HS2BS

In the past we were very loyal to Celebrity(as we were to an airline) till they did away with 14+ days cruises, and now do 9, 10, 11 days or 2x7 b2b(wasted day in between). While we still book Celebrity as our main cruise line, we’re booking Princess for there longer and different itineraries, HAL for there longer cruises and both have better pricing This year there are are over a dozen new ships sailing with 50,000+ new berths available, competitive pricing will change demographics, port availability and of course prices. Hal

Interesting fact: the Waldorf Astoria in NYC charges $5.00 for in room dining + 24% (18 to staff & 6 to hotel) with a great menu! Hal

Following along as we also board on the 8th! Hal

We booked with Budget for our cruise - pick-up at Fll and drop off at EV3(which is the entrance to the port. Then shuttle to terminal, can also pick up rental there. Hal

Shuttle that goes to each terminal that passengers request. Hal

If you have refundable obc, you can withdraw up to $250 on each cruise Hal

How about the term “mobility impaired”? My wife uses a mobility device(wheelchair), and I’m amazed at the number of people who go onto the ship needing assistance and then latter seeing them not only walking but even dancing and still claiming an accessible cabin. Celebrity used to have a medical form that needed to be filled out and verified by medical personnel, but haven’t seen it in awhile. If your “assigned” an accessible cabin, ask for other accommodations as we’re just as likely to book a last minute cruise as anyone else, and only can go when we have that type of cabin! Though we try to book far enough out to get an accessible cabin (we have six cruises in 23(Reflection,2 Summit, Equinox, Beyond and Sapphire Princess)and one(Holland America) in 24 already booked with cabins of our choice. Hal

Those who are booked in Blu have the Persian Gardens included in their fare, no extra charge. Hal

Does this beach have a drop off near shore? Hal

Off of Beyond on November 4, and got. Taxi, mini-van, that was accessible for my wife’s wheelchair and the metered fare was $19 and a $6 tip. Slightly higher then in the past, but it still reasonable. Always have the driver turn on the meter or ask if it’s still $20! Hal

We recently were on the Beyond, and found that our fixed seating for six was done away with. Never had a problem with lines, tried all four venues, and moved our dining times a little bit latter. I suspect all the E ships are that wa now! Hal

We did try the other venues, but returned to Normandie because it was easier access(wheelchair) and conveniently on deck four(two of the venues are on deck three). Hal

We also had set dining reservations, but found that the Beyond has done away with them. Too bad that the it department hasn’t learned of that yet! Of the nine nights on her we never had a wait of more than a few minutes and had the same waitstaff each night. Busiest times were shortly after 7 and right after the early show ended! Hal

We’re on the Reflection in Aqua 1/8/23, and were in February 2020, so we’ll see if there are any changes in Blu. Hal

There is NO way to walk to the airport! Taxi meters are regularly inspected, and if you know the fare ahead of time there should never be a problem. Uber/Lyft use a congestion pricing scale - maybe taxi’s are allowed to add that to the fare, ask ahead of time. Hal

Why don’t you go to the Celebrity Beyond roll call for this date and ask the same question! Hal

I think you answered your own question - NO for a teen on Beyond during a holiday cruise. First, let me inform you that we are on that cruise and are well into senior years like a lot of cruisers that have 11 day or more to cruise. Will there be other teens? We just got off the Beyond on 11/4 after a 9 day cruise, and the demographics were well into the seventies with lots of wheelchairs and scoters, but few if any “teens”. Hal

We purchased the four pack(air tags) and put one in each suitcase and one in our roll on. The fourth was placed in the pocket of my wife’s wheelchair. Flying from JFK to LHR, our flight was delayed and then a plane change. My wife checked to make sure that her wheelchair made it to the plane change - it didn’t! Before the doors closed we notified the head steward, who called baggage ground control and located the wheelchair within 10 minutes. We could actually tell when it reached the plane. invaluable for travel Hal

Close is an obtuse to term when your in a wheelchair or pushing one! What is close for you may not be for us! Hal

Nowhere to go, no bars even near the dining rooms or a place to wait except the hall. Deck 4 has both Cypress & Cosmopolitans; and deck 3 has Tuscan & Normandie - people milling around with beepers and little or no waiting type seating. Hal

Last night at about 2am all the lights popped on, had to physically get up and turn each one off! Room steward was aware, but with no explanation. Yesterday we did note that all the electrical panels were removed and leaning against the hallway walls on deck 9 - today everything is back t normal. Hal

On deck 9 there is no noise from docking except the vibrations when using the thrusters(same all over the ship). This accessible cabin has its own small vestibule that is shared with a non accessible cabin, and a door that can be closed to the hallway. Hal

We ate in Cosmopolitan tonight - no pager, no line, no wait at 7:15 — good service! Hal

DragonOfTheSeas, We are also on board in an ocean view accessible cabin in the front of deck 9(supper large room). (Was your Mardi Gras cruise on the Equinox - we were also on board) Our booking was fixed dining and it wasn’t till we went to the desk at the Cosmopolitan to find out which dining room, that we were informed no more fixed dining. Celebrity must have forgot to mention that? Though our experience for the past two night was a pleasant surprise. Expecting a line and wait we went to the Normandie at 8 and found no line and no wait, and immediately were seated. Last night we went to Tuscan at 7 and it was ditto. Hal

We were looking forward to our fixed dining time, without the hassle of waiting in line! But, another change that Celebrity made that disregardes the dining preferences of many seasoned cruisers without any communication. Hal