bighairtexan

Christina (I guess for some weird reason I've been referring to you as Mary Lou so I apologize... but you'll ALWAYS be Mary LOU TO ME!) :D

Anyway your answers have been extremely detailed and helpful to me. My travel pal had asked me a few questions and I said I'd find out. But you know how it is calling Celebrity shoreside service. Polite but as for informed.... well they're POLITE.

ANYWAY, your review was really informative and helpful. You answered questions I didn't know I had! :D

TY Mary Lou. I was on the fence anyway about the Chef's Table, having done several on several cruise lines. The price, and no "generous pours" would mean it would have to be beyond fabulous food to justify that price. Especially when we can do specialty dining any time, and some of the courses are available there. So thanks for your review. I know food is REALLY subjective, but I think we'll pass.

3 other questions when you get a chance regarding specialty dining. Did you have any issues regarding getting a specialty restaurant on any given night? I mean if one were fully booked, was it easy to get a reservation elsewhere? How long in advance did you have to book? Day of or days before. I assume you just asked your butler to do it.

I happen to think Luminae is fantastic. My travel companion wasn't all that impressed; I don't think she gave it enough of a chance... she didn't like her first meal there so decided not to go back. I love it so we'll have to come to some compromises. :D Thanks once again. This has been very informative. My first, last and only R/S was a while back, and as I recall, the unlimited specialties were not part of the experience.

Thank you so very much for taking the time to do this!

In an R/S on Equinox in September so I may be wrong but I ASSUME the Chef's Table is NOT included in the unlimited Specialty Dining? Also the Murano menu w/ the wine pairings isn't included? Not sure if that's true.

TIA

Other cruise lines that I've been on recently w/ some degree of "class system" or cruise w/in a cruise.

RCI: Coastal Kitchen for suites on the bigger ships, the Concierge lounge/suites lounge, priority boarding, tendering and some have specific areas on the deck for pool/sun. Etc.

Princess: Dining in suites is "Club Class". MOSTLY the same menu but w/ a couple additions each day. Separate entrance to a specific area of the MDR. Different cutlery, table linens and some table side preparations. Specialty mimosa breakfasts daily in a separate dining room each AM for full suites. The ability to order room service fully from the MDR menus for all meals, at least 1 free Specialty dinner/sailing, special suites evening events nightly. Boarding. Tendering. yadda yadda

MSC has Yacht Club at the top w/ its own lounge and dining, deck areas etc. stepping down to the "Fantastica" and "Aurea" experiences. Then just regular cabins and "experiences."

That being said, I have 3 cruises booked. Next up is Equinox in a Royal b/c I really love Luminae and I do NOT like the MDR much any longer. But I do enjoy the suite experiences on Celebrity very much. Service and food is definitely a cut above.

Next is RCI in a regular balcony. I enjoy RCI very much but I do dial down my expectations.

Last a full suite on Princess.

I cruise across lines, across "class" and just adjust my expectations accordingly. YMMV

My BF also prefers the filet in Giovani's. It's probably one of those things that could vary cruise to cruise but he's said he prefers it on 2 different occasions. My vote also goes to Giovani's but I don't usually get the steak.

I cruise from Galveston frequently since I live in DFW. Amen on the infrastructure ESPECIALLY the shuttles, taxis, rental cars... any form of transportation. Though I'd love to see a big ship, they best do something besides just the terminal.

Look. If you have the extra money and you feel the service was excellent, honestly I'd not presume to tell you that you're tipping "too much". That's quite a personal choice depending on so many circumstances. I tip a fair amount extra to most of the crew that are also included in the auto tip; but you definitely tip more than I normally would. (not trying to imply it's a competition). However, I can afford it, I'm ASSUMING you are not tipping something you cannot afford, and in the grand scheme of things I won't miss that money one teeny tiny bit. I think it makes a bigger difference to the ones receiving the tip than it does for me or for you.

So, do you tip more than most? I'd bet the answer is a great big YES. Are you tipping too much? I don't think so, if you feel comfortable with it and feel it's a fair remuneration for services rendered and I bet that they are grateful for your generosity. You GO!!

HELEN,

I too book and pay for all our cruises, yet my husband got all the emails and snail mails. Then he became my EX and I got the emails; they are addressed to HIS NAME but at my address. Physical and email addresses.

Now, once again I book and pay for all Celebrity cruises, and my BOYFRIEND gets all the emails and snail mail!! Chauvinistic much?

Thanks for the thoughtful review.

I'm E+ on my next Celebrity cruise and will be Platinum on my next Princess. So while I've preferred Celebrity and cruised more often on them, I've always been open to cruising on Princess and, indeed, have one booked on each line in the near future.

