Safety Squirrel

Thank you!

 

 

 

You can post tour guide suggestions if someone is asking. I am asking. :D

For the private tour - we used On Board New York Tours. They were great. Our guide was Jay:D (excellent - he knows so much about New York) and driver was Will :)who was also very good.

Hope this helps

Not trying to cut in on the thread, but, we just left the Summit and this was our worst cruise ever. The ship was a designated training ship even though Guest Services denied this, The ship was filthy, dining (early) in the MDR was a fiasco as tables were assigned but if someone with more "status" wanted your assigned table you were told to leave the table assigned to you. The smoking area on deck 10 had the dirtiest, broken down furniture and it was never cleaned unless someone called Guest Services and asked numerous times for someone to clean it. There was almost non existant bar service unless you went to the bar to get your drink and brought it back to your chair. The crew put on a good front, but if you took the time to listen, they weren't happy either. The list could go on, but the bottom line is that the M class ships seem to be the "red headed stepchildren" of Celebrity. We love the smaller ships on Royal Caribbean but if you want a great cruise, stick to S class on Celebrity. Just our opinion, hopefully others may have smoother sailings.

I also think I must have been on a different Summit - having sailed the September 21st cruise. The ship was definitely not filthy and I found it to be very clean. I never had to go to a bar to get my own drink - there was always someone asking me if I wanted something in various venues, including the theatre, buffet, Café Baccio, etc. Did you talk to all the staff to know that they were not happy. Staff that I talked to were happy to be on the Summit.

I am not sure what to make of your statement that "MDR was a fiasco as tables were assigned but if someone with more "status" wanted your assigned table you were told to leave the table assigned to you" We had two people request to change from our table as they requested a table for two, another couple joined our table as they wanted a larger table. Nothing was based on "status" that I knew as neither couple has "status" so to speak.

I was very happy with the cleanliness, service and talked to many staff members who were happy with their assignments

Went on this cruise - Sept 21 - Oct 5, 2014. Weather was very good with exception of one day (Quebec City), however, I live in Canada so thought the weather was great whereas those from Florida, California, Texas etc. thought it was chilly. This cruise certainly had a more 'mature' crowd than on past cruises.

As several posters have said, the colour of the leaves depends on many things. If booking again, would pick the second cruise in September hoping for better weather than in early October.

Re your question regarding New York City. we did two tours - one a bus tour and one a private tour due to the fact that the person I was travelling with could not walk for long distances. On the private tour, driver picked us up at hotel and then met our guide in New York who was with us for seven hours. If you do not mind a private tour being more expensive - would highly recommend it. Had a SUV and driver could get close to many places that the big tour buses could not. Also -- we planned the itinerary so we saw what we wanted and stopped to walk, get pictures etc. where we asked. Skipped the Statue of Liberty until the bus tour as we felt (and also the guide) that spending time going through security several times was actually a waste of our time on a private tour. (line-ups at the Statue of Liberty were long and sometimes security, slow as there were many tour buses).

If you are able to walk - there are lots of places where you can walk and also public transportation to get to other sights.

As we cannot post or recommend tour operators on the CC board - just Google New York tours and several will come up. You can then look at what they offer and some recommendations/reviews on the various companies.

Did ship excursions and one excursion which TA 'comped' us in Quebec City. As usual, ship excursions were expensive but they mainly were very good. The few private tours that were organized on our roll call were filled up quickly. Many rented cars or just walked into the various cities/towns.

On this sailing staff were excellent.:) I thought the ship was in good condition; however, I do not go around looking for rust on balconies, decks. Ship was always clean and staff were seen cleaning everywhere.

Would certainly recommend this cruise and as I prefer to sail on Celebrity, would take this cruise in the future.

Good advice on here about why to NOT use a debit card. .... Credit card is always the safest way. Use it like a debit card - by paying off the balance each month.

