Lastdance

2 hours ago, jwlane said:

Book a cruise without wife?  Hmmmmm.

I was thinking the same thing, but my DH would not go without me due to being his fav vacay planner🤗!

Those prices sure do look very reasonable.  We had an SV and moved to a sky suite for $1500 total, which was a great deal on Apex...that was our bid, $750 pp.  How many days and what is the itinerary?  did you both pay the exact same price for your SV’s?

So, if you have been in the Retreat, along with AQ and if you can find a cabin location with a larger balcony, or in a better area, $200 is not going to make any difference!

On 6/7/2024 at 3:54 AM, horseymike said:

Hi Everyone ,

I am a big fan of Roast Turkey . Any sightings of it on the Beyond ?

Yes!  Been on Beyond in Europe twice and once in the Caribbean...Beyond is exiled there now!

GP...Georgia_Peaches,

Were any of your free veranda cruises outside the Caribbean?  Asking for a friend🤩!

I understand the one and done.  We did the cruise tour; it was okay, but I am not a big bus tour person and was less than excited about waiting for the same individuals who could never make it back on time, or even a few minutes late.  Totally my fault for booking this, as I knew better!

We also are transplants from Royal, but moved to Celebrity when we began to cruise to Europe many years ago.  Celebrity was our choice and we loved it, but like all things, we decided to try Oceania where we have no status, no inhibitions, along with a perfect itinerary.  We still gets lots of free laundry, but are just plain newbies going incognito, on a TA to Europe, to visit a bucket list place...🤷‍♀️

44 minutes ago, Lena11033 said:

 

Honestly the culture is a bad one. Sure you want to do good at your job but as you said if everything is a 10 nothing needs improving. Really what needs the biggest improvement is upper management and how they are handling things.

This is exactly where this 10, 10, 10 culture is originating!  Imagine working at a job where this is held over your head, making you crazy, not to mention causing continual stress...😩

On 6/5/2024 at 12:36 PM, daydreamer62 said:

Well originally we had communicated with us and we asked if we could start earlier and  add some sightseeing in Bari to the itinerary.. which he agreed to. Only clearly he wasn't inclined to do that today. One of our 4 couples wanted to be dropped back to the ship and he refused . The entire tour really was unacceptable !! He pulled "facts" from thin air . Some of them totally ridiculous. 

He definitely needs AI; at the very least, it would provide some better information😝

There is no way to predict this, but we used a private driver for a 10:00 flight with United.  Even though we were a little late getting off the ship due to customs for some, we had plenty of time.  However, we realized that it was a risk, but have two flights to get home.  FWIW

I hope that everything works out for her and you too.  Sending out lots of positive energy for an easy rather than complicated result!

I always love the newest ship(Ascent), in a Villa on a TA, with 3,000 OBC.  The ports would be in Funchal, Canary Islands, Morocco, Mallorca, Malta and Greece/Athens.  I would pay for my stay in Greece, visiting Corfu and Zakynthos.  Of course, I would fly back biz class on Celebrity’s dime instead of mine...my alarm just went off, so time to get up...😂

We actually got off the ship’s tender and walked past the furnicular to the boat that was taking people to Oia, purchased our tickets and enjoyed the lovely scenery on the way.  This also included a choice of times to return by bus.  This was our third time visiting, so sometimes the third time is the charm.  We were on the first or second tender with only 15 or so people on the boat.  Getting there early allowed for some great photos, shopping and time for a snack.  We took an earlier bus back, missing the crowds and enjoying a very short line for the funicular down where a tender was waiting.  The total island tour was too long, not to mention we saw so many homes in progress that were just left unfinished, not to mention the long lunch. Personally, I love simple!   Just thought I’d share this for anyone who can get an early tender.  I actually tried to everything by boat, but my research at that time never found that type of excursion🤷‍♀️.

1 hour ago, Liao said:

Right, they are not gone or banned.  On both Reflection and Connie FB pages, a regular cruiser stated the same for her cruise in March and again in May.  On one loungers were already there and on the other she requested two and they were delivered after she returned to her suite.

Unfortunately, they are missing for others - Ascent for one.  There is no clear policy, but definitely a way to proceed up the chain.  Hopefully, for those of us who frequent Celebrity, this issue will become moot.  Yes, loungers are alive and well, but on some ships they are in hiding🤷‍♀️.  Hopefully, more positive information will be forthcoming on the return of loungers.🥰

I welcome being told that the individual that called me was wrong about loungers, or misspoke; maybe just a communication error that will rectify itself!

~Happy cruising!

I am a “why” person, so for me trying to understand things is very important.  Rather than constantly being inconsistent, why not just spell it out and be truthful?  Is that too much to ask for by those of us who are trying to understand this situation?  As customers paying their hard-earned money, transparency is very important.  Why are we governed by those who continually cause issues leading to the exclusion of items that cruisers love and want to have because this has been the norm, or is there something else driving the removal of loungers from balconies then just safety?  I feel very sorry for those crew members who have to listen to passengers tying to understand why they cannot have loungers for their balconies.  That is why I have chosen not to book sunset suites; the loungers were a very important part of my cruise experience!

We also have done it onboard with great success at each restaurant.  When it did not happen at Eden and we did not have a good experience, our dinner was completely refunded.

