lobster129

Kentucky Derby was my favorite cocktail while sitting @ the Molecular Bar for SOMEONE ELSE to order....because I loved it when they added the citrus aromatic spray/mist to the air above the beverage as they served it. Delightful:p

Becky

I need to know if Moscato wine is available on the Celebrity Silhouette. I'm considering buying a Beverage Package but need to know if they even serve Moscato and how much it is by the glass. If anyone could let me know I would be very grateful.

 

Thanks,

Margo

I have seen it on the MDR dessert menu....on the side that lists specialty drinks. I have also seen it listed under "Late Harvest" since it is from a sweeter grape. Last summer it was $12/glass + gratuity of 18%. If it is still that price, it should be within the Premium Beverage PKG (But not the Classic Pkg)

Perhaps someone else has a more recent wine pricing list.

I wanted to share the document I put together for our Pub Crawl/Poker Run, it might help others to run their Crawl. When they draw a card my husband or I will write the card down on the sheet and the card will go back into the stack. We will bring Red and Black Sharpies to help make it easier to read. Hope it helps.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B90MrPJsaBCVSGNQN3JyXzg1cW8/view?usp=sharing

You have spent much thought and effort in your voluntary role to organize a Poker Run. Kudos.:)

I must admit I had participated in one several years ago and was lucky enough to use that information as my baseline to create my first Poker Run.

You might want to give some additional thought to possible (although not probable) 5 cards hands a player may end up with using your plan. This takes you beyond the standard Poker Hands. For example, not just 5 of a kind...but 5 Queens of clubs.

The best thing about a Poker Run is that at each bar people have an opportunity to mingle with others they may not have met...it is a very SOCIAL event.

Becky

The CDC has issued an advisory that pregnant women in any trimester and women planning pregnancy should consider postponing travel to areas with the Zika virus including Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America due to the risk of birth defects.

http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html

Also on CNN today:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/15/health/zika-pandemic-travel-warnings-cdc/

Please talk with your healthcare professional about this if you are in the high risk group for travel.

We are sailing Millennium to AK this summer and I need some ideas from the CC community as to a good location to host a SAIL AWAY Party for my roll call. :)

It has been several years since we have sailed an M-Class ship and I cannot recall where the best choice would be. Hoping for:

**Outside

**Near a bar

Looking at deck plan....is the Oceanview Bar area the best option?;) (I usually arrange it for Sunset Bar on S-Class)

TIA

Becky

I host a Poker Run on nearly every cruise we do. My next one is on Reflection in Feb. I select a SEA Day, mid afternoon. Our itinerary is as follows:

3:30-4:00pm: Sunset Bar near Lawn Club (Aft Deck 15)

4:00pm-4:30pm: Oceanview Bar (Deck 14)

4:30pm-5:00pm: Mast Bar by Pool (Deck 14)

5:00pm-5:30pm Cafe al Bacio (Coffee bar area, Deck 5)

5:30pm-6:00pm Ensemble Lounge (Deck 5)

In case of "liquid sunshine"....we begin one deck (directly) under the Sunset Bar (Oceanview Bar).

The reason for 4th stop @ Cafe al Bacio is to give folks a break from temperatures and alcohol if they need it:p

Becky

I have a question for ..Ander026

I have you down for the Poker Run with TWO people. If that is correct, could you please provide the first name of the person attending with you. (For the Name Tags I hope to print by Friday.)

Thanks,

Becky

If getting ice appears a problem on embarkation day for your cabin steward and that is highly likely go up to the Oceanview bar and ask for a champagne or beer bucket of ice and take it back to your cabin. Probably quicker and easier. Your wine will cool quicker if you add water to the ice as it will get all around the bottle and cool it quicker

Getting ice and a bucket is not a problem.....but it is helpful for the staff to know what your preferences are. For example, we just returned from a cruise that embarked in UK. So our cabins cam stocked with electric tea pot, cups, varieties of tea etc. We are much more COLD beverage drinkers so asked the tea tray be removed (for space) and instead have an ice bucket with fresh ice each time our cabin is made up. It is just a ONE time request!:p

I'm a table player....so interested if you find any perks with that type of play. Pit bosses don't seem all that interested, even the "big money" tables. It does not appear they track your play.

Thanks for comments on the Murano "tastings menus with wine pairing". We have decided to have the entire menu to choose from....and "pair wines" ourselves from our premium pkg choices. :)

Wine parings menu....

If we choose this for the two of us, do others at our table also required to do it? Could one couple do pairings and the other order a la carte? Not all of our group drinks wine.

TIA:)

Most of the time, the included items are okay. I ask for extra towels if I am not in concierge class. Concierge has thicker towels. 2 concierge towels = 4 standard towels. I requested a firm mattress pad on one cruise where the bed was too soft. On cruises in hot climates, I bring my own insulated water bottle which I ask that it be filled with ice and water. For my CPAP machine, I request distilled water and an extension cord. I also ask for a sharps container for used needles for diabetic meds. Celebrity is excellent at supplying the needs for me. They also keep my requests on file in the special needs to be filled on future cruises.

