MississippiMom

I have not sailed on Celebrity, yet, but have been researching Summit (sister ship) a ton.  I thought the baristas were at Cafe Al Bacio.

Any more recent updates on LPC?  The price is a bargain on Celebrity compared to an actual land LPC, so I am definitely intrigued.  We will be on an Alaskan Summit cruise next summer, if that makes a difference.

As a blue cheese and goat cheese HATER, I can’t help but notice how often those cheeses are on the menu items.

I do love apples, but I’m surprised to see that ingredient reoccurring so often.

Does Celebrity allow for an appetizer size order of an entree (typically a request I have made on other cruiselines when I want the pasta, but not a giant plate full)?  And do they allow the dessert cheese plate as an appetizer?  (I know we requested that often on RCCL for the children to snack on instead of just eating bread.)

On 9/6/2024 at 11:00 PM, OrtonPark said:

A few dinner pics (I keep forgetting to take them) and a note on our butler. 
. . .

 

 

 

 

Any chance you remember what this was, because it sure looks like cake on salad?  And I’m confident that’s WRONG.

So glad I stumbled across this post, as we have not purchased any travel insurance for our Summer 2025 sailing.  After seeing these comments, we will definitely compare separating out the cruise insurance from the airfare insurance versus all-in-one.  For certain, we will not use Generali Global as they were super frustrating to deal with in 2022, when a couple of our family members tested positive for COVID (this was back when you were required to test to board a ship).

6 hours ago, karatemom2 said:

We have rented from Alaska Car Rental and are using them again on our trip this week. Very good service, nice cars, and so great having your own transportation in and around Ketchikan. There is so much to see and do outside of town. Totem Bight, Saxman, Herring Cove, Lunch Creek, Ward Lake, etc. I could go on and on. And very easy to drive - basically one road on either side of town that dead ends. Get a car and enjoy the natural beauty!

Thank you!  Just what I needed to read.  And I was able to reserve a SUV through Alaskan Car Rental for us.  One thing to check off on the list of things to do.

@robbinsca, what a great idea to go to DD&D eating establishment.  My husband’s aunt & uncle do that, too, when they travel cross country.

We plan on renting a car in Juneau, and I was starting to think eating at the Costco might be the only affordable option.  LOL

1 hour ago, Ellis1138 said:

It has a check box under "Do you need to bring equipment". There is says they'll provide water and an extension cord.

Thanks!  Apparently I should clean my eyeglasses.🤓 

I expected us to book an actual excursion in Ketchikan, but my husband told me this morning that he would really prefer to have the freedom to drive around and take lots of photos of scenery at our own pace.  With a quick search, I found that both Alaska Car Rental and Tongass Car Rental are locally owned and have locations near the docks.  Prices are comparable for a mini-van, but only one Alaska Car Rental offers an SUV, which is our preference, since that’s what we drive at home.  Smaller cars are not a comfortable option due to my husband’s height.

What were your experiences with the car rental company and with driving around on your own?

42 minutes ago, Ellis1138 said:

It's a long URL, but here's the cloud-based form to submit to them.

 

https://cloud.na.celebritycruises.com/GuestSpecialNeeds?fbclid=IwY2xjawEwwzlleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXHoBb7tGyE513AOE3m0TiCSwWIusgQ2wgvGuokW--xQDuBtW4xbtwqClA_aem_x9v5o7yLGCDJAy_N1-dC1g

How odd that the cloud based form does not contain CPAP information.

On 4/10/2024 at 12:39 PM, PTC DAWG said:

Unless you get some type of added value, why buy any type of gift card?  

I cashed in a bunch of credit card reward points, when they had lots of travel related gift cards on sale, and that covered the cost of drink packages for my three young adult daughters that traveled with us last summer.

15 minutes ago, Tigermad said:

Hi. I am afraid you can't get soda on the classic according to this leaflet. Classic is the light grey section on the left. You can get it on the non alcoholic package though. 😞

Edit: Scrap that, looks like they just missed it off the leaflet according to this thread.

I was fully prepared to order a rum & coke and ask the bartender to hold the rum.  😉. It would be a nightmare for the poor bartenders to have Classic Beverage Package holders ordering covered sodas with alcohol but for it to not be covered without the alcohol.

@Blues51, gone are the days of free alcohol on the major cruiselines’ ships.  Depending on where you book your cruise from or what added packages are being discounted, you might wind up with a beverage package with wine included.  
 

We booked our first Celebrity cruise for 2025 with a well-established online TA, because they were offering refundable deposits, some on-board credit, basic WiFi and the Classic Beverage Package.  For medical reasons, I no longer drink alcohol, but will be able to have all of the mocktails/virgin drinks, teas, sodas, coffees, bottled waters, etc. that I want without worrying about an added cost.  My husband can order from the Classic Package cocktails or pay the difference to a higher tiered liquor brand, if interested.  

@JeffT237, your photos are AMAZING!  Thank you for sharing.  We will be on a northbound from Vancouver sailing this time next year and I hope we get lucky enough to have, at least, one night of Northern Lights viewing.

