ThursdaysChild

Hi I am going on my first celebrity cruise in May and I was wondering if I can use my on board credit to upgrade my drinks package to premium? Many thanks :-)

 

 

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Yes, absolutely. Do it at any bar once you are onboard.

Last year there was a thread about a Canadian, Egon, who booked a year's worth of travel on one ship--not Celebrity.

 

Repeated loops thru Carribean and Mexico, then over to Europe for months, repeating several itineraries.

 

He posted the whole year he was gone.

 

No discount from cruise line, over 100K.

 

He did get hurt and had to spend a month in Mexico? to recuperate and then got back on the ship.

 

Search for the thread, it was good reading

The thread is still there; search Topic "Never Too Old", cruise critic name Musicus. Egon had gumption!:) His is an interesting story. I also wonder why he never got more consideration from MSC.

Guess you missed this. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2079584

Well, yes, I did miss it. Too busy working 12 hour days to pay for the double fares that nearly every one of my cruises costs me. Thanks for pointing me to that thread, it was back on page 2 or 3.

Really, the points are almost meaningless as I am Elite Plus after my next cruise, but all but 2 of my X cruises have been solo at full fare (no Exciting Deals) and 200% of AQ fares. On my last two I've found a friend with whom to travel, but I can't plan my travel schedule around anyone's availability but my own. This announcement just means there's some long overdue fairness for solo travelers.

WooHoooo....finally! I got an email just minutes ago from Celebrity stating that for all sailings after July 1, 2014, solo travelers paying double the fare for a stateroom will get double Captains Club points. It's about time!:)

Now I can NOT cancel the three solo cruises I had set up for 2015.

Last May while cruising from Venice on Silhouette, my friend and I were enjoying dinner at Murano. After entree, but before the cheese course and soufflés, I excused myself to go to the Ladies room. It was only when I sat back down at the table that I realized that my sapphire ring was missing; I had taken it off to wash my hands and left it on the shelf above the sink :eek:

I flew out of my seat and went back to the restroom as quickly as possible, but it was gone! The maître d' had seen me run out in obvious distress and was waiting at the table when I returned, having learned from my friend the reason for my upset. When he saw my tears and I told him it was gone, probably forever, he told me not to lose hope and walked off.

Less than 10 minutes later he returned with my ring. :) Someone had turned it in the Guest Relations, and when he learned this he personally ran down to bring it back to me. I thanked him profusely, and wish I could have thanked whoever was honest enough to turn in an obviously expensive ring.

Maybe it was karma for the diamond pendant I found jammed into the corner of my stateroom safe on day 1 on Reflection that previous November, which I turned into Guest Relations. They told me the previous guests in my stateroom had reported it list or stolen from the cabin and staff had searched everywhere, including the safe. Sure do hope they got it back!

Hi WpgCycler and thanks for the interest . I think that does show that I am no longer able to order Conundrum and Dry Creek Zinfandel in my Premium Package now ? Or is the Premium limit now $15 ?:confused:

No, not in my recent experience. The Premium limit has not been raised. On the 1st leg of my recent b2b, sailing 4/11, both were covered under the premium package with no additional charge. On the 2nd leg, both were several dollars more with s.c. included.

Thanks for a fabulous review! Equinox is the last of the S class ships for me to sail, and I'm on her for the 10/27 TA, so am excited to hear your report, especially since it brings back fond memories of my Venice/Adriatic cruise last Spring AND I always cruise AQ.

It doesn't surprise me that the crew on the ship fixed your Mom's scooter; I was on a tour in Seville 2 years back when a friend had a similar scooter disaster on the ancient cobblestones and the Silhouette electricians got him up and running again.

A question (multi-part): Can you tell me who the Maitre d' is in Blu? And sommeliers? Any favorite waiter so far?

Does anyone know who the maître d is in Blu on the Solstice?

As of May 8 it was Jesus, from Peru.

