HappyCamper49

On 1/7/2023 at 9:32 AM, phoenix_dream said:

Sail on an S or M class ship, especially one not yet revolutionized and then report back again.  IMHO E class ships have been getting the best of everything since they were introduced.  They hand picked the best staff (not that I don't love ALL the X staff), I can't prove it but it feels to me that the staff to passenger ratio is a bit higher (at least at this time), they send all the best live entertainment there, they developed fabulous new shows while the shows on M and S class have been the same for a decade or more, they of course are all new so are in fabulous shape while revolutionizing of other ships have been put on hold, and the list goes on.

 

Does this mean I don't love Celebrity?  In fact I do and have been loyal for years.  But having sailed all classes, including many since re-start, I can tell you that the experience on E class is not the same as on the other classes.

The E class ships are getting some of the S Class European cruise itineraries too!  Due to Covid in 2020, our Silhouette cruise was cancelled.  We rescheduled for 2021 and only UK passengers allowed on a UK ports only cruise.  In 2022 the itinerary had been changed.  2023 is the last year a Solstice class ship will get to dock in LeHarve, France.  We have no desire to cruise on an E class ship, preferring S class ships.  So much for our dream of visiting Normandy and the WWII beaches, American cemetery and museum.  We are just too old to change and are happy for those enjoying the E class, but we just like our S class and the itineraries they USED to have.

3 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

OK.  I looked at a Blu menu.  All that I can say is LOL.  It has been cut to the bone.

 

The current plan is to book specialty dining unless X changes course.

Maybe that is what X wants????

On 12/24/2022 at 3:23 PM, edgee said:

Sadly the Eclipse is currently in huge need of a complete renovation now. We were on her in Alaska in July. Had a Royal Suite. Condition of the furnishings was very poor. Couch and chairs reminded me of beat up furniture in my fraternity house so many years ago. Carpet in area between casino and Cellar Masters reeked of mildew. Similar situation in the gym which somehow was worse on sunny days...perhaps the heat of sun brought out the smell. Had a long conversation with officers on the ship who recognize the situation and told me they are doing the best they can to address problems such as these on a piecemeal basis. Crew was wonderful and food and entertainment were fine. We will be on the Solstice in February and have lowered our expectations for condition of that ship which is even older than Eclipse. Shame they can't do better in terms of the Revolution.

We did a 2017 Alaska cruise on the Solstice.  She needed a renovation then!  Why she is the last ship scheduled for a renovation, I do not understand.

On 9/10/2022 at 2:43 PM, canderson said:

Though many Medicare Advantage plans do.  Oddly enough, our United Health plan thru AARP even has $0 deductibles overseas where the same visit at home costs some .. e.g., ER visits at home are $90, and $0 overseas.

Our Aetna Medicare Premier Plan PPO offers worldwide coverage also.  Even medical evacuation coverage.

On 7/27/2022 at 4:16 PM, Cruising7in2017 said:

Are we crazy? Anybody else only doing only carry on for European cruise (7 night cruise plus 2 before and 3 after)?

I have had so many friends that have lost luggage this summer traveling or it arrives 10 days late!

I think everything we can fit everything in our carry on if we a launder our sundresses/bring steamer, since it is like 95 degrees in most of our ports, all of the clothes are light. We are a family of 5 (kids clothes are smaller too). Think it is doable? We are traveling 1st class, I am not sure if that helps, 1 roller carry on and personal item (backpack w/electronics/books/empty water bottle)? Has anyone else done this or had bad luck with luggage this summer. 

TIA

I do not think steamers are allowed onboard.  You might want to read the list of unapproved items.  I guess they want their laundry service to get the money instead of you steaming your own items.

On 7/24/2022 at 6:24 PM, canderson said:

Being vaccinated doesn't prevent you from testing positive.

 

It surely doesn't!  While both are vaccinated and double boosted, my best friend and her husband both tested positive.  Went on the Paxlovid antibiotic and tested negative a few days later.  A few days after that, my friend tested positive AGAIN and this time she had a terrible time.  They have been very careful, yet still got Covid.

On 7/25/2022 at 10:44 PM, Tank412 said:

I can afford the soda but some that are trying to stay sober would prefer not having to be around the alcohol. Is there anywhere on board to buy a soda without being around it? Even the buffet has beer and soda together. 
I would like to know if anyone can confirm no plastic?

I cannot tell you where it SAYS that, but I do know that Celebrity is VERY conscious of the environment and tries to be "Green" whenever possible.  Plastic bottles do not fit into this category.  I looked at photos my husband took when taking the ship's tour on the Reflection and though I saw LOTS of folded cardboard and crushed soda cans, I did not see any plastic bottles that were to be recycled.  I asked my husband to be certain and he said, "No.  Absolutely no plastic."