2 minutes ago, Gracie115 said:

Yes, Equinox TA from Lisbon ends in Port Canaveral on Dec 3.  Then Apex begins sailing from there after it's TA from Southampton ends in October 2025.

I am on that TA, arriving early AM at PC on November 1.  Actually, I wish that it was in mid October.  Anyway, just hoping the reverse will be easier, in terms of getting to the airport etc; however, my SIL lives relatively close to Ocala, so visiting her after spending 24 days on Apex...enjoyed our 26 days when visiting Israel a few years ago.  Presently, I am working on getting from the cruise port in Lisbon to our car rental and driving to Algarve for next spring, so PC should be much easier. TBD!

19 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

It was my attempt at poetic license. lol

Even the Moon isn’t the last frontier, but it can appear that way to those of us who haven’t been.  Just like everything else, we all have different filtering systems🤷‍♀️.  Your poetic license is still valid🥰,along with the ability to update!  

Maybe...book a cruise that is longer and outside the Caribbean?  I only book longer cruises where the demographic is quite different, not displaying so much of the “party vibe, or “float the boat.”  However, that is just me and how I chose to vacation, along with spending my money.  Entitled people are everywhere, but there are itineraries where the vibe is much more inviting and  enjoyable.  Also, when Celebrity took away all those balconies, it made the other venues onboard more crowded, IMHO.  Furthermore C exacerbated the need to travel and do whatever made you happy...the "heck with others” mentality.  I love my peace and quiet, but am not a solarium seeker due to a variety of reasons.  Anyway, I hope you find what makes you happy🥰

miched, you just painted the worst scenario for me...IV and cruising in the Caribbean.  To me that sounds like the cruise to Hell-o.  Anyway, I will be trying the IV, but it will be in late October, so hopefully a better time and itinerary to see for myself.  Putting so many of these on a ship made the SV’s and suite prices even higher.  I can see them for colder and wetter areas as a choice/category for those who are not that fond of wind and other elements of weather.

Your phots and commentary are excellent.  We have this cruise on our radar, but the ship will depend on what is available due to the new rules.  Then it will be off to Austria to visit the northern side of the gorgeous Dolomites.  Several years ago, we canceled this cruise due to friends wanting to get-together on a cruise, along with us being the ones to cancel.

So happy that your weather is cooperating!

1 hour ago, Definitas said:

Your review just reinforces my own thoughts. Why on earth would anyone at Celebrity think that removing traditional balcony furniture would be a good idea. We have become disenchanted with many of the changes that Celebrity has introduced but destroying the enjoyment of full size verandas makes absolutely no sense and negates the reason for booking. I'm still awaiting a response from the Executive Office but, my current thoughts are that we will be requesting a refund of our deposit for 2026 on the grounds that we were miss sold an SV (because sun loungers and a full size table feature in the Celebrity promotional video). Sadly, we already have transatlantic flights booked for our 2025 cruises so it’s highly unlikely we will be able to change things for next year at this point. We dislike the hustle and bustle of the noisy pool area and have no wish to have to get up super early to be a chair hog in the solarium so the loss of our private space is a red flag for us. The big question will be, where will we go from here?

I have both an SV and Sunset Suite booked on Apex for a b2b/ TA.  If there is not a lounger on both, I will take my concerns up the chain of command, as that is why I book and enjoy those cabins/suits.  Oceania makes one pay upfront for their excursions now9included), so that may be one and done for us next May.  I hear you loud and clear!  I hope you get a reply from the EO, but my phone call from a Celebrity rep was just about safety, so no loungers, period!  Please share get you get a response, as there has to be a way to resolve this situation.  I always have insurance, so if I do something stupid on my balcony, it should cover me.🤷‍♀️

20 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Getting closer by the moment.    Those tags can be fun.   I was flying cross country and my bag must have been close to a person with an iPhone.   I could see it flying with me.

When you said “those tags can be fun,” I immediately thought about my first time using one.  It kept popping up on my phone and sharing all kinds of information whether my bag was with me or not.  Once I arrived home, I still received messages and had to call Apple for a fix.  It seems I was one of those people where the tag went wack-a-doodle.  Finally, the issue was fixed by the next trip.

So, what suite exactly was in the photo?  I did not recognize it, but it didn’t look very fabulous either, especially comparing it to just a Sky Suite!  Way more crew than needed, or much needed vacation time for some?  I may feel a little out of place with the group, but could make it work, I guess🤷‍♀️

I do not envy you on those long flights; however, the reward will be great!  I must get to Trieste, as my dad always had so many fond memories that he shared many, many years ago.  Until I do, my first O cruise(TA next May on Vista)the second booking may not happen due to the money given for ship’ excursions.  Only time will tell.  I hope you have a lovely cruise and land experience.  Also, enjoy traveling with friends, as those moments are special!

You will definitely enjoy those excursions.  My fav was the sea plane, but I also enjoyed our whale watching tour, although we only saw one whale.  However, we saw over 20 bald eagles that were just magnificent!  Seeing a moose give birth to twins up by Denali was such an ahhh- moment and surprise that could have easily been missed!  Have that phone/camera ready and charged at all times.

Enjoy your cruise and really pay attention to all that beautiful scenery because you never know what might be just behind those trees, or in the water.  Looking forward to your review and hope getting to the port is easy-peasy!