CruiseRQA

Windsor Ont is south of Detroit.

How much did you tip him?

Different name, same grape. It was Robert Mondavi, one of the Napa wine pioneers who came up with the name "Fume Blanc". He (correctly) felt Americans had trouble pronouncing Sauvignon and hence wouldn't order it and decided to name his Sauvignon Blanc something easier to pronounce.

I booked my January Apex cruise early in December. All specialty restaurants are stated to have no availability since my booking. Will see once we are on board.

Here is the annual revenue for RCL from 2013-2024. Obviously a huge drop in 2020 and 2021. But record revenue expected this year and again next year. I assume revenue is accrued in the year RCL receives payment. If I were an investor, I would be pleased with how they have navigated a catastrophic event. 2013 7959.9 2014 8073.9 2015 8299.1 2016 8496.4 2017 8777.8 2018 9493.8 2019 10951 2020 2208.8 2021 1532.1 2022 8840.5 2023 13800 2024 15500 (projected)

Exactly, OP is concerned about the cruise experience and because of that chooses to take a "lesser" cabin. Once we took the financial leap to Celebrity suites we have been spoiled and hesitate to go back! OP, if you are still reading along, keep what you have and take Stag's suggestion of trying a move up bid to get back to a suite.

Don't ever make a decision about a cruise based on what you read here. This forum has become a very negative place. It's a great place to get specific questions answered but negative opinions about everything else seem to be the theme around here. I say sail the Beyond. You will love the ship. Such a great design, great food (despite what you read here), great service (despite what you read here) and great entertainment. If you are talking about the IV, you will probably like it. I was worried the same way you are after booking my first E-class cruise and then coming here and reading people's opinion on them. We liked the IV. Gives you more space in the room and really connects your entire room to the outside. Give Beyond a chance, you won't regret it.

One of the funny things about cruising to me is how people rush to the terminal to get on the ship as early as possible and then line up to get off it as soon as possible.

From the latest Value Line report on the company: Record demand and pricing levels remained the main drivers of the strong performance in the June period. Booking volume has continued to increase and is significantly higher compared to 2019 and at record high prices ... booking volume for 2024 is up significantly compared to all previous years and at record high prices.

Don't judge future bookings based on what you are reading here. Look at RCCL corporate financials. They have record bookings on the books for 2024.

I think it will depend on how many people show up on time and how many early. If it isn't too crowded they may let you board early. If they are taking people only by the schedule you may have to wait but I don't think they will throw you out onto the street!

RSV vaccine ... forgot about that one! 😒

People are complaining about wine prices in the Retreat thread. Wait until I tell them that a Michelob Ultra is 8 bucks.

I'd like to go back to the golden days of the past when there were no suites but I was served Dover Sole deboned at my tableside in the MDR, complementary lemonade on the promenade, a dance combo playing dance standards before dinner ...

I got all the Covid shots and boosters up through #4. This fall I got my flu shot (do that every year, view that as more of a risk than Covid) and overdue shingles #1. Will get shingles #2 before leaving on my cruise in a couple of weeks. Ambivalent about another Covid booster. I always say that if you think masks protect from respiratory viruses then wear one.

I wonder if that fee would have been covered by travel medical insurance??

Interesting as the OP states Celebrity says it was not from them and their TA says it was not from them. I've been cruising Celebrity since 2021 and don't recall receiving such a text. Boarding the Apex in a couple of weeks, will see if I get something.

delete

What did the link say? What was the point of it?

I second the endorsement of GeoBlue. Much cheaper and better coverage of medical and evacuation. I figure I can afford to lose a few to several thousand dollars on travel expenses but don't want 10s of thousands of dollars in medical expeneses.

Don't know. But why not teach them early to respect the room and wear nice pants to dinner?

As others have said: 1. For better or worse, there are no longer "formal nights" on Celebrity. They call it, IIRC, Celebrity Chic. This means that if you want to, this is the night to dress up. There will be few gents in a tux or suit with their lady in an appropriate gown, but not too many. Most are just wearing what they do every other night, nice slacks and a polo for the men and equivalent for women. 2. There is a TV in your room with some sports, movies and news. You won't be able to stream on your phone without WiFi. But don't waste time in your cabin watching TV! Get out and about the ship. Sit outside in the sun with a book, or walk the track. On your app you will get a list of all the daily activities and so find some of those things to do. You can watch TV at home!

Will be on the Apex in a couple weeks and so will find out.

Hopefully your question is rhetorical!

It's not really the comparative costs it's the fact that you are paying $10k or so for a suite and they won't comp you a glass of Decoy cab. I have sailed suites twice on Celebrity and have never been charged extra or asked for my sea pass when being poured a glass of wine in the Luminae. I generally don't even order anything specific but have asked the wine steward to bring me something appropriate. Always seemed so ... luxurious! We'll see in two weeks, if they ask for 2 bucks it will be so ... tacky