PAsailors2

On 3/6/2023 at 10:44 PM, cheeseheads4ever said:

Just checking with the drink package experts. Is Amaretto included with the Classic Beverage Package? I see some on premium. Would the bartenders make you one with the Classic Package or do we need to upgrade?

any help would be appreciated..

We were on the Silhouette 2 weeks ago.  I had an amaretto sour from the sunset bar. We had no drink package (just an fyi), and the total for the drink was $13.20. - So $11 plus the 20% gratuity charge.

2 hours ago, booklady26 said:

I'm sailing on the Silhouette next week. I was checking the X app this morning to see if there were any changes or updates to the daily planner and MDR menus. The first night's menu still has the pork chop, spaghetti Bolognese, etc, but it also now has "Aged Prime Rib of Beef". That's the first time I've seen it since I first started checking about a month ago. I know that the menus are subject to change up to boarding and frequently do. But the fact that the rest of the menu is the same except for the addition of prime rib makes me wonder (and hope) that maybe enough people complained about it and Celebrity actually listened. 

 

Anyone else noticed this about their upcoming cruises?

We were on Silly two weeks ago  - NO prime rib and NO lobster night,  Shrimp scampi apparently was to replace that - 3 shrimp on a lump (and I mean lump) of luke-warm pasta.  The food was a huge disappointment this sailing.  First time we both felt it just didn't cut it.  Table mates were also voicing their opinions and we all agreed X needs to step it up on the Silhouette!

Just now, PAsailors2 said:

 

 

 

 

 

21 hours ago, Be pink said:

Fantastic thanks, that is the cabin we are in!  We've sailed with Royal Caribbean in a grand suite before but with all the COVID cancellations and ship redeployments we ended up 'jumping ship' and booking with Celebrity.  This is our first cruise in a suite with Celebrity and we are really looking forward to it.

Sorry, videos posted twice

12 hours ago, Be pink said:

Thank you all for the feedback.  After stalking the Celebrity site for a couple of weeks, another aft corner sky suite finally became available and I was able to swap to Deck 11.  I'm really happy with this new location.

You will love deck 11!  We were just in 1663 port side suite to Alaska.  There is window washing equipment below, but it certainly doesn't interfere with the view.  The room is large and the round window gives extra light.  There are 2 poles in the room.  In ours 1 was by the sofa and the other by the bed on the far side near the sliding door to the veranda.  The cabin was very quiet with a generous amount of space, as was the veranda.  Happy sailing!

Hi Karen Lynn,

We sailed in a Sky Suite 2 weeks ago on the Eclipse.  While the hair dryer was in a drawer in the bathroom, there was no lighted mirror. There were the 3 mirrors in the bath-the one straight on and the other 2 on an angle fronting each storage area door.  There is also a light over the mirror at the desk area.  I'm sure if you ask, your butler will know if there is one in the room or he/she can bring you one.  

Also, if you're headed to Alaska, if your butler doesn't bring them, request the plaid blankets.  They're great for sitting on the veranda!

1 hour ago, scottbee said:

My point is a private transfer to the BHX airport + flight to AMS is still probably cheaper than a flight from LHR (the most expensive airport in Europe). 

Will certainly investigate this!  I have a call in to the tour company to see if we can get a refund of our transfer fee if this airport works in our favor. 

Anne

15 minutes ago, Dutch_Travelgirl said:

The Bagage storage located at Arrivals at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport stores hold bagage for a maximum of 30 days.

Thank you SO much!  That’s something we can check off the list. Much appreciate your time in responding and including the link

Anne

5 hours ago, Cotswold Eagle said:

Easy Jet are currently booking out to 30 August 2020. But irrelevant in the context of the OP’s query because they do not fly from Heathrow (nor do Ryan Air). 

Thanks for this info. I discovered that when checking a tip from a previous post. 

Anne

1 hour ago, scottbee said:

Stratford is only 20 miles from the Birmingham Airport (BHX). Plenty of options to Amsterdam from there as well; even if you book it as two tickets (BHX-AMS and AMS-LHR), it's probably more convenient that going back to Heathrow

I appreciate your helpfulness. Unfortunately the transfer is only to Heathrow through the tour company, so BHX isn’t an option for us. 

Anne

4 hours ago, Ine said:

They have some good rates if you book a few months ahead.

Ine,

Appreciate your response. I’ve oft read your advice to travelers on these boards!  Noting that our trip is July/August, when you say book a “few months” ahead, I guess I am looking too early at this point?  Just like to have everything planned out!  I will set up a “watch” on the hopper app but it doesn’t give a wide choice of airlines. Will look into Ryan and EasyJet as you suggest. 

Thanks much

Anne

2 hours ago, Cotswold Eagle said:

It’s not clear where you are asking about storing luggage - UK or Netherlands? 

Thanks for your response. The storage would be in Amsterdam as the river cruise only permits 1 bag/pp. 

Unfortunately the transfer has to be through LHR as that is the airport the land tour is using

Hi Fellow Cruisers,

Doing a land tour ending in Stratford-Upon-Avon(transfer to LHR included); followed by b2b cruises out of Amsterdam - one river, 1 ocean. Wondering what good price point is to fly RT LHR-AMS July 24(‘20)-Aug 22(‘20).  Is $154/economy reasonable, or should we wait?

Also, most luggage storage places we have found online will only store for a week. Does anyone know a service which stores longer?

Thanks much!

