"LIVE" from Celebrity BEYOND. October 26th, 2022. 9-Night Repositioning. 1st Sailing from the USA.

[hrhdhd]

Those balcony chairs are ridiculous. Goodness. I can't believe someone with "design" experience thought those would be useful at all for reading, watching the sea, napping . . .

[mac_tlc]

1 hour ago, hrhdhd said:

Those balcony chairs are ridiculous. Goodness. I can't believe someone with "design" experience thought those would be useful at all for reading, watching the sea, napping . . .

As is the useless “table”. So much for eating anything on the balcony. The room “table” is not much better. It was our only complaint on Edge and Apex. The Edge table was the worst. We mentioned it on the survey, not much else one can do. Can someone bring Kelly Hoppen on the Equinox balcony —— please? 
 

mac_tlc

[PinkSandGirl]

2 hours ago, hrhdhd said:

Those balcony chairs are ridiculous. Goodness. I can't believe someone with "design" experience thought those would be useful at all for reading, watching the sea, napping . . .

 

I am currently sitting in one. The cushion is fine (except when it gets wet) but the metal pole arms and lack of a high back are not conducive for an extended time sitting out here.  The only way I could put my head back is to move the chair closer to the balcony door glass and lean up against that.  Not ideal.   

 

I haven't complained much on this thread so I'm allowed to about the chair. 😉

 

When just sitting and relaxing while listening to the sound of the waves as we make our way to Curaçao, putting my head back at the moment would be lovely. 

 

I am still enjoying sitting out here but a better chair (S-class) and a footstool would be even better.  

 

As for no foot stool. I have my feet on the table.  I prefer the foot stool (again S-class).

 

'Design' Fail.  😆

 

🍹

[verizon]

23 minutes ago, mac_tlc said:

As is the useless “table”. So much for eating anything on the balcony. The room “table” is not much better. It was our only complaint on Edge and Apex. The Edge table was the worst. We mentioned it on the survey, not much else one can do. Can someone bring Kelly Hoppen on the Equinox balcony —— please? 
 

mac_tlc

Well Celebrity give you a nice table on the balcony if you sail in CS cabin and above.

Celebrity did that on purpose and there is nothing Kelly Hoppen can do about it.

[PinkSandGirl]

4 minutes ago, verizon said:

Well Celebrity give you a nice table on the balcony if you sail in CS cabin and above.

Celebrity did that on purpose and there is nothing Kelly Hoppen can do about it.

Are there still the bad low back chairs though? 

 

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[PinkSandGirl]

Eden Restaurant - Dinner Night 3 

 

Excellent.   The food, service and atmosphere. 

 

After all of the hype, I feel it was worth it.  I would go back and I would recommend it.  

 

Will post pictures later today.  I know I have a lot of catching up to do with food.  😉

 

🍹

 

[countess5]

Here are some “”chairs”” I found interesting on Apex

 

 

Cheers! 

[hcat]

Many of the chairs in Eden on EDGE were difficult.  Once you are seated, not so easy getting up..esp for those not so limber.

What looks good in design may not function well.....an important point!

[the penguins]

3 hours ago, mac_tlc said:

As is the useless “table”. So much for eating anything on the balcony. The room “table” is not much better. It was our only complaint on Edge and Apex. The Edge table was the worst. We mentioned it on the survey, not much else one can do. Can someone bring Kelly Hoppen on the Equinox balcony —— please? 
 

mac_tlc

She doesn't cruise or at least she had never cruised when X gave her the design contract that was supposed to have a good thing.

[ecslady]

24 minutes ago, the penguins said:

She doesn't cruise or at least she had never cruised when X gave her the design contract that was supposed to have a good thing.

Anyone know if Hoppen's design contract is for the entire E class?  Can't wait for more reasonable furniture.

