Pinkbudgie

So, do formal nights tend to have better menus than the rest of the nights? We don't have any specialty restaurants booked right now. Guess we'll wait and see when we are on the ship. It's hard to know what you want when you haven't been before. It's all new to us!

Duh, didn't see your location, Lollie. I was thinking you were back east! We have two reservations for our week long July trip. I figured that should be good.

This cruise will be our first non DLR or WDW vacation in while. But I can't wait to see Alaska! Guess I'm set to go with my "formal wear". :)

Your dress will be fine. The reason Alaska is a little more laid back, is because people have to pack for layering, since temperature ranges from cold to warm as far as weather goes, and wet to dry. Most don't have room to pack formal attire. I usually wear black slacks with a glitzy top, that way I can wear my slacks several nights with different tops.

I also got black pants and I think I can scrounge up a sparkly top in my closet. DH and I are going to share a third suitcase between us just for our coats and hiking shoes and that sort of thing. We are driving up from California and stopping at hotels along the way where we won't need that stuff since it will summer.

Oh my gosh! I am totally with you on the WDW planning! ADR's 6 months in advance, now Fast Passes 2 months in advance and why doesn't Celebrity offer Magical Express? What do you mean I have to find my own transportation? That mouse has done it to me too! :D

 

Lollie -- happy DVC member :D

Come on out DLR instead! We don't have any of that. Eat and ride on the spur of the moment! :)

You'll be just fine. I always wear a nice dress, usually black. Never brought a long ball gown -- I'm not shelling out several hundred dollars for a dress I'll never wear again.

 

Welcome to cruising! It's so much fun, and Celebrity is my personal favorite.

Thank you. I'd never wear something like that again either so I'm glad this will work.

We are going on this same cruise and it will be our first one. (did WDW last summer and know all about the crazy planning details 6 months ahead!)

Anyway, I just did a search on the forums for formal wear and I got no results but a few ads for buying prom dresses!

So, how formal does a women's dress have to be? I found a long black dress today but it is a little flowery and leans more toward summer-ish. I hoped if I added high heals, a nice necklace and earrings it would do for formal night. Who decides which dress is "formal" and which isn't? Mine looks nice, but it isn't a prom dress or ball room dancing gown. (DH is set to go with a dinner jacket and tie)

I ended up emailing special needs and got a wonderfully instructive letter back. It explains how allergy meals are prepared in a different area of the kitchen and that I should speak to the restaurant manager once on board. So far I'm pleased with how they are handling things. Only one month until our trip!

Thanks for clarifying. I thought that, but wasn't sure.

I'm new to Alaska and to cruising so maybe someone can tell me if this is the same thing or something different. My itinerary for the Solstice June 26th sail date says June 30th Inside Passage- Alaska. Is that different than what you are talking about? I'm still trying to understand all these places and terms.

Thank you for sharing your experience. It does make me feel better.

As long as you email Special Needs, it should be OK. Tell them your name and reservation number, along with your health concern.

 

In the buffet, my DD didn't pre-order, because she often didn't know when she would be ready for breakfast or lunch, but we looked for the Asst Matre'Ds on duty and they had her meal prepared or got something from the kitchen to avoid cross-contamination.

 

For example, they would get her grapes or pineapple, that had been recently washed and cut with a clean knife, since she is allergic to melon and melon is always on the buffet near the pineapple and might have been contaminated.

 

We learned what bread she could eat, and they would go get her some from the back. Similarly, she could eat omelets for breakfast, and they would make certain a clean skillet and turner were used.

 

Just remember to always ask the Asst Matre'Ds for help, and pre-order when possible.

Thank you, that was very helpful.

Our granddaughter has Celiac and gets REALLY sick from even mild cross contamination and the only cruiseline our daughter lets us take her on is Disney! :D

I'm a total Disney geek and that would have been my first choice, but it is more expensive AND we were invited to go on this cruise by my parents, so we don't have to pay for the cabin. Someday we'll do a Disney cruise.

