amypet

Can anyone give me any insights about noise problems? I bid on an upgrade from a guarantee balcony and got the cabin E214 mini suite. Will the theater be loud all the time?

I’m looking at Cabin E 214 

any noise problems?

On 3/19/2017 at 2:22 PM, babydoc71 said:

Would love to hear feedback if anyone did the Chef's market discovery in Sorrento (while docked in Naples). Thanks.

Its been a few years since folks were posting on this topic, but looking at the Chef's Market Discoveries - Sorrento Gastronomy Discovery and Private Dinner for our August 2022 sailing. Super torn between this excursion, Ischia Island thermal bath, and small group Pompeii. I would really love to do Pompeii, but not sure about it in the heat of August...🙄

We just put our deposit down for a cruise next year and are confused about insurance (and refundable deposits!)

Who here always buys insurance? Of those who do, do you go with Celebrity's insurance or something else like Travelex or TravelGuard? What do you recommend and why? Thanks for your help!

wrk2cruise Wow. Thats astounding. How can the protection cost more than the original $$$ outlay? Ive been committed to Celebrity, but I feel this is something we should contact them about. Can you tell me what sailing you saw this on so I can reference it?

Hi guys, We were booked on a Celebrity June 13, 2022 --11 night Italy, Turkey & Greek Islands, but moved it over to the July 4 sailing. Same Itinerary..

The June 13 sailing is like $50.more, but the cost of the refundable deposit was only $28. For the July 4 sailing of the same cruise, they're charging $307 for a refundable deposit. Does anyone know how this is figured? Its a $279 difference and I'm not pleased about paying it.

They might just ban (cancel) themselves right of the planet so we won't have to worry about them.🤷‍♀️

Thanks to everyone for the thoughtful insights. I love this itinerary and would really like to give Azamara a go, but am going to have to do it with hubby alone at some point.

Decided to put a deposit down on the Celebrity Reflection cruise in June with an overnight in Istanbul. 🙂

4 hours ago, Denny01 said:

OP, Good Pick! Of course I’d say that if you picked the 2nd one…hehehe. 

 

Since your ship pulls in Sat mid-day and stays through Sunday, I’d go to the Grand Bazaar on Saturday since it’s closed Sunday. And I’d not do a tour, I’d get a taxi and head to it. There is also the Spice Bazaar near the Grand Bazaar and lets of neat places near it. Even overnight, I usually dine on board (I love when people ask me where is a great restaurant in a port and I point back at the ship and say, ‘Great menu….and Cheap!!’. But Istanbul I would definitely dine in town and take advantage of so much great Turkish dishes. I’d recommend a rooftop restaurant such a s 16 Roof or I think another was Grace rooftop. There was a very nice one next to our loal hotel and I’m trying to find it but lost it’s name. 

 

There are a Ton of fun places including the Grand Bazaar and lots of corner places to dine also. But Eat In Town whenever you can!!

 

On night, we joined a  demonstration of the Whirlling Durbish. It’s a religious event and people are asked to dress properly and to realize what is being shown. Outstanding. Great music and dance.

 

For Sunday, I’d get a tour or private tour of the Hagia Sophia or the Blue Mosque. Both open and fantastic.

 

We did a Hop-On-Off around Istanbul one day but I’d not recommend it. It was OK, but the Old Istanbul area is pretty small and I’d concentrate on that, and its across the bridge from where you’ll normally dock. Pretty Close.  

 

Den

Den, Thank you so much for the wonderful tips. Having dinner at a rooftop restaurant in Istanbul sounds amazing! I truly hope the ones you mention are still open.

...Now I just need *next* summer to get here already😉

20 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

 

Any suggestions on how you would spend your time in Istanbul?

I pulled the trigger and put down a deposit on cruise 1 (Turkey) for June 13. Here's hoping that it'll go ahead. Its my understanding that as long as we booked before the end of the month, we can take advantage of Cruise with Confidence in case the world goes sideways again and plans go awry. 

17 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

 

Any suggestions on how you would spend your time in Istanbul?

I have no idea yet about how to spend the overnight in Istanbul, but would love to crowd source ideas. 🙂

Our family of 3 (2 adults, 1 teen) are looking at 2 Celebrity cruises next June and are torn about which one to take.

Both are on the Reflection, have 2 sea days and both begin and end in Rome.

First cruise: 11 Night Italy, Turkey & Greek Islands June 13 - Ports - Rome, Sicily, Sea day, Santorini, Mykonos, Istanbul (overnight), Ephesus, Athens, Sea day, Naples, Rome

Second cruise: 10 Night Italy, Greece, Croatia and Montenegro June 24 - Ports - Rome, Sea day, Corfu, Olympia (Katakalon), Dubrovnik, Kotor,  Sea day, Sicily, Naples, Florence, Rome.

Any thing that you guys think makes one better than the other? The 11 night is about $2k more.

9 hours ago, AJCM said:

At the risk of being a wet blanket, you might find that your teen is pretty bored while on the ship on an Amazara cruise. There’s every chance he/she is the only guest aboard in the age group and also find there’s no entertainment to appeal to them (and the wifi is poor).

