TeaBag

3 hours ago, Barwick Cruiser said:

Biggest issue I would have is praying for a negative antigen test at the end of the cruise to get back home to Canada. 

That is exactly our issue also.  We have 2 more days to make up our mind whether to cancel before FP or go.  We plan on staying in Hawaii for about 10 days after leaving the cruise ship and the thought of winding up in a US hospital scares me.  I have to think positively.  Of course, we could pay for the cruise now and get a FCC if we decided to cancel later.

We have received nothing in the way of an email regarding the extra OBC for this promotion.  However, our total price is a lot lower than the current prices from the same TA,  for a cabin close to ours, same category.  So, I guess I won't bother asking for more OBC than the $200 we have.

No offers for Celebrity for us.

I think, Kathy if you go to the Captains Club Hostess and explain your situation she can help you.  I'm sure I have read of those who did this and got the new tier for the second sailing.  Good Luck and enjoy your cruise.

I lived in Dublin as a child and I was looking forward to being back there again.  Our cruise is not a port of call it is an embarkation/disembarkation and a small ship.  Don't know if that makes a difference or not but we haven't heard anything for a July sailing yet and it is still listed on the Dublin schedule.

I wonder why the cruises don't dock at Dun Laoghaire (pronounced Dun Leery).  They built a cruise port there with 2 piers and it is a delightful little place.  There is a train to Dublin for around $8 - $11 and it takes 16 minutes.  You can also go by bus.

1 hour ago, CruiseCrew123 said:

Why so  rude ? If you read it properly I booked this cruise 2 years ago and the cruise is only 4 days away . My post was a warning to others to check !

There's a FV 8183 available.  They only give those out when no families are booking them.  I wonder if you could talk them into it.   Sob a little bit as you tell them how much you liked the cabin you booked in 2020!!  😁  Maybe offer them back their $200 OBC!

6 hours ago, Cruisingrampy said:

Update got my FCCs and credit card refund within 1 week

Did you get the FCC for the deposit?  We are on the fence with regard to this cruise also.  it was very unfair of them to change the FP to 60 days out  2 days AFTER the final payment which was Jan 23 on the 90 days out.  i had already told them to cancel when they wouldn't give me the 60 days.  Then I reinstated but lost my nice cabin and went with a guarantee where they select the cabin.  New FP date is Feb 22 and we don't know what to do.  Still worried about getting off in Honolulu with a positive test.  We will have to bite the bullet next Tuesday.

Glad everything got sorted for you cruisingrampy.

I wouldn't be happy either. I wish I knew which cabin you have been given, I could look up my preferred site for availability and see if there are some you'd rather have.  You CAN request a change to another cabin same category if there's one available.

So, so disappointed in today's relaxation? of the rules.  I don't see why international people can arrive from anywhere here and we can't cross the border by car, empty our mail box, get gas and some groceries and come home in less than two hours without having to test.  And yes, we're triple vaccinated.

On 2/11/2022 at 6:59 PM, mama-of-three said:

Final payment Feb 18

Our FP is Feb 22 for April 23 cruise and I totally understand your dilemma.  I wish Celebrity would move it to 30 days out.  One day I'm gong and the next i'm cancelling.  All I have to think of is quarantining or hospitalization in Hawaii. $$$$$$$$.

Nobody will flame you, I hope.  Celebrity's web site is the pits.  i would phone them at existing reservations 1-888-751-7804.  last week I put in a bid for a move-up.  Imagine my horror when I was charged for the full value of the cabin!  Yes, a mistake.....so sorry.  At least they have done something about their phone system and you no longer have to wait an hour or two for someone to answer.  I applaud them for that.  Didn't even wait 5 minutes at the above number this AM when I phoned about a drop in price of $120 on my cruise.  To get this I would have to forsake my $200 OBC.  Did I want to go ahead?  Really?  how's your Math?🙃

I have never sailed on HAL, but I would choose it for the itinerary.  We are doing Norway this year also but on Azamara.

I agree, Jim, they are doing a great job lately.  Honestly I had thought I was not having a problem posting because DH changed me to using Ubunto from the antiquated Windows 7.

Things I love:

Author at the top of the OP's posts

Handle in large print

Long posts shortened (with the expand feature, if you want to read the whole post)

Thank you from me also Cruise Critic and Host Anne.

I often wonder how much I would get done in a day if I didn't have to amuse myself for so much time on CC!

Way back, they used to have table service in the Oceanview at dinner.  A corner of the area by the back windows was set aside with tablecloths on the tables and you were served by waiters.  I believe they were waiters in training and the fee to eat there was $2/per person.  Anyone remember this?  I don't think it lasted very long.  I remember sailing from Victoria to Vancouver and we had a table in the corner surrounded by windows.  It was delightful.

When COVID reared its ugly head, we were on Eclipse and not allowed to dock.  We were 17 days without getting off the ship and we definitely were not bored. They took really good care of us.