I would also like this information, especially about the wines. I want to figure out how to break this to my husband before we board next week!:rolleyes:

I can answer some of this. No changes visible to me at Martini Bar or Molecular Bar with my Premium Package, except thaqt for the 4/28 sailing on the Martini Bar had no menus. Staff blamed it on the change back to price + gratuity from the "gratuity included" price seen in the menus on the 4/11 SYD to HI cruise. In hindsight, I have to suspect the lack of drink menus was due more to prices being increased...can anyone on the cruises this week clarify that?

For Premium wines, some examples I recall: DryCreek Old Vines Zinfandel was included on Premium leg one, for leg 2, an upsell of, IIRC, $2+ 15%. Conundrum white became an upsell, don't know how much because my friend/traveling companion declined the glass upon hearing that. Freemark Abbey, normally a $4 (including gratuity) upsell, and a favorite of mine became a $6+15% upsell. Mer Soleil (white) became an upsell of $4.

I had already found the Premium wines by the glass selection somewhat thin, despite having wine lists from Blu, Murano, Tuscan and CellarMasters to choose from. Two years ago my sommelier would sell any bottle of wine by the glass if there were two of us and we had the Premium package. Gone are those days!:(

Um, it costs SO little to upgrade. Maybe DO IT?

I upgraded to Premium for my recent 28 day back to back on Solstice. I did so based on my knowledge of all of the good wines available by the glass at the various venues throughout the S-class ships, and also because I love my Molecular Bar and Martini Bar. I was dismayed to find that quite a few wines I enjoyed by the glass on my several cruises in 2013 were no longer available by the glass but only by the bottle (but hey I was told: "you can buy the bottle Madame at a 20% discount"), and more disturbingly, the wines that I did enjoy by the glass on leg one from Sydney to Honolulu nearly all increased in price on the Honolulu to Vancouver leg, with some being pushed above Premium limits and even the upsell wines going up a further $2-$4 a glass.

I booked 4 future cruises taking the drink package option while aboard. I may rethink that and see if my TA can get me changed to free gratuities and then just buy wines by the bottle.

I'm not so sure to the OP is valid in saying they change brands mid sailing on the guests.

 

There is no factual data to back this claim up.

I don't know about mid-sailing, but on my recent back to back on Solstice the wines I drank on the first leg that were part of the Premium package to which I paid to upgrade were an upsell at charges ranging from $.50 to $4.00 per glass on the 2nd leg. So,some drink prices went up on Solstice on 4/28.

Molecular Bar and Martini Bar prices were still covered under the Premium package.

We were on the Honolulu to Vancouver portion of that cruise and got 20% off both Tuscan Grille and Murano. You just had to ask

I was back to back as well and every day it seemed there was someone offering discounts for the Specialty Restaurants. We got Silk Harvest at 50% off on 4/11, and were offered Murano or Tuscan at 50% off on 4/28, but declined as we had dinner ashore. We got 25% off Murano later in the cruise and had offers at various times for 30% off all the specialty restaurants.

I think that, as Guy Bavli pointed out in one of his presentations, that positive energy attracts positive results and the reverse is true. I met far too many people during my 28 days who seemed negative about every aspect of the cruise and had a miserable time. My friend and I often laughed and wondered if they were on the same cruise we were.:rolleyes: :confused:

Sure, trying to steal the limelight again...

Please don't ma-lime HostAndy; he works so hard for us! :::ducking for cover::::eek:

So they are going to take away a restaurant (Bistro on five) that is available to everyone and give it to just suite guests? Somehow I think the non-suite guests aren't coming out ahead in that deal. I already feel cheated that us Untouchables cannot go to Blu.

You can go to Blu if you pay the premium charge for booking an AQ cabin. :rolleyes: In my experience, that generally works out to an extra $40-$50 per person per day. On two short cruises (a 7 day and a 6 day) where I didn't feel it worthwhile to pay the very high upcharge (about 80 p.p. per day) for an AQ cabin, I dined at a specialty restaurant all but one night. So that added (then) $40 + each night, which worked out to saving me a few hundred dollars.

 

Actually, I just found my Captains club welcome letter from my Nov 30 Reflection sailing and it says in the "PLEASE NOTE" section:

All Valued guest [sic] and their companions staying in the same suite/stateroom over 21 years old are welcome. Please refrain from inviting non-elite guests not staying in your stateroom, as they will be unable to enter Elite lounge/events.

