cruzdude1

Hello all, I want to book a cruise on Royal Carribean Symphony, 11/2021. 
what is the best way to book and leave myself options to get a better deal later or take advantage of sales?  
 

Should I book with the cruise line directly, or book with a TA, or book with the cruise line and then transfer the booking? 
 

I don’t think I have ever booked this far out. Thanks. 

I was on a cruise to Alaska in 2015, I took a helicopter excursion. While admiring nature a gust of wind buffeted the chopper. Hard.
 

 I realized in an instant that I could die up there. Tragically a few weeks later, one of those helicopters crashed and killed the occupants onboard. 

Years ago, before the world became litigious, these incidents were known as, “Acts of God.”  Unfortunately, as soon as something happens today people look to sue. 
 

Sometimes s**t happens. 

On 10/31/2019 at 8:24 PM, chemmo said:

 

Eclipse is not being Revolutionised until 2021 so you cannot drop your hand luggage off as you board, you will have it with you until just after 1pm.

 

Sushi on 5 has a per item charge but also offers set price offers. Opening hours vary so check on your ‘Today’.

 

Poolside Grill is free, again check your ‘Today’ for opening times.

 

 

You will not go without good food on a Celebrity ship. For breakfast and lunch there is a very well stocked buffet (the Indian section is excellent), the MDR has wide menu choices, there is free room service until 11pm with its own menu or the option of ordering from the MDR during opening times plus the venues like the Aqua Spar Cafe and the Mast Grill.

 

See the speciality restaurants as ‘options’ just as spar treatments are or excursions. They are there if you want them but you don’t have to use them...Why not do a bit of research and see if you fancy trying at least one of them? Most cruisers see speciality restaurants as a nice option for the odd night...There are packages available and deals on board.

 

We have cruised on Eclipse on three occasions and thoroughly enjoyed, hope you do too.

 

We were in the Edge last year and the Indian food was a Great. 

Why do people book the cruise and then transfer it to a travel agent? 
when/ how do you do it?

before or after you pay for it?

thanks

4 hours ago, hcat said:

 

Ouch..Are the bed and couch that close to each other`?  Maybe a small  towel wrapped around the couch leg would help...

 

Thanks for the reminder...We will close the  veranda window upon leaving the toom..that should be automatic.  Would not want to come back to any surprises..like seagulls!

When I say wind tunnel effect, I mean if you leave the veranda window open and try to leave the room the suction is so strong the door is hard to hold. The first time it happened it totally got away from my wife. I promise you if someone was walking by they would have been injured. 

I like the towel idea. 

Wind tunnel effect is real with the veranda window open if you leave the stateroom. 

The he bed was the most comfortable I have had on a cruise. 

We had the bed by the closet, I slept on the side near the veranda, twice I stubbed the hell outof my toe on the base of the sofa next to the bed. 

1

We cruised on the Edge 12/9/18, great service, food, love the dinner concept. There is no way I will ever book an IV again. It is a glorified ocean view. When we cruise I love sitting on the veranda. It was locked often. I remember numerous times I told the wife I needed to get out of the cabin because I felt confined without veranda access. 

That was my original ridiculous point. 

59 minutes ago, DYKWIA said:

 

Presumably , using this logic, if you can afford a knackered old Ford , you can also afford a brand new Rolls Royce Phantom 

 

This feels like when a politician states there is no such thing as poverty - just people who make bad lifestyle and spending choices. Anyone with any common sense knows they’re talking a load of nonsense.

 

if you have no savings, have to sell your home, rent a room with family, and live off Mac and Cheese for a year  for the sole purpose of funding a holiday in  a suite vs a regular cabin then I think most right-minded people would say that by any reasonable definition you can’t afford the Suite and perhaps should take a cheaper holiday or put off the suite idea for a few years..  

If you have no savings wisdom would say you should not book a cruise...at any level. It’s discretionary spending. 

I am a big fan of delayed gratification! If it’s that important put off the idea for a few years, but it is attainable. 

