tiger13

I am on Celebrity Solstice right now…cruise ends at port of Seattle.

We got the notice yesterday  that this service is offered by Celebrity,

form to request it must be turned in by tomorrow which is day 5 of our 7 night Alaska sailing.

• Ship:  Solstice
• Length of Cruise: 7 night Alaska 
• Cruise Sail Date: 5/26/23
• Date email offer received:  no email I  contacted them in early April 
• Captain’s Club Tier:  Elite +
• Booked through Celebrity Direct OR via TA: TA
• Current Cabin: Aqua Class 
• Bid?  Yes/No:  YES

If YES -  Bidding Details:                                       
                                Min-max bid.        MY BID

    Royal Suite         $ 900 - 2250        $ 1630

    Celebrity  Suite   $ 700 - 1750       $  1210 

    Aqua Suite          $ 600 - 2400        No bid
    Sunset Sky          $ 500 - 2000       No bid 

     Sky Suite            $ 500 - 1250       $ 905   

• Cabin Category: Sky Suite
• Bid Offer:  $905 accepted 
• Notification Date:  4/27/23
• Accepted / Rejected:  Accepted Sky Suite $905 pp

General Comments 

originally put in bid and about 10 days later the  RS & CS showed expired while SS showed pending …nothing ever changed so I emailed Move Up questioning why are they expired and they reversed the expired and made all pending again…two weeks later then  noticed same thing again and no option to cancel or modify …today was notified received upgrade …also to point out the min-max bid range actually went up on the categories I had not bid on ….originally paid extremely low price for the Aqua cabin so didn’t mind paying extra for the upgrade

I believe those padded chairs in the upper bleacher area are reserved for suites….at least they are on other ships…I have not been on Wonder yet so can’t say for sure but I know that area is reserved on several other ships .  Most suites use the private suite sun deck but they keep that area for those that like to be near a pool.

It makes sense…..they are simply showing an example of how the cruise line could advertise if a fuel charge was added

they were simply stating that keeping it hidden is to the cruise line advantage from a marketing standpoint 

lower price attracts more attention

OPTION  1 

this shows leaving price as is and adding the surcharge in the fine print 

under    *fees SURCHARGE and tax 

“From $999 per person*”

* plus fees, surcharge and tax

OPTION 2

this is showing they added the 10 per person per day fuel charge to the base price of cruise instead of 999 increased to 1099 to account for fuel charges 

“From $1099 per persn”*

* plus fees and tax

Thank you all very much for your replies.   That’s exactly what I needed to hear.  We will stick with the corner aft Sky suite 2153

Thanks again for all the comments !!

Any info from those who have actually been in these suites would be greatly appreciated …..

Will be on Silhouette in a Sky Suite and am wondering about noise on deck 12 being under the Oceanview Cafe

Deck 12 - cabins 2123 thru 2135 which are on side of ship under Oceanview Cafe (carpeted portion)

Deck 12  - corner aft 2153 under the outside dining area of Oceanview Cafe (outside non carpeted)

Deck 8   -  corner aft 8347

Deck 7   -  corner aft 7309

I’ve been in suites and aft cabins so I know the benefits but I’m really asking specifically just about noise 

I only ask because I once stayed in the top suite on a RCL ship and heard very loud  rolling carts thru out the day and night 

so I have not stayed in Silhouette sky suites and wondered if they have same issue or are better insulated from noise

would love to hear from anyone who has actually stayed in any of these suites

You will not have a dining room table however GS have a very nice counter to put all the food then you can either sit on the balcony or use the little table near the couch.  As others have said it all comes at once so does tend to get cold but it is nice to pick and choose what you want to order.  Dont forget to order everything you will need such as salt pepper ketchup etc...

Enjoy !!

Yes...once  on ship you can switch anyone you like from one room to another.

You can go down to guest services and they will make it official so that all keys and charge accounts are changed as well.  But I would wait til the lines settle down on first day.  You will need both people to go down to guest services together to make the change.

IMO there is nothing wrong with staying on the ship to be last off, you are not delaying anyone and sitting by the pool is not interfering with any workers.  Just be off by the time they ask and dont have them need to announce your name.

