Things to ask first Journey Cruisers

[JPH814]

With the new Journey's first voyage coming up soon, Let's start a list of questions that the first cruisers can answer for us. I have 2 to begin with:

 

1) Was there a Captain's cocktail reception? Which night? How formal was it?

2) Was there a craps table in the casino and, if yes, what are the minimums and odds? (hey, somethings are important to me!)

 

 

I'll keep a running list and occassoinally print the full list.

 

Let's try to keep this thread free of rumor and speculation - there are a lot of other threads for that.

 

I will also post a request on the May 5th sailing thread to ask them to note our questions and keep an eye out for answers when they are on board.

[SheilaNC]

Names of Captain's Club host/hostess, future Sales Director, CD, etc.

 

How would you rate experience in Specialty restaurants (cost, food, service)?

 

Organization of open seating in dining room - crowded times, can you request a specific waiter or time for entire cruise, tipping experience for waiters?

[mari10]

Hi Joe,

Great Idea!

1: I would like to know more about the specialty

restaurants. What will be the price points and or upgraded choices?

How easy or difficult is it to get reservations, and can Captain Club members make them in advance?

Thanks.

Mari:)

[dabear]

If x is reading our posts, I also vote for a crap table.

[tak2]

How does quality of service compare with M-class ships?

 

I cannot just look at Passenger to Crew ratio, since there's no breakdown of actual cabins per cabin steward( especially with butlers added in that mix) nor dining guests per waiter ratio. The 710 passengers to 400 crew is not a truely comparable ratio since you need a basic number of personnel for other functions of the ship, and those will not be clearly visible to the service component of the cruise.

[Dolphins]

1. Information on specialty restaurants including menus, prices and if any half-price nights?

2. Aerobics classes in fitness center, fee and no fee?

3. Ballroom Dancing venue? Big Band Night?

4. Entertainment?

5. Main dining room experience, open seating, quality of food?

6. Perks for suite passengers?

7. Swimming pool hours

[SoBaycruiser]

Since everyone has butler service, is it anything special? If you didn't use the butler is the tipping still expected? Do you tip both the room stewart and the butler?

 

Just read on the Quest post that the library will only be a bar at night and still used as the library during the day. Is smoking allowed in that room then? If so, did it reek with smoke during the day?

[Captain Cosmo]

1. Comfort of the bedding

2. Cost of drinks onboard

3. Number/type of onboard shops

4. Sample menus

5. Crew/staff attitude and expertise

[CrabbyHarper]

1. Did the verandah cabins feel roomy?

2. What was storage space like

3. Can the partitions between balconies of adjoinging stateroom be opened?

4. HOw did folks dress for dinner? HOw is country club casual interpreted?

[uktog]

!. How does the butler service in a suite compare to that in an M or C class suite

2. How easy is it to make "friends" if you are not sitting with the same folks each night

3. Where is the equivalent of the Martini Bar

4. Is embarkation different?

[1cruiselvr]

I think some of these questions don't apply as Journey/Quest are small ships without ballroom dancing space, etc. But it will be interesting to see the answers when the first Journey pax return.

As for the question regarding size of verandah cabins - if they dont' change from when they were as Ren ships, and you are asking about those cabins to be categorized as 2A/1As, my answer would be yes they are roomy enough. But if I had the extra cash, I would go for the Sky Suite category as it was bigger/roomier. We have stayed in both when they were Ren ships. Happy Sailing!

[Spender Nui]

Names of Captain's Club host/hostess, future Sales Director, CD, etc.

 

How would you rate experience in Specialty restaurants (cost, food, service)?

 

Organization of open seating in dining room - crowded times, can you request a specific waiter or time for entire cruise, tipping experience for waiters?

 

Don't expext to see a Captain's Club Hostess. On our February Millenium cruise, LIESL, the captain's club Hostess told us she had applied for the job but that there wasn't going to be one. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Captain's Club host/hostess, future Sales Director position be combined and handled by one person as it had been on the Horizon.

[Spender Nui]

I'd like to find out what a butler can do in cabins as small as 158 square feet. Not enough room for 2 ... and when butler comes in 3.

 

My guess, and that's all it is, is that the butler will be a glorified cabin steward and there may be a few extra assistants to do the work.

 

I think a butler would be in the way. Of course I think that regardless of the size of the cabin.

[JkyLovesRuss]

Does the Journey handle well in the Atlantic?

 

How were the shore excursions?

 

What kind of furniture do they have on the verandas?

 

Although there are no formal nights, do they serve lobster one night?

 

Are there enough chairs by the pool for everyone?

 

What kind of activities do they have on sea days?

 

Are we there yet? ;)

[cruisingdelt]

I choose Celebrity for the great service so my Q is does the service measure up to the Celebrity Standard.

 

Also, is it true that drinks are on the house for the first 700 pasangers on each sailing:)

[jumponboard]

Does the ship feel as though it just had a multi multi million dollar retrofit?

 

Are any of the crew from the original crew or are they all new?

