Missymo

On 7/31/2023 at 2:15 PM, marshaatn said:

Hi all,

I have a sky suite booked on the Celebrity Ascent for December 31, 2023. I originally booked this several months ago as a single person, but since that time I have a friend who wants to join. My TA called to add the person. This resulted in my loss of a $200 of my onboard credit, plus the price increased by about $2,000.00. 

This is the first time I have had this happen when making a change to an existing booking when not changing the ship or the date of sailing. Does anyone have any experience with this? Is this just the way it is now? Many thanks. 

I had the same experience when I tried to add my granddaughter to a Christmas booking.  It was so expensive to add her, I passed.  Forward to another booking a placed a few months ago, I made sure I booked my cabin as a TBD at the time, and a few days ago, I added my daughter to the booking.  There was no extra charges added to the booking.  So If solo for the cabin, always do a TBD for the second person.  You can always cancel that TBD  and you would get a credit of port charges .

I pack for local cruises  about a week or so before , As I am  not flying , there is no  hurry to pack. When I go on a plane or  overseas,, I pack about 6 weeks before as I only do carry on only plus a tote and need to organize exactly what to take in that small space.  It has worked out great. , no issues with lost luggage, and easy to navigate the area I'm going to. 

I loved it when I did it last year and I have a lasting memory every time I see the piece on my desk.  Recommend it for a different experience 

SS1&2 have their beds facing the ocean.  SS3 does not.  There is a wall switch that works with a touch, to raise and lower the drapes, turn on and off the lights, both bright and dim .  You must keep your cabin key in the slot when entering the room  for it to work . 

I started as Elite when I transferred  from Diamond   on Royal Caribbean .  It took me 12 years to reach. that plateau.  In 2021 at the restart, ( my DH had passed ) and I needed to get out.  So I started with Celebrity as a solo in sky suite around the USA.  Not cheap, but I was happy to be sailing.,  Meet wonderful people onboard the ships and actually have new friends from the sailings .  I reached the magic Elite Plus just recently . (double points for solos in suite).   I have  a whirlwind 2024 so far with 4 Celebrity Cruises , plus  a 10 day Italy tour around the boot.    Evenn with that, don't on't think I'll ever reach the top tier .

3 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

I'll also get my 280 block on the Icon Inaugural sailing...timed that well.

Have to say I applied for my ship blocks  as I went up the ladder.  To date, have not received one. I am Diamond Plus.   So good luck receiving . 

Location, Location, Location.on the ship  That's what the letters represent. You can see if you're  forward, mid, or aft. 

On 8/16/2022 at 2:08 PM, CruisinNole said:

We just returned from an Equinox cruise. Had lots of nonrefundable OBC so we transferred $100 at a time to our casino account. My understanding is that you have to play 10% before cashing out to prevent you from transferring OBC to your account and then cashing out immediately. 

Nope, got all my OBC out, but not all at once.  Took my time and always checked my account  

remaining balance.  The last evening, rounded off as close as possible to close out the OBC.  Gave it to my resort host. 

My tour to Cape Cod was cancelled last week.  The Duck Tour was recommended , but unfortunately sold out.  So I ended up doing a hop on - hop off tour of downtown Boston.  Not Cape Cod, unfortunately, but will enable me to see the Boston highlights at my own pace. 

Reading all the reviews of Adventure of the Seas.  I will be on her the end of September for a New England Cruise.  I have been a Royal customer for many years and  truthfully, food was alway blah.  But cruised with a girls group and we always  had a great time.   This cruise was booked  pre pandemic,  and had a credit I had forgotten . Always wanted to see the changing of the leaves.  It may or ,may not  be my last Royal.  Depends on how the cruise goes.  I just became Diamond Plus in February.  It took many yrs to get.here..  Now that I am older and free to travel

,I  find I enjoy traveling without so many children , and Celebrity seems to fill that requirement.  Hopefully I will get good vibes from this cruise and continue accordingly.  

there are usually taxis available when you exit the airport.  Also you can pre arrange a car service to meet you.  I use one here all the time, for pickups at the airport.  they  are available 24 hrs. Advise if interested .

Just now, Surfguyxxx said:

Alright, so bear with me here.  I have an Android; S22 Ultra.  If I get these luggage trackers and have the "FindMy" app, I can track where my luggage is by a nearby IPhone that is within approx. 25 feet from my actual bag even though I'm in Orlando but my bag is in NYC; is that what you're saying?