As for FLL,  I too have flown home from there many times.  One time the line was so long it snaked around the entire airport.  I waited in this line only to finally get to the front and be told you are too early only flights within 2 hours are allowed past this point.  Lesson learned, next time I went to FLL and saw a long lone I went to the front and asked the "guard" if there were any restrictions and she said NO so I went and waited in the line.

Apparently FLL does put 2 hour restrictions on checking in when they feel they are overwhelmed with passengers and I assume this was a day when several ships had all got into port on the same day.

That being said, I would stay on ship as late as they allow  and no reason to go to airport so early, find something to do in the area.  BTW someone HAS to be last off the ship, so no one should feel guilty about being that person, unless of course they keep calling your name over the announcement, in which case they are trying to close out the sailing and you ARE indeed holding them up.  Enjoy your cruise !!

There is plenty to drink besides water for free.  They have iced tea or lemonade in all dining rooms as well as flavored water in various places such as park cafe, solarium, and the buffet just to name a few.

If you like specialty coffees and mixed drinks then sure maybe the package is worth it but consider how much you think you will drink and the costs for you to buy packages for both of you.

If you are only concerned about not having anything to drink without buying a package that’s just not true.  There has always been plenty of free beverages on every ship esp the larger ones such as Allure.

Nashna you’re thinking is correct...just add people to the cabins that will allow it...who sleeps where doesn’t matter once the cruise starts you can move them around.

For that matter put an adult in the rooms for namesake only if  that’s what it takes to get the cabIns you need where you want.

and you are correct....what should have happened a year ago isn’t worth debating so just move on and do what you need to 

BTW kids sail free going n as of yesterday, however, as usual they raised prices to make up for the sale....you may still be able to get a better deal 

true.....figure out what your portion of the upgrade would be so you can then split the cost and pay them your share up front

However, I’m not sure how you know what the cost for them to upgrade to your GS would have been since there aren’t any available 

Are you saying the $1000 is the cost for them to upgrade from their current cabin to the one you actually want or is that the cost to upgrade from your GS ?

if it’s $1000 total to get you both the better cabins that’s a heck of a deal IMO

then you just gotta trust they will swap cabins once on the ship LOL

Good Luck !!

Oh yes that would be correct....the two upgrade perhaps equal out so your idea might just work....def worth calling to check it out 

Balsam that might seem the easiest thing to do only problem is the price to upgrade will surely be higher going from a balcony compared to going from a GS.

So the just buy it then swap plan won’t really work

That said, should be easy enough to call royal directly and ask the agent to make the two changes for you at same time.....I’ve done this before and it really depends on the agent taking your call...usually they will do their best to assist you

just be sure to have all info for both cabins when you call...prob best to call when you have other family on the call with you

I am on Symphony on 12/15 this year and the menus for MDR, Coastal Kitchen as well as every specialty restaurant are listed in the Royal App...they even list breakfast lunch and dinner

If my December cruise has the menus then I’m sure yours will as well. It’s really quite easy to to use and a wealth of info regarding your specific cruise.

Fresh squeezed is only given if requested but if you have the drink package then it is free so I had it every morning.

The Star perks are worth it in my opinion......You get a lot more than just on and off the ship quick which is a total pleasure all on its own...but besides that you get :All Specialty restaurants

Full Drink package

Internet

Gratuities included

Now at first I thought the whole idea of the "Genie" was a bit much and didn't think I'd use it but turns out made things so much nicer. We never had to wait for a thing, we were escorted not only to the front of the lines but through special entrances to avoid crowds. We cruise a lot and don't need much so often would not call her, but the minute we called front desk for something simple we would get a call from our genie immediately. They want you to use them exclusively as if they are your own personal guest services desk. And we did not have to put any luggage out the night before, instead they picked up our luggage in morning and genie walked us off the ship all the way to front of the line right to the customs desk. Again, that may sound snobbish but in this case you are paying for special service and you certainly get what ya pay for. It made for an incredible stress free vacation.

