Swampduck

We sailed Eclipse in concierge cabin in December. We had a lovely cruise with excellent service across the board. You can't please all the people all the time is an old expression that explains a lot on here. Unfortunately, unhappy customers seem to express their displeasure more loudly than do happy customers. If you have been cruising for some years, I'm sure you have seen changes over the years, and yes, sadly the cruise experience has changed. On my recent cruise I witnessed a fellow passenger at lunch in the OV café. He was having some stir fry prepared. He asked for chicken and the server started cooking it. He then asked for rice to be added to the pan. The server said okay, but didn't add it yet, since the chicken was still raw. The passenger rudely yelled at him that this cruise line had 2 speeds, slow and stop! The server, keeping a smile on his face continued preparing the food, and when it was the appropriate time, added the rice along with the other ingredients that were requested. The passenger snatched his plate of food, without a thank you and stormed away. I complimented the server when the passenger left on how well he handled the situation and apologized that he had to endure such rudeness when he was doing his job properly and he simply smiled and said thanks. Some are only happy finding fault. Some cannot stop looking back long enough to enjoy what is great about the cruise experience and instead dwell on what was. Yes I miss some things, but as my screen name indicates, I still luv crusn! I guess I'm just a cup's half full kind of person.

I have to agree with you. There are lots of bad reviews appearing at the moment. For us, we have never had a bad cruise, there has been maybe something that I wasnt happy with but all in all, there was not that much to complain about. We are on holiday after all.

But, what we did notice, was how rude the passengers where to the staff. How much they complained and whined about silly things.

It's nice to be nice. :)

We very rarely take ship excursions as they tend to be very overpriced and we prefer to be in a small group or visit particular things.

 

The only time we do take ship excursions are when there are time constraints or we can't find a suitable alternative.

 

Yes, things do happen, but it is highly unlikely that the ship will sail without you as long as you have booked with a reputable company and you plan to get back well in time.

While on our Equinox cruise in August past, we all stood at the sunset bar and watched the ship pull away from the port, while a young couple who had missed the ship, by a minute, stood in disbelief.. my heart broke for them! They were on their honeymoon.:( A gentleman standing beside me said, well hard luck to them, after all over 2,000 guests made it back to the ship on time! :eek: I still felt for them, and thought of them often through the next few days. Are lesson learnt... albeit, a very hard one for this young couple!

I've never sailed with Princess before, but with Celebrity hiking the cost of the cruises for next year I am considering jumping ship... so to speak.

I was just wondering though, can you buy a drinks package or do they offer this free?

and

which is the best ship

thanks in advance

DF :rolleyes:

I've been monitoring the price of the 8th May sailing on the Reflection.

 

Balcony price yesterday, £995.

 

Balcony price today, with "Huge" savings and a "Free" drinks package, £1815.

 

I'm no lawyer, but isn't this illegal, at least in the UK?

Same!! I couldn't believe the price increase. I think for next year I will not be cruising, unless the prices change. Though, I wonder if I just sit tight and then look to see whats available closer to my date, how that will pan out! :confused:

Just looking at booking.. though I feel they are pricing me out, it is so expensive for next year. But I have found one for May, and it says "Promotion B applied" does anyone know what this is? For it doesn't tell you on the sight.

thanks

:confused:

I usually get to the port around 11:30am.

 

Monica

On that note, can I ask. Do you always use the celebrity transfers from Rome to the port or do you organise your own? I am in the process of organising next Aug, from Rome, but the transfers are nearly as expensive as my flights! Mt plan was to travel to the port and stay overnight, does this make sense or is it easy enough to get from Rome to port?

All these questions ... sorry

if there are any thanks for any info

Not worth paying extra for !!!

Celebrity Cruises To Become First Major Cruise Line With Dublin Based Ship

Celebrity Cruises have just announced that they are set to be the first major cruise line with a vessel based in Dublin. Cruise ship fans will be excited to know that one of the Celebrity Solstice ships will be based in the port by 2018.

The itinerary details for this ship are not yet known but they will most likely be around Northern Europe. It has also not yet been revealed which of their ships will be based there.

Jo Rzymowska, managing director of UK and Ireland, said: “Celebrity Cruises has enjoyed significant support from our travel agent partners and guests throughout Ireland for many years. Now we are saying thank you by basing one of the flagships of our fleet in Dublin for a mini season during early summer 2018.