Apple air tags only work with Apple phones.  There are other tags for other phone types.  Remember, if you use the tile (Android) or the Samsung brand, it only works if the same type  phones that  are near your luggage. 

6 hours ago, soremekun said:

I am at a weird "almost there" stage.  I am one single solitary point away from achieving diamond status.

 

Is there an inexpensive way to get over the hump so that I can hang out in the exclusive club for my October cruise?

 

It appears as if I can neither buy, trade, barter, nor scheme my way to diamond status.  On the second day of the cruise, can I negotiate my way into the Diamond Lounge?  Or, will I be stuck on the outside looking in?

6 hours ago, soremekun said:

 

I was In a similar situation.  I am Diamond, been diamond for a few years.  At last count I was at 173 points, needed 2 points for Diamond Plus.  Booked a cruise in 2020 for a weekend to get the points, but of course the pandemic happened.  Decided to rebook this year Fathers Day weekend and FINALLY got the points needed for Diamond Plus.  Seems you will have to book a weekend cruise to get the points needed for Diamond.,  BTW You do get better benefits in the Diamond Level.  Safe travels. 

19 hours ago, cruiseelady said:

Last year I did a solo cruise on MSC Meriviglia.  .  

I kind of stayed to myself and didn't really hang out with anyone.  Just a short chat here and there.  It was relaxing and nice. 

Sometimes we have to chill and just reflect.  On Fathers day 2022, went on a weekend cruise on Freedom of The Seas.  It was a cruise I had planned in 2020 to reminisce my husbands passing.and didn't want to cancel. .  I didn't speak or hang around anyone, but enjoyed the quiet and relaxation with my memories.  Glad I did it, but this is not my usual "cruise mode"   I usually book excursions to get off the ship and meet and greet people. Always manage to make a friend or two. 

On 6/4/2022 at 10:20 AM, ranchette said:

Recently widowed looking to cruise out of new York or New Jersey with other solo travelers. Never traveled solo before and am a little uncomfortable going solo.

Sorry for your loss. Starting with home port cruise is a great start. .  Once you acclimate yourself to cruising, spread your wings.  I have alway found new friends while sailing.  Some are long lasting too. I am leaving on RCCL Adventure of the Seas  Sept 29 out of Port Liberty to see New England as I have never been there , and always wanted to see the changing of the leaves. 

On 6/12/2022 at 7:16 PM, ranchette said:

I feel exactly the same way. I want to go solo and book a cruise so badly but then I hesitate.

Hello>. New to this site but happy to be here.  My DH passed in June 2019 and with the pandemic , was home bound and going crazy for a year.and a half.  When the cruise line reopened, I decided I could stay home and sulk, or go traveling. So far Ive taken  6 trips around the US to start and found that I absolutely loved getting away and meeting people.I have made some good friends (some married, some not) along the way and even booked a cruise with one of them (separate cabins-same cruise).  Was nervous at first, but nothing to be nervous about.  Enjoy the freedom of movement. Forging ahead, I have a RCCL  New England cruise  Sept 29, An overseas cruise with Viking  (Amsterdam - Basil )in November, and a Christmas/New Years cruise on Celebrity. 

On 6/15/2022 at 9:06 PM, AnyWayIsGood said:

I chatted with an agent today to add an extension, and then got talking about possibly adding air. I asked if I'd be able to call the air dept. to discuss pricing, etc., but I was told that in order to work with the air dept. I'd first need to add the "air plus" service to the booking. So then she looked into it and asked if I wanted to add the air component to the trip right now - indicating that she couldn't add air plus if there isn't air on the booking at all (?) This is all just a tad confusing since I've never done it before. Next, after asking which local airports I'd use for international, she said that I'm too far out to make any schedules yet (for a January cruise) and that right now the air dept. is working with people that are within 60 days of departure and running into all sorts of issues with the air carriers cancelling flights (?). So she seemed to allude to a bit of chaos with the air bookings. Next she quoted the prices for economy, premium economy, and business class and said the prices she is quoting are 'locked in' as soon as paid for. She suggested just waiting being that they wouldn't be able to do much for me now anyway.

 

Just so I have this right...is there no way I can work with the air dept. unless I agree to pay upfront for one of the 3 classes she quoted (or, of course, I could choose economy and likely upgrade later)? Somehow I expected that she'd have to add something to the booking - a set fee, for example, which would qualify as "adding air on the booking", but would then at least allow me to talk to the air desk and get some pricing and itineraries. Apparently too soon to do either. Unless I'm missing something, it seems like an all-or-none deal relative to booking - either pay it all upfront right now and then work out the seating later, or do nothing (at least through Viking). I remain a bit confused about it but am just hesitant to fork out a good chunk of money (especially for B-class) without being to get any sort of detailed info as to what I'm purchasing.

