beverly_kaye

I'd love to see them also. Could you email it to me please? bkbates at siu.edu

 

Thank you!

I'll be on the Eclipse next week. Just checking to see if anyone has anything recent to add that I shouldn't miss? Last year I discovered the Tres Leches cakes. I hope they offer that as an entree at every meal on this cruise - yummm!

I tried the NCL Jewel this week. NCL is not for me! My tag line for the week was "It's not Celebrity" (and I managed to say it in my head more than outloud). The one thing I did like is one of the specialty restaurants is near the buffet. During breakfast and lunch when the buffet is busy, the specialty restaurant is open for extra seating around the buffet. Since Celebrity has ordered 2 new ships, maybe there could be more seating near the buffet? I even like to sit outdoors when I eat so additional seating outdoors near the buffet would do. The buffet was sort of open to the pool so you could walk to the pool with a plate of food and it would still be reasonably warm when you found an open table. Looking forward to my next Celebrity Cruise! The NCL experience did make me appreciate more the service, food quality, décor and entertainment on the Celebrity ships.

SO Buffetking,

 

Could you find out a few things for me in the cc class? I'll be on Reflection as well. Could I get sliced papaya, mango and kiwi instead of the usual fruit? Can I substitute the stuffed mushrooms for the olives? And the upgraded breakfast room service menu? Could you snap a pic and post it after the cruise? If this is all too inconvenient though, please just enjoy your cruise!!! I'll find out (not) soon enough.

 

Bev

We'll be in c2 for the first time on our next cruise. I booked on board and I believe there might have been an extra on board credit for the class? And a free upgrade. And when I got back I transferred to a travel agency with a group and got even better pricing. Plus the beverage package that had a really good value at the time. I thought I had read that fruit would be included daily in the cabin. Did I make that up? Does anyone have pics of the fruit if it's for real? We stopped in Jamaica at a fruit cart and I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I sampled all the fresh tropical fruit. Thanks for any information!

 

Bev

The name of this site is cruise CRITIC after all.

 

But what bothers me is when the critics become negative of someone who has had a different experience or opinion.

 

I hesitate to comment many times. And sometimes when I make a comment that seems to me very neutral, I feel completely beat up after a couple other posters weigh in on my comment.

 

I guess I haven't learned though - here I go again.

On our recent cruise, the 2nd formal evening was "lobster night". I'm a vegetarian but my husband likes lobster and he and the other 4 at our table said it was ok but nothing spectacular. None of them thought the lobsters were fresh. Celebrity does very well with most of the vegetarian dishes.

I guess that is my issue with Celebrity. The Solstice class was targeting 40 something women. They even had 40 somethings gals involved in the design. I believe I heard that's' where the idea came from for the bar in the shower (for shaving legs). So now they have our attention and we love the decor and the cabins and most of the better quality cuisine. The house band was awesome on my last cruise. But then they lose us on activities and other entertainment. I wish they would decide on a demographic. I think the loud music is for me. I like it. I like to swim but no way those 2 pools can accomodate 3000 people. I'll take the ocean for swimming but I prefer everyone have access to all parts of the most popular deck. The pool and lawn just seem like a waste of prime real estate. Just my opinion though. We can all agree on the Art Auctions though, so they could start there anyway. I was on Disney and I loved it but the kids are grown. Celebrity seemed like the grown up Disney. Maybe I should go back to Disney for a few more years :)

I'm all about losing the art auction.

 

And an unscheduled sea day when we weren't able to stop at Grand Cayman was a disappointment. Seems like they could have done better with the entertainment but not sure I could have come up with any better ideas.

I really enjoyed the food discussion we had recently. And I've got my list of foods to try ready for my next cruise.

 

So I thought this would be a fun discussion as well.

 

Celebrity is almost perfect but not quite. If you were the CEO, what would you change???

 

Here's my list to get us started.

 

The early seating in the MDR would be 5:00 and it would be less formal - maybe 1 formal night or none.

 

There would be frittatas available in the oceanview café under the sign that says frittatas.

 

I think a sports bar would be cool - like Hot Shots with multiple tvs with different sporting events on each tv.

 

I'd serve ordinary beer like Michelob or Bud Light - maybe even draft beer.

 

On future ships, I would consider getting rid of the pool and grass and have a garden or botanical deck instead. Hibiscus plants in containers would be really nice, or small palm trees. A koi pond?

 

Maybe a big screen in the garden area so we could watch movies in the garden a couple of nights. And live music in the garden as well for sail away and evenings.

 

I could live without the casino. But then maybe that's needed so others can subsidize the cost of my cruise. Ok, we'll keep it.

 

What about better programming on the stateroom tv?

 

Or on the ship channel, they could give us a complete video tour of the ship. I'd love to see how the crew live when they aren't pampering me. I know they work constantly, but I'd like to know they have some down time and enjoy the ship also.

 

I've only been on Celebrity, has anyone tried other lines? Are there some fun activities you would recommend for Celebrity?

 

And then there's my dream itineraries and embarkation ports.

 

Would love to have some influence over the Celebrity CEO :)

Cruise Critic needs a like button cause I'm likin everything - especially the picture of the cheesecake. I had the tropical fruit version and it was to die for!!!

I discovered the curried potatoes and cauliflower in the ocean view cafe on day 6. A lot of food was just average so I'd love everyone's input for my next cruise in November. Please tell me your favorites so I can get the best tastes for the calories. Oh and I loved the lemon pie in the buffet. And my husband like the frog legs in the MDR. Thank you!

 

Bev

I booked during the 123 offer and I chose the drink package because I asked the cruise specialist if the banana daiquiri was included. He said yes and now it's not on the list. The drink package is basically worthless to me now. Maybe Celebrity could give us a do-over on our selections since the packages have changed since our booking? I would have chosen the OBC if I had known. I apologize for being disappointed.

 

Bev

I've been tempted to buy the book also. I still dream of the lemon cream ravioli I had on the Equinox in 2010. If the recipe is in there, I'll order it tonight. Could you tell me if its in there?

 

Thank you for checking!

 

Bev

I'm sorry for your trouble but either the girl at guest relations learned something from your situation or else I talked to someone else. I purchased the drink package for my husband and when we checked the statement after the first day, we were being charged for drinks. I checked at guest relations and was told I purchased the package after the cards were printed. She added it to the card (took seconds) and the previous purchases were credited.

 

I wonder if I sat by you all at one of the shows? We were in the first row and I sat by a young girl. She was asked to move because children aren't allowed to sit in the front row. I thought that was ridiculous. And I was really disappointed because the girl was so sweet and I enjoyed talking with her.

 

Bev

Deck - 8

Cabin # - 8326

Class – 2A

Starboard or Port Side - Starboard (even numbers are starboard right?)

Bed near?(balcony or bath) – bath

 

Quiet Cabin (With comments on problems. Note if connecting. ) – Very quiet except 1 night when waves were really high.

 

Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. – 3 floors down there was an overhand - one couldn't jump from this balcony and land in the ocean. It wasn't an obstruction to the view at all.

 

Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - normal

 

Was wind a problem? When cabin door and balcony door were open, there was a wind tunnel through the room. Only an issue when the cabine steward opened the door unexpectedly.

 

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? No

 

Any specific problems with this cabin? Some creeking noise on one night when the waves were especially large - it didn't bother us.

 

Any other comments? There are no elevators or stairs near the rear of the ship. Long walk to the elevators if that is an issue. Didn't bother us, we enjoyed the friendliness of all of the cabin stewards between our room and the elevators.