[NutsAboutGolf]

On 10/27/2022 at 11:46 PM, PinkSandGirl said:

Day 2.  A great day!    I now have two days to catch up on!  I will reply and post lots of stuff.  I just need some time.  Cruises are a lot of work.   😅

 

A quick recap:

~ Room service Breakfast (good)

~ Behind the Scenes Tour (excellent)

~ Lunch in Eden Cafe (bad set-up but food was good) - I'll comment on all of it and post pics

~ Slot Pull (Fun)

~ Afternoon Tea in the Retreat Lounge (nice)

~ Explored the ship some more 

~ Dinner Rooftop Garden Grill (very good)

~ Show - Arte. (Enjoyable)

~ Silent Disco (fun)

~ Drinks from Martini Bar, World Class 

~ Casino 

~ The Club - dancing.   Closed it down.  Hehe

 

All crew interactions were wonderful today! 

 

Here is our current position on our approach to Bermuda.  8am arrival (ship time).  Bermuda is AST time but we didn't change the clocks to an hour ahead.  Bermuda was cut short a few months ago and now,  we dock at 8am and have to be back onboard at 2:30pm.  Such a tease.  We have changed our plans.  I love Bermuda but don't want to be stuck there. 😉

 

I've met a lot of nice, friendly people from the Roll Call!  🥳

 

🍹

 

 

 

Can't wait to see the...lol:

 

[PinkSandGirl]

Will update on our day so far but just finished the Mixology Class at World Class Bar.  Still sitting here.  Excellent the first time on the Equinox and just as good, even better this year!!! 🥳

 

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[Jim_Iain]

Loving all the pictures.   Love the sunsets and all the pictures around the ship. 

 

 

[theopup]

Really enjoying your pictures and review both

[PinkSandGirl]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

Loving all the pictures.   Love the sunsets and all the pictures around the ship. 

 

 

Thank You!   I have many more to post.   It is a lot of work to keep up. You are amazing at keeping so up to date on a daily basis. 😉

 

🍹

[NutsAboutGolf]

Absolutely fanatic review, sounds like it's been an awesome time so far! 

[PinkSandGirl]

I haven't been in a pool yet so we came late to the Retreat Pool.  Perfect.  It's our own private pool! 😉

 

Lovely. Staff is so friendly!  Cocktails, atmosphere. Perfection. Really!  🥰

 

 Cocktail is the Copperhead.  

 

Now to get ready for dinner!

 

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They sink down when you sit so you can't exactly swing.  😆

[PinkSandGirl]

1 hour ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

Absolutely fanatic review, sounds like it's been an awesome time so far! 

Aww, Thank You.  I will comment on the cookie and brownie from Eden Cafe.  😉

 

🍹

[Ex-Airbalancer]

5 minutes ago, PinkSandGirl said:

I haven't been in a pool yet so we came late to the Retreat Pool.  Perfect.  It's our own private pool! 😉

 

Lovely. Staff is so friendly!  Cocktails, atmosphere. Perfection. Really!  🥰

 

 Cocktail is the Copperhead.  

 

Now to get ready for dinner!

 

🍹

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They sink down when you sit so you can't exactly swing.  😆

On my God ! 
You let us poor  minions see the Retreat Pool 😱😉

[PinkSandGirl]

8 hours ago, countess5 said:

Here are some “”chairs”” I found interesting on Apex

 

 

Cheers! 

So many on the Beyond too.  I will start posting them. 😉

 

🍹

[hcat]

Great pics.. pool area looks inviting,..how late is it open? 

Hoping to try it at night.

 

Do they have a nice collection of plants on board? ..I had an informal tour on Edge from one of the garden curators...quite a treat!  Ocean environment is a gardening  challenge..

