TheHawk1

Oh no, you mean I will have to experience this on next year’s Australia/New Zealand cruise too? I thought it was only European cruises where I need to keep my gaze at eye level at all times 😁

Speedos, thongs, all the same to me, as little is left to the imagination and something that's difficult to unsee.

I realize you're asking about evening wear, but be prepared during the daytime to see lots of thongs at the pool, even on the men. Unlike their North American counterparts, European men don't believe in wearing board shorts.

Senior discounts are an urban myth. If Holland America offered them, the line would go broke.

I agree that Royal could use more variety in their ships. While I love Oasis class, it's size is restricted from so many ports that their itineraries have become overly repetitive. But I don't think going all the way back to Radiance class size is the answer. That's too small with not enough amenities or activities to do onboard. Something closer to Voyager class would be better, which would be similar in tonnage to Celebrity's new Edge class ships. Big enough to still offer some wow factor (remember that old RC slogan) while small enough to visit a wider variety of ports would be the sweet spot.

Decide what is most important to you to see in each port and focus on that. Do not attempt to see everything on one cruise, as it is not possible and you will leave disappointed. I actually did this itinerary two years in a row, first on Wonder in 2022 and then last year on Symphony. This allowed me to split up my check list and capture most of the port highlights between the two cruises... although it was a rather expensive way to accomplish that 😄

There is no such thing as a virtual veranda on Celebrity that I'm aware of. What Celebrity offers is a infinite veranda, which is a cabin with a large picture window where the balcony would normally be, in which the top half of the glass window moves up and down. Royal Caribbean uses the term virtual balcony to describe interior staterooms that have very large lcd screens on one wall, that show real time virtual views from a camera on the exterior of the ship, to simulate what you would be seeing if you had an actual balcony. Two completely different things.

Yes, you're allowed to love the IV, just like some people inexplicably like escargot. But we can all agree they're not for everyone (on both counts). What is confusing is why Celebrity decided to build a class of ships that had so many IV's and left people with so few alternatives. If you want a traditional balcony on E class, you either pay sky-high suite prices or you be the first to reserve one of only 36 Sunset Veranda cabins when sailing dates are released. Hopefully they will re-think this design with their next class of ship.

That’s your criteria for a good ship, a forward view? I never even considered sailing on Celebrity until they introduced Edge class, as their older ships are too small and dowdy for the type of vacation experience I would be looking for. With Beyond being close to Royal’s Freedom class, it’s the perfect sized ship with enough amenities and passenger common areas to not feel bored for a week. To each their own. As for forward view, have you tried leaning over your balcony railing?

You're right, it is totally inconsistent. Apex SV had loungers and I would have certainly complained had they not. Enough with the lame "safety issue" response from the crew. Celebrity needs to fix this fleet wide and put at least one lounger back on all SV's, to eliminate the situation of have's and have nots.

Have been on Sky Suite on Edge and Sunset Veranda on Apex (with SS booked for next year on Beyond). I enjoy some aspects of the suite experience on E class, particularly the larger cabin and bathroom, the Retreat Sun Deck (still chair hogs, but of a higher calibre 😄) and the additional perks (premium drink and wifi package, but cost is embedded in your price). I am not a big fan of Luminae's menus and prefer to move around to various ship bars rather than use the Retreat Lounge. Having priority embarkation and first in line for leaving ship at ports is also a benefit. The cruise in a Sunset Veranda turned out to be just as enjoyable, i.e. the cabin was standard but nicely appointed and the balcony was larger than SS balcony (note, I would never book an IV cabin). We had a very attentive cabin steward who met all our requests and didn't miss the butler. I liked the variety of moving to different MDR's and specialty dining. When you pay for a suite, I feel obligated to get my money's worth from Luminae, rather than pay for additional restaurants. I missed some of the VIP treatment mentioned above, but it also didn't cost anywhere near the same price, so the trade off was worth it, depending on your expectations. I don't believe there would be much difference between Apex and Beyond, in terms of the non-suite experience.

You're right, the dress code isn't stuffy, I was only trying to be polite and not hijack the OP's review with another clothing attire thread. The more appropriate term would have been pretentious or archaic dress code. Now I know which side of the debate you're on.

So "casual venue" means we can skip the stuffy dress code of the dining rooms and actually wear shorts to dinner?

Thanks for the informative review... gave me some good ideas for our cruise. I booked the Edge cruise that goes from Sydney to Auckland but drops you off there, rather than return to Sydney. When you said you wished you had more time in Auckland, now I know I made the right choice, as we can stay in NZ for a couple nights post-cruise, before flying home.

It's your vacation, so do whatever makes you happy. Enjoying your review btw.