robbinsca

Our friends won a free Specialty Dining meal for two from the Future Credit desk last year on Beyond. They had to be talked in to using it as they didn’t think we could join them. We ended up going for lunch, and it was good!

I am working on changing the date, not the ship or itinerary, on a 2025 cruise that has a non-refundable deposit. The invoice specifically states that I can make a change, but not cancel without losing the deposit. It also states that I MAY be charged a$100 change fee. Worth it to me after realizing Greece is 90+ degrees in June, but mid-70s in October. We just got back from melting on a June Caribbean cruise and don’t want to repeat that mistake.

Thank you to my fellow CCers. After reading this thread I changed my cruise dates next year from June to October. Not in Celebrity, but still made the change thanks to the warnings about the heat in June!

As someone who has been to Athens (my DD taught at OU and lived across the street from Miller’s Chicken) I respectfully submit that I would choose the Skagway option. We will be in Alaska for the 4th time this fall and Skagway offers more than the other stops. Ketchikan is fun, but Juneau is more of a city, and ISP has become just a cruise company port with locals working at it. Skagway has character, and history, and the train ride. Bring some high powered binoculars and you can see (and hear) the glaciers calving at either of those options.

These are the two spots we have visited. We loved Rome- there is nothing comparable here in the states. Naples offers nearby Pompei, once again, nothing like it. London and Edinburgh were absolute gems as well. As you might be able to tell I like the historically significant places, so beware of my bias. Cruising is step #1 to figuring out where you want to return. We head back to Rome next year after an Athens-Rome cruise, mixing both new places and returning to favorites.

That is my order as well. My DW orders Medium Rare and I order Thick……and Medium Rare. Worked better on Celebrity than it did on Princess recently. 🤓

We didn’t seek out Take Five but I do remember barely being able to hear the employee at Guest Services due to construction work that was taking place a floor above- which would have been the Casino area so I think you are right.

Great job on the review. We had a couple of dining issues that you didn’t face, but we aren’t Platinum and had Plus rather than Premiere. #1- the Specialty Dining reservation I made prior to the cruise was dropped from the system. Since I (mistakenly) didn’t check on it until Day #2 every reservation in every Specialty Dining spot was taken. We love to treat ourselves once a cruise to SD so it was a big disappointment. I was really looking forward to a Porterhouse in Crown Grill. #2- casual dining hours are difficult to match up. We tried to get in to Gigi’s one night but have up since the wait was going to be 30 minutes plus. O’Malleys only served a couple hours per day. #3- we really enjoy sharing a table with strangers. It gives DW a chance to listen to someone other than me. The Amalfi staff did everything they could to discourage us from doing so. Celebrity and RCCL do a much better job of accommodating us in this pleasure. Agree with your statement about slow service in the MDR. We sat for 30 minutes one night before our order was even taken. Another night I timed it- it was 1 hour and 20 minutes from the time we were seated until our entree was served. Sitting by ourselves that evening didn’t provide us with any distraction and we really noticed how rushed the waiters seemed, but that food wasn’t coming out. It seemed like they had too many assigned tables. We absolutely agree on the Costa Maya pier walk. We missed the trolley so we walked it. DW literally was on the verge of heat stroke when we arrived back at the ship. We went directly to the Buffet and got multiple glasses of ice water into her! Suggestion for your family next time in Roatan….. The ship’s Snorkeling adventure out on the catamaran was very pleasant. DS could be interested in doing that, I know kids would have jumped at the chance. It was a nice lazy 45 minutes or so in the water plus a lunch and drinks. Carry on…..🤓

We were on the same Enchanted cruise. We did have the advantage of having our medallions in advance and our experience was that the line going through the scanners to get into the actual terminal was long, but once through there it was as easy of a boarding experience as we have ever had.

We aren’t heavy users of the OBC we get from owning shares or what our TA gifts to us. It works out well to purchase Plus onboard rather than paying with our credit card in advance. It is like getting an $200 discount on the Plus package.

Price is the same, but if you have OBC I believe you can use that to “discount” the price.

We are onboard this week. Over 4000 on the ship and only the Piazza seems crowded. Kids are aboard as summer breaks are starting up, but as you said very well behaved!

I would still recommend confirming your reservations immediately upon getting on board. I made the reservations 2 months ago, after final payment. They didn’t make it onboard. We have tried to make another reservation on our second day onboard after noticing it, and every reservation is taken ALL WEEK. Granted, I have Plus status, not Premiere, but nothing is available. My $200 OBC May end up being a bottle of duty free Johnny Walker Blue Label to take back home.

We went on RCCL a couple of years ago. With that amount of distance you are going to go through several changes in the weather. There were some high seas, There were lots of clouds (so much for seeing the stars without light pollution) and there was sunshine. I don’t recall it having any real effect on how we went about our days. It did get warmer the further South we went.

Alaska Tips When you visit Butchart Gardens buy a few seed packets as souvenirs. I was never a flower garden type, but we have had a small plot that keeps regenerating with brightly colored quality flowers for multiple years. If you take the train in Skagway sit on the left side (as you view from the back) on the way up. The narration is the same both directions, and you trade sides up at the top, but your sense of wonder is better when you are fresh on the train. Also take a walk and stand out where the train cars connect for a clear view. Taking a picture from their as you approach the long bridge/trestle will result in a great photo.

Most shows are 730 and 930. Allow for 90 minutes for dinner at 530 and you could go to either one. One thing on Princess is that the theatre doesn’t seem to have as much available seating as other lines we have been on, and some of it is reserved for Elites/Suites. Plan on arriving at least 15-20 minutes before the show to get a seat.

Mea Culpa The ship we went on out of San Pedro was Radiance. Navigator has now taken over that itinerary.

Royal has had Navigator of the Seas going out of San Pedro. Nice, newer ship and does three and four day trips, with an occasional 7 days.

We have done both multiple times. Royal is definitely the one that I would take my grandkids to as they would be bored on Celebrity. When it is just the two of us seeking a calm vacation we prefer Celebrity. The vibes are definitely different- you decide- more fun or more relaxation? I like a mix of some of each.

Brooklyn last year on the Caribbean Princess up to Quebec City.

Like the OP we are light drinkers. I wouldn’t consider getting the drink package on Celebrity. I am such a lightweight that the last time I had 4 drinks in a single day was back during my time living in the fraternity house. $65 (even $30) a day for just liquor doesn’t float my boat. My DW likes to have the soda package on Royal and NCL, but I just drink the Iced Tea and Lemonade. NCL does charge a daily “free drinks” gratuity that is more than I would spend on drinks. The one exception I make is for the Princess Plus package. $60 a day not only gets you “only” 15 alcoholic drinks, (maybe 2 for me) but also unlimited sodas, bottled water, juices, but also WiFi and gratuities and a couple of other items. That package does give you your money’s worth IMHO.

Me personally, I never miss the Future Cruise presentations. After 20 years of cruising I know what is out there, but I still like to be tempted…

Seems strange to say, but between DW and I we have 4 cruises in the next 13 months ( one sisters cruise without me). We usually only go about once every 18 months, but…. We only booked one on Princess out of the four because of the difficulty choosing a cabin. Royal and Celebrity will be seeing the income instead. We like Princess, but don’t trust guarantee cabins.

And if you buy it on board you can use your OBC to pay for it. Purchase in advance and it hits your credit card directly.

I recommend getting on the port ( um, left since you are on land) on the way up. The narration is the same both directions, but your interest level is better earlier in the journey. That side has a much better view. if you are getting a Salmon Bake out of the $30 I would go that way. We will also be there in September. It should be beautiful.