Northern Aurora

We did B2B Alaska cruises in June 2922. The first was just before the slide with the second just following. Just a few comments random comments — I am always suspicious about comments from a Skagway shopkeeper as very few (almost none) of folks in those stores live in either Skagway or Alaska. And I wonder if that person was aware of the amount of emergency funding the State provided Skagway to develop a remediation plan. Due to passenger feedback regarding the repetitious Alaska itineraries some cruise lines are offering some variations, such as including Sitka on some runs.

While we have dined more times in specialty dining than in Luminae. I am not aware of any hallway or entrance into Luminae other than the main entrance. Luminae does have its own restroom, which I have not used, but I haven’t noted any one walking out of that restroom hall way who did not just walk into it a few minutes before.

We boarded the Edge on October 30 and will be onboard for three legs. We are in the same aft Sky Suite for all three legs. My perception mirrors that of jeylane. We have met the head butler several times. Our retreat host is excellent but does not seem to have the authority to do much —such as exchanging the cheap bubbly in the stateroom found on embarkation day for a bottle of red. It was exchanged but took several days. And when we return to the stateroom the room stewards are generally still working on their assigned staterooms after 2:30 PM. All feels very impersonal, and this Zenith member of the loyalty club is not overly impressed and has discussed the situation with one of the powers to be.

We live in Alaska. While we live in the Interior of the state we subscribe to the electronic version of the Anchorage Daily News for statewide news. The cruise industry is frequently discussed and I have not read any articles even remotely suggesting that there is any consideration of dropping Skagway.

We are currently on the Edge. On the Celebrity Today delivered tonight a “Remembrance Day Memorial” will be held tomorrow in the theater. The description is as follows: “ Join us as we honor active and retired members of the service, remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom, and recognize the families of those who have served, and continue to serve.”

Our letter was delivered to our mail slot about an hour ago. I find it interesting that those in suites were totally unaware of the B2B meeting this am. Different numbers are circulating regarding the number of B2B passengers but I have heard 1250. We rarely do a single cruise leg but this may be the highest number we have experienced. And I apologize to our OP for jumping into her interesting report. Gerry

My sense is that a number of folks in suites are at least B2B. But it is clear that our procedures will be slightly different in Dubai as our immigration will take place in the Retreat Lounge. We had to go outside in Piraeus but were escorted by the concierges. I have just seen the letter going to those in suites. Folks who are changing staterooms are also asked to pack everything. No leaving items on hangers. Fortunately we are in the same suite for all three legs.

To be totally accurate we dropped by Cafe al Bacio after lunch at Luminae. My husband likes a pair of oatmeal raisin cookies after lunch.

Very interesting to read the above post. Suite/Retreat passengers did not receive a letter regarding the turnaround day (TAD) process and B2B meeting held today as all TAD procedures will happen in the Retreat Lounge for us. The suite manager has given an outline but we will receive a detailed letter tonight. Gerry

No lemon or chocolate tarts this morning on the Edge. They have been serving a delicious pear-Nutella cake which is wonderful — but alas none today. And today I realized that there is a small sign indicating that the Cafe al Bacio treats “are on us.”

With pleasure! Not only am I not a fan of the lemon tarts I also do not care for the chocolate ones which appear periodically.

I am posting from the Edge and am happy to report that both chocolate and vanilla macaroons have been available (not at the same time). Not a fan of the lemon tarts but they seem to be available.

I also am currently on the Edge and am dining in Luminae. We like to avoid the busy times and asked the seating hostess if the current passengers tend toward early or late dining. Generally the seating hostess sense very early in the cruise if they are dealing with a predominately early or late crowd. The current sailing is the first leg of a B2B2B and the other sailings may be different. Despite the fact that we live in Alaska we have done six or seven Alaska cruises. My sense is that after busy port days a greater number of folks just dine in the buffet than other cruises. So on port days Luminae may be less busy on an Alaskan itinerary.

Have you checked with Salmonberry Tours?

I am presently on the Edge. We transited the Suez several days ago and we will be on the ship until it reaches Sydney. Passengers are reporting different experiences but the most difficult visa for us was Indonesia. At least some passengers onboard are still working on Indonesian as the Suite concierges are trying to assist. While we obtained ours before leaving home I have an email in my travel folder from a shoreside concierge outlining which visas needed to be obtained before boarding. In the Indonesian section the email states that (and I quote) “Ship can assist guests with this visa upon arrival. Once you are onboard, our staff can assist you/guests with obtaining the necessary visa; however, there is no guarantee that your visa will be secured by the time we arrive in port.”

I also am on this cruise. While I don’t want to jump into our poster’s thread I just wanted to comment on the time change situation. Really isn’t a stretch to call it a debacle. In addition to the time change notice in the embarkation Celebrity Today which Norwaylady has posted the supposed time change was also posted (heavy black arrow indicating a time zone change) on the complete itinerary also in the initial Celebrity Today. There were signs in elevators stating there would be a time zone change. Acquaintances were told by their waiter in Eden that there would be a change. Yesterday morning our Luminae waiter told he asked caught in this and go up an hour early; he though there was a time zone change. At 9:30 am they did a ship wide announcement to clarify the situation. And there is no time screen on the Edge phones. And since a number of folks, including us, are having phone issues I wonder if it would have been accurate.

I wonder if our OP is asking about the Eclipse sailings in August 2024. In August 2024 the Eclipse sails from Cape Liberty to Reykjavik and then sails back from Iceland to Boston. No ports in Ireland but the ship does stop in Greenland.

Use goggle to find the Temsco helicopter tour website. They do glacier landings to dog sled camps in both Juneau and Skagway.

Instead of Aqaba, Jordan we are going to Muscat, Oman instead.

We are presently in Rome preparing to board the Edge tomorrow for a Suez Canal transit. A port in Jordan has already been replaced. I don’t know if you are considering an itinerary with stops in early or late 2024 but doubt there will much presence in Israel anytime soon.

Surgie — the pier is definitely Canada Place. The Auberge is a very short walk to Canada Place and has suites (which include kitchenettes) which can be handy with kids if you plan to stay more than one night.

If my memory is correct our OP is traveling with a family group which includes children. With kids having a Pan Pacific bellman pick luggage from hotel rooms is a valuable service. Another convenient hotel is the Auberge.

For awhile shareholder OBC was not combinable, but that policy changed a number of years ago — well before the pandemic.

The Marriot Anchorage Downtown is another convenient option.

Our OP is considering two short cruises. Both cruises would mean seven nights onboard. While Celebrity helps in moving staterooms with such short legs it would be easier to be in the same stateroom for both.