BuckeyeMark

17 minutes ago, kk20 said:

I thought I saved it, but I didn’t. Sorry! 
 

basically I folded the pair of jeans in half (pantleg to pantleg) then in half again. Then did the same with the other pants and placed them on top of each other on the bed. Then I folded the shirts so they fit on top of the pants, then placed our undergarments flat on top of the pile then did the same with our socks (left the socks flat vs folding them together in pairs). Once everything was in a pile, I flattened it and rolled from the bottom pair of jeans and stuffed the roll into the laundry bag. There was still lots of room along the sides and top, if we had more items to send out.

Hopefully this is a good enough explanation 😉 

That's a very good explanation.  We'll be doing that.

Person in laundry room for Celebrity: Hey look, someone else is doing that think KK20 did with her laundry bag! How did they know?!

Thanks everyone - super helpful!

Link that TikTok on how to get more in a laundry bag please! Great photos!

Obviously you never leave the ship w/o proper ID but someone in our group of cruisers is saying they read you have to SHOW that ID to use a credit card. I hadn't read or heard this. Is this so?

This an excursion on Celebrity. Am wondering if this is a a RIB boat that is open or is it a cabin cruiser? Are there concessions (coffee!) and a restroom? Who's done this trip and can tell me about it?

6 hours ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

You are asking in the wrong location.  You likely would find your answer at the Ports Forum, your roll call or doing a Google search.  Failing that email the tourist bureau in Alesund.

It's a specific Celebrity excursion so I thought I'd ask here. But you may be right. I'll try over there.

Tremendous report and really helpful. This one will stand here on CC for some time as the "go to" resource when someone wants to investigate Celebrity and the Galapagos Islands. Well done!

Is this a RIB boat that is open or is it a cabin cruiser? Are there concessions (coffee!) and a restroom? Who's done this trip and can tell me about it?

I emailed a tour operator last week and they said it wouldn't open till June. 

"Score:  Wife 1, Husband 0

Actually, more like Wife:  104,910, Husband: 3"

You're up to 3?! Impressive!  I'm still trying to get on the board!  LOL

Tremendous posts and review and photos! I feel like I'm right there with you! Great job!

We're checking the weather all the time too but any forecast beyond 3 days is pretty iffy so you need to be ready for anything. And that means more clothes in the suitcase!

I'm going to follow this. I see people who say, "I went to Europe for an 11-month odyssey and brought everything I needed in a manila envelope." Really?!  How am I supposed to pack for cold weather, formal nights, layers in case it's warm, rainy weather, and more in a carry-on suitcase? 

2 hours ago, cruz.n.carebear said:

We are a group of 12 (11 adults and 1 4-yr old) going to Flam in August.  I just checked the day that we will be there, and on Norways Best all time slots are sold out except for an 8:25am departure.  We are on the MSC Euribia, and our arrival time is 8am.  Do you think that's possible to make?  If not, are there any other suggestions for our group?

I'll be there in May and can give you a report but my guess is no. Keep checking - slots will open up. I don't know if they add more cars or people on the cruise excursions cancel when their final payment is due and they decide not to go on the cruise but keep trying.

Thanks everyone.

Trying to assess lunch options once we get on the Apex. Will one of the MDRs be open or is it head to the Ocean View and battle the crowds there?

11 minutes ago, Island2Dweller said:

Nothing new in this, it's been a rule for years.

You are unlikely to be stopped at customs - it is a "non event" for 99% of travellers.  The customs officers work on intelligence and are generally targetting certain travellers.  That said, there are occasional random stops and if you have controlled drugs (especially opiates) without the original containers and prescription then you can be in serious trouble.

That is what I figured.  Thanks.

Evidently you should bring a copy of your prescription and meds should be in original bottles to bring them into the UK? I have traveled into London's Heathrow airport and never encountered this before.  Anyone got a word on this? Is this something folks know not to be worried about or am I misreading something here?

