elaineb

This is one of the excursions listed for our stop in Ensenada on our Pacific Coastal.  I have read some TripAdvisor reviews, etc. but can't find anything here.  We will be there first week of April 2023.  First of all what will the water temp be like? We are used to Caribbean cruises and warm water there.. Is this beach safe & clean? Would appreciate any and all comments. Thank you.

1 hour ago, kearney said:

I am not allergic...but I hate the fact that the sunscreen I use ends up on various surfaces in my car...and it is hard to get off. I started using on my honeymoon back in '79. Got in a habit of putting it on first thing after a shower. Now I have never been good about reapplying. A few years ago.. I forgot my face and sat out on the veranda on a overcast day and on the shady side of the ship. Despite that I looked like a lobster at dinner. My dermatologist suggested Colorescience... which I use on my face...too expensive for all over... It is mineral oil based. I just order a version that contains foundation color ingredient..which I hope I can use instead of makeup. Still trying to figure out what to use on the rest of my body..that is effective and won't spread that white color all over any chair I sit in.  It is a pain to have to go through this routine...but I think it has helped prevent the cancers I know I am susceptible to..

Yes, both my & hubby's inside car doors are a mess! 

Just a little side note, I am allergic to most sunscreens - I have to use mineral base and absolutely no fragrance.  So rubbing on the thick stuff is very tedious.  I use it religiously anytime I am going outside. I also wear a hat & sunshine.  However, whenever I can take a little break from sunscreen, it is nice. 

I know this is a strange question, but I have to be really careful in the sun - have had 4 basal cell surgeries.  I will be on the Reflection. Does the glass afford some type of UV protection?  Thanks!

So happy to check in to our cruise today!  So many people cancelled, and many neigh sayers saying this cruise wasn't happening.  But here we are and we are going.  Going somewhere - where we do not know.  My DH said as long as it is warm & there is a hot tub, he will be happy.  

4 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

We 'heard' on the Edge on the Oct 2, 2021 sailing that the first sailing of the Reflection would be the 13th of November. That the Eclipse would be taking over as the quarantining ship for Celebrity. I guess it doesn't matter that the Eclipse is near San Diego presently? 

Heard from who?  A crew member?  I wouldn't put stock in that because someone on our cruise is in contact with a crew member and the CD who both confirm we are set for Nov 6th.

1 hour ago, MrCruzdoggie said:

Who is the CD?

Steve Gayda

39 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

Understandably frustrating but even if you plan other excursions now, May all change once your cruise is underway.  Best of luck!

Sadly that is true, lol.  Thank you and fingers crossed our questions will be answered soon.

10 minutes ago, canderson said:

First, check-in has nothing to do with excursion planning.  Passengers on the early sailing of CS and RF are free to make shorex reservations now, and have been for several months.

 

 

It has everything to do with excursion planning for THIS cruise.  We are obviously not going to Grand Cayman or Key West and even Jamaica is now in question.  So....once we actually know our new itinerary, we have to make decisions and alternate plans.  I assume we are not able to check in as they are adjusting our itinerary.  Yes, we have been able to book excursions, but we did not for GC - why bother? 

"Your start-up, whatever it was, wasn't a start-up of this sort at all.  These are the startups related to the total shutdown many, many months ago, and neither of these two ship have seen pax since then.  This isn't like those that had already been sailing with pax from St. Martin or whatever where all of the IT systems aboard were already up and running, and the reservations system was already doing its regular rolling FIFO push of reservations to the check-in side of the system."

That start up was after 2 or 3 month refurbishment, so yes, retraining and moving crew over to the ship was a process.  We did not sail with full crew - shorthanded in bar areas, etc.  Obviously I understand the whole Covid situation has put quite a wrench in the works, I do not for one minute understate that.  But we are cruising in 20 days.  I don't think it is unreasonable, even in these times, to have an idea if we are going and where.