Anne

Thanks for all your insights and reporting! Has anyone used, or does MSC accept time share level?  We are Titanium Elite with MarriottBonvoy and Chairman’s Club with Marriott time share-which is the highest level. Wondering if that would get us more than the Titanium Elite?

Thanks

On 4/20/2019 at 10:34 PM, Oville said:

Formal nights or Chic nights?

Sorry I wrote “formal” instead of chic. You are correct, it is chic now. There were a large number of Australian friends on board and they really seem to dress in the evenings. It was a most enjoyable cruise, but unfortunately a number of folks by the time the 3rd chic night arrived, did not bother to make the effort to dress up at all. Did it keep us from enjoying the evening? Absolutely not!  Just an observation to give you an idea of how it was.

We are currently on the Solstice TP and Polynesia cruise. We’ve had 2 formal nights so far, and there have been men in tuxes as well as just casual wear. The women have been dressed in everything from jeans to cocktail dresses to full length gowns. No one minds what the next person has on. As for us, DH wears his tux and I dress accordingly. Whatever you select you will have a wonderful time, I’m sure

And it gets better!  The 2 device price offered at the 20% discount is discounted MORE than 20%!

Earlier this week unlimited internet for 1 device was $197.40. ( Discounted 10% price). Today same 1 device is offered at a 20% discount for $287.40!  Then it states “price shown reflects your discount”.  BUT WAIT.......”WAS $287.40”!

On 2/9/2019 at 4:40 PM, Worldtraveler 4727 said:

I RARELY book any excursions through the ship. 

A woman on our roll call has booked a bus through Clyde Coast Tourism. The bus will hold 34 people and will take us from Glasgow, the port, to the places mentioned above, and then back to the ship after the Tattoo at a cost of 60 GBP per person**. In addition, a lovely woman by the name of Catriona Stevenson answers all inquiries very quickly at Clyde Coast Tourism, and as an added service of theirs, purchased the Tattoo tickets for us when they became available. Catriona is a dream to work with. We paid for the bus and then the Tattoo tickets directly with Catriona. If you would like to contact her, you can tell her that you would like to hear about the same tour that "Virginia's group" booked for this year's stop in Glasgow (Greenock), which is the port from which we will travel to see the sites and then attend the Tattoo in Edinburgh on August 10, 2019.

**The cost of the bus does not include the Tattoo tickets nor entrance fee to Stirling castle.

I hope that answers your questions?

Yes! Thank you so much for your detailed information.  Hope you have a wonderful time. 

Anne

32 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

No the 18% is for gratuities on the Drink Packages. 

 

If you are Select or above you will get a better discount by calling into Captain's club and will receive between 10-35% depending on level.   I have tried to stack the discount before but told it is either/or not both.

28 minutes ago, Luvcrusn said:

I agree with Jim_Iain, they won't stack the sale discount with the Captains Club discount. If you're Select or above, call Captains Club and get your loyalty discount applied.

Thanks so much for the prompt replies! I appreciate it!

On 1/14/2019 at 4:17 PM, jelayne said:

The price in the Cruise Planner is 10% less than tge price on the ship.  Last sale I saw reduced the beverage and some shore of xcursions but not internet for any of our bookings.  

 

If you are a Captains Club member you may be entitled to a discount.  Select members get 25% discount.  To get the Captains Club discount you need to call the Captains Club, the online systems will not handle the discount.  Just booked a single package & as E+ got the price in tge Cruise Planner Plus an additional 35% discount.

Was there 18% added to the cost?  Right now our cruise is showing unlimited for 1 device at $191.40 ( which says is 10% discounted rate).  So, do I purchase it in cruise planner and the call Capt Club for my elite discount?  Will I get the 10% and 30%, or just the elite 30? Guess you can tell I’ve never purchased internet before!  Thanks

We loved Vancouver and Victoria. Butchart Gardens and The Empress hotel in Victoria worth the trip over from Vancouver. We’ve done the glacier landing and the full circuit trip of Denali as well as the Iditarod dog training facility of Jeff King. As someone else pointed out, the captain will turn the ship around so everyone gets a fantastic view of the glacier. Make sure you have binoculars and layered clothing. Hopefully you’ll return again for a cruise/land trip- really THE best!  And, it goes without saying, enjoy yourselves ( which by reading your postings, you and Edward always do!  

And be sure to grab a bite at Tracy’s Crab Shack right along the dock in Juneau.

Dyea Dave and Emerald Lake

Another vote for Dyea Dave.  He made arrangements for those wishing to ride the train in either direction, so people wishing to do so were happy.  There were many photo opportunities along the way and we never felt rushed.  He even pulled over for us to get a shot of the train coming along the tracks and knew just when we should take the picture. We covered a lot of territory and felt we really got our money’s worth. The tour took us farther than you can go on the train He was a wealth of knowledge and funny which made for an enjoyable day.

On 2/26/2019 at 10:58 AM, Hlitner said:

Ok, gonna have some fun with this thread :).  We still remember visiting Ukraine in the days of the USSR where they had drink vending machines with a single glass.  You would drop in your coins and the glass would fill. After drinking you put the glass (upside down) back on the vending machine at it sprayed a little cold water inside the glass so it was ready for the next person.   Perhaps this would  be a plan for a future cruise ship :).

 

Hank

You made me laugh! I had forgotten about those machines until reading your post. Traveled there with a college history group in 1969. And, yes, we tried them!