gatour

Since you are spending so much time in lounges can you take a gander of what brand(s) of non alcholic beer they have available?

Not being judgemental before my liver issues and transplant 8 weeks ago.  I would spend a lot of time in lounges reading and enjoying a glass of wine or a mixed drink.  Now that is not an option for future cruises so reading and enjoying mocktails and NA beer is in my future.

2 hours ago, Twin Dad said:

Can’t even wear Keens closed toe with the locking pull string tightened.  I’ve seen tennis shoes tied so poorly I don’t know how they stay on!

My tennis shoes always become untied and they stay on even for the 10k walk I used to do once or twice a week.  Now I am limited to about a 1 1/2 to 2 miles while I recover from a major surgery, but they still stay on even untied.  🙂

23 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

You’d be fine I imagine. 
 

I should have included a smiley face.  I was being a bit facetious, as you would have to look really closely to figure out that they are fake.  It really doesn't matter to me if I have to go barefooted.

On 4/25/2024 at 4:07 PM, raudacruise said:

My first visit to Stingray City was a Celebrity excursion in a huge, overcrowded catamaran.  Crazy mob scene.  Never again.

 

I have since used Captain Marvin (small group in a powerboat) and Stingray Sailing, another small group.  Both are outstanding.  I’m booking one of these next spring.

 

http://stingraysailing.com

 

http://captainmarvins.com

 

 

Stingray Sailing is what I have in mind as it is closest to what we have done in the past.  Do you far beforehand do they open for booking?

3 hours ago, Charles4515 said:

A large busness with hundreds of thousands of customers can afford to test. And it is not retro. iOS 16 is still supported. iOS 16 was incremental. It should take minimal effort. IOS 17 has been out less than a year so requiring it is short sited . There are thousands of apps that still get updates and run as far back as iOS 13. 

Sure they can afford to test, but on the bean counters hat.  It is a cost center so a possibility for an expense reduction which increases net revenue.

Other companies have different business models that include updates "certified" for prior versions of OSes.  Not saying that Celebrity (RCCL) is right or wrong, just that their business seems to be different.

On 4/24/2024 at 9:03 PM, omahabob said:

This is the part that gets me. They already supported iOS 16, so there was no expenditure necessary to support it. They spent money to exclude it. I can see it if it was a really old OS that gets very little use among customers, but it isn't. More people use 16 than use 17, so that simply isn't the case.

There is a cost going forward.  As they make tweaks to the app.  They have to do retro testing to make sure the tweeks work on prior versions of the OS.  They have decided to stop doing this testing for versions of OS prior to IOS17

Wonder what they would think about my Sketchers.  They are slip on but have fake laces 

5 hours ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

you can call them in advance of your cruise and get the match. We did that for me and my husband before our very first X cruise earlier this month. So, on our very first Celebrity cruise we were already Select.

Thanks,  haven't quite that far.  Still need to run this by the wife as Celebrity will be new to us.  I am pretty easy going, get me on a ship that is running an itinerary I am interested in and I am happy, my wife on the other hand....    😉

Thanks for the information.  If all goes well, I will be celebrating my one year post liver transplant.  I understand about the differences between ship provided excursions vs book on your own, and have it both ways on other cruises and other ports.  Just making sure that a catamaran tour would still be available, since I like it better than the motorized pontoon barge boats.  And yes I know they may not put up the sails because of no wind but definitely better experience than the barges

I haven't been able to make any trips for the last year and half, and still can't go internationally until my one year point, i.e. 2025.  We love to cruise and haven't been to Grand Cayman for several years.  I found a cruise on the Beyond that stops at Grand Cayman and Coco Caye, that was reasonably prices.  We have done the Eastern/Caribbean runs so often that we generally don't do excursions, but Sting ray city never gets old and we like Coco Caye.  Looking at trying a different line that had reasonable prices.  This one intrigues me.

Somewhat related question.  I have never taken a Celebrity cruise.  If I book a Celebrity cruise does my RC ststus mstch start on the first cruise or the second cruise.

At one time you weren't considered psrt of thrir loyalty program until you took your first cruise.

New to Celebrity but veteran Royal Caribbean cruiser among other lines.

One of my favorite excursions is a catamaran ride to and back from Stingray City in Grand Cayman?  Does Celebrity offer this?

I looked on the Celebrity website but I don't think they have lozded the brochures for the time frame we are contemplating for next year.

How do you like the mid day time change?  Several years ago we did a eastbound QM II TA where they changed the clocks at night.  I liked this as I am not normally a breakfast eater so missing that to get sleep was not a big deal.

I started my cruising life sailing on Carnival.  It was a bit startling when Carnival started reusing names.  At least they tacked on Carnival to the reused names.  Makes it easier when I am perusing the Carnival bkard to figure out if someone is reminiscing about a ship I sailed on years ago or the new version.

No.  It is a registration of convience although I think there are some rules that they have to abide.  Which depends on country of registration

21 hours ago, FlyGal25 said:

 

You said instead of calling, which I  o yes that address. 

