CHICAGOPAUL LIVE BLOG!!!!!! December 13th, 2019 - SILHOUETTE SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN

[chicagopaul]

Today was a nice relaxing day. I’ll update everyone later on lunch. We are heading to the martini bar early since we plan to catch the production show before dinner at 7. The show tonight is LIFE. 

[cruzzzinma]

1 hour ago, chicagopaul said:

I believe this is him! He is from India and is very slender. I will tell him you said hello!!

If it is the same Dominic , tell him hello from Mr and Mrs Wills (not our names but it was the name they must have trained the staff to use before the cruise) from the Silhouette Baltics Cruise in June. Mr Wills had to have chocolate sauce on his non-dairy sorbet. We had him aqua class on the infinity, Luminae on the Summit and the Silhouette.

[MarcArt]

3 hours ago, chicagopaul said:

Right now we are just in concierge for Hawaii. Waiting for pricing to drop to jump up to aqua or to a suite. 

 

Perhaps I should ask this elsewhere rather than interrupting your wonderful Blog; however, when we get on Summit this Saturday, can we ask for an Upgrade, and depending on availability and cost, get a cabin type of greater value than we have? If this is the case, what are the procedures we should follow?

Edited December 15, 2019 by MarcArt

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

4 hours ago, jcpc said:

Hi Paul,

Enjoying reading your blog (as usual!!)  I saw your Instagram post about Domnic the waiter in Luminae stopping by your table at dinner.  The last I knew my absolute favorite of all Luminae waiters, Domnic Barreto, was working on Silhouette.  If you happen to get a chance and it is "my Domnic" (very slender man from Goa India) who you wrote about please give him a big hug from Janice.  Domnic has a heart of gold and is a very caring individual. I miss seeing him on Summit.

Thanks,

Janice

 

Paul, I've had Domnic in the MDR and Blu.  No idea he was in Luminae.  I guess I've just been on the wrong ships!  If that's the correct Domnic, please tell him hello for me as well!  He's a sweetheart!

Edited December 15, 2019 by Happy Cruiser 6143

[RNCheryl]

Hello Paul

 

Excited to see your ABC review.  We will be on the Connie next November.  Our cruise leaves from Tampa. Looking forward to your island reviews.

 

You got a Fantastic deal on this cruise:  Way to go!  We will be in Aqua, with a couple of perks and about half your OBC for the same price.  Good for you!

 

I loved the story of your cruise friend sending a picture so you and his sister could connect in Miami.  Cruising does wonderful things!  We are friends with a group who cruised together on Summit 8 years ago, and we stay in touch, cruise together when possible.

 

Keep it coming!!

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

This is a picture of Domnic.

 

[Schmoe38]

54 minutes ago, MarcArt said:

 

Perhaps I should ask this elsewhere rather than interrupting your wonderful Blog; however, when we get on Summit this Saturday, can we ask for an Upgrade, and depending on availability and cost, get a cabin type of greater value than we have? If this is the case, what are the procedures we should follow?

Perhaps this will help with your questions about stateroom upgrades. Here is a link to Celebrity’s Move Up Program. Hopefully you will get your questions answered this way.

https://www.celebritycruises.com/ca/bid-on-cruise-room-upgrade

 

 

[TPCRUISER2]

Paul,  Just found your review! Always look forward to your cruise reviews Great pictures of the two of you, always so dapper!

Edited December 15, 2019 by TPCRUISER2
correct

[MarcArt]

14 minutes ago, Schmoe38 said:

Perhaps this will help with your questions about stateroom upgrades. Here is a link to Celebrity’s Move Up Program. Hopefully you will get your questions answered this way.

https://www.celebritycruises.com/ca/bid-on-cruise-room-upgrade

 

 

 

Thank you for this. Such wonderful and quick replies I have been getting a a new member of CC by other CCs to the questions I have asked.

 

I had previously registered with the Move Up Program (MUP) and reviewed the procedures. What Paul had noted was that they are, "...Waiting for pricing to drop to jump up to aqua or to a suite." That doesn't seem like it involved the MUP. Once one is onboard, is there a wait list that is either applied for, or as an extension of the MUP?