Funny, when I didn’t have the money I wanted many things, once I acquired the money that provided me the opportunity to indulge myself these things became less important to me. 

I love the idea of people setting goals and working to achieve them. Be it a beat up ford or a phantom. 

1 hour ago, Presto2 said:

 

 

 

What are you talking about?

 

If you read my original message I was agreeing that people who pay more for a cabin should be able to get all of the perks that those who have not paid for that particular grade don't get. I totally agree that anyone who has paid for a suite should have access to parts of the ship that others may not get. If they have paid for it, then I have no problems with that at all and don't see why you think I meant otherwise. I paid CC last year and enjoyed perks --- can't afford CC this time so won't expect the perks.

I have NEVER made a comment about class on a cruise ship and will never do so.

 

I just didn't like the comment that everyone can afford a suite --- not they can't. Its life. I accept that in the same way that I accept that I can have a new car but not a Rolls Royce.

 

The comment about my cheque book and what is important to me and the pillow comment (whatever it means) --- what did I do to offend you ???!!!

 

After 5,969 posts I would like to think I am a pretty friendly member of CC and frankly am quite taken aback by the tone of your posts. Whatever, it is Christmas and we all get stressed so I would like to wish you a Happy Christmas and best wishes for 2019.

I never said everyone can afford a suite. 

Tone of my posts = no tone , words on a screen. 

We can disagree, maybe even misunderstand each other, butYou labeled my previous post ridiculous. ( no need to interpret tone there)

You being, “taken aback” by something I wrote. I am really not that significant. 

I am mystified by this “tone” you keep speaking of. 

I am not stressed, 

9 minutes ago, Presto2 said:

 

Sorry, but I think that this is a ridiculous comment. Most people spend their money on what they NEED not what they want or value. If people can spend money on just the latter two then they are very fortunate. I would say that we balance what we need alongside our preference for a holiday and our IV balcony cabin for our 25th anniversary is stretching things at the moment.

 

Good luck to anyone who is able to afford a suite, you are very lucky cruisers, but please don't tell those of use who can only dream of one that we could afford one if our priorities were different.

The fact that you can even take a cruise means you have more wealth than most people in the world. No one “needs” to go on a cruise, it is all discretionary spending.  Nobody has to make a choice between dinner tonight or a suite on a cruise ship.  The whole conversation regarding class on a cruise is hilarious. To bemoan the fact that people who spend more get more is a denial of capitalism itself.  People buy what they want and what they value, at whatever economic strata they occupy. Show me your checkbook and I will tell you what’s important to you. 

If you have an IV veranda on the EDGE you paid a premium for it, far more than for similar accommodations on a different ship. 

The dream of a suite.... flip your pillow. 

9 minutes ago, Presto2 said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 12/9/2018 at 11:06 AM, Presto2 said:

 

Part of me agrees with you and for us 'you get what you pay for'. If you book AQ you get the perks, if you book CC you get the perks etc etc. That's not a class separation to me it is just people who have paid more for a cabin getting a perk that comes with that cabin grade.

 

The only thing I would disagree with is the comment that 'Anybody can buy a suite'. I'd like to think that we have a pretty good income but there is no chance that we could afford a suite unless we sailed once every 5 years. If we could afford it we would love to try a suite and the perks. People are buying the service that they want and many, like us, are buying the service that they can afford.

 

Do we think it unfair that some folk have access to other parts of the ship that we would love to see? No . They've paid for it. Would we like to be able to afford it too? Oh yes 😉

Nowhere on a cruise contract does it state you have access to the whole ship. You can afford a suite if you wanted it, people spend their money on what the want and what they value. 

On 12/9/2018 at 11:06 AM, Presto2 said:

 

1 minute ago, Turtles06 said:

 

They mean the window is locked shut and can’t be opened by the guests who thought they had booked a veranda cabin. 

Correct!

We were moved to another cabin on deck 11, better view, but I would never pay for a veranda that was not at my disposal 24/7.

We are in Key West  this morning light rain and they disable the window, can’t sit on the veranda and enjoy the fresh air. I have to leave my veranda an go outside to find a covered outdoor space to enjoy the weather.

