pedirn

I unfortunately cannot open them.   I do not have a computer and must rely on my I Pad.   I was able to download them but they stated not formatted for opening on this device.  Does anyone have any advice on how to accomplish opening them?

Glad to read everyone’s thoughts on specialty restaurants.  We are sailing in September on the Reflection.   Our children and grandchildren will be also sailing as they want to celebrate our 50th anniversary with us.   In that end they have decided to take everyone to the Tuscan Grill.  A little off topic but does anyone know if they have any large tables?   We will be a group of 12 .   TIA

I have not gone to dining room when boarding in years.  I always fill out on website and app the need for a gluten free diet.   Upon boarding for the last few years there has always been a note in my cabin from dining room director saying they are aware of my dietary needs.   When given my menu on the first night I mention need for gluten free diet to waiter and they always bring a head waiter over who assists me on the first night and also assists with selecting meal for following night.   This person works with me every night in pre ordering my meals.

On 4/26/2024 at 4:45 PM, Itchy&Scratchy said:

my kid is NT, but does not do kid's club. Never did. He dislikes playing with kids he doesn't know.... He started sailing 2 months short of 4 yo and at that age he had a very strong separation and stranger anxiety. So, he always tagged along and still tags along to everything with us.

 

At MDR dinners he always watched cartoons/movies on his tablet (with headphones) between 3 and 10 years of age. That kept him busy and content while we could have a very nice dinner without a whining, bored to tears child.

 

kid's menu on Reflection (but since the kid is an adventurous eater, he can order off of adult menu):

 

 

You can click on the link to Reflection review in my signature for more cabin and food pics, and the dailies. Also includes pics of the food my kid ate and his opinions. On cruises he leans heavily towards pastas, but did also enjoy burgers and grilled cheese. He only has slight problems with texture. He also ordered a caesar salad and fruit salads a lot.

 

The buffet had a kid's corner with the typical American kid's fare. Other than that, the food was varied and very good. Pizza at the buffet was great as well, and the chef told me he could make whatever I wanted as well.

 

 

We always bring a stuffed animal for him to sleep with.

 

Oh, and a night light. When DS was young, it helped check on him at night. Now I need it more for myself for night blindness. However, Reflection has built-in bathroom night lights, so mom should bring one for the cabin itself if needed.

 

 

The muster drill on Reflection involved watching a video on the app and then scanning your cruise cards at your muster station at any time before sailing. Nothing overwhelming for anyone.

 

Reflection is a smaller ship. The noisy areas are the pool area (not always, but they play loud music a lot), and the grand foyer area on deck 3 which carries the noise up several decks. Not overwhelmingly so.

 

 

• Thank you for your insight.   We hadn’t thought about a nightlight.   Will definitely add it to the list.   A shame the pool are can be loud at times as swimming is a favorite pastime of his.   We will just have to play it by ear on what is appropriate for him and how he reacts.   As well as the autism he has a serious vision problem which require him to be close to things to see them clearly which will probably rule out any shows or activities that rely on visual acuity.  

Thank you for all the advice.   Our daughter is contacting the special needs department regarding grandson’s restrictions.   Not sure how the kids club will work but he is used to being in school daily (special needs program for preschoolers at local elementary school) and daycare after school.   Thanks for idea regarding headphones.  I hadn’t thought of that but I am sure daughter has as she mentioned his tablet at dinner.   He usually uses headphones with tablet.   The one thing we are not worried about is food as he is an adventurous eater who will eat or try just about anything.  We hadn’t consider life boat drill might be overwhelming for him…I will have to find out how Celebrity conducts theirs.

We will be cruising on Celebrity’s Reflection in September to celebrate our 50th anniversary.    We are very fortunate that all our children and grandchildren are able to join us.   Our youngest grandson is on the autism spectrum.  He usually does very well but is sensitive to loud noises and doesn’t always do well in organized activities.   This 4 day cruise was selected as his moms were not sure how he would do on a cruise.   Can anyone who has traveled with autistic child give us advice to make things go easier.   TIA

On 4/8/2024 at 2:09 PM, Host CJSKIDS said:

 

Add in the $35 per bag if you want the seamless travel where you check your bag and they bring it to the ship!  2 bags would bring your total to $296.

Yes I forgot to add the baggage fees.   I am not sure how many people would actually use this new Princess/Brightline service.  Prices could add up quickly 

On 4/7/2024 at 7:28 AM, 555 said:

What do they charge for a round trip?

From where I live it is $39 or $79 one way depending on level of service chosen     So from West Palm Beach to FT Lauderdale would be $78 RT.   Now there are two of us so least expensive would be $156 for two of us.   Now add taxi from our house to train station about $35 each way.   Comes to $226 RT for two.   I can park at port for $140 for the week or use a car service for about $125 each way.   Now car service is a little more but personal service with them picking us up at home, handling luggage.    I am just not seeing the value for me.   

9 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

With Amtrak they are gonna need to hold the ship for a few hours or a day with how their cross country trains never run on time.