 

^^^^^^ Does anyone know why there's so much blank space above? ^^^^^^

 

Yes, of course: so you can book and list more fabulous cruises! :) ;)

One sommelier in BLU.....they used to have enough time to fill wine glasses. Not any more...it's pour your own on refills. Same in the mdr when we tried it one night.

The cutback in dining room staff was something I noticed as well in my last two cruises. Blu was particularly a mess on my November Infinity cruise, and I and other customers made sufficient noise about the one overworked sommelier in Blu that an assistant was called in to help out about 5 days into the cruise.

Since late 3rd Q 2012 I have noticed a cutback in staff and service. :(

On the Infinity

CABIN #: 1133

DECK #: 11

CLASS: AQ

AREA: aft closest stateroom to portside

BED NEAR: bathroom

QUIET?: not especially

BALCONY VIEW: aft, and down to outdoor extension of the buffet

BALCONY SIZE: deeper than standard

WIND A PROBLEM?:no, but this stateroom does feel the ship motion more than most other areas, and also there is significant engine vibration felt.

SOOT A PROBLEM?:yes. Unfortunately I completely ruined a pair of white cotton capris on day two and thereafter always sat on the balcony only after covering the chairs with pool towels

PROBLEMS/COMMENTS:this stateroom is right above the smoking area below on deck 10. I am very sensitive to smoke, but the smoke rarely made its way up to me except for the several occasions when a cigar smoker was out there.

Did he at least let you honk the horn.:eek:

I don't know what it is :cool:, but every time I sail on Silhouette I get the urge to honk the Captain's horn....;)

:::cross-posted from Drama Central:::

Hi James/DingoBoy/Vicky !

First of all, what a truly FABULOUS way to celebrate your 50th! We'll have to raise a few glasses at the Martini Bar in your honor.

I'm going back and reading from February, where I last left off and found the post below about having a "big old Aussie BBQ" the day or evening before we set sail. Anything further on this? Because I would be all in for this!

Thanks for your insights and advice; can't wait to meet you and your posse!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dingoboy

G'day all,

As this is my 50th birthday extravaganza I'm determined to make it as special as possible.

So I'm happy to put my hand up and organise a few little events.

All my mates call me Vicky from the love boat (rather dis-respectively I might add) simply because I'm always organising stuff - especially on a cruise - It's just the way I roll - Although it appears we are lucky enough to have a 'real life' Vicky who is hard at work organising all the fabulous day trips. (THANKS VICKY!!!! )

So these are a few things I'm considering - we'll need to start a list, just hit reply and tell me what you're interested in, and I'm happy to collate it all in one place - eg Our cruise map.

1/ Big old Aussie BBQ.

It's a long way off and the idea might evolve (or devolve into simply being a room party with cocktails at sunset) - but at this stage I'm thinking about organising some sort of BBQ in Sydney the afternoon or night prior to departure.

Sydney has some amazing roof top spaces that we'd be able to reserve with stunning views of the harbour, bridge and opera house or it could be at one of the many beautiful public BBQs on the foreshore.

2/ A wrap party in Hawaii - the night we are in port - at a groovy little bar like the Tiki Bar and Grill or Dukes on the beach.

3/ A cabin crawl one of the first days at sea.

4/ A gift exchange - might try to do something with a twist here.

5/ A pub crawl on board

6/ A list of cabins that I can add to a map of the ship so we nknow who our neighbours are.

Anyways let me know what you are interested in

James

I thought it was about to turn into a fist fight! Ugh, keep me out of that stuff. And they think we are drama queens, ha! We booked a studio in Darlinghurst between our two cruises, the March 22nd Auckland to Sydney and then the April 11th trans pacific. Sherri email on the way.