I think I could have written pretty much your entire review, I agree with it so completely. (OK truth be told I enjoy Sabitini's but overall prefer Celebrity specialty dining.) I even agree and have made the same observation on the bars. I prefer the service, layout and vibe of the bars in general on Princess but their mixes are only fair. Luckily I'm a Dirty Martini drinker so it's not a huge deal. :D

OK I've never gotten the thrill of 2nd or 3rd rate lobster on a cruise "lobster night" but that photo looks DISGUSTING. Thanks for sharing.

If you could actually fathom Celebrity's website out I would have grave concerns for your sanity.

OMG let me give you a BIG AMEN SISTER!!! ;p:eek:

I am not completely tech challenged. I've tried IE, Foxfire, Chrome, and Microsoft Edge. I've cleared cookies/TIF's etc and rebooted multiple times. I've tried a laptop, a Chromebook and a desktop. I cannot get into my reservation. After spending 3 hours on hold (over the course of several days, not all at once) I was told that I can't access it until I get to 90 days out or less. Oddly I booked it this past August, and at that time I input all my online check in information. It's not GONE according to the IT department AND Celebrity has NEVER allowed anyone to fill out the online check in until 90 days according to their IT people.

They said that if I was able to do it this past August it was a GLITCH (but I'm traveling w/ others and we all had that same GLITCH). I'm E+ on this next cruise and I have ALWAYS filled out passport, emergency contacts etc etc IMMEDIATELY upon getting a confirmation and reservation number from Celebrity. Since I usually have multiple cruises on the books, I just prefer to get it taken care of ASAP. I'm a bit OCD.

APPARENTLY according to Celebrity IT department, I must be VERY special b/c NO ONE has EVER been able to fill out their reservation information prior to 90 days.

I literally have a headache over this.

PS: I also have an RCI reservation 3 weeks after I return from my the aforementioned X cruise and I'm going thru almost the EXACT same issues.

I needed to update a credit card number and it says NO ONLINE CHECK IN UNTIL 90 days. CHECK BACK IN --- DAYS. I called and asked them "Can you see that I HAVE already checked in?" B/c on my screen it clearly says each item is COMPLETE; and RCI said yes they could see it, but I must have been able to input that information DUE TO A GLITCH!!!"

I'm unwilling to spend any more time on this for now and will see what happens 90 days out. But BOTH RCI and X have gone from the worst IT departments ever to a department that is either TOTALLY inept and uninformed, or else just full of crap. Make something up and hope the customer will go away. Well so far so good b/c I just booked a Princess Coastal California cruise.

May I say, since misery loves company, I'm glad I'm not alone.

My boyfriend and I have lived together for 15 years and does have E status after his 1st Celebrity cruise about 8 years ago based on my cruise history.

The way that happened was very convoluted.

RCI gives = status to domestic partners. However I'd not cruised on RCI.

I booked an RCI cruise and got my RCI status based on my Celebrity status so I was Diamond when I first cruised w/ RCI.

My partner cruised w/ me on RCI and had status matched to mine b/c RCI does allow that ... we're at the same address, same phone number etc (so he became Diamond on ... or was it after???.... his first RCI cruise).

THEN based on his Diamond, when he cruised his next Celebrity they status matched his RCI.

So fast forward and he's now probably actually earned his D and his E based on actual cruises.

I'm E+ a couple days into my next cruise and I don't know how it will effect him since I'm going w/ a gal pal.

That was very confusing. LOL

Anyway after 1 or so cruises on each line, he wound up Diamond and Elite. Riding on my coattails I tell him.

I just tried using that link and it said . THIS IS A COPY PASTE... Anyone notice anything wrong??? As of April 17 2018? Are we in a time warp? Also it just says ... for the cruise sailing on. NO DATE. I just did this.

As of Apr 17 2018 2 guests have already signed up for the Celebrity Cruises/Cruise Critic Party for the cruise sailing on.

*Prices shown in Prices are per person, cruise only, based on double occupancy (unless otherwise specified), in USD and subject to availability.

Governmental taxes and fees are additional. Certain restrictions may apply.

PS: this is for a September sailing, so April 17 NEVER enters into the equation.

http://californiashuttles.com/book-from-airport/

Check the tripadvisor and Yelp reviews.

