piemom9397

We're looking forward to our second time in a Sky Suite in 42 days! We tipped our butler extra at the end of our last cruise, and am curious -- I'm sure we'll do the same this trip. Do y'all know if the tip will be split amongst the team of butlers we'll have? It sounds to me that we might not get the same person each day. I'm not high maintenance by any stretch of the imagination; the only thing I asked of our butler on our last cruise is a cappuccino in the morning. 

Regardless, I'm withholding judgment of this whole change and hoping the cruise will be wonderful. It'll be better than being at work, amirite?! 🙂 

Holy smokes, I hope it's not normally a $25 minimum. On the Apex in December it was a $10 minimum. 

DH and I went to Luminae maybe twice and then Normandy and Cosmopolitan the remaining four nights and had no problem at all. Never waited to be sat but we went between 7:00 and 7:30. We didn't coordinate with anyone that we'd be dining in one of the MDRs.

Thank you, all! 

5 hours ago, gfkcruiser said:

Have cruised 5 times since December 2021.  Always have anytime dining and there are 2 of us.  Never been asked if want to share as had been asked many years ago. 

If we wanted to share, is that still an option, or no? I guess we would just indicate that we’d want to when we get to the front stand? 

We always bring cash.

On 10/3/2022 at 1:44 PM, JupiterTwo said:

Following along for my April 25th anniversary cruise to Cozumel.

DH, DS (and possibly his girlfriend), and I are planning to be on that cruise as well! 🙂

1 hour ago, Northern Aurora said:

Suite passengers gather in the Retreat Lounge/Michael's Club and the concierges escort them to the gangway entrance when they are ready to disembark.  Zenith and Suite passengers have special disembarkation luggage tags and their luggage will be in the area for those luggage tags.

Does this apply if you're in a Suite and want to self-disembark or only if you set your luggage out the night before? TIA! First time in a suite in Celebrity in December--looking so forward to it!

We stayed at Room2 Southampton (https://room2.com/) and loved it so much we will probably make it our home base next year before our next cruise.

We stayed at Room2 and loved it. We plan to stay there next year, in fact. Walked to dinner at the Red Lion — oh my goodness—the food portions were giant, the beer delicious, and they were watching a football (soccer) game. Highly recommend Room2. 

10 minutes ago, Judyrem said:

I have  paisley capris that I can wear a few times with different tops.  Good idea. Thanks!  How many bathing suits would you bring, we are going to snorkel on shore excursions?

 

 

Two at the most.  One can be washed in the sink &  dried out while you’re wearing the second. I’ve gotten by with taking only one, but it was a bit of a challenge.  Two should do ya just fine.

Thank you, all, for the suggestions! I think we’ve decided to go to Marlow, thanks to Cotswold Eagle’s Thames Valley locale suggestion. We still have time to do more research but this gives me a lot to look into. 

I appreciate y'all so much! 

I’ve always thought it a bit odd when folks seek recommendations for excursions or things to do in different ports, because what appeals to one person may not appeal to another. Now I find myself, however, on a similar quest 🙂.  

Here’s the problem I’m trying to solve: DH and I will be in London ~3.5 days before we go to Southampton. DH was an exchange student in high school in London, so we have a good idea of the sites to see there. I want to take a train trip through the English countryside to a town, explore for a couple of hours, have lunch, and return without spending the entire day away from London—maybe still have a large part of the afternoon to visit London sites, hit pubs, that kind of thing. Is there a destination that will provide bucolic scenery on the journey to it that keeps us about a half a day or so? 

Please understand that I’m not minimizing the beauty of the destination city, because it will be amazing regardless, I’m sure, but rather am trying to get the best of both worlds in the journey to as well. 

Not sure if it matters, but we will be in London the last week of August. 

Many thanks!

On 5/29/2019 at 10:34 AM, wendyp247 said:

We are also staying at Room2 the same night. I think we must be on the same cruise.We are taking another cruise that ends on 8/31 and  we booked this hotel because it had self service laundry facilities.  Have you booked yours tours yet for the fiords, etc. 