[ZORROIZUP1960]

On 10/22/2022 at 3:40 AM, PinkSandGirl said:

Hi!   I'm Kelly. 😃  aka PinkSandGirl 🍹  

 

I will be on Beyond’s first sailing from the U.S.A. 🇺🇸  on October 26th, 2022.  I guess technically it isn't the first time it'll Set Sail from the shores of the United States.  🗽 The Beyond is currently on it's way here to the USA on it's first Transatlantic that left from Barcelona, Spain.  The Beyond arrives in Cape Liberty, NJ on the 24th.  There will be two 1-night press sailings and then it's us.  Yay! 🥳

 

We Set Sail on Wednesday, October 26th, 2022 from Cape Liberty, NJ 🗽and embark on a 9-night repositioning cruise to take the Beyond to her winter home in Fort Lauderdale, FL at Port Everglades, with an arrival on Friday, November 4th, 2022.  Before we arrive in Fort Lauderdale we will be visiting Bermuda, Curaçao and Aruba. 

 

 

I'm starting this 'Live' thread early because, well, it's a bit crazy just before travel and this lets me get it started and add to it in between the packing and checking off my checklists and To-Do Lists.  😉 ✔️

 

My goal is to post during the cruise and then when we return home I will give a wrap up review.  Feel free to comment and ask questions.  Also, anyone on my Roll Call is welcome to chime in as well.  

 

I attempted a 'Live' last year on the Equinox but the internet wasn't my friend and my good intentions to finish it when I returned,  well...it just never quite came together. So...I am going to make up for that one now. 😉

 

I may at times 'talk' a lot and wander a bit off topic but that's ok.  Sometimes that wandering leads to some good conversation and insight.  😉

 

I take a lot of pictures.  I will have to rein myself in to not post an exuberant amount.  😂  

 

Ok...so some background.

 

> Is this my first cruise since the shutdown?

No.  I sailed on the Equinox last October.  Wonderful time.  That was reduced capacity at 1,267 which was lovely.  I don't think we'll have those numbers on the Beyond.   

 

> Have I sailed E-class before?

No.  Only S-class ships (that I love).  I had M-class booked but the cruise shutdown happened.

 

> Why never E-class?

The biggest reason.  Those pesky infinite verandas turned me off.  I know people love them and I haven't experienced one but I love real balconies.  Morning, noon and night.  You name it.  There are things I love about S-class that the Beyond isn't going to have (ice topped Martini Bar, glass elevators...I'll just name two) but I'm going in with an open mind. The ship is going to be different.  It's nice when something is familiar but it's also exciting to experience something new.  That first day exploring every nook and cranny. Yay!  🥳    

 

> Cabin type?

Sky Suite with bed facing the water

 

> Have I sailed in suites?

On Celebrity. No.  I will explain why if anyone wants to know but my Celebrity cruises have either been Concierge or Aqua.  When I sailed on Royal Caribbean, I always had larger suites.  I honestly didn't think I could handle a regular cabin (turns out I could) 😂 but I had wonderful cruises in those Concierge and AquaClass cabins. - Side note. Once we tried Aqua, we decided at least Aqua moving forward.   We enjoyed Blu.

 

> Why did I choose the Beyond?

Over the years I looked at the Edge and Apex a few times but was never thrilled and those infinite verandas really did it.  While on the Equinox last year there was buzz about The Beyond. Particularly one day at the World Class Bar.  So, when we got home and I had those Future Cruise Booking Vouchers, there was something that intrigued me and I seriously was considering the Beyond.  I liked some of the changes and additions from her sisters and thought...'Why Not?'   Since I wanted a balcony and the Retreat was born on the Edge Class, I thought it was time.  A Sky Suite on the Beyond.  

 

 

> When did I book?

End of October 2021

 

> Who's going?

My mom and dad in one cabin. My boyfriend and I in a cabin right next door.  We always book cabins next to each other.  I started cruising with larger groups that I planned but last year it was the four of us and this year, it will be the four of us again.  We travel together often. 😃  

 

> Cape Liberty.   Have I sailed from there before?

