Gracie115

That's good news. Perhaps it was because our sailing was a TA, I don't know but nice to hear it doesn't happen all the time, it would be a big turn off for us if it did.

If you are outside on your balcony in a Suite on "E" class and the door is closed the AC does NOT turn off. There is no way to fully close/lock the balcony door on "E" class when outside as there is on "S" & "M" class ships. Is that a big deal? Well..... when we were at sea and sat on the balcony with the door "closed" the whistling of the wind was often more powerful than the sound of the sea. But the AC didn't turn off. Our friends were in an IV room. We visited them and thought it was ok but doubt we would ever book one. The windows are closed every night at 11PM (at least they were on this sailing) which would make us very unhappy as we like to sit on the balcony late in the evening.

That would be an interesting new itinerary...

No it wasn't...

Thanks...and honestly the internet can't be much worse than it was on the Apex trip we just finished a couple of weeks ago. We've done 7 TA's with X and never had internet that bad.

We aren't "done" with Celebrity either. BUT we ARE trying out Oceania at the end of 2023 and have a 2nd Oceania cruise booked the end of 2024. We have one X cruise during that same time. We like Celebrity, a lot, but they need new itineraries if the pricing is going to continue to increase. Can't see paying high prices to see the same thing repeatedly.

I know someone posted the release dates for the new itineraries for 2024 & 25 but just searched and can't find the thread. Would someone please post them again. Curious about Europe and transatlantics especially.

Does anyone actually know when the new itineraries and prices will be available for booking? Interested in transatlantics and whatever sailings follow.

😞

Oh but having that oversized balcony is well worth the extra time it takes to make a phone call for service!!!

Just off the Apex TA 2 weeks ago and agree with several here about the change in atmosphere/vibe on the Edge class vs "S" class. We do have another Apex cruise booked but have already decided we will stick with "S" class after that. The music in the atrium was so loud all evening long, with a DJ as the majority of the entertainment. We aren't old, but we aren't 30 anymore either, and the throbbing music that pervades the entire atrium area is just not what I call entertainment. What we mostly saw, outside of those hanging around the martini bar, were people passing through quickly... us included. Not much to entice you to sit down. Would love to see a 3 piece band like the Ensemble Lounge on "S" class usually features or a jazz band or a dance band like we used to see in the Sky Lounge.... that's why we are heading back to "S" class after our next cruise...... IF we find itineraries we like and can afford..... the increasing prices make unique itineraries more important, can't see paying top dollar to do the same cruise over and over.

Really if one has the beverage package included it would behoove Celebrity to let anyone bring 4 as it would generally mean you'd be drinking less of their alcohol.... just saying.

ah....inconsistencies.......so much fun.... I'll still bring 4 and hope for the best. Worst case we will get it back at the end of the cruise.

Perhaps anyone wanting to bring 4 bottles (2 per person) on board should bring the following with them which I just copied and pasted from the Before You Board FAQ's on the Celebrity website: Guests are only permitted to bring alcohol onboard under the following circumstances 1.) Embarkation day when each guest is permitted to bring onboard with them up to two (2) bottles of wine (which are subject to a corkage fee) per guest. A corkage fee does not apply to guests with the Classic Beverage Package or Premium Beverage Package. Security may inspect containers (including water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, canteens, etc.) at any time and will dispose of alcohol concealed in such container. We will be bringing 4 bottles when we board Apex next April

It was 4 bottles on the Apex TA that ended 11/12. We brought 4 in our carryons, no problem.

Well, here's an interesting little story that happened to us on the Apex. We had reservations for 6:30PM one night and so did friends of ours, 2 people, same time. We asked to have the 2 reservations combined to make one table for 4 and it took 2 days and the Luminae Maitre'D getting involved for them to do this. We were told the first day it was impossible that there were no tables for 4 available that evening, but we could come at 9PM and they would do it. That didn't work for us so the butler got the Luminae MD involved who spoke with someone at Eden and then it was okay for 6:30. We thought it was funny really because we all had reservations for same day, same time at least 2 months in advance. It became funnier when we actually went and discovered more than half the table empty in Eden the entire time we were there. Weird. Still a lovely evening.

Have to agree with you about the Retreat lounge. It is a beautiful area but we had no personal contact with her at all until night 12 of the TA that ended Nov 12. Never had any with Paolo, actually didn't even realize there was a 2nd concierge. Johnson, the bartender, on the other hand was great and always happy to help us. We visited nearly every evening. The area has a completely different vibe than on the "S" class ships. I hope those ships have retained that vibe as although we do have Apex booked for next spring's TA we will be looking at "S" class for any other X bookings.

I'd like to hear from recent and soon to be Marina cruisers too on the condition of the ship. We are booked on a long cruise on Marina at the end of 2024 so hoping it will actually get the refurb before then.

Princess, Royal, Celebrity all seem to be waiting for December sometime.

We just did this last month..... have wanted to for years, it was wonderful.

This is concerning to us... we have a 38 day cruise on Oceania booked at the end of 2024. One of the reasons we booked it was because of the scheduled renovations. We do like the look of the existing rooms, but can only imagine that a refit was scheduled because the ship is aging and needs the work done. Will be interested in hearing what people's experiences are like on the Marina over the next year or so before we commit to this expensive trip

When we were on Harmony the suites were all full, but the rest of the ship was near empty. JS were allowed then too for dinner only and had to make reservations. We did tell the hostess the first night we wanted to dine between 6 & 6:30 each evening so perhaps they took that as a reservation. We always went to the lounge side and had a drink before dinner and just walked over to the dining when ready. We liked CK on the Harmony, but liked it a lot more on the Anthem. It was a larger venue and not combined with the suite lounge as it is on Harmony.

Our butler told us the first time we met that room service was very difficult in the suites that are very forward as ours was. He stated that those orders come from the MDR kitchen and frequently by the time they got the orders to the rooms they were cold. I gather he had received complaints and that's why he warned us. It didn't matter to us as we never used it but we appreciated the warning.

We were on Harmony last year too in a Sky Loft suite and never had to make reservations at CK for dinner and never had long waits for breakfast. Each cruise is different and as the months go by crew changes as does service/quality. We were very happy with CK, no it's not Luminae, but it's light years ahead of MDR on Royal.

Oh...they were definitely downplaying it. We told the servers with EACH item that they were too large.... so much food. Probably a loser financially for them would be a more likely reason.