cricketgirl

1 hour ago, Jeremiah1212 said:

You just need to talk to them. I've canceled and been refunded because of extreme wind. Full drink glasses were being blown over and the cushions were flying everywhere because it was so windy. 

Thanks - I never even thought about the wind.  I'm glad Celebrity was understanding.  

We are considering booking a pool cabana on one of our sea days on the Ascent.  Does anyone know if you are still charged if it rains?  The price is pretty steep and I'd hate to risk losing our $ if we couldn't use it.  I know it's physically possible to sit there in the rain, but we wouldn't want to lol.

I'm curious about this as well.  When you read the tour description, it doesn't mention any tastings/lunch, which is odd since the name of the tour states "& Lunch".  This is what kept me from booking - if there's no lunch included, it's really just a glorified galley tour.  Hopefully if others do this, they will chime in here at some point.

Just an FYI, dining finally opened up this week for our New Years cruise.  OP may want to check again!

1 hour ago, TheHawk1 said:

Yes,  you're allowed to love the IV...

Thanks for your permission 🙂

People seem to either love or hate the infinite verandas.  We MUCH prefer the infinite verandahs to a traditional balcony.  If hot or rainy, simply close the IV and you can still sit in the balcony chairs and use the extra space in your room, and also look through the floor-to-ceiling view of the ocean.  With a traditional balcony if hot or rainy you just don't go out there (i.e. less room in your cabin) and have to look through sliding doors, the balcony area with (unused) chairs, and also the balcony glass rail to see the ocean.  There may be times in inclement weather when the IV is locked and cannot be opened, but these are times when the weather is bad and we certainly don't want to be standing outside on a balcony in those conditions anyway.  Sometimes they are locked when crew is cleaning the glass, but only for an hour or so and this is typically while you are in port anyway - at least from our experience.  The IVs also provide privacy where a traditional balcony does not - no one can peek around and see you with an IV.  If not extremely hot or cold, you can sleep with the balcony down and hear the ocean and feel the ocean breeze all night - we loved being able to do this! 

Don't let others scare you off because we are all different, just know that positives for some are negatives for others.  Be sure to google infinite verandas and watch a couple videos to decide if these are right for you.  They are certainly not right for everyone, but we LOVE them! 

We are booked for the New Year's sailing on Acsent and this sailing also does not have specialty dining reservations open yet.  I just keep checking once a week or so and will continue to do so until it becomes available.  I called Celebrity about a month ago asking about this and the rep had no clue when they would make them available.

23 hours ago, theminnow said:

Negative number two was a true PIA. Seriously Celebrity, you shouldn't purchase your toilet paper from the sand paper section of the local Home Depot. Find another source. I know you have to be careful about what goes into your system but there has to be better stuff out there. Find it.

Couldn't agree more - makes you feel as if you're staying in a Super 8 motel...

1 hour ago, catsmit said:

Don’t miss the Eden Café just off to the left of the main Eden area. It even has an outdoor seating area should that be your preference. On sea days, it’s open for continental breakfast & lunch; port days, just lunch. Has complimentary & pay menu depending on your choice. Going to try out lunch tomorrow as today we are in Cozumel. A frozen margarita and guacamole made at my table is calling me! 😁

 

If you eat in the Eden Cafe for lunch, try the potato salad - it's delicious!  At least it was on the Edge and Apex. 😉

Thanks for this info and your opinion.  I've been on the fence about the suites given their inflated cost (from what they used to be at least).  I'm not the least bit interested in Luminae and prefer the main dining rooms, especially on the Edge class ships.  No interest in a butler either.  Although specialty coffees delivered to your room every morning sounds wonderful!  I've considered a suite on an Edge class ship solely for access to the retreat pool area, but hard to spend that extra $ just for a pool.  Perhaps a better option (for me) is continuing to shy away from suites and booking cabanas as the pool.

It's been a year since we've been on a Celebrity ship and I'm hoping someone who has sailed recently can chime in as to the size of beers that are served.  24 oz cans, 48 oz cans, or aluminum bottles?  Also, are hard seltzers offered yet?  These are so popular now I keep hoping they will have these as an option.  We'll be on the Constellation.  Thanks in advance!

