TeeRick

We had to use our BOGO on nights 1 and 2 on Symphony earlier this year. We were not allowed to use it later in the week.

There are many (not us) that get on the treadmill chasing Z or P. We generally sail in suites so we are not really helped by making one of these levels at all. But those chasing now have a strategy to concentrate their efforts. We are E+ with 1040 pts on Celebrity so about 2000 pts away from Z! That is quite the steep treadmill! Same for our D+ reaching P.

So the strategy has changed a bit now for some who are cruising for the carrot (next level). Instead of splitting cruises between lines, if you are D+ and E+ (like us), just focus on one line and make it to P or Z. Then you are in the top tier for all three lines.

Thanks for the tip. I was able to enroll using Status Match on the Celebrity app.

Interesting observation. We are also E+ and D+ and miles away from P or Z. One reason is that we have been splitting cruises between the two lines. Although chasing one of these next levels is not really a priority for us, it now makes sense for loyalty members in this situation to focus on one line for awhile and get to P or Z. Then get an automatic Loyalty match.

You took my comment too literally I think.

Jazz just wait until the Pinnacles take over a Silversea Ship. The avoidance of entitled attitudes was one of the reasons that I previously switched to Silversea from Celebrity and Royal. Oh well let's see what happens.

I am very happy for the reciprocal loyalty benefits. But is this just another step of the blending of the three lines into just one mega RCG cruise line? Everything is going in this direction lately.

Older Folks. Generation OF. 😁

In general you will have different populations of cruise demographics based on a number of factors. Longer cruises and unique itineraries tend to attract more seasoned passengers without small children in tow. Standard 7-night cruises out of FL particularly in vacation/holiday periods will attract younger passengers and more children. Same can be said for Europe and Alaska in the summer. You can choose to categorize these folks by whatever popular terms of demographic cohort that you wish, but people are not so easily classified IMO.

Hey @Georgia_Peaches have a wonderful trip. Looking forward to your comments.

One non-subjective fact to consider. Oasis-Class, Freedom-Class and Voyager-Class ships that you have sailed are still much larger than any ship on Celebrity even the new expanded E-Class ships like Beyond. More passengers by far on the RCCL ships. There is no area like the Royal Promenade on any Celebrity ship. But Celebrity has certain decks with shops (albeit expensive ones)!

Good comments here on this thread to help you decide. Many others can be found by doing a search on this topic on the RCCL boards or the Celebrity boards. Lots and lots of threads on this. We sail both lines. More recently on Royal more than Celebrity because we get a much better value on the suites these days.

We no longer do tours on large buses, or even mini-buses. Lesson learned from the pandemic. We now tend to do private excursions using companies like Tours By Locals. Two of us and a guide (hopefully a healthy one!). Funny thing that the sickness we encounter frequently these days is after watching our toddler grandson who goes to daycare. Much more so than getting sick from cruises. New grandparents Curse!

Some like my DW swear that using a Neti Pot really works too. Of course it uses a saline solution.

There are probably more cruise passengers like you that like certain things like highly polished shoes. I was not begrudging that! I was just stating perhaps the obvious about the majority of passengers that like the more casual dress these days. But of course not everybody. For me, I no longer even bring a jacket and tie on a cruise.

RCG has a huge investment in Labadee overall. Their ships will get back there once Haiti has stabilized.

Agree with your comments. We have not sailed the Celebrity Retreat since were on Equinox in Jan 2022. At that time the cutbacks were draconian including the near-elimination of the dinner buffet. A bit later butlers and other changes. But prices continued to escalate greatly. To be fair some things have been brought back (due to many negative comments from loyal Retreat customers). But it opened our eyes to other suite products on other cruise lines. After many years of just sailing Celebrity in suites. Their loss.

especially with no more formal nights - no need for highly polished shoes!

I am a fairly big guy >250 lbs (or >114 kg) and have never been asked my weight on an excursion. I have never even seen a scale on an excursion.

Could happen.

Often on small planes they balance the weight of the passengers front to back and side to side.

Thank you. Good comments! As a back up plan if something happens we could always go Dublin to London and then get to Southampton I guess.

We can get directly to CDG in Paris from Philly. And there is a direct flight to SOU from there.

Why do you think that the Dublin to Southampton service is questionable?