lizinindy

Did I miss the Le Voyage review? Love your writing style!

EXCEPT--maybe the library is quiet for readers. Try to find a spot anywhere on the ship that doesn't have music playing. I tried and couldn't find one on the Nieuw Amsterdam..and they had no library when we cruised this past February. There were a few German language books on one or two shelves but that was it. I remember sailing on the Eurodam years ago that had a very large library area in the front of the ship with beautiful views from the giant windows and the coffee bar right there. It was always filled with people lounging in big comfy armchairs. What a relaxing spot! Yes--it took up real estate but it had people enjoying the space rather than big empty forward lounges with constant music we found in February.

We absolutely loved the coffee/cappucino machine with a pastry and fresh fruit in the mornings and we usually found plenty of delish items for lunch so it was well worth it. Also met so many lovely people to chat with and those concierge helpers were the best. I think you'll love the lounge. The only weird thing they do is make you pay for drinks if you don't have a drink package. Having been to the Edge class retreat lounges on Celebrity that are 4 times as large and with free drinks, I wish HAL would rethink this charge.

It’s available at Cafe al Baccio just to the right as you board

Shutdown starts the day we fly from the Midwest to LAX for the Eclipse cruise on Oct 1st Fingers crossed the TSA and air traffic controllers show up on Sunday. Flights booked through Celebrity. If we don’t get there in time to sail, would Celebrity give us a credit for a future cruise?

Yes--booked a sky suite, bid on a celebrity suite, and got the iconic suite!

WOW! Really? Why, that’s the most amazing information no one knew about ever!!! (I guess publishing snark is just too hard to resist for some)

How about a nominal fee for classes like-"how to use your phone or iPad" "watercolor for beginners" "how to knit (or crochet)" "using photoshop" "make a bracelet" "Tablescapes"

I see people saying--"I didn't get a move-up offer." Never wait for an email invitation. Go check it for yourself on the website and see if you can put in a bid.

No pinnacles on HAL in the neptune lounge that I know of on my NA cruises...only Neptune Suites

A quiet place with no music..couldn't find a single spot on our NA cruise...had my book in hand and wandered endlessly looking for quiet

Be aware on the Apex, the loungers are open to the walkways within the spa area and, as such, lots of noise from people who forget to use their indoor voices. The S class loungers are in a separate room. We thought it was a bad design on the Apex.

We were so much warmer on our aft balcony compared to our friends in balconies on the port or starboard sides

Never heard a thing!

Only the balcony is wider, not the cabin. It's because there is a cabin steward closet that ends before the balcony.

Spent a week in a sunset veranda on the Reflection last month. Loved the cabin but I hope yours has the bed next to the bathroom. I didn't care for the bed next to the balcony. The balcony can get hot during the afternoons with barely an overhang. There will be soot specks so be careful and brush off the furniture before you sit down.

The Edge class has infinite verandas, not like S class verandas

Easy peasy if you're disembarking at 25 and going to 21--it's just across the street. If you have to go to say, 29, there's a port shuttle bus that stops at the entrance to the Palm garage (just across the street and down a little from 25). The shuttle can take you and your luggage. Free..but we give a tip. If it's 19...walk through the Palm parking garage and you're there. Check out the port map on porteverglades.com to get your bearings.

For Elite breakfast in the Tuscan on the Reflection, no one was ever at the front desk to ask for proof of status. We always just walked in and sat wherever we wanted.

Just a heads up—the heated loungers on the Apex are open to the traffic flow of the spa with people talking and not using their indoor voices. The S class is much quieter

You’ll have aluminum water bottles in your suite. I suppose you could refill them for use on shore excursions. They have screw caps.

Oh gosh--we used the coffee machine in our suite every morning and Eddie would replace the pods and cups every day. I kept cream in the refrig from the Neptune lounge. The cocktails in the lounge need to be complimentary...the paper sign-in to be charged was silly

Yes—there is a shuttle to the different terminals. Ask a security person where the shuttle stand is after you disembark.

Olympia said she was “retiring” for awhile in 9 weeks

Just returned from 2 weeks on the Nieuw Amsterdam followed by 2 weeks on the Celebrity Reflection. We were in a Neptune suite on HAL and a sky suite on the Reflection. We thought the food was comparable on both lines. The standout on HAL was the Tamarind and our favorite on Celeb was Le Petit Chef. HAL specialty restaurants are a much better value. Celeb has production shows, comedians, and singers in the Theater. Holland has comedians and dancers in the Theater but they have 3 other venues with live music which was great. Our disappointment with both ships was the lack of a cozy library. Both ships still have the library areas but very very few books and most were foreign language books. Elevators in HAL were fabulous and there were endless wait times on Celeb. Both crews were comparably friendly. We loved our cruises on both so I’d say, go for your favorite itinerary. You won’t be disappointed with either line….but then, our philosophy is, a cruise is what you make of it!