1 hour ago, canderson said:

Both Reflection and Constellation have been making every move one would expect indicating timely restarts on 6 and 7 Nov respectively.  Check-in expected 14 days prior to each per shoreside concierge.  It's going to require some patience for these last two outlier restarts.

14 days???  That is not a lot of time to figure out new excursions, etc.  We had a start up cruise on the Summit in March 2019 from PR and it was not this stressful...

2 hours ago, the penguins said:

Oh dear, do we have another classic example of the difference between American/English and English/English? Humping is the same but to get the hump in English/English is to be annoyed/upset. 

Yes.  Hump in the US is equivalent to rumpy pumpy for UK.

For those on 11/6 sailing of the Reflection - our CD Steve says everything is on schedule and we should be able to check in around 10/20.  They are working on the port issue.  I am not going to get stressed & will keep on packing!   These are strange times, indeed.

Supposedly sailing on Nov 6th on the Reflection.  Have not been able to check in and our ports - KW & GC not changed yet.  This is driving me, a type A planner insane.  I should think this week we should find out something!

Has anyone experienced this?  Starting to get worried now that we might be cancelled.  Reflection Nov 6th.

On 9/27/2021 at 8:04 AM, cangelmd said:

No one knows the future, but according to CNBC cruise stocks are up some on strong bookings. Typically, labor is the largest expense of a business, but that might not be as true of the cruise industry where they don’t follow American or EU standards. How much does it cost to keep ships on standby.

We have a Feb cruise on Reflection, so I know where you are headed with this. Some persons here on CC with more local or industry knowledge have said that there are signs that Reflection is in the start-up process - exact start date may be in doubt, but before Christmas.

Our plan is to be ready to switch to another ship if necessary after final payment or take a refund. We may be on a position to drive to FLL at that point, which makes waiting much easier.

Our Reflection cruise, Nov 6th is supposed to be the 1st one.

23 hours ago, canderson said:

Do you mean something like a helipad invitation?

Yes, sorry, I meant helipad invite!

Just wondering with the Covid protocols if they have been doing any Sail Away Parties/Invites.  Thank you.

We booked Celebrity excursions because they are supposed to be following Covid protocols - using masks & cleaning the vehicles.  I am going to wear a cloth mask with a filter on the buses.  When we get to the beach, mask off.

I called for my son & got his excursions cancelled & rebooked with his OBC.  I just didn't want to spend another 90 minutes waiting in the queue.  But luckily it was only a 10 minute wait for excursions.  His OBC covered all but $18 of his excursions so I threw that in.  Now the only thing he is paying for is Le Petit Chef.  Pretty good deal!

Now that my son has a large OBC, can he cancel already paid excursions and then rebook using his OBC?  He is just worried that if he does that, the excursions he picked might be already full.  Anyone have experience with this?  Thanks!

Thank you!  My son will get $500 OBC on the cruise we are taking them on.  My suggestion to them once it shows on account - cancel the excursions they picked & rebook them with the OBC.  With the all inclusive pricing, there isn't much else for them to spend the money on.  

So far Nassau has been replaced for GC on Royal.  Think Celebrity may follow suit.

19 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Yes, all of the drivers/guides that were on the excursions we booked through Celebrity so far on our current Caribbean B2B2B cruise wore masks. They also sprayed hand sanitizer on your hands (most of the time) before you were allowed back on the bus.

This is exactly what I wanted to hear.  We usually do our own excursions, but if the Celebrity ones contract with vendors who must follow safety protocols, then we will be doing Celebrity excursions this time around.

Does anyone know if the drivers/guides on Celebrity approved excursions will be masked?  I have been thinking of the safety of excursions.  I will mask in a van/bus, but wondering if it was required of the drivers.  Thanks

Does anyone know of recent menu pics for 7 day cruises?  Also, are they the same for Eastern/Western Carib?  Are 2nd & 6th nights still Chic Dress nights?