LF2C

I agree.

 

I hate that Celebrity even has the word "casual" in their dress code because most people take that to mean they can wear whatever they want and don't even read the dress code.

 

It doesn't help the fact that Celebrity is not at all consistent on enforcing the dress code on their ships, etc. I've been on some ships where it is strictly enforced and other where they let anything go.

The problem is that on some sailings, I understand that some passengers can become confrontational if challenged about their dress and rather than cause a scene, staff will back down....which is a great pity for the majority of us who understand and play by the "rules"

Some years ago for a special birthday we went for a weekend break to London. I had no idea what the birthday treat was but my wife told me I had to pack not only a jacket, but also a tie! Otherwise the Saturday night surprise couldn't happen.

I complied, and much to my surprise and pleasure, the taxi magical mystery tour ended at the Ritz, where we were booked in for the Saturday night dinner dance. Fabulous, even though I had to wear a tie!

I appreciate that we live in a more and more "informal" world, where people have less and less opportunity, or reason to even bother getting dressed properly (I'm British), but for me, one of the nice things about cruising with a "better" cruise line, is that people will not only abide by the dress rules, but also want to have the opportunity to dress up a bit rather than dress down a lot.

That doesn't mean "starchy" and "old fashioned", but it also doesn't mean turning up for dinner dressed like you've just been doing the garden, or been to the gym.

Pet hate.........apart from people who won't accept the rules,.....

men wearing baseball caps in the MDR, ughhhh :mad::mad::mad:

I love Celebrity because the dress code is sensible (and for many other reasons)

No offence meant and hopefully none taken ;)

Sometimes you take a cruise to jut not worry bout things like this, let people rush off, get to where they have to, and you can basically get off any time you want do whatever you want to do in the hours you have at port.

 

To watch people run off is better than watching t he best Tv show ever, Lol that is what a vacation is about being relaxed!

Here Here.

Relax, chill and enjoy :cool:

So I get it that select dining means you eat in the MDR when you want - but am I supposed to use the website to go ahead and make reservations? Thanks for the help!

We do select dining and never book, just turn up when we're ready to eat. No problems and only once have we been asked to wait....................... 5 minutes.

Obviously, there are certain times when the MDR is particularly busy, so just give those times a swerve

Isn't the whole point of Select Dining to eat when and with whom you like. Why on earth would you make reservations...................surely that defeats the whole point?

We always have SD, never book and turn up when we're ready and with whoever we've arranged to dine with.................."simples" :)

We did the full transit (FL to SD) last November on the Infinity. we did a trip from Colon to the Gatun Locks and also to see the new lock workings. When finished it will take not only the largest container ships but also the largest cruise ships (RCI monsters).

Sadly, I think some of the romance of crossing a feat of engineering that's 100 years old will be lost.

Considering this cruise roundtrip Barcelona, however, concerned about the weather in Portugal and Spain in October. The dates are October 2-15/2015 and we would fly in to Barcelona a few days prior. I love the itinerary but don't want rain and cold. I checked out quite a few websites on weather in October for this area and there is different information on each one of them. Has anyone been to Portugal and Spain in Ocotber, if so, is it still nice this time of year. I would be happy with shorts in the day and sweater in the evenings. As well, during the 3 sea days, would love to sit around the pool and not freeze:).

As you will see, we are doing the Canaries etc., on Eclipse 10 - 22 Oct. Being from England we have spent many holidays in Spain, Portugal (inc Madeira)and the Canaries, the latter being a Winter destination for us.......a bit like you guys and "snowbirds!". The only part of our cruise that I am expecting to be questionable weatherwise is the day we leave Southampton and the day we return. The rest of the time I expect the temperatures to be between mid 70s and mid 80s. We sometimes go to Tenerife at Christmas, it's usually hovering around early 80s. Don't worry about the weather unless you're visiting the UK!!!

Are there any events at the Sky Observation Lounge? I don't remember there being anything when I went there once or twice. The website says at night there is music and dancing, is this true? How often?

The house band should be up there most if not every night.

I'm trying to book online shore excursions but it requires charging your credit card. I have a large OBC I want to use for excursions. I called Celebrity and they said you have to book once on board to use your credit. I'm concerned some of the excursions I want may be sold out. Is there anyway around this to use your OBC?

No :(

Call Celebrity directly or use a good TA. The website is a work in progress. Hope it progresses in the future to be user friendly.

