mjwcruising

Add mee to the list who want this info. Thanks for posting!

 

For those who have done Norway and the Baltics, which did you prefer? Looking at both these options for our next long cruise after this fall's med cruise (most likely 2015).

We are considering Norwegian Fjords or the Baltic's, hubby really wants to see Russia, but from what I read it can be physically exhausting, while the Fjords would be more relaxing.

What are some thoughts on this from people who have cruised one or the other or both. Also what are pro's and con's on the two cruises.

For us the cruise would be 2016.

Thanks for posting this question and the answers.

I too am interested in a Norwegian Fjords cruise and want to collect as much info as I can. :D

Hi - Thanks for the info and clarification on how to go about getting the refund.

 

I'm also wondering how the "coupon" for the 10% is received? Is it something that you saw online or something you received via email? I'm trying to track down where Celebrity has this offer in writing since they usually have a lot of fine print to their offers. :)

I did see that offer for elite plus on their website for captains club perks but not for elite. Thanks in advance for any info.

It is a for Elite Plus (not Elite).

Hi - Does anyone know if the 10% coupon for the drink package one that would be received prior to the cruise via direct mail or email? Or is it part of the coupon sheet they put in your cabin that includes other discounts for laundry, wine etc?

 

Just trying to decide if I want to purchase the premium drink package or not and 10% off would certainly help persuade me in the direction to do so!!:D

Read post #7. You can buy it now, go to customer relations when on board and get the discount applied. The representative I talked to said you can choose if you want the 10% refund as OBC or a refund to your credit card. I don't alway trust what representatives say but I'm hoping for a credit card refund because we already have plenty of OBC.

If you wait and purchase the beverage package on board you will get the 10% discount on the price of the package on board which is $5 a day more than purchasing it pre-cruise.

I just called the Captain's Club and spoke with a very nice representative.

Was able to purchase the package at the on-line price but have to wait until I'm onboard to get the 10% discount refunded.

If I wait till I'm onboard to purchase the package I will need to pay the on-board price ($5 more per day) and then receive my 10% discount.

I went ahead and purchased it, now I just hope getting the discount works out without any hassles. :)

I would wait until you get on board to purchase it. That way you can use your OBC and not have to pay for it way in advance.

The price increases if you buy it on board. Otherwise we would wait.

Elite Plus members get a 10% discount on Beverage Packages.

This is our first cruise since the Captain's Club level changes.

We are wondering how we get the discount?

Does it automatically calculate the discount when you purchase the package it online?

DH and I did a Celebrity Century Round trip out of San Diego in October.

Thank you for the quick responses. Now I know what to expect when I cruise Quantum in 2015 ;)

Mary

I had been Elite on Celebrity with Diamond privileges when I cruised RCCL.

With the new Captain's Club changes I have become Elite Plus.

I am wondering if I will now get Diamond Plus privileges when I cruise RCCL?

Thank you,

Mary

Day 4 - St. Thomas:

 

I always do the same thing here, I know I should probably try something different but I just love Megan's Bay. But not before breakfast at Johnny Rockets - this is a free option with omelets, bacon, egg kind of reminds me of a Waffle House. If you are looking for a fast breakfast, but want to avoid the Windjammer this is a good option.

When you say "breakfast at Johnny Rockets - this is a free option:"

do you mean there is no charge? I thought there was an additional fee.:confused:

Looks like I will be spending some time reading your review, looking forward to seeing all the pictures!:)

Awesome photo's!!

subscribing...a great review and I'm interested in learning about the ship. ;)

Some of the posts said I had a so-so time in Blu on one cruise and it was better/worse on a another cruise but the specific ship(s) wasn't mentioned.

DH and I stayed in Aqua Class and dined in Blu four different times on "S" class ships.

We are also booked in Aqua Class on our next cruise but it is on the Infinity.

The last time I cruised on an "M" class ship was before they were "Solitisized".

I am interested in hearing about the Blu experience on the "M" class ships with comments about the Infinity for those of you that have experiences on that ship;

...location of the Blu dining room, how the tables are arranged, service, etc.

Thanks,

Mary

We usually cruise Celebrity but we have a RCCL cruise booked.

After spending a few hours reading this entire thread I have 2 questions.