On 10/17/2021 at 2:37 PM, MR_T said:

To be honest we thought the same as it just didn’t seem worth it to us given the big price difference... but as this cruise was way undersold we just felt we’d never get a better chance so  went for it, 

 

Now knowing what we know now I doubt we’d do it again unless it was a great deal or a very special occasion.. we did talk about maybe a big splurge on a royal suite maybe for a special date in the future... 😊 

I certainly appreciate your candid opinion about the suite experience.  I've considered booking a suite many times but have always held back because I'm just not sure the price difference is worth it for us. 

We enjoy the food in the main dining rooms and usually throw in a couple of specialty restaurants as well.  Over the years looking at the menu for Luminae (and even Blu for that matter) I just don't think it's worth it - I much prefer the food options in the MDR.  And why pay a huge premium to sit in Luminae (or Blu if AQ) with tables that are just as close together as in the MDRs? 

Retreat Lounge does sound a bit boring but I can imagine on a ship at full capacity it may be nice to have an extra space to relax.   Food in there seems pointless because it sounds like all of that food can be found in the main buffet.  Lack of shade (and possible wind issues) on the Retreat deck keeps me wondering if I'd even use that space. 

I've come to the conclusion if we spend the extra $ for a suite it would really just be for the extra space in the cabin.  Just not sure if that much $$ is worth an extra 50 sq ft +/-...

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

We just registered yesterday and each of us had to register individually.    There was no question that would have tied us to each other and be able to limit the number tested.

 

As a trial you can go in now and register accounts for each of you individually (all 4).   You do not need to identify the kit until you are tested.  As for the tests ---all of the bar codes and QV codes are identical so will not be used for tying each of you together.

 

When I look at the site it offers a 2 pack and a 3 pack.  I'm thinking of ordering the 3 pack for the two of us so we have one extra just in case.  But it looks like it only asks me questions about one person.  Do I have to order a separate package (i.e. a 2 pack) for each person?  Maybe a stupid question but I just want to make sure I'm ordering correctly.

Can someone please point me to the link on Celebrity's site where you can order the kits?

2 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

When we booked a cruise during the early days of COVID using FCC from a canceled cruise, the base cruise fare on our new cruise confirmation read the net difference of the cruise fare minus the FCC reflecting $110 as the base cruise fare. We also noticed the cruise insurance was super cheap because it was basing it off the new “$110” cruise fare. Of course, they subsequently corrected that computer glitch and which increased the insurance rate to what it should be based off the actual base cruise fare before the FCC was applied.

 

Could this possibly be what happened in your case as well?

 

This is exactly what happened. Based on everyone's great recommendations I called and spoke with a supervisor.  She said she has spoken to a few different people about this issue.  At the time of booking there was a glitch in their system that based the price of the travel insurance on the amount of the cruise after the FCC was applied.  The system "caught" the problem back in January 2021 and was supposed to send an email out to affected clients but I never received such email.  Another system glitch caused my balance due never to increase on the website until after I paid in full last week.  

Long story short I went ahead and paid the extra $140 to ensure my cruise insurance covers the full amount of our cruise.  BUT she gave me onboard credit in order to make me feel whole again.  I am quite happy with this resolution as we will absolutely use the OBC.

Thanks to everyone for your advice!

From what I'm reading it sounds like scheduled arrival times are now be strictly adhered to on embarkation day.  We've never paid much attention to our assigned arrival time but obviously will do so for our upcoming cruise.  We should be able to check in online for our upcoming November cruise in a few weeks.  Does anyone know how Celebrity assigns the arrival times?  Are those that first complete the online check-in automatically given the earliest arrival times available?  I just want to do whatever I can to try and snag an early time.

Thanks!

9 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

I’m sure about the rest of you.  I was expecting to hate Eden from the reviews of the Edenets.   Haven’t seen them yet but the lounge is beautiful, quiet and a great getaway spot. 

Really enjoying your posts Jim.  I too loved Eden during the day, such a peaceful area.  Be sure to try Eden Cafe for lunch - the potato salad there was one of my favorites!

