Adidas4fun

Paul Gauguin should be able to arrange this for you, if you are travelling with them why try to save a buck or two by using a "private" service?

we've done the inland tours with swimming spots in waterfalls, the one that takes you to a farm and you sample local fruit was good.

okay, I havent read the whole thread but have dipped in and out over the last few days.

For me this question is no different to situations we face regularly land side. Or at least regularly if you have a job and or social scene that isnt ghettoised.

I have very rarely had negative reactions, mostly because I am lucky to live in a country (NZ) that is largely accepting. Those that cant accept know that if they cause a fuss they will be ostracised not me. And so it has been on cruises too.

if you're lucky enough to be heading to see the beautiful fiords in the South Island, bring warm clothing as it can be cold on deck

Given that you have responded after the OP has already cruised ... your help is as always appreciated. Much like your bank accounts the fees have taken any joy away

On what basis do you say jeans are not acceptable dress for dinner?

Jeans are widely worn when people dine out, don't see many tuxedos - unless perhaps it's the annual widget sales conference and awards ceremony.

 

I'm not sure why a slightly more relaxed dress code means that it will end in bathing costumes. As barmy as saying if you start taking Aspirin where will it end, crack?

Aspirin ... crack?

I think you missed the butt. And on certain women you get the extra of the whales tail with the butt and the jeans. Try holding your meal down with that image in four metre swells!

(Thats 16ft swells for the intellectually challenged folk of a certain sub-incontinent)

Yes, recent first hand experience with this. Whatever the lowest category you could receive with a guarantee is the category for which you receive Captain's Club points regardless of what category you are actually assigned. Recently lucked out with the Penthouse on Summit as an upgrade off a guanrantee; I received all Penthouse perks other than Captain's Club points.

Oh thats terrible for you.

You paid $ and received $$$ and you feel stiffed on the points that you didn't pay for. Hmmm

I utterly agree with the sentiments of the OP. Only because I like to dress up every night for dinner and I dont give a rats [sentiment deleted so the mods dont delete my entire post *sigh*] about what people are wearing for whatever theme the night is supposed to be. In resort towns of an evening I have had strangers stop me in the street to compliment my clothes. Evening Chic is every night in my book when I am one holiday.

The ship couldnt care less. I travel with 5 meds/day plus multiple extra drugs in case something goes wrong (think 10+).

Yes carry a drs letter just in case but you really are nothing out of the ordinary.

Those invites were down to the room you were in. You get more of these when you stay in suites.

And certain other details fit their profiles of ....

And thats the real marker, they profile you. Not your status, but whats your profile for future spends.

Very first cruise with Celebrity, no status. Helipad sail away, dinner with the Captain first formal night.

Next cruise with celebrity, select status. Mutliple bottles of complementary champagne from our butler, special canapes just for me. [edited] Oh yeh, forgot, was invited to helipadsail away and several other events that I didnt go to cause we were travelling with friends who werent invited so we didnt go.

Status? Meh.

I AM ON HOLIDAY!

yes I mean to shout. I have trained the other half out of these crazy early morning flights to save $100. I definitely do not get up early to do excursions. I will fly the night before and as I have to check out of my hotel at 10am or so I will head directly to the ship whereupon Michaels Club does an excellent job of keeping me entertained until my room is ready.

So why on the final morning of my relaxing holiday do I have to completely ruin my enjoyment with this silliness?

Which just all goes to show the futility and non-sense of fixed dining times. How much space and staff time needs to be wasted on this nonsense?

And still it goes on. Coming from a region of the world where tipping is near to non existent and any posters of my ilk are regularly abused on the assumption that we are no better than pond scum I can understand why you would completely overlook my experience because the truth is not what posting here is about.

I have only done two Celebrity cruises (just in case that info is some how obscure). Perchance I had the same butler on both cruises. The first cruise there were some teething issues with expectations not met. I expressed my displeasure and things were remedied. At the end of the cruise I tipped in what according to opinion on here would pass for mediocre.

The next cruise my needs were attended to carefully, but above and beyond I was sent to my suite with my canapes multiple bottles of champagne by my butler. Other crew scurried to meet my needs.

What did I do wrong? For surely according to those in the know on here I should be dredging for my luggage still.

Tipping thread no2 on the front page. OP s origin not clear but there is clearly some abuse of posters based on their cultural norms. Note the lack of "moderation" of such abuse

Tipping thread no 1 on the first page started by a Usa resident.

No abuse about lack of cultural understanding?

Funny isn't it a few a day "How much should I tip....." yet let someone else (say from Aus or UK) say anything about the issue, just watch for the abuse to start.

And lo the abuse continues, but the moderators allow it. Yet if it were in reverse?

The irony is that they do everything to avoid being American. Register their ships abroad, employ staff from lower socioeconomic countries, captains etc from Europe...

SERIOUSLY? You expect Americans to understand irony?

They dont even understand tipping. Witness how many tipping threads are started by Americans asking what to do!

I have asked the Michael's Club Concierge this specific question and been assured that, provided you have paid your standard gratuities, any person you name on the form will receive the amount you specify.

This is NOT what we were told by our Michaels club concierge. We could only use our OBC to nominate staff covered by the traditional daily grats. Bar staff etc we had to tip separately in cash or on the slip at the time of service,

As a steerage cruiser I try not to think of the blessed & fortunate........ ;)

 

But its a good point. :confused:

 

Who gets priority over priority over priority. :confused:

Was at a tender port and had queued with the regular passengers because there wasnt a red carpet ("Oh the horreur"), the next tender pulled up and I was about 10th in line when a gaggle of suite passengers who had been milling and b*tching tried to make a rush for it. I just held out my suite card in front of them and they backed off and "mingled" into the regular queue.

Wow I thought that asking questions of fellow cruisers was an important as well as fun part of this board.��

It is fun, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

So stop judging someone else's beautiful

We have been on trips where the weather ranged from snow in a big city to warmth at the Equator.

 

Try to fit all the clothes and coats for that in just one suitcase.

It's called a tea-chest dear

I always laugh at the people who think it is a badge of personal honour, or distinction or something....to go on a cruise (or any vacation) with all their worldly goods packed in a shopping bag.

 

We usually take at least a full-sized suitcase each. Plus a carry-on or two. They fit fine under the beds....and we never have a problem finding storage for clothes and shoes. I can use the laundry, but I prefer not to. It is our problem if we have to heave them around anywhere else.

 

..and if you have status on the airline, you don't pay for bags.

I don't just have status on the airline, I have status full stop.

Husband and I are sailing on solstice on Monday 14 November. We're wondering how many suitcases we can take on board. We think we're going to have 3 large suitcases and a overnight bag. Wondering if this will be allowed?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Despite your paucity of information it will be allowed. Please tell us you are'nt packing pool towels.

...

Or auto-inflating lifejackets

So let me get this right:

Traditional dining = I will always have the same table and waitstaff at the same time every night, regardless of my choosing to dine elsewhere at times I have a right to keep this table spot and waitstaff waiting for when my whims take me back there.

Select dining = I can choose to reserve a table in the same place at the same time for the nights I wish to dine in the MDR. Currently I may wait occasionally despite my reservation because there are empty tables reserved and unoccupied by the traditionslists.

Local bus details - google sometimes knows the answer

http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/timetables/140908-C-112,113,120,120N.pdf