Can'tstopcruising

Has anyone stayed at this hotel recently? Any feedback? Thanks

Actually, I suppose it depends where you are staying, the amount of luggage you have and your mobility. We were staying at the Holiday Inn and our ship was at the Mayflower Terminal, both of which we found to far to walk to.

 

 

Would you recommend the Holiday Inn? Thanks

Sense the coupons are dated it is kinda funny (or sad) that some fool would actually BUY them on e-bay. That would be a complete waste of money, they can't even use them!:eek:

JMHO, I would think you would have to have a few brain cells missing to waste your time/ money on buying these! Would they NOT be totally useless!

OK, let the flaming begin!

Melody:D

 

Have any of you actually SEEN them on ebay? Has anyone actually SEEN someone buy or sell a coupon on the ship?

 

This was first posted on April 1!!!!

The coupons will not be the wave of the future because they have a measurable impact on wine sales in the restaurants. They really implemented this for the reason they state....if there are too many elites on board, they just can't be accommodated in the sky lounge (or equivalent) so this is their only solution.

 

We were on the initial trial of the coupons (eclipse fall 2012 TA) when they started with two coupons a day. That was meant with a general level of hostility so it was quickly upped to 3 coupons the next night. That seemed to work...two drinks and a glass of wine for dinner :)

 

I don't know about anyone else, but we tried both the white and red wines and found they were not to our liking. I have had much better table wines in local restaurants. I really don't think they will hurt wine sales.

That process would also minimize people trying to sell or give the coupons away. I think it's pretty lame that people would abuse the generous system they are providing for us.

 

Tom

 

I thought the Selling was an April Fool's Joke!

The munchies are generally a "plate o' fried stuff" - you won't miss them. The great thing about the vouchers is that you can stop at a bar on your way to dinner and pick up a glass of wine to take to the dining room with you.

 

What did you think of the wine?

We use a US fund credit card from a Canadian bank. I fill out the form to be charged in US (I.E. NO conversion).

 

Once they converted to Canadian, which would have meant that I paid their fee of 3% or whatever and then would have to pay my bank's fee of 2 1/2% to convert it back to US.

 

How stupid is that? I don't have to tell you that I did not let them get away with it. I go to the front desk a few times to remind them to leave it in US.

We are booked for the Med next Oct. At the time there was a $200 OBC, if you recall. Do you think should ask for a second perk? eg. the gratuities?

Susie, I know you and your husband are champions. (Congrats to him!) We are very average players. Still, we miss the bridge on the longer cruises with many seadays.

 

Waterbaby, I have gone to ARts & Crafts on many cruises and never had to pay anything. I guess it depends on the cost of the materials.

The difference is regardless of skill level, EVERY passenger can do arts and crafts projects regardless of age or gender. When it comes to card games if you haven't been taught then you aren't going to do well. Hiring someone for a game that maybe there is enough interest for isn't good business sense.

 

While this particular cruise did eventually generate 90 passengers interested, it started with 7 originally. Certainly not enough to warrant their own space, supplies, and director. Even with 90 people playing bridge that is still only 4% of the total passengers. I am certain from a business perspective Celebrity requires a minimum percentage of interest before supporting an activity.

 

We have been on many Celebrity cruises with bridge lessons in the morning and duplicate in the afternoon and both were very well attended each time.

 

If 1000 pax wanted to play duplicate, it would surely present a problem!

 

On our last few cruises, I befriended the arts & crafts instructor and she insisted I attend to support her because there was not much interest. On any given cruise, I have seen far fewer pax attend arts & crafts than duplicate bridge.

I have been on Celebrity cruises, where they offered arts & crafts. The cruiseline had a special person giving the class. They either had a free cruise or a reduced fare .

 

Arts & crafts to me are like a kid's activity. Nothing compared to duplicate bridge.

 

If they can hire someone for Arts & Crafts, they can hire someone for bridge.

I know that for avid bridge players, the game can be an important part of their activities, but on any cruise these people are in a minority. I agree that Celebrity should provide space for them to meet and make sure information about the meeting place and time is readily available, but I think that that is where the responsibility ends. Many cruisers would like to pursue their particular interest on board and it would be impossible to provide for every one.

Sheila

 

You can say that for many activities. Arts & crafts for example. A person is hired to teach and space is provided, just like for bridge. A bridge director is necessary for duplicate.

 

Some people mentioned mah jong which I know is now very popular, but I don't think any of the husbands play mah jong.

Actually, it was the duplicate bridge that got us hooked on cruising Celebrity in the first place. We did a 14 day Panama Canal cruise with a wonderful bridge instructor/director. Lessons in the am and a game in the pm on seadays. My DH hadn't played bridge in a few years and that got him back to the game.

 

We sailed to Hawaii one year and did a TA another year, both with many seadays.

