zitsky

45 minutes ago, HLR said:

Of course it's a gimmic...how could it be anything else? They're projecting a tiny man on your dinner plate. Jajaja!

It is pretty amazing how they use the Star Trek replicator / transporter thing to beam food onto your plate.  In 2024.  🙂

I worked with a company that did this back in 2000.  Not with food though.

I think with guarantee you get what's available but you can try to move.  I did a move up bid to Sky Suite which was nice.  We had a shower curtain in the bathroom but it was the Beyond so no leakage problems.

51 minutes ago, RichYak said:

I don't know what it is about IV cabins that makes some people so delusional.

I usually don’t get wet when I sit inside a room and close a window.  I see the poster is comparing a finite veranda with an infinite one.

16 minutes ago, cruisetonowhere10 said:

My only cruise to Alaska was with Disney (with my kids who went in the water in the outdoor pool.) I don’t know if Celebrity will have them open, but I wouldn’t discount outdoor swimming if she’s really into it.  Temps could also be warmer than expected (or colder) hard to predict this far out.  Our plan if the weather is nice in Seattle is to have embarkation day be a pool day for sure. 

 

The only problems I saw are 1) a family that didn't want to share their hot tub (it's a public, adult area!) and 2) so many kids in the pool that adults could not use it.  I wouldn't mind having family time if the kids would just stop calling me that old fat guy.

8 hours ago, katenmax2 said:

Same to you my fellow Vet!

 

I'm not versed on how specific country restrictions are about carrying on coffee beans.  I think grounds might be a better way to go but again, not sure.  I've only sailed on Mediterranean and Caribbean cruises and Celebrity allows us to bring onboard.  Never had an issue with customs in any airport (only brought them into Mexico though). As long as you keep the grounds onboard the ship upon embarkment and not take into port, I do not see any issue.

 

PS:  I retired here to sunny Florida after living for 15 years working in DC and living in Northern Virginia (Arlington)🙂.  I miss the seasons but after visiting at Christmas this last year, glad I made the move!

 

If you are going to tell people to travel with ground coffee, I may have to stop listening.

I did travel with ground coffee and a French press that doubled as a coffee cup thirty years ago on my trip across Russia and China.  I later used an Aeropress given to me by the inventor.  But back then, I was young and stupid.  😂

8 hours ago, 1Virgo said:

Perhaps you should let her know that she wont be spending a lot of time in a pool as weather definitely not the Caribbean.   We did Alaska during May and although it was warmer than normal, people wore spring jackets and hoodies and no one was in the pool.   This is a different cruise for her.  Prepare her

 

The Solarium, adults only pool area, may have a family time 4 - 7 pm. Depends on ship. We ve never seen a time longer. 

On our Patagonia cruise, as it got colder you would see kids and adults in the hot tubs at the main pool or on the solarium pool and hot tub.  We had family time for 2-3 hours daily.

Wow.  I would NOT like that at all.  So much for an adults only area.  Can I go to the kids club and play video games?

4 minutes ago, katenmax2 said:

Well, there are apples and oranges here.  Drip coffee makers often are so basic, they fail to bloom the coffee grounds - essential to producing a quality coffee without bitterness.  Even IF the drip coffeemakers - Read, I have one of the better ones - A Behmor Brazen 3 (for large pots, and it blooms coffee at my desired timing settings), they do not allow for the disposal of the initial first bloomed bean coffee disposal. These intital drippings are bitter.  A pour over method allows for the blooming as well as disposal of the intitial bitter coffee dripping.  More work, yes.  The result is a full flavored coffee without the bitterness.  Of course, ground size is an additional element in play. Pour over or espresso pour over, require a smaller grind than drip coffee makers.  It's a play to your taste like for both methods.

 

That all said, Al Bacio, onboard Celebrity has the best offerings for THEIR coffee vs bringing along one's own equipment and beans.  

 

If I booked a long cruise (say 28 days or better), you'd bet your life and hands down, I would bring along my own grinds and drip equipment. Yes, I AM a coffee snob but actually find Celebrity Al Bacio coffee tolerable - especially with an added shot or 2 of espresso.

 

I haven't heard about the full moon vs crescent moon but, think you are pulling my leg on that one.  And yes, I enjoy Ethiopian coffees as well. Kona, Jamaican Blue Mountain and select small grower Columbian are my favorites.

You mean to tell me that you bring your own espresso machine onboard, and they let you?

This is like the folks who tell me to put the $10 Lodi Cabernet in a decanter.  After I’ve aerated it, of course.

11 hours ago, CruisinNole said:

The infinite window was closed twice while on a Caribbean cruise. Both times it was due to severe thunderstorms. It was the first time that we were able to sit on our veranda during a storm. Didn't mind at all. I also believe that the windows are closed when being cleaned. 

Sorry?  Isn’t your veranda in an infinite veranda cabin INSIDE your cabin?  I would be surprised if you got wet.
 

On 4/13/2024 at 3:49 PM, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

Luminae is different.  Tips are pooled there.  Except for the sommelier, who should be tipped separately.  Sommeliers are part of the bar group, not the restaurant group.

 

Is the maitre’d included in the pool?  Our Beyond maitre’d was the most useless staff member I’ve ever seen.  

There is family time on cold weather cruises from 4 or 5 until 6 or 7.  Check the exact hours onboard.  It’s always nice if the kids are considerate of others because some adults do use it during that time.  

Do not be like the family I met on the Eclipse that would try to keep you out of the hot tub when there wa space available.