 

I booked my own air when we did the Sky Northern Lights cruise back in '19, but with some of the uncertainties that exist today I'd prefer to keep everything under Viking so as to have all the monies covered under 'risk-free' if something were to go sideways or if we'd decide to cancel. She suggested that I at least book by 120 days out but I'd be inclined to not wait quite that long. What bothers me about all this is that I'd be paying the money up front but not actually getting a seat till much closer to the trip. I'm not used to that, having always booked my own for land tours, etc. so as to know right away where my seats are. Booking my own, of course, means the money is not under risk free however. 

 

Any thoughts or suggestions?  Talked to my TA afterwards and gave her the quoted prices, which she thought were actually quite good IF they were for both DW and myself for roundtrip. The agent indicated it was. I'll have to start looking up some prices to compare. 

 That wasn't true for me. My cruise came with free air.   Before I booked anything, I asked my TA about upping to Business class.  As she wasn't sure she gave me the phone # of Viking Air.  Spoke to a nice person who asked where flying from, and I told her my choice or Airline.  Unfortunately the price was too high for the flights and time Apparently they  did not have a contract at that time with my airline of choice. .  But she looked and did locate  better flighst with good times and my cost was minimal in adding the business class.  After I booked, Viking booked it and confirmed with seats.I picked.  This was in May for a November Sailing.

20 hours ago, AF-1 said:

What benefits do Diamond Plus get?

Best thing for me is 5 drinks a day (no need to purchase a drink program. also believe free laundry ( Im going on 9-12 night cruises, so that will help) Plus other things (free photo) that I have no use for.  Took me almost 20 years to get there. I'll take it. 

yes they do. 

14 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

Too short for me too, though I'm far from retired. We only did one ever and that was b/c we had 76 points and wanted to reach Diamond before going on our next 7-nighter so we found the cheapest 4-nighter that fit our schedule and booked an inside GTY.

 

We are doing a 3 and 4-night B2B in 18 days though. Won't have an opinion 'til we get back obviously but we had some specific reasons to try that instead of another longer cruise this summer.

Just got back from a3 day Fathers Day weekend. cruise on Freedom OTS Ended up not getting off ship , just eating in speciality restaurants and lounging poolside. Didn't even look over the ship.  BUT I did get 6 points (only needed 3) and now officially Diamond Plus.  My next cruise is 9 days to New England. Looking forward to that. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  I have read from page one your entire review and took pictures  (too lazy to get up and write it all down) of your well described ports.  I am going end(29) of September, 2022 (out of Cape Liberty on Royals Adventure of the Seas.  Reading your fantastic review on all your ports, which is almost the same,  has given me a great insight I didn't know before.  This will be my first time going to New England .  

More than likely a suicide.

1 hour ago, Squawkman said:

We have a Viking Rhine cruise coming up in November. One perk we received was free Silver Spirits. As neither my wife nor I drink alcohol, we are wondering what non-alcoholic beverages are available on river ships.

TIA

I am also traveling on Viking in November.  There are many Mocktail drinks available for bartenders to make.  I have 2 favorites, a virgin Miami Vice and a Virgin Sunset ( equal amounts  orange juice,  pinapple juice, cranberry juice over ice. Stir top with gernadine syrup , top with cherry. . Also virgin Daiquiri is delicious. There are many more.  Ask the bartender to make you their personal version of a Mocktail.😊🍹Have a few more if you want them. 

On 4/25/2022 at 12:13 PM, Jeremiah1212 said:

Apex would probably give me pause in the next few weeks, but we just secured the May 16 Beyond sailing (partially due to very inexpensive airfare) and will be doing Reflection in September. No plans to alter any plans. 

I was on the Equinox sailing following a Covid breakout , on April 15.  After a "deep clean" our cruise ended with only 4 covid cases for our 9 day cruise. So because there was a breakout, does not mean the next sailing will have the same thing , We were mandated to masks in Casino, Theatre and in ports. Everyone complied. 

12 hours ago, RedneckBob said:

Currently on Equinox. Captain announced yesterday at 5:30 pm that masks would be required in all areas of the ship since we passed 1% threshold of Covid cases with 33 passengers testing positive.

Please keep us posted.  We are on this ship Friday. 4/15   I am informing  any  revenant info you post to  passengers.