micruiser2002

43 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

Jeremy said his Luminae burger was good as always. 

Reminder to self - ask for extra caramelized onions.  

1 hour ago, Mark_K said:

I was told by my waiter that they have two qualities of filet. The one you get any time other than ‘filet night’ is the lesser quality one.

From what I see on the menu the only other filet you can get any night is the one for purchase. I would hope that would be the higher quality.

On 10/14/2023 at 9:42 PM, monkey@cruise said:

I also used SmartEx app on my Shinkansen travel 2 weeks ago. All Shinkansen tickets are time specific, you can make change to your tickets as long as your original departure time not passed and you hasn't passed the ticket gate. The non reserved tickets are non reserved seat tickets, no seat assignment  usually car 1 - 3,

Just an FYI, I was just looking at my booking again because I thought I might have to change the time to later but realized with a Non reserved ticket there is not specific time.  This ticket is good for any train on the date booked.  None of the information on the app or in my confirmation show any time.  This is from their website:  

5 minutes ago, 6045pjp said:

 

Don't know how I missed that. Good to know!

Thanks!

This is the offer I just got today in my email.  I get both emails and snail mail postcards.  

8 minutes ago, 6045pjp said:

 

Did you receive any of them while you already had an upcoming BCC cruise booked?

I responded above that I have gotten multiple new offers while having a cruise already booked with BCC.  I have 2 currently booked and just got another new offer this week.

Just now, 6045pjp said:

I occasionally recieve BCC comped cruise offers...

I received one last week and booked for February, although it wasn't really an itinerary I'm thrilled with.

I was wondering if they ever send another offer while you already have a different BCC cruise booked for the future. I thought about just waiting to hopefully get a better offer, but figured I should just book what I can. I'm hoping I didn't miss out on a potentially better offer by booking this one.

Yes, I currently have 2 free BCC bookings for next spring and just got another offer this week.  I actually booked the 2nd one after I had already booked the first one and got another offer with more dates.

1 hour ago, Sstan said:

Can you tell me where you booked this with DOKOTRIP?  We are doing the exact same thing when in Osaka and Kyoto next month. 

You can contact them on their website - https://dokotrip.com/  They also have their tours on Viator if you prefer to book that way.  I booked initially on Viator but then changed 2 direct to them so they didn't have to pay whatever the commission is to Viator.  They do not require any deposit and full payment 1-2 days before tours.  I will try to remember to come back next week after we have used them.

2 hours ago, Dolebludger said:

Well, whatever happened in 2018 in a CS (which it did), it reportedly isn’t happening now. Some don’t care about the convenience of being able to drink cokes and beer while relaxing in the suite without being charged “bar prices” for this, after paying “lux price+” for the cruise. Fine, but we do.

 

Sometimes, there is a difference between “official policy” and what really happens — which is the only thing guests care about.

Where have you heard that the CS isn't getting their mini bar now?  This post is all about Sky Suites, but I do not remember any posts regarding anyone noticing a change to CS.

6 minutes ago, talljules1 said:

I think the comments in this thread neatly explain why I am feeling nervous about our forthcoming Christmas/NY cruise on the Infinity.  We have reached the sweet suite life and generally sail in Sky Suites, but pushed the boat out an booked a Royal Suite. We got a good price, having booked over a year ago (about £1000/day for the two of us) and I am excited about being away for Xmas/NY for the first time. Infinity was our first cruise ship but, until now, we've not been back, so was excited to see it again.

 

I should be excited about having a RS. But all the changes mean that I am more anxious than excited.  Will try to go with a positive attitude and to roll with the punches. Maybe being in a RS will insulate us from the changes. Not sure. Would have liked to have lots more Celebrity cruises booked, but this ongoing sense of insecurity means we haven't. This might well be our last X cruise for a while, I suspect. As many others have said here, the price:value ratio is no longer favorable on Celebrity and unless our Xmas cruise is up there as one of the best we've done (as it should be as it's one of two RS's we've had) likely won't book with them again.  Already looking at other lines.  We've done 2 weeks in a YC Duplex suite on MSC Virtuosa this year and had a great time. Oceania, Regent etc look interesting too.  Celebrity never advertised itself as a premium line like Oceania, Regent, but now their prices are as high or higher than the premium lines, and the offering doesn't match. I am royally fed up with paying more and more and, every time, finding out that something else is no longer included. Also realising we could go far away with Business class flights, stay in a nice hotel and pay less than a Sky Suite (even when factoring in food and drinks etc) so also thinking about land-based hols for a while.

Not sure what changes you are referring to, everything so far that has been discussed is only relevant to Sky Suites and you are in a Royal Suite.

8 minutes ago, monkey@cruise said:

I also used SmartEx app on my Shinkansen travel 2 weeks ago. All Shinkansen tickets are time specific, you can make change to your tickets as long as your original departure time not passed and you hasn't passed the ticket gate. The non reserved tickets are non reserved seat tickets, no seat assignment  usually car 1 - 3,

What time did you dock in Osaka and were you able to get off the ship pretty quick?

