nngardener

There is a mirror in the drawer where the vanity is.

There's a clock on the phone. Hard to read at night but it's there.

On the Eclipse right now and were excited to know about the 4 new drinks at the World Bar. I took my phone and showed the bartender the Kentucky Calling and Sailor's Crush. He was able to make both of them for us. Really enjoyed them. Will try the Don Julio Palama tonight.

On the Eclipse right now and the divider between the two cabins are open. Not a problem at all

Thanks, sounds like the lounge entertainment is similar to

last year's cruise.

Do you know the name of the duo?

This was such a laugh-out-loud review that I just had to let the OP how much I enjoyed reading it and wanted to add our experience.

To date we have taken 6 Celebrity cruises, 4 of which have been in Aqua Class. The first year we sailed Celebrity was in 2013 and there were 3 couples traveling together. Two of the couples were in AQ and 1 in a veranda balcony. To be able to eat together all of us chose Select Dining; the other equally important reason to choose Select was that one member was extremely picky about his food and wouldn’t like Blu at all. This worked out well for all of us because we almost always ate in the MDR and really enjoyed the food. However, three of us tried Blu one evening. The result was that one of us really enjoyed the food but the two others didn’t care for the food. We tried one more time on that cruise and ended up not liking what we ordered.

Here’s what we do like about Aqua Class:

Breakfast in Blu. We frequently will choose to eat breakfast here although the picky person is still really not happy with this choice.

the footstools are very welcome on the balcony

the shower is wonderful and really appreciate it very much

like the location just so long as we make sure to choose an A2 class cabin so that it’s quiet and not under the pool deck

also like the overhang because it gives us sun during part of the day and cool shade the rest of the day

Lessons learned:

If the price and benefits are in line, we will still choose Aqua Class. We have 4 more cruises booked in 2016 and 2017; they were booked with the All In benefits. The price was right and the benefits terrific. Our Fall 2017 TA is in a veranda because AQ wasn’t worth the extra money and no benefits.

We rarely eat in Blu for dinner. The only exception to that is if the daily menu appeals at all (and the MDR’s doesn’t) and we make a promise to send back any food that’s not satisfactory and order something else. We are obviously slow learners; it took us a while to figure that out.

Funny story: On our February 2015 cruise we were in AQ and doing what we normally do, avoid Blu. Early in the first leg of a B2B cruise, there was a message left on our phone. It was from someone in the Blu restaurant saying that they had “missed us” and wondering when we were coming for dinner. I just ignored it. Shortly thereafter I went to Blu for breakfast. As is normal, I gave the lady Matre ‘d my cabin number. She looked up and said “it’s great to have you join us; we’ve been wondering where you were. Just as I was being shown to a table, I told her “I’m sorry but we just don’t care for the food.” No more questions were asked. Fortunately, they didn’t stalk me; I can’t imagine how I’d feel if that had happened.

We did end up actually persuading our picky person to try it one night for dinner. We told the waiter up front that we were going to be sending anything back we didn’t like. She said she understood. We ended up having a relatively nice meal (only sent one appetizer back) and it was replaced satisfactorily. However, our first choice is always the MDR. I too enjoy good food and have been to many fine restaurants so I know what I do and don’t like. If the first taste of any dish says WOW you’ve got me. If not, why bother. The calories are all the same.

Truly appreciate the OP’s sense of humor and writing skill. Thanks for the laugh.

Just booked (before receiving any notice from Celebrity). There are no perks available on the TA.

Cabin 1610 on Nov 4 2017 Silhouette TA! Wahoo!

Cabin 9209 on 11/4/17 Silhoutte TA. Doing the happy dance.

I would like to take the time to publicly thank all those that mentioned "Moscow Mule" I had never heard of this drink. I was just at the grocery store and walked by different kinds of Ginger Beer and remembered this thread. So I picked up a 4 pack and made a Moscow mule to try one. I can certainly say WOW. It is now part of my favorites. My wife also really likes it.

 

Thanks again.

I'm gonna go make another one.

