Covepointcruiser

Bing the crew cash, they have a small store onboard to buy necessities.   I have also seen quite a few Amazon packages at our ports, supposedly for the crew.

Internet quality will never improve because of the bandwidth hogs.   Folks take cruises and spend their days streaming video (YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime or whatever).   Passengers actually used to be “present” on their cruises and were not tied to their phones or TVs.   Guess this is the new generation.

Airlines have changed their loyalty programs much more than the cruise lines.   Every year more miles are required for travel and upgrades.   They do that every year.  Celebrity has upgraded their onboard experience so if upgrading most passengers experience hurts your Celebrity benefits so be it.   There are many other cruise lines to disappoint you.

Believe Zenith members still get their free cruise, premium drink package, specialty dining, unlimited laundry and dry cleaning.   Elite + get one bag of laundry.

The Reflection in normal, non Covid, times has too many suites and you do notice the crowding in the Luminae and Michael’s Club.   If the capacity is restricted it might be acceptable.   Have always been curious about the Signature Suites.   We like being on a high deck to feel the motion of the ship.

For nicer rooms (called suites) and all inclusive in terms of tips, drinks and internet, go with Seabourn.   The suites are larger than Oceania, with walk in closets and a large bathroom with two sinks and a separate bathtub and shower.    You can easily get a cruise on Seabourn for your price point.   Right now they are doing the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.

Ten people sitting at that small table would certainly put us off dining at the Chef’s Table.   Do they always crowd the table that much?    Would be comfortable for eight or maybe six, but ten is too much for that small table.

Those vegan frozen desserts are not made with milk as soy beans, rice, almonds and oats do not lactate.   The word “milk” should not apply to ground up nuts, beans or grains.   You may have a frozen dessert but it is not ice cream.

If you can’t tell the difference between ice cream and gelato, then don’t pay for gelato.   If you have the premium package you are still allowed to get only ice cream and skip the gelato.  That way there will be more gelato for those of us who prefer it.

Unfortunately, some of us have to watch what we eat so the size of a steak is not important but the quality is.   My husband and I often split a beef entree because they are too large, 3 or 4 oz. of an excellent filet is fine with us.

1 hour ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

I have been told this by the maitre d' and the waiters in Luminae many times over the years.  If you watch the group at work in there, you will see it makes sense.

 

Another way to recognize individuals in there (or elsewhere on the ship) is to mention them by name on your comment card or (my preferred method) by letter to the hotel director.  Only takes a few minutes to dash off a note to the HD.  Stationery & envelopes are available at Guest Relations.  One year I mentioned to the bread guy in Luminae that I was disappointed that I wasn't seeing any brown bread in the bread basket.  He made a special trip to the MDR every night after that to get us a separate basket of brown bread (which is delicious, if you haven't tried it yet).  That kind of service was above and beyond and earned him a mention to the hotel director.  These special mentions help them get promoted, more time off, etc.

What is “brown bread”?    Is it wheat, whole wheat, multigrain, or pumpernickel?   I love some of those breads but not others.   Really love marble rye but have not seen it on Celebrity.

A private excursion on other lines would just include your party whether 1 or 20.   These are people of your choosing and personal distancing is not needed as you are not traveling with strangers.

Guess the only thing we can confident about with future itineraries is they will change.   More days at sea is a plus for me.

We were turned off of the Persian Gardens in the S class ships.   Folks would sleep and snore on the heated loungers.    Now if anyone has allergies or a cold you will also get to listen to the sneezing and sniffling.   If you have any concerns about germs it’s not the place for you.

Looks fine to me as there is plenty to drink for $12 and under.   This may not be the case next December (22) as our cruise was canceled for a second time, hopeful that the third time is a charm!

4 hours ago, Mark_T said:

The one thing that has kept us off of Seabourn so far is the smoking policy.

 

How do you find it? (assuming you are not smokers...)

Seabourn is not friendly for smokers.   It’s about the same as celebrity, a couple of tables by an outside bar, part of the very front of the ship, and on the forward port promenade.   Silver Seas is much better for smokers.

Maybe they won’t want you to bring cases of plastic water bottles onboard the ship.   Celebrity is trying to lessen their environmental impact, do they still allow plastic bottles in Florida?   Didn’t have any available In Hawaii (no plastic bags either) or in Greece.   Lucky I don’t like the taste of water from a plastic bottle.

Many people just ignore the government warnings in the U.S.    Is it any different in Canada?

Prepare for flight cancellations post Thanksgiving, it will have been ll personnel on duty for the weekend of Thanksgiving.   A lot of the employees will take leave/days off between Thanksgiving and the star of the Christmas Holidays.

Our B2B2B on QM2 was canceled and we were not given the option of just sailing from Southampton.   We have moved our booking to 2022 when she is doing the same thing, at a better price!

We are also on the 12/15/22 voyage and the preceding voyages.   I find that holiday sailings are dressier than even the normal dressy transatlantic.  I was prepared for the same voyages this year but they were cancelled.   Hope my dresses will still fit next December.

The terms I see on my new December 22 after this December’s cancellation, states that FCC cannot be used for the initial deposit.   Guess I can use it later as I pay for the cruise.

Are they allowing passengers onboard with lung or heart conditions requiring an accessible cabin?   I thought the other lines were not permitting passengers with health conditions making them more likely to be adversely impacted by COVID.

I would hate to pack the robes or the PJs for the trip home.   Wonder if Celebrity would donate them, on your behalf, to the poor or homeless in a port you visit.    Certainly don’t need another robe at home and I am picky about my nightclothes.    

It’s time to start researching travel insurance that includes COVID, so you will be prepared if you catch it no have to get off the ship perhaps in a foreign port.   Better hope to have more than a birth certificate or passport card!