Can'tstopcruising

I am very surprised to learn here that the kids have to put money into the arcade games.

That is a sure way to cause many arguments between kids and parents, not exactly vacation-mode.

If future ships would have larger pools and space for more lounges, this problem would disappear.

My kids and grandkids cruised a few years ago. The older at the time was 3 11/2 and the younger 1 1/2.

They were on the Allure.

Of course, the younger doesn't remember much!

But the older didn't stop talking about the kids club for a long time after returning home. For him it was a big treat.

Often while he was there, they availed themselves of the baby-sitting services for the younger.

One evening at dinner in the mdr, she had a meltdown and her mom whisked her to the baby-sitting. As soon as she recognized the place, she was all smiles!

This summer we are all going to Alaska on the Solstice. Our grandkids will be 7 and 5. They are very excited about the kids'club.I think there will be lots of fun and interesting activities for them. Celebrity also has family activities which include the grown-ups!

An aside to the Pawning Off comment.

When our kids were growing up, I was a stay at home mom and introduced my kids slowly to mom and tot, then two mornings without me, then every morning and finally full nursery school. In those days we would have been horrified to put our kids into full day daycare while babies. But my grandchildren all started at about 18 months. And my observance was that they learned so much so quickly, both socially and educationally. Times have changed!

That is how I read it. But no, they are saying it is only for the cruises listed at the top. I am not happy at all. I am trying to make sure it is just not me who reads it that way.

Best to call Celebrity and ask.

You may have to call more than once. If you don't like the answer, try again. Someone else may give you a better answer!

Good luck.

It's horrible when you plan on a vacation and they take it from right under your feet.

They continued the concerts on the Feb. 18th cruise.

Eddy said many times that these concerts were an innovation on the Eclipse and that if we liked them we should let Celebrity know.

We had Michael Redden (guitarist) twice , the Passion Duo ( a REALLY fabulous pair of young people - singer and guitarist) a couple of times and also individuals from the Orchestra and/or the House Band doing special concerts.

This summer we will be in Alaska on Solstice.

If they don't have lots of live music, I will tell them about the Eclipse!

Meanwhile I am hoping they have Euphoria, because my 5 and 7 year old grandchildren will love the puppets

We did like the W. Some of the reviews said it was not as good as their other properties but we had a great time. Of course we were coming from winter in Wisconsin so a Motel 6 in Fort Lauderdale would have been a huge step up, but the W was great. Very friendly service from everyone and we had a delicious meal at the Steakhouse there. Nice hotel and watching the sunrise from the balcony was awesome.

Thank you so much for answering!

We thought a change would be nice.

But I must be honest. The real reason is that I want the bliss products to take on our b2b cruises for 21 days! I LOVE those products and I am running out of them!

Whoever heard of anyone choosing a hotel for their products????

What wonderful luck! Hope it continues.

We usually stay at the Westin on the Beach, but for Jan/19 we moved over the the W. for 4 nights.

Did you like it?

We usually chose a midship, cat. 10. They are more square, as someone mentioned and there is a chair instead of the sofa.

I prefer this shape because the tv is in front of the bed.

The elongated rooms with the sofa a much more narrow and the tv is facing the sofa.

Personally, I don't care if suite pax have exclusive venues.

What I do care about is that cruise fares keep going up substantially and at the same time it seems every year there is something taken away. There are days I can't find anything I like on the MDR menu. They seem to save all the best selections for the same day!

I've said I would post an example of the daily live music schedule:

It's long ( I wish I knew how to screen shot the "Today" - it would be so much easier) so here goes.

This is JUST the live music starting before dinner-ish and it's a port day:

 

4:45 - 5:30 Island Music with Michael Redden (solo guitarist) poolside

5:30 - 6:15 Four Elements Dance Band Grand Foyer

6:15 - 7:45 DJ Mace Martini Bar

7:00 - 7:45 Performer in Eclipse Theater

7:15 - 9:00 Ballroom Music Sky Lounge

7:45 - 8:30 Decameron Strings Classical Duo Ensemble Lounge

7:45 - 8:45 Back Before Sunset House Band Foyer

8:45 - 9:30 Michael Redden Ensemble

9:00 - 9:45 Performer in eclipse Theater

9:45- 10:30 Passion Duo (they're REALLY good!!!) Acoustic Duo in Ensemble

9:45 - 10:30 Dance Band in the Foyer

10:00 Silent Disco Deck Party Poolside

10:00 -11:00 DJ in Quasar

10:00 -10:45 House Band in Sky Lounge

10:15 Comedian in Eclipse

10:45 - Late (Midnight-ish) Passion Duo in Ensemble

10:45 - Late Four Elements Dance BAnd in Foyer

11:00 -Late Back Before Sunset House Band in Sky

11:45 - Late DJ in Quasar

 

Last night and many other nights we've had live performances from the various duos and bands on board in Celebrity Central at 10:15.