On 7/14/2022 at 1:58 PM, JP350 said:

I’m thinking about booking a celebrity or princess cruise for April 2023 princess currently has the better price, but celebrity is looking appealing. Could anyone compare and contrast the two lines similarities and differences. I’ve takes 22 rccl cruises 25 total so I’ll have status with celebrity. The ships I’m looking at are regal princess or celebrity apex. Any info you guys can give is greatly appreciated 

I have only sailed on the Solstice class of Celebrity, but why not just give Celebrity a chance and YOU decide which line you prefer?  We have enjoyed the cleanliness of Celebrity ships, the always smiling employees with a "Can Do" attitude.  We can truly say we have enjoyed the food on Celebrity ships too.   Now since you have children I do not know how much they would enjoy a Celebrity cruise.  They do have kids programs and activities, but I cannot comment on those.

Personally, my husband and I love Celebrity!  Give it a try.

On 7/20/2022 at 10:13 AM, cruisestitch said:

You should know that in some places the town operates the tenders, not Celebrity.  
 

 

On our Eastern Med. cruise both Mykonos and Santorini were not Celebrity tenders, but local tenders. It was a  HOT day at both locations, but X did provide chilled washcloths and lemon water when getting in line for a tender..

On 7/21/2022 at 4:07 PM, Denny01 said:

Its all pretty flexible. For our Solstice Seattle departure, they started walk-offs with their own luggage at about 7:30 or so. that was followed by those who had their luggage taken off and started about 8am. We were some of the later ones and left at 9:30am. It took about 10-15min to get the luggage and go through customs. No big deal. 

 

We were originally going to use the Tram to the airport but its a goodly distance from Pier 91, so we were in an extended taxi line that took 45min. 

 

For those that use Uber type, the pick up was a goodly (I love that word) distance from the dock area well beyond the ‘normal’ pick up areas. 

 

This is one of the few times I’d recommend using the ship’s airport shuttles. I forget how much it is per, but it would cut down on the hassle.

 

Added: You can ask for an early departure or a time of your choice. If you get your luggage tickets and its too early/late, you can go down to the desk and get them changed. Done that a few times.

 

In Fort Lauderdale and Miami, we had little difficulty getting a taxi out of the terminal, but Seattle was a mess. 

 

Den

Agreed!  Our Seattle embarkation day in 2017 was a nightmare!  Took forever (45 min) to get from the bridge near the parking lots to our drop off point.  Taxi fee had gone up from $20 to $60 with meter running as we sat stalled in traffic!  Inside tempers were flaring and the X  Concierge was going from person to person in line assuring them the sail away lunch was being extended.   Disembarkation was also crazy.  There were no established lines and the X employee just told us "to pick one".  After almost 40 minutes of a slow moving line we made it outside to the long, long taxi line.  

We decided we would never cruise out of Seattle again.

On 7/22/2022 at 2:28 AM, Holly g said:

Perhaps Celebrity frowns on eating on your balcony thus the small low tables. Why else wouldn’t there be a decent size table to eat at   

We enjoyed having our breakfast one morning on the Mediterranean on the Reflection ship.  So wonderful!

On 7/21/2022 at 11:45 AM, TeeRick said:

You can order dinner through room service and have it on your balcony.  But no butler to set it up for you if not in a suite.

Please be aware with the "revolutionized" (refurbishments) that the wonderful size tables have been replaced with much smaller and lower tables!  Might not be conducive to enjoying a nice dinner without a decent height table!

On 7/22/2022 at 10:01 AM, Dthomas1 said:

You're allowed 12 cans of soda to take on board.

You are correct about cans.  X does not allow plastic bottles onboard.

To "jimzgoldfinch" :  We will be sailing INTO Southampton following a transatlantic cruise on X in 2023.  We have been to the Boots pharmacy near the cruise port before.  Does Boots perform Covid tests that are accepted by airlines?

On 7/19/2022 at 12:55 PM, canderson said:

All crew were required to vax as part of the restart protocol.  No idea about boosters. 

I did see where 114 crew and 5 passengers tested positive en route to New Zealand on the Coral Princess!

On 7/19/2022 at 10:45 AM, zitsky said:

Thanks for the replies.  He is a smart guy but sometimes smart people are hard to reason with.  It’s like people who are afraid of spiders.

 

I’ll review the Celebrity protocols.  Thanks for the info about isolating.  I may develop a severe case of claustrophobia if we come down with Covid.