We have done maybe 11 TP's and TA's and the one thing that bothers me is that often, there are two activities I would like to attend, scheduled at the same time.  Go for it and enjoy a  relaxing cruise.

20 hours ago, macsails said:

Reading the above posts comparing Azamara vs. Celebrity to the currently not sailing Crystal, makes me even more anxious for my first ever Azamara cruise in August this year. I have been a very satisfied Celebrity cruiser for over 30 years. Guess the crowds and loud music just became the norm with cruising for me and weren't a put off.  Will say though, sometimes the lines for certain things became a bit of a bother.

I could have written this post!  We are sailing for the first time on Azamara in July and it can't come quick enough.  Wonder if we're getting off the same ship you're embarking (Quest).

Our sincerest condolences to you and your family.  I'm very glad you got such support from Celebrity in your time of need.

Yes, it's the April 23 cruise and I was surprised too, to get the email prior to the FP.   Several on the roll call have mentioned getting it.  Maybe it's because the ship is less than half full.

Still not fixed this AM but he did say 48 hours.

I'm impressed jagoffee that you figured out which cruise it was.

Would anyone like to hear my move up story?  And no, I didn't go to a Penthouse from an inside for a $500 bid!!!

I put in a bid yesterday from a 2C to an FV which was one of the offers listed on the email I received.  Of course, I'm hoping it was accepted as it was not the lowest bid I could have offered.  Happily, I go to my cruise planner this AM to see if anything has happened yet.  Nope, everything is still the same.  Patience is a virtue.

Tonight I had a few minutes and I decided to take another look.  Oh my goodness, when I didn't have a heart attack I think I will make it to 100  and Zenith!!  I had not gotten the FV cabin, still the old one showing, but the total price had gone up $2400!!  WHAT?  First I thought it was another cruise I had booked.  No, it's the same one. 

I took a little while to calm down before I phoned Celebrity.  Some poor guy really earned his money tonight!  He had to look everything up and sure enough it was showing the new elevated price.  This certainly gives new meaning to "Move UP".  He was gone a long time and finally came back and said an error had occurred.  Really?  What if I hadn't discovered it before FP date?  Did every bidder get new elevated prices or was I the only lucky one? Yep, just me.   Something to do with the cruise getting cancelled and then reinstated which actually did happen end of Jan but was already fixed with new document received.  That was his excuse.  You know what I think?  I think they charged me the full price for the FV!!!!  Congratulations Mrs S, you won the FV.  What was your bid again?

So who was the moron who did this? 

It will be fixed in 48 hours.  I would hope so.  Why does it happen in seconds, but it takes 48 hours to fix?  I told him if it wasn't fixed ASAP, I would cancel this cruise and the other 4 we have booked. Colour me not pleased with Celebrity.

Cruisers, if you have a bid in, check your cruise planner daily and not just to see if you won your bid but to see if you also have been another victim of Move Up pricing. 

27 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

I am doing Aqua class on Equinox in November and I have heard the breakfast are very good.

I will look at the daily menu in blu and decide on a day by day basis.  

this will be my first time doing Aqua class and on my 3rd X ship.

 

I do wonder if the waiters in Blu really hate it when folks want to order from MDR menu?

Ordering off the MDR is more work for the servers in Blu and that's why we never do it.  You have a good idea in looking at the menu for the night, beforehand.  That way if you don't see anything you want, you can always opt for a Sp restaurant or eat in oceanview.

10 hours ago, Glitterati said:

I’ll keep an eye out for that! I’m British and love Orange Chicken from Panda Express. We don’t get that over here!!!!

 

Stand outs for me are the salad stations. A big salad and topped with a piece of fresh grilled chicken/salmon is a lovely lunch. 
 

Breakfast is all about the American items for me as a Brit! Pancakes, waffles, streaky bacon! Love it! I don’t go near the English section for the whole trip 😂

Well now, I totally agree with the first part of  your post.  We love Panda's Orange Chicken and we miss it so much because although we can cross the US border now, we're not signing up for a PCR to return to Canada after about an hour in the US!  Did you know you can buy a bottle of their Orange Sauce in the restaurant.  It is pretty spicy though.

As for the British breakfast, it's the best in the world.  No one can make sausages like them.  Love the fried tomato, mushrooms, bacon, fried potato cake etc!  Oh yum, hurry up Southampton cruise.

I like the pasta made to order too.  Love the fish and chips and the stir fries.  I hate Mexican food, I think it's because of the cumin in it. anywhere not just. i never try the Indian as it never looks nice.  The ice cream is good too.

Why can you not book an exit row?  

We were on Eclipse when COVID reared its ugly head.  We sailed 17 days without getting off the ship (no one wanted us) and were well looked after.  We saw nothing to discourage us from sailing on her again.  In fact we are booked for Apr 23 to Honolulu.

We, too, are booked on the April 23 cruise and hope it sails.