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If you all have iPhones, Wi-Fi calling is natively built in. You may need your carrier to unlock the function, though. For Android, you'd need to research the device. You should test all of this before you go on vacation. You can do this from your home by just turning your phone to airplane mode, connecting to Wi-Fi, and then trying to make or receive calls. If it doesn't work, then you need to contact your carrier to see what the next steps are to get it activated. Apps like WhatsApp or Google Voice you can test in advance the same way. Probably not a bad idea to test a couple different options and make sure everyone has them on their phones with any accounts needed already set up. Your original question as to whether it always works on the basic package? Reports vary. Some people say you can but many others say you have to upgrade. If you find it doesn't work on basic, you could always upgrade to a higher package once on the ship.

It depends on the fare they're paying for the lower room. On a 7-day cruise, add $1,400 for two people and I can see someone booked in a regular room getting close to the price of a sky suite on some itineraries. I never represented that this is true for all trips and of course there would be lots of caveats. I just don't buy that it's a great deal all the time. It's really a way to wring money out of those who want to add a bedroom to an existing suite.

That program to extend full retreat privileges to guests is also $99 per person per day for the length of the cruise. I bet in many cases the price differential isn't a substantial savings over everyone booking a retreat suite in the first place (and could even cost more). Since they seem to cap the number people who can do this, I bet all-in price is looked at when they're deciding who is eligible to book it in addition to capacity.

I believe Celebrity calls those beds that fold down from above an "upper bed" or "upper berth." Usually a triangle on the deck plans, if I remember correctly. I'm not sure that the Edge class ships have these at all but worth looking at a deck plan. A trundle would roll out from under the sofa bed. One person on the seat area and one person on the trundle makes a "Double Sofa Bed." I'm not sure that I've ever seen a traditional fold-out that would sleep two people; maybe on some of the older ships.

Past reports are that if someone is traveling solo in Aqua Class, they may be allowed to invite a guest to join them in Blu. Only exception that has been reported. Otherwise, no guests. Retreat guests paying for others to join them in Luminae is not guaranteed. Just like retreat guests being able to dine in Blu is not guaranteed. X gives themselves flexibility to manage demand.

You should read about the differences in classic versus premium. The all included is classic. If you want anything on premium, you either pay the difference in price per drink or you can upgrade to the premium package. But your classic package does include water (non-premium brands) and sodas (everything, they serve Coke products). https://www.celebritycruises.com/things-to-do-onboard/onboard-packages/beverage-packages/compare-packages

Yes. Most doctors say not to allow it if they're under 5. High temps can cause overheating and dehydration pretty quickly.

Generally you cannot change for free unless the dates of the cruise change (or you have a refundable fare). That's substantial enough that the cruise line has to be more flexible. In this day of penny pinching on their part, I think they're being less flexible with everything else. The point made about you having to pay the prevailing rate is also a big consideration; you may not get the same deal you currently have booked. I don't agree that calling and raising a "stink" is the proper thing to do. Throwing a tantrum to get your way? Not nice. Escalating to a different person, asking for an exception? Sure. The best point made by others is that you have no guarantee that they're not going to change the itinerary you move to as well. If you really need to be in a specific place at a specific time, better to fly and stay there than rely on a cruise ship. Or travel with your friends on their cruise so that at least you're all in it together.

I think they do give each other cover for unpopular changes but it's not a given that X will always follow suit. They are still run as separate lines. From a human capital perspective, something is going to have to give if they cannot fully staff ships across the industry. Expectations are already suffering, so the only thing left to do is change the expectations unless or until they can fully staff every ship.

If you have special dietary needs, you should plan to talk to the Maitre D' when you get on the ship and see what they can do to accommodate you. With advance notice they should be able to come up with something for the next day. The MDR and buffet can be more accommodating than special restaurants that have more limited menus, IMO. I wouldn't pay extra for access to any dining room if you're just a picky eater or have a lot of dietary restrictions.

Dr Pepper is bottled under contract with different bottlers, depending on the market. Sometimes it's with a Pepsi bottler and sometimes a Coke bottler and sometimes an independent bottler. A merger with Coke was stopped in the 90s. The freestyle machine availability is done under a separate license agreement. Same with fountain choices. I guess the supplier that Celebrity works with doesn't have access to Dr Pepper or they choose to not carry it on the ships.

Have you tried to re-confirm the jeans thing with Blu? I would be pretty upset if I got on a ship and they were enforcing a different dress code. If someone is going rogue, then that needs to be resolved, especially if it's a factor in you going elsewhere. Sorry to harp on dress code. Sounds like you are having a great cruise.

I bet they would have you debark in Victoria on that third cruise to make it legal. That has been a solution for some in the past, if I recall correctly. They seem to have this problem with this itinerary every year. At least they're now looking at it this far in advance. Sometimes there are posts on here where someone at Celebrity doesn't catch it until much closer to the cruise date. Solstice leaves on May 12 round-trip Vancouver, so that might be a possibility if you want to change ships after staying a night in Vancouver. Doesn't get you to Seattle, of course, but it has you on two cruises in a row. Other option would be to book another cruise line.

Short cruises that are over a long weekend tend to attract a different crowd, yes. Especially if it's relatively inexpensive and they have a drink package. That is also the weekend before Thanksgiving so airfare (especially on the return trip) might be more expensive than most weeks.

You had several answers to this question on your other thread as well. If you're nervous about the birth certificate you have in your possession, you can always order a new one from the state where the birth happened. They don't typically take long to process.

Jeans are ok in Blu. Must have misunderstood or they were misspeaking. Shorts are not. Glad they're enforcing the dress code (though I know they relax it on the first night due to luggage concerns).

Here is one thread about butlers: Here is another:

And since it's being reported to the IRS, make sure you report it on your taxes as income. There are ways to offset wins with losses but if you do that, you have to report all wins and all losses (so usually more trouble than it is worth). Consult your personal tax advisor, of course.

Could just as easily be on the agent's end as Celebrity's. Good to point out that it happened so that people are aware to double-check, though.

I wouldn't dispute the charge if they're working on a refund already. Disputes are for when a company won't work with you. It does take several days for the refund process to happen. No one else has been reporting this as an issue recently. Probably just a mistake. I'm not sure what X would get out of overcharging customers who already know what the final price is supposed to be. Are you and your friends using the same agent?

7-night cruises can only make it to the Western Caribbean because it's at least one sea day to sail through the Gulf and another to get back. 5-night cruises can make it to a Mexico stop in Cozumel or Costa Maya. I bet it would be hard to fill a ship consistently making those types of trips, especially with the existing competition from there. Maybe a repositioning cruise could be longer, but those are limited (Princess has one that does the Panama Canal on its way to the West Coast). I am from Texas originally. The reason I would never choose to fly to Galveston as a port is that it takes 45 minutes to over an hour to get from Houston airports to Galveston, which is a real dump. I have family I could stay with there, even, but the less time spent there, the better. Much better port cities practically anywhere else in the country.

Here is that recent thread where someone was told "no." Of course it can depend on where but seems like as a matter of policy they're not currently doing it.

It's called a downline debarkation and you have to have it approved in advance. Contact Celebrity directly and ask. There was another thread on here just in the last several days where a few people reported back that they were denied. They had suspended the policy during COVID so maybe still sticking to that for now. By Summer 2024? Who knows?

Surprised they don't plate that on a saucer so it at least looks bigger.

Dear Celebrity Executives: you could apparently add busing and dishwashing as a paid activity and some people would jump at the opportunity!