We ate dinner in Normandie last night, great meal!

2 hours ago, hcat said:

Wow...worse than the round hull balcony with obstructed view! Is that other cabin the suite with side window? , Also bad!

 

 This cabin should be red flagged as undesireable and be sold at very low fare...Totally riduculous. Sorry you got skunked by X

 

Hope you can move or get lots of  onbd credit..so you can spend your time elsewhere!

( Have you seen  or heard the MC move yet?)

 

Please post Cabin no and info on the Vt cruiser sticky on EDGE thread...they can  show pics and this is a beaut!

Cabin 10160. 

10 minutes ago, boscobeans said:

 

On most cruises there will always be a bit of rain here and there and I love sitting out on our veranda on one of those warm Caribbean days or nights protected from a gentle drizzle by the usual overhang of the veranda above.  With this IV concept I am worried that rain will be falling INTO what is the combination false veranda and stateroom space. So after a breeze and a gentle rain will we be faced with having a wet or at the least a damp, rained on bedroom floor and wet chairs?  Closing the window at this stage, even with the folding doors closed, will be an added load on the HVAC system just to reduce the humidity. Maybe awnings will be the next bright idea to resolve one of an obvious litany of tremendously expensive design errors. Imagine leaving the window open to listen to the ocean sounds as some do, although not a smart idea, while they sleep.  Imagine waking up after even a moderate rain soaks the floor.  I hope the stewards are prepared for dealing with soaking wet floors.

 

Besides being unsuited for catching a few rays or enjoying the openness of what has been for years a traditional veranda I wonder if maintenance on these power windows and blinds will prove to be a true headache due to inconvenience for the passengers and constant repair expenses for the cruise line?

 

The IV's  rely on two electrical motorized systems to function correctly.  These systems are located where??  On the exterior surface of an ocean going vessel where they will be constantly exposed to salt air and even salt spray. Just look at the accumulation of salt on you good old fashioned verandas each morning and from experience how many sliding doors on verandas feel like they are grinding sand after a few years.

 

I hope the motors, switches and needed to make them function are easy to maintain and or repair.

My point exactly! Wife likes to sleep in I like early morning on the balcony, motor is loud and goes on forever. Seems like a lot of moving parts to break. 

Came in after breakfast, I wanted to go on the balcony, light drizzle so they disabled the veranda window. My veranda once again became an overpriced ocean view. 

Horrible horrible design. Sliding glass door you control when you go out on the veranda. 

One suitcase full of luggage is wet, it appears that they let it sit in the rain! It was weird because they delivered it to us an hour and a half after they made the announcement that we could go to the rooms. All the other luggage was lining the hallway and ours wasn’t there. Funny, I remembered reading something on here about the porters so I tipped the guy to make sure I didn’t have a problem. 

Back to the martini bar!

We couldn’t be more disappointed. This is the photo of the “upgrade” we received for our guaranteed sunset veranda. Worst accommodations we have ever had. That orange railing carries the magic carpet.  

The window is another cabin. About 55% obstructed view. To make matters worse the veranda window can be disabled by the crew. This turns my veranda into an ocean view room. We have not opened it yet.  I have Always had a veranda because we like to sit out on it at all hours of the day or night. 

Promptly went to guest services to complain. I can see into the other room and they can see into ours!

I have cabin 10160. Wife saved the day. Iwe have been up over 24hours

I have cabin 10160. It doesn’t show up on the deck plan located on the app. 

I hate to put this here but after an hourlong if searching.....why do I have to sign in every time I come to this site? I keep looking for a “remember me” button

I wrote what the lady told me literally .

Priority embarkation 

afternoon savory

robes to use not to keep

 cotton towels

pillow menu

a bottle of sparkling wine (I have premium drink package)

tote bag

use of umbrella and binoculars 

free shoe shine

Called Celebrity again. I asked if there were any aft cabins available, I was initially told they had C-1 cabins available in the aft section of the ship, but I would have to pay for that. I asked how much and when the  representative came back she told me there were none available.