Jim_Iain

Thanks for your wonderful review. Sorry I was late to the show and I only read you beginning on the Celebrity Forum and until today when you gave me the link was I able to read it. As you know I've only sailed Celebrity for the past 23 years so very familiar with the Celebrity Product and only seeing it from those eyes. A couple comparisons I see instantly - 1. The S2 looks like a beautiful room and does appear to be larger than a RS. On the tour I was getting a little lost but would agree that I enjoy the second bathroom and the additional closets in the Living Room. I do think the room is more formal and traditional than on Celebrity but I like it. The dining room is a lovely touch but we usually only have breakfast in our room each morning. 2. The Menus look much more attractive and what I would expect at any 1st Class restaurant. I think Celebrity fails in this regard. 3. The Queens Grill look more like a Murano type restaurant than the Suites Luminae dining room, which again is a plus to me. 4. The Menus are perfectly described and you understand what you will get as opposed to Luminae eclectic menus that have many items coming out that is totally different than one might expect. Also looks like much better variety and selections than on Celebrity. 5. Tea- What can I say. As I would expect on Conard and something that has gone away on Celebrity. Tea is now served in the Suites Only Lounge and is self service. I much prefer a proper tea service. 6. Dress Code - We really prefer dressing for dinner and miss the days where Celebrity was more formal. Now on "Chic" night anything goes from blue jeans on up. May pop back in with a couple comments. I hope none of your guests take criticism personal I'm just trying to compare the two lines top end suites.

Thanks --- I'll read it there.. Hope it was a great cruise. I'm sure I will see once I read your Live post.

No particular reason - Just no one writing a review in the Review area. I for one have never posted one there and rarely even look there. There was a short reviews or live posts in the Main Celebrity Forum - You might also get some information by reading some of the Infinity Roll Calls.

Great answer above - If you cancel a tour you booked using a credit card once on the ship it will be refunded as a Refundable OBC and if you don't use it will be refunded to the credit card you have on file for the cruise. By the way. The app gives you the ability to change your credit card - even after boarding the ship. If booked on the ship using a NR OBC it will be credited to your account as a NR OBC on the ship.

Celebrity has constant sales and normally I find that they net out to the same price but with shell games - like raising the prices and then offering a 75% 2nd passenger promotion. I find that Hawaii often sells out depending on the cabin class you are looking at. I also find that prices have a tenancy to go up from when first released and then eventually drop again if selling poorly near final payment date. I find the best strategy is to purchase the cabin and cruise you wish - using either a Non-Refundable or Refundable fare. The penalty for changing a Non-Refundable is $100 pp. If a sale comes up prior to final payment you can call your agent or Celebrity and use the best price program and they will adjust your price to the sale price. I also do a mock booking and book mark the page where you select the cabin - I can the just click on the link every couple days and can check the price quickly. Example: https://www.celebritycruises.com/booking-cruise/selectRoom/stateroomCategory?pID=SL08X006&sDT=2022-12-03&sCD=SL&sCT=CO&roomQuantity=1

Just click your name (with Icon) upper right hand corner - Pull Down Menu - Ignore List - Bottom under Setting select Ignore List - You can add, delete from that screen. They also have a useful option to just ignore a signature if you find one taking up too much screen space.

I have found some good prices on FBC (mostly prior to covid) and was reasonably happy. Currently most prices in my market are at airline rates and the only advantage might be that you don't have to pay until final payment due and can also cancel at no cost up until final payment. Downside is once final payment is made they charge a $100 pp convenience fee to make any changes to your reservation. Even if it is a 100% airline refundable fare they charge the convenience fee.

Great idea. I once saw a CS show up after final payment that was only $400 more than our Sky Suite - I grabbed it.

It can be quite spectacular as it is well lit up at night. We were passing once and were suppose to pass at 11:00 PM. We rushed back to our room at 10:50 only to see we had passed it about a half hour before the suggested time. I've seen it about a dozen times and times varied from 6 AM, Noon, 4 PM and 11 PM. Contrary to what I thought the Straight is about 8 miles wide and when you pass even if 4 miles away - It's not really all that close and can often be hard to see due to low marine layer and clouds. If never seen before I might get up early but be prepared that views may be limited. Stock Photo

Aren't some of you being a little harsh here. I often hear from readers on CC that they no longer post because of rude comments they receive every time they post. I personally feel that we should all treat each other with respect and offer advise not to come off in a insulting mode. To the OP - First I want to welcome you as a new user to Cruise Critic. I'm happy to say most members are not as rude as a couple comments you have received. Cruise Critic has a wonderful feature called IGNORE. When I receive or read comments like a couple you received they win a space on my ignore list so I don't have to see any of their future useless posts.

Couple more images - looks like maintenance in OCV

While I've never done it, I would not think it will be a problem. When I have checked in they check us in individually. You also each have an individual express pass which is what is used to board. Just do your B2B process and meet him when he boards.

Normally the reason is not that you paid in full but the price decrease occurred after final payment date. These often co-inside. I was able to get a price reduction on a cruise I had paid for a week prior to final payment when the price reduction occurred 1 day prior to Final Payment Date. Celebrity refunded the difference to my credit card. I have never seen a travel agent guarantee prices other than what the cruise lines offer. Having said that - many years ago I was on a group cruise and a number of price reductions came out due to 9/11 and the drop in cruising - they were able to negotiate a price reduction given as an OBC.

I've found that if you request it and it is aboard and something not way over the top they will request it from the ships stores and should have it available the next night.

Not yet

It is possible that if you checkin separately you will get different times unless you do it on the first day (early). Another suggestion is that if you are both on the same reservation you will be able to see both Checkins. After you select your time using the app go to his checkin and select the same time. I find it easier to do on the App as you can go direct to Boarding Time and select a time and don't need to complete the reset of checkin until later. The web version you have to go through all the screens and the time is one of the last screens.

I also keep a spreadsheet of all the information of the cruise but I have a tab where I record all the staff members - Room Attendant, Butler, Bartenders, Maitre 'D, Waiter and Assistant Waiter. It's amazing how often we try to remember who was on a cruise and can't remember.

No problem. Recently Celebrity has dropped requirements for vaccination but on some US cruises over 9 days unvaxed passengers must be tested 2 days prior to cruise. Boosters have never been required. Fully Vaxed has been defined as have the initial regiment of 2 shots for Pfizer and Moderna or 1 shot of J&J

It will be printed on your sea pass and boarding pass. You can also call or ask at the casino cashier.

Good luck.

Thanks for the well rounded and well thought out review. I will be sailing a similar set of 8 day cruise in December - Dropped Ensenada an picked up Mazatlan.

I posted some pictures from the captain yesterday - Normal Recertification and Maintenance, Repainted with the new Blu Hull, updating softgoods and freshening up her appearance.

Understand.... You are right unless you are near a PA speaker.

Usually 12:01am on port of departure 45 days prior to departure- but not always. I just checked in for a cruise from LA in December. Being on the West Coast I tried at 9:30 PDT (12:30 AM EDT) and it was not open yet. When I got up next morning at 7:00 am it was open and I could see from our roll call some had already logged on.