SHIP TRAVELER

I know several Blue Chip players (including myself) who have not received offers and do not understand why when what I consider non gamblers are getting them. I am only ONYX in Blue Chip but that beats "I played $20 through a slot machine once on a cruise before the shut down". Maybe the idea is to fill ships with bodies who will spend on drinks packages, specialty dining, and in the Spa based on their past cruise history. This means they do not have to lower the posted prices on cruises and offend those who booked early. We do not use the Spa and don't buy the drinks (Elite+) unless they are included at a good price, we tend to use our all OBC in the Casino. Just off a cruise where I discussed this "give away" with the Casino Manager. He of course would have rather had gamblers than people with a free ride but this is marketing. Yes, I am envious. Yes, I called the Blue Chip Club with no offer and the best I could get was Casino Net 60 but at least that includes 3 perks.

I would be careful about the Premium Drink package up grade just because I do not trust their IT department and the up grade is a money maker for X. I know if I see OBC that I was not expecting I do not spend it until I am sure of the source. I guess I always look a gift horse in the mouth. That said the cabin upgrade is not so unusual these days when ships are not full. Enjoy.

It may not be unusual but it is a very a fun happening. We shared a table with a couple (strangers at the time) on an Adventure of the Seas Trans Atlantic. We hit it off and still exchange Christmas travel updates each year. Three years later we spotted them at the Diamond breakfast on a Mariner (?) cruise out of New Orleans. We did a double take because the live in Maryland and cruise mostly off the east coast. We met up for Happy Hour every night during that cruise. We enjoyed both cruises with them and would love to cross paths again but at least the Christmas cards are still happening.

I tried a Mexican Firing Squad on my Summit cruise in October and loved it. I am usually into Bourbon drinks but wanted to try something different and this was just right. Not too sweet, and not too tart. The Premium drink package always makes me want to venture out and try new (to Me) libations.

It may not be unusual but it is a very a fun happening. We shared a table with a couple (strangers at the time) on a Trans Atlantic. We hit it off and still exchange Christmas travel updates each year. Three years later we spotted them at the Diamond breakfast on a RC cruise out of New Orleans. We did a double take because the live in Maryland and cruise mostly off the east coast. We enjoyed both cruises with them and would love to cross paths again but at least the Christmas cards are still happening.

I would call the Captains Club, they may be able to help sort this out.

We had a Summit sky suite (Oct 22) and the magnets worked in the two squarish racks that hold room service cards and the grey folder. These are in the area between the desk and the closet. The "do not distrub" card stays there and we added our two hooks for hats. This worked fine for small items but jackets would have covered the metal backed racks.

Step one is to sign up at the cage. Often they preset pin as your birthday which is easy to use. When you get to machine, you tap your card and then your name shows in the small video box. You select account, promo and then the amount you want transferred to the machine. You have to play through whatever you transfer or it goes back on your card so we take smaller amounts like $20 or 50 each time. You can always transfer more in the same session. One catch is that you do not earn Blue chip points when you do promo play.....but hopefully you will win money. You have to play through the entire amount by the last day of the cruise because only the slips can be cashed out. Your current promo balance will show each time you transfer credits. This is easier than having to carry cash around because you always have your card with you and since it is a tap system there is no danger of leaving it in the machine. We always use part of our own board credit for promo chips and slot play. Good Luck

On a December 2021 NYE cruise we did an Uber DIY trip to Malibu to kill the day. We took an Uber to LAX, checked in and dropped our bags. We took one small back pack with us. We took another Uber to the Malibu pier, walked around the area and the pier and had a long seafood lunch. We took another Uber back to LAX when we got tired (3 and a half/4 hours total LAX to LAX). We went through security and met our travel buddies who were at the gate having spent the entire day at the airport playing cards. We were not exactly thrilled with Malibu but it was a way to experience something that felt historic and it was certainly not the biggest waste of the excursions we paid for on this trip. Our total was $28 port to LAX, and then $25 each way to the Pier and back to LAX so a little cheaper than the bus excursion offered by X. X goes to Hollywookd and Venice I think but we had been to those in the past so were not interested. Whether this is a good deal depends on your mobility and the amount of luggage you can't check at LAX. This is just another idea of how to fill a day in LA waiting for a late flight.