2 hours ago, WESTEAST said:

Really appreciate all of your info!  Just wondering, is your cruise stopping in Beppu as other than hot springs and spas not much else to see and just curious if you would stop there and found something interesting?

No our sailing does not go there.

6 minutes ago, WESTEAST said:

Thanks again for more great information.  Looked it up and seems that the Subway/metro is in the same station as the Kyoto Station and the Karasuma Subway Line is two stops to the Kyoto’s city center at Shijo Station (no connections). Is that the line you will take? Will have to look up how easy it is get a one day ticket now!

Yes that is the line we will be taking but we will be changing to the Tozai line to get closer to the hotel we are staying at.

16 minutes ago, WESTEAST said:

Did consider overnight in Kyoto but then want to see either Osaka or Nara on our second day.

 

Thanks and good point as our respective ships could dock late (or early!). Think we will wait to purchase our ticket upon arrival at the Kobe station. We need to be in Kyoto at a specific time to meet up with our guide from GoWithGuide so will book our Kyoto tour with a few hours lag time.  

 

How do you plan to transit from Kyoto Rail Station to your Kyoto hotel as thinking it might be best for us to meet our guide at a Kyoto city hotel?  Thanks again😄

We will be taking the Metro at Kyoto Rail Station to a stop not far from our hotel.  

23 minutes ago, Amster12345 said:

Are you spending the night in Kyoto?

Not the person you asked but I am on Millie later this month and we have an overnight in Osaka and we are spending the night in Kyoto so we can start early the next day and get in as much as possible.

1 hour ago, WESTEAST said:

We want to take the train from Kobe to Kyoto on the Shinkansen (bullet train). Kobe bullet train stops in Osaka before reaching Kyoto - is this the train you will be taking? If so, could you share information e.g., will you purchase your tickets online or at station? Different classes of tickets and looks like Reserved or Green class is preferred if one doesn't want to stand. Thank you.

I bought my tickets online with the SmartEx app, this is what the Japan Rail shows to use.  I booked non reserved tickets for the day we dock just in case we cannot make a specific time.  If you use the App you can also use that to scan the tickets to board without having to get a paper ticket.  I printed our QR codes also just in case.

7 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

Poached lobster is shown in the dinner menu for day 11 on Millie's current sailing (Oct 12 - 24). 

 

Yes it is on mine also but as an entrée. I believe Jim said he saw it as an app, that is what I was responding to.

3 minutes ago, tnm6217 said:

However, that Butternut Squash Lasagna drowning in Gruyère is my absolute favorite, so I'll survive!

Thank you for the recommendation.

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

I noticed the other day that the Luminae Menus are loaded for our Nov 25 Edge Cruise (first 7 days).  None are posted for the MDR or BLU.    I'm guessing they are just place holders but have the new Daniel B's Menu and my beloved Raspberry Pistachio desert is gone and replaced with ANOTHER  chocolate desert.

 

To be honest -  I don't see may changes, but haven't actually compared them.  I did notice the have a slow poached lobster as an appetizer on day 2 but the rest of the menu seems the same

 

Entrees

Potato Mezzaluna Pasta

Pan-Seared Red Snapper

Roasted Rib Eye Steak

Cauliflower Steak

 

Chef B

Chilled Corn Soup

Duck Leg Confit

Milk Chocolate Pill

I am on Millie in less than 2 weeks and the current sailing and my sailing still show the old Chef B menus. I also do not see any slow poached lobster as an app, they do have the Chilled Lobster salad.

3 minutes ago, JDPCruisers said:

Appears to be too soon for Dec on the Connie as no menus on the app, yet. 

That is why you need to select the Current sailing for that ship.  Look at the app and the 10/12-21 sailing, that should have the current menus.

7 hours ago, tjunmin said:

Based on what I'm reading in CC, apparently the Luminae menus were updated around August 2023. Can anyone share the new menus? I only found a picture of the new breakfast menu, but nothing else. The Celebrity app is not showing any menus for my sailing yet.

On the APP change to a current sailing on the same ship and you will see the new menus.

I am using DOKOTRIP for Kyoto in a few weeks.  We will be taking the train from Osaka to Kyoto and spending the night in Kyoto.  Then we will be using the tour company the next day and they will return us to the ship.

Booked all of my tours separately.  Some of the more global companies were way too expensive.  Even in Japan I have booked some separate companies.  

If you are not receiving offers you may want to contact BCC and ask if you are on their mailing list.  I get both email and snail mail offers all the time.

2 hours ago, Jimmym1981 said:

Each of the 4 restaurants have a stagnant mini menu (approx 4 items) that is tailored to it's theme. Then, the remainder of the menu is the same in all 4 venues that rotates each night. 

Yes but I have read that they all share the same kitchen and it is possible to order from any of the other restaurants their "special" dishes.

I thought it did not really matter because you are able to order from any of the other restaurants?