CRUISEFAN....awesome pictures.....that is the exact one we were in as well and will be doing again in July. It really is the perfect location as it is away from the crowds yet still in view of everything

As I recall from our January trip, they were in the processing of building two new cabanas over near those four...but instead of building maybe they were repairing or something...but they sure looked like new construction.

There was damage years ago actually to the two over by them selves and they were shut down for use while we were there but I can't remember exactly when that was....so when people talk about the damaged ones I think they are referring to long ago when there were only a total of 4 over the water and 2 were out of commission...this was when we rented our first one...even tho there were 4 only two were in use....since then they repaired the 2 damaged and added two more and I believe are adding another 2

Ok...so I have been to both and certainly ANY cabana is a treat.

But the big difference by far is at barefoot far less people both in chairs and in the water and much quieter all around. At Nellies by the peak time of day it is wall to wall people. Went there in January and went over to Nellies...turned around and left cuz it was literally a sea of people.

Some say the buffet is a bonus but that really makes no difference to me at all.

As for renting them...you cannot rent the Barefoot cabanas in advance. You can reserve them in advance but can not actually book and pay like you do with Nellies. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you can keep your nellies reservation until you find out if you can reserve on barefoot and if so, then cancel. Nellies for a refund.

Only way you can reserve barefoot in advance is if you get in touch with the concierge. I did that last time and the one coming up in July, but both these are when we were within 6 weeks of sailing. The other time I did it on the ship the day before we arrived at Labadee.

BTW the H3 H4 H5 cabanas behind OW7 & OW8 look close by but you can't even see them as they are up on a hill...

B2 is the only cabana anywhere near OW7 & OW8 and it is to the left and far enough behind that honestly I don't even know if they were rented because never looked behind me...B2 is what I am renting July 5 sailing

I emailed the concierge about six weeks ago and he reserved it for my sailing,

The first time I did not rent it until actually on the ship but the last two did it in advance....all three times I received the standard welcome email from the concierge almost exactly one week prior to the cruise and the letter included detailed descriptions, prices and maps of the cabanas

I have rented the OW cabanas 3 times with the next one coming up in July,

The first time I rented what that map is currently showing as OW5

However when I rented it there were only a total of four OWs

So what is called OW5 now was OW1 when I rented it the first time

And it was as previous replies stated...heaven...however now that there are six clumped together a little more activity on that side now...unless you actually stay in your cabana the whole time

The last two times I rented OW7 on the map which I actually like much better,

Far less people and activity on this side of the beach and only one other cabana so very few people even walking by you or even in the water on this side and an awesome view of the ship...I'm quite certain the photo in the 2014 calendar is taken from this cabana because my personal photo is identical

In July we are renting the beach cabana for the first time because we have 6 year old grandson with us and figure it will be easier for him and rest of us watching after him going from water to cabana to sand etc...

I'm certain you will enjoy ANY over the water cabana

Adult soda package is 6.50 per day

Royal Replenishment is $20 per day

So difference will be $13.50 per day per person

For the record....the flyer she sent specifically states:

" Kids 6-12 now dine at Specialty restaurants for only $8 ! Ages 5 and under eat FREE ! Plus little sailors get their own menu - a round-up of kid friendly favorites from the "grown ups" menu. "

So still not exactly clear on who gets what menu...does that statement mean kid menu for under 5 or all kids....not really clear. I didn't bother following up because I don't intend to bring kids.

Well I won't be bringing the kid to Chops but I will ask nonetheless

There we go. The dumbness is official.

Marci

I assume that comment was not directed at me but rather RCL...

Just to explain...it was not just any RCL rep....I actually saw the email from an East Coast Area Mgr that went to all travel agents in this reps territory...so I'm pretty sure this is accurate and not just he said she said going down the line

You do realize not all posts are gossip....some are facts :)

She sent me this because I am bringing family in July on Oasis and will have one 6 year old among us....although I am in the camp with the people who prefer NOT to have kids in Chops...12 and up maybe....but I would never subject a little one to a two hour fancy dinner ...wouldn't be enjoyable for me or the kid...let alone other passengers

Kids prices are all the time....nothing to do with first night only

TA got it verified from the RCL rep