 

dp

I haven't tried a Moscow Mule but my favorite is a Woodford Mule: bourbon and ginger beer. it's great.

I just signed in with my Chromebook to Celebrity with no issues.

These recipes look fantastic. Definitely love peaches and bourbon too. Can't go wrong with the combination.

My TA just contacted Celebrity to verify the dates for the 2017/2018 Deployment Opening Schedule. She was told that they wouldn't start November 17th as reported previously; in fact, it might be as much as two months later. Has anyone else been told this?

We've been on 6 cruises with Celebrity, 4 of which were in Aqua Class. We always had 2 footstools.

I have had this happen (after I left the ship) and I called them. The discrepancy was credited off my credit card. Call Celebrity; you have nothing to lose.

The only thing I was able to accomplish was when we were getting to Elite after the first cruise of a b2b. I made sure to bring any documentation with me when we first got on the ship and spoke to the CC host. She agreed to make sure that our seapass card said Elite status for the second cruise. That's the best you're able to do. Sorry 'bout that.

For what it's worth, our b2b on 2/21/16 and 3/6/16 ended up with an overnight each added in Curacao and dropping of Bonaire. Fortunately, I wasn't sorry to lose Bonaire because we had been there once before and were very unimpressed. However, after doing some research on Curacao I wasn't at all sure what to do with an extra day there. I'll be eagerly waiting to see what Celebrity will be offering; so far it sounds like it might actually get us off the ship when I was beginning to think we'd just stay on it. Here's hoping!

Betty

I did not know that there was an alcoholic Ginger Beer?

I didn't either until just the other day. Was trying to find the non-alcoholic ginger beer and ran across the alcoholic version. I think the brand was Crabbie. That was a surprise. I started loving ginger beer (non-alcoholic) on the Molecular Bar because it was one element of my favorite drink there: the Kentucky Derby. I've been trying to make them myself ever since I came home.

If anyone thinks Celebrity has made a mistake, I suggest you take a look at the pricing for the cruise you are on with the changed itinerary and compare the price now to the price you paid.

 

Ours is significantly higher, indicating a stronger demand than when we booked.

 

This leads me to believe people are now booking for the overnights, exactly as Celebrity had expected given the market research they did.

 

It's a done deal folks.

 

Too true.

We have 2 cruises affected by the change -- the 3/6/16 and the 2/5/17. My TA quickly sent me the notice to her from Celebrity. In the 2016 cruise we overnight in Curacao and the 2017 it's Aruba. I haven't started planning what to do in each of the ports yet but I'm not disappointed Celebrity made the change. I'm hopeful it will be interesting to do the overnight. I'm the half full kind of gal.

You have to purchase.

Molecular bar is gone on Eclipse but I tried The Buck Stops Here at the new World Class Bar. Bartenders have cute little black bow ties. Drink was about $12 + gratuity.

Did you enjoy the drink? Tell us more.

Tuscan Grill is our favorite. Murano is good too but not quite as good as Tuscan, IMHO.

I've got until next February to wait to try any of these. Until then I will be eagerly reading any and all information about the new bar. Unfortunately, so far I don't see anything that really stirs my interest. My favorites at the Molecular Bar were the Kentucky Derby and Scorpion Kiss. Can those of you who are sailing much sooner than I am find out if these listed cocktails are the only ones you can get or can they make other drinks?

Betty

It's really great to have the pictures and descriptions. It all sounds interesting but it'll be even better to have some first-hand reports. Waiting with bated breath.

Betty

Those of you saying "sweet drinks" or "foo-foo" drinks must never have tried many of the offerings at the Molecular Bar . (And now it's too late. :( )

I challenge anyone to say the Black Mamba, Mr. B or Kentucky Derby are "sweet".

Also, the ingredients are NOT easily available at home (lots of fresh spices) and the liquors used were really high end. (How many of you have Lillet in your liquor cabinet?)

I'm reserving judgement on the new bar until I experience it .........

Karen,

I couldn't agree more with your statement. I too will miss those wonderful cocktails but am crossing my fingers that the new bar will be up to the challenge.

Betty