newyorkray

Anyone have information on Puerto Plate in the Dominican Republic, a stop on a Celebrity Cruise I'm considering. I have been on many Celebrity Cruises and remember once stopping at a closed off beach area that was owned by Royal Caribbean/Celebrity but I think it was Haiti. Any info on Puerto Plata? Any nice beaches close by the Port?

We were on the Edge last spring and I don't know what all the fuss was about, no big deal, in fact I like the Verandas on all the other Celebrity ships, and the Magic Carpet, forget it. I don't have a clue as to why they made the big deal about it. I tried to book dinner on it before the cruise and was told I had to wait until on the ship. When I tried when I boarded, quite early, it was all booked. It spent most of the time by the pool and was always crowded. The ship is beautiful but as my wife and I are both still smoker, (unfortunately,) we were confined to the back of the ship where the smoke stacks blows the soot. After 5 minutes we were covered in black soot. I know smokers are pariahs but still 18% of the populations. They could have found a better spot

Last Monday I received my luggage tags for my cruise that was suppose to leave on tomorrow, May 2nd. I took the offer of 125% on my next cruise although I was concerned that Celebrity may declare bankruptcy and start fresh leaving us all with nothing, but I though better of it since Celebrity is a large cruise company. After receiving the tags six-7 weeks after they cancelled the cruise I question their financial acumen when they are still paying a company to send out thousands of luggage tags for cruises that were cancelled long ago.

I had also cancelled my airline flights booked through Flights by Celebrity and was told my credit card would be issued a credit within 7 days but that hasn't happened yet

I'm not new to the cruise industry, I have accomplished Elite status with Celebrity sailing with Celebrity since the old Meridian in 1996 so I expected better from them.

I have only sailed Celebrity since my first cruise on the old Meridan back in 1997. I have achieved Elite status and had a cruise booked for May 2nd. I have tried calling Celebrity many times but keep getting cut off. I may be interested in the 125% they are offering on cancelled cruises but how do I know they won't just declare Bankruptcy and start fresh and I will lose out our payment? I also booked flights through Flights By Celebrity but can't get any questioned answered and and when I try Delta they say there is a 1 hour and 50 minute waiting. I am a front line health care worker in NYC, working 12-14 hours a day and don't have time to stay on the phone and wait. You would think they would hire people to answer questions. I just don't want to lose hard earned money. I'm really fed up with their response or rather, lack of response

Is anyone else besides me not impressed with the magic carpet and the infinite balcony on the Edge. I sailed several months ago on the Edge. Highest overall price in my many Celebrity cruises but I understand, it's a new ship. Beautiful ship!! However, I tried to make reservations upon boarding for the Magic carpet and it was all booked (I had been told you could only book on board). The infinite balcony was less impressive, nice but no big deal. My wife and I are smokers. I understand non-smokers and I am always considerate. However, on such a big ship smokers were relegated to such a small section on the back of the ship just down from the smoke stacks where nobody would sit anyway. All the smokers complained about being covered in soot from the smoke stacks and it being a very windy spot. I don't expect the non-smokers to be understanding and I also understand the animosity from non-smokers but at least 16-18% of the population smoke, a little better area (of which there are many) out of the path of the majority non-smokers would have been nice. The other Celebrity ships have always had a better private area.

If I ever had a cruise booked and I went through that I would never cruise that cruise line again. As a long time Celebrity cruiser (going back to the Meridian in 1995) I have seen so many money focused changes that putting someone though that is unacceptable.

If you have been a regular Celebrity cruiser you would have learned long ago that of any business I have ever death with, the Celebrity web site has been horrible (putting it mildly) For years they promise improvements but every upgrade is worse than the last. Lately  I want to pick the ship, not the specific cruise. The web site won't let you do that anymore. I have cruised exclusively on Celebrity since their old Meridian in 1995. Now their site doesn't include older cruises so we don't get the credit. I am an Elite member but would be closer to Elite Plus if they counted the older ones (Not that the "perks" are anything to talk about). I have now looked more at NCL and actually went on my first non-Celebrity cruise this summer. I'm venting. I have always been a very loyal consumer to any company that I feel treats me as a valued customer. Don't feel that with Celebrity. Now with the huge price increases, forget it. I booked an Infinite Cabin on the Edge during my last cruse, Now I look at the prices and for the average person it's a lot. I guess more land based vacations now. 

