Free cruise: 7day Ascent (new ship) or 6 day Reflection (has a port I've never been to)?

[PTC DAWG]

New ship for me, I’m sailing on her in Jan of 24..

[Georgia_Peaches]

11 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

How far is the casino from the pier?
Walkable?

definitely!  Maybe a 15 minute walk...there's also a free shuttle.  But is the casino worth the walk?  Not in my opinion.  Very small, very limited table and slot machines.  I played $100 and lost likety split!

Edited October 10, 2023 by Georgia_Peaches

[deliver42]

I'd take the new ship

[oceanbeau10]

Ascent would be my pick.  I love the new ships, especially the edge class!  Have a great cruise!

[Sailor75]

I'd take a free cruise on either; but, the Ascent would be my choice. New ship and better ports, not much to do or see in Bimini. I booked an excursion to swim with the sharks, but it got cancelled due to a severe storm so I was left with nothing to do.

[poffles]

On 10/10/2023 at 10:16 AM, kwokpot said:

 

 

Ditto .... I got similar for an inside stateroom on Edge for March within it's first year which I was totally happy about. I also received recent offers similar to others for some sailings the rest of this year and into March 2024, some OV and some Veranda and Ascent is among them.  Gotta love algorithms.

 

 

[KKB]

On 10/9/2023 at 11:05 PM, fstuff1 said:

2/25/24:

7 day Ascent in OV.

Goes to San Juan (puerto rico), tortola, st kitts

 

6 day reflection in veranda.

goes to Bimini (Bahamas), grand cayman and Cozumel.

 

OV on Ascent is fine because i don't like the infinite verandas.

I've been to every port listed many times except Bimini. I've never been there.

 

Which would you choose?

New ship or new port?

No brainer. Ascent. 

Vastly nicer ship, superior itinerary & an extra day.

Bimini is nothing special.

(plus you could bid for a balcony...remember, there are more balconies on any ship than any other category...) 

I've been 100% on bidding the last 18 mos. (only 3 Celebrity cruises; one was Retreat so no bid)

1--Apex Mar. 2021. Booked porthole balcony. Min bid ($150?pp) to IV

2--Equinox Nov. 2022 Booked interior. $255pp bid on balcony

Edited October 12, 2023 by KKB

[fstuff1]

On 10/12/2023 at 7:22 AM, KKB said:

plus you could bid for a balcony...remember, there are more balconies on any ship than any other category...

I've been 100% on bidding the last 18 mos. (only 3 Celebrity cruises; one was Retreat so no bid)

1--Apex Mar. 2021. Booked porthole balcony. Min bid ($150?pp) to IV

2--Equinox Nov. 2022 Booked interior. $255pp bid on balcony

Good bid prices.

But Can't bid on upgrades on free casino cruises

[KKB]

3 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

Good bid prices.

But Can't bid on upgrades on free casino cruises

Huh.

Won poker cruise on the ship. (So it's free)

Booking is handled thru CAS.

Was able to bid on upgrades.

Those are different?

[RichYak]

2 hours ago, KKB said:

plus you could bid for a balcony...remember, there are more balconies on any ship than any other category...

On an E-class ship? That doesn't sound right.

[KKB]

Just now, RichYak said:

On an E-class ship? That doesn't sound right.

IV's are balconies by category

[KKB]

Ascent:

INT: 170

OV: 153

SOLO BALC: 16

BALC: 598 (includes 36 SV)

AQ BALC: 390

RETREAT (SS-PH): 179 (I think; cruisemapper says 43 PH, lol--I think it is 4+3)

(also says 1646 cabins total yet these add to 1506...so some numbers not QUITE right)

 

So 988 BALC total (not including SOLO).

That is consistent on virtually every ship (if not all)--more balconies than other categories.

 

Says 81% balconies on Ascent--my figures say 65%. 

 

SO...these numbers may not be exact but yes, more balconies.

Edited October 12, 2023 by KKB

[fstuff1]

23 hours ago, KKB said:

Huh.

Won poker cruise on the ship. (So it's free)

Booking is handled thru CAS.

Was able to bid on upgrades.

Those are different?

What poker cruise?

Cas?

As in casinos at sea?

As in ncl???

 

Um.. this is a celebrity board 

[KKB]

Just now, fstuff1 said:

What poker cruise?

Cas?

As in casinos at sea?

As in ncl???

 

Um.. this is a celebrity board 

OH, gees--YEP that was my NCL cruise.🙃

Guess I've never bid on our free Celebrity cruises....good to know!!

[patterson3]

On 10/10/2023 at 2:16 AM, kwokpot said:

A beach club. That's it. Bimini Island is literally a spit of sand. With a casino resort, timeshares, Marina and a beach club. Beach is nice though. 

There are also a few interesting shipwrecks to check out, amazing fishing, and opportunities to swim with sharks, if those interest you. I've been to Bimini a few times, both before Virgin built the pier and after, and I love the low-key vibe of the island. 

[George C]

Another vote for Ascent , E class has superior entertainment and a extra day.

[Catvoyage2014]

On 10/10/2023 at 12:05 AM, fstuff1 said:

2/25/24:

7 day Ascent in OV.

Goes to San Juan (puerto rico), tortola, st kitts

 

6 day reflection in veranda.

goes to Bimini (Bahamas), grand cayman and Cozumel.

 

OV on Ascent is fine because i don't like the infinite verandas.

I've been to every port listed many times except Bimini. I've never been there.

 

Which would you choose?

New ship or new port?

Great question -- I ended up taking Reflection and Bimini -- figured new port, why not? LOL, we'll see!

[CruizinSusan70]

On 10/15/2023 at 5:45 PM, Catvoyage2014 said:

Great question -- I ended up taking Reflection and Bimini -- figured new port, why not? LOL, we'll see!

New ship always trumps new port, IMHO.

[fstuff1]

thx all.

booked the ascent 7day in OV.

upgrade to balcony was $1350/person. yeah no way!

i'll take free ov 🙂

[RichYak]

4 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

upgrade to balcony

Real balcony or faux?

[fstuff1]

1 minute ago, RichYak said:

Real balcony or faux?

im going to assume infinite balc since it's e-class.

any which way, i'd pick free ov vs $1350 real balc for a 7day.

makes no financial sense to upgrade over free at that price!

[RichYak]

3 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

im going to assume infinite balc since it's e-class.

That’s a lot of $$ just to open a window. 

[chemmo]

6 hours ago, fstuff1 said:

thx all.

booked the ascent 7day in OV.

upgrade to balcony was $1350/person. yeah no way!

i'll take free ov 🙂

Sincere best wishes for a wonderful free cruise!

[lv2cruisgrl]

On 10/10/2023 at 1:17 AM, fstuff1 said:

What's interesting in Bimini?

 

Nothing!

[Panda3]

Hi All!  I would choose Reflection for a new port.   II had to choose between the same two offers as you and in fact had the same dilemma two days ago.  For me and my hubby, we chose Reflection. First cruise in 5 years and felt like I need to take up these free offers.  Can’t believe i still have the BC ranking, lol.   We have I’ve never been on reflection even though it’s older.  I like the 6 night itinerary. Sure there is nothing to do in Bimini but I still want to see it.  Like others have said, you can’t make a bad decision.   I still want to cruise ascent at some point as well.  Loved Edge and I’m sure is similar.