ptrpanpens

I got locked on on deck 9. They are the old style doors with nothing to grab onto easily to close the door when walking onto the balcony. It is easier to grab the inside handle and close the door. In the process you may pull the handle up or down into the locking mode and as the door closes the locking pin will engage into the threshold thus locking you out. There is no handle on the outside of the door, there is a very small recess instead of a knob or handle. It is a very poor design. Just make sure that you don't pull the handle into the locking position when closing the door. I dont remember what the position is but the handle moves a locking pin in the bottom of the door that engages into a hole in the threshold. When you get your cabin have someone stay inside and give it a try and you will be able to see what I am referring to.

 

On the new cabins on deck 11 they have installed the newer style doors that are on the S class. There is a handle on both sides and the doors operate completely different.

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Thank you for this information. I will be very careful with that door.

Mr Sloop & I are interested in a similar Itinerary for 2016 or 2017... We fell in love with the idea after reading Trip Reports by other CC Members who had done similar itineraries starting in Venice, with stops in Eastern European cities along the Adriatic, into the Med, stops in Greece & Malta, before rounding the bottom of Italy's boot with stops along the way before ending in Rome.

 

Unfortunately, we may have missed the boat on this.

 

In previous years, Celebrity's Solstice - Eclipse - and Silhouette have done some of these itineraries.

 

Not sure what is going to happen in 2015, after the fallout of Venice's recent announcement regarding their ban on large cruise ships in the historic city.

 

See this Telegraph article from 6 weeks ago = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/11023451/Italy-to-ban-large-cruise-ships-in-Venice.html

 

As this just happened hard to say if the cruises on the books for Summer 2015 with various lines will go ahead with the necessary changes or be outright cancelled / reroutes etc.

 

Like it or not, this is going to change the face of the cruise industry in Venice for ships in the 40,000 tonnes & up category, not just for Celebrity* but all Cruise Lines.

 

* Celebrity's M-Class Ships are all 91,000 tonnes, and S-Class Ships are all 122,000 tonnes or more. And the sizes of these ships are comparable to other cruise lines and their ships that ply the Mediterranean. So choice is about to decrease considerably :(

 

Sorry, I don't have better news

 

My suggestion is just keep an eye on the news (Cruise Critic's Home Page is a good place to start)... And if you do decide to make an early booking on spec, make sure you have good Travel / Cancellation Insurance... And air tickets that are not non-findable or cannot be changed

 

Cheers!

Connie will be doing the Adriatic cruise from Venice and/or Rome that was done by Silhouette this year. I took it last November and it is a fantastic itinerary. The only negative is that prices for next year are over twice as expensive for less days. But still an outstanding itinerary. I would hope they will still be able to dock near Piazzale Roma.

Lay a towel along the threshold to help keep it open. We always get a few extra towels from the pool area to soak up the water from the leaky shower doors. Get a extra for the door.

 

Happy cruisng🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Thank you for this information. I am still a little confused. Can anyone clarify whether there are similar problems with the balcony doors sliding shut and locking you out on Deck 9 of Connie. A2 cabin not A1. 9054 to be exact. I will be sailing in three weeks.

I do not want to get stuck outside alone!!!:eek:

Glad to hear these great reviews about Connie as I will be boarding in Istanbul on Oct 25, Aqua cabin on deck 9.

I love the Reflection and Silhouette but also the Century so am sure I will be happy with Connie too. The Martini Bar is all the entertainment I need, :D:D

I just did this three hours ago. I moved from a 2B balcony to a Conciearge balcony. Didn't pay a penny extra and kept my obc and prepaid gratuities I got when I originaly booked the cruise. My online travel agent did it for me at no additional charge.

You don't usually lose OBC if it is given by a TA. But if you upgrade after final payment and it is a special captains club promotion or exciting Tuesday deals or some promotion like that, you will lose OBC or perks given by Celebrity. Every situation is different. I would gladly pay $100 to upgrade from an inside to Aqua even with loss of the pick your perk or OBC from Celebrity. Other situations might be different.

Personally I am interested in getting the best cabin for the money rather than the cheapest cabin. So would much rather have an Aqua for more money even losing perks than an inside any day, as long as the cost is a good deal IMO.

WOW! The hair cuts, trims and just a wash and blow out are outrageous! Can't they get someone who is affordable? I use to enjoy a manicure and hair trim, not any more...

Definitely agree with you! The wash and blow dry went up 50% from pre CR prices and didnt look any better. I usually give a large tip but not on top of 18% gratuity. But I think the price was almost $70 just for a wash and blow dry, which is more than I pay in Beverly Hills.:eek: I think it was more cost effective to get a trim or cut and blow dry but I do not let anyone but my regular hairdresser touch my hair with a scissors.