Edited December 16, 2019 by MarcArt

[JFontaine]

1 hour ago, MarcArt said:

 

Thank you for this. Such wonderful and quick replies I have been getting a a new member of CC by other CCs to the questions I have asked.

 

I had previously registered with the Move Up Program (MUP) and reviewed the procedures. What Paul had noted was that they are, "...Waiting for pricing to drop to jump up to aqua or to a suite." That doesn't seem like it involved the MUP. Once one is onboard, is there a wait list that is either applied for, or as an extension of the MUP?

These days a paid upgrade at the port or onboard is extremely rare.  Because of the move up program they have gotten very good at monetizing unsold cabins and restacking the ship . The time to try to move up via a paid upgrade outside of the move up program is after final payment through a few days before your cruise.  I moved myself up to a nicer suite by calling and paying the difference about 50 days prior to the cruise, and the price had come down significantly from the price right before final payment (half).  Have you checked current pricing?

Edited December 16, 2019 by JFontaine

[JFontaine]

I should add that after you book you should keep checking for price decreases for your cabin and cabins that you are interested in.  You might be able to get a price adjustment or move up, with or without additional payment, depending on the terms of your booking. 

[Lastdance]

20 hours ago, chicagopaul said:

Good Evening Everyone!

 

After dinner I've crawled into bed and now have my laptop here so I would like to update you on a few things. As far as dinner photos go I'll follow up with all of you tomorrow, but for right now I'd like to cover a few things. Mainly, I'm writing this because of the couple we met at Luminae tonight who asked if I'd be posting again tonight...so this is for you! haha!

 

I know many of you who are reading this come from all different walks of life. We are beyond fortunate to be able to cruise multiple times a year or even more. I know there are some people who only cruise once a year. Others who cruise only once a few years and others who only enjoy this once in a lifetime. We are beyond grateful for the luxuries that we've been able to enjoy. As I sit here in bed and type this blog there are no words to describe how lucky I feel.

 

If you haven't followed me on Instagram, go ahead and do so. PaulKBlackburn  The photo I posted just recently perfectly sums up my thoughts on Celebrity and life in general. The photo pontificates the fact that for us, travel is not about the destination but it is about those who encompass the situations around travel. Those who make travel turn from a hassle to a joy. 

 

Tomorrow I'll go into detail about this cruise, but overall I have to say I've been very happy with the start of this cruise. The people we've met, all of you who have come up and said hello to me, and the staff. Thank you. Thank you for being a part of our trip and my life. It really means a lot.

 

 

This is why so many of us really enjoy reading your blog...you have the soul of gratitude,  a glass that is more than half full, along with a passion for sharing!

Edited December 16, 2019 by Lastdance

[MarcArt]

14 minutes ago, Lastdance said:

This is why so many of us really enjoy reading your blog...you have the soul of gratitude,  a glass that is more than half full, along with a passion for sharing!

 

My thoughts exactly when I read this passage. Thank you, and thank you Paul.

[jcpc]

3 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

Paul, I've had Domnic in the MDR and Blu.  No idea he was in Luminae.  I guess I've just been on the wrong ships!  If that's the correct Domnic, please tell him hello for me as well!  He's a sweetheart!

Hi Happy Cruiser,

Yes, the picture you posted is Domnic.  He did, however, start his career in the MDR but he's been in Luminae since they opened Luminae on Summit (can't remember how many years ago that was!)  He is really the nicest person I have met on the ships -- such a genuine warm hearted individual.

 

Edited December 16, 2019 by jcpc

[Lovesealife]

3 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

This is a picture of Domnic.

 

Yes he was taking care of us as well the week of 11/22 on the Silhouette along with Agung. We loved them both! Make sure to get them to sing for you! 

[cruzzzinma]

4 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

This is a picture of Domnic.

 

That is him!

[CruisersTimesThree]

9 hours ago, jcpc said:

Hi Paul,

Enjoying reading your blog (as usual!!)  I saw your Instagram post about Domnic the waiter in Luminae stopping by your table at dinner.  The last I knew my absolute favorite of all Luminae waiters, Domnic Barreto, was working on Silhouette.  If you happen to get a chance and it is "my Domnic" (very slender man from Goa India) who you wrote about please give him a big hug from Janice.  Domnic has a heart of gold and is a very caring individual. I miss seeing him on Summit.

