sandav

I'm not seeing it on either the .com or .co.uk websites

I had to go onto the .com website and scroll down and change it to United States before it showed up. Normally when I go onto the .com website it shows United Kingdom further down under countries.

Am guessing they were reducing the prices. Shows just fine on my computer.

Sorry I've found it on the USA website but it still isn't showing on the co.uk site.

Am guessing they were reducing the prices. Shows just fine on my computer.

All I can get is the 2017 April Transatlantic. The April 2016 isn't there as far as I can see. I'm using an IPad but I don't see how that would make a difference.

This sailing seems to have disappeared from Celebrity's website both UK and USA. It doesn't seem to be sold out as other websites still show availability.

Sandra

We are on the TA in April, 2016. One of the Celebrity excursions is a 3 hr taxis ride tour of Bermuda. Will this be a taxis for the two of us, or will it be a shared taxis ride with other people?

You do not need a ship's taxi tour in Bemuda. Taxis are freely available at the Dockyard where the ship docks and most of the drivers are certified Blue Flag guides. Just ask at the taxi rank. We were in Bermuda in 2014 on the Summit and on the 2015 Eclipse Transatlantic. We used these taxi tours in 2014 and the guide was very good and he showed us lots. We're also booked on the 2016 Transatlantic as well. We paid $40 an hour and did a four hour tour. I imagine it will a bit more now but if you could get someone to share with you, it would work out quite reasonable.

Sandra

2 years ? I thought it was 90 days

 

I'm a dual Canadian/British citizen and made the mistake of crossing into the US with my British passport before, had to get pulled into customs, have my fingerprints taken and photo taken, answer a questionnaire on a little green form and had a card placed in my passport valid for 90 days. Has this changed ?

UK citizens have needed an ESTA ( Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) to enter the US since around 2010. The green cards are no longer used now.When we apply for an ESTA online, we get an travel authorisation that lasts for 2 years and links to our passport and allows us to travel to the US. We can make multiple visits within the two years but I think we can only stay for up to 90 days at a time. We have to leave a reasonable time between visits(whatever reasonable time means.) If you have a Canadian passport this will not apply as the rules for Canadian citizens are different. I imagine if you enter the US from Canada with your UK passport you will need an ESTA. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

From March 16th 2016 we UK citizens will need an ESTA for entry into Canada. I am OK for my visit to my son in Vancouver next week but will need and ESTA for my cruise from there in June.

It's like an ESTA for the US but it's called an eTA for Canada and it lasts for 5 years while an ESTA only lasts for 2 years.

There is no immigration procedure going into Victoria as you are already precleared via your passports when boarding. Sometimes show your seapass and sometimes nothing going in. Need photo ID and seapass returning to the ship.

 

Even more interesting is going to be people flying in the US with about 1/2 the drivers licenses not going to be valid for DOMESTIC air travel starting later this year!

That's what I hoped. We aim to book a private excursion for 1.30pm and as the ship arrives at noon, we should be able to do that. We'll take our photo driving licences and leave our passports on the ship.

Thanks

Sandra

Since when have UK citizens needed a ESTA for Canada?

 

looks like March 2016 if entering by air.

 

 

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta.asp

 

That's what I was talking about. But us Brits don't need one if arriving by land or sea.

We are booked on the Ultimate Alaska Cruise on Solstice in May 2017 from Vancouver to Seattle. As this cruise has a stop in Victoria will we need to go through Canadian immigration there as well as in Vancouver as the ship's port before Victoria will have been a US one. We are UK citizens so we we know we will need an electronic travel authorisation to enter Canada by air when we fly into Vancouver. We are planning on booking an independent excursion in Victoria as the ship arrives around noon and doesn't leave until 8pm and are wondering how long it will take to get off the ship.

Sandra

Starting March 15, 2016, visa-exempt foreign nationals who fly to or transit through Canada will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Exceptions include U.S. citizens and travellers with a valid visa.

This will affect UK cruisers flying to Vancouver to start their Alaska cruise, me included

The countries involved can be found on cic.gc.ca

Sandra

I've seen many threads on here and experienced myself what a mess the first Caribbean cruise after the Western bound TA can be, however I was wondering if anyone has any input about the Eastern bound TA? We decided to book the April Fjords cruise for 2017 and it is the first cruise after Eclipse sails from Miami to Southampton. It isn't a deal breaker for us either way since the Fjord cruise options are so limited, I just wondered if anyone had any insights. Thanks!

We did Eclipse transatlantic Miami to Southampton this year. Immigration came onto the ship either Ponta Delgada or Lisbon. Everyone was given a time to go to one of the lounges to clear UK immigration. You took your passport and sea pass. It was all done during the last few sea days and it was very simple, just a few minutes even for non UK citizens. At Southampton you just walked off. We're doing the same cruise in 2016( less ports though) and I expect it will be the same.

Sandra

The news last night said that it seemed to be contradictory because they said normal domestic travel but stay away from large crowds. I am only quoting what I heard. I feel that an attack may happen on Friday. They seem to happen on Fridays. There is a hostage situation right now in northern France.

Police sources say the situation is not linked to this month's terror attacks in Paris. The armed men may have been planning a robbery, reports say.

A police operation is under way and an area of the town has been cordoned off.

Hi Sandra, you can make the booking and that add the flights with celebrity at a later date, that is what we did this year and will be doing for the TA next year.