The tripadvisor and Yelp for Johnny's California shuttle are almost all 5 star. I haven't used them but plan to the next time I cruise our of San Pedro.

http://californiashuttles.com/book-from-airport/

Well Celebrity changed my name from Sharon to my ex husband's 2nd wife who's named Colleen. She's cruised once with Celebrity v me being E+ next cruise. So when I get DEAR COLLEEN with specials for people on the west coast, I, Sharon, sit here in TEXAS thinking... thanks. thanks a lot. My calls to Celebrity for 5 years were in vain. All in all I think I'd rather be moved to Puerto Rico!! :D :D

Also what really irks me are the suggestions:

Change browers: I've used Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox

Clear browser history: Every dang day.

Reboot: Every dang day

As if it's my computer's problem.

I have a cruise about 5 months out. When I first booked I entered the passport info etc as I ALWAYS do as soon as I have a confirmed reservation. I had to go in and change credit card info. In bold red it says that you cannot do the online check in until 90 days out even though each category shows it completed.

I called and was told a BUNCH of hooey. That RCI NEVER let you fill it out until 90 days. Well WHY is it already filled out? And why as my previous cruise (4 months ago) filled in about 10 months out? So then they backtracked and said "MANY YEARS ago you could fill it out upon confirmation". Was last month MANY years ago? Was November MANY years ago?

I'm NOT an IT whiz, but after 70+ cruises I DO know how to fill out online check in.

The situation on Celebrity is the same. I'd months ago filled out my information. Needed to change the SAME credit card. I didn't even get the 90 DAYS banner but when I called Celebrity I was told "you've never been able to fill that information out prior to 90 days". AGAIN why, then is it filled out already? Oh you must have gotten in on a glitch!!!

Well I've had 70 glitches then.

I'd much more appreciate it if either of them say "We're in the middle of a huge CLUSTER on our new website and you all are our beta testers. Don't try to make me appear feeble minded or incompetent.

I was on the phone for 3 hours over the course of 2 days trying to get the website sorted. Mostly on hold. So with the huge waits, we're not the only people having issues. And though the reps online are VERY nice, they are a wealth of mis-information. I figured there was no use arguing with them since I have plenty of time to get things sorted out.

Royal Caribbean is also going thru almost exactly the same thing; at least I was able to connect w/ someone right away. I needed to change credit card info on my online check in. I was told I can't do check-in (as far as filling out the info) until 90 days before sailing. I asked if they could see that I ALREADY did check in a month ago and they admitted that I did. But that neither I nor they can get into the forms until 90 days.

I may not know as much about computer programs as an IT person, but, with over 70 cruises behind me, I actually DO know how to fill out online check in forms. And how to order various enhancements before the cruise. But both RCI and X are revamping their websites at the same time and they're both total clusters.

I'll just wait b/c doing anything now is an exercise in futility for me. I REALIZE some people aren't having any issues. Consider yourself lucky. The reps told me the phone lines are crazy busy and there are some "GLITCHES."

And before someone suggests it, I've: Cleared all my browser caches, used Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer and it's the exact same thing. I've used a laptop, desktop and Chromebook. In fact on another thread someone suggested NOT to use Chrome and the person I spoke with said she always uses Chrome.

A little further south from the Grand toward SoBe on the south side of Fontainebleau is Hotel Confidante. About the same price. A pool for adults only as well as a family pool. Your resort fee for the room includes 2 beach chairs and umbrellas (if staying in the same room you'd have to rent 2 more chairs or put a towel on the sand. Poolside and beach side food and bev service. It's right across from Primo Cafe and Market (cheap and mostly take out food w/ a few tables) and also near Primo Liquor Mart for wine purchases.

I'm in total agreement with the above about not limiting yourself to hotels w/ shuttles. Unless you're getting in late enough that all you want to do is sleep, there are so many BETTER options.

As mentioned already, the Intercontinental, while not on the beach, is in a great location w/in walking distance to Bayside w/ a park, restaurants, bars, shops.

If you have beach time I'd suggest The Confidante, Miami Beach. A really cool retro/deco vibe next to the Fontainebleau. 2 beach chairs and an umbrella (as well as a family pool and adult pool) are included in the resort fee.

I thought that "shower power" was a bunch of hooey. But my BF packed his white dress shirt in such a way it was just a wrinkled mess. So he put it in that little bathroom w/ the hot shower running for a few minutes, left the shirt in the bathroom for 30 and oh WOW!! It was amazing. Much better than the Downey Wrinkle Release I'd used in the past.

LUCRUISE I don't sail until October. I just booked less than 2 weeks ago. This was a "freebie" from the casino so I wasn't expecting a great cabin but I was extremely surprised and pleased.

I was checking every day or so b/c USUALLY if you are finally assigned a cabin and there's one available that you like better in the SAME category, you can call and switch cabins as posted above. But I'm 100% pleased.

I've enjoyed several of your vlogs. Nicely done. Thanks for doing them.