kymbakitty

At the end of our next cruise, we'll have 79 points.

I can add a short 3 night cruise on the one we have scheduled to make it to Diamond at the conclusion of our next cruise.

Should I bother or is the experience pretty much the same? We haven't gone to a repeat cruiser event since I can remember, mostly because those attract 50% of the passengers and there isn't anything special about them.

At this stage of our lives and DH retired, we'll probably book GS when we do cruise, so we'll have CL access.

Just wait or worth adding 3 days to existing cruise? Is there some pretty big Diamond perks that I just don't know about?

Our cruises are typically 14+ days, so taking a couple hours on a lazy sea day to throw in a load of clothes is no skin off my nose. I exercise regularly so that is extra workout clothes times 10. Ugh.

Imagine having enough clothes to wash only after 3 days precruise....Imagine how many clothes you might have after the first week or a two week cruise!

I am curious to learn about why that new ship is controversial....think I'll see if I can't find out what all the buzz is about. We've been on the Dawn, Star, Diamond, Grand, but we said NO MORE OLD SHIPS....too much lipstick on a pig. I wouldn't mind trying the new Princess and Reflection on Celebrity.

Ahhh......so many ships, so little time.

...... We loved everything except the lackluster gym. I thought it was a downgrade from Freedom.

This is really a bummer to hear.

The gym on the LOS was nice, and I was thinking (hoping) that the Allure (same as Oasis layout) would be even grander.

Really sorry to hear this...

:(

You know a bidet is for washing your butt?

 

 

:eek:

Sure do.....have had them in Europe years before cruising.

Fortunately, very seldom are they used in cruise ship cabins, but ours was sure put to great use.

Many of our cabin stewards have told us they couldn't remember the last time one had been used.

:)

Great pictures.

Looking at the ruins (tablet wants to change spelling so I'll say ruins) brought back great memories. Fortunately we went while we were vacationing in Cancun, so we had much more time there. And, back when we went, you could still climb to the top, which made all the difference to me. I just love climbing things and this was pretty cool. Hubby (fellow Canuck) ended helping an Asian woman down as she bit off more than she could chew...always the gentleman.

Having been on over a dozen cruises, we felt the same way about going to Mexico for an actual vacation--no thanks. Until we did and we fell in love with too many things to write about. We've been to San Jose del Cabo maybe a half-dozen times and going to Puerto Vallarta for two weeks in October/November 2014. It really depends on where and when you go too.

The Samuel Adams brew looked very good. It did not look like a 10% alcohol beer!

We're doing a TA cruise on the Allure in October 2015. I know, really far off, but we waited too long to book the Oasis for the fall TA cruise. Fortunately, the Allure announced it's fall TA shortly after so we booked it.

Excellent review!

Probably doesn't belong on this thread, but my friend and her husband returned from cruise today. They had been on the Reflection.

They went down to MDR on formal night and he did not have jacket or tie. They could not stay.

Many years ago, the Grandeur had a crazy sale just about a month before sailing. It was a 16 day TA cruise and we had our typical category C (they might not even have those anymore...they could be called JS. About 250 square feet with 68 square feet balcony.

Anyway, got wind that category A-C were going on sale for $1249 pp, all inclusive.

Even with forfeiting our $900 deposit, we still ended up paying less than we would had we just stayed in the C. It was our first OS and I think the room was 8002. I remember using the bidet as an ice chest for my beer and champagne. Our flights were already booked or that might have been a deal breaker.

I think it was 2001.

I agree about FOS CL. The Concierge Lounges on the Voyager and Freedom classes are dark and dreary. I'm looking forward to the CL this fall on the Oasis TA:D

Waited too long to book for October 2014 TA on Oasis. Waitlisted for GS and when one did open, it was $10k. Too much for 12 days and one port, even on the Oasis. So we booked Allure Oct 2015 instead.

Love TAs.

Just speaking for myself.....the tub was a negative. Would have rather had the shower only. Also....The walk in closet added no addition value for us. it was not a dressing room (had no place to sit).

Had OS on the LOS and while the bathroom was really pretty, it had one HUGE drawback--a ridiculously large tub that gave no more room than about 30 inches square for a very small stand up shower. DH is about 6', 185 lbs. I don't know how anyone 250 lbs or larger would shower in there. There was a handicap bar built in and we both had bruises to prove it after two weeks. I started showering in the gym after exercising, so I didn't have to deal with it that much. Neither one of us ever used the tub, although it would have actually been big enough.

We looked at a bathroom in a GS. Much better layout. Won't bother with OS in future because that tiny shower (personally, I think this was a design flaw...people in general are just not that small.

