snowbird1

2 hours ago, bigbenboys said:

I think Celebrity was a Premium brand. Time will tell if it still is. We over 50 cruises and 36 of those with Celebrity. I do like Celebrity suites. With Celebrity moving away from Al. It make me think of a budget airline, everything is ala carte. Celebrity's dress code has been the one big reason not to try higher end cruiselines. Also no smoking inside. We tried Azamara once while the cruise was nice. The ship was boring, just not to much to do. I love the glassblowing. Already booked 2 glassblowing for next month on Eclipse with OBC. 

We have sailed 4 times since X started back up. The biggest problem I see is in lack of returning staff.

 

20+ years sailing with X and 12 years since we have sailed on Princess. Trying Princess next Feb in a suite. Feb I'll see how Celebrity compares to Princess. Is a 7 night cruise in a Celebrity Suites next month worth $3k to $5k more than an aft Penthouse Suite on Princess. I might be ready for smaller high end cruise ships in 5 years when I turn 70.

Celebrity is no longer what it was, the Bean Counters have hit hard especially in the MDR.  My last two cruises have definitely been lacking compared to say even a year ago.  

Like many here, a good dining experience is a huge factor in my decision for cruise vacations.  To me dining should be one of the last things cut.  Enjoying nice food has been a hallmark of the cruise vacations forever.  Everyone knows cost have gone up due to this insane inflation so cruise lines should just raise the prices some like every other venue these days.  I would think a fairly modest increase would help offset the food cost and keep cruising competitive. 

My brother said the same thing, stream internet was worthless and no way you could stream anything.  He said you could barely even browse the net .

Fantastic review and amazing to see all the whales from cabin, they are headed back.

One piece of information I am looking for is, was there any information or Covid testing options given to passengers who fly home day of disembark?  Were there any kiosk or something like that at the port?

Like many have said, go early before sand gets stirred up.  Sadly and to my big disappointment RCCL degraded the snorkeling options greatly when the did all the CoCo expansion.  The area’s further out which were better and you can no longer go to.  They have roped off the area you can go and in my experience (many times) the best areas were further out near rocks however there are some decent areas on the right side looking towards the water. The good news is snorkeling is still better here than Labadee.

On 4/13/2022 at 8:49 AM, Sunshine3601 said:

You need either a phone or laptop.  It's really easy.   Basically you connect via video call to a lab proctor, then open up test kit and perform test while the lab person watches, stay connected and wait the 15 mins for results and show the proctor.   Once done you will then receive via email or thru their app a copy of certified lab results of your test.  You can buy the binax Ag kits thru optum or emed.  

Royal has a link you can use to make sure you are purchasing the correct test.

Like many if you we are facing the same issue.  I just want to know how in the world a high percentage of US residents are going to get this done on a ship using Emed?  I know all about Emed but seriously do you think the ships internet has the capability/bandwidth to handle the sure numbers on that last day?  It seems to me that the Internet isn’t even as good on ships at higher latitudes.   I feel a problem is on the way. 

On 3/24/2022 at 8:15 PM, TravelGirl618 said:

Hi Everyone,

 

I wanted to know if anyone has done any hiking not through an excursion in Sitka? I’m going on a cruise this summer. I’ve been looking into the Gavin Hill Trail and Mount Verstovia. Any information about your experiences with any hiking here would be greatly appreciated. 

I have hiked on my own in some Alaska ports but never Sitka.  My sister and I also like to hike but Sitka might be more prone to bears??  As others have mentioned, I have thought about how to get bear spray knowing that it probably is not allowed on ships.  I am sure you can buy in port but that is expensive to buy and not be able to take bake on the ship.  Our ship is not in port long so may go with an excursion from somebody.

20 hours ago, Shelly97060 said:

Great news! Princess website still says 2 days, I agree this will be a good change.  Hopefully they get the FAQs updated soon! 