It's an innovation Eddie the CD and Roman the band director have come up with and it's a WONDERFUL addition and has been packed each time.

 

 

There is also a Hot Glass show from 9:00 - 11:00 tonight (and almost every night)

 

On past cruises there has been almost nothing to do past 10pm but on this cruise there is so much going on that I have to choose between several things.

It's such a wonderful feeling of "life" and fun!

On the Feb. 4 cruise, they had little concerts in the smaller theatre. Once it was the four elements doing Duke Elington and Cole Porter. The other time we went, it was Michael Redden. Both very enjoyable.

We also enjoyed listening to various groups while sitting at the edge of Cafe Bacio.

This is kind of what my thoughts are. Yes, you get to check off a lot of places with the cruise itinerary, but is the actual places or just the "idea" of the places that excites you? Typically with cruise stops, you don't get that far from the ship; it's like doing a cruise stop in Mexico and going to Carlos and Charlie's, buying a bracelet from a street vendor and thinking you've "seen Mexico." You can see more if you put more effort into planning excursions on your own to get off the beaten path, but if you're willing to put in that much effort, you can likely plan a simple land-based trip.

 

Consider flying into Barcelona and spending a few days there. From Barcelona you could fly nonstop to Athens and spend a few days doing the tourist thing there, then fly nonstop to Santorini for a relaxing week in a lovely villa, perhaps hiring a guide for a local excursion or two. Another alternative would be to find a shorter, one-way cruise, perhaps one that starts in Barcelona and ends in Rome or one that starts in Rome and ends in Athens. You could spend a week on a ship visiting a variety of ports in Spain, Italy and/or Greece, adding a couple of days for more extensive exploring in your embarkation and debarkation cities, and then fly to Santorini and spend a few days there, in one place, where you can soak up the local flavor much better than you could on a port stop of a few hours.

I would narrow it down even more.

If two weeks, I would spend one in Barcelona (never enough days in Barcelona!) and the second week in Malaga or Mallorca..

Or what about one week in Rome and one somewhere on the Amalfi coast

There are so many easy combinations.

The first European trip my husband and I did together (we both travelled before we were married), we divided our time between the Sheraton in Lisbon and the Gorgeous Sheraton in the Algarve. Great trip!

We have been going to Europe once a year for about 25 years now. (A couple of years we went twice and a couple not at all)

We took one tranatlantic cruise that did one week in Europe after the crossing and we did one Adriatic cruise, which we enjoyed.

All the others were land and individual (no tours) trips.

Hopefully, this will be the first of many European adventures for you.

My opinion!!!!!!!

Are you going for 2 weeks? If so, choose no more than 3 hotels in different places that you would like to visit. The fewer hotels the better. Depends on your personalities! We have done 2 weeks in Paris, for example. We didn't see everything. But we got to FEEL Paris! Nowadays, we go for 3 weeks, but we still don't do more than 3 hotels. And we like two better. As we age, we will probably do more of only one. There are so many wonderful places to visit. Hopefully we will all be able to spend many more years travelling!

A cruise is OK, but remember you are on an American ship, eating American food and talking mostly with American passengers!

Whatever you decide, Happy Anniversary and Enjoy!

On each of our b2b's last month, someone did ask me if I were in Aqua Class.

Even though I know about the different classes on Celebrity, my vacationing brain only processed Aqua Fitness Class.

Both times! I said I didn't know they had them on Celebrity!!!

I can't remember who the first person was, but we often spoke to the second. She is actually into fitness and health and was very happy with Blu.

I read these posts and I have to laugh.

We booked another b2b recently for Jan. 2020

Believe it or not, we still book insides. No qualms whatsoever! We don't need Michael's and don't know whether or not we would even like Luminae or Blue (or whatever it is called)

The two cruises in Cad funds adds up to $7298.00 To that we have to add air which is over $700pp these days and hotel in Fort Lauderdale (W) plus extras.

For us this is more than enough to spend just to escape 3 1/2 cold icy snowy weeks!

I checked the sky suite just because of this thread. The cruise portion of the trip would be $19, 618- Plus,plus, plus

I can't see any justification to spend that. That's me. To each his own!