Thanks. For the 2015 transatlantic and next year's we were able to book the flights from X at the same time as we booked the cruise. It's good to know that if we want to book a cruise before flights are available we can add the flights later. We got such a good flight price booking both at the same time.

I note we're on the same Eclipse cruise next April.

Thanks everyone for your help.

Sandra

UK TRAVELLERS CAN BOOK WITH CHOICEAIR WITHOUT ANY ISSUE. I have done several times and have never found a cheaper one way fare anywhere. Just pay in US funds. No big deal.

Good to know we can book Choice Air but the Choice Air price today is still almost £100 more than the price quoted today for the cruise plus flight package on X website plus bank charges as well for US to Sterling. I did a mock booking and found the airfare is the same today as it was when we booked about 2 weeks ago. I dare say the Choice Air price will go up and down whereas the package rate might be more likely to stay the same.

Sandra

I booked a Caribbean cruise on the Eclipse in March 2015 departing January 2017. I booked direct with X. No air fares were available and won't be until Feb 16. I will then speak to my contact at X discuss flights. She has already told me that X has 2 systems, one being the package pricing, the other is just based on best available fares. Either way, it's not another booking. Interestingly enough, I have been watching the BA fares to Miami via LHR every now and again, based on a departure in Jan 16 and a couple of months ago the prices were about £200 less than they were earlier in the year.

I may just book my own flights. Whatever I do it wont affect my cruise booking

Just looked at Choice Air. Flight is £460 each. Package Price with X is £372. I wonder if the lower price is only available when booked at the same time as the cruise and if flight added later, the cost might be greater. Also not sure if the price quoted on Choice Air is available to UK bookers as the price was quoted in US and Canadian dollars. No UK option was available.

Sandra

We have done two TAs, one on Celebrity (Westbound), which we purchased the airfare after we booked the cruise. Celebrity had a good price on that one.

 

Our second TA was with NCL and we used frequent flyer miles. Most airlines now allow one way trips on miles for modest numbers.

 

We just booked our third TA from Southampton for 2017 and will either use miles or book one way with Celebrity choice air.

Not sure if we have the option of Choice Air in the UK , will need to find out.

Sandra

I booked a Caribbean cruise on the Eclipse in March 2015 departing January 2017. I booked direct with X. No air fares were available and won't be until Feb 16. I will then speak to my contact at X discuss flights. She has already told me that X has 2 systems, one being the package pricing, the other is just based on best available fares. Either way, it's not another booking. Interestingly enough, I have been watching the BA fares to Miami via LHR every now and again, based on a departure in Jan 16 and a couple of months ago the prices were about £200 less than they were earlier in the year.

I may just book my own flights. Whatever I do it wont affect my cruise booking

My concern is that I will need a one way airfare. For our next year's TA we paid £370 each from Celebrity for our flight from Edinburgh to Miami with United. We could have got an even better price if we had went with BA but the United flight suited us better. I know that one way flights normally cost the earth. If it was a return booking like yourself, I wouldn't be so concerned as you said you may just book your own flights.

We have recently booked our second Transatlantic on Eclipse for April 2016. This time and for the 2015 cruise we booked both cruise and airfare through Celebrity UK and we received a very good price and choice of flights. My question is if we book another Transatlantic before flights become available eg April 2017 flight prices will not be available before May 2016, will we be able to add flights at a later date or will this constitute another booking. Being from the UK we are not able to cancel and rebook without loss of deposit or admin charges. We have been lucky so far and got the cabins we wish but it would be nice to book when prices suit us and then add airfare later.

This sailing appears to be scheduled for late April in 2017. One sailing only.

 

Regards Debbie

Iceland and Ireland 07 May 2017

Norwegian Fjords 29 April 2017

Eclipse Europe 2017 on UK website today.

Travelling from the UK and with the fear of lost luggage by the airline, we fly out two or 3 days before a cruise. I used to worry that my clothes would be creased after being in a case for sometimes 3 or 4 days. We have always found that this did not happen and when put in the closet, any small wrinkles easily disappeared. I'm glad there aren't any irons allowed on board due to the fire risk.

Just received my email from Celebrity UK.

Evening Chic is your night to shine and will be featured once on cruises 6 nights or fewer and twice on cruises 7 nights or longer.

Women should feel comfortable wearing:

• A cocktail dress

• Skirt, trousers or smart jeans with an elegant top

Men should feel comfortable wearing:

• Trousers or smart jeans with a shirt or sweater

• Optional jacket or blazer

No mention of designer, just smart jeans.

Celebrity will always be above many other lines -

 

My grandmother was disappointed when we no longer wore Easter Hats/White Gloves/dress white patent leather shoes and little white lace anklets to church on Easter Sunday -

 

TIMES changes - styles change - the industry will always change BUT you can still wear what you want -

 

Believe you and me - with the prices that Celebrity charges compared to the what all y'all call 'lower class lines' There will not be any 'riff raff' or 'steerage' allowed in the MDR!

 

Many of you making complaints and 'mutiny grumblings' would never be able to or want to cruise on Oceania - Paul Gauguin - Wind Star - Azamara

 

NONE OF THE ABOVE HAVE 'FORMAL NIGHTS' any longer and they are still classes and have NOT lowered their standards - :)

 

Chill -

Exactly. My enjoyment of a cruise is not affected by what people wear and I have never seen any inappropriately dressed people on Celebrity and I can't imagine how this will change anything about the standard of the Celebrity product .