AlibearNS

Just off the Coral yesterday, after a 15 day Panama Canal cruise.

 

Didn't see anything on the ship that a wine package was being offered.

 

When I asked our head waiter the first night of the cruise about it, he said it was available and we purchased it on the spot. We bought a 12 bottle package; head waiter brought out a card for the 10 bottle but promptly switched it.

We, too, enjoyed our wine package on the Coral recently. We asked at dinner, and the waiters were happy to bring the card. We also asked and were given it on the Star on a 10 day coastal. Some people on the next table watched curiously then ordered the package themselves. They'd not heard of it. Neither had we before CC. My worry is that someone on the Emerald said it was no longer available so I'm wondering if it's ship specific, or worse, being phased out. We're on the Emerald later this year. I wonder if someone on a 10+ on the Emerald (or any ship) could ask onboard, and if it's not available, ask why not?

Wine card still available. Just bought Gold package last cruise.

Which ship?

Hello: I was on the Emerald in Oct for the 28 day cruise to Hawaii, American Samoa & Tahiti and there was no wine card available!! I would have loved that option.

Maybe it does depend on the ship!

Oh no!! I hope it isn't dependent on the ship. I love Princess but there's so many inconsistencies! The wine card wasn't a problem on the Coral. If the Emerald doesn't have it on longer cruises, I need to know so I can consider other options. Anyone been on the Emerald 10+ nights and had the card?

Thanks for posting Astro Flyer. Perhaps you're right - I hope so. We don't drink at the bars but do enjoy wine at dinner; the wine card is perfect for us. We splurged and went for gold on the Coral. Loved choosing our wines. I've never seen it advertised anywhere, and would not have known to ask if it wasn't for Cruise Critic. I'd hate it to be discontinued.

Just read a recent review of the Emerald (December, South America) titled Princess Corks Wine Drinkers where the reviewer stated Princess "Did away with" the wine card program and how they and others on board were "devastated" by the loss. We were on the Coral over Christmas and New Year and enjoyed the wine card. I know the voyage has to be 10 days or over, but is it also ship specific? We're on the Emerald later this year and were planning to get the card again. Anyone been on the Emerald for 10 days or more, and can verify it's no longer available?

This thread is like therapy!

God I hate that website so so much. :confused:

Me, too. I tried for the second time to search for a possible cruise for next year, and as soon as I put in my Captain's club number in the box provided to check for any discounts, it locks up with an error message to telephone instead. I love Celebrity, but can't be wasting time like this. I do have a cruise booked already for 2019, but I'll be booking Princess for the next one. Their website is a pleasure to use. So annoying that Celebrity don't want our business! :mad:

Just used the new website for the first time - I agree, it's beyond insanity! They shouldn't have allowed this to go live! The cabin choice seems to have stuck on one cabin, no matter what deck I click, and when I put in my captains number to access possible deals it locked completely with the error message "please call the Loyalty Desk at 1.800.760.0654 and reference SIGN ON ERROR in order to restore your sign on capability. We apologize for the inconvenience."

This was at 7am this morning, and all I wanted is to look at options and prices on a cruise over a year away. I don't want to get on the phone to Celebrity. Instead, I find myself going to the other cruise line of my choice, Princess, and looking at their options for that month. So easy. Actually I prefer Celebrity, but if it's going to be this difficult to get simple information, then it will affect our bookings. This website is likely to deter new customers, too. It's just madness :mad: !

We saw a family being busted for this on Celebrity. Staff are trained to spot this, and if suspicious they can easily pull up the drinks history and see a pattern. Wife was getting beers for husband. Although handled quietly, it was so embarrassing, for them and us, as we sat close by. I would never risk it.

Great review, thank you :) We're on the Indy in a few weeks, and haven't sailed RCCL since 2010 so really enjoying the posts, very informative. I'd also like to know if there's a served menu breakfast offered (same deck or not) as DH really enjoys a leisurely served breakfast on sea days.

Wow, we just learned about this new charge via here and social media. My elderly mother is sailing with us in May, and we planned to use room service for her, when her legs got tired.

We haven't sailed RCCL since 2010, when an incident on a tour and the way it was handled on-board, and afterwards, put us off. We've sailed many times with other lines since, but decided to give RCCL another chance; mostly due to mum. Dad died shortly after the 2010 cruise, and recently she expressed a desire to go back on the Indy again. It's a big ship for her, so naturally we've some concerns about the walking involved. What really annoys me is that RCCL haven't informed us of the changes. When I paid in full last month, room service was listed as complimentary! Of course we will pay the charges. And have a great cruise nonetheless. But it leaves a nasty taste. There should be proper advance notice of changes (before final payment). We shouldn't have to learn these things on social media :mad:

Besides we have heard someone who has recently been on the ship told by an officer that 7am is a suggestion.

