Elusive_Cruiser

I must be quite honest but I am really starting to get a little frustrated with the service that Celebrity offers. It's really strange that I was told the complete opposite, after being on hold for just short of an hour. The customer service rep. Put me on hold as well, when I asked her to double check and she came back and told me she had spoken to the resolutions department and the answer was definitely no to cashing the OBC. Regardless I am still going ahead and buying them as I cannot foresee the CAD exchange equalling the Celebrity OBC rate for at least a year and I will just hold onto any leftover dollars. Incidentally my brother who is also coming on the cruise with us sent an email several days ago to them and as he didn't get a response he decided to call them. Lucky guy, he only was on hold for 25 minutes and managed to get his question asked and then he was put on hold and after another 30 minutes he was cut off. Starting to wonder if we should be looking at sailing another cruise line in the future.

Well, the very very good news, if you have not yet read, is that the onboard experience is NOTHING like the service you get while on land. We've had nothing but a stellar experience, from the second we put our foot onboard!

We just got off the Summit and pre purchased $900 OBC before we left(our cruise was boomed in CAD). I went to guest relations desk on day 3 of 7 and asked for cash. After some consultation with management I was given the cash with no penalty.

Reserve cruise in CAD and purchase OBC before you go! Can't lose!

Thank for posting this recent experience. We purchased $1K OBC to use exactly as you did and saw conflicting posts here. Hopefully I will have the same experience on the Equinox next month. I will be changing my on board account to a cash account upon check in.

We travel in 40'ish sleeps. Today I pulled out the new luggage and programmed the built in TSA locks. One can never do this too soon!

I will bring the luggage up to one of the guest rooms around 3 weeks from traveling and start to lay out the clothes... trying them on and deciding what needs to be purchased in Ft. Lauderdale during our pre-cruise day shop :)

Two days before travel, DH will grab what he wants packed. I will attempt to talk him out of much of his formal and dinner wear (Seriously, who needs two complete suits and two sports coats on a 11 day cruise?). I usually lose (I was taught to pick my battles!!). Night before leaving, we cross pack. Just in case.!!

Morning of departure, everything I touch gets put into the suitcase!

Check out http://driftwoodfishingcharters.com/ in Aruba. My DH and I chartered for a 1/2 day. They will take up to 6, but we wanted as much fishing time each as we could get! We caught two wahoo which were then brought over to their restaurant and served to us for an additional nominal fee. It was an amazing feast. I highly recommend this fishing excursion!

We're sailing on Feb 12th - luggage tags became available on Dec 25th.

Just curious - for those of you that have experienced the new Evening Chic - what is your impression, percentage wise, of men still wearing ties and or coats?

Thanks for asking this question! We're also curious for our upcoming Feb. trip. Also would like to hear about the ladies.

Not looking for opinions of what people should or shouldn't wear - just observations of what people are wearing.

Good luck with that part!

I was very happy to see some of the changes in the 2018 Caribbean itineraries. Just booked the one and only 12-night offering which includes an overnight in San Juan! Yeah! My favorite port (hopefully porting in Old San Juan, not the cruise port).

I was one of those unhappy fans when Celebrity changed our 2016 cruise and deleted Dominica and added overnight in St. Martin.

I'm surprised that there has not been any feedback from you seasoned cc'ers - they've moved ships around, changed up a few things. Not bad stuff, in my estimation.

Also was surprised that our friends, who have no Celebrity loyalty, were able to go online and book the same cruise, when this was supposed to be the time frame prior to release to the general public?

Is there a place to ask specific cabin questions? I've searched, but other than the sticky with spreadsheet (Awesome and informative!), I've not been able to find anything.

I am trying to find out if Cabin #2154 (aft) on the Silhouette really is equivalent to Cabin # 2152 on the Equinox. I know that on the Equinox, the balcony is wider than most, due to a service closet. I'm trying to find out if it is the same on the Silhouette. #2152 on the Silhouette is a suite, whereas it's a C1 on the Equinox.

Anyone know?

This has been an interesting discussion. I think it may be important to point out differences, depending on where you live? As a Canadian, with additional private employer health insurance that covers 'out of country' travel I believe we are fully covered, no matter what.

Going to go read the fine print.

Power strips are restricted from being brought on board.

We've always brought a power bar. I guess, fortunate that we've not been busted? We leave them out in the open and our cabin steward has never indicated a problem. With the limited plug in option (1) at the 'desk' area, this is a must.

So, if our own power bar/strips are not allowed, can we request same from our cabin steward to stay onside? We're not rule-breakers and certainly do not want to do anything that would put any of us at risk but the lack of charging capabilities is sorely lacking, as many are aware.

We book Concierge purely for cabin location. Having the footstools on verandah is a very nice bonus.

YMMV - there are other perks such as the room service menu, the canapes, sparkling wine, etc. It simply depends on what you value and if those perks are worth the extra price.

Be aware that refundable OBC, such as the gift OBC, can only be cashed out on the last day of the cruise. At least that was the rule on Reflection in August.

Others have posted that they were able to get cash for their OBC, so I hope that is my experience! If not, I will now have my required cash for the cruise after!

OK do I have this right.

 

I purchased my January cruise last January using a U.S. Agent and paying with my U.S. master Card.

 

Now, I cannot buy OBC's using a Canadian MasterCard, I have to use my U.S. MasterCard because I booked the cruise in U.S dollars - is that correct?

