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Michele035

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Everything posted by Michele035

  1. Solarium was a challenge big time!! Lots of saving chairs early in the morning for all day,. Very disappointing honestly. We were able to snag a few while everyone was in port. Other than that, forget it. The upside is you can get tons of chairs around the pools.
  2. That no butler thing makes sense. We finally met our room steward and she (Mika) was doing a LOT of the suites so they are clearly understaffed. She did as good a job as she could. We were in a handicapped sky suite (not on purpose we did upgrade last minute). Luminae was OK. I finally learned that you can ask for the MD menu and honestly ate most of the MD meals which were quite adequate. Breakfast was hit or miss but we finally went to Blu which was amazing. I think because it was so bright and vibrant we liked it better than the dark luminae. Service was jsut as good. We at breakfast there every day and were quite happy. If I had to do it again I would eat every meal in Blu and get all 3 menus and pick from that. but the MD menu was more to our taste...the buffet has both a pizza station and a panini station. Oh and a pasta station. Once we found them LOL. Pool has PLENTY of room even on a sea day and the cruise was totally booked. I really liked the ship. In speaking with other people and travel agents, the lack of service and food quality is pretty much across the board post covid. we have been on Royal a month ago and it was about the same. We have Norwegian Haven in March. We love the Haven but haven[t been since covid so have to reserve our opinon for now. oh Michael's club service and the 2 concerige (Tessa was awsome) was wonderful. It is a little dark for me but the 2 bartenders (Prashant and Michelle) were FABULOUS. he went out of the way to get me a bottle of wine from the cellar and he made an amazing old fashioned for my husband every night. they got that right, Michael's club.
  3. Hi there, OK we did not meet the head butler. I will give you my honest opinion of the ship. I found the entire ship fine. I paid a LOT of attention to is since so many people had bit##ed about it. Pretty much everything looks new to me, from the rugs to the furniture in all public places. The rooms definitely need a redo. Mostly from a lighting and bathroom perspective. The service was spotty to me and we were in a suite. it took way too long to get the room cleaned. The food was totally hit or miss. Just so you know we were on the brand new Beyond in March and this was MUCH better food than that. We aren't highbrow people at all. Give me a good steak and I am happy. So Connie was hit or miss. I really liked the smallness of the ship. The crew was pretty new and getting the hang of it. We live 20 mins from Tampa so we picked this due to that and I would do it again. Wasn't the best cruise I have been on but wasn't the worst. Please let me know if you need anything else. Happy to answer!
  4. Hi, I am on it now. there are 2 Michael's club concierge. One is Tessa and the other is Jairo. the hotel director is Paul Cernat. Cruise Director is sue.
  5. On Allure now for a 4 day short cruise. BluePlanet is getting panned so we didn't go. Aqua show is fabulous (3rd time on Allure) and always worth it. Momma Mia was good buy very long 2+ hours with an intermission. If you can do a matinee (which I wish we did) it is better than how long it is...I guess only if you are old like me and get tired after a long day in the sun. Love and Marriage and Quest I could only see on the ap a day or 2 before...
  6. I asked a question and many respondents gave me the answer in helpful and courteous manner. I am not sure why you felt the need to respond that way but have a wonderful day.
  7. thanks everyone, I was getting confused because we were on Celebrity in March and each brought 2 for a total of 4. We carried on no issues...we were in a suite. We are in a suite in a few weeks on RCCL so wanted to make sure we were OK. I always carry on any alchohol just easier to deal with it that way in case it is flagged (never had been). we will go with one bottle per person and carry it on. thanks!
  8. Hi, I hope someone can help me as I am getting conflicting information. We have an RCCL cruise in 2 weeks. In March we went on a Celebrity cruise and each brough 2 bottles on board. I am reading the RCCL website and it says each person can only bring 1. Wouldn't the rules be the same for each cruise line? TIA
  9. Hi, been cruising Royal for years and never thought of doing a bid up (for some strange reason)...I searched other questions but didn't see these 2. What factors into your bid? does your crown and anchor status mean anything or the type of cabin you have already paid for? never thought to bid up (I know I need to read these boards more!) TIA
  10. Following, we are on the 10/30 out of PC and looking for the same!
  11. Thank you. We went in March out of Ft. Lauderdale and they did have an "old school" line...what I found funny about it was that it was empty and we sailed through when there were others in line for the facial recognition and sometimes they were moving their heads around to get it to work. I think they have to legally have 1 "manned" line...the CBP...
  12. this! thank you. Yes, I would say that years ago it would be more common and easier to do. Everyone is correct, these days it is just too crowded in both the Diamond and Concierge lounges...so I will not be that person LOL!
