LabGuy64

Guess that's better than either the "sick bed" or Dear heart" options...lol..of course my wife calls me alot of things but, "dear" isn't usually one of them...:cool:

Michael

DH=dear husband. Someone recently thought it stood for rhymes with "sick bed." LOL.

That's what we found when booing private tours...the guides were very proud of their cities and, if you show your interest and appreciation..they take you to some very cool spots normal tourists don't see...and we really got a taste of what was going on in the city now...was very cool.

bye the way....i have not been on CC long and wonder what DH is short for...(please tell me it's not dear heart)...:)

Michael

We have been all over the world and only took one princess tour and it was snorkeling in HA because of a real time crunch and the possibility of being left behind. I learned everything from CC and reading up: what bus to take to what train stuff. Give yourself plenty of time and enjoy the locals. Once on a train to Pompeii we tried to sing with some high school students. We have had lots of fun and people have laughed at us. We even bought DH cool eye wear in Rome. When in doubt hook up with someone else. We have done many private tours with other on CC and enjoyed most of them. Sometimes it is scarey to head out just yourself and DH but it gives a real sense of accomplishment when you finally get back to the ship with good times and stories . If you are out on your own smile and hang on to your stuff, the good people will be very helpful. They want to explain and tell about things, they are proud of where they live. Don't become one of the herd unless you have no other choice.

I really liked doing some of the private tours, aside from the usual tourist sights they often go to places that are a bit more off the well beaten path. Or if you outline your interests they can often pattern something for your specific interests, as well as handle transfers etc. and if you have 4 or more in your party I found the per person cost fairly compairable. And, as it is private...if you want to stop for a snack, pick up a bottle of wine ...stop at a boutique your wife spotted something she just had to buy..it's no problem.

Michael

Agree, much of Steves' advice isn't that great. It's one resource. Trip Advisor forums and Cruise Critic Ports of Call forums can be better.

I know!!

Can't believe laundry is such a hot topic!

5 pages of people talking about their dirty laundry! :eek:;):p:D

Can I ask why you say that? I have read posts from people that prefer te M class ships...but still say the S calss are very nice...and everyone seems to agree the bathrooms are better in S class....really love the look of the shower in the penthouse.....thinking of getting a similar set up in my home

I have been on both the Eclipse and Equniox... prefer the older Celebrity ships, the newer ones are more hype in my book.

Wish they had the glass blowing demonstrations on Silhouette

Well, I like any Celebrity ship I have sailed, but being as we are booked on a fourteen-night cruise on Eclipse next month, so, of course, I would lean toward Eclipse for your cruise.

 

I think you will enjoy either ship, by the way. Eclipse is newer, bigger and has a few more amenities such as a natural grass lawn and glass blowing demonstrations.

yeah, we can paint the ship after the day tours...lol

Just an idea.....

Get rid of the glass show and put in some tubs and washboards instead.

Washing lines can go up across the lawn.

 

 

 

I like it! :)

nothing in particular...just overall...M class has alot of diehard fans...normally I prefer newer ships, like with the "solsticeization" I figure that no matter how good a refit...a ship built to have those features is better. so given identical itineraries you would pick silhouette over millie or connie, yes?

Michael,

 

I think you question was directed at me, if not I'll answer anyway :p.

 

Both classes have their good and bad points :). Our last cabin on X was a FV on Infinity (M class), and it was brilliant (the balcony was to die for :D). We prefer Silhouette to Solstice, probably because of the LCG. Cafe al Bacio isn't as big on the M class and does become very busy. Additionally, we did like the sun deck on Silhouette, huge comfy loungers and chairs away from the pool :).

 

Was there anything in particular you wanted comparisons on?

Well said......

You are not actually conflicted, being conflicted is really that area where you are as yet undecided as to which direction or action to take. As you have chosen to cruise you should either embrace your choice and be able to enjoy it fully or, rethink your position....Cruising is not one of the "HARD" choices in life where there is perhaps no good resolution. You have chosen to endulge a pleasure and as such should throughly enjoy it....if you do not then.....you obviously think what you are doing is wrong.