Yes, I believe that is correct, based on what all the above posters have stated from their experience

We purchased OBC last year, based on the favorable CAD rates by Celebrity and on information provided here! Did not actually realize that we could've cashed it out during the cruise, so we also bought the US cash we would need for shore excursions at a much higher rate than our OBC. At the end of our cruise, we had leftover $ in the account, so had Celebrity credit our CAD visa card. Rates had changed, and we actually made some pretty good $$ when the OBC came back to us. Yeah us!!

Some good information posted here - just purchased $1K USD OBC at a rate better than I can get at the bank. I will cash out for my shore excursions. I no longer have to travel with large amounts of US cash on me. At the end of the cruise, I will cash out the balance and deposit into our USD account here at home.

Lovin' it - thanks Celebrity and fellow CC'ers for posting!

A few years ago (and a few pounds less!) my DH picked out this very simple but elegant, slightly above knee length, dress that I would wear to his company xmas party and also on one of the formal nights on the Equinox. It was, I thought, a fairly simple dress - black, with shiny silver stripes running vertical from top to bottom.

A (snobby) lady at the xmas party complimented me on this dress as we exited the ladies room together. I was very flattered. Then, when I wore this same dress on formal night, as we were walking towards the dining room, a very attractive and well dressed woman touched my arm to get my attention and said "I absolutely love your dress - you look fantastic".

For me, it started out as a bit daring (clinging) and to receive two outside compliments like that, well, it makes you feel over the top!!

That dress will hang in my closet for a very very very long time!! It brings me smiles everytime I see it! I may well frame it :D

I've never, ever had any problems with the Celebrity website, other than be sometimes slow - and I am on it quite a bit, checking my reservations, booking dummy reservations to check prices, etc.

Today, however, I went on to the HAL website to dummy book/price check and it would not let me past entering my personal information. Had the cabin picked, dining picked, but could not get to the final pricing page. Tried, IE, Google, Firefox - all with the same result...

They must have known I was a spy :D

Cannot answer any of the OPs questions, as this has 'yet' to happen to us, but I must admit, being a Type A vacation planner, I've worried about having our cruise cancelled for a charter. I too would like to know at what point are we safe? After final payment? We book our cruises a year+ out and our flights as soon as they are released (11-12 months).

On our upcoming February cruise, we're meeting up with friends we made a couple cruises/years ago. When you've spent time planning and organizing with friends, private shore excursions, etc, etc. it is a great inconvenience and disappointment to have the rug pulled out from under your feet.

Personally, I do not like that they can do this. If you, a special group, want to book a charter, book it - but book it before the regular itineraries are offered to the regular cruising public.

Just MHO

No offense, but seeing alot of threads on TV's makes you wonder why go on a cruise if the TV is so important...stay home, save your money and watch the TV 24/7...

The OP asked a question. As fellow CCers, if we chose to respond, it should be to offer a helpful response, not judge the question posted. Other posters have offered a number of reasons a person might want to hook into the HDMI - hope that satisfied your curiosity.

As for myself, thank you OP for the question as you have been provided with several options that will be very helpful to me as well. :)

Our first cruise we used a local TA (as newbies). Received a bottle of wine and specialty dining. Used same one the following year, received a bottle of wine. Year three... nothing No longer a need for the T.A. - I watch our pricing better than they do anyway!

This year, had a large travel voucher gifted to us by DH's employer. Considered moving current booking over to them and asked what would be the benefits of doing so. The response was "we'll keep an eye on your booking and help you where required". Ended up using the voucher to book flights and have since removed them from that booking when they failed to advise us of a pretty major itinerary change.

It does appear that U.S. TA's are able to garner large OBCs and other perks and a few of my friends book through them to get these. IMHO, it would have to be a very very large OBC for me to lose control of my booking.

But then, I have an A-type personality :D

My experience is - it's busy during the day, but very quiet at night. It's a great space - wish people used it in the evening as well!

Strongly recommend going in a couple days early and staying in Old San Juan - especially if you can stay over on a Sunday (family picnic/kite day on the 'hill')!!

Old San Juan is extremely easy to walk around and there is also a free hop on hop off bus. We're not big into museums and such, but the culture in Old San Juan cannot be beat. Love the blue cobble stone roads and the plazas.

Sorry, no recommendation for a hotel - but would not stay at Hotel Milano again.

Lobster Murano, beautifully prepared tableside!

I cannot believe it took 31 posts for someone to say this! LOVE LOVE LOVE lobster Murano. :D

Thank you OP for sharing your experience and to all the posters for your thoughtful input. This is important information. We don't really want to think of things like this when we're excitingly preparing for our vacations, but we really must be mindful of the potential challenges should we be faced with an adverse situation.

Here's what I think they did wrong -- regarding the new overnights in the Caribbean.

 

It's probably a great idea, innovative, sure to be popular.

 

BUT they should have waited until the next set of itineraries were released. By changing the existing printed itineraries they will please some customers but greatly displease others.

 

For instance, I've been trying to help plan a cruise for friends who really want to visit Bonaire. Based on all published itineraries, we had narrowed down the choices. Now Bonaire is gone. A lot of time, trouble, and planning all wasted.

 

If they had just waited until the next set of deployments, most of the drama and trauma would be reduced.

Totally agree. We spend alot of time planning. We will make due with the changes, but I am saddened by my wasted time and feel bad for the operator that I am now cancelling...

If a particular place is a "MUST DO"...then fly there, and do a land-based vacation! No cruise is EVER guaranteed to go where the itinerary says it will.....read the cruise contract! They don't have to take you anywhere!!!

Sorry, but without getting into a lot of words, that is a very narrow minded attitude.