Lastdance

No, it is not. I agree that Princess is a better value, but Celebrity has a lot that I enjoy from cabins/suites to being onboard. Canceling before the 90 days and not getting the correct refund has made me truly worn out from the new-hires; my TA is experiencing the same through-out the cruise industry and spends so much more time on the phone nowadays. I have encountered issues before, but not returning funds that are owed can be a nightmare!

I have really been enjoying your review, especially all the details and photos. I don’t do the Caribbean, so Europe is totally me! I have never cruised with Princess, but feel it has a lot to offer families on this new ship, Sun Princess. I usually cruise Celebrity, but am trying Oceania because of its itinerary and being a small ship. Celebrity, after all these years, has taken a turn for very high pricing, along with shoreside issues that have left me disappointed. IMHO, a little too much of a money-grab and not following its own rules due to so many changes and new-hires. However, Princess is a little too closed-in for me, but I see many reasons why it would be a great fit for others. Every line has its pros and cons, but I do like your itinerary, even though I have been to all these place several times; Europe just has so much to offer. The food photos look wonderful and you are in Europe, so what’s not to like!!!!! This review was exactly what I was looking for, as I have a friend who only does Princess. Her nickname is also...you guessed it! Thank You!😀

Firewall...makes it quieter on that side. I have stayed in an SV wnext to one of those.

Life is difficult, but it is also fun, educational, exciting...Celebrity finally returned almost all the money I was owed from canceling a Hawaii cruise(Edge) before the 90 days! I was charged $200 for canceling on top of the NRD deposit, not to mention Celebrity said my airfare had been refunded when it wasn’t. I call that adding insult to injury, but honestly, customer service is awful all over, not just the cruise industry. My cruise price also went way down(thousands) from what I paid too, but since I can’t go, it just doesn’t matter. I totally understand your frustration, but even trying to get money that was owed to me took 8 phone calls from my TA and myself, not to mention getting my credit card company involved. Anyway, just be prepared that anything can happen and work through your frustrations. I still have two cruises booked in the future with Celebrity, but my DH needs to stop having accidents, so I do not have to go through all this frustration, especially teaching new-hires to read their own cruise contracts.

Unfortunately, I keep receiving wrong pricing, not to mention being sent other cabin/suite prices. Like everything these days, customer service is different from its name. anyway, glad it is working for you.

Yes, we had 2,200 on a cruise(suite) I had to cancel!🥶 For 2025, we have 700 total for a TA in a suite, along with another 525 for the cruise prior which is 11 days, in an SV. I just won’t be using the spa, as prices are way more and not always as good as home. No big deal, but when looked at holistically, not a good deal either!

I totally agree...that price is outrageous; prices from Celebrity in many cased are just huge red lights and a money-grab, IMHO! I guess if one has lots of OBC to burn...?

We always stay at Albergo Del Senato; been there four times now and have two favorite suites. Walking into the Pantheon at the beginning of the morning before the crowds is absolutely heavenly. It is not worth it any other time of the day! Plus, you are so close and can see it from many different rooms/suites. Places in Italy are so crowded nowadays. I stayed in an airbnb last year in Sorrento and it was a mad house, in early May. Make sure you start your days very early in the mornings! For me, Split/Croatia, Zakynthos/Greece, and Algarve area in Portugal are excellent and not quite as crowded. Enjoy, as travel is the continuing education of a lifetime! Excursions by ship are never as good as those private ones that you research and book yourself, but having OBC is a little different, especially if you have nothing better to do with it and you are not that picky!

I really enjoy TA’s, it gives my DH and I plenty of time to use the gym and just relax. We drink very little and are independent about excursions, booking our own. Also, this itinerary takes us exactly when and where we want to go. We got a great deal and are both open to something new and different. We have done Celebrity for years, but too many changes, lack of continuity and dealing with their staff working in different departments shoreside made my TA and I crazy...still waiting on money from a canceled cruise due to a ski accident with every excuse given one could imagine. Not to mention being charged an additional $500 for no reason. I just have to do a cruise with a different company to get a break from the total stupidity and inability to follow their own rules that are in writing. There is just too much of a disconnect with Celebrity. We won’t know enough on O to be concerned, as just a completely different experience is welcoming. We will miss our status, but that’s okay. Too bad that O doesn’t have a choice to use their money except for their own personal excursions...we do not do busses, but have been to all the ports except one. Our land stay in Algarve will be the highlight of this trip, along with only flying one-way, except getting to Miami. Thanks for your information!