 

 

 

Good summary. Someone who chooses to cruise has decided that there is no real harm to the environment or else that he does not care if there is-- he has resolved the conflict. To continue to cruise while professing to feel conflict is little more than an exercise in hypocrisy.

Hey,

Call your TA....they might be able to get you free laundry. mine got me 200.00 in OBC when they were not offering any....never know...if they can get you more OBC then that would offset the cost of laundry.

Michael:cool:

We just came off a 2 week HAL cruise after a 3 week land trip and used HAL's unlimited laundry service. It was really wonderful. Not only were we able to start our cruise with clean clothes, but arrived home not having to do laundry instantly.

 

I thought Celebrity had a "bag full" service?

Hi,

I booked my 2016 cruise the day after they posted the itinararies and a week later the price for the same cabin had gone up like $4000.00. I think that is the early booking discount.

I called yesterday for the new sailing pricing and it was high. I was quoted the 123 and told there was no other discounts. Is this true though? I thought someone mentioned a discount this year for early deployment booking. Or maybe it isn't combinable.

Hi,

was wondering how you like the Celebrity M class vs S class

and 4 cruises in a year,.......impressive

Michael

You are not actually conflicted, being conflicted is really that area where you are as yet undecided as to which direction or action to take. As you have chosen to cruise you should either embrace your choice and be able to enjoy it fully or, rethink your position....Cruising is not one of the "HARD" choices in life where there is perhaps no good resolution. You have chosen to endulge a pleasure and as such should throughly enjoy it....if you do not then.....you obviously think what you are doing is wrong.

I think you raised an important, timely question and I feel badly about the uncharitable responses you have received, particularly those that criticized you and where you live.

 

I feel conflicted about cruising and other things in life that I know negatively impact the planet upon which humans and other sentient beings live.

 

However, I think feeling conflicted, if examined properly, can lead to better life balance. Hubby and I do not buy overpackaged products or unneeded "stuff" that ends up in landfills, we produce very little trash and recycle/reuse like crazy. We practice as green a life as reasonably possible in a modern world and feel mostly okay with our choices. We are always seeking ways to improve, though and that is actually fun and enlightening; knowing our lives are not so much about "things..." QUOTE]

 

 

I am not the original poster, but I certainly would agree with the above. It is certainly a thoughtful response. It is refreshing to know that some folks do indeed have a social conscience. I do not feel that the OP's question was fatuous at all, although many of the other responses can be categorized as benighted. Unfortunately I expect that they shall continue.

Seriously steve,

If you really are a cruiser, I would suggest you just stay home. I am sure you can find many "eco-friendly" vacation opertunities, or, take the money you would spend on it to one of the many environmentally based charities hungry for your cash. But PLEASE...if you must cruise, don't pour out your bleeding heart ON the cruise, we are trying to enjoy ourselves.

Thank you for your service to our economy. Does that service mean that in your mind as long as you can afford something it is ethical to do it?

 

Also, I think they have come a long way but cruising is inherently bad for the environment like most pleasures.

Do you people have to just bleed for everything?....Oh my.....my breath adds to the CO2 levels in the atmosphere....is anyone guilty for breathing to much?....maybe if i didn't exert myself so much, I would breath less, and cause less damage to mother earth......if you have resigned yourself to suffering with your "guilt" why do you have to come here looking for validation? Or maybe you could start a thread in the specialty cruising section for "guilt wracked" cruisers.

Does anyone ever feel guilty for cruising (or travel in general) due to the negative impact in the environment? How do you justify your actions? I love cruising and appreciate the efforts companies have made to make the activity more Eco-friendly. However inherently, it is wasteful to overeat, travel by boat, plane and car, enjoy luxuries and other things implicit to travel and cruise travel.

 

I've personally resigned myself to just feeling guilty but doing it anyways like I have with meat consumption. Maybe someone else can give me another perspective.

I totally agree, on a vacation i don't want to mess with laundry....and I budget for such things...I just want to relax....enjoy myself and let others do the work for a change:cool:

This...

