Grahambythesea

I wonder if Arcadia’s cancellations are really due to staff shortages. I happen to live opposite Portland Port and she has now been moored there for 3 days. If she was just in warm layover, as she was during lockdown, then they would have moored in the bay for free. As she is at dockside, I wonder if there is a problem needing repair?

Thanks everyone, most helpful. On first Alaskan you still had black tie nights! We still enjoy making a little effort to make the evenings different from the day time.

It’s been a while since we did a 7 night cruise with Celebrity, preferring longer sailings. Taking some friends on an Alaskan cruise in June and they’ve never been with Celebrity. How many chic nights can we expect on a 7 nighter?

I wish they would bring back the Jazz Trios which they used to have and you find in Princess Take 5. Celebrity like to think of themselves as sophisticated and generally they are great but the musical choices have gone down hill.

Having been loyal Celebrity Cruisers who also enjoyed Azamara we,Ve enjoyed the benefits of the transfer of Club points between the companies. Now Azamara has gone from the group and Silversea has joined, are the various club benefits and points earned transferable if booking Silversea?

Having just had our second Disney Cruise cancelled we checked to see if we could reapply the credit to a 2022 cruise and there are none operating in Europe scheduled. Disney Magic is still moored in Dover, what is happening?

I would still like to know what will happen about Captains Club points? Having only sailed 2 Azamara cruises but loads of Celebrity will my combined level transfer to the Azamara Circle membership (is that what they are now calling it?)

She is spending a lot longer in port than just taking on supplies or crew.

Many of us thought the sale was the beginning of the end, well perhaps not. Buying an old ship is a quicker way to expand and probably a lot cheaper. Ships are supposed to be good for a 40 year life, but given changes in engine technology are these ships “clean”? Hurtigruten can convert theirs to cleaner fuels, will Azamara?

For those of us who don’t want gimmicky rides and stuff, a traditional looking ship is what we like. I agree with others that pricing will be a big issue. We are booked for 2022 on Pursuit out of Cape Town, but it was on the basis of a price deal. Competition for our business is going to be hot post COVID.

Awful news that RCG are selling Azamara. We generally cruise either Azamara or Celebrity and our Club points count on both. That will be the first “perk” to go and then we can watch the money men whittle away at the costs - Azamazing evenings, included drinks, port shuttles, staff ratios. 
A lot of people predicted RCG would loose interest when they bought Silverseas, probably hurried on by the year’s no sale orders.

What a shame!

Does anyone know why Bliss keeps coming into Portland Port, often staying for a couple of weeks. I live overlooking the port and Weymouth Bay where upto 10 cruise ships are regularly moored, mostly Cunard and P & O. Bliss has also been there for several months but is the only ship that comes in regularly for more than a night or two. The Marella fleet are the other regular visitors but only for a day or so then back out into the bay or further along the coast to Devon.

Why?

We’ve cruised 2 Azamara and have a third booked for ‘22; loads of Celebrity, love Blu for Aqua class, but have never heard from Silverseas. Maybe they aren’t bothering us poor Europeans, soon to be even poorer Brits! Must know we won’t be able to afford it. 🥴

P & O’s Britannia sailed into Weymouth Bay (Dorset UK) today having left Southampton yesterday. She’s now moored. I wonder how long she’ll remain.

Some thoughts. Firstly the cruise lines are being overly optimistic thinking they can recommence cruising in April! Europe and the USA will still be in the grip of this awful pandemic so ports are unlikely to be allowed to reopen. That’s not taking into account countries with less well organised health services where perhaps the pandemic hasn’t fully got hold, but it will do and we will see 100s of thousands more infected and sadly huge increases in the death toll. 
Secondly it will take months to redistribute the ships to the ports where they are supposed to be to pick up on their itineraries. You then must assume that they have been thoroughly deep cleaned top to bottom to ensure that they are safe to take passengers again. Many counties are going to want their Health Inspectors to check that it has been done satisfactorily.

Thirdly the restart is dependent on the resumption of air travel to deliver the passengers. Personally I’m a lost less confident that the airlines can get the planes clean than I am of the cruise companies achieving this.

It’s good to read that the crews are still on board, I thought that most would be offloaded and sent home to avoid having to pay them, however most “hotel” staff will be really struggling with no gratuities coming in.

Finally, the mega corporations will survive, albeit making huge losses this year and will have massive debt to service as they all seem to have been on massive spending trips buying new ships and refurbishing others, no doubt on borrowed funds like most large businesses. However, there will be casualties, I cannot see smaller independent companies surviving . 

Thanks, you’re quite right, been looking and looking, but in the wrong category!  Dah! It sounds like a really fun evening.

When we were on Journey previously the Azamazing evening appeared on the excursions list for passengers to book. Do they not do this anymore. Does anyone know if there will be one on the Hawaii/ French Polynesia cruise departing 5 January 2020?

Thanks everyone, sounds like we better pack a couple of sweaters and a fleece, but still looks better than the awful wet and windy weather in the UK! I didn’t know about “Cruiseoutlook” so especial thanks for that link. 

We’re on Azamara Journey at the beginning of January out of LA crossing to Hawaii and onto French Polynesia. Lots of sea days, but we’re wondering what the day time temperatures are likely to be?Anyone have any idea?

we are currently on Millennium cruising from Hong Kong to Tokyo. We were confused about the requirements for our one day visit to mainland China and phoned Celebrity for advice. They specifically told us we must get one in advance which cost £413.75 for 2 of us! Given that this is for only ONE day in China, this is exorbitant! Loads of other people on the ship had similar experiences with the same advice from Celebrity reps in different countries. However on the ship we have been told that we didn't need one and that they would do a group visa for $10.

How can the offices around the world not know that!

We feel that any passengers having this incorrect advice should firstly complain to their office of Celebrity, then claim the cost back from them and if Celebrity won't pay up, then start court action against them.