QueenGlassHalfFull

We also got very good pricing on one way domestic first class tickets through the cruise line air partner. As I previously mentioned, do your homework first then compare.

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We always first determine the options and price, then contact our travel agent to get a price through the cruise line. We have found that cruise line airfare pricing can be significantly less expensive when traveling to non-US locations, especially in business class. We have had good experiences booking airline tickets through the cruise line air partners.

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I am glad I found a post for tea people! I must say, I last cruised with Oceania and I was SO disappointed with their tea in the MDR and breakfast buffet. And it's not like they weren't aware of what good tea is because they had in the asian cuisine speciality restaurant. I learned that in the future, I should bring my own tea. We'll see how things go with Celebrity when I cruise next. I'll still bring my own but hope to be pleasantly surprised.

As an avid tea drinker, I encourage you to bring your own tea when on Celebrity. The Fields and Select tea is weak and flavorless. I always travel with my own tea bags, especially my black decaf bags (Typhoo or PG Tips decaf). The waiters in Luminae became used to me asking for “hot water only” and using my own tea bag. I do share my tea bags if someone asks.

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We’ve had great and not so great experiences sharing a table. One of the worst was sitting with a couple who, before introducing themselves, asked if we were “saved”. We asked to be moved to a different table for the remainder of that cruise.

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When we ate at Giovanni’s last month in the Grandeur, there was soup, salads, appetizers, entrees and desserts on the menu. We had a wonderful meal that was well worth the upcharge.

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We were on the Grandeur several weeks ago and there was a brunch at either Chops or Giovanni’s but not at Izumi. Ask one of the dining room head waiters or the maitre d’ at either Chops or Giovanni’s and they will let you know if a specialty brunch is being offered on your cruise.

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We've stayed in suites on Grandeur and there are curtains not doors in the shower.

The Owners Suites have a separate tub and shower. The shower has a glass door.

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We’ve arranged for a private car from Larry’s Limos when traveling between FLL and Miami and back again. The drivers have always been on-time and text you when they are close. They meet you at the luggage carousel at the airport. It’s nice to start and finish your vacation with reliable transportation.

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Thanks, I think I'll just point them in the right direction and not book an actual excursion. I'm still hoping that even folks with early excursions won't be trying to catch a tender before 8 am.

The ship’s excursions get first priority on the tenders. At most tender stops, you will be required to get a boarding ticket with a number. The boarding ticket numbers are called in order. If you are in a suite, you will get “priority” tender tickets from your concierge which allow you to use the tenders at any time. The busiest times for the tenders are the first 90 minutes to 2 hours. Trips to Grand Cayman should go quickly because of the short tender time. Don’t assume that they won’t be busy first thing - I’m guessing that the first couple of tenders will be filled with folks going on ship excursions.

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Frances is leaving the Grandeur on Saturday, July 14th for a home visit. I would expect to hear from the new Suite Concierge shortly before your cruise sails. I’m on the Grandeur now and I’ll check with Francis to see if he knows who is replacing him while he is on leave.

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About 20 years ago we shared a dinner table with a couple who sailed HAL frequently. The wife made “formal night” items for both from the bags - a bow tie and cummerbund for him and a vest for her. They were “lovely”. This was in the days when we dressed up for formal nights - tuxes and long gowns.

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Celebrity used to be better in regard to evening activities. Some examples would be the jazz combo that used to play in the Ensemble Lounge. On Eclipse I recall that the jazz combo was led by Ella Fitzgerald's son. The jazz combos are gone from any Celebrity cruise in the last few years. There used to be string quartets, then string trios, now string duos. There used to be calypso/reggae-style bands at the pool and elsewhere on the ship. They are long gone as is the male quartet of singers who graced various areas of the ship.

 

I admit that I just don't get "silent discos." I really enjoy live music, but silent disco is only for those with large earphones. Seen from above as on Deck Five looking down at the Deck Four Martini Bar where the silent disco often took place, it was just a bunch of folks bobbing up and down. Anyone without ear phones was closed out of the music.

