KKB

One tip--load a bunch of offers you don't need onto your card... New ones then show up! (no guarantees it will be this one, but it does work--I do it almost daily)

I would reach out to AA via social media & message them to complain about the charging to get your bags to you! (oh and a post ABOUT the situation on social media often has good results...) We sailed DCL (1), Princess & RCCL 2004-2012. Then we tried Celebrity in 2014 & we felt the same--food & service were a tick above! And Eclass is my FAV. I will say our Regal Princess cruise this last April gave Celebrity a run for their money--service & food were fantastic. Hope it continues fleetwide. I think people's perception of what cruising "used to be" might not actually be reality (we tend to remember things better than they were...). Perception vs reality seems to be a theme for many things these days... Glad you enjoyed it--we have Ascent booked this Dec & Beyond next. Celebrity price point is my only sticking point these days...I just have to work a bit harder to find the right price!

Yes, but rooftop & Sunset are lovely later in the evening!

That price per night is comparable to what I paid for Ascent for 7 days with all the perks. Now, if you don't drink, that is an entirely different comparison.

Ah, yes, the people who do not read that status match does NOT mean that you get the same perks--everyone is different. Sheesh. Boy, that set sure looks A LOT like Choir of Men🤔 I liked Broken Strings, but LOVE Choir of Men & was excited for while... (then I remembered...wrong line...OOPS)

Yeah but $3200 for a 5 day cruise with NO drinks? We booked Ascent for a week--balcony, tips, wifi & drinks for that price. I'll take the 2 extra days & pay the upcharge for a few drinks.

LOVE me some Villa Maria SV! Again, wine choices SUCK on standard. I am NOT an expensive wine drinker--I'm good w/ $3 Aldi pinot grigio! But I don't like California SVs--NZ is my fav, European choices usually fine. I don't do red, chardonnay or sweet wines--so I guess I am picky (I prefer discerning...) DOES NOT WORK on standard...

Sticking with most beer, blended drinks & your standard mixed drinks. https://www.celebritycruises.com/content/dam/celebrity/pdf/drinks-flyer-11-06-2023.pdf (now, they are PRETTY stingy on what is included in classic..it is TRUE well liquor) Wine selection SUCKS. (of course now that I look at the list, I see a few "premium" beers/ciders that DH does like...MIGHT be worth it if we both have it...have some OBC to kill...) Seems last year there was a Black Friday deal--maybe that $7pp/day. Will have to watch for that. It's gotten ridiculous. We pay $60/day/pp for tips, wifi & drinks on Princess & we could order almost anything....

But now BOTH passengers must get it. I used to upgrade to premium for me, mostly for the wine choices. DH drinks beer & blended drinks, so no need for premium for him. I'm not upcharging $15/day (the sale price) every day so will just pay as we go.

Well, the bartender doesn't upcharge--the companty does.

We have done Eden on Edge, Apex & Beyond & absolutely love it. But I agree they are pricing us out of it.

As with many things, our tastes evolve as well. We loved Disney World with our kids--as children, teens & even young adults. But frankly I'm over the crowds. Even on a large ship I can choose venues/times to go to events to minimize crowds.

As with all brands: Evolve or die

Who are they being loyal to? Again confused about this comment. All cruise lines are trying to find that balance between pleasing their loyalists (who tend to be older) & to bring in new fans as well. Design & entertainment offerings are going to reflect this. I love the changes I see--sleek modern design, waterfront dining & bars, pools on lower decks.

Agree the crew to passenger ratio is a bit less than other Princess ships. Odd flow is a quirk of Princess...Carnival too...now NCL Prima class seems to have joined in. BIL & SIL said food was great & they are very picky, so I suppose that is subjective. Guess Services being off by itself I suppose leads to this. But it has 4 areas for crew, about the same as other ships. I've certainly seen very very long lines at GS on many ships. I don't understand the bar comment. Pretty much the same main bars as other Princess ships: Princess Live, Wheelhouse, Good Spirits, O'Malleys, Crooners & Bellinis, each with quite a bit of seating around them. Crooners & Bellinis do open to the Piazza, but they typically do.

Did the same this April. One way home was $2Kpp--WHAT??!! So I looked at RT--London to Omaha then Omaha to London--only $1200PP. Go figure. So that's what we did. Then our friends booked via Princess Air for about $750pp one way. DANGIT. We got lucky...our "return" flight got changed by several hours SO with the new law, we were able to cancel & get our money back! So in the end, we also only paid about $750pp. So my advice 1--look at air via your cruise line 1st. 2--then look at round trip tickets with a "fake" return flight. You CAN cancel that leg when you get home & you will have a credit--BUT it must be used within 1 year of the ORIGINAL purchase date. SO you might wait a few months to book, to give yourself a reasonable window of time to use that credit after you sail.