I will be totally honest, I think they shouldn’t switch to 3 days just yet.  Yes I know 3 makes it easier and even for me however at this point getting a test as close to sailing as possible still makes since. I say this because I know many people who tested positive for Covid only after 2nd test and a day or so later.  In other words that extra day will weed out a few cases.  Just my opinion based on what I have seen even recently. 

1 hour ago, luv4cruises said:

Reading posts on X Captain’s Club FB I learned that a quarantined cruiser is being housed at 4 points Sheraton, a 140/night hotel- not very nice - There are 80 rooms filled with Covid people.  She is receiving 100/day to order food - room service/ Uber eats etc.  She is not sure of arrangements to get her home. These new Covid situations are unprecedented. It is so important to know what can happen if you test positive.  Some cruisers on Edge class ships are being quarantined in porthole cabins- no fresh air.  We need to know all the info in order to make informed decisions as to whether to cruise on not during this Omicron surge.  

 

To be fair here, The Four Points by Sheraton is not that bad of a hotel in fact many stay there pre and post cruises.  I personally have stayed there and while it wasn’t my favorite it is definitely was not even close to the worst hotel I have stayed in while in Fort Lauderdale and I would stay there again.   All things aside there are definitely worse places to stay.

1 minute ago, phoenix_dream said:

After reading this, I am more concerned than ever.  Their safe sailing website information says that if you test positive they will arrange private transportation home for you (not sure of exact wording but that's the main point).  Reading this, they say they "may be able" to assist you in that regard.  What?!?!  That implies they also may not be able to assist you!!  What kind of baloney is that!  Basically it means I would most likely be stuck trying to find a hotel that would take me, and then being stuck there in quarantine for who knows how long.  And while they apparently would reimburse for the hotel cost, what about meals, what about potentially higher air fare to fly home?  IMHO this does NOT track with what they are promising us!  Is it just me?  Does anyone else read this the same way??

My guess is there are too many to deal with now, just a guess.

56 minutes ago, cangelmd said:

Someone posted on social:media n email from Celeb saying the next Equinox boarding,?tomorrow? was going to be delayed for extra cleaning. Everyone to arrive 2 1/2 hours later than scheduled, boarding starting about 1 pm.

The next sailing is Jan 3 and yes I received that email however I elected to cancel the cruise earlier in the week for obvious reasons.  I am disappointed however the whole thing with flying with Covid everywhere plus 2 of 3 ports changed just made it not enjoyable.

I don’t understand why they messed with it, seemed to work very well before.

On 11/1/2021 at 6:21 PM, hp_slash said:

Thank you for the report! My husband and I worry we were spoiled from our last snorkeling trip to Bonaire. But I think we will take the chance and see what it's like.

Definitely spoiled!  Lol

On 10/31/2021 at 6:45 PM, Birdnutty said:

I have also posted this in “Ports of call” under private islands, but not all people think of going there. This was a very important topic to me when I was researching our cruise under tight time restraints, so I decided to help others.  

 

Before our cruise, I went crazy trying to find info on the snorkeling here, and was never able to get a complete answer.  I was concerned that the re-work of the island had changed it significantly from the snorkeling perspective.  This way, you can hopefully concentrate on planning your cruise rather than chasing questions down blind alleys.

 

We brought our own gear. Having snorkeled there many years ago, we didn’t know if we could still access the areas we used to go to.

 

1). The snorkel area is the same.  Off Chill Beach.  There are three “rocky” areas at Chill Beach. The one in the center has the best selection of fish behind it.  

2)  GO EARLY!  The sand is so fine there that vision is severely impeded by suspended particles from people swimming, walking, hanging out in the water, etc.  Visibility by lunch time is quite bad. 

3) There’s no significant coral there anywhere, so set your expectations low and just be happy to see the fish

4). We saw mostly the usual suspects, including Sargent Majors, jacks, parrotfish, needlefish, clownfish, tangs, some butterfly fish. Some pretty big ones (over two feet) that I couldn’t identify and a bunch of all different sizes that I also couldn’t ID.  We saw a school just hanging there, right next to the rocks that had to have at least 200 fish in it, about 8” long.  