See https://www.gov.uk/guidance/controlled-drugs-personal-licences

9 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

1) If you love coffee from big chains like Starbucks, order your CAB (Cafe Al Bacio) coffee with an extra shot

2) With coffee enjoyment, while overall taste is a huge factor, the caffeine content is also a huge factor right behind the taste; it can make even "battery acid" tasting coffee drinkable

3) Starbucks has the highest amount of caffeine of the major coffee chains which in part is why it's so addictive for many

4) Light-roast coffee usually has more caffeine than dark-roast coffee

5) The big difference between coffee and espresso is that espresso uses high pressure which creates a layer of fat called crema (many call it "froth") on the top

A couple of notes:
 

* Starbucks does not have the highest caffeine amount of major coffee chains (see https://www.timeout.com/uk/news/revealed-the-coffee-chains-with-the-most-and-least-caffeine-in-their-cups-020123 and https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/leticiamiranda/who-is-the-king-of-caffeine)

* Light roasts may or may not have more caffeine - https://www.kickinghorsecoffee.com/caffeine-myths-dark-vs-light
 

* Crema isn't a layer of fat but a layer of carbon dioxide bubbles, kinda like when you pour a can of soda over ice - https://www.nicolebattefeld.com/post/what-is-crema-and-why-is-it-important

Can you get a hole punched in your SeaPass or does that mess it up? Can we go to Guest Services and have it punched? That makes it a lot easier to carry on a lanyard!

It's not the greatest snorkeling I've ever had but worth it to bring some gear and go see the shipwreck and other fun stuff - we saw some good fish.

1 hour ago, DaKahuna said:

 

Nothing beats "midwatch coffee" on a Navy ship around 0400.  Large 25-cup pot put on at about 2300 the innards with the grounds removed and by 0400 it had re-boiled a few times.  You could almost stand a spoon up in a cup of it.  Talk about an eye opener.  
 

 

And thank you for your story. That sounds like some powerful coffee!  Thank you for your service too!

13 hours ago, SemperFi_Cruiser said:

Hey Mark, I think I can relate to your coffee tastes...

 

Started drinking coffee with my Mom around age 8...Well, there you have it!  Fast forward, 1 tour in Vietnam with USMC, coffee-making involved a gas burner, a 30-gallon pot, and when the water boiled a 5lb bag of ground military grade coffee was dumped in....After a few minutes you dipped your metal coffee cup in (not too deep to avoid grounds) and Viola!.  Needless to say all of us coffee afficionados loved it!  Still like it strong to this day, usually stock up on French Roast, grind my own beans and love, love, love it El Strongo!! (As I grew older and away from home for years, when I did visit my Mom - (the root of coffee evil in my life) I had so evolved in my strong coffee tastes that she would not allow me to contaminate her Bunn coffee machine, I always had to bring my own pot and brew my own whenever I visited. LOL!

 

We're taking our first cruise on Celebrity later this month, on the Apex.  Looking forward to sippin' what I call "ship's coffee," i.,e. whatever they brew in the big urn in the buffet area.  On past cruises I've always enjoyed "ship's coffee" more than the jazzed up overhyped stuff at the pseudo-Starbucks places.

GREAT STORY! Thank you for your service!!!

4 hours ago, Ellian said:

I second that - just got one and its great - Question: on the Celebrity Beyond (Concierge class if that makes a difference) can i request a kettle to boil water or should I bring my own? I make my wife a 'good' coffee every morning and would rather not have to leave the room to get hot water etc. 

You CANNOT bring any kind of kettle or water boiling device. Celebrity categorically prohibits any thing that generates heat like that. Ask a room steward for a kettle .... or go fetch hot water in the OVC.

3 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

 

We have asked for and received a kettle on every Celebrity cruise we have taken.  We enjoy Japanese and Chinese Green Tea and bring our own tea, even though Tea Forte that we like a lot is available, with us on every cruise so we can have the tea we enjoy in our room. 

 

 

 If this was a dangerous as you say I am surprised ship's still provide them and that I am not seeing coverage in the press of all these ships burning down. 

 

 

Little known fact: the Titanic did NOT hit an iceberg.  It was a kettle that started a fire that did her in! 😂