 

Jeff

Jeff, the April 2013 Millennium Asia cruise always referenced had a Roll Call that went much the same way with the same individuals, plus a 2nd set of equally obnoxious and controlling drama-meisters, so much so that I cancelled that cruise for fear of being stuck on a ship with that lot for three weeks. :eek: Ugh! :eek:

Don't know if I was on the original Roll Call but if not, here are my details:

1/ Screen name - ThursdaysChild

2/ deck - cabin number if known - 1538

3/ names of people in cabin - Liesa (pronounced "leeza")

4/ where you live - New Jersey, US

5/ early, late or select dining-Blu

I was hoping to have my brother and brother-in-law join me on this voyage, but they and another couple they travel with decided to go back to Italy for that May. Alas, I'll need to find some other Martini Bar afficionados to help me keep the bar hopping!

I just booked airfare today, and feel pretty good about the pricing and the relatively small number of miles I had to use for First and Business First upgrades. For me, the trip becomes real when the airfare is paid! Now I need to start to look into getting a visa and finding private tours to jump into or start.

Any suggestions for a centrally located Sydney Hotel for this solo traveler? I get in the morning of the 9th. Any suggestions on how a young 60-ish Jersey Girl can maximize her 2.5 days in Sydney? I have some health issue that make extensive fast-paced walking or stair climbing difficult, but I can stroll to window shop or bar hop with the best of 'em.

Looking forward to meeting everyone!

(And happy to find the non-headache-inducing Roll Call for this cruise.)

Coffee can make or break my day - can anyone tell me how the regular drip coffee is on board? I typically drink a fresh ground french roast. I'm considering bringing Starbucks Via and ordering hot water. Can anyone give me a review?

Thanks in advance!

I'm just like you, and start my day exactly the same way. Dining room and room service coffee on all the X ships is the pits, so I order hot water and plenty of half&half with my room service breakfast and enjoy my Starbucks's Via French Roast. After breakfast, and once I am up and about on the ship I go to the Cafe for a breve latte or a mocha. BTW, Costco usually has multipacks of Via at one third less than from Starbucks directly.

Most. Entertaining. Review. EVER!:D

Thanks for sharing this; as soon as I stop laughing & mop up the tea I spewed all over my desk :eek: early on in reading your review, I'm calling my travel agent to book this trip for next February. :)

My experience cruising solo seems to be a little different from everyone else. I took a 3 day Bahamas cruise in late December - it was my first cruise - and of course first solo cruise. I had quite a few awkward moments. First, I felt it was awkward boarding the ship, and they take your picture -obviously to try to sell you a copy later. I immediately recognized that I was the only solo cruiser, since everyone else was families or couples. Departure was awkward...everyone was with their partners or families in a party mood, and I was alone. Dinner the first night was when it came to a head. Table for six, but only one couple who was Italian and very much in love showed up. No one to talk to, and the servers kept asking when the rest of my party was going to show up. Again, the photographer came around taking pictures of the groups, and then when he came to me, I was depressed by this time, and declined. Went to the solo/singles meetups but no one else showed, and so the first night, I wanted off of that ship so bad.

 

I will say it got better over the next 2 days. I guess I just accepted that I was alone, but I struggled to find people to talk to. The hot tub on the last day was where I finally found people to talk to, and was invited to eat dinner with some folks I met there.

 

I guess being satisfied with cruising solo has to do with your expectations and whether you enjoy being alone. I don't enjoy being alone, although I'm accustomed to it, and had an expectation of quickly making friends, so for me it was awkward and disappointing.

 

The good news, even with my disappointment, I haven't ruled out cruising again. Too many places I want to go, and cruising seems to be the most economical.

Deneetro, had you joined up with your RollCall before the cruise? As one who nearly always sails solo, and generally prefers it, I have met some great people through the Roll Calls. That gives me the option to do things with a group, or own my own.

It really is also an issue of mind over matter. Sounds as if you talked yourself into feeling depressed and lonely. It may be easy to do that, but it's nearly as easy to make plans for having a good time meeting new people. I know...because I did that "lonely and blue" thing on one trip years and years ago, and made up my mind I would never again waste my vacation that way.

Try again!:)

I have a couple of questions.

 

What are Fivestar and Group X price program rates?

 

 

Does this mean that as a solo traveler, I would still get a $300 onboard credit for a 10+ night cruise?

 

TIA

 

Paula

Yes, Paula. I am local to you, cruise solo, and got the full $300 on my booked cruises.