HELIPAD INVITES FOR SAIL AWAYS STILL??

[Pier290]

BACK IN 2017 WE WERE ON EQUINOX AND RANDOMLY RECEIVED AN INVITE IN OUR CABIN TO JOIN A SELECT FEW TO THE HELIPAD FOR CHAMPAGNE AND SAIL AWAY FROM ST THOMAS.....IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE!!

DO THEY STILL SEND THESE INVITES OUT?

[SleepingUgly]

Yes, they do.  We were on the 12-night holiday cruise on the Silhouette a couple of months ago and got invites in our cabins for the sail away from St. Croix.  Think it was because we were in concierge cabins?  It definitely wasn't because of our status because we have none!

 

Linda

 

[Jim_Iain]

Yes they still have the invites.   Due to status and traveling in suites we are always invited to at least one.  I have also read here on CC that on occasion they have invited the Cruise Critic's that signed up for the meet and greet. 

 

In October we had the best helipad arrival I have ever done.   We sailed into Manhattan  under the bridge and past Lady Liberty.   It was spectacular. 

[alishac]

Do you think if you dropped a hint to your butler about wanting an invite that one would appear? 

[Mirage]

Pretty much every Celebrity Cruise we have been on has had helipad events. Been invited most cruises, they sometimes require closed toe shoes, as my wife in Europe only had opened toe shoes with her we were turned away. Oh well. They are sometime fun events, if you have been before it is not that big a deal, if you have not been to at least one, it does have an allure. 

 

Mirage

[Turtles06]

On the Silhouette this fall, we received one such invite given to folks sailing in Concierge Class.  By contrast, we took our first cruise on HAL this summer, and the bow was open to everyone for sailaways. I think that’s at the Captain’s discretion, but it was wonderful. 

Edited February 27, 2019 by Turtles06

[downsmead]

On the January a Summit sailing, elite and above were invited to the helipad for a sail away plus those guests for whom it was a first sailing on Celebrity.

I thought this was a nice concept.

[PelicanLvr]

On Summit in January.  Was invited for a sailaway and closed toe shoes were required.  People without them turned away.  The shoe-requirement is clearly stated on the invite.

 

Was announced that elite and first-time cruisers were invited together.  Interesting idea.

 

Suggest you arrive at the meeting point (ours was the upper level of the theater) a few minutes before time stated on invite.  Our sailaway was at 6pm and the invite was for 5:45.  We arrived at 5:45 and by time invites were checked and you were walked out to the helipad.....we just made it before the ship began moving.  

 

Refreshments were very limited.  It's a nice once-and-done event.  After about 30 minutes you are politely  told to.....leave.  

 

 

[Northern Aurora]

Others may disagree, but it seems to me that Celebrity is doing an increasing number of helipad events.  Given our loyalty status we are frequently invited, and while some find it too windy on the helipad, we generally attend.  These events do require a number of staff members, but it is one of those occasions in which Celebrity can create a special memory at little cost.

[PelicanLvr]

Downsmead replied while I was writing.  Sounds like we may have been at the same sailaway.

[verizon]

1 hour ago, alishac said:

Do you think if you dropped a hint to your butler about wanting an invite that one would appear? 

According to my experiences there is always suite guess invitation to the Helipad sail away or sail in party.

I also know there is one CC Hostess sent out invitation to the Concierge guests for the sail away nor matter what tier they are.

Edited February 27, 2019 by verizon

[MJSailors]

My DH and I were invited to the helipad this past summer on the Summit, sailing away from Bermuda. We were in a Conceierge cabin. We had no other status as this was our 2nd Celebrity cruise.

There seemed to be a bit of a delay before the ship left the port.

This caused a bit of standing around waiting for the ship’s horn to signal departure.

As others have said, this was a one and done for us. We think watching the sail away from an aft balcony or the Sunset Bar offers a better experience,at least from Bermuda. The forward view was of the open sea with limited port side views of the Dockyard.

Although, sailing out of or into NYC harbor would be a great experience ! The views must be spectacular !

[downsmead]

23 minutes ago, PelicanLvr said:

Downsmead replied while I was writing.  Sounds like we may have been at the same sailaway.

👍It was on the 4th January sailing. There was also one scheduled the night after but due to a delay in leaving port, I think that one was cancelled. Interestingly, we were doing a b2b and there did not seem to be any helipad sails ways on the second cruise. 