“We know that our guests from around the world, and in Ireland, will love the warm welcome they receive when starting a holiday in Dublin. Calling Dublin home in 2018 is a major development to our European deployment.”

The exciting new move is set to bring €6 million to Dublin in tourism and lots of profitable economic benefits for the surrounding area.

Pat Ward, head of corporate services for Dublin port, said: “It has been a clear ambition of Dublin Port to attract a cruise line to offer our great city as a homeport. Today, that ambition is realised and Celebrity Cruises will be an important step-change in our history.

“The opportunities that this new investment will bring are extensive. We look forward to maximising this new platform for growth and welcoming yet more cruise ships and holidaymakers to Dublin for the first time.:)

Hi,

 

I'm on the Celebrity for 10 nights on Dec 11. I lost 70 lbs in last 1.5 years with weight watchers. I have gained back 10 lbs and am working to get that off and an additional 15 lbs to get to my goal weight. I would really like to lose at least 5 lbs by our cruise.

 

For first time ever we have the premium beverage package and it's first time just hubby and me. So I want to have a good time on the cruise. I don't need to stuff myself but I want to enjoy the food and drink. I am thinking maybe I will be real sensible at breakfast & lunch and then splurge more at dinner. Also, I will either go to the gym or walk around the ship once a day.

 

What are your tips for either staying the same or gaining no more than 1-3 lbs during your cruise?

Why not put the effort in now, do all the work before hand, you could lose a lot more than 5lbs between here and Dec. You could have at least a stone off by the time you are travelling. Start walking.. at least 20,000 steps per day, go swimming... take the stairs (always). and lastly, drink lots of water and green tea. I would then while on holiday, relax and ejoy yourself but make sure when you come home, you start back to WW and get off the weight you have gained.

Thats what I seen also, which got me thinking.. this opens up a whole set of new doors. I have sent a message to Celebrity to see how & what to do. I will keep you updated to how I get on. But in the meantime, any information would be most welcome.

thanks

Hi all,

I'm trying to book a cruise for next August, in the med. A lot of the cruises start and finish in Rome. I would prefer to start and disembark in Barcelona, if possible. How do I go about booking this? In the Celeb brochure it mentions "Interport Sailings" but doesnt give information on how to do this.

Do you have any ideas or have experience of this?

Thanks in advance

Up to the end of the Caribbean season in April 2019 should be released this December, if they keep the same timing as past years. We booked our March 2018 cruise on December 15, 2015.

Perfect, that's just what I wanted to hear! I am looking at March 19, so I will keep my eyes open around Dec. Never too early to plan an anniversary cruise. Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate it. :)

Hi,

Does anyone know when the dates are released for 2019?

thanks

Can I jump in with a question? I have only done Celeb but would be interested in Princess if the price was right and the quality the same as Celebrity. My question is, Do princess have a drinks package like Celebrity?

thanks

:confused:

Oh yes..have ben many times. When I was a kid I used to spend summers on my Uncle's farm near Hillsborough. My last visit was just a few months ago for a family member's 70th in Analong. It is amazing to see how Belfast has changed for the better since the dark days of the 70's.

Thank you for your positive words. It's great to see Belfast full of tourists and even the Celebrity ships calling in along with all the other cruise lines. All we need now is the sun to shine & then we wouldn't have to go abroad! :D

Our 1st Celebrity cruise...previously cruised with Princess/HAL.

Ship looks awesome..crew friendly and eager to please although did get all the upsells. Boarding process seamless and having lunch in Luninae. Here's a pic of my appetizer (Salmon sashimi).. Was wonderful. Wife had the lobster bisque which she ate down quicker than I could get my camera out. So far so great....ahhhhhhh!

 

 

 

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Have a great holiday & I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts and comparsons between Princess. HAL and Celebrity. I've often thought of trying princess, but worried - if you know what I mean. "why change it - when it's not broke" :confused:

Swampduck...Thank you for the review. Equinox is our favorite S-Class ship having done two TA's onboard. Tuscan has always been our preferred speciality dining as well. The rib eye is a treat I look forward to on each trip. We will be onboard the Silhouette in November for the TA so we are anxious to see how she compares.