 

Plus SOMEONE (actually many someones) has to live next door to these Laundry Rooms with their extra noise & hall traffic... That means more unhappy Pax and more cabins on the "do not book list" = lower revenues = better cabins pay even higher prices

 

I am not at all in favour of Self-Serve Laundries... Although I will admit I see the convenience that others argue for

 

Personally I have no desire to spend my precious cruise time sitting around doing laundry (or watching the clock worrying about it)

 

BUT, I would be completely ok with Self-Serve Pressing Stations

 

Although if Celebrity chooses not to ave them... I really am ok with the status quo

 

Cheers!

They must have a hell of a time keeping up with they swap requests...lol

Michael:cool:

I saw a miami to valparaiso canal curise for 3/19 on infinity and the veranda's were starting at 4698.00

Michael

Can anyone that can see these bookings tell me what an average Verandah balcony room is running for spring 2017 PC sailings? I'm just a low life that can't book until 12/5 and was wondering how early pricing is compared to sailings that are already available.

Also, in addition to the items mentioned he would be the one you go to with problems, instead of standing in line.....(even the short line suite and elite members might have) he is basically the one you go to with your problems. the first line anyhow, sometimes there might be issues he can't solve but will assist you.

And personally I have no problem with him unpacking for me. He can note any suites that need pressing shoes that need a polish, and will generally lay things out in a much more orderly manner than I might. Any items you have that are private or valuable enough that you might not trust him with, can be carried on and put away by you.

I asked that same question on the Celebrity board and the answer helped me to figure out the roles of the butler and steward. The butler assists in things that pertain to you and the steward does things that pertain to your room.

 

So, the steward cleans and straightens up your room, replenishes toiletries, gets linen, keeps the balcony clean, etc. His assistant helps him. The butler would bring any food you order from room service or from the restaurants, he brings daily snacks/tea at 4pm, he makes reservations or requests such as a bridge tour, or organizes/serves at a party you might have. They will pack/unpack for you, but I can't imagine who'd want them to do that; definitely not me. And you have to tip him separately because he's not included in the "daily" tip.

 

I'll be in a Princess suite next year but won't miss having a butler. They're not an essential for me, but there might be people who would utilize them more than I did and feel they're necessary.

As big as thesecruise ships are getting maybe one day they will go nuclear like the Navy ships and end the "soot" problem.....lol

Curious on how much the upsell will cost? The OS itself is nothing special. Probably just a hair bigger, if that, than a Vista suite on a non Royal/Regal ship. Balconies are the best (especially the Dolphin deck) if not for the soot issue. We were unable to enjoy our absolutely huge balcony due to the daily build up of soot.....:(:(:(

 

Bob

I thought michaels club dosen't start as a "suite level" lounge until april 2015.

Or am i wrong?

Michael

Have to say I wish Princess had some of the perks other lines have for suite passengers, while I did not enjoy a lot of the things on my RCCL voyage I loved the lounge they had for suite and elite passengers. Free drinks anf finger foods every evening and the concierge was there to help you or answer questions. And I wonder why princess is not doing Butler service?...anyone have any info on that?

Michael

Hi,

anyone hear anythin as to why celebrity chanced the Capital cities transatlantic so much.....hard to call it Capital cities when now only half of the 4 ports are Capitals......I really wanted to take this cruise however, I REALLY wanted to see Amsterdam which was one of the changes stops. plus they cut a day off......I was so disappointed

Hi,

I am also contemplating a new zealand cruise but am unsure.....I look at the itinararies and keep thinking to myself ...new zealand is so small why are there som many stops at one smallish island.....can some of the cruisers familiar with this ares tell me...is it really that different at each stop?....I don't want to be seeing the same things every day...but, then I think...the lines would not run so many cruises to new zealand if it did not have something going for it......any help would be appreciated

I think that suites are the only way to go...I have only been on 3 cruises but, love the room and extra perks....Princess is a bit thinner than some. one thing you need to be sure of is checking the list of perks...some you have to actively ask to be done like afternoon tea in your suite. then you won't be disappointed when they don't automatically do it.