That's awesome to have a GS for the TA. You will LOVE it. The Concierge Lounges on Oasis/Allure are two stories with great views of the aft and Boardwalk of the ships. They offer made to order breakfast and lunch. The Diamond Club is small and overlooks the Promenade (a great place to people watch or see the parades). It offers the usual Continental Breakfast. If there are quite a few Diamonds on board the nightly cocktails are in Blaze on Deck 4.

Maybe I will be able to get DH to go to the CL on the Allure after all.

He hated to go to the CL on the FOS. It was a small dark room with awkward seating. Out of 16 days, the capachinno machine only worked maybe 3 of the days, so I ddidn't bother going there either.

The Allure sounds like a completely different experience.

Thank you!

Since the Diamond Club and Concierge Lounge offer the same amenities (except for Oasis and Allure) I don't see why there would be a problem just having access to the DC. I like the views better in many of the Diamond Clubs.

We aren't Diamond yet (this next cruise we will be), but will be in GS on TA in October 2015 on the Allure.

You stated that the amenities are the same in the lounges, except Oasis and Allure.

Can you elaborate?

Thanks!

No, there is only brand of each type of wine (red -not sure which, chardonnay and white zinfandel and a sparkling wine) and a list of about 5 or 6 beers. On Grandeur there was a list in the DL, on other ships we've been on we haven't seen a list for either the CL or DL, but it's consistent across the line. I have had the experience of having a peach bellini on Allure but when I asked on GR, I was told that wasn't included.

My request for clarification was based on the feature where they load your seapass with 3 drinks every day. I know the choices in the CL are limited (which is why I don't drink beer or wine in the CL).

So are you saying the same criteria (domestic beer/bottom of the barrel Cab) applies to the drinks you order when they load the 3 drinks on your seapass?

Also, do they limit the hours these drinks can be ordered at the various bars around the ship?

Thanks.

We've been on a ship for quite a few of our anniversaries.

Ships go all out for us every time.

Our anniversary is on Halloween.

;)

Here's a screenshot from the letter in the stateroom:

Thanks!

Can you have any bottle of beer, or glass of wine, for example. Or is there certain criteria (domestic beer, house wine).

I think more than anything, it's just kind of a sad post. You read the OP and it appears that of all the wonderful blessings bestowed upon her, that when she looks at her beautiful bracelet, she gets a twinge of anger instead of an awesome memory of a wonderful cruise with her spouse and children. If the post is even real. Quite frankly, I think it could be a troll.

It reminds me of reading reviews at some of the most beautiful resorts in the world by some folks that can't get past the $15 hamburgers at the swim up infinity pool. That's the first thing that still comes up when they describe the resort.

It's likely that the memory/experience of this bracelet will be overshadowed by a presumed refund of 8% which may be imagined anyway (bracelet might not have even been in Cozumel).

:(

We book MTD in order to get that charge added--ha!

For me, it's one less thing I have to worry about. We don't even go to the MDR. We can never make it in time for breakfast, and eat dinners either in suite or alternative restaurant. Once we retired the tux and gowns, we rarely go to the MDR. Out of 16 days on our last TA cruise on the LOS, we went to MDR for a salad bar. Never once for dinner or breakfast.

I just like to have it out of the way.

We have a GS booked for next April, Eastern Caribbean on FOS. Our plan is to go on the cruise after a week in Cocoa Beach. Just out of sheer curiosity, I checked out the Celebrity website. There is an Eastern Caribbean on the Reflection, Sky Suite, for $1300 less. We will be Diamond with Royal in September. Any thoughts? Pros/cons.

You do realize that a Sky Suite is only 300 square feet....

I like Celebrity and look forward to experiencing the Reflection, and, given that it is the itinerary you want and the ship is a lot newer, I would. New ships usually take quite awhile to come down in price, so I would jump on it.

I would actually try to get Aqua Class Sky Suite so you could eat exclusively at Blu.

Good luck!

Greatest thing about my sailing on the Independence last week was that I no longer had to visit the Dreaded Den of Obnoxious Entitlement, aka the Lounge, to get a complimentary drink.

 

During the same hours, we could grab a free glass of wine or beer or whatever from other bars around the ship. It was fantastic. No more having to hold my tongue while those around me tried to out-do each other with their self-aggrandizement and puffery.

Can you elaborate on this comment? Oh my....how my DH would love not having to go to the CL with me to have a drink (he doesn't drink, but will begrudgingly accompany me now and again).

I find it hilarious when some of the oldster cruisers in the CL and DL look at the young twenty somethings when they come in to the CL or DL and order drinks.

 

Get over it. My three twenty somethings are D+. They earned the points by sailing with us in their own balcony or suite cabins and have a right to be in there as long as Royal allows/provides access for their C & A level.

I guess I just don't understand this....why would anyone look at young adults in their 20's if they were in the CL? I don't understand why it would even be out of place.

It just wouldn't occur to me that you need to be "X" years old to have a spot in the lounge.

What am I missing?

