osborne66

I am saying no cruising in 2020 

I will be shocked if anything goes out this year 

On 6/9/2020 at 7:45 PM, Texed said:

 

That is exactly what we did with the "lift and shift".  A wonderful program Celebrity introduced.  😎

Likewise 

1 hour ago, Dougie Cruise said:

We are scheduled for this cruise.  Happily only $900 down payment.  I understand that the Apex is still at the shipyard.

Looking less and less likely 

5 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

I just watched a video on Youtube called 6 Things You Can Get For Free On a Cruise if You Ask.  Of course I was intrigued so I clicked on the link.  There was actually nothing in the video that I didn't already know and most of it was not of much value (to me).  But it got me wondering if there are some things of value that people get for free by just asking. 

So, have you gotten a freebie from Celebrity just because you asked?  Please share your experience.

 

 

 

Georgia Peaches, 

Have been lucky over the years to get a few freebies over the years. 

2 - 1 cabin offer on the Panama Canal on the Galaxy in 2000. My dad got his cabin for free. 

Dinner at the Captain's table when they still did that with photos of my Wife and I with the Captain and a table shot. 

All at the table got a voucher to eat at Murano 

Lunch with the Captain and his wife in his private quarters and a personal visit to the bridge and engine room - I know there are not many on here who have ever done that. My most treasured moment on Celebrity. 

On 6/10/2020 at 5:27 PM, terrydtx said:

Got my 20 power up points today, now if Celebrity would please fix their website.

Received it as well 

1 hour ago, harkinmr said:

And on top of that, how does selling suites only get them below 100 person capacity...with crew??  Ridiculous.  It's like trying to sneak into a drive-in with people stuffed in your trunk 😉

Good comparison 

1 hour ago, bikerunner said:

Cant post a link to the article since its behind a firewall/security but from Dow Jones Newswires.  So here is the article but I change it to my own words so summarized somewhat

Point 1> screen crew members' temperature constantly and check passengers' temperature before embarkation and disembarkation, upon returning to the ship from a port of call and                        before all meals in dining venues as well as activities in public areas.

Point 2 > fog staterooms and public areas with hypochlorous acid,  Staff members will serve passengers at buffet and beverage stations,

Point 3 >  Passenger will check in online and have staggered embarkation for social distancing,

Point 4 > onboard activities will have reduced capacity.

Point 5 > Rapid testing kits

Point 6 > creating a new onboard role of public health officer, and crew members will receive new health and safety training,

Point 7 > only visit safe and open ports of call.

Point 8 > Air filters upgraded to medical grade 

 

Mostly common sense stuff it seems.  This will be the minimum needed.  Still spacing and ship capacity needs to be approached along with how to handle it.  

Then the rules will be different country to country - some very strict and some less so. 

I think the days of flying in on the day of the cruise are over. You will get a time slot to board and that will be that. 

27 minutes ago, foxnan said:

Interesting.  With Seattle and Vancouver closed  through Oct 31 Celebrity is restricting  all cruises to suite class only.

I wonder if they think mostly empty ships with only the highest paying rooms will be aloud to sail.  Maybe they are banking

on low occupancy ships being aloud to sail.

If you check all these sailings you will see all other room classes are sold out which I know is not so.

Very intersting what they are doing 

10 hours ago, jelayne said:

Wonder if the Sept TPS from Vancouver to Tokyo will have departure port changed or be cancelled.  About 25 days from final payment for us.

Highly unlikely 

On 5/17/2020 at 4:52 PM, az_tchr said:

Would guess there is no cruise director on board today.  Will be a multitude of changes when cruising resumes.

Steve Gayda was the CD until everything came to a halt. He went back to him home in Toronto and not sure if he will be back. He is brilliant. Had him as the CD on the Millie last Sep on the Transpacific Cruise 

On 5/23/2020 at 11:21 AM, XuGator said:

Sorry I need to clarify.  The 300 dollar OBC from Celebrity, we already used up on specialty restaurants. Its the 800 coming from the agency that we were hoping to apply.  Thanks for the insight Dani - we will look for the best sellers.

Won't be able to use the TA's OBC's until you are actually onboard - we were told the same thing. That's the rules we were told!!!!!

On 5/25/2020 at 5:55 PM, cruisehome said:

Due to the COVID of course I am switching my cruise.  I love the reflection and equinox but my dates will not work for me.

 

has the millennium been updated and would I enjoy being on this ship??   I have been on the summit twice before which was OK but not as nice as the newer ships

 

thanks 

carol

We were on the Millennium in Sep 2019 and the revolution on the ship puts it in good nick - all cabins were redone and look wonderful. Never had one issue and plan to sail her again hopefully later this year. Some photos from our room last Sep. 