1. What brand of wine is their Rose' house wine?

2. A cigar bar was mentioned in one of the posts. DH smokes cigars so I'm wondering where cigar smoking is allowed. (Celebrity no longer has a cigar bar so cigar smokers are banished to 2 outdoor bars.)

Thank you for the info,

Mary

I forgot about the internet. My husband keeps up with work while on vacation so I think the internet package will probably use up a decent amount of the OBC that we have left after the gratuities.

And a good bottle of wine (with our 30% discount ;) ) will use up the rest! :D

Thanks for all of the responses and ideas!

You can use OBC for specialty restaurants.

I like the vouchers because sometimes we travel with friends who are not elite. By using vouchers we can go to a bar together; we can use vouchers and they can purchase if they choose to.

I wish Celebrity would change the vouchers to a price limit instead of choosing from their designated list. I really don't care for the wines they list but could definitely find one I like under $8.

All this really doesn't matter on most of our recent cruises since we have been buying the beverage packages. However, if we were to cruise on a port intensive cruise we wouldn't buy a package and we would put the vouchers to good use.:D

So glad I read this thread. DH and I were planning on buying beverage packages on board for our Oct 7th cruise. Now we will be buying it on-line tomorrow.

Please edit the quote and turn off your long brag sheet about all the cruises you have completed or will be taking over the next two years if you are posting again and again on the same day... Just check the appropriate box when posting...

Arno, never realized you could turn off your signature for just that particular post. See, even old dogs can learn new things on Cruise Critic. :D

I am aware of how to edit the quote but do not know how to edit my "brag sheet" and signature. Please enlighten me.

Thank you,

:)

Hi,

I am interested in knowing where Sue Denning these days. I my opinion on of the best Cruise Director.

sailnjmom49

She was the Cruise Director on our February 2013 cruise on the Eclipse.

After reviewing what Hlitner and bonnie&clydecruzers wrote and looking at the maps I thinks I had the layout wrong in my mind.

It looks like the cruise terminal is farthest north, then Malecon, then the Southside (Old Town).

If I have this correct I would like to be dropped off the furthest away from ship, and walk North thru old town and finish at Hotel Rosita (end of the Malecon).

They will be four of us so we will probably take a taxi.

Is there a landmark I should asked to be dropped off in Old town?

Will it be easy to get a taxi near Hotel Rosita to return to the ship?

Thank You,

Mary

The Malecon starts at the Hotel Rosita (at the north end of Centro or downtown) and runs about 2/3 of a mile until you get to the pedestrian bridge over the Rio Cujale. Once you cross that bridge you are in the South Side (Romantic Zone, Zona Romantica, Viejo Vallarta, or Old Town) which has many names. But the Malecon actually does continue for a few blocks in the South Side until it ends at Olas Altas (a street). We are partial to the south side since that is where we live in the winter.

 

If you take a taxi into Centro and want to walk the entire Malecon have your driver drop you at the Hotel Rosita. If you use the bus, when the bus reaches Centro it will make a left turn and then a right so that is parallels the Malecon (a block inland). Once its on the parallel route you can hop off at any point and just walk down to the Malecon.

Hank

Thank you so much Hank. This information really explains the layout and how to plan our outing in Puerto Vallarta. We just want to walk around that day and I like to have everything planned out in advance so we don't waste any time while we are in port figuring things out.

I'm thinking we should have the bus or taxi drop us off at the farthest point and walk our way back through Malecon to the South Side (Old Town). When we are ready to go back to the ship we can grab the bus or taxi.

We are in port from 12 -7.

Does this sound do-able?

If you have any recommendations I would be grateful if you share them with me.

Mary

Malecon is next/north to old town., divided by Rio Cuale. Check those maps made by JR.

Downtown shows the Malecon,

http://vallartainfo.com/vallarta-downtown-map.html

Southside is oldtown.

http://vallartainfo.com/vallarta-southside-map.html

As you can see you can walk all the way down.

Thank you Ine.

I have been researching Puerto Vallarta an have read about going to Old Town and also about going to Malecon.

I am wondering if Malecon is in the Old Town area or within walking distance of each other.

I understand we would have to take a taxi or bus to either place but can't figure out where they are in relation to each other.

Thanks for any input,

Mary