 

However, more importantly, the eye roll wasn't for you, it was for RCCL. My apologies if you misinterpreted that. (In my original post I gave the eye roll to them ... that was the hence part. Looking back, it didn't read that way and looked directed at you which was never my intention. I am sorry about that.)

 

I am just dumbfounded they couldn't give out his name when it was easily accessible before. RCCL absolutely deserves my eye roll. 😉 

 

 

*edited for clarification

In your  original  you never specified the email address that you used to ask RCCL the question.  Instead you just said you generically emailed RCCL.  That could have been any number of email addresses that are floating around.

13 hours ago, laurieal said:

The red button is to lock/open the bathroom door. It turns green when unlocked. 
 

The bottom one had a bell image on it, so maybe something related to an alarm? Not even sure if that one is also a button since I didn’t try pressing it. Perhaps I should have… 👀 

Having spent a lot of time in hospitals over the ladt year and a half because of my liver transplant,  I bet the thing near the floor is a "I have fallen and I can't get up" get up alarm button.  Hospitsl bathroom even in the public areas have those rip cord alarms in case someone needs help.

I am loving your trip report.

Neat idea.  I don't normally drink coffee, much less Starbucks.  But may just have to start  so I have an excuse to buy another souvenir.

Can someone please post a picture of one.

1 hour ago, laurieal said:

Brightline train update! We are now departing Aventura and heading to Miami. It has been a very pleasant ride. 
 

My only issue, which isn’t an issue at all, is that the snacks guy is making his rounds way too often. 
 

After the sandwich tray, I got another cocktail. Then, a bag of snacks, followed by some water and some gummies

 

 

 

I had spotted some potential dinner spots in Miami, but now I’m full.

 

Here’s a picture of the restroom closest to my seat. 

 

 

I really enjoyed the my experience with Brightline and wouldn’t hesitate to travel with them again. 
 

If you’re thinking of purchasing a ticket, I recommend subscribing to their mailing list. I have received a few offers from them, some of which were very interesting like a coupon code got a cheaper fare or a BOGO. 

 

I also find it reassuring that they have so many trips each day. It makes me feel like I have a backup of something ever goes wrong. 

 

Curious what were the red and green lights (buttons???) by the door.  One counter height and the other near the floor.

My internal engineer is peeking its head out.  🙂

I agree about Rock n Roll coaster and headaches.  It doesn't happen often but every so often it does esp. when I ride multiple times in a row.  I find if I  force my head against the headrest it helps to keep your head shaking and thus decreases the chance of headaches 

I am not holding out much hope for the taste of NA wine but will stop by Total Wine to try some out.

I forgot about my Diamond/Diamond+ status.  I forget my exact level.  The 4 or 5 drink coupons should be good for NA beer, correct?  My wife doesn't drink much alcohol and doesn't like the taste of beer. So between mocktails and the drink coupons I should be set for when I am cleared to travel again.

Thanks everyone for you responses.

Thanks everyone.  I figured th NA liquor was going to be a non starter.

Bummer about NA beer not being part of the refreshment package.  While I was not a big beer drinker I did like a nice cold one when I was on the beach.

I am relatively new to this.  I was normally a wine drinker esp. with dinner.  I need to make a visit to Total Wine to checkout NA wine.  I am relatively new to this NA thing since zi just got my relacement liver at the beginning of March.  A

I have some time to research this has my Doctors/Nurse coordinator don't want me to tracel internationally until 6 months post transplant and preferably for a year.

Again thanks.

As a recent liver transplant recipient I am now an officially a tee-totaler.

Curious about what non alcholic beers are avaiable.  Also any mocktails that are non-heavy i.e drinks no strawberry daiquiris or pina coladas.

I know this is probably asking for too much but what non alhohic liquor.  Things like non alcohol tequila.  This is a relatively recent phenomenon so it might be a bit early for cruise ships to stock it.  Ilove my margarita esp. on a cruise.  Locally several place will make a margarita with non alcohol tequila.  Not exactly a real margarita taste wise but close enough.

The skyliner also closes when there are lightening strikes within I think five miles of it.  It could be clear in the Skyliner area but somewhere close lightening could be happening.  That is Florida especially during the summer.

I have had times when it was raining in the backyard but perfectly sunny in the front yard.

Enjoying your report.

This looks like this will be a fun trip report.

I am anal retentive about final payment.  Along with reminders l probably check once a week and make final payment when my closest credit card billing cycle begins.  Usually a few weeks before final payment.  Don't want to wait until the last minute in case there is a processing snafu.

On 3/29/2024 at 4:50 PM, pghflyer said:

I actually have no idea about what day you are referring to or which itineraries are affected in which way. I live here, these are my people, and my town, and I feel terrible about the loss of life and long-term impact. But it doesn't mean people  have to just eat very significant changes that is no longer remotely what they purchased (i.e. new embarkation port 5 HOURS away.... I am not impacted but am still employed and could not magically come up with extra vacation days for those drives) That is why the for-profit business should carry insurance.

What do you propose RCCL to do?  Magically open the port of Baltimore.  They have an alternate plan.  It seems like they are offering full refunds if you don't like the alternate.