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1 hour ago, Loryl said:

Hi fellow Cruisers,

I'm hoping you can help us.  The last celebrity ship (the latest but not greatest) we sailed on we were assured that the ship had pickleball courts. This was not correct. I am taking the solstice to Asia in November. Of course we would love to play,  but  would prefer not to pack all our gear, shoes and clothes if there are no pickleball courts. Thanks everyone!

Have you found ANY ship that has pickle ball?  I hear wind is an issue when the ship is in motion?

23 minutes ago, gerif said:

I might be mistaken but I believe club soda has a higher sodium content. 

I believe that is correct.

“Club soda is infused with mineral salts to enhance its taste and fizz. These include potassium sulfate, sodium chloride, disodium phosphate, and sodium bicarbonate. Seltzer is made similarly to club soda but generally doesn't contain added minerals, giving it a plainer taste.”

6 hours ago, cruisetonowhere10 said:

Maybe…DH drinks a Celsius a day for caffeine (bad habit, I know.) They well little packets that you just add in which “might” be easier than carrying them on board.  Plus, we have the premium package so it wouldn’t cost extra for the beverage part.

I drink seltzer and club soda but I prefer club soda.  I don’t care for San Pellegrino and only drink it when I can’t get Perrier.  I think you can get club soda in cans.

13 minutes ago, clarkgriswold said:

Thank you for making that point clear. I had missed it.

 

My assumption is either the app will tell us which specialty dining restaurant(s) will be open at boarding time to help with reservations; or a member of the crew can point us in the right direction. (Would be great if they could be done via the app once you are onboard.)

The app will tell you hours which are usually correct.  A crew member can certainly tell you. I find the website is the best way to book BEFORE the cruise.

3 hours ago, andrewp said:

 

I was looking at the specialty restaurants.  Is there one that is better suited for the kids to join us (if you've sailed on Apex)?  They are well behaved and have eaten in fine dining before, they definitely have better taste in food that I did when I was a kid, neither will eat from a kids menu.

In my experience, if the kids are well behaved, they are welcome anywhere.  I used to work with the technology they use for Le Petit Chef but have never wanted to try that.  But maybe I will on our next cruise.  I've heard mixed reviews about the food quality.

On the Eclipse for the Daniel Boulud dinner there were three kids with their parents.  The kids were next to us and seemed a bit bored.  I'm not sure if that was before or after I told them my life story.  They seemed to like the food well enough.

51 minutes ago, clarkgriswold said:

This is so helpful. To be clear, we need to visit each specialty dining restaurant individually?

 

Also, do they have staff there to handle the bookings (We board at 11:30 and suspect the restaurants will not yet be open.

Tyler explained you go to one restaurant to make ALL bookings.  What I would do is check hours for a few restaurants.  I think Sushi on 5 is open early so that might be a place you can make your reservations.  I wouldn't wait too long.

9 minutes ago, leaveitallbehind said:

On a different note I believe RCCL Voyager and Freedom class ships have a large jetted hot tub in the spa.

Can children use the spa or is it adult only?

We were recently on the Eclipse.  Good ship.  Yes I think it’s worth it.  I’m on Millie next with the bench warm seat.  How do you relax sitting next to someone?  Next you’ll tell me I have to share the steam room.

3 hours ago, Laurab23 said:

The Daniel Boulud is prepared by the ship chef,correct? The email makes it sound like Chef Boulud is preparing it.

 

Laura

No Daniel is not cooking the food.   I think he was on a cruise when this got started.

1 hour ago, leaveitallbehind said:

I don't know, do you apologize?  There just is no point or value to the majority of the comments.   If the shoe fits....

Polite people apologize for causing distress.  What else can I do for you?

3 hours ago, leaveitallbehind said:

And this three year old thread was resurrected for this???  Sorry, just don't get it.

I apologize?  Sometimes it happens.

50 minutes ago, patty1955 said:

 

Does it ever change?  I don’t sail for 8 months.  On Millie in Bali.

1 hour ago, miched said:

If the ship still has a library you will find a few of the cookbooks that people left. 
 

We did a chefs table.   I had a premium drink pack.    I mention that to the sommelier.   He suggested a red wine.   I tried it and it was ok, nothing special just red wine.  I am not a wine expert or connoisseur.   I asked if it was covered by the package and he said yes it is $10.   Fine.   My glass would get between 1/2 and 3/4 full and he would top it off.   At the end of the dinner and he started to top it off again and I told him not to.    I think I left about 3/4 of it.   He then gave me a bill to sign.  It was for 6 glasses of wine at $10 per plus the gratuity.  I asked why I was getting it and he said because it was $10 over the premium allowance.   I didn’t want to make a scene so I signed it.  It was for $72.    I took the receipt and went to GR and told them the problem.   The next day I got a call.   The charge was taken off and they were sorry for the misunderstanding.  
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Thanks for that.  Like you I bet a lot of us go with the premium package so we are NOT charged.  I’ll watch that.