I take Schiff Digestive Advantage Lactose Defense Formula on a daily basis and have for years. This is a combination of a probiotic and lactase. It allows me to enjoy a reasonable amount of dairy. I still use almond milk for cereal. I find it much easier than taking a pill when I indulge.

I haven't tried anything like that. I guess I'd be afraid it wouldn't work if I didn't take it at the moment I ate dairy.

I don't eat meat or shellfish and always explain this to the Maitre D' and our waiters on the first day.

Invariably some dish comes with either meat (usually bacon) or some type of shellfish in the topping (that was NOT listed in the description at all!).

Since mine isn't an allergy it's not an emergency but I'm just telling you so you know to be really, really clear about how severe your allergy is.

Also, be VERY careful about cross-contamination in the buffet. You should probably contact the dining room manager in there before choosing any food.

Thanks, that's scary! I'll watch out for that. At Disney World, they put little sticks on my food that said allergy. That way, everyone in the kitchen and the waiter knew it was a dish to be careful around. I wish more places did this.

My husband is celiac so I always send Celebrity an email to the address below, stating our sailing date and cabin number and telling them he requires a gluten free diet.

 

They are very good about helping him once onboard, but if everyone waits till they are onboard to let Celebrity know, then my fear is they won't have stocked up on enough gluten free products.

 

special_needs@rccl.com

Thank you, I'll contact them just in case.

Celebrity issue the form to all passengers as a special needs information collation so that they can be prepRed. As you've booked through a TA they should get it for you but celebrity themselves would be very happy to give it to you direct as they recognise they are preventing risk in doing so.

 

Give them a call for the form, it comes with your name and reservation already on it and you just complete it on the computer and return.

 

I'd do that in addition to going to see the maitre d. They cooked me some food in a separate part of the galley in order to prevent contamination

Thanks, I'll check on that then.

Pinkbudgie

Do you buy these pills ( Lactase ) from a health food store, or are they prescribed by a Dr? We don't have any prescription pills for Lactose intolerant in UK, but we do have Lactase treated milk, cheese, yogurts.

I buy Lactase enzyme pills at Costco. They are over the counter here and not prescription. I can take one and have a small dish of ice cream. Or if I think something might have a cream sauce, I can take one just in case. I wish it was that easy to manage allergies!

You do need to worry about it before boarding, you need to fill in a Special Needs form, which needs to be submitted to Celebrity up to 90 days before boarding. Your TA should have told you this.

I am Lactose Intolerant, so alternative milks need to be on board when the ship sails. Too late to inform once the ship has set sail.

Also, it is recommended to visit the dining room to see the Maitre'D during the afternoon, before the Muster drill.

That way, you can pre- order before the evening.

No, my TA did not say anything about a special form. Do I find this on the Celebrity site? This is my first cruise so I'm still learning the ins and outs.

Funny you mention lactose intolerant. I am too, but I just bring my pills and I'm fine. At home I use almond milk, but it isn't something I'll miss if I don't have. Unless they soak all the meat in anchovies or something, I can't think of anything extra I would need in regards to my seafood allergy.

They are very good about dealing with almost every specialty food need. And lucky for you that are allergic to fish... You still have Goldfish and Swedish fish.

Yes, and I got a chocolate fish for Christmas! That was a hoot!

If ingesting ANY type of fish causes you to go into anaphylactic shock, then please by all means bring at least a couple of epi-pens in case of emergency, and carry one with you AT ALL TIMES. Please make sure that the Maitre' de and ALL waiters you deal with are aware of how severe your allergies truly are.

 

At the slightest hint of any kind of reaction, please don't wait - get immediate medical assistance. Thankfully, the ships doctors are very capable of handling emergencies like that.

 

While I trust that they will do all they can to assure you won't have any issues, you still need to take personal responsibility for yourself and have back-up plans in case someone makes a mistake.

 

(I am only being very, very cautious because my mom went into anaphylactic shock after a bee sting many years ago, and thankfully she got medical treatment in time, and only spent the night in the hospital. It could have been much worse if someone hadn't recognized what it was.)