I guess I never look at anyone and wonder how/why they got access....it just doesn't cross my mind that they belong or don't belong. That's for staff to deal with, not passengers.

CL access is just icing on the cake. In fact, it wasn't until after we booked a suite that I even found out about CL access! The last time we cruised in an OS was in 2001 on the Grandeur. They didn't have CLs back then. The next decade we spent mostly with Princess and Celebrity (had been on Souveirgn, Splendour, Vision and Granduer). When we returned, we did TA cruise on the Liberty and found about CL.

It made me chuckle that anyone would think you would book a suite for the drinks.

My DH doesn't drink alcohol, period. And I like a good beer (don't want to debate good beer), so when we went, they only served domestic beer (Bud, Miller, Coors). We left. I'm not going to drink domestic beer at home--I'm certainly not going to drink it on vacation (I will drink Samuel Adams....But really prefer Bass). And the red wine they served was the worst ever....Wine retailers sold it for $4 for a liter! It was so awful that I had to see if I could find it on the internet and it was awful. I'm definitely way past the age where I'm going to drink alcohol simply because it's free.

:)

Color me stupid. It would never have occurred to me that there was a segment of the Aqua Class cabins passengers that did not want to share Blu with suite guests.

We had dinner in Blu nearly every night on a TA cruise....and breakfast once. We were in AC. We never once went to MDR. Selected anytime dining so our tips were already taken care of and they weren't holding a space for us knowing we wouldn't be going. But the thought of suite passengers dining there wouldn't even almost cross my mind. I don't get this. What am I not understanding?

So if we are in a suite and go to Blu, space permitting, is there a large percentage of guests throwing daggers our way....even if there are empty tables? It's not like they are breaking any rules or getting away with something. According to everything I read, suite passengers can go to Blu, space permitting, for a nominal fee. So why would anyone have a problem with this...unless there wasn't room for the AC passengers as a direct result of suite dinners.

How does anyone know what type of cabin you have anyway? Except the maitre d.

Confused...:/

We've done 4 TAs cruises and just booked our 5th (and oddly enough, we just booked the Allure for October 2015!)....and as silly as this sounds, my DH would not even bother to leave our home town if he didn't have a balcony (on any cruise, not just a TA).

My problem is a little different--I need to make sure he has a balcony large enough for a lounger--and make sure he can get one (lounger). This means booking a GS usually, but if it is far enough in advance, we can save up the extra $$ and have it paid before we go.

We have had amazing weather on our 4 of our TAs, although I like starting in Europe and ending in Florida much better than the opposite.

I hope you can pull it off!

Maybe we'll see you on the ship!

Dawn

He's right, we cruise in AQ for BLU...it's a great venue....you would be better off trying to get into Blu later in the evening....after 8PM...probably have no problem then at all...earlier might be more difficult

He really took to that place...said it was actually a deciding factor on choosing Celebrity again (we've been on about a dozen or so cruises, mostly 14+ nights each).

I just wish you could get the "Aqua Experience" in a larger cabin. 191 square feet is just a little too small for two week cruises. For one week? It wouldn't be that big of a deal, but not two weeks. I know the only option I see for Aqua and a larger cabin in the Aqua Class Suites on the Reflection.

Thanks...

For those that have stayed in Suites, have you had any success getting into Blu? I know there is a very small surcharge, but it is on availability only.

Have you had any experience not being able to get in....?

For some reason, my DH really, really likes Blu. He pretty much believes that is one of the top draws to Celebrity.

Thanks...

I'm looking at a cruise on the Millie and the only two CS left are 9096 and 9098.

Hum....why oh why are those two on that floor the only ones left. Cruise is still 8+ months away, so it's not like it's leaving in a few weeks, so there are many cabins/categories still open on this two week cruise.

Also, I understand that these CS have had balconies added after it was out of dry dock in May 2012. I read one review where the balcony was 4' deep. WHAT? That's not enough depth for a lounge chair--which is a deal breaker for my DH. :(

And lastly, we LOVE Blu (Solstice). While I see that there has been a Blu added to the Millie, it appears that it is in the same area as the MDR. I don't know why it would matter (the location), but for those of you that have experienced Blu on a Solstice ship and the Millie...is it pretty much the same? We had anytime dining on our 16 day cruise on the Solstice, but as it turned out, we didn't step food into the MDR one time. We really enjoyed Blu. I realize we may not always (or ever) get into Blu, but that's okay...there are plenty of places to eat on a ship.

Thanks all...sitting on a 24 hour hold and need to make a decision. In fact, we have Sky Suite 6131 on hold but I just can't part with $8k for a 250 foot room. May as well go a little higher and get an actual suite (surprised they call any room a "Sky Suite" with just 250 square feet. But the AC is just a little bit too small for the great perk of Blu.

Thanks!!!