Thanks,

Janice

 

How wonderful is Dominick!?  We sailed with him this past March on the Silhouette on a 12 nighter and as soon as we entered Luminae for lunch when we boarded he came running over to say hello and tell us he remembered us from a Summit cruise! 

Whenever we dined there we requested him and couldn’t have had better service! We have a special needs adult son and Dominick treated him so wonderfully, always making sure he had everything he wanted and was happy with everything he ordered.  He got a kick out of calling my son “my king” because it made my son feel so special.  By the end of our cruise, they were FB friends and still to this day keep in touch!  He is one of the kindest, sweetest and most compassionate crew member we have ever met! Hope to see him again in the future!

[chicagopaul]

Good Morning everyone! I’m absolutely loving how everyone is choking in about Dominic! We are eating dinner in Aruba tonight but the next night when we are in Luminae I’ll show him these comments, I’m sure it will make him smile! 
 

Before I discuss last nights dinner, activities and drinking let’s start off with the daily for Aruba! 
 

 

 

 

 

 

[lola2013]

Good morning,

In case you hadn't heard yet, we had snow in Chicago overnight...aren't you glad you're in the Caribbean???

Enjoy Aruba!

[chicagopaul]

Last night we of course started at Martini Bar. Since we were planning to go to the show we arrived at the martini bar early around 5:45 and we grabbed the last two seats at the bar. It took a little while to get service but no big deal. 
 

 

We ended up in Michaels club after martini bar and of course started talking to we missed the show LIFE but we’ve seen it before. Lots of people went to it, actually almost everyone we ran into and they said it was pretty good. Everyone really liked the comedian who was having a late night 10:30 show. 
 

We stayed in Michaels club until about 8 and then headed to Luminae. We had a nice table in the corner seated next to Jeff and Evie who we’ve chatted with multiple times. 
 

We both started with the tuna, then the crab cake. We had the lamb as an entree and also split the rigatoni. 
 

The tuna was very nice. The crab cake was great, very spicy actually which I enjoyed. The lamb was very good and the lamb sausage that was with it was truly terrific. The rigatoni sauce was spicy but not acidic. A bit more on the sweet end. Edward wasn’t a big fan. I didn’t think i would like it but I actually did. However if you like sauces with a good dose of acidity and body this dish might not be for you. 
 

 

Wine that was recommended. Up charge of $25 for 5 glasses / the bottle. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

After dinner we went to World Class bar which has been packed this cruise. Each night it has been full. Great to see as so often this bar is dead but they make phenomenal drinks. 
 

 

Can you guess the names of these drinks? 
 

We stayed at word class for a couple drinks and chatted with people we had met the night before. Around 11:20 we went to Michaels Club to see the bartender Sergiu from Romania. He really is incredibly nice and very knowledgeable about drinks, history of liquor, etc and loves to talk about it. Furthermore watching him run the bar in Michaels he really is a class act. As soon as anyone enters he is instantly greeting them. If he thinks anyone needs anything at all he is rushing to serve or help. I’ve been very impressed by how engaging he is. Anyway, we went in to have him make us an old fashioned since he was talking about it earlier. We chatted with a couple people and then left for casino bar because why not! That’s where we ended the night with a Remy Martin and watching sports highlights. We then made it back to the room. 

[chicagopaul]

32 minutes ago, lola2013 said:

Good morning,

In case you hadn't heard yet, we had snow in Chicago overnight...aren't you glad you're in the Caribbean???

Enjoy Aruba!

I heard! So glad that the only snow and ice here is on the martini bar! 

[Gordoncruickshank]

Can you let me know who is the Maitre'd in Luminae just now.

[Fjcpooh17]

On 12/13/2019 at 2:17 PM, Pokeymon said:

Do you know anything about Celebrity giving $100 for the port change from Ft Lauderdale to Miami? If so, how is it to be disbursed?

 

We received a 100 OBC just by having our TA call Celebrity before the cruise as did many others.  Maybe speak with guest relations on ship about it? 

 

Time to enjoy Aruba! 

[chicagopaul]

11 minutes ago, Gordoncruickshank said:

Can you let me know who is the Maitre'd in Luminae just now.

It is Claire currently. She has been fantastic! 

[Gordoncruickshank]

Thanks