leaveitallbehind

Not sure I follow your bluechip reference, but with Celebrity, the GTY's are typically assigned within the general Category in which you book - Inside, OV, Veranda, Concierge, etc. While it is not uncommon for them to assign a higher subcategory within each general category, it is very rare for them to jump general categories with the assignment as each has their own GTY fare. In other words, if you are booked in an Oceanview, then you are likely to receive an OV 02 or 01 assignment. I would think it would be very unlikely that your OVY GTY would wind up with an XC (Concierge GTY) stateroom assignment. That would be a 9 subcategory jump across two general categories! Not sure why you were given that advice. If you booked your OVY GTY with a non-refundable deposit you would lose that to rebook any higher GTY category. Maybe they were thinking of that when they advised against it. Whatever happens, good luck and I hope you are ok with the stateroom assigned. And again, that can be changed, but only into another stateroom as the category and subcategory assigned.

The GTY process is the same regardless of ship. The assignment window can be anytime after booking to day of sailing. But in reality, and in our experience, it typically occurred 10 days prior at the latest and about 30 - 45 days out. But the important thing is if for some reason you are not happy with the assigned location, contact your travel agent if you used one, or Celebrity directly if you did not, and they can move you to any other available stateroom within the category and subcategory that was originally assigned. No hassle and no charge to do so. That being said we have generally been happy with the assignment, but on those few occasions when we preferred a different location, we were moved to one without any issue.

Why can you no longer get the All Included fares? The only thing that changed in 2023 with that option was the elimination of the gratuities from AI. Basic WIFI and Classic beverage package are still offered with AI, both which can be upgraded to Premium. Most itineraries are offering Standard and this revised AI fare structures.

You must have started your reply before I edited my response. I realized exactly what you meant and if you go back to that response you will see I was able to completely eliminate my mistaken CL reference. Oh well senior moment followed by slow typing skills.....

PA guidelines: While there is no age limitation to participate in jury service, citizens who are 70 years of age or older, upon receipt of a Qualification Questionnaire or Summons, may request an age-related excusal that will permanently remove them from the Court's list of prospective jurors. Kind of odd in away in that you would think they would be the more older and wiser of the pool....

And as I'm certain you are aware, the new "guidelines" for the Crown Lounge is D+ and Pinnacle only during the stated cocktail hours, D can have access anytime before or after based on Crown Lounge hours - and this was enforced. They also still have full access to the Concierge, just not during the cocktail hours. This was the situation on our recent Oasis NYE cruise. I don't know how far back your "wayback" machine goes with our posts, but at one point a number of years ago when they first introduced the drink coupons for D and higher, I "suggested" that the ultimate result would be the current D restriction to the Diamond Club as a way to "thin the heard" in the crowded lounge.

I understand completely. Just passing on our experience with RCCL / Celebrity since they started the check in slot thing. Earlier on it was a bit more frantic, but not so in the recent couple of years. All I was trying to convey is that it is not necessary to stand guard at your computer (or phone) to be the first to hit the queue when the check in opens. But, again, I understand your motives.

I agree with, understand that - but as @doghog correctly points out, the OP is looking for this information in advance of the next sailing.

This "policy" has come and gone and evolved over time. If in place, my understanding of this is it applies if you bring an unopened, non-ship supplied, bottle to dinner for service and storage. Not sure how aggressively this is enforced, however. Nor do I know any correlation to any drink package as those apply to ship supplied beverages. Sorry.

Aside from my curiosity of why you want to know, I'm not sure how readily available that information will be. It would likely only come from the Crown Lounge or Suite Lounge Concierge and, assuming they would be willing to release it, they may not yet know themselves (and even if they do) as they are still in the middle of busily working a current itinerary and, in our experience, typically don't start looking upcoming itineraries and preparing for them until the end of the current one. Assuming you find someone to ask for you, I certainly could be wrong and they may tell them. But good luck.

Correct as security's responsibility is not to inform the cruise line of who is bringing how many of what, but only to assure that within each passenger's carry on is the allowed items in allowed amounts. And to hold anything exceeding those. But my question remains - what is the current correct policy, one bottle pp or two?

If you call Celebrity and ask for their Access Department 30 days prior to sailing with your reservation number and tell them of your requirements they should be able to provide distilled water and an extension cord for you, which, if not already in the stateroom, will be provided by your stateroom attendant when you check into your stateroom. This is not an uncommon situation and I am sure Celebrity can have it set up in the least intrusive manner for your stateroom.

Agree - especially as they can do it through the booking on line and do not have to talk with a Celebrity rep. In our experience the TA did it while we were on the phone with them to confirm our new selection. (I'm also somewhat surprised Celebrity did it directly since @cruisers5 indicate they booked through a TA). Either way I would find a different TA who understood the process and their responsibility to the customer.

That's why posted my information as your information is what it always had been and I thought it must have changed and was not something I had previously been aware of. The information posted is dated January '23 - just over a year ago. Honestly my initial response would have been to agree with you until I saw what I posted. Confused and curious as to which is correct - and would like to know for sure.

From Celebrity Cruises alcohol policy dated 1/17/23: ....each guest (of legal drinking age) is permitted to bring onboard up to two (2) bottles of wine (which are subject to a corkage fee) per guest.Jan 17, 2023 As also mentioned, do so in your carry on.

But most cruise lines ship check in's have a number of check in times available with 100's of passengers that can fill each one. It's not like checking in to Southwest Airlines - you don't have to hit the first minute of check in window to secure your preferred time. There will be desirable slots available for days, and enough slots open at some point to accommodate all passengers, regardless of when they check in. Relax and don't panic. We have done it numerous times - often several days after check in opened - and had several desirable (early) time slots available.

Most scooter providers for cruise passengers are third party rental companies such as this one: https://scootaround.com/en/cruise-scooter-rentals There are others if you google "cruise scooter rentals" or other similar searches.

Agree with the others that it should work fine but only with the premium package and through WIFI calling.

Yes. I would be a bit more skeptical booking one the week it was supposed to be out, however.

Let me make sure I understand. Are you saying that you would rather enjoy yourself on a fully paid, non-refundable cruise instead of serving your civic duty? Really?? LOL Yes - they will defer and reschedule you without an issue. Enjoy your cruise!

Typically ships go into routine drydock maintenance about every 5 years. Apex was launched in May of 2019, so if she is going into drydock in October of 2024, that would be about right for her first routine drydock.

As @Jim_Iain indicates the guidelines, and the process, is simple - if you booked on line or direct with Celebrity call them and request a stateroom change. If you booked through a TA call them and they will be able to see availability and do it for you. We have done this a number of times in the past.

Allure is scheduled for some significant changes as part of the original Amplification program and the planned 2025 drydock is for that. It is reported to be a 58 day, $165 million refurb. As I have heard, this is to include new water slides, updated dining venues, new specialty dining options, and new bars and lounges. Along, of course, with new carpet....LOL.

Allure is currently planned for early 2025 (around Feb). Liberty also early 2025. Independence was amplified in 2018. Not sure her next drydock dates, but as I understand it they typically run about every 5 years. But note that there is a difference between routine drydock maintenance and drydock for Amplification / refurbishment. And since Independence had that in 2018 I would not expect that another is in the works.

Many hotels - do you have a brand preference? Budget? Suggest as the above poster indicates to go to the FL Departures Board at this link: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/386-florida-departures/ As to shuttles, an easy option is Uber / Lyft, which are plentiful around MCO for that port.