JFontaine

To the OP: you might not know, and it shouldn't matter why. What should matter to your brother is that Celebrity show some acknowledgement of his inconvenience. Maybe an onboard credit or a free specialty dinner? Focus on what Celebrity CAN do, within reason, leave the who-done-it for something else, and just have a great cruise.

There's a chance that the cabin has/will be taken out of service, and hence the move. There's also a chance that whoever is in that cabin was assigned after other moves, and their info might not help. Finally, could the TA have entered into some rate shenanigans to secure that cabin - booking a cheap TA rate and then somehow getting assigned to a cabin they shouldn't have? There's a chance the OP (and maybe even the brother) doesn't know the full story.

I'd put this in rarely used spaces - like outside the back doors on the Edge - and remind people who don't care to pay for it that there would be __ number of passengers not competing with them for space around the pool. Outrage? Making/keeping cruise lines profitable should be a desire of every cruiser, because if the line is not profitable it is sooner or later gone, often with little warning.

Open an adults only area with padded sun loungers, well spaced, that are reserved for the day or the cruise, with shade if desired. Have waitstaff and occasional passed treats (fruit skewers, ice cream sandwiches, mini hot dogs), with pop up entertainment. No chair hog problem. Get rid of all the stores and start from scratch. Young people especially like to shop. The clothes are largely "old".

I wasn't expecting much, and was very pleasantly surprised. Padded chairs, spaced generously apart, and of course the gorgeous view. When I went (late afternoon on a gorgeous day leaving Bermuda) it was empty. Someone was there to take my drink order in a minute. The space was clean and orderly.

The reason that I said the restaurant manager is this: after our second really great meal I told him that his restaurant was the best service and food that we had on the cruise, and I wanted to come back every night. That was the beginning of a nice relationship, and he gave us my favorite table and a top waiter every night, and seemed to make a point of watching the table. Everything was perfect, and the team was thanked with tips each night and a great review. That personal connection seemed to work out for me. So my advice is, if you do have a great experience in a restaurant, on your way out, stop and chat with the restaurant manager. They will know you are in a top suite and should pull up their reservations on yhe spot and try to help you.

The x large PJs are large on the top. If you are bigger on the bottom they won't work. As far as specialty restaurants, in the Penthouse, I would make my plans directly with the restaurant manager if there's a problem going through the butler. Towards the end of a cruise we had some great meals in a restaurant, and I told the manager I wanted to come back each night, and he said no problem. If your party is bigger than four, it could be an issue.

Keith, If a person could will a luxury cruise line out of bankruptcy and back to life, seemingly overnight, with a combination of positivity, hopefulness, cheer, karma and a healthy dose of wishful thinking, I'd say you've done your part. I wish you a great trip.

I picked a random Alaska 2024 cruise, 7 days, next July. 2 people, no discounts. $1996 per person in partially obstructed veranda, versus $2188 in a full view veranda. $400 difference. $50 per person to move to an obstructed view.

The OP's ship has sailed, so to speak, and they have decided to stay with their original cabin. But thousands of people read this site, and some very prolific and/or experienced cruisers are giving this advice. So for the next time, I'm asking, why grab the downgrade without knowing the numbers?

For all those who say take the downgrade and money... If when the cruiser booked, the obstructed view cabin was $1500 a person, and the unobstructed view cabin was $2000 a person ($1000 difference for two), why would anyone now take $500 total for the downgrade to the obstructed view? Lots of people have given this advice and I'd like to understand what I am missing (other than I'm guessing at the numbers, but so are you).

I tried checking other weeks. The season is mostly sold out. I did find some obstructed view cabins in September for about $1525 per person. If you paid $2025 per person, that's $1000 more, and $500 makes no sense. I know it's not an accurate comparison, but it gives you an idea.

I'd try to figure out the difference in price between the category you booked and what they are offering you (try looking at another week of the same itinerary). If it is more than or close to $500, I don't see the benefit to you. They should be offering you the difference plus something for your inconvenience. You are solving their problem. If the difference in categories is close to $500, you already turned that deal down when you originally booked the category that you picked.

One of my favorite cruise memories: in a tiny town in Italy my driver recognized a black mini truck as the bread guy. I said, please follow him. Driver pulls into the town square, opens the back of the truck, and sells his warm delicious bread (no bag) to the locals waiting for him (the women wrapped their bread in their aprons). Luckily I had small bills, and we had the most delicious treat. I'd give up every museum and church to have an experience like that again.

The request is that you place your hand luggage out of the way and leave quickly. Asking for hangers, kids changing - all while the team is trying to prepare the cabins quickly. Of course the staff will be pleasant to you. How long before Celebrity says enough and prohibits entry to cabins until ready like (nearly?) all other cruise lines? If you appreciate this benefit, please respect it.

I stay at a hotel the night before, get a late checkout, and have a leisurely breakfast. I then spend the morning at the hotel pool; the hotel pool is usually empty as cruisers head to the port I leave the hotel so as to arrive at the port at 1:30. By then, there is no crowd and I usually check in and board in a few minutes. By then the cabin is ready and I go directly there. At 2 I'm in the buffet eating lunch, which is also not crowded with people waiting for the cabins to open. I then return to my cabin and hang out on the balcony, away from the first day hustle and bustle. For all those who say pack a bathing suit for the kids, where do they change- the public bathroom? And then the parent is carrying a bag of street clothes and sneakers? I'd have the kids wear the bathing suits under their travel clothes if swimming is the first day plan.

Did you look at the Villa? Those are great cabins.

Can you rely on your phone to be accurate when the ship changes time? I don't. I do use the ship's phone wakeup feature and can't recall a time when it didn't work

You are kidding me. You've been here as long as me. Look, you guys want to go with a scribble on a tag, go ahead.

There are no guarantees on anything. We do the best we can. Good luck to you. .

People never know exactly why their bags are left on the wrong floor or at the wrong door, but I have read here and on other sites that sometimes it involved a handwritten tag. I'm so glad it has never happened to you or the other people who said it never happened to them. I like to minimize what could go wrong, so I print the tags. I would hate to look over a porter's shoulder and say, that 7 looks more like a 1, can you do it again please? I've had a misdirected bag with a preprinted tag (in the Penthouse, with the head butler searching), and it's no fun going to dinner in the clothes you have been wearing since 4 am. Thank you

Too many stories of delayed luggage because the porter's handwriting could not be read. I'd find a Fed Ex or a Staples or anywhere else where you can print them out.

You can thank Ted Kennedy for that Preclearance convenience, I believe. It created some US jobs in Ireland. It started in Shannon only, if I recall correctly, and later expanded to Dublin.

That's the D train for us old timers.

The Museum of Natural History is huge and will surely tucker her out. It is across the street from Central Park at West 79 Street. If you walk down to West 72nd Street you can see the famous Strawberry Fields and the Imagine sign. It is less than a ten minute walk. Unfortunately for you NYC schools are closed tomorrow (pre-planned teacher work day, not related to smoke), and the museum will likely be crowded. Make sure to stop at the museum Cafe, it is a neat spot. Weather reports continue to show some improvement for Friday, and better still on Saturday and Sunday. Expect flight delays today.