We got off the Silhouette on Sunday. It wasn't a suggestion. It was clearly stated that passengers were requested to vacate cabins no later than 7am. It was repeated on 3 sets of literature we received. I went to reception because I thought the first was a typo. Sadly not.

I understand some who live nearby may not be bothered by this, but those of us with long flights ahead it made the last morning very stressful. We usually eat in the MDR but where were we supposed to put the bags and coats? The buffet, at 6.30, was filling up with people carrying, wheeling flight luggage. It was a horrible experience, and I've sent my feedback to Celebrity.

Just got back off the Silhouette and wrote a whole piece about this, then saw your thread, doh! To save time I'm copy and pasting some of what I wrote. And wanting to add to those saying Celebrity can't win, and is just trying to please people by getting them into rooms early - no, that was not the case. We were invited to board early (which is great for us and Celebrity's revenue) but the rooms were still not ready until 1.30pm, so no change there. I'm more than happy with later room entry. The bags don't arrive until later anyway, and it gives time to explore the ship. I am unhappy with the new 7am vacate

"We usually enjoy a leisurely MDR breakfast which starts 6.30, and there was no way we could take Canadian coats, and flight bags with us; the tables are squashed together as it is. I asked reception if the 7am was a typo as I was sure we had till 8am. The guy checked with colleague who agreed it WAS 8am. I asked why it said 7am then, and he shrugged, grinned, and said maybe housekeeping wanted to get people moving. When we received further information, still stating 7am, I had a word with the steward who allowed us to 7.30 saying he would do ours later. We rushed up to the buffet at 6.30 to allow us time to eat without stressing, and still have time return to the cabin to brush our teeth and finish up before leaving. And yes, there were already people loaded with flight luggage, pushchairs up there. I’m also wondering whether they stayed in their seats taking up space needed by others wanting to eat. We were lucky, we were on an early tour so our meeting place was at 8am but not sure where others were meant to go! So, my question is – was this a ship thing or are all Celebrity ship’s insisting on vacating the cabin by 7am? I guess if you live locally, and are walk off, this may be no big deal to you, but for those us with flights and a long day ahead, it IS absolutely stressful to be rushed out the door. I do hope they will rethink this. We prefer Celebrity to Princess, but Princess don't rush you out and still usually have the cabins ready by midday. Sadly it will affect our choosing Celebrity again if flying."

Our roll call on my forthcoming cruise is working fine. Maybe yours will be too, soon.

Yes, thanks, the posts are back today :) Still worth mentioning I guess in case others experience the same glitch. It did look as if no one was posting for a while.

I am not on any roll call, but I do see your post.

You can see my post from today? I just can't get beyond Nov 1st :confused:

Can't see either any post beyond Nov 1 on your roll call.

Thank you! Neither can I, and I posted today. The posts are just not showing.

How strange.

Is this forum playing up today? I have messages from my December 30th Silhouette roll call thread sent to me via email, and when I went to reply, the post I received last night wasn't there. I posted anyway - and that post's not showing either (although it does show in my stats).

Anyone else having trouble seeing the latest posts in roll calls? Am I invisible? :confused:

I've also been wondering whether Celebrity will eventually move away from traditional dining. We used to go traditional but one cruise we booked too late and had to go Select and found we preferred it for the flexibility.

We booked in early August for our end of December cruise and this time, for the first time, we were wait-listed for Select! I was so surprised but the TA said Select is becoming much more popular these days. We did get our preference a month or so later, but it shows how things are changing.

I've been on many cruises and never used a lanyard. I've always slipped the card inside my small camera case, or my DH carries it in his pocket. It's always been a bit of a nuisance as I rarely have pockets.

Last cruise we had spare OBC so I bought a sparkly lanyard. They punched the card for me in the gift store, and it's so much easier. I love my lanyard, and, as they're fairly inexpensive, I may buy a few to colour co-ordinate haha.

Anyone recently on the Star recall seeing "begniets" (sp) - the New Orleans style doughnuts in the IC in the morning?

Yes, they were there this month. We had to ask what they were :o

Can you tell me which dining room serves lunch every day?

It will say each day in the Patter, but served lunch and breakfast were always on 6 (Fiesta Deck) in the Portofino, access from middle of ship. (I remembered it by saying to myself I had to be at 6 for 7(am) when MDR breakfast began). Served lunch is only available on sea days.

Once you use the walkway under the Sanctuary to get to the front of the ship, is the only way to the front/top of the ship to use stairs, what about people in wheelchairs, how do they get to the top?

The observation area was all the way forward on the Sun deck so easy to get to in a wheelchair, but there were just a few steps further at the front to get up onto a viewing platform but you can certainly get right round without steps. We walked round one night and the gates to the further platform were locked due to high winds.

