Christine Frances

Phone Choice Air - they are very helpful:)

Sounds good but other than being "special" did Celebrity tell you what is in that hand sanitizer that cruise lines use that makes it "special" ?

That would be helpful to know.

PS Is it "New and improved" :D :D

Whatever Paul:rolleyes: Just passing on some info I received.

As Paulchili mentioned, alcohol-based treatments are *not* effective against Norovirus, period.

The alcohol-based agents *are* effective against a variety of other organisms, so it's not "wasted", but when Noro is the problem, it won't help.

 

You can review the USA CDC (Centers for Disease Control) posts, and you will not find any alcohol-based agents listed.

 

(There are "claims" made by others, especially some marketing hype, but they are not correct.)

 

Finally, IF there is an outbreak, don't forget potential contamination by menus.

And if you plan to disinfect your cabin or hotel room, etc., don't forget drawer pulls, the telephones and, especially, the TV remote.

(Given all the crevices in that last, we typically put the remote in a thin "baggie", where it is easy to press all the controls.)

As I was wondering about the effectiveness of the hand sanitizer on board I email Celebrity and they replied. This was posted on the Princess board and I am posting the link. They state in the "Celebrity Today" and on the TV that the sanitizer does work against Noro. I tend to believe Celebrity.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=48511966&postcount=6

I also tweeted to Dr Tom Frieden, the Director of the CDC. Will let you know lol

I agree with you. However, the lobster we had on Princess was excellent. The Chilean sea bass was outstanding. We actually had Lobster for lunch in Murano & you could have played racquet ball with it! The lunch chefs certainly weren't the same as the dinner chefs. Our lunch was "comped" because of this. We know it wasn't a "one off" as many others said the same. Lunch in Tuscany, however was excellent. Dinner in Murano (all 6 times we ate there on 2 cruises)Was the best we've had at sea, with he exception of Cunard's Queens Grill. I feel the quality overall is better on Celebrity. The higher prices I think contribute to it. The new prices of $50 are getting steep. I'm sure there will still be plenty of discounting.

Celebrity also offers Specialty Dining Packages which are very popular.

3 nights @ $109pp

4 nights @ $137pp

5 nights @ $159oo

You get a selection of the different Specialties depending on which ship you sail.

WestCoastTEch...

 

They do offer ONE bus/ferry service during cruise season that I'll be taking from Canada Place (thanks for letting us know about the changes there...so shall wait until just before...or when I'm there before the cruise to find the meeting place.)

 

It picks you up at Canada Place at 9:15, gets to the 11 Tsawassen ferry, and gets to Swartz Bay after 1...Our friends live near there, so I'll get off there but the bus continues into Victoria.

 

Thanks for reminding folks about the other ferries for anyone lurking here.

We live in Victoria and for our Alaska cruise we are cabbing it both ways from the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. We were thinking about the bus but the bus fare for two is just about the same as the taxi (I think it was about $37.50 each). Also I think you have to make a reservation with the bus. We can debark at our leisure and just get a taxi at Canada Place. Which ever way you arrive I hope you enjoy our beautiful city on the island:)

How is this any different from a cruise where rough weather and or persistent rain curtails the passengers enjoyment and/or use of certain facilities on the ship?

 

The only true difference that I can think of is that in the case of Noro, the cruise Line will have already expended tens of thousands of dollars and countless man hours toward prevention.

 

Sometimes life just happens. We would all like it if somebody higher up the food chain would bite the financial bullet, but it does not always work out that way-

 

You cannot be comparing lying on the bathroom floor vomiting etc with rain are you?

Just be aware that you might not be able to set it up board. Most of the time the ship's wifi is not good enough to pull down all the information and data you need from the cloud. I saw it happen with some one who bought a phone, disabled his old one and could only get the new one halfway working. He was not a happy camper.

The wonderful IT guys will set it up for you, no problem. The phone purchase must be from some other cruise line as Celebrity has never sold iPhones as far as I am aware.