And yes, they were very strict about footwear.

[sdnich]

 Last April when we were on a Panama Canal cruise leaving Cartagena we were invited but when we arrive there were no beverages so we turned around quickly went to Michael’s club got a glass of wine and came back up ! It was a long haul for a glass of wine but it was super hot and the view was  better with a glass of wine !😁

[Essiesmom]

I did a B2B2B on Millie when she was doing short cruises from Miami.  B2B guests were invited to the helipad for the sailaway from Miami.  Not sure if they did it from any other port.  EM

[Nachosdelux]

FYI typing in all caps is considered the online equivalent of yelling.

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, alishac said:

Do you think if you dropped a hint to your butler about wanting an invite that one would appear? 

I would ask the MCC.   The butler would also pass on the word. Often the Butler escorts his suite guests down to the entrance.

 

Edited February 28, 2019 by Jim_Iain

[drakes2]

6 hours ago, SleepingUgly said:

Yes, they do.  We were on the 12-night holiday cruise on the Silhouette a couple of months ago and got invites in our cabins for the sail away from St. Croix.  Think it was because we were in concierge cabins?  It definitely wasn't because of our status because we have none!

 

Linda

 

I was just in a regular balcony cabin on my last cruise in November and received an invite. It was quite nice watching the ssilaway from St. Kitts. They also served some sparkling wine. A nice touch. 

[drakes2]

53 minutes ago, sdnich said:

It was a long haul for a glass of wine but it was super hot and the view was  better with a glass of wine !😁

Everything is better with a glass of wine. Hope I get invited again on my upcoming cruise in March. Met some nice people and had a few laughs. 🍷

[SeahawkSiren]

OK, now I am getting excited and hopeful I will get an invite!  Will be on my first Celebrity cruise and sailing in Concierge Class in April 2021 on the Solstice, 20 day transpacific.  So excited!

 

I would love to be on the helipad with a glass of wine as we sail out of Sydney on what is a bucket list cruise for me (Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Hawaii).  🍷

 

[A Sixth?]

Last year we were invited almost every leg 

 

this year not once 

 

no idea how it works 

[Lastdance]

It is nice to know that Celebrity is inviting a variety of guests, and not just those who are in suites or special quests.  I have enjoyed my share of sailaways, but I also think that others should be afforded the same opportunity no matter what their cabin class may be.  If you are interested in this venue, it never hurts to ask about an invitation.  Many years ago, I was above looking down on those with champagne on the helipad, thinking that would be so special..not the champagne, but just enjoying the event and talking with others...

Edited February 28, 2019 by Lastdance

[CruisinCons]

7 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Yes they still have the invites.   Due to status and traveling in suites we are always invited to at least one.  I have also read here on CC that on occasion they have invited the Cruise Critic's that signed up for the meet and greet. 

 

In October we had the best helipad arrival I have ever done.   We sailed into Manhattan  under the bridge and past Lady Liberty.   It was spectacular. 

 

Celebrity sails out of Bayonne, NJ not Manhattan.  How did you go past the Statue of Liberty?  It is north of the port and you can see it in the distance.  Bayonne (Cape Liberty) is directly across the harbor from Brooklyn, Manhattan is north of it. 

[Luvcrusn]

Yes. We attended on Reflection sailing away from Bonaire. It was lovely. 

[travlr21]

3 hours ago, MJSailors said:

My DH and I were invited to the helipad this past summer on the Summit, sailing away from Bermuda. We were in a Conceierge cabin. We had no other status as this was our 2nd Celebrity cruise.

There seemed to be a bit of a delay before the ship left the port.

This caused a bit of standing around waiting for the ship’s horn to signal departure.

As others have said, this was a one and done for us. We think watching the sail away from an aft balcony or the Sunset Bar offers a better experience,at least from Bermuda. The forward view was of the open sea with limited port side views of the Dockyard.

Although, sailing out of or into NYC harbor would be a great experience ! The views must be spectacular !

I think we were on that cruise. Our neighbours in the next suite never made it back to the ship, hence a bit of a delay waiting to see if they would show. Watched someone from the ship hand off their passports to someone on shore. 

 

We were on the previous cruise as well, we are Canadian, and were invited with many other Canadians to the mid-day sail-in to Halifax on Canada Day. Was nice and the CD played O Canada for us.