 

By the way, my folks were from N. Ireland, Dad from Hillborough and Mom from Lisburn. Many fond memories of the place.

Hope you have a great cruise in November, its always good to have something to look forward to.

If your parent were from here, I hope you have visited. We have lots to offer & thankfully have turned a corner :)

We were on the same Equinox cruise as you and also enjoyed the Ensemble Lounge every night as we were dining in Blu.

 

You're absolutely right about the wonderful bar staff in this Lounge - Yana and Natta the two bartenders were efficient and friendly, and John was great too. We also had excellent service from Ivan - the "other" bar waiter. He always had our drinks ready the moment we walked into the Lounge. Just a note regarding Ivan "losing his contract" - he had been onboard since Feb 2 and was heading home at the end of our cruise after 7 months at sea. He already has a new contract lined up onboard Celebrity Silhouette starting on their TA crossing... So he can't have been that bad! I'm sorry you had a bad experience with Ivan but we certainly felt very well looked after by him and found him to be cheerful and friendly every evening.

 

 

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Funny, if I'd have known this, I would've complained about him. He was rude & very obnoxious. It was the other waiter John who told us he was off the ship, hopefully "Ivan" only told you this to save face. Though we were not on our own thinking this, 3 of the staff in café Baco also mentioned this to us.

Anyhow, not to worry, the holiday is long over & I hope that if he does get a new contract that he will be friendly towards all guests travelling on the ship.

:)

Thanks for taking the time to share. We have been on the Equinox the last 2 Novembers and are booked for Nov 2017. Like you, Tuscan has always been top shelf, sad to hear of the change.

 

Did you go to the GastroBar, if so, what did you think?

Haha... funny you should ask that, we did... it is the Gastro Bar is where we moved to & loved it... it was really good..:D

Equinox Cruise 25th Aug 2016

Just a quick review. This is our 6 cruise which consist of 1 Royal Caribbean and the last 5 with Celebrity. It is also our 2nd time on the Equinox, we done the same cruise last August.

This year was our first year in a Concierge class cabin, we have always been in a balcony cabin when sailing with Celebrity. I have to admit, I am glad I didn’t pay any extra for the CC as I don’t think there is any part of it worth it.

First and foremost, we had a great cruise and although there were a few issues, it didn’t ruin our holiday, but it just made us more aware.

For each cruise we enjoy having a few drinks in the “Ensemble lounge” after we have had our meal, we enjoy the easy way of the bar, the comfy seats and the general ambience. This year was a little difference. The ensemble lounge had three regular staff, 2 of which were fantastic, the bar lady ( i didn't get her name) the waiter John, who had a great way with him, very friendly, but not overpowering. Then there was the other waiter, who obviously had made a wrong career move, he was very rude, quite obnoxious. He was so rude to me one the first night that John the other waiter apologised for him and took over serving me, but the damage was done, and after this continued for a few night, we stopped drinking in that bar. I know I should've complained, but I felt it was easier just to go to a different bar. We spoke to John on one evening while leaving Murano, he asked where we had been, I explained the situation and how rude I found the other waiter, he apologised again he said he ( the other waiter ) was young and had a lot to learn & that he had worked with him for 3 months and he had a bad attitude but he also said, Karma is a great thing, the other waiter was off the ship at the end of our cruise… he’s lost his contract! I wasn't really surprised. I know I should’ve complained about him, but I was on holiday, it was easier for me to move to another bar, the ship is big enough for that.

We always purchase the speciality meal package for 3 nights. Murano, Tuscan & Silk harvest. The food is excellent and is always a nice treat, cheap at half the price. Tuscan has always been our firm favourite, again, just the great atmosphere and easy way. But this year that was totally different. We ate in Murano first, it was my husband's birthday, we had a fantastic meal, I totally recommend it to anyone who has never tried it. Next we dined in Silk Harvest, it was good, we enjoyed it, but it’s no Quisne or Lawn Grill, but still good.

