wikoffclan

3 hours ago, SunNFunCruzer said:

2) The lawn/grass areas and hot glass classes are very nice and, as far as I know, unique to Celebrity.

 

I'm wondering how, when and where you're able to sign up for/participate in the "Hot Glass Class"? Is this something we can do online before boarding? Any info is appreciated.

6 hours ago, Longhorn Cruiser said:

A friend is booking solo in a Balcony cabin.

Gratuities are described as $16 per day per person.

I just wanted to confirm that she won't pay for gratuities for a second person since she is solo even though she is paying a cruise fare for double.

 

Single gratuities and single port fees and taxes.

On 9/23/2022 at 6:12 PM, jeffr6596 said:

Leaving on the Ecstacy Monday 26 out of Mobile returning Oct 1..  I assume if the storm stays on course we would have very little impact other than some rocking in the crib nights.  Am I “on track”?

If our "Cool" weather continues, it should keep the storm east of us and hopefully out of our path. Weather prediction for us here in coastal MS is for a high of 74(!!) on Wednesday.

7 minutes ago, vacationlover16 said:

  I wasn't aware of the launch on 10/3. How early should we leave Orlando Monday morning? Thank you for mentioning this!

Latest word on the national news this evening was that the launch will most likely be cancelled.

Sad to say they no longer serve the 1/2 price Fishbowls, etc. on the Valor at the Red Frog Pub on Embarkation day. We were on Sept. 10 to 15. The Bartenders said they were sorry to see it go and had no idea why the promotion was discontinued. The venue was deserted.

On 9/17/2022 at 12:28 PM, ShakyBeef said:

The Room Stewards are hard at frantic work behind those closed hallway doors trying to get all the cabins ready.  The halls are crowded with carts, vacuums, garbage bags, and hurrying, overworked human beings. 

 

Be considerate, folks and follow the rules.  How hard is that, really?

Had a suite for the first time last week on Valor and an EXcellent cabin steward. Henri has been with Carnival for 10 Years and was FABulous. I had a chance to speak to him briefly and he told me he has 35 (!!??!!) cabins to attend to with 1 assistant. He made me a towel "birthday cake", filled our ice bucket without being reminded and did a Great job always with a smile and asking what more he could do for us. The Stewards on Carnival have been among the best we've experienced.

3 hours ago, terrydtx said:

We have flown through CLT many times and the 1 hour 42 minutes should be more than adequate for connecting. 

Agree that CLT is a fairly small, efficient airport and connection times typically don't need to be long... in the case of domestic flights. In my experience, for International flights, airlines usually advise at least 2 hours.

3 hours ago, amevola said:

 

If you have suggestions for tours, either private or ship-based, please feel free to share either here or privately! 🙂

Visited the Alhambra from Malaga on the ship's excursion. Nice, informative bus ride. Beautiful place, interesting architecture, excellent tour guide. Well worth the trip. Was there in October on a TA. Great weather. Would love to return. Enjoy!

(BTW --- my sister and BIL stayed in port and wandered over to the "clothing optional" beach. Don't think it was intentional and don't think they stayed long. They then had a nice lunch in town.)

The Azores (Ponta Delgado port stop) is Beautiful! Made a stop there on a TA and joined a tour put together by a fellow cruiser. Was one of our favorite stops of the whole cruise. SO much to see, so different than any port stop in this part of the world. We toured the island, walked on a beach, viewed the lakes, had a meal with a local family, visited the hot springs, a traffic jam with the local dairy cows, fields of pineapples! So much to see. Would go back again in a heartbeat! Jealous! Enjoy

2 hours ago, westcoasttech said:

Let's see if I can get a "quick and dirty" cut and paste to work... hope that's okay ...

 

 

 

 

 

Dang... Never gambled on Celebrity but received the original offer for the Mexican Riviera cruises last month. Jumped on it to go with my (Florida resident) sister in December on the "free" cruise --- $294 taxes and fees... plus airfare. But... Deck 8 "hump" balcony!

Though we've never sailed from the West coast and it should be fun and different, the Florida itineraries would have been cheaper and easier. Have fun y'all!!

Received a Royal tote bag from my cabin steward near the end of an eastbound TA. One of the Best stewards Ever.... and that was in 2012.... so maybe not a "gift" destined to be repeated. But still a memorable cruise!

8 hours ago, orville99 said:

This one from Amazon is virtually identical to the one I used throughout my career. Bought this when mine finally bit the bullet.

The only time I ever bought travel insurance was on a TA using a bag exactly like this. Set the bag out night before. At Barcelona the carousels went around multiple times, bag was nowhere to be found. Tried to find it for more than an hour until we finally had to get on the transfer to the airport. Reported it to the agent at the Terminal. The bag was finally delivered to our house in New York more than 2 weeks later... minus the 4 cartons of cigarettes (cheap at the time and bought for one of the last smokers in the family 😊). The excuse was that cigarettes can't be shipped internationally and the insurance would not cover the loss. Last time I ever bought travel insurance.... there's always seems to be an excuse why they "can't cover that".