CABIN #: Summit (revolutized) DECK #: 6 CLASS: Sky suite 2 AREA: Starboard Aft very near central elevators BED NEAR: faces the sea head near bath, narrow space on right side QUIET?: Extremely quiet no noise from hall or walls BALCONY VIEW: Good looking out, somewhat obstructed by tender looking down. BALCONY SIZE: Normal for an S2 WIND A PROBLEM?: No SOOT A PROBLEM?: NO PROBLEMS/COMMENTS: Be prepared for this cabin to be smaller than an S2 on the S class ships, only two usable drawers but multiple shelves. The bathtub edge is high and there is no hand rail. It is not possible to sit on the edge and swing your legs around. Just to let those with mobility issues be warned. The linens and towels were very plush. The really great thing about this cabin was how QUIET it was which was very important to us. The location between the center and rear elevator was also very good. The obstructed view balcony did not bother us but this is not a private balcony, can be viewed from CS on the hump.

Thanks so much for this response. Thank Goodness it looks like we will not have Princess and NCL to contends with on our Dec. 19th disembarkation day. This sounds like a big mess. Our original flight was at 12:45 and the airline changed it to earlier. The only other choice was a very late flight and all day at LAX so we went with the early flight based on past experience at San Pedro. I was concerned that we might need to change to that late flight after reading the OP's post. I will bet Uber had very expensive surge pricing with all those ships off loading on the same morning. Thanks again for setting my mind at ease.

Thanks for the live review. We were shocked about the disembarkation situation. We always carry off and we have an early flight (10:45) from LAX. On our other Mex Riv cruises we have always been able to walk off with the first wave. Was there any explanation about the use of this pier and when you say shuttle buses, were these for every passenger on the ship? I am trying to picture this because some people carry off a lot of baggage even when they put their big bags out the night before. This may be because they need CPAP or other things for even an overnight. Some have wheelchairs and walkers so how did the shuttle buses handle all of this? I am wondering how long it would take if we are in the same situation and can't breeze off early and grab an Uber straight to LAX. Thanks for any feedback.

I know you are asking about Covid but there are other medical issues that can cause forced disembarkation because of lack of needed medical services on board. On our last TA a couple had to leave in the Azores because the husband suffered a mild stroke. He was in what appeared to be very good health at boarding so this was very unexpected. Traveling always carries some risk even without Covid.

I like the regular cabins on Celebrity much better. Princess does not have a place to sit for a second person in either the insides or balcony cabins except the bed. In order to have a "second chair" you have to pay for a deluxe room or mini suite. We sailed in a mini suite on the Majestic last November from LA. It was a great cruise and we enjoyed the ship but the mini suite balcony was so tiny you could barely walk around the chairs and the dining was in the MDR. We sailed on it again in December in a regular balcony. No place to sit except the one chair at the desk. Even pictures show room service on the bed ugh. On Solstice in August in the lowest priced balcony cabin, we had a sofa and a larger balcony. In my opinion the cabins are not the same on the two cruise lines. The Majestic was a wonderful ship with a big sports bar, the Hollywood Conservatory (forward view lounge), the international cafe and Alfredo's pizza all free for everyone. Sadly, I think this ship will be back in Asia and the replacements will have the for a fee Sanctuary. The Hollywood Conservatory was wonderful for whale watching off Cabo. The Sky lounge on the Solstice was wonderful for whale watching in the inside passage. I will be sailing in December on the Solstice with some others posting here.