I plan to bring 6 epi pens with me. I always carry two in my purse at all times. I will leave two in my room, and maybe give the other two to DH in his backpack when we are on excursions.

Thanks everyone for all the tips!

No, it isn't as simple as not ordering fish. I'm ana to fish (and I have to say I don't know about shellfish so for now acting as if I am to be on the safe side). Worcestershire sauce, Caesar dressing, and some BBQ sauces all have fish. Anything with a fish protein in it, I cannot have. Or anything that touched a fish. So, I will be double checking with everyone I talk to in the MDR! Thanks for the tips! I guess there is nothing to do until then.

Thank you! I won't worry about it then until I board and go talk to them. Thanks!

When we first booked I asked about food allergies on Celebrity and got many positive responses. My question now is how is it indicated on the reservation?

I am allergic to fish and shellfish. First our TA had it listed as under special meals as Allergic Fish. Then I said it was also shellfish, so she changed it to ALL FISH.

I asked about it because it sounds like that's all I want to eat and she said that is how Celebrity wants it listed. Now that on our papers it says Special Meals No Fish.

It sounds like she isn't allowed enough space to list my allergies and I wonder what people do who have more than I do.

Should I just call Celebrity myself and ask about this? If you've traveled with a food allergy, how was it listed on your final documents? I just want to make sure they know.

I will be taking my 1st Alaska cruise in Sept...have NO CLUE how to pack as I am used to doing warm weather cruises...should be interesting!:D

Packing should be interesting for us because we are driving up so it will be hot on the way there. And afterwards we are spending a few more days in Washington before going home. I've never had a vacation where I needed a coat, jeans, scarf, gloves, and shorts!

I was "practicing" this winter for summer in Alaska! Last summer we were in Florida. Exactly one year later to the day we'll be in Alaska. Talk about opposites!

Hi....well, to make a long story short and I don't want to get flamed

by folks saying "I should have known better":eek:....I went on a 5 night

cruise in early March and over 1/2 the ship were Spring Breakers.....

And I am sure there other SB'rs around the country who do have

manners and stuff but this was so horrible:(:mad:....they put a few kids off

the ship but it didn't really help because of how many were still on board.

Let's just say, I was also 20 once but if I acted as disrepectful as these

kids? My folks would have grounded me for at least a month.......

And I am not exaggerating.....they took over the ship:rolleyes:......

(You asked)......I actually wrote a letter to Celebrity's HQ and so

did a few other people I sailed with.......I have never seen anything

like it before........

I wouldn't have liked that either! And I wouldn't have liked it when I was 20. So sorry that happened to you.

We are going to Alaska on the Solstice at the end of June. First time on a cruise, first time to Alaska. I am super excited! I just got myself a nice rain jacket at REI for trip.

If you have any craft beer drinkers at work, I would suggest picking up some Alaskan Smoked Porter. You'd be looking about about $8 per 22oz bottle. If you are from Florida, you won't find it that far east and it is a solid beer with a good reputation in the craft beer world.

 

The downfall to this is that you are looking about about 2.5 pounds per bottle. A few bottles add up to a lot of weight quickly in the luggage.

Well, now I know what souvenir my husband will be buying himself! :rolleyes:

When my friend at work took this cruise a few years ago she brought me back a nice scarf. Which I will be bringing with me on our own cruise.

I believe the classic doesn't allow the specialty coffee drinks that have alcohol and/or gelato in them where the premium allows it.

Thanks.

• Classic Non-Alcoholic Package ($16.00 / $18.88 per night): Unlimited espresso-based coffees and Tea Forte from Café al Bacio,
  
• Premium Non-Alcoholic Package ($20.00 / $23.60 per night): Unlimited Café al Bacio menu items,
  

What is the difference between these two coffee items in the difference packages?

I didn't know you could ask to switch. What non alcoholic drinks are included with the original 123 Go free package?

Thank you! I looked it up on Trip Adviser and people went on and on about how beautiful it was at night. Walking around for a little bit sounds like a nice way to spend the evening. I haven't been to Canada since I was about 10. I wish I had more time this trip!