Scouser

Crab Cakes yum yum 

Rack of Lamb for me 

8 minutes ago, kebrown said:

Does anyone know what time the main dining rooms on Celebrity Solstice class ships stop allowing passengers to enter for dinner if they have Select Dining?  For instance, can you show up for dinner at 10:00pm if you are returning from a tour that ended at 9:30pm?  Would the dining room allow you to be seated and served this late?

The hours are 6:15pm and 8:45pm - it has usually been 30 mins after the start of dinner. 10pm is probably too late as the late dinner will be coming to an end but no harm to ask 

On 5/21/2020 at 9:41 AM, york survey said:

I think we’re on a similar page.  The question is where to start

 

The med is starting to get the situation under control and the U.K. is a few weeks behind them

 

But the release made a big play on “Drive to ports” and the U.K. (Southampton) is the only Europe port with enough drive to customers to cover the load break even numbers

 

Guess time will tell. But I stand by my main point. 
 

Very slow start up after August using Apex first

I doubt any cruise will go out of the UK any time from the 1st Aug - with the 14 day quarantine in place from the 8th Jun and no sight of it being lifted nobody will travel to the UK 

On 5/22/2020 at 6:37 PM, Snit13 said:

Another vote for Bistro on 5.  Went there multiple times on every cruise.

Got my vote as well 

On 5/22/2020 at 4:04 PM, amias said:

osborne66

 

Nothing to add except to agree about local bands, but also noticed your signature.  I am a Scouser too!  Cheers.

Always great to meet new Scousers 

Just need the Football season to recommence so we can win the title 

59 minutes ago, poffles said:

 

I did a move April to April and my new statement arrived in email a few days later with everything as it should be, cost and perks same as the 'moved' cruise.  Around the time of receiving the new statement is when the cost online was updated too.  Prior to the new statement, the cost online was showing the future cruise cost without the perks of the past... they may be getting faster on this.  They told me it would take a few days so I just waited it out and all was fine.

Likewise

1 hour ago, FlorenceItaly said:

Good to hear!  Did you receive a updated booking confirmation with correct pricing?

Yes received it from my TA within a few hours of making the changes 9 days ag o

I did the Lift & Shift of our Sep 2020 cruise on the Millennium to the Solstice Sep 2021 cruise doing the Transpacific. Kept the cost as is and all 4 perks were rolled over. Plus when I called my TA it was lifted and shifted within 30 minutes of me calling. So was painless. 

For something new , how about a thought or two relating to changes you'd like to see Celebrity make Not related to Covid ?

Here's just a few ideas :

The amenities in the stateroom --- the soap bar with the little specs ( ?? ) , the hard plastic containers with shampoo , body lotion, and shower gel ---  the previous ones were easier to use, pen and pad in staterooms  ( they are already in suites ).

Remove the term " Additional Tip " reference on the bill in the Specialty restaurants. It's already included in the price.

Eliminate the Captain's 10 AM announcement of the vessel's current position , wind speed, distance traveled since last port. 

Hire a Caribbean band for sailings in the Caribbean .

We miss Bistro on Five and Silk Harvest on the Reflection and Silhouette.

The theme shows in the Theater have been the same for the past few years-- enough with the acrobats. 

Your thoughts ?

The soap - shampoos - body lotions and shower gels are no big deal - good to have but I bring my own stuff so have never used Celebrity amenities like these 

People like to give an additional tip - I have had some spectacular service and love to tip extra 

Captain's announcements are good but needs to be later - 11am or 11:30am local time 

Yes on the Caribbean Band - local bands for where the cruise is located

Bistro on Five/Silk Harvest - yes - sad when they got rid of them. Le Petit Chef - very disappointing and not worth $55 

Theme Shows need updating 

Scouser 

The other way like the airlines use - remove reservations that came in last until they get to the percentage required - ie 50%. This way it is not based on cost but who booked and paid for their cruises last. I was in an African country a few years back and the flight was oversold - they decided that everybody who's surname started with an N - Z would be removed from the flight - that included me!!!!!!!

Scouser 

We were booked on the Millennium transpacific cruise this Sep and did the Lift & Shift to the Solstice doing virtually the same itinerary next Sep 2021. Keep the same booking, perks, no increase in fare and even got a one cabin upgrade from C2 to C1 and my TA had it all moved this past Monday in just under 30 minutes. Having heard the horror stories of people taking hours and days to get their reservations moved, I was amazed it went smoothly. 

Scouser