delondin

1 hour ago, upwarduk said:

Just had this from the CelebrityCruises FB rep:

Hi Jackie

“The information on the website has been updated in error and I have fed this back. We have not yet confirmed the testing requirements for Adults over the age of 18 on our UK sailings.

Additional testing and protocols will be confirmed nearer to the point of sailing in line with the most up to date recommendations of the UK government and our Healthy Sail Panel. “

I had a sleepless night for nothing!

 

How can they keep making serious mistakes. These are deal breakers 

On 5/1/2021 at 3:53 PM, Scriv said:

That's brilliant to hear.... please please please can you post on here when you get something. Thank you. You have given me hope.

Hi

I logged into my insurance account and clicked on cover and there was a section to download confirmation of cover and it included a letter stating the new amounts specifying UK cruises this year.

On 4/15/2021 at 6:12 PM, Scriv said:

I am really cheesed off about this with Nationwide Flex Plus and P&O. We have been with NW for years and always happy so far. We pay each month towards the cover and pay an extra for an age upgrade for Worldwide Comprehensive travel insurance. Yet we are now forced to go elsewhere and pay yet more for a 3 day cruise in UK waters. Why they can't sort it out between themselves, I do not know!

I’m with NW flex plus and they have now updated their policy to cover £10 million for these cruises. They said they should have something I can print off from my portal at the end of the week. 

On 4/13/2021 at 1:55 PM, TeeRick said:

Not sure what you mean by self-service aspect of Edge Class in The Retreat?  Not in my experience but based on just one Edge sailing.  But I have been on many sailings on M-Class and S-Class ships in suites and I can say that the Edge-class suite experience wins by a mile IMO.

For example for afternoon tea on Edge there was a small buffet area to help yourself and a small bar with a couple of wines etc to self pour. On the M and S we were served. 

We usually sail in a sky suite and enjoyed the service in S and M class in the retreat lounge (Michael’s) compared to the self service aspect of the Edge class. Edge class seemed to be more like the suite class on RCL I wonder now with COVID whether they will continue with the self service aspect or revert to the old style.  

3 hours ago, MacH said:

We just took the plunge and booked.  We paid £1500 each for a 1A but offset that to some extent by the fact that it included tips, wifi and the classic drinks package.  We like to have the wifi (although get a fairly good package for CC loyalty) but Tips would have previously been around £11pp per day which puts it in the zone of what we have paid previously with Celebrity.  Of course, paying premium prices to sail round the UK as opposed to somewhere exotic is another matter entirely and we are still not sure it is what we really want to do.  However, there is no penalty to cancel up to 48 hours before departure and get a credit note which can be used against a new booking. We cruise fairly consistently with Celebrity so, if Covid matters take a turn for the worse or if the weather forecast is dire, we will probably just cancel and use the FCC to rebook. Otherwise we will just enjoy whatever life is like onboard and make good use of the drinks package.

At the moment round the Uk is the best offer we have so making the most of it and hoping the exotic days of cruising can return. 

We have never cruised with Saga and came to this forum to get a feel for the dress code. I am pleasantly surprised to hear that they are more formal than not. I feel that it is nice to dress for dinner especially if the meal is worth it. I feel that it is very sad if the meal is top class and staff make the effort and then the guest is wearing shorts. I found this disappointing on Oceania. 
 

Too often we would make the effort to dress for dinner to be in the cocktail bar next to guests in shorts that they had been wearing since the morning. Each to their own but it is nice to have a standard that everyone is aware of before they book so we can all be singing from the same song sheet. 

2 minutes ago, oceangoer2 said:

My thought was the cruise would continue to the exact port their cruise AND day was intended to complete, not at an in-between port.  The ship would have already been committed to that port...eg...FLL or Miami or whichever.  The cruisers would have already had their flights booked for home.  I did consider the provisions;  if they didn't have to replenish during the cruise they would already have enough on board.  If ports were closed to that replenishment,  they may have been able to portion meals (horrors! think of the waste they must have on 'normal' cruising) or somehow redesign menus......they could have made those provisions last until the cruise ended.  Just seemed logical to me rather than bringing all the ships in almost at the same time which must have been a logistics nightmare with certain ships having booked berthing on that day and all trying to park on a day not pre-booked for them.

I understand where they are now is where the cruise should have ended with onward flights booked from there but the port won’t let them in

34 minutes ago, oceangoer2 said:

As long as there would be no CV onboard, I wonder if it would have made more sense that every cruise ship already at sea which has been denied a port, should have remained at sea allowing a cruise to nowhere...many sea days...but at least arriving back at disembarkation port where cruisers could access their booked air flight home.  No panic to arrange alternate flights, more expense, etc. 

Seems logical in theory but probably not all allowed to dock where the cruise ends. Also with lots of sea days may not have enough provisions on board for that number of people. 

3 minutes ago, dutchclogs said:

Agreed, can't see Celebrity making decision quickly. But they surely must be contingency planning?

They must be worn out with contingency planning. Things are changing hourly 

I found that some of the metal bottles leaked, even unopened. Also I had a couple that just tasted off. 

When we had the same cabin on Constellation we had a lot of noise from the connecting door to the Penthouse. You could literally hear their conversations. Any one else have this and had it improved with the refit on Summit? 

