misha1

DH and I will be in NOLA over Easter of 2015. We wondered if it will be business as usual (Ho Ho bus, restaurants, bars, tours) or if we will experience a shutdown for the holiday? Is there a recommended spot for Easter Brunch? We will be staying in the FQ. Thanks in advance...Julie

Next month will be my first time on Celebrity so I'm unfamiliar with some terminology. Is the "elite" breakfast for certain passengers, like cabin class or previous cruisers, or for everyone? (Anyone can reply to my question)

 

Thanks for your post. Here are wishes for smooth seas the rest of the cruise.

I wanted to clarify for you...the Elite breakfast is for Elite and Elite+ levels. I am uncertain if suite cabins are invited. Don't worry though...it is really is only a continental style breakfast with espresso and caps and not all that anyways. You will need to enjoy a few more sailings with Celebrity to partake in this private venue...Welcome aboard!

There are 2 songs that I recall Celebrity playing at sail away in the 90s. One was "Simply the Best" by Tina Turner, which was also their theme song in their commercials in the 90s. The other was "Conquest of Paradise" by Vangelis, from the movie"1492"

I could not place that song from conquest of Paradise, nor did I know why I should know it but it was played many times on our first cruise in 2000. I even recorded the pool band playing it so i could try to figure out where it came from. fast forward 14 years and I still did not know...until today. Thanks. It was a really pretty and eerie song all in one. My sail away favorite is calypso

Thanks for your replies...it is the repositioning sailing from NYC to San Juan on the 19th. I will do another search in a day or two. See what happens. Thanks again...Julie

I went into Celebrity's site and tried to find my October 2014 cruise by just doing a general search and I got a message in red that said the itinerary is no longer available. Does that mean it's full? Does that mean I am going to get the dreaded call that the cruise was booked by a group and I am not going? Never saw that before, this early anyways.

If Celebrity adds the 123 Promo to your 2015 cruise then you could add it, but you will need to pay the rate at that time.

 

Same issue if you cancel and rebook on board in October. You may want to wait and confirm the price right before your October cruise because you also get a nice OBC. I did this is January for a cruise next January.

Yes...I will not cancel yet. I can always book on board if this is offered (and the price is right) and then cancel the other when I get home. Would like to keep my cabin but for a classic drink package on a 14 day sailing, it's worth it to lose it for a lesser cabin.

Hello everyone...we will be taking the 'Golden Gate' cruise on Celebrity a year from September. I have stayed at the Radisson on Fisherman's Wharf before and found hotel location to be walkable to many things. I wondered how it is situated with the cruise port that Celebrity uses. Also walkable? Will be need transport to the pier? Thanks in advance. Julie

Here's the flyer. I get the impression it's not applicable to Transatlantics and transpacifics

 

http://www.creative.rccl.com/Sales/Celebrity/General_Info/Flyers/14037573_CEL_Cruise_Now_Form_Future_Cruise.pdf

Well...that's just not fair! I just booked a 2 week Alaska for 2015...no pick your perk offered. Maybe I need to cancel that and wait till we sail on Summit in October to book it!

I have the same dish in the buffet...love it!

Best wishes for your sister Andy

We've done 2 TAs - both eastbound. My favourite itinerary was San Juan, St Martin, Azores, Gijon & Vigo Spain, La Rochelle & Cherbourg France, then on to Southampton. When we did that TA we were both in our mid 40s, and we were probably on the younger end of the age range. But on both TAs there were several younger couples.

 

Celebrity keeps you pretty busy during the day. There are lecturers, movies, cooking demonstrations, art classes (painting classes are super popular - expect to fight your way in!), dancing lessons, Zumba classes, etc., etc. I was never bored, and I'm not the type to sit around and read a book.

 

For air, we have found both times that Choice Air was able to get us the least expensive flights. Last time I told Choice Air exactly what flights I wanted (on Delta) and once booked, I immediately logged on to our Delta account & upgraded our seats to Economy Comfort.

 

Our TA last spring was in late April/early May and the temps ranged from the 80s when we left Florida, to the upper 30s on the second last morning. The other TA (my favourite route) was in late March/early April and it was cold as soon as we got a day out into the ocean. There was snow in Paris when we were in La Rochelle.

 

I love TAs - they're my favourite cruise and I'd go twice a year, but of course my boss wouldn't put up with it.

There is probably one part of trip planning that I really dislike and that is air. I wondered if Choice air would not have booked those Economy Comfort seats for you. When I book open jaws, I will speak directly to an agent and get the best possible seats. DH and are are quite tall, and FC is price prohibitive on open jaw flights. I guess what I am asking, in preparation for our first TA is...if I would use Choice air, do they take care of upgrades too or do I have to go on line and do that? Julie

I have to agree. We enjoyed anytime dining on Norwegian and found it to be very good but our experiences on Celebrity Select dining ...not so much. We have returned to traditional dining. I think the biggest deciding factor for us was the seemingly rushed and less attentive service. The food was fine but it seemed like it came out faster, we were barely done with one course and then next was being served...or we would wait 1/2 hour between courses. We tend to eat at the speciality restaurants a bit more so our dining experience is a special event for us. No matter what, we are thrilled to be sailing on Celebrity or any ship for that matter, and we are completely responsible for our experience. Open mind, patience, flexibility all important when traveling.