Have always completed a "Special Needs" form for each cruise. How did you have Celebrity keep one of file for you?

Do ask for the extension cord for CPAP to be taped down or covered with a flat mat to decrease risk for tripping hazzard.

Afternoon Everyone

 

So more on the Cruise Tour portion of our trip. I did a lot of research before out trip. Trying to figure out how much to budget for. I wanted to pay as much off ahead of time as I could, that way we would not have to worry about money while on vacation. I have to admit, that’s one of the major appeals of cruising.

 

So when we met with David, our tour director, the first night, he handed us our itinerary and our optional excursion packet with the princess and locations of the excursions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luckily we had budgeted a good amount of money for the land tour part, knowing that we wanted to fly to McKinley and do a few other excursions. What I forget to budget for was how expensive food was and is up there, but more on that later.

 

We found out that the reason why information is so hard to come by is because the options and prices for the excursions are constantly changing from week to week. Whether, time and availability being some of the variables that effect what is available. For example, as you see white water rafting was available in Denali. We wanted to do this excursion, so we told David, and filled out the paperwork. Unfortunately, due to whether and the fact that we participated in another excursion, which i will tell you about later in the review, we were unable to go. It was ok though, we were never charged and did get to participate in other wonderful excursions along the way. The way the excursions work is/are, you fill out the paperwork, hand it to your tour director, then he or she makes all the calls and sets it up so you can go, the others in your tour group may be relaxing or doing other excursions at that time, but they set it up so you never miss anything important. Then on the last day of the land tour, they charge your credit card for what you actually participated in.

I really appreciate you sharing these documents. It is information that I have not been able to find elsewhere. Even though we are sailing with Celebrity, both use the same company for the land tour portion, similar hotels and also extra/optional tours and upgrades.

We are not sailing until June...the numbers really help my budgetting. Also your comments about food and prices have encouraged me to make upward adjusted estimates for our planning.

I am also enjoying your reviews and lovely photos. Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences.

Hope your anniversary celebration was special!

Becky

I hope you find the thread helpful. The OP was "Librarylady19". It is her review and photos. They are fabulous! :D

We cruised, with her so we had the opportunity to get to know each other on the roll call pre-cruise as well as on the ship. She is very generous with her dedication to CC. :) In case you don't recognize her name....she also does all the record keeping/spreadsheets for the STICKY @ the top of Celebrity's page one: :p S-Class Cabin Compilation - PLEASE DO NOT POST CABIN QUESTIONS HERE!!!

ENJOY~

Becky

Celebrity does not reduce the price or give on board credits after final payment.

 

Is your cruise tour sold out? If so, it will be hard to upgrade at a good price for reasons I can't explain. This happened to us, we were in Aqua, land tour was sold out for months, a suite came available at a good but higher price, but since the land portion was sold out revenue based the upgrade price on the price it would have been when the land portion was available.

Excellent explanation.:) Not doing our cruise-tour until June 2016....so for now will continue to monitor for price fluctuation. Quite content with our AQ wake view large balcony.;)

If we don't want to store any of our luggage is that ok? I don't really want to try to put all 4 land day's clothes in a small carry on. Is there a size limit for carry ons for the train? Was that a problem for anybody?

So much helpful info here. Thank you so much!!!:)

I do have additional questions about luggage, if you can help me:

**Can we each have a full sized suitcase plus (hard side wheeled) carry on delivered to our room each night? (Trying to determine how to manage our portable medical equipment)

**I have read me can bring a soft sided tope, smaller backpack or purse with us on the (inside) of train &/or bus. (17" x 14" x 4") Can you verify it that is accurate? And that it could be stuffed under the seat in front of us.

Becky

Yes this is normal. Before Canyon Ranch took over the Spa, I think it was Elemis Spas who operated them.

 

Many of the outlets on cruise ships are operated by 3rd parties - the shops, the photographers, even shore excursions X contracts out and don't actually run them themselves.

Another 3rd party service is provided by the medical staff in the urgent care clinic, lab, etc.

My experience in the spa area is being required to sign a legal document prior to service (that lists the service booked) and lovers them from "release of responsibility" from unintended harm as a result of the treatment. I have even had to sign this for a pedicure.

We have used Travel Guard for many years, and once you book your trip and have paid a deposit, you just insure the amount of the deposit. E.g, if the deposit is $450 per person, the "trip cost" at that point is considered to be exactly that, $450 per person. (Be sure to buy the insurance within the 14-21 days specified so that pre-existing conditions are waived.)*

 

Then, as you go along and add to the trip cost (whether it's non-fundable air fare, or final payment, etc.), you simply increase the amount of your insurance (again, doing so within 14-21 days of making that payment, so as to preserve your pre-existing conditions waiver.) Travel Guard's web site is actually set up so you can easily modify things like trip cost, travel dates, etc. as you go along.

 

I really think this is how most of the travel insurance companies work, but anyone interested should call and talk to the company.

 

Also, there have been occasions when we've bought travel insurance for Trip A and then changed our travel plans to take Trip B instead; we merely go on line and change the dates of travel (and anything else that changed), and the insurance is then applied to Trip B. A Travel Guard rep even told me that if our plans for Trip A fell through and we had no Trip B, to just change the travel dates for(the now cancelled) Trip A to some time in the future and preserve the insurance for a later trip.

 

In my personal experience, Travel Guard has been easy to deal with, on line and by phone. (Unfortunately, we've had to make a few claims over the years, and they were all handled well.)

 

There's a separate forum on here for Travel Insurance discussions for those who want more info.

 

*Edited to add: I just went on Travel Guard's web site, and here's their definition of "trip cost":

Excellent description of our Travel Guard experience. We also book insurance within first two weeks of making reservation and deposit. Then later, as I add air transportation, hotels and tours....I increase my amount insured. As long as I am CAREFUL to increase insurance within 14 days of adding air, tours etc.....they are also covered with the "pre-existing medical conditions waiver". When I book cruise final pymt...I add my last layer of travel insurance.

We have also had to make claims twice against our travel plans being cancelled for unexpected medical issues. We were reimbursed everything except for the actual price of the insurance (significant detailed paperwork required)

Becky

Wouldn't the reduced deposit also reduce your loss exposure if you need to cancel for some reason? Assuming you do not have insurance.

As long as you book through Celebrity (US) or TA (Again US)...you get your deposit back if you cancel before final pymt. Of course, the rules vary for UK passengers.

Becky

Duplicate

Also, if you book your travel insurance independently of the cruise line....and need/want the coverage of pre-existing medical conditions...a smaller deposit IS an advantage with some insurance companies.

Initially I need to only cover my current costs/deposits. So I cover $500 on each of us. I bump up that coverage when I add hotels, air, tours etc. It is helpful to me for planning a year or more in advance. (Additional coverage must be booked within 14 days of new travel deposits/reservations.)

Also my travel insurance company allows me to "move" my insurance if I change my cruise sailing date, ship or itinerary. YRMV!

Personally, I wouldn't plan ahead of time on private tours. The guide will work with you even last minute before getting in to a hotel or town Or, once you get to Talkeetna and/or Denali there are stands or buildings offering all kinds of tours. Our schedule changed at the last minute and the lst Denali day we were in about 2.5 hours of traffic.

 

Celebrity doesn't restrict luggage whatsover. You can have as many and they can weigh whatever! You just have to follow your airline rules. We had 3 checked suitcases for our 16 day trip. I'm a horrible packer. One we tagged for storage and didn't need until ship the other two we had with us and went under the bus and arrived inside our room and you need to put them outside your room at certain times on moving days. You never have to handle your own checked luggage.

 

On the plane we had two carry ons a small wheeled duffle and backpack. For the entire trip we always had the backpack with us on the bus with all our electronics, alaska information, money, etc. The wheeled duffle we kept with us until bus boarding time and then the driver put it under the bus. The first day we waited for it and took it off the bus. After that she offered to tag it and it arrived with our big bags. This allowed us to put our toiletries, a few clothes items, etc. in there after the time the bags were set outside.

 

Because, sometimes the bags had to be out at 6:00 am but us much later.

The luggage issue is a huge relief to me. I don't mind having a suitcase with evening clothes packed and not see again until Fairbanks. But the info relieves my worries. Thank you!

Disappointing to learn that the Denali Lodge is still not up to par. They changed management last year according to Trip Advisor with promises to improve many of the issues that caused guests to be dissatisfied.

Cabin Nites sounds like an option. Do you recall the price/person?

First I want to thank you for posting details.:) I have found it difficult to find this information and you reference several things that I have added to my info spreadsheet (when, what , where, how much, etc)

We are cruising northbound from Vancouver, 7 nights cruise on Millie then 6 nights land tour. I am very comfortable with plans & information for the cruise portion...but MANY concerns and info gaps about the land portion.

Did anyone in your group do "private tours" while on the land portion of the tour (during any optional downtime). Would appreciate any details you can provide.

Please tell me more about the luggage restrictions and how you were able to have an additional carry-on. We typically place our required medical equipment in our carry-ons. Trying to determine how to manage this...

We have the Classic Drink package as part of our reservation, but the $ limit for wine also limits the choices we would want. Can we upgrade to the Premium Package once on board for the difference in the price of the two packages?

Absolutely. :D That is the way we do it so payment comes from our OBC. As you walk onto the ship the first day there will be some Celebrity staff with temporary work stations set up (with computers). One will be for the drink pkgs and upgrades. It is $11.80/pp/day to upgrade from classic to premium pkg. ($10 + $1.80 for gratuities/day/person).

They will add a sticker to your sail card to indicate you have the Premium Pkg. Then select your first bar or dining venue and order. So many choices, so little time!

Becky

Please post a review when you get back. We are long time RCCL cruisers and will also be first time Celebrity cruisers on Millennium next June to Alaska. I can't wait to learn everything there is to know about the ship's activities and food.

Hello. It looks like you are on the same cruise that we are. I started a roll call. Please join!