In May on Reflection, People were complaining so I was hoping they would come down a little at least. Will check it out again on Connie later this month but it looks like I will just have to bite the bullet and do it myself at those prices.

I was on that deck in a 2c, I think it was 6140, no problem whatsoever. You couldn't even see the lifeboat until you were almost out on the balcony.

I could also see the water between the lifeboats if I looked down. I would definitely book this location again. Very convenient to everything.

Guess the beverage package would work. I love espresso and bottled water.

 

FCC is a future cruise credit.

 

Thank you for responding.

You can get evian as part of the three free Elite drinks at happy hour or at any bar that accepts vouchers between 5-7. I did it on Reflection in May.

I am more than aware of that. My point was airiawoman was misreading what I was posting. It isn't necessary for me to call Capt. Club, reason's I won't go into. I am in an aqua on my upcoming Reflection cruise. I really do know what I'm doing.

Sorry but I was just responding to your post where you said that "there are alot of specials for couples that singles cannot get" and this is simply not true. There are no specials for couples that singles cannot get that I am aware of as long as one is persistent with celebrity and does not just take "no" for an answer.

I was not implying that you did not know what you were doing but just trying to make sure people here were aware that a single should be able to get any special available to a couple even after final payment or for new bookings only, but it often requires alot of effort.

There may be exceptions to this, but so far I haven't found any, at least not using the Celebrity US site.

Thank you for answering!

If you are elite you can get large bottles of Evian as part of your three free drinks at the happy hour or even if they give vouchers. I just did it recently on Reflection every evening at one of the eligible bars since I am not a drinker and would rather have bottled water.

I know that - you weren't getting what I was getting at. I'm talking about the specials. There are a lot of specials for couples that singles can't get - some of the guarantees for example can only be booked for 2 in a cabin - not for 1 paying double.

 

I have no interest in a cramped studio cabin or those insides made for singles. I will not be punished by a cruiseline because my DH died.

 

I am well aware I will be paying more as a single, I just intend to get the best I can afford and where I want to be.

Once again, I want to reiterate my earlier post that you CAN book the specials for sole occupancy, even those after final payment that are on exciting deals or Captains Club rates and supposedly for new bookings only.

I have done it several times, most recently on the Constellation cruise I am taking in a little over three weeks where I upgraded from inside to concierge, and then again to Aqua on exciting deal rates for sole occupancy by paying the difference. This rate was supposedly for double occupancy and new bookings only and would not come up on the webpage for single occ so I had to call Celebrity directly. Also, do not talk to the regular agents but call Captains Club as they are more flexible and ask them to speak to the resolution desk if they still say no.

I have gotten at least four upgrades on the cheap specials this way after final payment and for single occupancy in a cabin.

Just be persistent and do not take no for an answer. Others I know have also done it so i know it is possible. As others have said, and you already know, the price will be double for one person, of course.

I loved the Intercontinental. Got a great rate through a site that does not tell you the name until after you have booked. And they even upgraded my room. I was able to look out of my higher floor window and see Reflection the morning of sailaway. Very nice! Also excellent service in this hotel.

Highly recommended from a very picky hotel person!

I have booked several guarantee rates with celebrity as a solo. You have to go through Captains Club and not the agents because they will just tell you No. Also, if they say No just ask them to call the resolution department and they will approve it. At least that is what has always happened with me. You have to be firm and insist, though, and of course you still have to pay double the fare for single occupancy.

The web site will not let you book a guarantee for a single, which is why you must call celebrity. I know they can do it because I just upgraded recently to guarantee rates on the constellation even though it was technically restricted to double occupancy plus it was after final payment and supposedly for new bookings only.

Good luck and keep trying until you get a yes answer because I know first hand it is possible and that they have the flexibility to do it.

Now that you have your guaranteed category stateroom assigned, contact Celebrity and ask to have your room changed to somewhere else that doesn't have such an overhang. I have heard of people getting moved to a better location because they took a minute to ask, even with a guaranteed arrangement.

Yes I am aware that you can switch cabins within a category. However, All the aqua cabins in that category are on Deck 9 with the overhang and I like the position of the cabin I was assigned so am not inclined to change. Plus I do not think I will be at all bothered by the overhang since I do not mind the shade, and compared to the inside cabin which I upgraded from, any balcony will be a blessing.:)

But thank you again for your advice.

Thanks for the photos. Since the cost was only $2,398 for a single occupancy aqua class guarantee cabin on my 11 night European cruise versus more than double that for an assigned aqua cabin of my choice, I think I will be fine with the overhang.:D

But interesting to see how different the M Class is from S Class ships.

Here is a picture from cabin 9092 on the Infinity.