The only real tangible perk of CC (on an S-Class) worth anything IMO is that you get footrests on the balcony :D

 

You also get some extra Captain's Club points.

Totally agree plus the larger cabin on M Class.

You are absolutely correct. There is essentially no private property in Cuba. The government and military own everything. However, Fidel Castro's net worth was 900 million dollars the last time I read about it in Forbes.

Things are changing!! http://www.wola.org/commentary/now_cubans_can_own_and_sell_their_own_homes

question is be a smart shopper, go to Apple and buy it, enjoy

Celebrity is an authorized Apple retailer! Even for us, where we live in Canada, I have to drive an hour, take a one and a half hour ferry ride and then drive another hour to go to an "Apple Store" So we shop at an authorized retailer. For a lot of UK, EU and Australian cruisers the prices on board are a much better deal. Also the cosmetics in the Duty Free shops. I have a couple of friends that bought mini ipads on board and were very happy with the the service as they set it up for them, loaded a few apps and gave them 30 min free internet. The only thing that the OP should be aware of is that the products have the US plugs so you would need an adapter. If you have lots of OBC it is a good deal but go early in the cruise as they usually sell out.

I have read here that Crystal refunds a daily per diem for the days you are confined to your cabin for noro. Each line has their own policy but I think a line that wants to be known as upscale, luxery would invest in customer satisfaction. I also think if you are confined to your cabin for days they would wave the silly room service rules so at least you can eat, especially since the non sick partner is also there.

Celebrity does this. They have free medical visits and do not charge for any meds for gastro issues. They have a special room service menu for people confined to their rooms They refund port fees if the ship does not port and they give a per diem OBC for days confined to your cabin. Most people report issues to the Medical Centre for these reasons.

The Embargo was a US Embargo, not an Embargo between Cuba and every other country in the world.

My friends stayed at an Iberostar hotel at Cayo Santa Maria 4-5* hotel last month. Lots of Spanish owned hotels in Cuba - Melia and Barcelo as well. Their shower head broke in their room and the manager apologized while he duct taped it, because it would have to be ordered from Spain. Sure they should have had an extra on hand but that is the difficulty everyone operates under there. Sure can't give the business to a local Cuban hardware store because.........

That's a very enlightening article. Thanks for posting!

That article just annoys me!!! They don't have those baby clothes, syringes, etc because there is an EMBARGO. They have to ration everything because there is an EMBARGO!!! They have been struggling for 60 year under this crippling measure and it is time to let it go. Believe me, the rest of the world has.

If RCCL goes to Cuba, they will loose my whole family as cruisers. The Cuban people get nothing from the tourists that spend money there. The government takes all. It is a sad day when Americans think they are doing something great for the people of Havana when visiting Cuba. The right time is not yet.

And you get that idea from where? Cuban's already make money from the millions of tourists that now visit there each year from Canada and Europe. There is a lot more free enterprise opportunities now for the locals that they are taking advantage of - owning restaurants, B & B's, touring. They are suffering the most from the embargo which makes it hard for them to get more than the basic's. From talking to the locals, they have mixed thoughts on having an invasion of Americans. They are excited about being able to buy a more varied selection but concerned about the impact on their culture which they love. The music is incredible:) So both Cuba and the US are wondering what lies ahead.

This is beautiful Cuba - great beaches, snorkeling and diving and wonderful people. http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/unseen-cuba-first-aerial-photographs-reveal-islands-spectacular-beauty-1501542

If you have the Premium pkg and you ask for a premium wine with a price over the pkg limit, do you just pay the difference (like Celebrity) or the full cost of the drink?

Entertainment is like food- everyone has a different view. We always travel with a group (6-10 people) and we all enjoy different things after dinner. One couple stays up late, hits the theatre, comedy shows, disco, whatever is happening in the evening. We only go to the production shows (unless we have seen them before) and then call it a night to read and relax in our cabin. Other friends look for somewhere to dance. It's all about choices but all our group is happy with what Celebrity provides. We all noticed the improvement in the MDR over the last 3 cruises and are very happy:)

Thanks, interesting reading.

