled because of problems with the tour operator, so we will book the discovery snorkel excursion at Mystery Island instead.

Yes. Just make sure your BBTA is aware so when final payment time for the cruise arrives, your BBTA can make sure that your air fare is included.

Flying in the day before cruise starts is a very good idea.

Otherwise, Lyft or taxi?

I think this is a personal preference kind of thing. Taxi is faster but more expensive. The distance to the pier is relatively short so the taxi fare shouldn't be too bad. I personally would opt for taking a taxi or Uber

I also meant to add that the pricing in the two pictures was as of Dec 2019/Jan 2020. I am sure that today's pricing is much higher. But the principle remains the same: the class fee includes the cheaper pieces. The more expensive pieces required an additional charge.

My family of 4 has done the Hot Glass class on several different cruises. It is not done as class with multiple people. They are set up as individual appointments. Each time the class was done with one pupil at a time from beginning to completion of the piece.. So for my family of 4, we simply took turns. While we waited for our turn we watched the other family member create their piece with the instructor. Most people take their classes on sea days. I am not sure what the availability, if any, is on port days. I know on our last cruise on Solstice, we saw the Hot Glass employees ashore at a bar when we docked at Wellington. Our daughter working on her piece while Solstice is cruising the Tasman Sea. Later our son is working with his instructor. Here are the choices of pieces that could make. The class fee allowed you to make the cheaper pieces for free. You were charged extra if you wanted to make the larger pieces.

I am just casually reading this thread, but I still want to make sure that I am reading this right: If there is a square block in the room, then the bed is by the bathroom. (If I am in Indiana, then I am in the USA). However if the bed is by the bathroom, it is not true that it will always be marked by a square block. (If I am in the USA, then it doesn't necessarily mean I am in Indiana). So one can still play it safe and choose a cabin with a square block in it and be assured that the bed is by the bathroom. Correct?

An alternative is to email your request for OBC along with the reservation and proof of RCL ownership as attached files to ShareholderBenefit@rccl.com. In November I emailed my OBC request for two different cruises that I had just booked. 8 hours later, I received an email confirming that the specified amount of OBC will be applied to both of my bookings.

AirTags connect via bluetooth. I am sure the others do the same. So you would only need to have bluetooth enabled on your phone which does not require a data. Bluetooth is automatically enabled on your AirTag. I have not tried using my AirTags without my phone connected to WiFi or a cellular signal. I am told that the Wi-Fi makes the whole system operate better.

That is quite true. Usually it takes a while for passengers to discover that area. On the other hand, during our last S class cruise, it got mighty crowded there when we sailed through Dusky, Doubtful and Milford Sounds!

thanks. I'm quite aware of this. I know it was waived temporarily for Alaskan cruises when Canada was shut down. The word "fee" confused me. It sounded like it was a fee associated with stopping at Victoria.

Thanks for posting your trip. We took Infinity on the same cruise as you, but in reverse back in 2016. It was disappointing to read about the maintenance issues. Did you see any problems with the condition of the public areas?

Yes, you can. When you book the class through your Cruise Planner, it does not make you declare who the second person is. The only passenger identified is the one that is buying the package for two. That is the way it was done when I purchased it in advance of our late 2019 cruise, and I just checked my CP for an upcoming 2023 sailing to confirm that it is still true today (although the price has almost doubled!).

Good point. Makes sense. What is this fee?

To be fair, the OP, a veteran cruiser, was not asking for advice or help. Instead the OP wanted to know if anyone had a similar lost suitcase experience and if his report was typical (post pandemic). That was the question I attempted to answer.

We have visited Victoria, but not as a port stop. It is a wonderful place although 6 pm-midnight is an odd time to me. Then again, Victoria in the evening may be magical. I hope you enjoy it.