kekilia

I just read that there is a fairly low percentage of Americans on Riviera and more internationals, who tend to have higher percentages of smokers. We are booked in an Oceania Suite on deck 12, which is fairly near the smoking area. Very disappointing to pay all that money and then find out that the Pool deck is where they put smokers and near the doors to the residences. I am highly sensitive to second hand smoke and can have serious COPD like reactions.

Can someone speak the truth to me about this issue?

By your credit card. Chase Saphhire recently notified me that they have increased their travel insurance to $20k per person in each calendar year. I had my TA look at the details and he assured me that this was a standard travel insurance policy, like anything that he would sell me or that the cruise line would supply through a sub contracting agency. It covers medical, cancellation and other standard travel insurance options. It is good for cruise, flight and any travel within a calendar year PROVIDED that you pay for your travel with the card. I saved thousands of dollars which my TA translated into OSC since he was going to pay for insurance as part of our deal. Take a look at what benefits you get from your credit card, better yet, let me refer you to Chase and I'll get rewards points and you'll save money on insurance.

We have just returned from cruise with Riviera - in cabin 12005. Avoid this cabin for sure. all I am going to say is after four nights we ended up using a spare cabin on deck 9 just to sleep at night!

On Deck 12, forward, be sure to book an even numbered room. deck 12 forward is directly over the Canyon Ranch Spa. Suites on the Portside, even numbered suites, are directly over the treatment rooms, soft, quiet massage music, while suites on starboard, odd numbered suites, are directly over the fitness room, with workout machines, Pilates, Zumba. Hmmm, treatment room or fitness facility.....;)

Ooooo...wonderful! I was hoping for a dry spell. It is hot and humid here in Hawaii, not the best time to visit the island. It's when we kama'aina all travel to Canada and other Northern climes. Can't wait to see mountains and forests and streams....:)

Thanks. Guess it's basically free drinks. Sounds great since I opted not to buy a bev pkg. C gave me a OSC for a mistake and I'll buy drinks with that, but if I can get 'em free at Michael's, then there you go. ;)

Got a message from the Concierge for Michael's club. Wondering what they have that's worth dropping by...sailing on Sunday! Yay!:D

We are trying to choose a suite for first Regent cruise. The MN is more than we need, Penthouse feels too small. Anybody been on a cruise in the SSA or SSF?? Is there a just my size suite on regent?

I believe I have at one time or another had each of these problems you have all noted. Here's a new one, I live in Hawaii so it's 6 hours behind Atlantic coast US, so when they all go home, they just put me on hold (recorded message saying someone will be with me shortly) in a continuous loop.

Got promised an OSC by office, but it doesn't show up on my eDocs. I am not counting on it.

I think I am not going to book again, it's just not worth the hassle when there are other cruises.

Thanks all for the advice! I found the eDocs, the long form ticket. We are leaving from Canada Place, Dock D. Good thing I looked because Celebrity d not updated the ticket to reflect the upgrade we got. The Xpress pass and luggage tags have all been updated, but not the electronic version of the contract. There were a lot of changes we made (switching bev pkgs, dining, etc.). I love cruising Celebrity, their service onboard is great, but I find their web services and phone services deplorable. I won't go into details here, but every interaction I have had has been terrible - long phone waits, uninformed staff. This is Celebrity's last chance so I hope it will be an amazing cruise. Otherwise, I'm off to Regent or Oceania.

Love your screen name...

Hey, thanks. It's my Hawaiian name, actually my middle name Cecilia in Hawaiian (they don't have the "c" ). It's also the name I use to sell my artwork here in Hawaii.

While Vancouver has two possible terminals: Ballantyne and Canada Place. Your e-docs will confirm the terminal, which is most likely Canada Place. Most cruises depart from Canada Place, and the cruise terminal is located below the Pan Pacific Hotel (this hotel has an elevator which takes you from their lobby to the cruise terminal). Even if more than one ship is departing from Canada Place that date the porters will ensure that your luggage is directed to the correct ship.

 

Your e-docs will also provide a boarding time, but we generally arrive around noon.

I have gone thru online check in, are my edocs the boarding pass that I haven't printed yet?

Well, thanks everyone for the input. Turns out trying to find a dinner jacket in vancouver was a hassle and expensive, basically one rental is limited to 6 days! So, if you're going on a 7 night cruise, you have to pay double!!!! eBay and other options don't work when you consider shipping to Hawaii (our home state). So, we just opted for the regular old rental tux. It's makes it easy, doesn't add weight to the luggage and it's only $91 for the week. I don't care how many guys do or do not wear tuxes. I want my guy in a tux to go with my long gown. I love to dress and we'll have photos taken as we always do on cruises. I get that some younger people want nonstop casual, but for me, it's like red carpet and all that!

Our cruise is July 13, 2014 sailing from Vancouver. Yes, I know that the piers are located near Canada Place, where we have booked a pre stay at the Fairmont Pacific Rim. But I cannot see anything in the online check in that tells me exactly which pier, what time, etc. of course, I haven't printed the Xpress Pass yet, but if anyone could tell me specifically where to find the pier, I'd appreciate it. I want to know if I need a taxi or to arrange transfer from hotel. My husband is disabled with a service dog, so I cannot carry all the luggage!

Well, since we live in Hawaii, your solution won't work for us. Formal here is a silk aloha shirt rather than cotton. The dinner jacket in the closet is probably out of style and there are no long sleeved shirts. I think its a shame that "casual Friday" has devolved into a 24/7/365 wardrobe for men. I'm just saying. I want to wear a long gown and have my husband properly matched to my look!

Trying to order the black and white dinner jacket combo through Cruiseline Formalwear for the July 13, 2014 7 night Alaska Cruise aboard the Century. They don't seem to have that option available. Anybody know about the options for this cruise and/or how to get any option other than a black tux for this cruise? Do you have to order through this provider?:confused:

I know I book suites, but I just can't resist. After all, it's a vacation. Besides, everyone else on the boards seem to be talking upgrades, Blu, etc. I guess I just have champagne taste on a beer budget. BTW, what about those beverage packages, are they worth it?

Jayoldschool,

I get it, I am a TINC too! 2 incomes, no children, but I can't afford a cruise every year and I am "officially" a millionaire (though it doesn't feel like it).

Yes, but everyone on the boards seem to talk about the suites and AQ and not that they are booked inside staterooms.

Is there some secret to cruising regularly that I am not aware of? I just booked my second cruise in 10 years and it is costing me a fortune for a Sky suite, specialty dining and beverage package, let alone the flight and hotel stays. Is everyone out there a billionaire or am I just paying rack rates stupidly? I researched a bunch of online cruise sites, but Celebrity offered just the same price for the cabin I wanted. So what gives, get up off your secrets to great cruising, I want to join you....

Help! How can I book excursions and specialty dining IF I DO NOT KNOW the detailed itinerary. The one provided on the website does not tell me when the formal nights are going to be and so I cannot coordinate my specialty dining. Also, I do not want to overlap an extensive excursion with a formal night, which I would like to do once. Also, do the specialty dining packages auto book the reservation without giving you a choice? I would like to do as much as possible online so I don't have to wait at counters, but the website is too simplistic and the telephone wait is over 2 hours. I am booked in Sky Suite 1247 for this cruise.