Retreat Host/stateroom attendant…the one who wore two hats. So, Retreat Host that basically did everything! I guess I should not have said stateroom attendant, as the name changed. I met the head butler on the first day, only because I wanted my suite cleaned as early as possible, so I gave him a call! Sorry about the confusion, but hopefully things will go back to the way they were…

My Retreat Host/Butler had 15 suites on Beyond in December and was always on the move; we were already in our suite after dinner without our room being cleaned the first evening, but everything worked out for the next 9 days. He was always so busy…hopefully, things will improve for everyone, as we move forward without even more increases in pricing.

Oh my...what about the other experiences like the gym, areas of the ship, crew etc. I have yet to do my first cruise on Vista, a TA from Miami. Sounds like I should cancel, but maybe not just yet? However, if O listens to its patrons, hopefully things will improve! Thankfully, I am allergic to lobster, but do enjoy my desserts. I do want to “try" a smaller and more intimate ship experience; will a TA be a decent first experience? I am also staying in Portugal for an extended amount of time.

I guess butlers are returning, but if they have that many suites, they will be very overworked. So, if this is the new butler situation, the change may not even be noticed, except maybe for the card. Time will certainly tell, along with it being different on various ships!

I had a call from Celebrity stating that all loungers were being removed from balconies, both cabins and suites for safety reasons, so hope that is not important to you.

I sure hope you receive your report, not to mention sorry about how you were treated. I totally understand being treated like your personal issue is not important at all. Unfortunately, customer service representatives who behave that way need re-training, or moved to a different assignment on the ship. Otherwise, people will write about their experience on these boards, not to mention elsewhere too. Please return and share your outcome.

I totally agree; have felt the same way in Italy, Russia, Israel and China, yet have never gotten used to seeing those weapons, but have felt a little safer at times.

We made it to Israel almost exactly one year before the attack by Hamas; while there we saw two fighter jets fly overhead while on a private excursion. Our guide said that this was nothing out of the ordinary...they were on their way to Gaza!

If you take the cruise ship’s insurance, make sure you know what it does and does not cover, as it is written this way for a reason!

Calicakes, I totally understand about your unfortunate accident, as we discussed this because of my DH's skiing accident. We canceled before the 90 days, albeit only 2 days, but Celebrity has been a royal pain to deal with, not only for me, but my TA. Yes, I got involved and Celebrity did talk with me! Celebrity also added on an extra $500 fee because they had our money. I am still disputing this with Citi Bank; my insurance was way more than my deposit, but received the entire amount back because of the” look" period. Anyway, it can be very frustrating when working with Celebrity...I certainly feel that I have gone through it all, as there are so many newbies who do not have a clue, not to mention getting different answers to the same question. I know you will work through this process, even though some of the comments on here are from those who just enjoy typing words to make them appear super-condescending, un-entitled and just full of themselves! Yes, you are entitled to your opinion! We all deserve that. I hope you can enjoy many more cruises on those lines that you choose based on whatever criteria you want; it’s your hard-earned money, along with your retirement! Life can be a real pain in the butt, but in your case, in the foot/ankle. Furthermore, you do not owe any of us anything.

The only time we ever rode one was in Paris; it worked out well because the bus was rather empty on top with beautiful weather. We had spent most of the day taking our bikes on the train to Palace of Versailles(small group bike tour and wonderful) and we were exhausted.

Ever since I received the phone call from Celebrity about no loungers on balconies, I have been thoroughly disappointed. I guess there have been no issues when the loungers are filled with towels. That was my reason for booking a Sunset Suite; huge balcony on wake with loungers...not anymore! I am not a sun-worshiper at all, but why have a huge balcony and not allow loungers? Okay, so the answer was because of safety issues on balconies by not by pool area or on the decks...hmmm...I like the idea of the walking game of towels🤪

Oh, so you are a paddle follower. I stay away from the sticker-wearers and paddle followers because of their blocking techniques!

No, they are larger and taste better! I thought I had a photo, but unfortunately, I do not. Even my DH likes them almost as much as I do!🥐

We enjoy the fall, especially doing the last cruise before it sails west across the pond. I have done both spring and fall, but love gaining the hours. We have family and friends by Port Canaveral, so spending time in Florida. Had to cancel two cruises for this year, but hopefully not again for a long time, as my DH is going to stop skiing!😍