Yes, a few times but with Royal Caribbean and the last time was 2011.  We always sailed close to the Statue of Liberty 🗽.  Such a wonderful experience. (Hopefully the Captain gets close with the Beyond).  I think of my ancestors when they arrived in the United States of America to embark on new lives. 🇺🇸   It's also neat to go under the Verrazano Bridge.  To have driven over it many times, I had alot of family that lived in Brooklyn, it's a unique experience sailing under it.

 

> Have I been on a repositioning cruise?

No.  First one.  I had one booked in May 2020 but we all know what happened to them.  

 

> Getting to Cape Liberty.

We're within driving distance so we have a car service dropping us off.  

 

> How are we getting home from Fort Lauderdale?

Flying.   

 

* It feels a little weird leaving from one port and debarking from another. Especially since we're driven to one and fly back from the other.  I'm used to flying in before the cruise but for this cruise, we are starting our vacation the day we Set Sail. No hotel stay the night before.

 

> Itinerary 

 

 

> Have I been to all of the ports before?

Yes. My mom, dad and I have.  My boyfriend hasn't been to Bermuda.  I love Bermuda. I wish we had more time there.  Such a tease.  

 

> Ports.

I will go into detail for each as the thread evolves. 😃 We have everything planned ourselves. No ship excursions this time. 

 

I will add pictures, descriptions and thoughts about food, cocktails, the cabin, ship, what we do, where we go & more!

 

I have enjoyed the many Live threads that so many fellow... Cruise Critic'ers or Cruise Critic-ees...have done.  😉  I've learned things, gotten to see what others do and had insight on many things.

 

I hope you enjoy this and maybe learn something along the way.  You learn something new everyday. 😉 I find it interesting to see what others do.  I have my 'routine' and favorite things to do on cruises and used to think that’s what everyone does.  However, we all have our own things that make us happy.   I always say - "Cruises: You can do as much as you want or as little as you want". 

 

So...if you join me on this journey, Welcome!  😃

 

Kelly 😃

PinkSandGirl 

 

🍹

Can you please find out for us how or if we can pre book our specialty restaurants onboard prior to sailing? We sail on November 20th which is the week of Thanksgiving. We have pre purchased the 6 night specialty restaurant package and need to eat around 6 or so since My spouse is diabetic. Thank you for any help in this matter.

[PinkSandGirl]

9 minutes ago, hcat said:

Great pics.. pool area looks inviting,..how late is it open? 

Hoping to try it at night.

 

Do they have a nice collection of plants on board? ..I had an informal tour on Edge from one of the garden curators...quite a treat!  Ocean environment is a gardening  challenge..

 

Pool until 10pm.  Pool bar until 8pm.

 

There are many live plants at the Rooftop Garden.  There are other 'plants' around the ship but fake.  There are real orchids in some of the bathrooms.  Some other live plants too.  I will post pics.  I have a lot of catch up to do.  😂

 

🍹

[hcat]

57 minutes ago, PinkSandGirl said:

 

Pool until 10pm.  Pool bar until 8pm.

 

There are many live plants at the Rooftop Garden.  There are other 'plants' around the ship but fake.  There are real orchids in some of the bathrooms.  Some other live plants too.  I will post pics.  I have a lot of catch up to do.  😂

 

🍹

Thank you for being such a great guide!

[PinkSandGirl]

1 hour ago, ZORROIZUP1960 said:

Can you please find out for us how or if we can pre book our specialty restaurants onboard prior to sailing? We sail on November 20th which is the week of Thanksgiving. We have pre purchased the 6 night specialty restaurant package and need to eat around 6 or so since My spouse is diabetic. Thank you for any help in this matter.

 

I believe for specialty packages, you can't pre-book (which I think is crazy) and you book onboard.  I would suggest you book as soon as you board.

 

They will have spots available for those with packages.  As far as times, that I don't know.   My cruise, spots were booked months in advance, especially for times like 6:30pm.  I booked a long time ago.  

 

Also, perhaps you should contact Celebrity about special medical needs.  There is an area in the Cruise Planner with the phone #.   Maybe they can 'guarantee' you get your preferred time.

 

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