On 8/26/2023 at 10:06 PM, Northern Aurora said:

Ships dock at a private dock outside of Sitka proper.  Shuttles (free) are provided to the downtown area.  Shuttles drop off folks at the Harrigan Centennial Center.  There are tour folks at the HCC selling excursions for the day, but be aware that Sitka is receiving more and more ships so don't count on getting what you want as a "walk up" customer.

 

From the HCC it is a very easy walk to the Sitka Historical Park (locals call this the "Totem Pole Park) which has a lovely visitor's center and walk among old totems.  The walk along the waterfront passes the Sheldon Jackson Museum (an auxiliary of the Alaska State Museum in Juneau) and also the Sitka Sound Sea Life Center.  From the SHP we have no issues walking to  the Raptor Center.  Fortress of the Bear is further out of town; most folks take tours.  

 

Downtown Sitka has the Russian Bishop's House and the St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Church.  The Bishop's House is administered by the US National Park Service.  St. Michael's is an active Russian Orthodox church.

 

Sitka is very easy to DIY.

Thanks for this detail.  We were hoping to save on excursion costs at this port and just walk around Sitka to see several of the items you listed here.

@robbinsca, thank you for taking the time to let us “tag along” to Alaska with you!

19 minutes ago, wolfie11 said:

There are two docks at ISP.  One ship will have to tender.  Probably Celebrity Summit, since it’s only 2200 pax and the NCL ships are 4000 each.  It takes about 2.5 hours to tender 2000 people.  I would book excisions as early as possible.  ISP was overwhelmed when I was there last week with 5500 pax between two ships.  Zip line was running almost two hours behind.  I can’t even imagine it with 10,000 people.

Thanks for the honest assessment.  We are leaning toward a whale watching excursion, but it would be TREMENDOUSLY helpful, if our family members who might be joining the same cruise would make a decision.  I am booking excursions by next week, regardless, though.

10,000 people sounds CRAZY.

2 hours ago, Hilaurennn said:

Hi all, 

 

We've cruised with celebrity (apex) for our first cruise and LOVED it. We loved the fact there wasn't many kids, it all felt premium but not too fancy, and nothing like 'butlins at sea' as some would describe. The decor was modern and fabulous and the atmosphere great.  We are in our 30s for reference. 

 

My question is, are there any other comapnies/ships you'd reccomend for a similar vibe?  Would love to hear off anyone who has traveled with celebrity and others. 

 

Thanks! 

Pretty certain the U.S. based readers are going to need to Google “Butlins,” fyi. 
 

All I can tell you is that Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line (and Disney, too, although, we have not cruised them) are all geared toward family travel, so there’s LOTS of kids.

On 8/30/2024 at 7:36 AM, fenton04 said:

Weird but true.  On IPAD I get bad gateway and cannot sign in.  Chromebook no problem!

Good to know, as I tend to use my iPad for everything.

I’m an oddball, apparently.  The more I look at those small ships, the less I am interested in the six person ship options.  It sounds like a possible motion sickness issue for me.  Plus, for health reasons, I really need to be able to comfortably sit inside, if I’m too tired to stand around outside.  
 

Does anyone recommend a slightly larger ship option at ISP?  Maybe in the 20ish passenger range.?

On 8/22/2024 at 6:33 PM, Billthekid said:

From the Alaska Cruise Mapper for Tuesday, August 6 19:00 TWL - ISP ROYAL PRINCESS 06:30 15:00 OLD - ISP RADIANCE OF THE SEAS 13:30 22:00 WLD - ISP SOLSTICE 18:00 22:00 OLD - ISP EURODAM

These were the ships for Icy Point for Tuesday August 6.

Where do they all dock?

I just looked at ISP for September 3, 2025.

- Norwegian Bliss arrives at 6 a.m.

- Norwegian Jade arrives at 7 a.m.

- Celebrity Summit arrives at 7 a.m.  (Our sailing, and I don’t think I can book a private whale watching excursion at 8 a.m., because I’m not convinced we can get off the ship and through the crowd in time.)

On 4/15/2023 at 10:11 AM, disneyochem said:

Ditto on the recommendation for Glacier Wind Charters as well as the advice to book early!

 

Have been on four trips with GWC.  Small sized group, professional and friendly crew, and fantastic wildlife viewing!  

Now I’m leaning toward Glacier Wind with all of the positive reviews on CC.  Plus, I like their cancellation policy.

On 4/16/2023 at 9:39 AM, Gia2cats said:

Hoonah Whale Tours. Small 6 person boat with Captain Joardan. Hoonahwhaletours.com. Doing that for the second time in June. 

I was just reading about them, before I came to CC to search for recommendations.  I liked that we would get to see Hoonah, and not just Icy Strait Point.

@Italy52, I am so glad I clicked on your post.  We will also be cruising with Celebrity for the first time in summer 2025.  Vancouver departure, too!  We have used the apps on Carnival and on Royal Caribbean, so we have a general idea of how they might work.  I would love some Celebrity app specifics.