sherylc

no free robes any more (just to use). Free pajamas are monogrammed on request, but two sizes and neither really fit either of us.

I tried it on Aug 20 Millennium. Pretty boring for all of the people playing except for the one randomly picked to "play" each time (x2 per session)  Very few of the spectator group won even $5 in match play with the biggest win one player winning $200 match play over 2 games. Actual players picking suitcases  ended up with only one dollar each after choosing poorly on the last few suitcases!!  Tried it once and never went back. Celebrity, on the other hand, made a ton of money with only 3 staff and a computer monitor.  Miss Bingo!!!

On 8/17/2021 at 4:23 AM, TMLAalum said:

Many thanks for your pix of the Endicott Arm excursion. We will be on that little boat on September 13.

Good to know that lunch may not be available when we get back aboard the Millennium, so we can plan ahead for eating in Juneau.

Just an update after finishing our cruise on the Millennium yesterday and doing the Endicott Arm Excursion.  Celebrity kept the buffet open much later for lunch for all the passengers who did the tour (was 2:30 when we ate and all the stations were still open). The crew serving us said they kept it open specifically for the tour passengers.  

I haven't seen any restrictions on Celebrity related to unvaccinated children and access to all parts of the ship (except perhaps some spa services and the Solarium most of the time based solely on age). Only RCCL seems to have vaccinated vs unvaccinated venues. 

Isn't the pool grill (burgers/hot dogs) open all afternoon? Also I think the Sushi restaurant is also an option per the app.  Add in room service and at least there are a few options on the ship at 2 pm.  (Will be doing the same excursion on the next cruise, so checked the app for options)

I am quite the "picky eater" and have often struggled to find anything on the menu that appeals at least "as is." While I will be experiencing Luminae for the first time in a few days on the Millennium, I can speak to my experience in the MDR on previous sailings. Each evening after dinner, I would go over the next day's offerings with my waiter and we would come up with a "planned meal" that would always be perfect. Might be a combination of one entre with a different side, perhaps sauce on the side. Sometimes a big shrimp salad with just the things I liked, etc. I have sailed on many cruise lines and have found Celebrity to be the most accommodating when it comes to meals. Just nice if you give the staff a bit of notice when you want "special." Also the children's menu on Luminae has a 4 oz fillet -- might ask for 2 for a meal!

I was wondering if either Tuscan Grill or Le Petit Chef is open on a sea day for lunch on your sailing. (I've been on cruises where one day the specialty restaurants offered a lunch in addition to a dinner seating)

Sometimes people have to cancel last minute (perhaps test positive, have emergency come up, etc) so you never know what might open up.

I just finished my renewal and thought I'd share an option that worked out well for me. I ended up needing an interview for my renewal (likely because of all of the countries I did manage to visit in the last 5 years pre-pandemic). My nearest interview center is a 4 hr drive or 1 hr plane trip, but they are now piloting a Zoom interview process which I was able to get an appointment for just a few days after I logged in and took less than 5 minutes last night.  Done and approved immediately without ever having to leave home!

I was booked on the Ovation Aug 13 and was able to cancel on July 15 for full refund because I did not like the protocols (rebooked on a Celebrity cruise for the following week -- hopefully mostly mask-less!). Our TA confirmed that RCCL allows 30 days after they institute a new protocol for you to choose to cancel for full REFUND if you don't feel comfortable following the new rules.   

Just sharing my actual experience.  Good luck  -- fight hard to get what they are giving others!!!  

3rd Covid case on Millennium right now.  Does seem prudent to test everyone before leaving. Just before boarding sounds even wiser than 3 days prior to decrease cases on board.

I also would be fine with a rapid test just prior to boarding paid for by Celebrity, especially if that would allow everyone to remain maskless both on the ship and in port. 

Do you need to take the quiz to get the points?

Has anyone had any trouble getting items off the MDR menu while dining in Luminae ? Our group has some "picky eaters" and some who would love any item on any menu.  Quite willing to give advanced notice to waiter of what we want for the next evening, but hate to miss out on the benefits of our first "suite experience". 

Just booked an Alaska cruise for next month on Millennium (after jumping ship from RCCL’s new policies and port arrival times).  One of the tours I’m hoping to book only had one spot available and now shows “check onboard” after we grabbed that spot. Has anyone seen it go back to available to book if someone happens to cancel? Or once it fills up, does it stay as “onboard” only for booking even if there are cancellations? Just wondering if I am wasting my time checking back frequently for a spot to open. (It’s a helicopter tour which I know tends to sell out quickly and I started process very late due to switching lines). 

I asked that question to Celebrity rep a few minutes ago and the answer was No.

I don't think it is a 95 percent vaccinated cruise -- otherwise wouldn't need all the mask protocols.

I am also on this sailing (come join us for the Roll Call!) and have many of the same concerns. We are booked in a suite for the first time and was looking forward to enjoying the Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen, but am wondering if I will end up in the MDR instead if I don't have to wear a mask there (fully vaccinated venue) vs the suite areas which are mixed and likely will require a mask when I am not ACTIVELY eating or drinking. I have talked to several tour companies and very few private tours are available at all when we are there (much less this season than typical and most spaces have been sold directly to the ships). Those through the ship have said that masks will be required whenever indoors (helicopter, boats with indoor seating, buses, ferries, etc.) It is definitely a struggle choosing between spending a ton of money to go on a vacation that will not feel like a "get-away" from life during the pandemic  vs not getting to go away at all and waiting a whole year more to visit Alaska by cruise. 

Just got off the phone with a few of the tour companies for Alaska excursions.  Looks like not only will we have to wear masks most places on the ship, we will also be required to wear masks on most excursions including boat rides, helicopters, etc.  Might (and emphasis on might) be able to take off the mask when in outside areas, but must wear any inside area that is considered "public transportation" such as a boat ride.

I'm guessing the Coastal Kitchen will allow unvaccinated? Does that mean Suite guests will have to wear a mask at dinner unless we choose to dine in a "vaccinated" area of the MDR instead.  That would be pretty disappointing.

The Serenade has her first sailing first, so maybe they are opening up check in for an entire ship's worth of sailings. Might be all the Ovation check ins open at same time.

I guess for me one of the reasons I was so excited that the Alaska trips remined vaccinated only (12 and up for August) was my expectation that this would allow it to be mask-free on board. I know the Serenade information applies to trips only in July so far, but really am hoping that the mask restrictions are lifted prior to August sailings. I'm a bit surprised that some of the sailings in the Caribbean show a daily cruise planner saying that vaccinated passengers don't need to wear masks anywhere on the ship yet the Serenade information on RCCL's site says vaccinated passengers will have to. Odd. But ever-changing, and reminds us all of the need to be flexible in these crazy times.

I think most if not all of the Serenade check-ins are available. Just nothing on the Ovation yet.

August 13 Ovation also not available for check in yet --- checking often since we are coming directly from the airport after an early same day flight and will likely get there around 10  -- want to at least get the first boarding time!

Does RCCL tend to offer Royal Up offers on every cabin type even though they are sold out for that level? (my sister bid on a Royal Loft Suite on our Ovation cruise coming up, but there aren't any that haven't been already booked -- is this just a way to get passengers excited over something that isn't going to happen no matter what the bid or are they just hedging bets in case someone cancels last minute?)