Questions that need your knowledge

[malony33]

I have not cruised in 10 years, and I'm feeling a little dazed and confused! So, I need your help as I get back to the sea. I'll be sailing, most likely, on Equinox or Silhouette to the Caribbean.

 

 

1. In balcony cabins, do the showers have glass doors? Always hated those clingy shower curtains!

 

2. Can onboard credits be used to pay the fee at the "special" restaurants, such as The Porch?

 

3. Exactly what can those onboard credits be used for?

 

4. I am cruising solo - gasp! - for the 1st time. Never been known as a shy woman and I'm married. So, any advice from those of you who've gone solo? Will there be a number of other solo sailors like me? Not looking to "hook up" (LOL), just for buddies of either gender to hang out with.

 

5. Celebrity was always our line of choice: tell me how you feel about the present service, shows, food, the dreaded "chairs at the pool" problems, cleanliness, excursions, and anything else you want to mention.

 

6. No smoking on the balconies /cabins (please say yes)? Casino? Pool?

 

7. Is there a charge for room service, my guilty pleasure?

 

8. Gotta have a veranda - please suggest a deck, cat. (1A, etc.), good and bad areas or cabins for any reason.

 

9. I want to bring my laptop; what will I need to connect to WiFi?

 

10. Are the specialty coffees at the little walk-up cafes included in the drink packages?

 

And finally, for now:

 

11. What do you most like about either ship, and what are the must-do's onboard?

 

Thanks, everyone - cannot wait for your answers.

[keithm]

I have not cruised in 10 years, and I'm feeling a little dazed and confused! So, I need your help as I get back to the sea. I'll be sailing, most likely, on Equinox or Silhouette to the Caribbean.

 

 

1. In balcony cabins, do the showers have glass doors? Always hated those clingy shower curtains!

 

2. Can onboard credits be used to pay the fee at the "special" restaurants, such as The Porch?

 

3. Exactly what can those onboard credits be used for?

 

4. I am cruising solo - gasp! - for the 1st time. Never been known as a shy woman and I'm married. So, any advice from those of you who've gone solo? Will there be a number of other solo sailors like me? Not looking to "hook up" (LOL), just for buddies of either gender to hang out with.

5)We do the Eclipse for 14 day Caribbean trips. Ship is always clean. Food is very good. Excellent in the specialty rest. Shows were great, but I hear they've changed them & pax don't seem to happy. We'll see how it goes on our Jan.22 cruise.

6)NO smoking anywhere but a small part of the aft of the ship. Of course there's those idiots who tempt fate(and fines) by smoking on their balcony. Celebrity was one of the first that really cracked down on smokers.

7)No. Thee is, however extra cost items you can have delivered with your room service. A nice Al a Carte addition to the room service menu.

 

5. Celebrity was always our line of choice: tell me how you feel about the present service, shows, food, the dreaded "chairs at the pool" problems, cleanliness, excursions, and anything else you want to mention.

 

6. No smoking on the balconies /cabins (please say yes)? Casino? Pool?

 

7. Is there a charge for room service, my guilty pleasure?

 

8. Gotta have a veranda - please suggest a deck, cat. (1A, etc.), good and bad areas or cabins for any reason.

 

9. I want to bring my laptop; what will I need to connect to WiFi?

 

10. Are the specialty coffees at the little walk-up cafes included in the drink packages?

 

And finally, for now:

 

11. What do you most like about either ship, and what are the must-do's onboard?

 

Thanks, everyone - cannot wait for your answers.

I'll try!

1)Yes to glass enclosed showers on Solstice class ships.

2)Yes, I believe you can. I don't think it applies to drink packages.

3)It's somewhat limited. Not sure you can use them in the casino(now there's really playing with the house's money!)

4)We're a gay married couple, so I haven't sailed solo, but there's plenty of places on board to meet people to hang with. See the Maître D about getting seated at a table of solo cruisers at dinner. Also attend the CC on board meeting(usually in Sky Lounge)

5)Good food decent entertainment, yeah, some pool chair hogs, but all lines have them.