We were on the Summit back in January and just got off the Infinity last week and it did seem as if there was noticeable less staff than the S class ships. I too am a long time very loyal Celebrity cruiser. It may be that since the fares are lower on the older M class ships, Celebrity tries to make it up by less staff> I don't know if this is true but I am getting a bad taste in my mouth about Celebrity these days. I booked the Edge on board last January and now I see the cabin prices are up very substantially. There is a thread on here about it. An Aqua class cabin for the Edge next winter is going for just under $ 8,000 for two. The Summit last January was, if I recall, about $2,800 for 2. I know it is supply and demand but that is a bit out of league what ordinary people want to pay for a weeks vacation.

Took the 4 day cruise in the Infinity Oct.28 to Nov 1 and found it fine. As a cruiser on Celebrity since 1996 I was on the Infinity as an almost new ship to Alaska. It was so beautiful! (and "massive" as opposed to the Century and especially the Meridian, my first Celebrity cruise. It is showing it's wear and tear but we were happy (happy on ANY cruise). It is in a little better shape than the Summit (We were on last January) and there were definitely areas that could use a better cleaning and some paint but not terribly noticeable (unless you are looking to find fault. Obviously newer ships have a more modern look but I still think she is beautiful!

On a Celebrity cruise back in January, 2018 we booked an Infinite cabin on the Edge for March 10th (we really have always preferred Aqua because we enjoy Blu). We paid about &4,200. It is now over$6,000. I have cruised Celebrity 16 times and when I have booked Concierge we paid about $2,700. Looking out to the Edge for next winter the prices are outrageous. I cruised on the Reflection when it was new and the premium for a new ship wasn't that much more then an older ship. Same when the we cruised on the Century when it was new, but now to pay almost $8,000 for a regular cabin!! I love cruising and have loved Celebrity but increase is outrageous. I know it is a business and they will charge what traffic will bear but I suspect they will have to drop prices because many of their everyday customers won't or can't pay these prices when for the same money prople can go elsewhere. It is a shame, I fondly remember the Celebrity of old days when I felt like more that a customer. On the old Celebrity Meridian in 1996 Celebrity showed class it doesn't have today

Thanks for the info, I was disappointed to hear of the changes in the T-pool. My wife, especially, loved the metal seats in the pool. They always had trouble with the T-pools. Many remember when the M class ships came out they wanted to charge $25 for using it after advertising it was free. Such an uproar they decided not to. I liked the Normandie restaurant, its a shame they change it. I didn't think the Tuscan Grill was as popular on the Solstice class ships.

Last few years We've been on the newer Solstice class ships. Haven't been on the Summit since 2010. Anybody know if it has been renovated since them? Know when the last year it was renovated?

I need to add my two cents. I am a very loyal Celebrity cruiser and happen to be one of those people who like my clothes without wrinkles, even when wearing just my tee shirt, shorts and flip-flips which is most days and like to get a little dressed up at night for dinner. I feel stupid sending out tee shirts or shorts (not underwear) to be pressed. I have always wished so badly they would have an area where folks could press their own stuff, even if they charged for each time period.

I'm an old time Celebrity cruiser going back to 1996 and many cruises. I always booked a veranda until concierge came out. Not sure why I still do as concierge is nothing special. I've thought about a suite. 3 years ago I booked my family on NCL Breakaway when it was new and NCL upgraded me 2 weeks before the cruise to a Haven suite (2 bedrooms, living room, really nice) for just my wife and I, for only an additional $500. We are rarely in our cabin. Port days we are first off, last on. Sea days it activities, pool, dinner and casino until closing. Does a suite really make sense? It is a significant difference in price and the comfort is great but is it worth paying $7-8,000 for a week cruise? I don't know if is my snobbish ego that wants it or I really want a bigger space. I could find other things to do with the extra several thousand dollars! There seems to be so many suite cruisers on here, what do you think?

Hi, Susan, I like the elegance. My first Celebrity cruise was my honeymoon (second marriage) in 1996 on the old Celebrity Meridian, so small compared to todays ships. We fell in love with cruising. We did the Zenith next year and the Century the year it came out, 11 Celebrity cruises with one booked for March 20. Going into the dining room in a tux with my wife in a really nice gown so nice. My wife is a teacher and doesn't get dressed up for work, I work as a hospital unit manager and am not usually required to wear jacket and tie except for occasional meetings and events. I own a tux that I have brought on every cruise but as time has gone on we unfortunately feel out of place. The dress code has been talked about on here, endlessly for over 15 years, maybe 20. There is no right or wrong. I certainly understand people on vacation who just want to relax and that's their right. It is also my right to get dressed up and not feel out of place, or criticized. Use to be Celebrity's policy you could not go for dinner in the main dining room without a tux or dark suit, I missed those days. Young people look at those in a tux as if they are so out of touch with reality. I did go on a cruise as a family reunion on the Breakaway 3 years ago and the most I brought was a sports jacket. I must admit I enjoyed the casualness but there aren't enough life events for getting really dressed up. We are common people who live modestly and when we vacation a little fantasy is nice besides the feeling of elegance without being a millionaire. I'm with you, we shouldn't be made to feel out of place. Truthfully, I'm still undecided about bringing the tux this cruise, would be my first Celebrity cruise without.

