elbowroom

As a European and frequent visitor to the USA, there is a marked contrast between the pleasant, hospitable and open character of the majority of the American people, and the general bossiness of the border officials, particularly towards transit passengers who are naturally anxious to make their connecting flights.

There can be long queues at any airport; it's simply a question of staffing levels. LHR is a good example; usually it's slow, but during the 2012 Olympic games it was quicker than it's ever been, past or present! I wonder why?

...for the information.

That's exactly what we wanted to know.

Like a fellow cruiser just below, we're arriving in Miami on a holiday, in our New Year's Day. We'd also like to know whether restaurants, shops etc. will be open or not in the afternoon.

Thanks.

We had the same problem last year.

Tips were built in to the booking system; we were in Aqua Class.

After much huffing and puffing, gratuities (funny old word that!) were removed and we paid service with OBC.

Two things, though: this was achieved by a very persuasive TA; we live in Europe, so maybe elsewhere, it wouldn't be allowed.

I got the impression that if you really pushed and pushed, you would succeed, but then we often thought, is it worth all the hassle?

There's also a luggage storeroom at Miami airport.

http://www.miami-airport.com/baggage_storage.asp

I don't know anyone who has used it...

Thanks:):):)

We've been tempted by Regent: Celebrity –Aqua Class– prices have shot up, there's no Oceania route that really interests us this year, so...why not try Regent.

We have four simple questions; apologies if the answers are obvious.

1. Where is embarkation in Venice?

2. From what I gather, the speciality restaurants are really booked up, and in peak season it's unlikely that you can go over the quota.

3. The all-inclusive excursions... what happens if a free excursion is full? Is a new one added on, or can you be left with the situation of either paying extra or not getting one at all?

4. How far in advance is it possible/recommendable to book them?

Thanks

More interesting Mediterranean itineraries, they tend to be pretty repetitive. Turkey has more than one nice city to visit. There are countless Greek islands, Balearic islands; in short there are hundreds of combinations, but they only use a few.

Change the menus in the speciality restaurants once in a while, including Blu.

Instruct waiters that they are not stand-up comedians. Blu seems to have a lot.

Better internet? Why not have an internet free voyage?

The mid-August 2015 cruise departing Barcelona has disappeared off the radar, it's no longer advertised or visible; it is obviously an outside charter.

It's odd, in that this is peak season.

If the package says up to the value of X dollars, there's little more to be said contractually, but the problem is simply that Celebrity does not have the world's best designed website and information is not that easy to track down, beyond the most obvious categories. Hence the suspicion that this lack of clarity is part of a deliberate policy rather than say, inefficiency, lack of attention, sloppiness or anything similar.

It wouldn't seem that difficult for simple information (a list) to be easily located, but that is not the case. If they can display detailed menus, and do so very well, why can't they do the same with infamous packages? These image-based lists are impractical.

Perhaps this is all part of a cunning plan to persuade people to upgrade to premium, though if customers are like the ones on this thread, that will backfire.

The general feeling of disillusionment (?) comes from the fact, I suppose, that people order their Christmas tree in January and come December it arrives in a smaller size than expected. But if the tree-seller just said a tree from the forest up to the value of X dollars...

The devil is in the detail, but the details are not always there.

I have read this thread, as we are experiencing similar problems, which have nothing to do with canoes...

In our case (Spain) even though the options "traditional" and "selected" dining are set by side on the reservations page, and even if it looks as if you could switch from one to another as a matter of course, the "selected" offer remains unchanged even if you choose the other option. I have tried several times.

Two thoughts: first, it is clear that this is in contradiction to the conditions, the small print at the back of the brochures, which specify you can pay before or on board. Surely, this is legally binding.

Second, obviously, with so many "offers", tips, drink packages etc., what national agencies or Celebrity itself do not want is for onboard "free" credit to be used to pay for gratuities, which is presumably what many customers what to do. Which is pretty gratuitous in both cases; the pun is inevitable! Sorry.

Any thoughts?

The fact that we booked a Baltic cruise a few weeks ago when Aqua Class was cheaper than Veranda or Concierge must demonstrate something, but what exactly? The following week, Aqua Class had gone up 200euros and was more expensive than Veranda, which must demonstrate something, but what exactly?

Royal Princess out of Copenhagen, August 8.

As the traditional brochure seems to have passed on to a better life, I wonder if anyone can tell me whether Princess provide/charge transport to ports of call on this trip (St Petersburg is obviously a different case). We're more of "explore on your own type."