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This was a nonrefundable deposit situation, I take it? If you don't make a final payment but you have a refundable deposit, wouldn't your cruise be canceled but you get the money back? Or do you have to specifically notify them of the cancellation before it takes effect? Meaning, if you miss final payment, they don't automatically take that as the cancellation notice. I've never been in this situation (and hope to never be) but curious how it works from a process standpoint.

I don't think any of the restaurants are worth the full-price up-charge, especially considering that your fare already includes dining priced into it. If you can get a discount and/or pay with OBC, then it's nice to try something different or to satisfy your curiosity. However, if you're fine with the dining that's already included with your fare and don't want to be adventurous, then I think you have your answer. Another part of the equation: what does your traveling partner want to do? And if they say "whatever" are they deferring to your stumbling block or do they really not care?

Thanks for the data point. I saw another recent trip report from December that said it was open on their ship as well, which is why I was wondering. I'll have to find that again to see if it was the same ship. I'm ok with family time when the weather turns but don't understand why they would continue to do it when it's nice outside.

I hope that this 4-7pm thing isn't permanent as that is when I prefer to use the solarium. Is it cool or raining during this cruise? Or is it normal, nice weather?

Not sure why you would bother with calling back multiple times to have a note added to the reservation. It will only be an issue if you end up cancelling, and those agents at that time will be seeing the same info that a current one will.

It's always presented as if it's the insurance companies that are imposing restrictions but the choice is one the company is making. I think passengers should be made more aware of that fact.

There are a few threads about changes to drink packages being effective today. Probably will want to wait until X finishes those changes in their systems to know what's possible or call someone and ask them directly.

"Can someone please tell me what Celebrity's dress code is?" "No! TheHawk1 says we're not allowed to tell you!"

You can contact the agency for your state that issues birth records to make sure that the certificate you have is the one they issue. If not, you can order one from them. Is this Ohio? https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/vital-statistics/how-to-order-certificates One other consideration when traveling without a passport is if he were to miss the ship in a port, then how he catches up to the ship can be limited. If you think you're going to start going on cruises more often, it does make the most sense to just get a passport so you don't have to worry about it.

With respect, I think it's a different calculation for those like teachers who have limited travel opportunities based on their work schedules. I would advocate for making the most of a summer vacation, and a trip to Europe by land would be a better way to do it IMO. Doubly true for someone's first time going unless they truly just want the cruise experience and don't really care much about the ports. I say this as someone who likes to cruise, too, so it's not a knock on doing that--just a different experience than a land trip.

If you've never been to Europe, I would not choose a cruise as the first experience. Cruises only providing a sampling of the places they visit and it's a very narrow view better suited to those who have already been there on land trips. I think you're getting too hung up on the "deal" for the airfare. If you have to spend a little more to get there but ultimately have a better trip, isn't that the best outcome? Italy is easy to DIY with a mix of trains and day trips from Venice, Florence, and Rome. Get a guidebook and log in to some other travel forums for all the tips you would need. If you insist on a cruise, I'd also factor time in port when making the decision of which one and where.

Any of the Fairmont ones are nice but the Waterfront is the most convenient. Any on the top 50 listed on TripAdvisor would be worth considering. It really depends on where you want to be in the city and what is important to you in a hotel in addition to how much you're willing to pay. The ports of call board is really a better place for this discussion and there are already lots of recommendation threads there, too. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/23-canada-alaskapacific-coastal/

As noted above, it could get them kicked off the ship as a guest conduct violation. You could be in trouble too depending on your response when they come to you about it, especially if the 16-yr-old is involved. Maybe I missed where you are sailing from, but if it's from North America, the 19-yr-old is too young to have booked the room (must be 21), so they're both on your reservation even if it's in a different room, meaning you are the responsible party. I personally would make sure the steward emptied the minibar, if you think it might be an issue. I wouldn't trust that staff is going to turn a blind eye.

The ride up is the same as the ride down but you might see something you missed. If there is an opportunity to do the VIP car, I would consider that. I don't know if X offers it, though. It has limited capacity if they do, so it might already be sold out.

I really don't understand the rationale for staying on ship's time. I agree it's more confusing than not with most everyone's devices automatically updating to local time and sometimes not until you get off the ship. I've only had it happen once in one port but no reason was given.