Regarding the shade in the Retreat deck, although from the photos it looks quite shaded with the wooden slats etc. I have to say in the real heat of the summer - I was on board In Europe in June when it was extremely hot - those slats do not actually do a lot and shade is very sought after and difficult to find. 

We did the chefs table a couple of years ago and were underwhelmed. We were promised an officer as a table mate and no disrespect as the company was lovely but the guy who produces the daily planner and the shore excursions manager are not officers. The meal was nice but not wow. We were in Luminae and I think the upcharge is not worth it as we had lovely meals and service in Luminae already.  Back to the point the wine was included in the cost 

4 hours ago, vtcruising said:

Thanks! I have gotten the feeling from a couple of people on CC that the concierges might not be mingling and giving service that is as personalized. They did have a round desk near the restrooms when we were there and we sat there with them to make reservations or just chat. The podium was in play mostly on day one, with a line. I didn't like that set up - felt like a restaurant. In January they were often circulating through the Retreat Lounge, knew people by name, and took the time to see how each group was doing. I imagine each cruise is different, with varying demands, though a lot also depends upon the concierge.

 

The Retreat Sundeck required our Seapass cards when we were there as well - I am wondering if they will continue this, so have been intermittently checking with people who have recently sailed. 🙂

 

You said that the Retreat was not nearly full - do you think they had a lot of unsold suites on your cruise?

 

We were told they had unsold suites but were told the following cruise 29th June was pretty full.  We had the outside area of the Retreat Lounge pretty much to ourselves most nights. Apparently on the previous cruise it was full every night and they needed 3 bartenders to cope. 

12 hours ago, vtcruising said:

Thanks for the informative review. I'm glad the CS worked out for your family. I agree about the bathroom. In the original plan they had a better bathroom layout and a dinette-style table with 2 chairs and a bench seat in the living area. They had half of the balcony as a loggia though, so I would have traded the better bath for the better balcony. Too bad they couldn't figure out how to do both! They are nice suites though, and I wouldn't mind sailing in one.

 

How was the FCSH noise-wise? Did the Martini Bar noise get loud or did they keep it toned down during dinner hours?

 

Do they still have 3 Retreat concierges in the Retreat Lounge? Did the concierge service feel okay there (as far as assistance with reservations, etc.)?  Are they still asking for your Seapass card on the Retreat Sundeck for beverages?

 

How did the kids like the ship? Did they do the kid's program? What was your favorite thing about the ship?

 

Sorry for all the questions....🙂

 

We were recently onboard and there were 3 concierges but not always there at the same time.  Although friendly and quite helpful the service wasn’t as personal as I have found on previous cruises.  The sailing was no where near full but they did not seem to want to interact for the sake of interacting  - only if you directly asked them a question.  In my previous experience they always made time to come and have a chat, make sure everything was ok etc.  I did wonder if they are now not allowed to leave their podium (I prefer the old style desk).

With regard to sea pass card on the Retreat deck we had to show it every time we ordered a drink and we were there everyday - we had the premium drinks package.  

Is it because they want 3 rooms and only 2 are over 21

I don’t know about the cost but they do not seem to be very private. People walking past all the time etc. I would check you like the location before committing.

We had 2115 on Equinox and would book it again. 

20 minutes ago, chemmo said:

Anyone know if Elite/Elite Plus still get one free visit to Persian Gardens now Equinox has been Revolutionised? 

 

Also what are the toiletries like in the suites?

The toiletries on Edge and therefore presume going fleetwide are CoBigelow. Pleasant unisex fragrance but in large refillable containers. Presumably to save waste but I don’t find the concept hygienic.

15 hours ago, rattanchair said:

Dear Hap, We noticed something this afternoon at 3:30 tea and scones in Retreat lounge.  They made it buffet. We enjoyed it better when we were served. We do not eat buffets, ever! Having gotten sick numerous times eating buffets over the years. So many coughing on board.  We turned around and went to Cafe del Bacio and picked out an assortment and carried it back to our cabin. No scones at the Cafe. 'Sour grapes' ?

We just got off the Edge and didn’t like the afternoon tea in the Retreat Lounge buffet style. There is a sink which I only saw used once all cruise. It has lost the sense of occasion that afternoon tea should have IMO. Also no tea pots and if you can manage to catch the eye of a butler they stick a tea bag in a cup and give it to you like that. Not classy. 

The suite life on Celebrity is excellent. We have never done the luxury lines like silver seas, regent etc but compared to the mainstream suite experience celebrity excels. Even better than Oceania suite experience. They just seem to care more. Queen’s Grill on Cunard which is a similar price bracket, not including drinks (which are expensive) is inferior - except for the dining experience. 

The suite concierge is worth having especially if you have any issues. Much better than dealing with guest relations

On 10/20/2018 at 10:06 AM, Marronnier said:

I'm booked on the QV mini cruise from Southampton to Hamburg and back leaving on 10th January.

The Cunard pdf listing speakers on the QV does not have this cruise listed - although it does have the cruise before and after this one listed. Is this likely to mean there will be no speakers on this short cruise or just they haven't for some reason published them?

 

Thanks for for any information or 'Insights'!

I couldn’t find this cruise - do you mean leaving on 6 jan and returning the 10th?

There isn't a Presidents cruise for 2019. Lisa confirmed this on the last Presidents cruise.