There are some pics on this link where you can see these steps. Click on Sun deck and then the photo icons.

https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Star-Princess

As to the top/Sanctuary, I really don't think were was an elevator to get up there. I remember on the Emerald there was a small one outside the Sanctuary which my mum used, but we definitely did not see one on the Star.

Hello, we just got off the Star this month. We did the Hawaii trip from Vancouver. We had such a wonderful time, we didn't want to get off!

I will add that the MDR embarkation lunch wasn't shown in the Patter as an option (as it used to be), so, after asking two members of staff who acted cagey, and wouldn't commit either way except to say we should go where it says in the Patter, we went up to the Buffet. Afterwards we walked past the MDR and it was on after all. Oh, to have had those beef medallions... I remember a previous cruise on the same ship, being turned away from the MDR at 12.45 after being told lunch was full and closing. They changed their minds and opened up more tables after the line up behind us got shirty! So my tip, if you want a sit down lunch and you're onboard early enough between 12 & 1.30, check there first. It's so much more relaxing and the embarkation menu is really good!

Other tips, there's a walk way right to the front of the ship under the Sanctuary. I really don't know how we missed this area the first time on the Star but we did! The lap pool by the spa was working and a great place for a swim after breakfast. There are a few sunbeds close to the pool. These fill up, and half are in shade and the ones nearest the hot tubs get surrounded by water.

Another tip - if you like olives, if you ask they will give you a selection of stuffed olives in Crooners martini bar with your drink. Watch out for the Jalapeno one!

We also love being pampered at the adult's only Sanctuary but it's pricey for a full day with no refund if it rains. We only ever book individual afternoons to keep the cost down, so if a sea day is bright and sunny, we go along to book either before or straight after lunch and choose our lounger. We never had any problem, the place was empty but if it had been busy we'd have just tried another day and gone a little earlier. We book afternoons as they come along and serve tea, cream scones, sandwiches and cakes at 3.30 at no extra cost. They also serve you bar drinks (at regular cost) complimentary lemon and cucumber water, but there's a one off charge for food delivery (other than afternoon tea) so we eat before going then enjoy that scrumptious tea! The problem then is eating dinner that night when full of scones! I wish I knew how to put a photo up to show you our beds and view. We go to book shortly after 12, settle around 12.45/1pm and leave about 5.30 so it's roughly 4 1/2 hours of heaven. I take a bag with everything we need, kindles, puzzle book, laptop, and I wear my swim suit under a coverall or shorts, in case I want to go down to the pool to swim. The only negative is the washrooms are a trek down the stairs and into the spa.

Regarding the shows, always go at least 30 minutes early if you want a seat, and even earlier for the new show they've just debuted on the Star. We arrived 35 minutes early and it was standing room only. It didn't really matter as it clashed with the Captain's speech so we just wandered off for the free drinks then went to another showing. Again, always go early.

On the longer trips, they do a British pub lunch at least twice in the Crown Grill and it will be announced in the Patter. If you're going early, then go 15 mins before the start as they do line up to get in. Or go later, as it's on for a couple of hours but very popular. The menu was different both times, and basic pub food such as fish and chips, bangers and mash, steak and kidney pie, scotch egg (which I didn't like much so they swapped right away), plough mans lunch and other choices like that.

Still thinking of other tips, but feel free to ask anything :)

Just off the Star (Hawaii). We wanted to book the Sanctuary for just 3 days, too. We went straightaway upon boarding, and was told we could book for the whole cruise there and then, or we would have to come back on the days we wanted, early morning, or early afternoon (for a half day) and book then.

I actually said to him that on the last cruise we were able to book ahead for individual days, but he smiled and said those were the official rules, nothing he could do.

So there you go, it varies ship to ship so worth an ask on boarding. I should also say that the Sanctuary was EMPTY the 3 afternoons we used it, despite all 3 being hot, sunny days. The price hike seems to have put people off, so there was definitely no queueing involved. We walked right up and in.

Do the other cruise lines really make it this hard to use any credits?

Can't remember which cruise line it was, possibly NCL, but one cruise we thought our free OBC was paying the gratuities and it wasn't! I checked at reception and was told definitely not. I was quite shocked to have a bill I hadn't anticipated and only 24 hours to spend, spend, spend the non refundable.

So glad Celebrity don't have the same rule as we intend paying the gratuities out of our perks this time around.

I, too, am furious at Princess. Just got off the Star after 15 days and discovered their laundry has shrunk ALL my clothes. Even the ones I didn't take. It's disgraceful! Can I claim for this on Princess Insurance??!!

On the Star Princess right now, and it's working on this ship, yay!