I'll be curious to see which way Celebrity goes with this one. If you don't need further service and the ex-MIL is doing her job with no issue, then not sure I'd bother. She ultimately loses the commission on it so it will probably inflame any tensions that already exist if she's asked to give it up. OTOH I can understand not wanting her to have a say over any part of it, particularly if you're afraid she's going to do something you don't want her to do. If you won't lose a deposit, you could also just cancel outright. Was the ex also going on this trip? How is that working now? If you keep the booking with her and book another on the ship, be sure you let the future cruise people know that you don't want the booking going to your existing TA.

I had this same concern a few years ago on a similar trip and we also took the birth certificate just in case. Was a non-issue using just the passport, which expired a few weeks before the end of the trip. Mexico only requires that your passport be valid for however long you're staying. But you are also correct that on a closed-loop cruise from the U.S., you can use the other documents in lieu of a passport, so also no need to go the expedited route to get it fixed before the trip.

I wouldn't bank on anything the app says this far in advance. Maybe look at a current sailing on the same ship and see what they're doing for a better idea. They do rotate the menus but I'm not sure if it's on a set schedule and of course each ship can (will) do things differently. I assume you know access to Blu is limited to AquaClass by your comment. The only guests that I have heard about are if a single person is traveling alone in AquaClass and wants to invite someone in to dine with them, or if you're in a suite and there is space available. However, if he just wants a picture, it wouldn't hurt to ask the maitre d' if & when it would be possible to take a quick peek.

The Global Entry card can also be used as Real ID. I keep mine in my wallet. The legislation that created this requirement was fraught with issues from the beginning, which is why it's taken so long, and I'll be surprised if the deadline doesn't get pushed back again for one reason or another. People of all political stripes oppose it. A famous example was ACLJ (evangelist Pat Robertson's conservative legal organization) standing with the ACLU in opposition at a press conference.

If this is your first Celebrity cruise, you will spend time either comparing it to other lines you've been on or just taking it in if you're on on your first cruise. Your second X cruise you will spend comparing it to your first. By the third one, you'll fully realize how inconsistent the product is. Know that, accept it for what it is, and you'll tend to be more pleased with the overall experience. I often have issues with that, myself. I don't find it unreasonable to think that the bartenders should make the same drink the same way, for example, but you often will not find that on X. OP, if you have been traveling in this level of suite on other lines, I think you'll find a lot you like but probably a lot that doesn't compare to other lines, especially if they're the upmarket ones.

HAL did something similar in 2019 (theirs was $10 for a second entrée) and people are still talking about it even though the test only lasted a few weeks and was abandoned due to the overwhelmingly negative outcry. Not very popular, needless to say. I would be extremely annoyed if I were on a sailing that was conducting such a test that I couldn't opt out of. I don't like being forced to be a guinea pig, especially when I'm the one paying for the experience.

The bivalent boosters are not currently required but they could always add that as a requirement, especially if CDC updates its definition of "fully vaccinated." I belong to an organization that just switched to that requirement this week, with proof of needing the bivalent booster by end of November.

I really don' t think this can be resolved before you get on the ship. Maybe if you ask the suite concierge in advance, they might be able to find out the real answer, but this is one of those processes that the people in a call center are not going to have any idea of how it will really be handled on the ship. Having both parties present at check-in was a pandemic-era change. With those rules changing so much, I bet they'll be able to be a little more flexible than they were even just a few months ago, especially since you will have already been cleared to be on the ship as part of the B2B process.

A bit silly to base this opinion on the basis of what was supposedly said by a single waiter in Luminae (not even the manager) with heaps of speculation thrown in by a YouTube presenter. That said, let's pretend what is being said was what was really said and that it was true. I agree that Celebrity should focus on the total experience in a venue versus individual service. Note that he clearly says "in a venue" and not for the entire ship. If true, that should make for a more consistent experience in that venue. How often have you gone to the Martini Bar and gotten the same drink made different ways, depending on who is making it? Many of them wildly different. If the total experience is not up to par because employees are not being consistent or working as a team to make it consistent, then that is a bad look for the company. This will put pressure on the poor performers to either get better or get out. That's the theory, anyway. Of course, the truth is probably somewhere between the two versions.

When in suite class, I always order three drinks at a time. One to drink, one to dump on the floor, and the third one to throw when I don't like how they cleaned up the second one.