1 hour ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 I guess you have never met anyone who was the off spring of an alcoholic parent that put alcohol about everything else in their life.  

 

 Sometimes I have to question your sense of humor and this is one of those times. 

 

I apologize.

2 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 I wish it was only $5,000.  If it was then I would have no problem paying $158.00 each for a mean when there is free food readily available. 

 

 

My husband doesn’t let me tell people what we spend on cruises.  It’s more than $158.  If I spend more than that I consider a dinner here or there part of the overall expense.

I liked the last Boulud dinner for the reason my husband does not.  The company.  I sat next to some teenagers who were with their parents.  I talked to them briefly but they were quite rude.  They stopped listening to my life story long before I got to my 5th job.

I think my husband thought we would all sit there debating whether French Bordeaux was better in 1967 or 1973.  But no, we are not that special.

3 hours ago, MandL said:

We were in a suite and invited to the Chef’s Table on the Millennium in March. It was a great experience. The Galley tour alone is better than the typical Galley Tour.  As for the wine, the Sommelier will try to upsell you the $60 per person (plus gratuity). Not worth it.  The wine is not free flowing.  You are better off with using your Premium wine package and upgrade if you choose.

Dinner was fabulous, along with photograph and cookbook.  A one time experience.  

What was the excess baggage charge for the 50 pound cookbook?  On the Eclipse we were never offered it.

Thanks for the advice.

8 hours ago, markeb said:

 

Are you going to skip the wine pairing? I know it gets ridiculous at some point, but I want to believe it's curated for the menu. Which unfortunately the standard wines won't be. But the wine pairing can also be a LOT of wine, and at some point you stop appreciating it. (Years ago on I think Brilliance of the Seas we did a Chef's table that automatically came with the wine pairing. It was a great dinner. I rarely do wine pairings, even though I understand the theoretical benefit.)

I was going to skip it but someone told me it is a LOT of wine, lol.  Honestly the last time I liked the food but the wines weren’t memorable.  I usually take notes if they’re good.  
 

Plus there is little time to ask questions about the wine since they are so busy.  I’ll probably skip the wine pairing and use our premium package.  

We booked Aqua a few times then Sky Suite twice.  We will probably go back to Aqua unless prices are really great.  The MDR was good for lunch last time since. Blu doesn’t do lunch.  I want to avoid the MDR or buffet on port days for breakfast when I have an early excursion.

1 hour ago, cheeseheads4ever said:

Wow ! Seriously ! $158 a person? You got to be kidding me. All I can say is….

ENJOY!

I’m joking with you but….  
 

$5,000 cruise?  No problem!

$158 dinner?  Too expensive.
 

2 minutes ago, justcrusn said:

Someone wiser than me once said about aqua class

“They took the worst cabins and gave them the best restaurant” 

Indeed most aqua cabins are under an overhang with little skyview and sometimes noise from the public deck above. But in reality they aren’t the WORST location….

We absolutely love Blu, would eat there over mdr in a heartbeat.

And not to be picky, but you don’t just have access to Blu, it is your assigned restaurant.

You’re right.  They aren’t in the engine room.

Yes.  There is a reason I book Aqua and it's not for the cabin locations under the pool!  It's for Blu.  Last time we did eat in the MDR for lunch on Eclipse and it was good.  

Thanks all.  I went ahead and booked it.  It may not be perfect but it's a nice alternative considering we won't have Murano.  With gratuities I think the total was $380+ so pretty expensive but it's only one happening once.

Would anyone care to share what they paid for it or if the price I see is reasonable?  I’m guessing $157 pp is before gratuity and without wine pairing.

Since we're in the Retreat I don't know that we want to do many specialty restaurants.  My husband likes Tuscan, I like the Daniel Boulud dinner.  On Millennium, without a Murano it seems that the Boulud dinner is more interesting.  Does it often sell out before the cruise?  I'm trying to figure out what's a decent price for it.  Right now it's on a small discount of $157.99 per person.  We have some OBC coming on board and there could be a better sale so I'm debating whether to do it and when to book.  I'm guessing there is no chance they will do the Veuve Clicquot dinner.

Lavazza is ok but I prefer Illy and Peet’s at home.