We saved the Tuscan Grill to near the end of our holiday (best to last) I was really surprised and disappointed as to how the service has changed, it was rushed, from start to finish, even though we asked them to give time between courses, this didn't happen. Our starters arrived…. so did the warm bread and antipasti (which has changed too) all at the same time! We had ordered a sharing plate of gnocchi and asked for it before our main course… it arrived along with our main course. We were then presented with the menu for dessert straight after clearing our plates away, which we declined. When the waiter asked was everything ok, I told him how I had found the evening, which was this: It has lost the “speciality” feel. It was rushed - through the hole meal. All the food arriving together and the service was just not what it was. It has changed, and unfortunately not for the better. The Tuscan Grill was always my favourite restaurant, that has now been taken by Murano.

The waiter apologised and went and spoke to his manager who offered us a complimentary lunch the next day, which was very nice of them, but that is not why I complained, I just wanted it noted that it had changed, it wasn't special any longer! We declined the lunch the next day. ( BTW I wasn’t looking any other compensation)

Thankfully these were the only issues we had. Our food & service in the main dining room for the whole cruise was great. Our room attendant Hector was brilliant. The waiters at the Sunset bar Murat, George & Gorge were very attentive & friendly. All in all we had another great holiday & made more fantastic memories. Sure isn’t that what holidays are all about.:)

Hi Everyone,

 

I have some bittersweet and very exciting news to share with our wonderful Celebrity Community. I will be leaving Cruise Critic in 2 weeks. My final day as “Host Andy” will be on August 31st.

 

It’s bittersweet to be leaving. I’ve lost track of exactly how many years I’ve been on the forums. However, it's safe to say 2 things : it's been a *long* time, and, I’ve absolutely loved my time at Cruise Critic. I have incredible admiration for our members, for helping others, and for the endless wealth of information that Cruise Critic offers.

 

Now, for the exciting news… Recently, an incredible Social Media opportunity was offered to me, within the Cruise Industry, bringing a new chapter of passion and adventure to my life. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of doing. Wish I could share all details today… but there will be a Press Release forthcoming, which will make everything perfectly clear. I will say this much… in my new role, which begins on September 1st, I will participate significantly on one Cruise Critic forum, and will maintain an additional member name, to participate in discussions on other forums. The bottom line - I will continue to be around, though not in a Cruise Critic capacity.

 

I’d like to say Thank You, to our Community Manager, Laura Sterling, my Celebrity Co-Host, Host Walt, and our support team - Jennifer, Cecilia & Michell, for always being there for the Hosts. We appreciate everything you do for us. Last but not least, I’d like to say a huge Thank You, to our entire Cruise Critic Community for all of your support and kindness over the years. You are what kept my passion strong ! In the forthcoming Press Release, I’m expecting an email address to be provided, so we’ll have the opportunity to stay in touch.

 

As mentioned earlier, I will continue as “Host Andy” for another two weeks, so let’s have a great time ! I plan to share additional thoughts as it gets closer to August 31st.

 

Thank you for being a cherished part of my life, and for the honor & privilege of being Your Host. You will be missed more than you can ever imagine.

 

Sincerely,

Andy

Good luck Andy, I will be on holiday when you start your new role, but I wish you all the best and looking forward to hearing all about your new adventure. best wishes for the future,

Debbie :)

We board Equinox next week and my boyfriend will most definitely be lugging his suit all the way from Australia! It'll be a nice change to get dressed up for an occasion other than weddings and trips to the races.

 

 

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and so do we. Counting down the days until boarding. Cases being packed this weekend, formal dresses and all. Sure isn't it lovely getting all dressed up for dinner?

See you on Thursday :D

The only thing I can think of is your friend is using one of the Portable WiFi devices. However my research shows that they don't work on the cruise ship Cellular network so I'd be very interested to know what they are using.

 

If you can find out and post here

Apparently she is using her mobile phone, through her mobile contract, with internet bundle @ £1.99 per day!

I would be concerned that there would be a charge at the end of cruise, but she has checked on the TV her bill and nothing has been added!

Thank you for a well balanced review. I have never thought of changing from Celebrity, but I think after your review, I might give it a go.

Hi

Can you help?

So every year on our cruise we take the internet package, 90 mins. which is fine, but this year I have a friend who is cruising and is just using own internet provider! For a cost per day - I didn't realise you could do this.

Has anyone here done that? I would be concerned that you would still be hit with a bill from the ship... am I wrong?

thanks in advance for all your wise words.

:confused: