letsgogogo

On 9/15/2022 at 10:32 PM, Ken the cruiser said:

However, when we finished around 6:30 pm, it was packed. Eating early also allowed us to go to the early show in the theater. 

@KenTheCruiserDo you know how late Blu seats for dinner? We’d likely do the early show then head to dinner. 

Ever have waits for breakfast in Blu?

13 hours ago, sbcs5390 said:

Honestly, you can probably walk up to Sushi on 5 whenever you want and if the Maitre d is around, negotiate a good discount. Not sure how good the vouchers were but especially on the Panama Canal cruise, the place is so quiet as to nearly look abandoned. Keep watching for the FV on the Panama Canal sailing as those cabins are awesome for that itinerary, maybe they haven't released them to smaller parties yet. I did a bid from an inside and got one on ours. 

I love sushi on five. It’s our embarkation day lunch tradition. Zero crowd, quiet, relaxing, fantastic food, and reasonable prices. 

This threaded prompted me to email special_needs@celebrity.com. I emailed yesterday with my confirmation number to ask for an extension cord for my cpap and got a response within 24 hours stating that this, plus distilled water would be placed in my cabin at check in. I wrote back to thank them and let them know I didn’t need the water, just the cord. Easy peasy. 

4 minutes ago, cangelmd said:

I would be hesitant to press, though and understanding of their situation-

I think I wasn’t clear. What I mean is, if they are refusing to serve anything other than classic package wines and you paid for a premium package…pressing for their opening up options on the bottle list to pour by the glass for your package as a substitute. I totally get it’s not the staffs fault regarding availability. But if celebrity is going to sell “premium” they need to flex and open “extra premium” wine if they run out of premium…. Or proactively refund the price difference between classic and premium. 

3 minutes ago, abbydancer said:

Actually, you quoted my quote.  Mine's October 20.

Whoops. Got it. What I am hearing is that for these super full itineraries, moveups are done the last few days. Since there’s no availability, they wait for all the cancellations last minute to roll in before they start reviewing bids and upgrading from suites on down. 

2 hours ago, davekathy said:

Here's the Roll Call for the current Summit cruise. Ask there. Possibly someone on that cruise will take time out of their fun to check and answer your question. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2784267-celebrity-summit-september-11-2022-10-nights-boston-maine-canada/?do=getNewComment

Best idea ever! Done!

3 hours ago, abbydancer said:

We have been pending for a long time, and our cruise is on Oct 3.

On Summit? Same here. On pins and needles. My first time with MoveUp. 

We are hearing stories from those in aqua on this fully packed Canada sailing that waits for Blu are running 45 minutes for dinner unless you show up when they first open. I have lofty MoveUp bids for this similar itinerary on 10/3 and I’m second guessing. 

2 hours ago, keifernny said:

On our first cruise, an ABC cruise in Jan 2022, service was exceptional. The ship was very empty, as it was just after cruising restarted.

I think you answered your own question. That said, I have been in Aqua in for a sold out cruise and Blu was always available, no wait or minimal. I think what you are describing is a symptom of the understaffing on ships currently. Most of that issue is no fault of the cruise lines. There are still major barriers for would-be employees to getting work visas in many of the countries whose citizens staff cruise ships. Fewer cooks. Fewer dishwashers. Fewer servers. All this results in mealtimes running slower for every party. Tables don’t turn as quick as usual. I have read about this issue consistently for pax in all classes, from inside to suites. Many new staff who are new to the ships and new to cruise hospitality altogether. And fewer managers to train them. I think cruising for the near future will continue like this. We are going to have to be patient, reasonable, and skip cruising if we can’t be comfortable with these realities. 

4 minutes ago, WorkerBee74 said:

Apperantly there are many more options for CC breakfast:

For sure. But for me, someone is delivering me breakfast in bed…at no charge…I’m not going to quibble about whether I can get kiwi. This is where the “is it worth it” question really is so personal. 

6 hours ago, Cajuntraveler said:

Has anyone, who did not have a beverage package, brought wine aboard?  The policy of 2 bottles pp without corkage appears to apply only if you have a beverage package. We are sailing soon with NO beverage package and I can't find on X's web site how much the corkage fee might be per bottle. The wine will be for in room consumption only.

All passengers can bring 2 bottles per person, regardless of a bev package or not. The only difference is those with no bev package will pay $25 per bottle to enjoy that bottle in any dining venue. Open in your own cabin, no fee. Those with a bev package get corkage waived for wine they bring into a dining venue. I think maybe what’s confusing you… yes, those with a bev package sometimes bring their own wine, which facially seems counterintuitive since you’re already paying for unlimited wine. I bring special bottles that I have been aging, or want for celebrating. So I have the bev package as it covers water, coffees, martinis, and the ships wine on some nights, I still like to bring my own splurge bottles to be poured in dining venues, no corkage fee. 

On 9/13/2022 at 10:08 AM, kywildcatfanone said:

just get several bottles and take back to my room from a bar.

That’s my approach when on celebrity. With a water package or any drink package, you can grab a couple bottles at any venue at any time. So I just do that throughout the day and then stash them in my room for later. 

On 9/13/2022 at 11:56 AM, dlh015 said:

Seriously?

Am I missing something? What paperwork?  I got the app, scanned in our passports, and uploaded pics of vaccination cards. Other than reporting entry 72 hours in advance, I’m not understanding. 

On 2/7/2019 at 10:08 AM, helen haywood said:

As to why I'd want to, a small filet sounds good to me!

Me too. Leave room for other goodies. 

1 hour ago, WorkerBee74 said:

Going to miss the lunch since we chose the last possible embarkation time to maximize our time in Rome

You’ll have missed nothing. That was the right choice. 

1 hour ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

Was going to suggest the same especially if they're seafood lovers

Sushi on Five is our embarkation tradition. No crowds. Relaxed. Table service. Outstanding food for fair prices. 

On 8/7/2022 at 11:54 AM, Jim_Iain said:

Murano.   
 

 

No Murano on M class ships. Tuscan Grill is their best option. Alternatively, Sushi on Five. 

Just now, letsgogogo said:

No input into where you go, and no changing your mind afterwards.

I have the same dilemma. I have a MoveUp bid for Aqua, and I’m bidding fairly high. At the same time, I really don’t want to end up with a cabin under the pool or under the buffet. Taking a chance and hoping for the best. 

1 hour ago, WorkerBee74 said:

If we are successful, can we say no if we really don't want the new cabin?

Unfortunately not. Read the fine print very carefully before your moveup bid is accepted. No turning back and no input into what they assign. Match the same as with booking a “guaranteed” room. You were getting a discount in exchange for the flexibility for a celebrity to put you where they want. With MoveUp, you aren’t getting an upgrade potentially for less than you would have paid for that class of cabin, downside is the same. No input into where you go, and no changing your mind afterwards. If the ship is under sold, it seems unlikely they would give you a bad room. If there’s lots of open availability, you could potentially visit guest services upon check-in and see if they can accommodate you, but realize they may have filled those unobstructed verandas others who bid higher than your winning bid. 

On 8/15/2022 at 3:25 PM, m8zenblue said:

WAIT !!!

Is it 2 bottles per person or 2 bottles per cabin ?

It is now two bottles per person. It changed recently.

On 8/9/2022 at 9:25 AM, Kteacher said:

Just sailed the Summit on 7/24. I booked the Chef’s table ahead of time through the shoreside concierge, and once onboard it showed up on my calendar as noon on embarkation day. It did take place on night 1 in Tuscan. 

How was it? How many others?

19 hours ago, sbcs5390 said:

Sushi on 5 is the best option if not B2B/Concierge/Suite. Usually quiet and great service. There’s both sushi and cooked noodle items, friend wontons, etc. 

The BEST on embarkation day. Relax, avoid the crowds. 

6 hours ago, njpln said:

running out of the popular wines…. (We typically don’t upgrade the package unless it’s included…) The sommelier always has offered us something better, so it’s never been an issue for us

6 hours ago, njpln said:

running out of the popular wines…. (We typically don’t upgrade the package unless it’s included…) The sommelier always has offered us something better, so it’s never been an issue for us 

I do think many people forfeit a chance to discover other interesting* and wonderful wines by insisting on the specific bottle they want. Decoy wines…. Very nice but nothing unique about them. They are high quality mass produced wines in a very popular style. But the ship is full of so much variety. Surely it’s a matter of asking and pressing. I have read tons of celebrity reviews this summer where the somm opened something typically sold by the bottle to pour by the glass on the premium bev package. 

On 9/7/2022 at 11:47 AM, Denny01 said:

On cruise, I have no interest in going to a standard restaurant. I want to try different things and  a more costly steak isn’t one of those. The MDR’s have steaks that meet any beef-need……for me, and of course I can speak fact on tastes for Everyone!

100% agree. I love a good steakhouse when someone else is buying. Otherwise there’s nothing in a steakhouse that I can’t make at home just as well, on a Tuesday night. I’d rather enjoy things I’d not enjoy elsewhere or that I wouldn’t prepare myself.