Lots of different opinions here on this topic. We have lately been rolling our 22 inch spinners on board. My DH is not good with waiting for anything any time and the first day of a cruise is always a bit stressful. Some go straight to the Martini Bar to handle this first day stress. I have learned to go with the flow (his) and roll on board. It just makes him happy to have his stuff without waiting. After all, we have rolled these same bags on and off trains and into hotel rooms around the world. We always roll off for sure so rolling on is no different in my opinion. One hint to new cruisers, if you do this walk to the elevators by the theater (or in back) and be patient until you are not crowding anyone else. The elevators in the main areas just off the ramp are too crowded to use with luggage. To me waiting for an all most empty elevator is easier than waiting for luggage to be delivered with someone pacing around the stateroom fussing. Just saying, we all have our motivations. I am very glad most people have their luggage delivered.

I have chosen to no longer do the end of cruise surveys. That way I do not hurt my hardworking waiter because the "system" was stupid enough to assign a party of six a table(s) along a bench where hot plates had to be passed across the table. I know we should have complained but others in our party didn't want to ask to change tables and make a fuss. This made for a somewhat unsatisfactory dining experience for my DH and me but if I put that on the survey without any details I felt the waiter would be dinged. We should have been assigned a a round table for six from the start instead of pushing three tables for two together with not waiter access. Yes they did know months in advance we were a linked reservation. I stopped doing surveys when they were so long, biased, and wasted my time with no compensation. Now we address any problems immediately and try to get problems resolved while on board so that the rest of the cruise goes better for us.

Another jealous gambler here. I have tried to figure out the system. Obviously they are trying to fill empty cabins without lowering their posted prices. At one time these bargains were opened up at deep discounts to airline employees and other special groups. Now it seems that they are being filled via the Blue Chip club. My DH keeps telling me to get over it. Some of those getting the e mail have cruised a lot since shut down but it seems most have not. A few of the offers are going to big gamblers but some are not gamblers at all. I hate it that I am not eligible because I did not get an email. I did call to check. I am sure the Casino manager on board would rather have gamblers than non gamblers in those empty cabins.

I think the "free" wines are what would be called house wines or bar call quality wines. I am not a wine snob and only get the drink package if it works out to be a good deal $$ but I know these wines would go for less than $6-8 a bottle in a store at home. Remember you can bring two of your favorite wines on board per person. In the Casino, they ask if you have the drink package and serve you accordingly but it is a good place to get a free drink outside of Happy Hour if you don't have the packages. If you are a good tipper or have some casino status you might cultivate a server that will take care of you. The loyalty events also serve free drinks.

We sailed in a Magic Carpet Sky on the Apex. It had a great bathroom and balcony. The closet access and size was a tight compared to our friends S2 sky in another area. We did not like the double door hall situation. The hall was not terrible but you had to use your key twice and this was inconvenient when carrying something or when the inside cabin next door was being serviced.

Thanks, I made a note of this one. I think my favorite Cosmo is looking a little pale lately.

Sadly No.

I was very impressed with Deborah Poortier. She was taking questions at the life on board presentation and I can see why things are running well on the Solstice. Giuseppe was the cruise director and he really sang her praises as a great boss.

For those of us trying "break the code" on this deal, are you a gambler on other cruise lines or land based casinos that might share data to Celebrity? Just Curious........ and jealous of course.

We will be in Bonaire on October 22, 2022 on the Celebrity Summit with an arrival time of 2:00 and a departure time of 10:00PM. Because we don't have much daylight we are thinking we should just try for a glass bottom boat experience to try to see some fish and coral. We are not big into snorkeling. Just wondering is anyone has tried this in Bonaire? Do you see anything worth the price? Is it possible to book on shore on the day of arrival? Thanks for any input.

Congratulations on your nice wins. We like video poker also. The double double game you played was 91.22% compared to 95% for 6/5 jack or better. The worst part for us is that big 52% variance compared a 19% variance at Jacks or Better. We are not as lucky as you are so we play the boring games where our money drains slower. Even black Jack players that split tens sometimes get lucky. I think a lot of Vegas bartenders are addicted gamblers looking for a big win that they will quickly give back. Just a different perspective about odds. It is good to see big wins in ship board casinos. We were thinking how seldom we see any one win with a royal flush on a ship when we read about your wins.