Thank you for the photo. Looks fine.

Does anyone have any comments, pro or con regarding the effect of the Deck 9 overhang on the M Class ships, specifically the Constellation. I am in one of the aqua class cabins and was just curious how people liked the overhang (or didn't).

Does it cut out a lot of the light inside the cabin or distract from the view if taking photos from the balcony. I am not a sun worshipper so do not care that the area will be shaded.

Thanks for any insight. I am in cabin 9054 starboard.

No smoking anywhere inside the ship. Aqua Spa Cafe, oatmeal cookies.:D

We will be staying at Hotel Barocco in November for 2 days before our cruise. I am so glad to read your post. It is a little scary booking a hotel in an area you don't have a clue where you are. Any info you can give me about things to do in the area?

You will love the Barocco. Say Hi to Christiano and Fabio, they are the best. I dont know what size room you booked but be aware that it is not a typical large US hotel with gym, huge lobby, etc. There is a very nice bar and the breakfast is the best you will ever have in Europe. they make bacon and eggs to order, frittas, omlets, plus everything else you can think of. I was never hungry until dinner.

Another nice thing is that they will often upgrade you if they have room. Without a doubt the cleanest hotel I have ever stayed in with fantastic beds and totally refurbished. You can walk everywhere, plus the metro is right there at Piazza Barberini if you want to get to the Vatican fast. Right around the corner, you can walk up Via Veneto to the Borghese Gallery and Gardens. There are all sorts of outside cafes on that street...very atmospheric. Plus five minutes to Trevi, Pantheon, Spanish Steps. It is on a little side street so the location is quiet.

Osteria Barberini is a great restaurant just up the street a few steps.

You have nothing to worry about with this hotel, it does not get its extremely high rating for nothing. This is my favorite hotel after traveling over 35 years in Europe.:D

I know this has been discussed before but I would like to know if anyone has recommendations for a company who does a good dinner cruise on the Bosphorus. I will be in Istanbul with friends the last 10 days of October and we are thinking of taking the cruise but NOT if it is a rip off or too touristy. Thought it would be a good way to relax and see the sights at night.

Or does anyone have a suggestion of an alternative plan for the evening? Very open to suggestions. Is there a restaurant in the Galata Tower or someplace else with a good view of the Bosphorus.

That has not been my experience. I start looking at airfares as soon as I start considering a cruise but seldom book until a month or six weeks out and have always found the airfare on choice air to be within five or $10 of the lowest prices I've seen.

This has also been my experience with fares since I am always mulling over possibilities of pre or post cruise options until closer to the sailing date and almost never book before 6-8 weeks out. I have found Fares do not change much, if at all, except that I have stumbled on some great deals within 6 weeks of sailing.

I usually fly to and from LAX, which is a large hub, so smaller airports may be different.

If you want to go on a popular cruise, it will most likely sell out before final payment.

 

Examples: Around the Horn of South America or cruise out of Istanbul.

 

Also, airfare is a lot more at the last minute.

Not always true, either. Check out the Constellation Holy Land cruise from Istanbul October 25.

Inside Cabins $599

OV $799

Veranda $999

Concierge $1,099

Aqua $1,199

Suite $1,689 (special Captains club offer)

Airfare has not changed at all in the past 6 months on this cruise, at least not from LAX, dont know about other cities but assume it is similar.

I have also gotten phenomenal airfares in the last 2 months before sailing. Like FCO to JGK business on Lufthansa last December for $830 plus an additional $100 OBC for booking at that time. So sometimes it definitely pays to procrastinate.:D

There are exceptions to this, like the Tuesday special which usually only applies to new bookings.:cool:

I have gotten upgrades every time I have called on the Tuesday specials. You just need to be persistent and convincing. And the cabin you are upgrading to must be higher priced than the cabin you are in.

Insist to speak to someone higher than the agent as they cant do anything.

Just got back from Bologna in May. Loved the Hotel Orologico, about $250 per night for a deluxe room and right outside the main square. Wonderful service and breakfast and very clean. I loved the brightly painted walls and beautiful mahogany floors. Smack in the center of town. All the Art Hotels are great.

Bologna is a wonderful and interesting city, not touristy, reasonably priced and with great food and shopping, as well as sights. But be sure to visit Ravenna, the most beautiful Byzantine mosaics anywhere, including Istanbul, IMO. Only an hour away by train.

I can recommend Hotel Barocco, we've stayed there twice and I would go back in a heartbeat :)

Totally agree with you. Love,love, love the Barocco. In this hotel, service, cleanliness, breakfast, location cannot be beat. This is not the cheapest hotel but you really get what you pay for.

My favorite hotel of all after over 35 years traveling in Europe! And I am about as picky about hotels as you can get.:D