Thanks...I have tried the search function and it did not offer the information I was seeking. The sail date release schedule was quite helpful. Now I jsut have to sit on my hands until March 10th. Thanks again...Julie

This will be my first time really looking into a TA and I want to go in Oct or Nov of 2015. I do not see a thread specific to TA sailings. What is everyone's experience in when the cruise lines publish the dates and itineraries? Thanks...Julie

Ummmmm, it's a cruise, right? How can that be wrong? ;)

I had been eyeballing my recently booked cruise for several months...I waited to book, hoping for the return of the 123 package...when it happened, I booked, at a lower price than Celebrity was advertising on their web page...about 200 per person lower, and gratuities are paid by the TA...so I think DH and I came out ahead...for once.

We sailed The beautiful Solstice this last September on a Seattle to Seattle Alaskan itinerary. No Pea soup on deck but I think they were offering hot chocolate and Baileys in signature thermos-like mugs. I think the Naturalist who spoke many times o board was a HUGE draw...very interesting. There was a night in the buffet that featured many Alaskan fresh fish and seafood selections. We ate in the buffet for our evening meal and everyone raved about the freshness and preparation. Maybe not unique to Celebrity but lovely nevertheless is the Brunch. Gorgeous ice sculptures, trays of beautifully prepared foods, chocolate fountains, many many choices. Every evening had some kind of dance party-like theme and people were out and about enjoying themselves. There was a comedy show later in the evenings called Sin City...very funny.

The Martini Bar does not need the ice to make it a fun and entertaining place. What a show the bartenders put on. Ask for the Martini flight...delicious! I do not know when the ice bar will be fixed.

Dine in one of the speciality restaurants the first night, you can usually get a discounted price. I have heard some getting up to 50% off, we have enjoyed a 20% discount. You will be amazed at all of them but Tuscan Grille was spectacular...it is aft with a huge window that overlooks the water. We dined there the evening that we were going through Tracy Arm Fjord and what a view! Try each one at least once. You will not be disapointed. My understanding of the packages is that Celebrity picks which night you dine where and I did not care for that so we chose to NOT purchase the package. I may be wrong on that so check it out.

We did not go to Michael's club at all. We rarely saw anyone in there when we walked by.

If you have the Premium alcohol package you will only have to pay the difference in the allowance...at least that is how it worked when we sailed. The molecular bar was interesting but the Martini bar was alot more fun.

I hope I helped a little. I am looking forward to our next Solstice class cruise. We had such a good time. Bon Voyage!

We returned to regular dining times after our last experience in Select. Service was substandard, also could not get a glass of wine from the Somm. We have always enjoyed above the standard service in the speciality restaurants, but our biggest surprise was the excellent selections in the buffet for evening dining. We had never eaten there before (for dinner) but decided to after a particularly inadequate dining experience in the main dining room the night before. We will definitely put this on our rotation of evening meals for the future.

The "entitlement factor"....you hear it waiting in line, at the buffet, at the shows...there is no age or gender discrimination. I am Elite, not because I tried, but because I enjoy cruising and I like the Celebrity product. I just booked a cruise and I am able to take advantage of a couple of loyalty offers, I do not feel entitled to them, rather, I am glad they exist and I have enough credits to take advantage of them. For me, travel is a luxury...not taken for granted. I am so fortunate to be able to do it and I am thankful for any help I can get to make it possible.

DH and I kinda like where we are in the mix of things...we do not care if there are vouchers or a lounge. We don't care if we earn points towards greater rewards....we just want to have a good time in the short time we have on this earth.

Celebrity also is inviting Classic tier and above members of the brand's newly enhanced Captain's Club loyalty program to take advantage of exclusive benefits: When booking November 29 – December 31, 2013, members will receive 25 bonus Club Points, in addition to the usual Club Points earned for their bookings. They also will enjoy 50 percent reduced deposits when booking." *......where does it say anything about Aqua class and above?

Vouchers would be my preference. Have had the lounge option on my last 2 Celebrity cruises and last 4 RCCL cruises...if Celebrity Elite Lounge was handled like RCCL lounge, I would like it much better. I think the flexibility of the vouchers will be a suitable perk for us.

I have not read thru all of the posts but do want to weigh in. We have had select dining on our last two sailings and we like the flexibility of that but found the dining room atmosphere to be hectic, bordering on chaotic. We rarely noted that on assigned dining, and never in the speciality restaurants. Dining is a big deal to us...it is something that we look forward too. when we are at home, it is just another night at dinner so we build up our evenings on ship with happy hours, appetizers, pomp and circumstance, but then we are let down with less then stellar service and mediocre food. yes, we send it back if it is not good. yes, we mention our dislikes to the guest relations and on comment cards. No, we are not picky or difficult to please. From our standpoint, if we are going to eat in the main dining room, we will be returning to assigned dining, or eat at the other venues. To each his own, which is why cruising is so awesome, many choices await us.

We use Adelphi Executive hire. They specialize in cruise transfers and their service is excellent. Tell Darren that you found out about him in cruise critics and that you have lots of luggage!! info@adelphiexecutivehire.co.uk

Agree

Hello...I have only participated in 1 Elite happy Hour since Celebrity has offered these and it was located in the Sky Lounge and I have a question. If the cruise is a 'voucher' cruise, where does one get these? Are they in our cabin upon embarkation? And, if we wanted to use them...say...at the Martini bar, will our drink choices be limited to those that are normally served in the Sky Lounge or Michael's during Elite Happy Hour? Thanks, Julie

This may seem like an obvious or silly question but please indulge me...I am on a 7 night Alaska cruise in September. Would we be charge 29 dollars per day per passenger for 7 or that pesky 8th day that is really only a disembarkation day? Thanks in advance...Julie