 

Is it true that Celebrity moves you to a suite if you are in isolation?  😂

 

I will try to have some what if scenarios.

No way does X move you to a suite for isolation!  From what I am reading on CC,  you get an Oceanview Cabin.

On 4/11/2022 at 12:40 PM, parrja said:

Appreciate knowing the decks that have covered or semi-covered balconies; just can't sit full sun due to health conditions.  Thanks!

 

We were in Cabin #9251 on deck 9 on the Solstice and our balcony was covered.

21 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

My understanding is when cruising first returned after Covid they tried close contact tracing first by bracelets (which failed) then by security cameras.  They both proved ineffective and I believe they stopped completely  

 

Having said that when I tested positive they only asked who was in my travel party and nothing about where I had been and who I was with.  

So, Jim, have they discontinued the bracelets you mentioned?

On 7/20/2022 at 8:31 AM, spammie said:

Absolutely!  We have used it for our last two cruises but they no longer do it for free and in our area you can only schedule a few days out.

Thank you!!!  Now I can stop stressing out!

On 7/10/2022 at 4:37 PM, Arizona Wildcat said:

We keep making this way too complicated.

If you board on a Saturday you need to test either on Thursday or Friday. It really needs to be ANY type of antigen test.  Those results come back in under an hour.  NOT a PCR test with up to 48 hours for results.

The test needs to be proctored.   Either in person or virtually using a company like OnPoint or Rapidtestandtrace.com.   You can use ANY government approved test from US, UK, Canada etc.  The virtual tests take about 15-20 on WIFI. 

Prefer not to do an AbbotBinax or eMed, etc..   Is the Walgreens NAAT Rapid Antigen accepted by Celebrity?

On 7/2/2022 at 10:16 PM, terrydtx said:

We cruise on the Reflection next month and looking forward to being on her. The best estimate I have heard about continuing the Revolutionizing is, if they do restart, it will be late 2024 or 2025. We cruised in a Sky Suite last August on the Equinox and from talking with senior officers she is not going to get the total refurb that she didn't get in 2019. Equinox has the same Luminae, Retreat Lounge and Retreat Sun deck as the other Revolutionized ships in the fleet. What the Equinox didn't get was the complete make overs of the Suites and Verandah cabins. Our Sky Suite was very nice, but the furniture was somewhat tired and threadworm, but the rest of the ship and Retreat was fantastic.

 

There has been a lot of talk and speculation on CC that the two unrevolutionized M class ships, Infinity and Constellation, will be sold off by Celebrity before they get Revolutionized. If that happens that would leave only Reflection, Solstice and Eclipse needing to be Revolutionized.

We sailed on the Reflection on an Eastern Med cruise in Oct. 2019.  She was very clean and kept that way throughout the cruise.  However, she needs a refurb, especially in some areas of the theater on Deck 3 where the "wood" is missing on some seatbacks and upholstery getting a little thin.  She was looking very tired/dated in the stairway area beside Guest Relations on Deck 3.  By 2023 or 2024 she and the Solstice will be looking really ratty if not refurbed.  Celebrity shouldn't forget the "S" clsss ships because some of us prefer them!

On 7/5/2022 at 7:42 PM, Northern Aurora said:

We just left the Solstice on July 1st following a B2B set.  I never keep the Celebrity Today planners, but the naturalist onboard is Brent Nixon.  His wife is also onboard presenting her programs.

You are right and we enjoyed Brent's and wife "Miss Amanda's" programs.  Highly recommend them!

20 hours ago, Luvcrusn said:

I got my magnets from Amazon. Using 2 of them and twine is really easy to pack and inexpensive. The ones I bought are 50 lb. tested and come in a set of 4. I use the others on the cabin walls to hold purses and caps.

Yes, I ordered the same magnets and love them.  They are great for cruising, but I have to put two in my husband's checked bag and two in mine due to their weigh! Lol

18 hours ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

You are welcome.  The problem with Walgreens is they only do so many tests - and at least in Arizona you make appointments several days ahead.  Any antigen test approved by any government  - UK, North America, Australia etc works 

Suggest you bring a couple of the free tests with you just in case 

I am in NC and have had no trouble booking appointments with Walgreens online so far.  I cannot tell you how happy I was to read your post.  You have no idea how much stress you removed from my old, frazzled brain.

On 7/4/2022 at 6:58 PM, Luvcrusn said:

There's no clothesline on S-class ships either. I always bring two strong magnetic hooks that I attach to the shower wall and some twine that I hang between them and voila...a clothesline! Easy to pack and solves the problem.

Amazon has some really good clothesline that works great with the magnets too!