5) When we were there, the roped off area did not include the area that housed the sunken plane.  Maybe with the reduced amount of pax they find it easier to keep track of everyone in a smaller section. When you go, ask a lifeguard if the airplane is within the ropes or not.  Save yourself some time.  

 

Not everyone had a vest.  They didn’t seem to be monitoring it, either.  

 

If you have questions ABOUT SNORKELING THERE that I did not answer, feel free to ask!

My experience is, they have ruined the best snorkeling there, roped off now.  To be honest it upsets me a lot, as noted it is too sandy close it.  They need to create a new snorkel are on the other side of those rocks on the left.  I use to go over there.  The water is nice and clear there.

32 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

Bud Light was $7.50 plus 18% tip pre Covid, so $8.85.

I don’t recall paying over $8 and in any event I know for sure the domestics were 16oz not 12 like there are now.

17 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

Bud Light was $7.50 plus 18% tip pre Covid, so $8.85.

1 hour ago, Misbehavin8175 said:

For those that have cruised over the last couple of weeks, have the prices increase on drinks? Wine, beer, mixed drinks, soda, water. Just wondering if the supply chain issues have hit the cruise lines yet?

Well maybe not a very recent increase but large increases since pre Covid.  A 12 oz domestic beer is now over $8 with tip.  Pre Covid prices a lot less and you got a 16 oz can, talking Miller Lite, Bud Light, etc. 

I think either a drug that fights this and lessons the severity or a vaccine.

11 hours ago, kajunkel225 said:

We requested refund on 3/15 for our 4/5 cruise.  I've called twice and am being told it can be anywhere from 30-90 days after scheduled debarkation date before refund is processed.  My family paid over 10k for this cruise.  Unfortunately I don't think we are ever going to see that money refunded.

We went from cruising once a year and now I don't ever plan on cruising again.  

 

 

I believe you just mentioned the problem as to why so many of us are concerned.  When I did paperwork it clearly stated 30 days from that date not 60 and definitely not 90 from debarkation date.  So they are pushing the goal post to the right after telling people 30 days is a valid concern.

They took crew into FLL twice from Oasis on tenders not airlift.  Apparently the story is not entirely correct perhaps an airlift from the Infinity. 

2 hours ago, Fun2snorkel said:

We are also booked on this May cruise but have not received any notification. We will be cancelling this one. Even if it goes which I don’t think it will, we would cancel. Even though we are in good health, we are over 70!  We are also booked on the 5 night before this and are hoping we get to cancel without getting more FCC’s!

If you booked via a TA, they have your information.  I got mine yesterday and guessed this would be the change however I figured more days in Bermuda.  One day isn’t enough and really the Itinerary is terrible.  Of course it doesn’t matter, doubt there will be any May cruise.  

19 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

Dear Mike,

Since you appreciate us so much, remember that beautiful diamond lounge on Oasis with its great views that is now a windowless room several deck below where it was? Lets talk about that.....

 

Yes, I received the letter earlier this evening.

Oh he has already heard about that on the Presidents cruise and trust me he had his answer for the entire audience at the Q&A.  The old space is needed for Revenue and enjoy having a lounge.  That sums it up.  

Looks like she is heading back out now!

29 minutes ago, Carlo16 said:

Anybody been on the island with 2 ships? I’m sailing in August with Oasis and Majesty in port at once. 

I recommend your first stop be at the pool for a chair if you are a pool person.  The pool area was quite crowded while there on Symphony but plenty of chairs at the beach.

1 hour ago, jaspercat said:

John, if you happen to run into John and Marilyn again -- say 'hi' from me (Catherine aka jaspercat). Thank You!

 

Oh my a voice from the past.