  13. Hi, we are traveling on the Allure end of October for a quick 4 day cruise with a couple who are close friends. We are in a suite and they are not. I have been in suites many times on RCCL and in the past would never dream of asking a concierge this question, but wanted to see what people thought. I know the concierge are for suite guests only. Our friends do not drink. What are peoples thoughts on asking the concierge about asking can join us to sit in the lounge pre-dinner (which we are all having together each evening)? I don't ever want to be "that person" but I know I thought people here might have some opinions...thanks in advance....
  14. Hi everyone, we are about to cruise out of Port Canaveral for the first time end of October on RCCL Allure. I wanted to know if anyone who has gone through the port recently seen that they have a NONE facial recognition line? We went through Ft. Lauderdale in March and they had 2 lines with the "old school" CBP agent checking passports as well as many facial recognition stations. Does anyone have any knowledge of this? Appreciate it in advance!
  15. I second Kontiki or Bikini. I was just there and went to Wai Plage and was disappointed in both the food, service and there was a lot of seaweed. Further down the beach by Kontiki was considerably better.
  16. Just back from Orient Beach and wanted to let people know about the seaweed I experienced. We were on an excursion with Celebrity, and we were at the Wai Plage resort. The seaweed was really bad, both on the beach as well as in the water. it was very uncomfortable and unpleasant to go into the water. We did walk further down the beach (closer to Bikini and String beach) and it wasn't as bad. Not sure if this is an everyday occurrence but I had seen people ask about it and since I was just there wanted to give people a heads up and some options on where to sit. I hadn't been to Orient since the 2017 hurricane, and you can definitely tell both here at on the rest of the island the damage that had been done. The great news is that they are definitely making headway on building back up. I was very happy to see St Martin back on some cruise itineraries as it is my favorite island. People are still the best!
  17. The poster asked for an honest review of the differences between the Haven and Celebrity Retreat and I gave my opinion. The past 2 posters have proceeded to call me a snob and an elitist. I promise you I will never ever post on this board again because of it. Happy cruising to all of you as well
  18. Actually we spent plenty of time in "non suite" areas of the NCL ships to see shows, go to specialty resturants and bars/lounges. It wasn't that we didn't want to stay exclusively in the Haven but that when we were there the experience was felt exclusive and far less crowded.
  19. Hi, I am about to post a longer review over the next few days on Haven vs. Celebrity Retreat, but I saw this thread. We literally are just off the Beyond in a Celebrity Suite in the Retreat. We have been in RCCL's suites/concierge as well as NCL's Haven's on the Escape (3 times) and the Breakaway 1 time. We did not enjoy the Beyond/Retreat experience at all. Nothing about it felt "exclusive" or "special". We felt like we were on another area of the ship with cabins, pool and deck. All of which were equally crowded and service was mediocre. On the Haven everything from "space" to experience felt exclusive. you can only get in card key access. On Celebrity our suite was amoung all the other cabins and you have to share elevators with everyone else. A few quick examples: when you board and when you disembark, you have the concierge escort you via elevator (either an inside or outside one) that is ONLY for Haven and goes directly to the Haven and/or where your bags are when you leave. And you can do that whenever you want. In the Haven, we wanted to get into a few specialty restaurants we didn't get reservations for before we boarded. Not only did the Concierge call and get us reservations but also a couple that was traveling with us NOT in the Haven. Before going on the Beyond every single solitary speciality restaurant was booked literally HOURS after they opened on the AP. I couldn't believe it. HOURS. Our TA assured us that they ALWAYS kept a few tables open for suite guest and we should be able to just ask the Concierge in the Retreat lounge. Nope. Nothing. They had the same ap we did and no times. Finally we literally went OURSELVES to 2 restaurants at 5:30 and begged to get in when they opened and got into 2 that way. Um, yeah, not for the amount of $ we spent for the "suite experience". Ridiculous. For the money we spent on this cruise it was totally NOT worth it unfortunately. Our first Celebrity and we will never return unless we are in a regular cabin. Like I said I am doing a longer review over the next few days, but wanted to give you my feedback.
  20. Wow, just wow. what the heck!? Now THAT makes me very upset. That someone went about to look at your message and DM you? really not right....Makes me pretty annoyed at Celebrity!
  21. this is awesome! thank you so much! I also remember someone mentioning a written list to give them. No, I don't think I could ever be that person. I am just so darned happy to be in a suite! 🙂
  22. Awesome, thank you everyone for your responses. I always like to tip a bit in cash when we first get there so hopefully between that and asking nicely we can get stocked
  23. Hi, we are traveling on the Beyond in 2 weeks and very excited to be in the Retreat in a Celebrity Suite. I had searched the boards about what a "butler" (although I think the name is changed) does. Someone had said something about filling your mini fridge with your drinks (both alcoholic and non) preference. When the concierge reached out to us via email recently I had a few questions including about the mini fridge. I was told it wasn't included in the drink package and we could NOT have it filled with our drink preference. So now I am confused. Any clarification would be appreciated! TIA
  24. Excellent info to have we are in the retreat in a few weeks and this is great. thank you!
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