indy406

The Porch. And be sure to make a reservation. Did I mention make a reservation? We stopped by around 1230 one day and only two tables were occupied. They wouldn't let us in because we didn't have a reservation. I peeked in the place an hour later. Only two tables occupied. Fine. We made a lunch reservation for the next sea day with no problem. Just a few tables occupied and we watched as walk-ins were turned away. Only thing we could figure was they staff the place based on the number of reservations. Anyway, The Porch is my favorite.

I've seen it suggested that gratuities are included in the all-inclusive charge (with classic drink page and wifi) when sailing out of Southampton. Anybody know if this is true?

I think it gave me a seizure.

We've taken probably 10 cruises with Celebrity, all Aqua class. Two TransAtlantics, Panama Canal, Alaska, Baltic, couple Meds and have had exactly one negative experience with the condition of the room. That was our first TransAtlantic, on Reflection. We walked in and found a storage drawer on the floor because of a broken slider, fingernail trimmings on the table and — wait for it — a pair of wadded up dirty underwear under the throw pillow on the couch. I had the room steward in there pronto, things were resolved and I didn't say another word about it to him or anybody else. I think today I'd take the hotel director on a tour of the room.

We've been tempted to visit the LPC but the menus don't seem that interesting for the money charged. It's all about the animation, I guess. Tuscan last year on Reflection wasn't as good as before and neither was Blu. We're on Infinity next week, which is thin on specialty restaurants. We still have $250 in OBC and are full up on shore excursions. It's a good "problem" to have and I'm sure we'll figure a way to spend the credit. Always have before. I sound like an old grouch. Sorry. I'll get over that before next week.

Same here, reset (changed) passwords on both the Website and the app and I again have access. A little unnerving a few days before we sail. I would have appreciated an email from Celebrity giving notice this needed to be done. Thanks to all on CC who provided advice.

We're sailing on Infinity (Greek Islands trip) in a few days and I'm trying to find a phone number to leave with relatives back home if they need reach in an emergency. I see conflicting information on the Celebrity Web site so consider none of it reliable. Does anybody know if a good phone number to reach the Infinity from the U.S. — and yes, we pray this isn't something that will be necessary.

We've been on probably 10 Celebrity cruises, all but one on S class ships. We think they're great. Our next trip is on Infinity and I'm sorta ready for a letdown. No Murano, no Lawn Club, no Porch and we just learned the Persian Garden doesn't have the heated tile loungers. Just some kind of a bench and the PG has no outside view. Those loungers are great. We booked the trip because it was going to Israel and Egypt. Well, we know how that turned out. We could have gotten a refund when it was changed to a Greek Islands cruise but stuck with it. Not whining about Infinity, it's our choice and I'm sure we'll have a good time. No Edge class for us, btw. We love the balcony on M and S class. Final thing: Thanks for your post, Hopefulhawkeye. I too am a Hopeful Hawkeye. Fingers crossed for a National Championship tomorrow.

We eat breakfast at Blu or OVC or the Elite at Tuscan. We have never been asked to show our Sea Pass at the Elite breakfast.

We sail on April 15. The upgrade to Premium is now 25 percent off, meaning $10.99 pp a day for the 11-day cruise. Plus the 20 percent gratuities charge at checkout. No thanks.

The gratuities were a 20-percent add-on at checkout. Not folded into the advertised price.

We were going to upgrade to premium during a sale a couple of days ago. Went to checkout and realized we'd forgotten the 20 percent gratuities charge. Decided no thanks. Killed the upgrade. We'll pay the up charge per drink (use onboard credit) if we want something on the premium package. Won't happen that often so we'll be money ahead. We have an AI package so no gratuities charge on our classic package drinks.

Thanks for the info. I'll keep checking for updates. It would be great to hear your impressions of the ports along the way. Curious to those onboard the Infinity. How did the check-in process go in Athens?

Word of advice, from experience. Be sure to make a reservation if you want to have lunch at The Porch. We decided to stop by on a whim one day last year (Reflection, I think) and were turned away even though the place was only half full. Lots of empty tables, but no entry since we didn't have a reservation. We could only assume they staff the place based on reservations and anything over that can't be handled by the day's kitchen and wait staff. Only thing that made sense. We did make a reservation the next sea day and really enjoyed our lunch. Sure enough, we saw empty tables and people turned away.

I really, really wish I would be allowed to wear a nice pair of shorts and a polo shirt to dinner at Blu. I suppose I could give it a try. Turned away? I could head up to OVC and find myself a fine meal.

Yes, they're warm water lobster, not much flavor and kind of mushy. On the upside, they're small.

The OVC is fine (not too crowded) if you have an early boarding time and the weather isn't great. Warm and sunny? A hot dog and/or cheeseburger and fries outdoors at the Mast Grill is just fine. There's even an ice cream machine.

We did while checking in on the app. It was painless.

Thanks to all for your suggestions. Luggage tag holders have been ordered.

In the old days, our TA mailed us the luggage tags with glued backing. Easy to attach the day of sailing. Now we print them out at home, no glued backing, making attachment to the luggage a challenge. We get the job done by asking a nice person at the hotel front desk for the use of a stapler. Short of lugging along a stapler from home, it's pretty much the only way we've found to attach the tags after an overnight stay in the port city. Alternative suggestions would be appreciated.

Wild Turkey and Sam Adams are on the Classic package list. All is well.

We have the all-inclusive (classic beverage, tips, wifi) and bought early enough we're grandfathered in on the gratuities. We stick with the classic because it's usually OK and we can always order something premium and just pay the few dollars difference. We come out way ahead.

I also use a CPAP and always ask the cabin steward to bring an extension cord. It is there within minutes. I put it in the closet during the day and string it from the outlet at bedtime. Minor inconvenience.

Many months ago, we booked the April 15 sailing out of Athens for the Israel/Egypt cruise and then came the tragedy of the war. No surprise the itinerary was changed to Greek Isles. Celebrity offered us a free cancellation with all deposits returned in cash or $200 OBC if we stuck with the April 15 sailing. Unfortunately, we had non-refundable air tickets to/from Athens on dates coinciding with the ship schedule so we decided what the heck, stay with the cruise and, hey, maybe it'll be OK. So that's what we're doing.

And now, for us who are OK with reds from the lower shelf: Celebrity charges $13 a glass for Castle Rock pino. It costs $7 a bottle at Costco.