 

In short, I have felt a real erosion of night time music choices and entertainment over the last three or four years. When we sailed on Harmony of the Seas last December we were blown away by all the entertainment options every night on the ship. It was such a contrast to Celebrity lately.

There was a jazz combo on the Solstice for the cruise we departed yesterday.

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I’ve bought several Kate Spade bags at 50-60% off at Celebrity’s shop. Ask the sales clerk if any of the bags are on sale - the sale price bags are often mixed in with the regular price bags. The regular prices for the bags I bought were the same at Nordstrom as they were on the ship.

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For at least the last year when you book a suite you get 4 perks (at least on most cruises)

 

The premium beverage package is included in that, so you shouldn't have any problems outside of MC having drinks and ordering at Café Al Bacio

Generally speaking, when booking a suite on a repositioning cruise, you do not get any perks because of the lower price of the cruise.

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The sweet bread served at breakfast - yummy with butter.

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I’ve heard Cococay referred to as Coco “maybe” by the RCL staff. We’ve had a 25% miss rate during our summer cruises. In all cases we got an extra sea day.

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Drapes are room darkening. Two suggestions - take eye shades to wear and clothes pins to pin the drapes closed in the middle.

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We have always felt that the extra amenities that come with a suite are worth the higher price. On Celebrity, having access to Luminae and Michael's Club keep us booking suites. It is really a personal decision. Others will disagree with me. That's why it's good to have choices - something for everyone.

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Can anyone else confirm this? have a Sky Suite (first time) in March and was looking forward to this perk

When we sailed on the Reflection in a Sky Suite earlier this year, we were able to leave our carry on luggage at Michael's Club after boarding while having lunch at Luminae.

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If you are sailing in a suite, I give the edge to Celebrity. While the Neptune Lounge and breakfast in the Pinnacle are wonderful suite guest benefits, Celebrity has a separate dining room (Luminae) for suite guest for all meals. You also get Michael's Club on Celebrity with a dedicated concierge, fancy coffee machine, free water and soda available all day and free drinks when the bartender is there (which is most of the day). You also have a concierge in Michael's Club and your suite butler can also handle many things handled by the concierge in HAL's Neptune Lounge. HAL does offer free laundry and dry cleaning to suite guests while Celebrity does not. We enjoy both cruise lines and generally choose based on itinerary. If the itineraries are similar, I'd go with Celebrity.

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Several years ago there was a thread on the Celebrity board about traveling with carry on luggage only, regardless of the length of the cruise/trip. We decided to try only carry ons for a 3 week cruise/trip. It required a lot of planning on what to bring, especially since the cruise began in warm weather and crossed the Arctic Circle twice. We each took a roller suitcase and a shoulder bag. We learned the value of this decision early when our flight to Heathrow was delayed and we were able to board a different flight because we didn't have any checked luggage. Since we were able to carry our luggage on the ship, we were totally unpacked and relaxing within 20 minutes of entering our cabin. In the past two years we've taken 4 additional cruises and several domestic flying/driving trips, all with carry on luggage only. It's very liberating to not have to worry about our luggage when we travel - well worth the cost of a few bags of laundry on the ship.

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Royal Caribbean not Celebrity

Celebrity also uses Coco Cay. We have been there with both cruise lines which are owned by the same parent company.

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When you go into the shop with the purses (Michael Kors, Kate Spade, etc.), ask if they have any purses and/or wallets on sale. I bought several Kate Spade purses at 70% off the ticket price. The ticket price was the same as what is charged in a Department store.

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We did not get free laundry as Sky Suite guests on our 3 Celebrity cruises in the past 18 months. Since we are not Elite, we had to pay for laundry. Well worth the cost.

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We were on the Reflection in 2016 on a back to back over both Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. There was a Catholic priest on board each week, arranged by Celebrity. On Easter Sunday there were chocolates scattered on bars and other counters throughout the ship. There was also a costumed Easter Bunny walking around with a basket handing out chocolate bunnies. We did not have a "special" menu in Luminae on Easter Sunday.

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