Oooh. Good to know! Ok, gonna stay with Celebrity for the time being. wifi is the nail in the coffin. 😉

2 hours ago, Dr H said:

We have been on several Aza cruises that had "kids" on board, and they all seemed to have had a good time. It is NOT a ship for young kids, there are never many of them, and I think this is definitely one time when the teen him or herself really should be allowed significant input into the parent's plans. More than anything else, your child could very well be the ONLY child on board. It is not uncommon to see crew member's kids and family on board, but they invariably keep to themselves. Blessedly, there are no rock climbing walls or water slides. That said, if the child enjoys adult company and the presence of a hell of a lot of aunts, uncles, and grandparents, and want to play bridge or mah jong, I say go for it. I like the idea of a veranda plus inside rather than a suite if the arithmetic works for you, and there are adjoining rooms all over the ship. Standard rooms are small, two people are not a problem, 3 in that mini-bathroom, I don't want to think about it. We've traveled suite in the past, before prices went into the stratosphere, and while the rooms are deeper, ie, more space between the foot of the bed and the wall, they are not longer. As for the extra amenities, you get several bottles of hard liquor, a bath tub, a poor butler who has to wear tails while serving tea in your room (3 folks, rather cramped), and complementary supplemental dining. But that's it. That said, Aza cruises are truly fantastic, service is impeccable, food is wonderful, and the overall atmosphere is superb. If my folks had offered me a Black Sea cruise when I was 15, the only fly in the ointment was I was stuck in my own black hole room, I would have grabbed the chance in a heartbeat. I probably would have tolerated the indignity of having to bunk with them too and share the bathroom.

Great input and you are confirming many things I was thinking as well as giving us more food for thought. As you say, Ill have to think about the arithmetic. 🙂

20 hours ago, QueenP said:

We have done this on several Az cruises and it's fine. The extra bed is basically a wide chair that they lay a mattress topper over,  but it suffices unless your teen is large! We have no problem with sharing a bathroom between 3, after all, we do at home! And we are only in the room to sleep.  We get a balcony room.

Our teen isn't large, but she's tall...5'8"...Hmmm.Would this work, or do you think her feet would be hanging off?

Hi cruisers. Our family of 3 has traditionally gone on Celebrity cruises (in balcony cabins), but Im enticed by the longer port stays of Azamara. 

Im looking at a Black Sea Voyage for 2022 and it sounds really great.

Has anyone here shared a Azamara cabin with 3 people? How did it go? Any advice?

Thanks!

29 minutes ago, K12Guy said:

I was wondering. Hope I didn't come across as being critical. In any case, since you're booked for an April 20 sailing I will GUESS that Celebrity (aka X) will likely announce a new set of cancellations on or about the 10th, based on what happens with that pesky Covid creature in the next three weeks. Once X formally cancels the cruise then they should offer the 125% Future Cruise Credit OR 100% refund of all monies paid for the cancelled cruises, as is now happening. "Should", of course, being the operative term. It really depends on what the accounts say the cruise line (inclusive of all cruise lines) need to do to stay in business. The scary part is if X or other lines are forced into Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Then we ALL lose, some, if not all. of the money we have paid and there is little any of us can do about it.

 

Sorry I waxed on. Things are slow around the Collins ranch these days and I find myself quite bored.

Not critical at all & not waxing on either. We’re pretty bored with being shut in here in California and I appreciate the Distraction as well as the clarification. Im only hoping that there will be enough $$ left in the ole X coffers for all of us to get refunds. 

1 hour ago, K12Guy said:

All Canadian seaports are closed to cruise ships until July 1st, as of now.

Border issues are very different and have nothing to do with port restrictions or closings.

Yes. You are correct, K12GUY, . I used the term border incorrectly.  I really meant  port. At this point, I’m wondering if it’s all for naught anyway. .can I even hope for a refund? *sigh* 

On 3/18/2020 at 6:42 PM, Nachosdelux said:

 

It would be most helpful (and you would get more accurate responses) if you would give some basic details, such as:

 

1. what cruise are you referring to (Ship/dates/embarkation & debarkation ports)

 

2.  where do you live, what is your citizenship, and how are you getting to/from the ship

 

good luck to you.

US/California citizens here -We're paid in full for a 5 night Pacific Northwest on the X Millennium  - 25 April 2020.- Out of Seattle of all places. We would've been flying out of San Jose, Ca. but with Canada borders closed *and* California on lockdown..it all seems rather ridiculous -They're still selling the cruise and it hasn't been cancelled. Would really like to get our money back at this point and T.A.'s only response is to keep watching the Celebrity site. 😐

*So* very grateful that this policy was instituted. We're supposed to be on a 5 day Apr. 25 Celebrity Pacific Northwest sailing from SEATTLE OF ALL PLACES.😷

We planned this as a couples getaway leaving our child with her grandparents. We were initially excited by this idea, but after everything going on, its been giving us an overall feeling of dread to think that we could potentially be separated from her for a much longer period.  

Thank you Celebrity!

Hi all, Definitely interested this topic as we’re booked on the 5 day Celebrity April 25 pacific northwest sailing out of Seattle.🤔

Jim_lain, I had the same experience trying to check for specialty dining for my 4/25 Pacific Northwest cruise. I can't seem to find a roll call for this sailing either. Never had this happen so close to a sail date. 

Hi guys, I put a 24 hour hold on a 5 day Pacific Northwest for April 25 for a sky suite. The price is fantastic. We've never done a suite of any type before, so im super excited if we decide to go for it. 

Does anybody have any insights about this ship post-drydock? I can't seem to find any pictures or videos.  Any other info?

Hello, SLARIGHT. We will be on the same Mar 30 sailing. I just booked the Adventure Park (Scape) Excursion through Celebrity. We really debated what to do in many of the ports, but ultimately, the Hoya Azul and zip lining looked like they would be worth a try. Fingers crossed and see you onboard in 21 days! :)) 

Does anyone have any input on the quality of the wi-fi onboard the Reflection?

We have a Western Med cruise coming up in July, and are wondering if we should choose this as one of our 2 perks.