I am absolutely in love with the Edge and can't wait to cruise on her again, but if you've only done one other cruise (Disney) a long time ago you're not going to know the difference.  The Solstice class ships (including Equinox) are all fabulous and they are what sold us on Celebrity.  I would go for the Equinox and the balcony - you will love it.   For me having a balcony is worth it's weight in GOLD.  Then you can save up and do the Edge a few years from now.  I think the food is great on all Celebrity ships.  But I would also save a bit of money and don't waste it on Concierge - the only thing extra you get is some snacks delivered to your cabin each afternoon that (to us) are not good and not even close to worth it, and a lunch in the main dining room the day you board which has a very limited menu.  Save your money and go to a specialty restaurant one night. There's a lot to do on the Equinox too, we are in the same age group as you and had a ton of fun.  Have a great cruise whatever you decide!

16 hours ago, SCGirl3211 said:

Seeing the picture of the tenders being loaded on the Apex made we wonder if the Edge tenders are still not being utilized as much as everyone thought they would be.  I have only seen or heard of a few occasions when they were used.  It seems as if when it would be possible to use them, they have not been used because of less than perfect conditions.  I also read that the water height has to bee just right.  Anyone have any additional or updated information on the tender usage?

They were used for our Edge cruise in June 2019.  And I believe I read they were used the few weeks after that as well.  Perhaps they are being used more regularly now?

On 9/21/2019 at 2:57 PM, kat228 said:

I stumbled on your review since you posted a link in a different post. I'm glad I did since we were on the same cruise!! Glad you enjoyed your vacation as much as we enjoyed ours (despite the awful heat.) Fascinating to me how we went to the same exact places and yet our vacations were so different 🤗

Thanks for sharing; you gave me some ideas if we ever do a similar itinerary again.  Glad you enjoyed the Edge as much as we did! 🙂

On 9/22/2019 at 6:59 AM, JerseyGem said:

Wonderful review!   Thank you for taking the time to do it.  I've bookmarked many of your comments and recommendations for our 10/2020 Edge cruise and stay in Rome.  Thanks!

Thanks!  Enjoy your cruise, you will have plenty of time to plan which is good! 🙂

10 minutes ago, Gordoncruickshank said:

Thanks

We stayed in the Barcelo Raval that you visited a number of years ago and it was very good. The only problem was that some of the streets coming back from Ramblas to the hotel were a bit rough.

 

Someone in a group tried to life my phone there from my pocket. I felt it and pushed him against a wall with m y arm while one of our group gave out a piercing whistle. All his pals disappeared as people came out of all the shops etc to se what was going on. He disappeared minus my phone. The same thing happened outside the hotel the next morning but I knew what they were trying. 

There are spots in the El Raval neighborhood than can be a little sketchy at night.  We did not experience this as long as we stuck with the main route from Las Ramblas to our hotel (less than 5 minutes).  But I had researched quite a bit before our trip and we were careful to not roam around too much at night and risk getting lost.

Barcelona (especially the main Las Ramblas drag) has often been referred to the as "pickpocketing capital of the world", making it extremely important to be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to anyone invading your space - for whatever reason, innocent or not.  Your experience is not uncommon, and kudos to you for being aware and catching someone in the act.  Unfortunately from what I have read your experience is not limited to the El Raval area.  Thank you for sharing your story, it's stories like these that help to remind me to be extra vigilant when traveling.

5 minutes ago, southernbreezes said:

Wow what a great review! Makes me what to book the Edge!! Do you remember if the HOP on Hop Off bus pickup location was close to the Casa Camper?

Thanks for the kind words.  Yes, the HOHO #1 stop (Placa de Catalunya) is a stop for both the red and blue lines and was an easy 10 minute walk from the hotel.

20 hours ago, Gordoncruickshank said:

We are booked into Casa Camper for our cruise next month. You need to book this well in advance as they now have no availability for 4 weeks from now. It is just off La Rambla. 

 

Have not stayed before but the reviews are great.

17 hours ago, southernbreezes said:

I also booked Casa Camper for my 3 night stay in July 2020. The reviews are great and the price for 3 nights was $602.37 for a Junior Suite the best room they have 1/2 the price of the Crown Plaza. We did not have to pre-pay for this rate.

Another vote for Casa Camper.  We stayed there in June of this year and loved it.  Convenient location, free full breakfast (not just continental), free beverages and snacks throughout the day.  I don't remember free beer and wine but I could of just missed it.  There's an honesty bar on the top floor and a nice rooftop terrace as well.  They also provide you with a complimentary portable wi-fi hotspot to carry around which really came in handy for us.  Keep in mind the street is accessible by car, but only taxis or cars with specific transport permits to my knowledge.  Lots of pictures in my review here: