KKB

You WILL be spoiled--Celebrity E-class is my fav! (tho I very much enjoyed my 1st Carnival cruise on a 20 year old trip in January too) I believe you will find Coke Zero. Generally jeans with holes will be turned away at dinner (tho unlikely at breakfast or lunch) except at buffet. Our friends sons were not allowed to dinner in shorts; but I did see a lady in short dark jean shorts allowed in another dining room (Perhaps they thought it was a short skirt?) Been cruising 20 years & while overall things are more casual, Celebrity is still not quite as casual as others. Dark jeans with no holes are OK tho. (thats what our friends wore nightly)

Do you really believe that few people get Plus? I would guess more than that. Even $80/day with Plus: $15/day tips $10/day internet That means drink package is $55/day--including specialty coffees, water, sodas, juices as well as alcohol. Now when we got Plus for $50/day in Sept, DH's aunt & uncle weren't going to get it. But when they realized that $25/day covered a few drinks plus the above extras, they felt it was worth it. (Honestly they did drink more than they realized they would...) Now I paid $120/day total including Princess Plus for my cruise in March--hell of a deal. Now I agree the fitness classes & desserts do not add any value for me, tho I will use them if included. Feel free to give me a credit if those premium desserts are not available!

Retired in May...by the end of this May I will have spent about 5 months traveling over the last year.--solo, with Dh, with BFF. Mostly cruises. We did carry On & personal item each for 7 day AK cruise & 3 nights pre/post cruise. It was truly freeing & I now know that I can do it anywhere should I need to or want to. We usually fly SWA domestically so I can be lazy about that. #1--Capsule wardrobe. Resists wrinkles, packs small, hand washable. All tops go with all bottoms. Black wrap no matter season. Travel Fashion Girl (You Tube, FB & blog) has been fantastic helping me do this. Shoes: walking shoe, "dress" shoe & one other depending on travel needs (boot or sandal typically) Away Bigger carry on usually but bought a TravelPro maxlite 5 for upcoming Europe trip as I am solo & will need to navigate trains & such. #2--Backpack holds ipad, all cords (tucked in a cosmetic pouch), meds (lovely little container easily holds all my prescription meds plus ibuprofen/tylenol, picutred below), jewelry (compact container pictured below; or little draw string bags when I need to go lighter), extra glasses, snacks #3--Small light crossbody bag to carry my phone, cruise card, lip balm #4--bag of cold meds/cough drops---this is a new addition since COVID, JUST in case Found hooks/over door organizer made room look messy to me. I always find plenty of room for everything (I have hanging toiletry bag for bathroom; once on the ship I move all my makeup into my liquids bag & keep it in the drawer at the desk with a mirror in the room. Plenty of sunscreen essential if warm weather cruising. Alarm clock & flashlight? Both on my phone. Many cruise ships do not have plugs by the phone. 2 ESSENTIALS: 1--exterior phone charger. I use this to charge my phone by the bed then recharge the charger during the day 2--EU travel adapter. I originally had a regular one but realized it took up one of the plugs in the room! This one goes into the round EU plug leaving the others free. Esssential when traveling with others, especially in older ships. (pictured below) I try only to bring things I KNOW I will wear or use; I can buy anything else.

Guarantee DOES Upgrade bid does NOT

I MOSTLY played Double Double & Deuces but I do bounce around games. Ironically, I got both royals on Deuces--same machine--same suit!!! Yep just those 6 machines...and one day they had 2 disabled. They were only full ONCE--that's why I went to play BJ--that turned out well!

Final thoughts: Oh, forgot to mention: best buffet coffee at sea. Actually BETTER than the coffee shop. (a reversal of ALL other ships I've sailed..usually that buffet coffee is motor oil) MSC price point is INCREDIBLE I met many nice people. I will try them again but it was odd that there were days where nothing appealed to me. That NEVER happens. I just sat on the balcony & read & that was nice. I was bummed my son couldn't join me--I was ready for company. I think w/ DH it would be more fun. Things that WEREN'T so good (besides what I mentioned above): I wish the buffet had an omelet/egg station. Apparently these were training cruises. OK, that gives me perspective--perhaps why such a good price point as well. Once I went into the ladies restroom & a MALE cleaning person was in there--um, ok...??!! Once I went into restroom near bars...3 stalls...NO TP ANYWHERE. You don't want paper towels in the toilets...well, this is how you will get that... NOT enough loungers...there was plenty of space on upper decks for more, but there weren't any. Experienced worst chair hog experience I've seen. Got to pool 10AM port day. Got a nice seat by the pool. Chairs beside me had towels & shirt. I grabbed lunch at buffet but otherwise there until 2PM--THEY HAD NEVER SHOWED UP. Speechless that people are that selfish. Definitely encountered a larger collection of "issues" than any other cruise. But I realize things can be situational & I try not to judge a brand based on 1 experience. (and a number of those issues had some explanation). I want to try MSC again (hey, I've got 30% off via MyVegas & I LOVE a good deal!) with DH to get his perspective. (He had a golf trip or he would have gone too)

Casino Was told they have a poker table--they do not. Had a blast at Blackjack one night...tripled my $. Had a fun table. Closed it down. Mostly played video poker. Maybe an hour/day. Did VERY VERY VERY well. I hit 2 Royal Flushes, and numerous 4 of a kinds. My winnings were as good as my best week in Vegas, so NO complaints. Wasn't crazy about all that cash coming home...I mean I WAS, but I did go straight to the bank yesterday!

Ports Nassau--stayed on, been many times Costa Maya--I wasn't feeling great so chilled in the room Belize--cute port area, spent time at Wet Lizard bar (long tender tho; and some people were so bad about staying seated until tender had STOPPED at the boat--even ignoring instructions to SIT BACK DOWN. Seriously, that's a safety issue) Roatan--been, so stayed on Private island--WOW. THIS is a gem. Nicest one I've been to. HIGHLY recommend.

Drinks. So I had the drink package. Day 2 9PM I go to the wine/pizza bar--BEST bar (never busy), BEST bartender & servers. BUT I asked for Sauvignon Blanc (couldn't seem to get it anywhere else)--nope, out. OK Pinot Grigio--nope, out. OK Tito's & Soda--NOPE, OUT. WHAT?? How is ANY bar EVERY out of CLUB SODA??!! Fine, Ketel & 7UP. Soon thereafter an officer shows up--beverage manager perhaps. Arta (my fav bartender) says NOTHING has been restocked & he is out of so much. Officer says, OK I will make sure u r stocked u tomorrow at 9AM. Um, WHAT? NO--YOU ARE THE MANAGER--either GET someone to stock or DO IT YOURSELF. NOW. So I show up the next day at 5PM for Matua (SBlanc) & Arta pauses, then says he would be right back. It had STILL. not been stocked. He went down & got it himself. Now, AFTER THAT, I never had an issue getting what I wanted. Arta & servers Jan & Angie were some of the best at see. Even the pizza guy recognized me & greeted me each day. Gemar at La Luna was a hoot too. TV satellite went out RIGHT before the Super Bowl (BAD BAD BAD). Luckily we were just in the Bahamas & internet was quite good & people could watch on their phones. I was watching at La Luna bar with another couple & Gemar kept dropping various shots to us. Smart guy!

Entertainment Triva--fun but a bit hard Name that Tune--my fav; won it twice by myself. You hear & song & need to put the title down. Great for genres, less so for specific aritists. (Michael Buble??) Music Bingo--apparently we were the guinea pigs for this & it was a big hit. The only NOT fun thing was people who were sailing Divina B2B2B2B (I don't know how many) & would keep their answers to trivia then come back & use their old sheets. I went to ones that I knew I had been to but I didn't remember all the answers. I mean Name that tune duets--it was pretty contemporary (Shakira/Rhianna, Pitbull/Neyo, JB & Nicky MInaj--u get the idea). This couple is in their mid-late 60s. I would be VERY surprised they would know ALL these songs on their own (I'm a music junky...can usually tell who is singing, but titles not always). So it was obvious what they were doing. Cripes I won Name That Tune Twice (80s is my jam) & Music Bingo once (luck)--and I pretty much got all the prizes offered (except the ship statue...I'm ok with that, it was HUGE). Seriously, how many freaking MSC shirts & bags do u need? Bizarre Activities staff was a lot of fun. Saw some games by the pool deck ("game shows" on other lines) But the ONLY time I saw the CD was to introduce production shows. NOWHERE else. I find CDs who are actively involved in activities makes for a better cruise. Remember that Mariner cruise we didn't love? Pompous CD Musicians around the ship--gosh, go see them all. Most were super talented. OK lets talk shows....🤯 I saw ABBA, Autumn in Paris, Rock Show & the magician/comedian. Rock Show was pretty good overall. Vocalists were VERY good. But the other 2 production shows had the WEIRDEST costumes I've every seen. During the opening ABBA songs, vocalists in lovely evening gowns...dancers in costumes that can only be described as, well...Samurai costumes. I'm not kidding. Then they changed to waitress costumes. It felt like they just walked into the costume room & said "use these" with no regard for whether it fit the act or not. And the choreography was a joke. My daughter has danced since she was 3, was on a high school dance team that won Nationals & now works for a dance studio. This choreography was so simplistic--they should hire my daughter. The magician/comedian was pretty old school & relatively enjoying. BUT I was sitting near the back & people in the row behind me KEPT TALKING. Now, the guy was pretty soft spoken even with a microphone. And too much loud music in the 80s--well, my hearing is not dynamite. BUT ITS FREAKING RUDE TO TALK DURING A PERFORMANCE IN ANY CULTURE. It's rude to walk in late too, but that seems to be a norm on ships these days & it's a momentary distraction. Nope. These people were having CONVERSATIONS. I finally left the show early as it was an exercise in extreme frustration.

Food I only at in the MDR 2x during the 2nd cruise. I had heard horror stories of 2-2 1/2 hour meals & just wasn't in the mood. And the buffet food was TERRIFIC! REAL scrambled eggs, not powdered. Fresh sauteed veggies, not frozen. 2 kinds of fish each lunch & dinner--and better prepared than in the MDR. Solid burgers. The BEST pizza at sea--maybe the best I've had anywhere. Always had Margerita & Pepperoni plus 2 or 3 different kinds daily. But with really only the MDR & buffet to eat at, it could get VERY busy. I learned when to go to avoid crowds...and to go to the very back for seating, less busy area. One reason for the crowds is that the burger & pizza places (both open late) are incorporated at the front of the buffet area as opposed to out on the pool deck like most other lines.

Having done some laundry & collected my thoughts I will give my thoughts. I have cruised 25 times in 20 years, most of those in the last 18 mos. Have cruised Celebrity, Princess, Carnival, RCCL, NCL & DCL prior. I did not LOVE this cruise. I have loved every cruise I have ever taken except Mariner in 2010. I don't know that I would have the love affair that I have with cruising had this been my 1st one. I did have a good time. This was a 5 day plus a 7 day. I had gotten the 7 day comped via URComped then saw the 5 day was only $425 plus $200 OBC. Both were balconies. The week before departure, I invited DS27 to join me for the 2nd leg since his job search was still going (re: still unemployed) & all we had to pay was taxes & fees. UNFORTUNATELY a freak snowstorm with perfect timing stranded him at home.

Gotcha...my brain went to bad wedding meals... blech

I only had to pay a few hundred more for Mom's taxes & fees. It wasn't long after the initial booking so rates may have been the same.

Just did 5 days on Divina for $425 solo with $200 OBC. It was a bit of a "booze cruise" not surprising at that price point & it being 5 days. Did discover it is a "training" cruise so some things weren't perhaps as good as they should be. Also heard MSC is trying to become the biggest line in the US in the next 20 years. They will have to up there game to do that, imo, tho the price point will certainly help them. I had a good time but not a great time. I stayed 7 more days after (comped casino cruise) & it was a bit better. I will sail them again before passing full judgement!

This was my fav activity...tho sometimes they had odd genres. Rock Party songs Love songs Country MICHAEL BUBLE??!!--I know the guys lovely voice but couldn't name one song off the top of my head! (see how it got specific??!!) They also started music bingo on our cruise & it was a lot of fun.

Just finished my 1st MSC cruise on Divina.

Have done 12 cruises on several lines since start up. 4 on Celebrity, the latest on the Equinox in Nov. (25 cruises in 20 yrs...4 Celebrity cruises prior to COVID) I can wholeheartedly say that other than labor shortages on NCL (and return to pre-COVID crowds), this has NOT been our experience. Our Celebrity sailings have still been a step above other lines in food & service.

ENTIRELY disagree--I'd put banquet hall food at a 1 star at best....I haven't found MDR food to be that bad on any line I have sailed... I have cruised 14 times since start up after COVID, 4 with Celebrity (3 E class). Celebrity food still is a good notch above other lines, especially E class. I'm not paying for a 5 star experience (this is a mainstream line not a luxury line). But the 4 MDRs on Eclass are a step above Celebrity's regular MDR food which I find to be very good. Funny, we have not seen any particular decline in quality of food since start up.

We, like you, find we don't use our balcony as much as we think we will. Plus Europe is so port intensive there isn't much time to use it. I think you will appreciate how the IV extends the room space. The drinks gratuity was included in your fare so you are good.

We were lucky in 2021 as cruising was just starting up, they were the same price as IVs. We sailed in an IV on Apex & I enjoyed it but I really do love the SV, but boy have those prices gone up. BE SURE to put a towel on your chair before sitting; SV's tend to get soot on the cushions.

OK....we sailed Princess for our 1st cruise 20 yrs ago & LOVED it. Did DCL, RCCL...good but not better. Then 10 yrs ago did Celebrity & agreed..it was BETTER. Service, food. YES. We did Anthem of the Seas in 2018. It was brilliant. Better than Celebrity, no, but some nice "extras" BUT We did Edge in 2021...then Apex in 2022. OMG Celebrity Eclass just took IT UP A NOTCH. The MDRs are as good as many specialty restaurants on other lines. BUT YOU MUST TRY EDEN. OMG. NOW...all this being said, we find mainstream lines more alike than different. But again...you are sailing Celebrity Eclass...which we find to be a step above all others. Enjoy

100% YES We did SV on Edge in 2021...LOVED IT Am I happy in a non-SV cabin. Yes. But LOVED LOVED LOVED our SV!

100% Celebrity mattresses are bricks

YES! I did this on the Edge in 2021. I only had to pay taxes & fees for Mom.