Jim_Iain

I don't lay out on the Sundeck but often walk through the area on my lap walking.   I've often seen them bringing around "Snacks" in the afternoon -  Generally Fruit Kabobs,  Sorbet and Shooter Size Hamburgers. 

Sure others who have experienced can add in.

Yes .   They have an elevator.  They also have a lyft to assist getting into Spa.

The response time varies by the ship.   On recent cruises I've fount the Retreat to be very responsive and if I call the agent would be able to look at my record and confirm that the requests were sent to the ship.

I would try calling again and if they can't confirm ask to speak to a Supervisor.

We just returned from a similar and longer cruise on Solstice.   Possibly you would like to look at Solstice as theri cruise will be different.

On our Cruise we did an overnight in HNL, and overnight in Hilo and and overnight in Hana followed by all those sea days to Vancouver. 

Agree with your opinion of the direction that Celebrity is heading.

On 5/13/2024 at 8:29 AM, 20165 said:

Ok, so i did see that option, but it was $1100 more so would that cover me to cancel past the 90 days too?  Doesnt make any sense to pay and extra $1100 to only cover the deposit of $565.

No.   The refundable only covers you up until final payment date  After that the percentage by number of days apply.

You are correct the NRD really doesn't makes sense unless you know in advance that you are likely going to cancel.    I've done it before when no suites were available and knew we wouldn't go unless a Suite was available.

Usually it is a better option to purchase the NR and  pay the $100 pp to change a reservation to a different cruise if necessary

@Nark_K quoted it exactly.

Really enjoyed following along.    Your photos are incredible and bring back so manly warm memories.  

1 hour ago, DaKahuna said:

We’ve been sitting in the Retreat Lounge since around 0650.  The ship was cleared and suit passengers were told their bags were ready around 0722.

 

it’s going pretty fast and they are up to bags number 11 and 12 which are airport transfers. 
 

So it seems things are progressing smoothly.  We are going to try and wait it out until around 0900-0915 and then grab a taxi to our hotel. 
 

Safe travel home.    Really enjoyed following along with your travels.   I grabbed a virtual Lemon Tart yesterday.... just wasn't the same. 

7 minutes ago, MarieF4861 said:

If you check-in on your computer, can you still just grab a time and come back later to fill in the rest or does it force you to enter all the information>

I may be wrong but I believe you have to go through a couple screens before selecting a time.  I believe you have to put in name, address, passport etc.   I'm sure others will correct me if I am incorrect.

3 hours ago, cruisetonowhere10 said:

On the app will it be obvious where to check in?

yes --- it is one of the item on the right hand list.   You can just click it and it take you to select a time.   Nothing else has to be filled in to select a time.

As others have said  - I doubt any cruise line will answer visa questions especially if requesting information about a relative that doesn't hold a U.S. Passport.

One site you may wish to check out is https://www.passportindex.org/travel-visa-checker/

another reliable one is https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions

They are a site for obtaining visa's but will give you an idea of requirement.    The second one correctly noted for example a Brazil Visa is not required until April 2025. 

My experience is you have to either connect the reservations using the Website if you control the reservation or call you agent and have them join the reservations.   After joined your reservations you should be able to access both from your primary reservation.

I was able to do this with friends from Australia.     I even checked in for them with check in opened so we all had the same checkIn time

I also rarely get local currencies and can advise that the exchange rate on the ship is really not good.   You would do much better just exchanging it at a local currency dealer.   

As above in the cashless world of today I usually just use ApplePay and tip in U.S. Dollars.   I've noticed that the majority of the tips given were in USD, UK Pounds or A$.     They are grateful for any tips as tipping in many Asian countries is not the norm.

Personally I use a combination of both the App and the Website.   The app is easier to just go in and grab a check in time without going through multiple screens.   Yes you can check in all the guests but have to select a check in time for each separately. 

We also were linked with friends from a different country and I was able to select checkin times for them that were the same as us.   They were able to come back the next day and put in all their passport, cc and details.

I also find it easier to use the App to scan in Passport Information as oppose to entering it manually.

I like to use the web app to add the pictures as I do it from pictures we have stored on my pc.

You can use either to revise information at any time up until 48 hours prior to sailing.

15 minutes ago, Stem to Stern said:

Despite my reservations we will be giving this one a try later this year.  First Edge-class for us, so it will be new and exciting nevertheless.  
 

I am not big on loud ships.  I learned this quickly the hard way sailing last month unintentionally with hundreds of Tampa Bay Bucs fans and bridal party revelers on board Silhouette.  Give me Cellar Masters on board a Millennium-class vessel any day.

 

Your comment about the death maze to Eden left me wondering if there is not another alternate route into this venue?  Possibly from another deck or from the exterior deck?  Will avoid serious injury at all costs.

I think you can get to it by approaching from the deck below and taking the spiral staircase up from the 2 MDR's  on Deck 4- you exit right at Blu and before Eden

30 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

 

Yes, but the speeds are throttled.  You can expect downloads to be around 4.5 -5.0 Mbps and uploads to be 2.5 - 3.0 Mbps. 

 

That was pretty much what I've seen across the fleet after they started throttling it.    I found that it worked pretty good for us and was able to stream  without problems. 

On 2/1/2024 at 4:53 PM, CruisinShips said:

Bringing up this old thread. Going to be on the Apex in the Caribbean, and using ExpressVPN. Does anyone know if it matters what specific US city you spoof to/from?

It depends on what you are spoofing for.   For YouTubeTV often if you use a server other than one in your TV Market it thinks you are out of area and won't allow you to watch your usually local stations but can still view your recordings.  

For Netflix - really doesn't matter as long as Netflix tags the IP as heavily used --- in that case just choose another - often a little used server like Kansas City

9 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

Yes, fortunately we have a few months to figure it out.