Whatever you chose, enjoy!

so disappointed to hear about the lack of dock and the stealing.

Grand Anse is my husband's favourite beach.

They used to have a dock. I guess it was destroyed.

We used to leave stuff on our chaise without a problem.

I would hate for our books or sunscreen to disappear. We need them.

Thank you.

I read yesterday about someone who experienced terrible sand fly bites at one of Antigua's beaches.

Did you notice any sand flies?

Were there clean bathrooms available?

Thanks again

Beautiful photos by the way!

Can someone compare the two? Re: cost, shade, distance, swimming, facilities, ambiance.

Thanks.

Really? Policing all of this is impossible. There are quite a few cruisers that just feel entitled to a lounger period. We all know those people; however, one could argue forever about what should be and what shouldn’t be, but if you want one badly enough, you just have to get out early...just don’t stay in the sun too long, as you will get burned!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

And what about skin cancer? Between 11am and 4 pm, the sun is not our friend.

I think if you increase the number of loungers other money making areas of the ship might suffer. The casino and shops for instance.

Are you suggesting that the people at Celebrity are happy that some can't find chaises because then they go to the shops or casino to fill their time? Wow!

It is obvious that one of the major shortcomings of cruiseships is the ratio of loungers to pax.

I don't understand why some of the experts can't figure out a new way of designing the area.

Hopefully, on the new Edge ship there will be a better solution.

Our solution...we enjoy the pool area on port days. We could "hog 10 chaises if we wanted and not inconvenience anyone!!!!

Can you imagine being such a weirdo that a business actually requests that you stop calling to harass them?

Don't call him a weirdo.

Some business prefer to sweep unpleasant things under the rug.

Don't count on it. No problem adding a look, if you are there.

I thought it was almost a sure thing!

How easy a walk is it from the glacier?

We will have a 5 and a 7 year old with us.

Thanks

P.S.

I remember the first time we went to Alaska 16 years ago, you were full of fabulous information.

What about Steep Creek in Juneau in July?

Well this will be our kids 6 Celebrity cruise this spring. I have also been sailing Celebrity since high school in the early 90s. I have also sailed on other lines in the past but my children have only sailed on Celebrity. They beg to go on another every time we disembark. But it really depends on your kids. Mine have lots of energy and are pretty social, but find the kids clubs and pools to be more than enough. They also love dining in the main dining room. They are adventuresome. They are now 8 and 10 but started sailing on Celebrity when they were 2 and 4. We have done 2 Bermuda, 1 Alaska and this will be our third Caribbean cruise, second on the Equinox. We sail spring break or Summer when there are plenty of kids. The weeks we sail average 400-500 kids. My kids pick and choose which activities they enjoy and go to those. My older one loves the challenges. They get Fun Factory money over the course of the week by winning games, and team challenges. They can then shop with it at the end of the week for things like Fun Factory towels, bags, metal water bottles. My kids actually complain when we remove them at the end of a session. Some activities on the Equinox last year that were hits were....the camp fire on the grass. They set up teepees, brought light up hula hoops, made bracelets, face painted, a DJ played and they served s’mores. Kids danced and ran around on the grass and had fun. They has a silent disco night which was a huge hit. There were science challenges, scavenger hunts, Gaga ball or races on scooters out on the basketball court, etc. My kids have made friends they still message months later. They also like the more personalized kids club. They have had several counselors multiple times who remember them and go out of their way to make them feel special. No you won’t have rock climbing walls, water slides, but kids have told mine they have done those cruises and the food wasn’t as good, long lines at activities, and too many kids in the kids club that they did not enjoy it as much. 400-500 children on board is more than enough kids to meet a few and have a nice week. The key is to pick the family friendly times. Like Spring Break or Summer and 7 day cruises. Other times, other posters are correct you will find 2-20 kids on board. My family also regularly cruises Celebrity both with and without us. They say the passenger make up changes dramatically from their transatlantic and other longer cruises where the average age is considerably older, to the family weeks were many multigenerational groups are on board, so kids, those in the 40s, 50s and those much older. So I would not necessarily compare say a 2 week cruise in January to a 7 day during spring break or height of the Summer.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Were there many kids on the Alaska cruise? We are going in July, so I hope there will be.

I love Celebrity, and I liking seeing well behaved adults enjoying themselves, but I would choose HAL or Saga over X if the kids onboard are unwanted.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to the posters against kids. Out of all the pax on a given cruise, I doubt there are many who don't like kids. Most likely one would never come across them anyway!