14 minutes ago, katenmax2 said:

Hi again from your fellow cruiser on Beyond (EV guys!)  Agree, OVC is battery acid.  I never thought about bringing a french press or other coffeemaking apparatus. I'm a pour over person.  My sister doesn't even drink coffee and couldn't care less when we cruise.  Didn't know Celebrity allows us to bring onboard.  Good to know if the Butler brings an electric kettle, I can make pour over with a simple setup and bring aboard my own fresh grounds.  Thank you for this suggestion! C U all soon on a future cruise.

You lost me at pour over.  You realize that’s just the same as a drip coffee pot?  Tell me why not.  And Cafe Al Bacio has the best coffee?  How is that possible when they buy coffees picked under a crescent moon when everyone knows the best coffee is picked under a full moon?  Plus they don’t even serve Ethiopian coffee.  🙄

1 hour ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

We can have more "fun" than this...

 

-"I know it's against the rules to smoke, but would my stateroom attendant bring me an ashtray if I asked?"

-"How do I remove the tips?  I want to leave the stateroom attendant a quarter bottle of vodka I smuggled on"

-"If I say it's for health reasons, will they let me bring my rice cooker on?"

-"Everyone knows pot isn't allowed, but are homemade brownies allowed?"

-"If I sit at a shared table, is it wrong to ask table mates if they're not ordering lobster to order one and give it to me?"

 

In the spirit of remaining on topic, I was also a bit confused as to why ANY type of plantation would be of interest.  I like coffee, I guess I would go to a coffee plantation but I wouldn't be interested in a pineapple plantation.  However, maybe some folks are gardeners and their dream is to own a plantation or vinyard

One question per post please.  Rhode Island used to be a plantation.  I wonder where people moved when they changed the name?

7 hours ago, vjmatty said:

 

ETA: I’m also trying to decide between Princess, Celebrity and RC for fall of 2025.  The horror! 😱

 

 

That’s not what you told your gran gran on Facebook last year!  Ask me how I know.  😂

Anyway have a good time. Lots of folks are looking for comparison stories.

21 hours ago, beshears said:

MarkK, yes I don't deny that I did that, as I did NOT expect ALL of you people to be checking out the DIFFERENT cruise lines that I was posting under. As I said before, the message has come through very CLEAR, and I do appreciate those that did NOT come down on me like some of you, but still received some good answers.

You know I was browsing your post history.  I’m totally not a stalker though.  I didn’t think it was nice how you put that girl’s pony tail in the inkwell back in 3rd grade.  Totally not cool.

Again I’m totally not a stalker for going through someone’s entire post history.  I mean isn’t mocking people for asking a question a good thing if it makes you feel superior?

1 hour ago, kitty9 said:

We just got off Silhouette and noticed that LPC was lucky to have three to four tables occupied.  On a couple of nights, it looked empty.  After trying it when we were on Beyond in January, we said we’d never again do that restaurant. It’s nothing but a gimmick.  

Never do it AGAIN right?  What do you like or not like about it?

2 hours ago, Cruise Gopher said:

Well their new branding seems to be working. The zoom zoom fast photos and video is all part of their new brand guidelines that launched earlier this week. 
 

https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Celebrity/General_Info/NCC/NCC_2024_Brand_Guidelines.pdf

Can we keep the 25 year olds out of the solarium and off my lawn (grill)?

1 minute ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

Watched for a few seconds.  Then closed the page.  Problem solved.

You folks must be the ones who like seeing commercials in the middle of watching Casablanca.

7 minutes ago, bigbenboys said:

There is a FEEDBACK button on the right side of X's homepage. Have you left your feedback?

How do I leave feedback now that I’m blind from staring at the sun?  This is all part of their plan to attract all those hip, edgy young people who will take up all the space in MY hot tub.

9 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

It looks fine to me--but then again I am wearing a motion sickness ear patch.

So they WANT us to feel like we’re on the ship?  You could have warned us a little sooner…..

How do you know which of the menus you will get?  My cruise on Millie is not until December.  They show Murano for dinner but I don’t see anything for lunch. Will it be on the planner closer to the cruise?  I’m interested in the first menu as we will be in the Retreat.

1 hour ago, Liao said:

Seems just to be more much ado about nothing.  

I think not giving people migraines is a good thing.  It was designed for people with short attention spans.  This is like listening to commercials on the radio that change every 15 seconds.

I’m going to update my profile pic since some of you seem to like the website.

I went to change my password. And saw the (new) website.

i get it.  It’s cute.  It’s fun.  It’s energetic.  But it gives me a headache with the zoom zoom fast changing video every two seconds.  Am I just too old?

9 hours ago, omahabob said:

I still use the iPad some, but I mostly use my Tab A7. I have a background in IT, and I like to customize my devices to run the way I want. Can't do that with an Apple, unfortunately. Though they have definite advantages, I'm fond of saying you don't own an Apple device, you only rent it. Apple controls how it works, not you. But as I said, everyone has their own preferences. People tend to gravitate mostly toward what they had first, because it's comforting to them. That applies to computers, tablets and phones.

I worked in IT supporting Windows and Linux and had several Android phones.  I’ve always had Windows laptops.  Two years ago we switched to iPhones and didn’t look back.  I use my iPad 9.7 often and my iPad Pro 10.5 even more because of the better screen.  I don’t use my Kindle as much.  I watch HD movies on my 6.7” iPhone screen all the time.  I’ve tried a few movies on the iPad Pro.

Banana splits in Luminae so I don’t have to wait for gelato like a regular person.  And the way folks bow as you walk by.