I’ll keep everyone updated but in the mean time — does anyone have recommendations for accommodations (1) pre-cruise in Sydney and (2) post cruise in Honolulu?

 

The last time I was in Sydney was in 1986 to help Australia to celebrate their bi-centennial.  I did not have to worry about a place to sleep as Unclas Same provided me with a “cot and three square meals a day.” 

 

 

If you are staying in Sydney for a couple of days we had a wonderful AirBnB - We were close enough about 1/4 mile we just walked to the port the morning of our cruise with our suitcases.  (it was all downhill)

20 hours ago, EJL2023 said:

But guess what…..if you google cruise critic oceania blue book back…….there it is!

LOL - another rebel.     I live about 1 mile from Google Headquarters and Google is my Best Friend. 

20 hours ago, clo said:

I suck at searching on this site. It's no "Google." 🙂 So thanks. 

I sometimes search on Google adding the word CruiseCritic and it finds threads that are impossible to searching on CC.  

Thanks for posting.    Very useful.

On 4/26/2024 at 12:38 PM, Mary229 said:

I look forward to hearing the responses.  I watched another of Gary Benbridge’s YouTube videos this week and he has me convinced to try the QM2 for a crossing.  

Really enjoy his very detailed and informative reviews.   His reviews also pointed me to QM2 to give her a try.

5 minutes ago, eroller said:

 

 

You are too kind thank you. 

 

Regarding Celebrity's Edge Class ships, I'm a big fan of high design and these ships are truly a work of art.  At every turn I was so impressed with the design, the incredible attention to detail, and the art.  Even the little things that most people don't notice like ceiling design was just gorgeous.  And the designers actually took the time to create some interesting ceilings.  I'm a big fan of designer Nate Berkus and his beautiful designs were quite evident onboard.  Every detail was painstakingly thought out I felt.  

 

Physically I loved the layout of the ship, the cabins, the bathrooms, the massive main pool, and the upper decks.  Even Destination Gateway where you get on and off the ship via tender ... how incredible thoughtful.  And tenders with a/c?  Wow I've never had that even on Regent.  I never felt like there were large areas cut off, and no I wasn't in the retreat.  To me it felt no better or worse than the Grill areas on Cunard in that regard.  It's true there is no forward facing observation lounge, but I had spa access the entire cruise and that facility did face forward and even had an open deck with an unobstructed forward facing view so I never felt I missed out on that.  Also the incredible Eden Lounge aft with those fantastic views of the wake.  Just loved that as much as looking forward and what a spectacular space.  

 

Lastly the dining was fantastic.  We didn't do any specialty restaurants but I loved there were four MDR's, each with a different theme.  Being an ocean liner lover of course I fell in love with the Normandie Dining Room.  I also enjoyed superb cuisine, and what a treat to have Beef Wellington (my favorite) not once, but twice.  In two different dining rooms so the preparation was a little different with each, but equally fantastic.  Unfortunately I can't get Beef Wellington even once on Cunard now.  They have dumbed it down to Salmon Wellington.  Just not the same. 

 

So for me everything just excelled on Celebrity.  I've sailed on Celebrity probably as much as Cunard, and they have become my go-to line.  I just love their ships (M & S Class too) and the way they do things.  They are a good fit for me, and for now.  Things change and someday that may too as cruise lines are ever evolving, but for now I quite enjoy them and frankly have since my first Celebrity cruise back in 1996.  Like all lines they have gone through their ups & downs, but I feel with the Edge Class ships they really got it right in pretty much every respect. 

It's always to see other's opinion - even if it is different than ours.  As a reference point we are Double Zenith and had sailed exclusively in upper suites for 24 years.

After spending 13 weeks on Apex and  Edge in the past year, we have decided we will never sail on an E-Class ship ever again.    I agree with you the ships are beautiful but they have some major downsides in our views.    Notable the sound issues with all of the specialties dining rooms.  No Walls--- open to loud Lobby with ear splitting "Light Show"  

The other main issue is the sheer number of passenger in Luminae.   Unlike the M and S class ships were they cook your meals to order -   On E-Class the cook more cafeteria style and I have had numerous dishes that were totally inedible or cold on the outside while on a piping hot plate.

We will be taking out first cruise on QM2 in October and wont' be trying to comparing it to Celebrity but experience it as a new chapter in our life.   After 24 years with Celebrity We have booked 2 Cunard Cruises, 2 Oceania, 1 Silversea and 1 Celebrity so far this year.   We definitely are no longer and exclusive Celebrity Fan.

On the brighter side we just returned from 5 weeks on Solstice and love it with the exception of some small but noticable cut backs --- 1  QTips so thin stems you can't use them (had to buy my own).    No Butter in OVC Grill -  they have switched to little tubs of a butter blend,   Butter in Luminae Cut back to 50% of normal size and Ice Cream in Luminae that was totally inedible,   Icy, bad taste and texture of ice milk.  

Glad things have worked out for you.    I was getting angry for you ---- especially since it is your honeymoon.   Even though it was resolved it left a nasty taste in my mind toward Cunard.

13 hours ago, 1985rz1 said:

Just to clarify for those who might know: The 5 GB data limit  on Magenta Max 55+ applies only to intenational high speed data, but US high speed data is unlimited. Beyond 5GB, international data is unlimited at 256 kbs.  WhatsApp uses data whether it's cell or WiFi.

 

 

I have an older plan called  2 Line One All In Plan and when traveling internationally I also get 5g Speed when available for 5gb of data.   After that it throttles my speed to 256 kbs (unlimited). 

I've only passed the 5 Gb usage a couple times and the 256 was ok for using maps etc but little else.