6)Smoking restricted to small area aft on the ship.

7)No charge, but there is a nice Al a Carte menu included for extra cost items.

8)Only done insides on Celebrity, but as experience goes book mid ship mid level for smoother travel.

9)Should be a password to use. We don't travel with a lap top, so I'm not well versed here.

10)With the coffee package.

11)The Eclipse has a great theater. Incredible Sky lounge at the front of the ship. Love kicking back & relaxing in the Solarium. It's a quiet place on board with it's own pool. Dining room has real WOW factor.

Edited July 21, 2016 by keithm
more additions

[ClaudiaB]

10. Yes the specialty coffees are included with your drink package.

 

Welcome aboard. Be sure to get on your Roll Call here for your specific sailing so you can begin having ongoing conversations with the people who are sailing with you. Ask THERE about singles sailing.

 

You can use onboard credits for everything! Specialty dining, your gratuities (if they weren't prepaid as a perk), anything in the shops, excursions you book while on board, upgrading your beverage package, spa, wine, drinks above your package allowance, pretty much anything.

 

Celebrity ships are completely and totally smoke-free inside!!! There are a few places on the outside where they have smoking allowed. Deck 5 has an area port side, and one part of the pool deck, one part at the sunset bar. We have been on cruises where we literally see no one smoking at all. That means you can sit on your balcony and enjoy a glass of wine and the view and not choke choke cough cough someone's smoke drifting over. And if you do, you just call downstairs and they'll stop it.

 

We much prefer the S class ships but we have had some amazing cruises on the M class. Have a great time.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

No charge for room service. It's nice to give the person who brings your order a tip. There are some things on the room service menu that have a charge, but they are clearly marked. Just don't order those. Or use your OBC to pay for them if you really must have them.

 

Go for a 1A cabin--you'll have a great location and a larger balcony.

 

Edited July 22, 2016 by Happy Cruiser 6143

[TN Vol Fan]

When picking a cabin on S ships, be aware there is no rear elevator or stairs. You have to walk to mid ships to move up or down. That's why we like the A1 cabins on the hump, besides the larger balconies.

[Beanb41]

You can use non refundable OBC ( OBC supplied by the cruise line) in the casino. You will be given promotional chips to the amount of the OBC you wish to use. Promotional chips cannot be redeemed for cash but your winnings can be. Up until last year it was possible to cash in Non refundable OBC in the Casino for a 5% fee. It became so popular that X put a stop to it as many passengers were cashing in non refundable OBC to take home.

 

You will need WIFI onboard if you want to connect to the internet. It can be obtained as a perk or by buying bandwidth.

[kitty9]

Not sure if you're into the booking process, but when you cruise solo, you have to pay a single supplement, which basically means you're paying for two people, minus the port fees for one person. So, if the per person fare is $2000, most likely your fare will be close to $4000, unless they have a slightly reduced single supplement, which doesn't happen very often.

[Doctor G]

I sailed solo for the first time last fall and it was just fine. I went on the specific cruise roll call and looked for private excursions to join. I was able to join a small group at all our port stops. I also planned a couple of excursions and found the number of people I wanted for each one. I was in Barcelona for 3 days before the cruise, and I was able to find people to meet for dinner in Barcelona. I ended up knowing quite a few people on the ship that I met through the roll call.

 

Carolyn

[ChiGal1962]

Re: the cruising solo part.

 

I echo the comment on joining your roll call. Some are more active than others, but I have often met people that have been a pleasure to hang out with on the cruise (and in some cases, keep in touch with years later).

 

On the cruise itself, I find cruisers in general to be a very friendly group. I don't specifically search out other solo cruisers, as couples or parts of couples also like to hang out :) That's why I cruise as often as I can for vacation - I can be alone as much as I want, but with others as much as I want!

 

You can find other suggestions on the Solo Cruisers board here.