Agree- use your credit card like a debit card and pay off balance each month. I also make sure I have a credit balance on my credit card when travelling in case I decide to purchase more expensive items such as jewellery (Florence, Caribbean etc), blown glass (Venice). As soon as I return from a cruise or land based trip, telephone for balance and pay immediately. Just like a debit card!!:D

Yes there are all inclusive deals offer from Halifax for both Feb. sailings. Last year it was done from Toronto and was a hit!! I noticed that travel agents around here have signs out advertising these cruises. I can't imagine that they would fill the ship as that would be a lot of planes but maybe the offer is extended to other cities as well

And Winnipeg gets left out in the cold again:eek: However, maybe Celebrity will offer a Canadian one from Calgary as I usually fly there to meet my relative who cruises with me

I have booked some ship's excursion tours for my upcoming cruise in November, this will be the first time participating on any ships excursion's, regardless of cruise line, as normally we do DIY trips . If the tour has to be cancelled, say for lack of interest, insufficient numbers of people etc. when do they inform you ? Prior to the cruise, a few weeks ahead, day before tour etc. I just want to cover myself and have a backup plan, I don't want to be left scrambling on the day of. Thanks. :)

One of my excursions on Constellation (Caribbean cruise) was changed, They offered one in the morning and one in afternoon. Not enough people had registered for both - so they combined tour into the one with the most participants. I received notice a day or two before the excursion so could have picked another one. I just went with the adjusted time.

I also think sometimes it depends on the demographics of the cruise.

While on the Constellation a few years back, my son found $1,100 dollars in the Martini Bar. He was sitting on my lap and was digging around on the seat cushions, and said look what I found. Rolled up and held together by a rubber band was 11 crisp $100 dollar bills. Wanting to show him what you're to do in this situation, we went to Guest Relations to report it.

.....

Our decision was if the money was found on the ship, it must remain on the ship. So we went around to all ship staff who we encountered during the cruise including the staff in the Fun Factory and tipped all very well that cruise.

I think that was very generous of you to 'tip' extra to all the crew that you had encountered.:D It also taught your son a very valuable lesson when you decided not to keep the money. Charity starts at home they say and you showed him that it was better to give than receive - even found money. Congratulations -- your son must be very proud of you as parents (many would have just kept the found money:()

The "online cruise agency in New Hampshire" we used provided paid gratuities and an upgrade from classic to premium beverage package for our next cruise. We were very happy with how they helped us with our first cruise too. Google is your friend.

Wpgcycler

I choose to use a local TA and a company who pays local business taxes and helps keeps the economy running. If we all went to on-line TA's particularly in other countries where would these businesses be!!! I may not get some benefits like wine or OBC; however, it is a personalized service and I can phone anytime and the TA does not charge me for booking. Just my opinion

Pleased that you enjoyed six days of your cruise and the seventh day ruined the whole experience.:(

I am currently on a roll call. One of the couples is celebrating their 50th anniversary (I do not know them) so our roll call is celebrating with a lunch on a sea day. On the roll call, one person suggested having a lunch (a member of the roll call e-mailed the couple to see that it was o.k. with them). Another member of the roll call is following up with the Maître d to arrange for a table(s). Everyone on the roll call was invited via the private e-mail to attend the lunch. I am not sure if anyone on the roll call has ever sailed with this couple -- we just thought it would be a nice gesture and help them celebrate. They were not expecting anything for their 50th anniversary.

Unfortunately, as you just 'found' cruise critic, perhaps the next time you cruise, you can join a roll call and see what activities they are having and perhaps celebrate your 51st anniversary with a luncheon etc. - just a thought.

Have any Canadian CC posters received an e-mails from Celebrity asking their re-premissiom to send"sales/spam" e-mails to them? I don't think I have seen one yet (unless I deleted it).

 

Kevin Reid

received the e-mail today and filled out the form attached

Received e-mail today requesting permission from Celebrity to send e-mails when Canada's spam law becomes effective July 1st

They have fixed the problem of not being able to enter the province. So -- returned the form to Celebrity and will remain on their mailing lists.:D

Thank you to Celebrity and my e-mail sent to "concerns@celebrity"

I also received the two e-mails regarding cruises. The e-mail that I received with the form attached was regarding my next cruise, i.e. booking excursions etc. So Celebrity may not be sending it to every Canadian on their e-mail list at this time.

Also, have received an e-mail from concerns@celebrity.com saying they are looking into this.:)

As Christine has posted the spam legislation, most Canadians should be receiving messages from companies they deal with -- I know that I have been receiving e-mails and can either say yes or no. Has been beneficial on some companies that I receive e-mails from but never requested them.

Hello,

 

Can you please forward a copy of the email to concerns [at] celebrity [dot] com? Thanks!

thank you - will forward the e-mail

Make sure you have entered "Country", in your case Canada, before trying to enter State/Province. I recently had this same issue with another company. Frustrated me no end!