The trouble is that it's been "a work in progress" for about the last 2 years. Surely Celebrity can afford to get a bunch of teckies in to sort it out.......................good job their cruise experience is way better than their website! :D

Come on guys, lets be reasonable. If your life depends on having good smoked salmon then that can be a real deal breaker :). Geez, on our last Celebrity Cruise I was very unhappy because the sliced onions next to the smoked salmon were just sliced too darn thick. To this day I think about those onions day and night! And then there as those tiny bagels, that they have everyday at the Elite breakfast, that are never sliced at all. Does anyone know how hard I must work to cut those bagels with a regular knife (without cutting my hand)? But we must disagree with the poster when it comes to the smoked salmon which we thought was fine :)

 

Hank

Don't shoot the messenger! I only reported what I read. As far as I'm concerned, Celebrity food including the smoked salmon,and service are excellent. Customer service is something that I'm a stickler for and for me, Celebrity does it very well.

YES' date=' thank you!! Some justify their whining and complaining on CC as "criticism" saying after all, that the site is called Cruise CRITIC. Those who nit pik about every little thing are never going to be happy with ANY cruise or vacation, (or probably with ANYthing in their life).

 

I feel that cruise critic is primarily here for finding out information on sailings, such as cabin location, dining questions, activities, ports, etc. etc. etc. and less for grumbling about prices, towels that don't meet their satisfaction, oh gawd I could go on and on.

 

If they don't like Celebrity and find so much fault with it, go to the Carnival forum or pay for a Crystal cruise. Geez!! Thank you for the voice of reason post!![/quote']

 

I read two damning, highly critical reviews some time ago. One said they would never cruise with X again because they'd changed the smoked salmon and it was inferior and the other complained that X had gone down market because they didn't like the orange juice..............yes, really. Good grief!

I have been reading so many bad reviews about the cruising experiences on Celebrity. My wife and I always have enjoyed this line. We are taking our next cruise in November and I hope we get better service than what I have been reading about. Please share any new reviews for the Reflection.:)

As a number of people have said, celebrity service is still generally exceptional in the market place, but the market has changed. Cruising is no longer just for the elite and all the major cruise lines are competing for our business.

We find that Celebrity meets and usually exceeds our expectations and we are very happy to continue booking with them as long as they have the itineraries we want.

I get the impression that there is a lot of snobbery amongst some cruise passengers, especially those who've cruised for many years. You only have to read some of the reasons people complain to realise how petty some people can be.

This response is for you Paul.

 

Thank you for taking the time and trouble to reply.

I get the impression that whilst feelings are running high, there's not a lot customers can do other than vote with their feet if they feel the itineraries offered by X no longer meet their expectations. Then, perhaps X will get the message. In the meantime, I think (for me at least) this thread has been "done to death", so I'll maybe see you all on another one, or maybe on a cruise ship one day. :)

Correct me if I am wrong Paul but is it not a 2017 Cruise you are on?

 

The problem for many on this thread is the very short lead time in being told Ports were dropped for over nights. Many, like us, have booked Air because when Cruising in peak periods from the frozen north, one has to do it early.

You are right as far as the Caribbean is concerned. I suppose I'd feel like others if they suddenly changed the itinerary for the Canaries in October. Does anyone actually know why Celebrity are changing itineraries? I read a lot of speculation and personal thoughts but have not seen anything official.

Hi Paul

I think the reason for the unrest is that there is a huge difference

in overnighting in St. Petersburg, Istanbul or Rome, indeed many

of the European cities where overnights are arranged have lots of

must sees. For instance Azamara arrange special cultural events

or special entertainment.

Did an overnight in Istanbul and it was really special, however

what is upsetting folks is that the Carribean offers little

of interest after dark, we were already scheduled to leave

Curacao at 11pm, we will probably not venture ashore after

We return from the beach.

Couldn't agree more about the overnights in Europe. I think I already said that European cities and the Caribbean are world apart. Whilst the loss of one port is a shame, for us it's certainly not a deal breaker! I would also I like to comment on the information our lack of it from Celebrity. We booked our Caribbean cruise direct with them not a TA and whilst I had already found out about the change to the itinerary from our U.S. Cruise friends, it wasn't long before I got an email from them with the revised itinerary. So no complaint from me!

No one seems to know, we remain in the dark, just like these Caribbean over nights.

As one poster mentioned, some of the new over night Islands have Casinos so they would not be pleased at the Casino being opened on the Ship. Having said that, it would be difficult to believe if a Ship is docked at a Port for two days that they haven't been given a special licence.