I have also looked for EU cruise ship introspection results but a lot of PDF's and regulations but no central place to see results like the CDC.

So sorry to hear about Bistro 5 as we were planning on an embarkation lunch to avoid the buffet crowds.

We board early and usually have been to the buffet, taken our lunch outside to the Oceanview/Sunset Bar and are on our second drink before the "buffet crowds" arrive:)

Sooooo, I saw there was an older dress code thread, but could not find the updated one. Quick question - can I get away with nice jeans (levis, but clean, dark and pressed), collared shirt and nice/new sneakers in the dining room any night? Don't want to start an ethical debate, probably need to be lectured, but please don't.....I read the "rules" on Celebrity's website, etc. Just curious as to what is really okay. I dress up every day to play professional.....would prefer not to on vacation, but if it is really enforced, will deal it...

 

Thanks in advance !

Yay American style lol

Cuba Cruises has been going there for years (does a 7 day circumnavigation) and MSC is homeporting in Havana this winter. Millions of Canadians and Europeans go there every year. They are dredging the harbour to prepare for larger ships - I think the MSC Opera is the biggest so far. It is a fabulous, beautiful country with very friendly and happy people. We have also been to Vietnam and China. You don't have to agree with how another country is governed to visit it. It's not contagious lol

https://www.msccruises.com/en-gl/Plan-Book/Cruise-Detail.aspx?cruiseid=OX20160329HAVHAV

Beautiful Cuba http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/unseen-cuba-first-aerial-photographs-reveal-islands-spectacular-beauty-1501542

Thank you for the review. I think we are going to LOVE it!! Wasn't going to try any specialty restaurants but you made Tuscan Grill and Lawn Club Grill sound irresistible.... thank goodness for lots of OBC!! Will also probably upgrade the drinks package - at least for me :D

I know some people don't like to cook their steaks etc at the LCG but my DH had a blast doing it. He grills a lot and he said that he was surprised at how much he learned from the chefs that were helping! There were other guys cooking as well and their wives made the flatbread. The staff are hilarious and the meat and seafood selections are of high quality. Do not miss the melting chocolate cookie for dessert!!!! My favourite Celebrity specialty restaurant!

I got the flu on our last B2B Asia cruise on the Millie. I self medicated and spent 2 miserable days in the cabin. Then I started to feel better for a couple of days but it cycled back twice as hard. I dragged myself down to the Medical Centre and I was so sick they thought I had pneumonia (gave me chest ex rays and everything) Moral of the story, the next time I even think I am getting a cold or flu I am hotfooting it to the Med Centre and getting Tamiflu. I never want to go through that again. Also, because of the AC, your nasal passages dry out which makes it easier for the flu virus to enter your body. Dr gave me Saline gel to keep nasal passages lubricated on the plane as well as on the ship.

Re Kelmac's "world wide" foot print remember Celebrity only has 9 ships. A little hard to match itineraries.

For our westbound TA (BCN to FLL) i read all the threads re which side of the ship for sunlight as DH loves sitting out on the balcony. So I selected a cabin on the port side and from the time we left the Canaries DH could not use the balcony because it was way too hot. The Equinox used the southern route that time so that may have made a difference.

Personally this is not something that would interest me at all. We would never spend all day in one place, that being said, they were sold out for the whole week on the Reflection last week.

 

We met some people who were disappointed because they thought they could book on board. Many had been booked for the whole week.

That's the whole point! We shared one with another couple and it was fabulous!! You are away from the madhouse on the pool deck, you don't have to fight for loungers, you can go do other stuff and came back and it is sitting there waiting for you:) It is reserved from 9 to 9 and in the evenings they sometimes have Jazz concerts on the lawn, games during the day. I know some people that split the cost with 3 couples as no one spent the whole day there and it was a great place to meet up.