Cindy & Joe

yes - I have entered the country as Canada -- however cannot enter province!! Have tried to complete form several times a day for the last few days :confused: very frustrating. I am going to send an e-mail direct to celebrity and see if they can help

Celebrity officials

Received your e-mail regarding new spam law in Canada July 1st. Have tried several times -- cannot enter state/province so cannot submit form. Everything else can be filled in

HELP -- still want to receive e-mails from Celebrity. Any suggestions on how to enter province and submit.

Good comments.

 

I've always thought that if the prices were reasonably priced, more people would buy their photos. I would!

 

Monica

I concur with above, if the photos were more reasonably priced, many passengers would buy then. It is such a waste of the photos

If you take ill for example in an airport just after leaving cruise ship would you contact Celebrity or your Insurance company?

I had an experience on another line. Had Eggs Benedict before disembarking. I was travelling with oldest DS & DIL. We had rented a car and I did not know if I would even get into the rental car as I was so sick. We figured it was the eggs as I had no symptoms before we disembarked - started about two hours later. We made many, many stops on our way to our hotel, having booked for several days. Did not even think about contacting insurance company as we continued with our vacation. I just had to stay in hotel room for about 36-48 hours and then continued my vacation. Not too sure what the insurance company could do unless you had to go to hospital or see a doctor We did not contact the cruise line as I did not go to a doctor/hospital and I would not have been able to prove that it was the Eggs Benedict.

Still enjoy cruising, however, do not have Eggs Benedict before disembarking

Received an e-mail from Celebrity this morning - April 22nd. The e-mail was dated April 21 and for a four day sale -- April 8th to 11th!! Come on Celebrity -- a little late for the sale :confused:

Also received two up-to-date e-mails with this this week's deals. :)

Some one at Celebrity needs to be checking on who is sending out e-mails two weeks after the promotion has ended

We have just returned from almost 3 weeks on Millennium (our honeymoon). We sailed from Hawaii to Sydney and loved it so much we are thinking of doing something similar next November (same start/end… different ports in between).

 

My Mum turns 70 in April so my new husband thought it would be nice to take her with us next time! Yes he’s an exceptional husband and she’s not your average mother-in-law!

 

Hi - my very first cruise, DS & DIL invited me to share a room with them. I slept on the couch. It was all right for my first cruise- seven days over Christmas. We managed to work out the bathroom routine as DS is early bird and DIL a late sleeper. So, I manage to work the bathroom routines out. However, there is also the issue of privacy. I gave them as much privacy as possible -- went to evening shows and ship activities without them.

 

In 2010 we went on a Med. cruise. Like you, we looked at price of suites which were expensive. I booked an inside room on the same deck and used their balcony at times. This was beneficial to everyone - privacy - 2 bathrooms etc. Also -- on both cruises it was decided before cruise that we would pick our own ship/shore excursions and if they were the same - great. If not --still great. In Med, DS organized private tours so we shared expense.

 

Having been in this same situation, I would suggest an inside room for your mother. Also a suggestion -- divide the price of both rooms into three shares - this way - you get the privacy etc. and it is still cheaper than a suite and mom does not have to pay solo rate.:)

 

Enjoy your next cruise:D

Thank you Havana Daydreamin for your postings and pictures. :D I will be on this same cruise next year September 21/14. Hope that we have the nice weather you experienced. However, not the norvo virus.

Once again a big THANK YOU for your postings

Edna

Attach is the latest update, in 3 parts due to the file size.

Please email me if you would like an Excel version.

 

If you notice any errors, please let me know so they can be corrected in the next update.

Looking forward to the next spreadsheet update as I am travelling in 1215 on the Eclipse

Hi I posted this on another thread regarding private guides in Ephesus and Istanbul.

Last year we used www.aboutephesus.com and were very pleased with the tour and English speaking guide. They tailored the tour to our requests. It also included lunch but not admission to the sights. They met us with a 12 passenger van with driver and guide, although there were only four of us.

In Istanbul, we used a private tour guide to visit the Topaki Palace, Blue Mosque, etc. I don't know if he has a van as we used him to tour the grounds and we met him there. His name is Gokhan Kaya and his e-mail is gokhanky@hotmail.com - telephone: +90 533 256 72 49.

I will be visiting Ephesus and istanbul again in September 2012 and will certainly be booking these individuals again.

Hope this helps as I am sure there are lots of touring companies and guides.