 

 

My DH booked the hotel based on reviews. Looking forward to it! 

We booked all of our excursions through Celebrity because we had onboard credit we could apply to the cost of the excursions. We are doing a RIB boat tour in Bergen, Strandafjell in Alesund, riding the train in Flam & hiking down, and hiking to Pulpit Rock in Stavenger. 

88 more days!! 😀

JB, you have my gratitude for your thoughtful response and guidance—thank you. Even though it seems like the visit and cruise are so far away (we arrive in London August 27), I am tremendously excited! I cannot wait to visit your lovely country (and cruise the Norwegian fjords, too!)

Have a blessed day!

Might I ask for recommendations for restaurants around the hotel my DH booked - Room2 Southampton? Plus, any thoughts or feedback on the hotel itself? I’ve read reviews and it seems nice, but I’d be curious as to its location, safety, etc. We will be there the night before our cruise departs Sunday, September 1 of this year. 

Many thanks!

We rode the tram and hiked up as far as the trail goes, then went to Mendenhall (where we stayed quite some time being silly taking photos by the waterfall and climbing rocks), checked out the Red Dog Saloon (DH wanted something there), and then took the tram again.

How did you get to Mendenhall — did you hike? And then to the other places? This is exactly what I want to do there, but am not sure of the logistics. Not sure DH will want to hike...

We used Juneau Tours for the Mendenhall Glacier and whale watching. Loved, loved, loved the excursions and the crew.

Opinions please from those who have patronized one or the other or both of these establishments.

 

Thank you!

We stopped at Serious Pie just last night & found it to be a bit expensive. They charge a 20% service charge upfront to cover gratuity, and their menu a bit pretentious. We went to Rocco's for slices & good beer.

My DH will be diving... I'm an introverted, non-adventurous type but would like to go to a beach... Just relax, soak in sun, listen to the waves... Any suggestions for a scaredy-cat like me? I'd appreciate y'all's feedback. I want to be safe but have a nice time.

If you buy alcohol in port (or on the ship) I will be delivered to your room the last evening...

Indy, was that a Freudian slip there? ("if you buy...I will be delivered to your room...");):D

Hehehehehehehe!

Regarding the coffee table--if you're not going to use it, just ask your room steward to remove it--easy as pie! We've done that almost every cruise.

Another tip: if you're just itching to buy clothes or jewelry or even luggage in any of the shops on the ship, if you can--try to wait until the end of your cruise where it will go on sale.

I love the corned beef hash that they have at the breakfast buffets and the roasted garlic soup they have for the first course in the MDR. I love the elevator lady with the British accent stating the Deck # when you arrive at it ("Deck 4"). I am not an outgoing person or prone to small talk, but I feel comfortable doing it on a cruise. And I agree with texaridian about being blessed to get to cruise--looking out on the beautiful sea thinking, "wow, You made all of this for me! Thank you, God!"

Piemom.....There is an old saying in craps about field bets...."the farmer got buried in the field". The "No-Field" 5-6-7-8 numbers give the house a 5+% advantage....much too high. Good Luck.

LSTEFFA, thanks for the info. I have to admit that it's difficult not playing it because it has worked, but I'd rather keep my $ than give it to the house.

Question: is it better to place a come bet than a place bet on a 6 or 8?

Hey! Piemom9397 here. I adore craps. I won't say I'm a newbie, because I've been playing it since Vegas in 2006 (went from slots to 3 card poker to BJ to craps in the course of 4 visits to Vegas) but I do have to say that I couldn't tell you the odds and how much payout I'm going to get if I do a come or place bet. I just love playing and have found that the dealers have always taken care of me wherever I go. :D I never played the $5 tables until cruising--the first night on Voyager of the Seas, DH & I won $450! And I've been hooked ever since.

I have a quirky thing I do with the field--if a number on the field has rolled 3 times, I'll place a bet on it. I'd say that has worked for me 8 times out of 10. If the point is a 2, 4, 6 or 8, I'll do that number the hard ways. Ever so often I'll place a C & E bet but that's about it.

I'm glad I stumbled upon this thread--love it!!