 

For me it is a dealbreaker. We wouldn't sail on a cruise with many consecutive seadays without bridge.

 

By the way, there was always a large group that was interested.

Many people scoff at inside cabins, but we take them all the time and we are very happy in them.

 

What if you booked 2 inside cabins? The cost may not be that different from 1 balcony plus a third person.

 

I think your husband is a gem! Your mom must be one too!

 

Enjoy, whatever you decide!

I just received an email from a friend indicating that

 

Two of the people I liked best have resigned! Andrew Harris & Julianna.

I don't say this often or lightly but Juliana has no equals in my opinion.

 

My wife and I cannot praise her enough to her managers.

 

One of the nicest human beings we have ever met also.

 

Andrew and X did not see eye to eye on some ship matters so I imagine he either quit or his contract was not renewed.

 

Celebrity does not have to jump through hoops to fire someone in management. They just do not renew their contract which is a quick and dirty way to terminate them. So technically no one gets fired from a ship unless there is an egregious event during their contract. Most of the time it is simple without much recourse for the employee. Ship crew and staff including officers work on contracts. You are only as good as your last contract so to speak.

 

Sorry to read about Andrew. From our experiences on Celebrity ships, he was by far the best. Chacun a son gout.

Juliana is the best CC HOSTESS we have ever had.

 

Chandru was the best HOST.

 

Juliana was on the ML and management transfered her to the SH do to her outstanding qualities.

 

Consider yourself lucky to sail with her.

 

I agree with you completely!

 

Has Andrew Harris retired? He was the BEST Hotel Director ever!

Just a warning to our American visitors, don't try and sneak Kinder Eggs back into the USA.

...were driving home to Seattle after a recent trip to Vancouver when they were stopped at the border for more than two hours and threatened with thousands of dollars in fines for dangerous contraband in the trunk of their car.

Their suspicious cargo? Six Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs, each filled with a tiny plastic toy - a childhood favourite in Canada but banned in the United States...

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Kinder+eggs+surprise+includes+harrowing+stop+border/6956919/story.html

 

 

OMG! Who would ever think it?

I was delighted to see her on the Eclipse transatlantic in April. She said that they have to quit cruising come fall as it's time for her son to start school. Will be a loss to Celebrity and all those who enjoyed her performances.

 

I remember her. She was a wonderful singer and a lovely person. If I recall correctly, she was pregnant at the time. Now her son is starting school!

As long as you look nicely dressed, I don't care what you wear.

 

Having said that, my husband still takes his tux on Caribbean cruises.

 

On our last Med cruise, we decided that a Sports Jacket and tie was more practical. So....the cruise was cancelled on day 2 and he never got to wear it! On future Med cruises, I am sure he will bring the same.

 

One reminder, though. It can be cool in the MDR and it is a good idea to have a jacket or nice sweater. I guess the jacket will be more serviceable.

The Master for our 12 June 2012 sailing on Silhouette will be Captain Pagonis.

 

Everytime I see the Captain referred to as the Master, I think of the song, Master of the House from Les Miserables!

I am familiar with the dress code threads, but I must've missed out on the chair hog ones!

 

Don't worry. It'll come back soon!

Something it seems some are missing while crucifying this poor poster is the fact that not everyone reads cruisecritic, not everyone visits Celebrity's website and reads the rules on drink packages. Until this board I did not know they existed and would not have found them on the website. If I walked onto the ship and someone sold me a soda package and told me at that point that it was sharable, why would I think it wasn't?

 

Now, knowing it's not and then sharing, that's a different case. But don't question the morals of someone who was told by an employee it was fine and had no prior knowledge it wasn't.

 

I was thinking the same thing. The information I glean on this website! And I don't even buy a drink's package!!!

 

However, most pax do not know about (or at any rate, read) Cruise Critic, and most do not read the literature. Especially, if they book through an agent, they rely on the agent for all the info. An agent may never think it is necessary to specify "no sharing".

If I understand correctly, a pax can purchase a drink card for $200. If he/she drinks a lot, the value of the drinks could add up to $300 or $400 (or, heaven forbid even more!) In such a case, the cruiseline loses.

 

On the other hand, if the pax drinks only the value of $150, the pax loses.

 

So, why not sell the drink card for $200 and add a bonus, fair to all ($40, $80, whatever). Have the bartender punch the card for each drink. That way, anyone can drink the drink, and there is a limitation on the number of drinks.

 

Everyone should be happy!

 

Good night!

[quote name='Denny01']Fully understand, and would probably love to cruise with you because we'd just enjoy the cruise and not worry about this stuff.....these posts keep me thinking about cruising....even these discussions that are just so theoretical.

Den[/quote]

Den, the only reason I chime in is because it gets me how so many people see things as Black or White. There are so many variables, I think we should not judge others.

I'd love to cruise with you,too. You have contributed many interesting posts.