For years the X web site has been terrible (I was just told they have a new IT team developing a new web site, AGAIN). I can't get on to pay for my cruise that is due by tomorrow. First when I went on an "error" message came up telling me my Celebrity profile doesn't match their Captains club database. I know why because I asked to have it corrected for 2 years. On one they have me listed as a "senior" with Sr after my name. A wonderful woman at Celebrity just tried to work on it and she found several Captains club numbers (I've only had one for 20 years) She also found a wrong year of birth on one that two years ago when checking in at the port in Miami they found and supposedly corrected. After speaking to the woman from Celebrity, I tried to sign on again. It asked for my Captains Club number and then told me it was invalid (same number I had for 20 years) So I hit the "look it up" button" and entered my personal information and the web site told me it doesn't exist. I tried calling the Concierge desk number (I usually book Concierge, don't know why) but they gave me the wrong number. I love Celebrity's ships and cruises but it is always stressful until boarding. I've always been loyal to Celebrity, only going on other cruise lines a few times but am really getting fed up with this kind of treatment.

We've cruised on the Reflection (its sister ship) in the aft cabin twice, no soot problem, nor on any aft cabins in the other Celebrity ships

Yes, that happens (often). Most people on here know the Celebrity web site has been brutal for many years. I can't understand what such a large cruise ship company can't pay a decent web designer to create a working web site. They redid it a few years ago but continued to have problems.

I'm Elite too but never saw priority tendering. I can understand that, Elite really isn't a big deal, but if I were Elite Plus or above I would really be angry. I'm a loyal Celebrity cruiser but Celebrity never really made me feel special

We have been on the Reflection twice, once the year it came out January 2014?) and last year (2015) I love the ship and had a great time, beautiful ship. Booked for its sister ship, the Silhouette March 20th.

I have always booked directly with Celebrity (10 times) but I am reading about TA's getting more OBC or other discounts. What does it mean about "transferring" an agent to get more? What does Transferring an agent mean?

It is a shame but has been a very poor website for years. With all the competition it is enough to make a person try another cruise line. I have been a very loyal Celebrity cruiser since my honeymoon in 1997 but have recently looked at other lines

I'm a long time Celebrity cruiser but I forget if any of the aft veranda or concierge cabins have a larger balcony? I know the M class ships do and I always chose them. Booking a cruise now and I see the same price for a SV (sunset veranda) the same price as a concierge cabin. I did pay for concierge in the past but never really saw any special treatment except for the afternoon canapés which always came when we were out. Any suggestions?

Benefit taken away? Not sure where you are getting that idea.

 

At most ports there are different check-in lines for different classes of passenger. You will typically find one for Aqua, one for Concierge, one for Zenith, one for Elite and Elite+, one for Select, one for Suites. You don't always find these lines, in Buenos Aires, for instance, there were no priority boarding lines, it was all first-come-first-served.

 

They know ahead of time, of course, how many Elite+, Elite, Selects will be on any cruise. Could be 200, could be 900 as on most transatlantics. The letter advising people to show up deck by deck is adjusted accordingly.

 

The differentiated check-in lines will still be there no matter what time you show up.

 

 

Keep in mind that the whole concept of "priority boarding" is a bit of an advertising hype. When over half the ship qualifies for Priority Boarding, there really isn't any such thing. On some cruises, two-thirds of the passengers qualify for it!

Except for security I never saw any real lines for check-in. I was excited when I started booking concierge thinking I would get priority boarding but the few people on line was the same as non-concierge. Now that I reached Elite I found the same thing, no real lines no matter what category. I think X does a pretty good job with check-in, just wish it translated to their web site!!!

I know I recently read this on here but I literally just received a phone call from Celebrity and a Text message detailing the boarding times for my Reflection cruise this Saturday 11/29. Depending on you deck the times run from 12:00-12:30 to 2:30 to 3:00. I wonder how this is working, you know how we all can't wait to hit the buffet the minute we board!! I'm lucky I'm on an upper deck scheduled for 12-12:30. My flight gets in at 8:15AM and would hate to wait until 2:30! Will they really turn people away? Suites and Zenith guests can board anytime. Suppose someone is an Elite or even Elite Plus, since it goes by decks they get no preference. If strictly enforced Celebrity is going to anger a number of people. I wouldn't really care but there isn't even a place to sit at the Miami terminal. I guess I would just go for breakfast and drag my luggage if I had to.