 

We still have had no word from Celebrity or our T.A. regarding the removal of a Port so we are in the dark on that also. It would appear from our Roll Call that we are far from being alone in that regard.

Baltic cruises traditionally have an overnight in St Petersburg. The Casino and shops are closed...........no-one seems to find it unusual !

I'm sure you will find a nice place to dance the night away

Ashore, more than likely it will have to be that darn Martini Bar

again:D:D

We usually spend the early part of the evening in the grand foyer if the band is playing and the rest of it up in the sky observation lounge. Drinking and dancing don't go very well together, especially when you add in the slight movement of the ship :eek:

This is one of the things that is going to really set the cat amongst the

Pigeons for those that don't want to go ashore at night,

And to be honest having been to these ports several times

I cannot for the life of me see why Celebrity think an overnight

In Curacao is Modern Luxury,

I have asked Celebrity this

 

 

" but what concerns me is what is there to do

onboard as the Casino and Shops will be shut whilst in Port.

I have no desire to be out wandering Caribbean bars after dark.

In Europe during the Summer Months it is light till about 9 or 10 pm

Plus there is plenty to see and do, Caribbean Islands no thanks.

asked this of Celebrity and I wish they would answer

but what concerns me is what is there to do

onboard as the Casino and Shops will be shut whilst in Port.

I have no desire to be out wandering Caribbean bars after dark.

In Europe during the Summer Months it is light till about 9 or 10 pm

Plus there is plenty to see and do, Caribbean Islands no thanks."

I obviously concur with the comments about European destinations....it's worlds apart in so many ways. but as I've said before on this forum, it's not really going to make any difference to us plus I only go through the casino to get to another part of the ship........if there's one thing I would happily do without, it's a Casino! waste of good floor space....then Celebrity could have room for a proper dance floor, so us proper dancers could do some proper dancing instead of shuffling around the circular postage stamps found on most modern cruise ships! :D:D:D

Do you think there could be another reason X is dropping ports and doing RONs besides saving fuel? Could they be leaving some flex in their schedules in case Cuba opens up? They could go From "more overnights in the Caribbean" to "more stops in Cuba." Just a thought.....

Being British I really find it weird the way Americans refer to Cuba as "opening up" for us it's never been closed!

It's a small world Paul. I had the honour of having John Charles guest play in our team in the over 30's Sunday morning League in Toronto. He must have been in his early 50's at the time but let me tell you, he could still play. Great guy, long gone now. R.I.P.

Definitely a small world. I met him too a couple of occasions some years ago. A true gentleman.

Ok perhaps the british point of view is different to the US but it is certainly confusing to me why you book a cruise which is basically all inclusive and costs quite a bit of money and then go out and eat? And drink? If you want to do that why not book a hotel on the islands- just slightly confused - perhaps cruising is cheaper from the US than the UK and perhaps y'all have more money!

 

Anyway we all agree to differ its a done deal and we have to take the cruises we have booked or lose money. But will certainly look at other lines for 2018.

I do agree but when you get a drinks package, free gratuities and OBC it's nice to spend the latter on a little indulgence 😀

Thank you for all the replies. Adapters! We're used to sailing with P&O so I hadn't thought of that! Yikes, hope I can find one...... I love your solution to the rubbish hair dryer problem, chemmo, that sounds a very good plan. I have shoulder length hair but I am very lazy so the balcony + wine seems to be the perfect solution. See you tomorrow dwhe. Can't wait. [emoji16][emoji16][emoji16][emoji16]

Can't see where you are from. If it's the UK and you are flying you can get them at the airport. Celebrity have US plug sockets so you'll need US adapters. Best get a few for all your electric stuff

I see you are from Leeds. When I think of Leeds my thoughts go to one of Footballs / Soccer best ever Billy Bremner '59 to '76 but I am dating myself.

 

From looking at your itinerary you will be having two days docked in Curacao and missing not St. Kitts but Antigua. We have done a number of visits to Antigua including land based ones. The Nelson Dockyard at English Bay is well worth a visit. You will just have to put that on your bucket list.

That dates me too! My first game was in1959 when John Charles came back from Italy.

I couldn't remember which island we missed but as I said it doesn't matter to us as we've never been to any of them. Also we're doing this cruise with the famous original Martini Mates 😜

Thanks Paul!

I know some people think it's a high price to pay but they really are very good and especially if you're on a two week cruise or longer, makes a nice change. If you wait till you're on board and leave it a few days you'll probably get a deal