And Brightline runs behind because people play chicken with train or decide to commit suicide.    More times than people know as news doesn’t report all but I know those who work at a major trauma center and the numbers are a lot higher than people know.   Plus when that happens the riders just have to sit on train while police work the scene.  Last one which happened right at intersection where hospital is located took three hours before train was able to resume trip.   And that was a single pedestrian versus train.   It is longer when there are multiple victims or cars involved.

We use Captains Airport and Seaport car Service     Always dependable.   Very nice people to work with.  We even use then for local transport from house to PBI as well as other airports and cruiseports.

9 hours ago, muffydawg said:

Looking forward to enjoying the GO Princess pre-embarkation experience on SE 17th Street!

You will have to review this experience.   We hope to enjoy this in December when we will again travel in a suite….a present to ourselves for our 50th

We just booked a four nighter for September and were told no formal nights on short cruises

On 3/25/2024 at 11:21 PM, gvre said:

Have a suite on the Emerald for the solar cruise and they booked me a free dinner in the Crown Grill for the sail away date. How hard is it to have them give me credit for a different day.. we don’t want to eat there the first night on the cruise and have booked some sea days at the Grill

We went to concierge upon embarking…Requested to move to Wednesday night to celebrate our SIL and BIL 50th anniversary.    Lots of huffy and puffing and I don’t know.   Finally picked up phone and she made a three minute phone call and it was moved

We live in the area and always use Captains Airport and Seaport Car Service.

1 hour ago, MixerDave said:

Not really my business, but as a retired bartender why would you mix Bulleit with diet coke, or Tito'd wit diet sprite?  Do you think it sounds distiguished?  I could mix bar bourbon with diet coke and cheap vodka with diet sprite and you would not be able to know the difference.  

I think I would know difference on Bulleit…I would drink higher end bourbon but I am mixing and not a sipper like my husband so I leave the expensive bourbons for him.  He has some very expensive bourbons that aren’t meant for mixing.  As for Tito’s…I am gluten free and that is one of the vodkas I can drink.  Have had some bad experiences trying other brands and can’t stand Absolute or Smirnoffs so I stick to what I know I can tolerate.   I know this is personal  taste preference.

10 hours ago, drakes2 said:

I'm finding more people opting out of drinks packages. Maybe cruise lines will come up with another option or lower the prices of package. Its obviously a huge money maker especially on port intensive itineraries.  

Normally we buy packages as we find with wifi, tips (on other lines), drinks included it works for us.  But Celebrity seems to have a lower $$ amount per drink than other lines.   Will be interesting to see how this cruise goes.  We only have cruised Celebrity one time previously in the mid 90’s but the kids want to celebrate our 50th anniversary with us and this was only option that worked with everyone’s schedule.

We have decided to opt out of buying the drink package.  Our cruise is only a 5 day cruise.   Normally we book longer cruises but this time traveling with our family which consists of our 4 year old autistic grandson and his moms aren’t sure how he will do.  We have decided to pay as we go since we get complimentary drinks in the evening.   We will be taking diet coke with us for in cabin use.

17 hours ago, clo said:

Don't most strollers - I assume you mean for small kids - fold up and could easily be in a cabin? Just asking.

They could but believe me I have seen some big a$$ strollers on ships.  Worse I encountered was a couple with twins who brought their side by side stroller to dining room every night and essentially blocked us in.  Even asking politely for it to be moved so we could move our chairs or go to the restroom was met with noncompliance.   I wondered how they ever got down narrow halls.

Thanks everyone.   Guess drinks cost $10 to $17 depending on liquor selected.   I will have to run the numbers and decide.   😁😁😁

I am trying to decide if it is worth buying drink package or not.   From what I read the classic includes drinks up to $10 and if over you pay difference plus gratuity.   But what are standard prices?   I have searched on CC and the internet and cannot seem to find any of the drink menus.   I know fancy cocktails will cost more but am looking for typical like Bulleit and diet coke or Titos and diet sprite.   Also can anyone tell me cost of mocktails. Traveling with young grandson that will feel grown up sitting there with a drink.   TIA.

There is a bus service.   Look under Cruise Connection.   Can’t post link as site is down now.   Not sure if they go from St Petersburg but they did go from some west coast cities.   Other option is get to Orlando and take Brightline

It has been a few years but we were assigned seats    No choice.  Not sure if this is normal or it was because we were on a tour group arranged by TA.

On 1/10/2024 at 5:05 PM, topaz123 said:

Hmmm...maybe a 36 month payment plan for a couple of nights.....yikes.

Are you specifically looking for Orlando?   There are many small towns on outskirts that would be less money but if you are going to visit the mouse you will have to factor in convenience of being closer and the traffic situation.   

February is right in the middle of Florida winter tourist season.   Add the fact that many northern schools have a February vacation break , you will find it hard to find a bargain.

5 hours ago, Eno said:

Took forever with the spinning and message you are logged in but not... Finally just got in

Same issue and I was trying to make final payment.  Finally tried and logged in under booking number and was successful that way.