goofysmom99

"The end of the month" is already too late to fix the bumper-car school of management that Celebrity has embraced. I'm so disgusted, I just coughed-up another 25% deposit today for Silversea. Granted, it's still within the RCG family but I'm betting/hoping SS isn't out to dismantle its brand/reputation like X has done.

I just discovered that this past November on Constellation. It was the best GF pizza I've ever eaten!

I think they're counting on that.

Dress sandals are fine, just no rubber flip-flops (and everyone knows exactly what those are). I have never worn a closed-toe shoe in Luminae, MDR, or specialty restaurant.

You're absolutely right. My $9800 Superior Veranda cabin (video) is waaay nicer than a $16,000 sky suite or my $8000 C1 on Summit, and it's 2 nights longer. And there will be no nickel and dime upcharges for a decent glass of wine (of all the boneheaded management moves X has made over the past year, that one's a real prize-winner). Anyway, I've been looking at lots of Silver Moon videos on youtube today. That's one classy ship with a new-to-me layout. They maximize aft views for everyone with the locations of the lounges and restaurants. I'll be taking a deeper dive into itineraries this weekend, too. Yup, very impressive.

After reading this thread earlier today, and the threads about the solo price-gouging, I checked a cruise site where it's easy to plug in where, when, and how many pax to compare fares across most lines. I was specifically looking for solo supplements. OK, then I decided to compare cruises I already have on the books with the competition. The one that made my eyes pop was April 2025 Panama Canal transit. Silversea Silver Moon (2020 build) 18-night transit out of Ft Lauderdale is $9813 for Superior Veranda vs my Summit April 2025 16-night transit, concierge C1, $7982 (a sky suite is $16K). Silversea price is port-to-port so no included hotel, air, or driver, but from Orlando, I don't need any of those. So it's a direct comparison. $1831 more = gratuities, wifi, excursions, butler, cabin fridge restocked with bevs/alcohol, 24/7 room service, and specialties. Oh, and onboard washers (I prefer to do my own stuff, believe it or not). Not much to use OBC for so my TA will send a check. I'm zenith so, yes, I get comped bevs, wifi, and laundry, but after a disappointing 16-night TA on Constellation in November, once I factor in gratuities and 2 additional nights, it's a wash. I'm not talking about a sky suite either - it's a wash between a concierge cabin and a comparable veranda on Silversea. I had my TA put a hold on Silversea this afternoon (Summit was booked onboard so only $100 loss). My TA, also a zenith, knew exactly what I was talking about. Seems she and her daughter (also a TA) had just last week switched from X to Silversea for 2025 Alaska because they also discovered they receive more for less $ on Silversea. Better itinerary, too. I still have three X cruises - two next month and one in November, then nada. I genuinely hope my November TA on Silhouette isn't my last cruise on Celebrity, but it very well could be. Makes me sad and mad. It took nearly 20 years to reach zenith; it's taken just12 months to lose my business and my trust. If management ever regains sanity, I'll reconsider.

Hand sanitizer doesn't work well against norovirus. https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/prevention.html I got it on Summit last year (last night, first time ever). And of course I needed to drive home for 4+ hrs....it was awful!

Does everyone tip in/at Cafe al Bacio, too? It's part of the drink package.

There's a lot of that happening.

I sailed her when she was the Statendam, one of her previous lives.

I would always choose a hump except for an July/August Caribbean/Med cruise. When cruising resumed in July 2021, I booked my usual hump (first behind the hump) on the Eclipse and it was too hot to use. The metal walls absorbed the reeeally oppressive heat and radiated it back well into the evening. Changed my cabin to one ON the hump on following cruise which allowed better air flow and was cooler. However, lesson learned - I won't be cruising Med/Caribbean in any cabin mid-Summer ever again. 🥵

Oh, I'll be still cruising on X since I receive PBP (such as it now is), wifi, and Retreat access but I sure as heck won't be booking/wasting $$$$ on a suite. I’ve booked SV/CC (w/specialties most nights), or AQ cabins and saved enough to pay for my Oceania and Regent cruises. I'm not steamed over pricing, I'm steamed over value. Regent and Oceania have raised prices, but they don't appear to have radically cheapened their product, unlike X. That's the difference.

Ditto. Much nicer cabin, butler, beautiful shower (no silly bathtub/shower combo), and an impressive balcony with loungers, dining table, and chairs (Vista, Deck 7 PH2). I'll be able to have room service from the main dining room AND specialty restaurants, unlike any category of suite on X now. Oh, and there's a Retreat-like Concierge Lounge and Sun Deck (which I doubt I'll use any more than I do on X). I still have a few cruises left on X but I'm also branching out to other, more sensibly-priced cruise lines that provide greater value. That's something I never, ever thought I'd do as recently as 12 short months ago. What a difference a year makes.

Not true. Room service has a dedicated toaster. GF baked goods are made in a separate oven and distributed throughout the ship. I've been ordering GF from room service on X for 15 years uneventfully.

You need to print "two slices of gluten free toast" or "two gluten free muffins" or however many you want. That's pretty much their GF continental breakfast repertoire.

A reason to avoid Reflection if booking a suite is because it has 111 suites vs 66 on Silhouette, and unfortunately the Retreat/Michael's Club and Luminae are the same size (always crowded). The Silhouette still has the full-expanse Sky Lounge that was chopped up for additional suites on Reflection. That's why Silhouette remains my favorite ship, even when not booking a suite.

This happened on my recent November Constellation TA quite a but. Anytime I ordered a drink in the Oceanview/Sunset Bar, there would be five or six other $0 charges. Only occurred at Sunset though, never anywhere else. I wasn't in a suite but am a zenith and guess they never question those either. Hoping the upcharge goes the way of the cookie....if enough people complain to the home office. Please complain, one and all!

Have two upcoming cruises on X, joining dear friends taking their last cruises (health). They're Zenith, too, but in a SS the first leg, then PH on second. I want both cruises to be memorable and special....in a good way. Since she likes certain wines, I'll write. After these two cruises, I am voting with my $ (Oceania and Regent).

This warrants yet another cranky email to the home office. It's getting old.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they do spring a third level. Classic, premium, and deluxe. They just might be testing the waters to see how many are willing to pay an upcharge. Then give deluxe to upper suites and premium to junior suites with an option to buy up. I doubt they're through fiddling with sky suites. Edit: I noticed sky suites were significantly reduced on 2025 TAs where they were also referred to as Junior Suites. I'm sure there won't be an advance announcement either, just like butlers.

Report is coming from Summit, now. Anything that's over $17.

Do you have a suggestion for someone traveling solo who cannot stand in a taxi line? I do have wheelchair assistance from the plane, to luggage, and to the curb. I can't imagine a wheelchair pusher would push me through a taxi line. I've used reserved services in other European locations but haven't found anything for Barcelona that comes highly recommended, or even sort of recommended. Thanks.

Maybe they'll just rename the categories. Then folks coming from RCI will think they're really getting something special (Luminae). What a clever plan. 😉

Excellent, thank you! goofysmom99@yahoo.com Do you use a tripod or just hold steady? So many videos make me seasick because they pan too fast and don't hold the camera in one place to pan.

Great video. Thanks for getting up soooo early!! This is the only way I'll ever see that! 😅 Edit: Worked on my phone.