 

What are some activities, places onthe ship not to miss?

 

What were the 3 most impressive things about the Journey compared with other cruise ship that you have been on?

 

On a scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being SUPER, how would you rate the ship, cruise experience and crew?

 

I look forward to our 14 day cruise in Oct

 

Thanks for our input

 

jumponborad

[usavvy2]

besides its sea worthiness, I'd like to know

- how smooth the embarkation & debarkation processes were

- what cabin did you have and how do you rate it for comfort, quietness, and location

- what 3 things would you do differently if returning on the Journey

[icecreammama]

Hi everyone!

Just opened this thread and read all the questions. I'm happy to inform you that I will be on the May 5th sailing of the Journey. I have a royal suite. On the eve of May 11th (which is when I will return home) I will sit down and write a full report. Since this is my first Celebrity cruise, I will have nothing to compare it to. I have previously sailed with Princess, NCL and Royal Carribean. I am anxiously awaiting this cruise and believe it or not, I am asking myself the same questions I see posted. Since there is so little information on this ship, I guess the first timers will be relied upon for it. I realize since this is the maiden voyage some kinks might have to get worked out, but I will take note and try to answer everyone's questions when I get home. Promise!!!

[JkyLovesRuss]

Hi everyone!

Just opened this thread and read all the questions. I'm happy to inform you that I will be on the May 5th sailing of the Journey. I have a royal suite. On the eve of May 11th (which is when I will return home) I will sit down and write a full report. Since this is my first Celebrity cruise, I will have nothing to compare it to. I have previously sailed with Princess, NCL and Royal Carribean. I am anxiously awaiting this cruise and believe it or not, I am asking myself the same questions I see posted. Since there is so little information on this ship, I guess the first timers will be relied upon for it. I realize since this is the maiden voyage some kinks might have to get worked out, but I will take note and try to answer everyone's questions when I get home. Promise!!!

 

WONDERFUL! I certainly look forward to your review! I"m adding you as a buddy k? Have a wonderful time! 3 weeks to go! Whoah!

[pachecos]

Menus for each night so people can choose the right nights to try the alternative restaurants...

[jumponboard]

Hi everyone!

I am asking myself the same questions I see posted. Since there is so little information on this ship, I guess the first timers will be relied upon for it. I realize since this is the maiden voyage some kinks might have to get worked out, but I will take note and try to answer everyone's questions when I get home. Promise!!!

 

Icecreammamma, you may wish that you weren't on the maiden voyage so you did feel obligued to answer all these questions. :D. As someone taking the Journey 5 months after you, I thank you in advance for your feedback.; that thanks is extended to others who will answer also.

 

The Cruise Critic community is a terrific community and I have learned so much over time about different cruise ships, port and companies. We will be thinking about you on May 5th as you "jumponboard" for the 1st cruise on Journey and I will at 7pm EST raise a glass and toast you and your fellow cruisers.

 

I hate to think how many questions will be on this thread by May 5th :D :) :eek:

 

Have a TERRIFIC cruise. We look forward to hearing all about it.

 

jumponboard

[SheilaNC]

icecreammama,

We sail on May 26th so will watching for your report (and others, I hope) to be posted BEFORE we leave. We're really excited about trying this new ship - loved the special feel of Xpedition and even though these renovated R ships are much bigger, we know that variety is a good thing. Hope you iron out the kinks for us selfish folk :) Have a great maiden voyage...

[Blondie007]

To add to the questions:

Is there a disco on board? (oh please say YES!)

New sky suite, if anyone stays in one, please let us know comments and pics if possible

How was the pool area during the day as far as stupid intrusions go, ie daft games!!! Hopefully they leave folks in peace apart from...do they still do a sorbet parade?

DVDs in suites?

Butler service. We often stay at sandals resorts with fantastic butler service, can anyone compare land to ship butler service?

Thank you...

And HAVE A GREAT CRUISE!!

[JPH814]

Thanks for all the questions so far. I am aggregated them and will post a consolidated list this weekend. I will try to organize them a little bit to make it easier for the folks doing the answering.

 

For icecreammama: We also are in a royal suite, in fact our group has three of them on the June 30 sailing (6002,6003 and 7002). Which suite will you be in?

[icecreammama]

Believe me, I know how all of you feel. It will be my pleasure to answer any questions. I will do my best to "snoop" around the whole ship. I will try to look into all the cabins, restaurants, theatre, casino, etc.etc. I am pretty new to cruise critic and I feel so many of you have given me so much great information and opinions. By the way, as far as the dress code goes, I am bringing some cocktail dresses and my heels for dinner. I personally like to dress nice when going to an upscale restaurant. Although I think no one would dare wear a t-shirt and jeans for dinner on this cruise, no one will be in evening gowns or tuxedos either. My husband will be taking one suit, ties and a sports jacket. Will we be overdressed? Don't know, don't care. Better to be overdressed than feel like a fool if underdressed. Thanks so much for all of your good wishes. The first drink I have will be dedicated to all of you