Was on Valor in April and the Happy Hour half-price Fishbowls, beers, etc. were still on offer on Embarkation Day. Did not see any food offered. Hoping to snag a half-price Fishbowl this Saturday. Will check it out and hope to report back with a positive result.

6 minutes ago, notplatinum said:

We sailed the holiday

Probably one of our favorite cruises! Had an OV on Riviera deck and heard the lines rolling out at each port. Coincidentally, that 5 day out of Mobile cost the same as our 5 day out of NOLA this coming weekend in an Ocean Suite... go figure 😄

1 hour ago, ShakyBeef said:

 

I don't know how many, if any ships are still doing it, but I have seen this on several Carnival cruises over the years.  Usually two ladies, scantily clad in the showgirl costumes (sometimes of the thong variety, with butt cheeks exposed), outside the doors of the MDR, while guests are entering for dinner.  I always found it off-putting.  Degrading to the ladies involved.  And I didn't appreciate Carnival exposing my two young daughters to that display, on our way into a "nice" dinner on a "family friendly" cruise.

This is such a bunch of horse hockey. Been on 19 Carnival cruises and on every class (starting with Holiday) except Vista class. There has NEVER been this type of "entertainment" in front of the MDR or in any other venue. Just someone trying to stir up s**t... IMHO

1 hour ago, zaylyn2590 said:

I am sailing on a 4 day from Mia on the Conquest.I saw that I had an upgrade offer to oceanview for $46. I don't mind inside cabins and have never had an oceanview room. My previous cabin was mid ship and deck 1 and this room is in the back of the ship on the main deck. Would you upgrade?

 

ETA: they do have midship rooms for $56

One of our first cruises was an OV on a lower deck (either Riviera or Main, can't remember which). The noise from the lines being let out first thing in the morning to dock at the ports was a bit jarring. As a result of that, we've always tried to stay on a higher deck or towards the middle.

5 hours ago, sunlover2 said:

I must sleep with a down pillow....can I request one from my steward? Do they even have/offer them?

Thanks

I prefer a down pillow as well and have never found them to be available on a cruise ship. In fact most of the pillows we've had have been pretty firm and thick. If it's important to you, bring your own.

If you put it in one of those vacuum bags (or squeeze-the-air-out bags), a down pillow doesn't take up much space in a suitcase.

On 8/16/2022 at 3:23 PM, mtm103 said:

I will let everyone know if I hear tomorrow.. security asked me exactly where I was, what time I went to my cabin, what time I left etc.. they said they would check cctv. Thank you 

Not to be  pest... but I'm wondering what was the end result of your dilemma? Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks in advance to an update!

2 hours ago, JT1962 said:

If the passenger overboard on the Sunshine is true, it likely will take precedence in the news. 

Was on an MSC cruise in May  2019 and had a crew member overboard. Circled the area for a day and missed our stop in San Juan. No mention on national news. Not surprised if Cruise lines downplay bad news.

42 minutes ago, notplatinum said:

Go into the casino for a sticker the first day.

Pre-Covid (10/19 on Paradise) and Post-Covid (8/21 on Breeze) they attached a card to my S&S card with a chain. Since then (on Valor) there's been no sticker or card. The server can access your folio number on the slot machine which apparently shows DOU in the casino when they run your number. As stated, there's a receipt to sign that shows $0 with space to add a tip. Servers have been in short supply in our past few cruises (October, January and April on Valor). Hoping staffing has increased so servers in the Casino will be easier to find this September.

(BTW - some servers have been accommodating in supplying my DH with drinks though my perk is only DOU for me in the Casino. Might depend on the generosity of tips)

5 hours ago, May1cruiser said:

Usually drinks at whatever bar has happy hour. First drinks include taking pics and sending to our friends that are not with us (to tease them of course). 

 

Every cruise since our first on the Holiday in 2009.... get that first cocktail and call my brother (to tease him that we're on a cruise... of course!)

16 minutes ago, jemrtt said:

 Any clues as to where it might have come from?

Canceled a cruise port and refunded port taxes and fees?

1 hour ago, ISABELLA said:

Does Royal have AQ now?

Oops!!! Sorry... Radiance is my end of December cruise. The Celebrity Casino offer is for the December 3rd Solstice cruise. The Aqua offer was for $140 extra and I figured it wasn't worth it to me. Sorry --- wrong ship, right offer. 😊

On 8/14/2022 at 1:53 AM, the penguins said:

Yes Aqua and Suites. Any other cabin you have the choice.

Booked a casino rate for 8 night Veranda on Radiance OTS for 2 Dec.3. Was offered an upgrade to Aqua for $140 (total) but Did Not include AI. Oh well. 

Just realize that even though you ask for a table for 2, chances are you'll be lined up with at least 2 other "tables for 2" that are no more than a foot apart. If your neighbors are chatty, it may as well be a table for 6 or 8.