We had 6 days at sea last month. I LOVE to read, but I read very little on our 28 days (maybe 2 books in those 28 days--and I can read a book in a day or 2 at home!) Now, we like a lot of the activities offered or we played cards when we had some down time, so plenty to do for us.

You can never know. We did FLL-Southampton last month & the weather was lovely all the way--60s & mostly sunny. But we had a few days where movement bothered us. Over 40 cruises under our belt & never have hit any major weather but certainly have had occasional movement that was bothersome. I always have a seasickness kit with seasickness bands, bonine, ginger chews & patches (prescription)

Just did a TA in April--28 days total w/ UK. Excellent advice from @oldandgraying. 1st time we actually used the hooks--they are quite heavy, so I always felt they weren't worth taking up precious weight in a suitcase. Did use them...tho, honestly, wasn't a deal breaker. I agree with clothes that dry easily--especially if you are handwashing. Princess has a laundry room, so we bought Arm & Hammer laundry sheets plus brought dryer sheets--light, took up no room & helped keep suitcases fresh! And ALWAYS have seasick meds on hand. They were used a couple days. I do recommend asking doc for Tamiflu &/or antibiotics. I always bring a COVID kit with cold meds/lozenges/boullion cubes. I battled bronchitis the month before we left so took a LOT of lozenges--still wasn't enough. And we didn't love the ones we found in the UK. If there are any snacks you enjoy at home, bring them. You will appreciate a fav that you cannot get onboard. Have a great time!

We did a TA in April. (plus UK) I battled bronchitis for most of March--got antibiotics, steroids. Still hacking a bit with that residual cough that loves to linger. I had to explain often--I'm not contagious, I don't have COVID. Our friend got upper respiratory about 2 weeks & DH about 3 weeks in. Not COVID (each took a couple tests), luckily we all had antibiotics so got on them just to be sure. No fever. But, yes, there was some snuffling to be had. (goodness knows my allergies can get me sounding ill at times) Jus because someone is hacking does not mean they have COVID, or are contagious. (dear friend sounds like she's hacking a lung up if she coughs due to damage from asthma). We all have the right to wear masks, avoid interior areas with lots of people. Goodness knows cruising & flying are 2 environments that are exactly that. But DM's passing 2 years ago reminded me--life is too short. Take the trip! (but take all the precautions available to avoid issues)

I got COVID after 2 weeks in a balcony cabin...8 of our cruises since start up were INT or OV & didn't get COVID any of those. Don't get me wrong, air circulation is important & does help minimize exposure but is no guarantee. And no judgement for those who would never sail INT or OV. Fo us we find that we are rarely in our room--OV is our fav with sunshine but a better price point.

I do recall being quite bundled up on the balcony that day--layers were my friend! Happy travels--living vicariously thru you!

Did not experience this one day in the 28 days we were on last month--nor on any of our 8 Princess cruises since start up. And as I said before, food on the Regal was VERY good last month--a step up for Princess!! (again...suspect Crystal & Cunard to be another step up--expectations will be important on this cruise!) Can't wait to hear how it goes, @ratbin! DM & I had a UK cruise booked for 2018 but due to DF's medical issues, we postponed...rebooked Med w/ DM & DD for May 2020. We know how that went. Then DM got cancer in 2021...we did manage a magical Caribbean cruise together that summer, but sadly lost her 2 years ago. (she was so healthy too--I thought we'd be traveling for another 20 yrs together) You will only regret the trips you didn't take! Have a wonderful time!

Was on the ship last month & if you needed to get off early, the key was simply to be up early whether to get tender tickets or walk off. No issue otherwise. Honestly I was surprised how few people were up early to get tender tickets. We managed the 1st or 2nd tender each time (we had booked private tours)--we were in the Piazza area about 20 min. prior to when they said they would hand out tickets.

We spent 28 days on the Regal last month & LOVED it! (now, it's not fair to compare to Crystal & Cunard...Princess is a mainstream line & they are luxury lines). SO many great crew members. The food in the MDR was overall the best we have had at sea. Our friends are big foodies & they agreed. (Honestly we are always happy w/ MDR food on any ship/line--but more often than not, good, not great) We have had a great time on every cruise we have been on--even Carnival (key: longer cruises, per the bartenders) & MSC (meh, it was a super cheap way to see UK & Norway, but you get what you pay for). Attitude will be the defining factor for how good of a time you will have. Curious after trying luxury lines, why are you choosing a mainstream line?