TeaBag

I am certain I saw it listed on the Celebrity Today on Solstice Honolulu - Vancouver, just ended. We never did go. Missed the Elegant Tea also as Liars Club was scheduled the same time.

We are thinking of booking a cruise on Celebrity Eclipse for this summer and I would appreciate it if you could answer a few questions for me :).

 

We currently have Diamond Status with Royal Caribbean, I understand this makes us Elite with Celebrity, and we are looking at a standard balcony cabin, I don't know if that affects the answers to any of my questions.

 

1. Are there any "no go" areas - e.g. areas of the ship only open to Suite passengers?

 

2. On RCI's Independence of the Seas snacks are available from the Promenade Café and Sorrento's without any charge but on P&O the snacks are only free of charge if you buy a speciality tea or coffee - Are snacks available "free" from any cafe's around the ship with Celebrity?

 

3. Are tea/coffee/water available without charge at any/all times?

 

4. Are there tea/coffee making facilities in the cabins?

 

Thanks in advance for your help

 

Gill

1. Only Michaels Club which is now reserved for Zenith people. There will be a special dining room for suites starting Apr 2015.

2. You can have pastries at Cafe al Bacio free without buying the coffees or tea. Sandwiches are no longer available. Snacks are available in the buffet area 9:30 - 1AM. Pizza noon - 1AM

3. Tea, coffee and juices are available in the buffet area 24 hrs

4. Tea kettles are available on sailings out of Southampton only. We had one on our Transatlantic last Nov but I believe they were removed for the Caribbean sailings.

Eclipse is a beautiful ship and we are booked to sail on her again next year.

Hope this helps.

Zumba was free on the Infinity last spring...is the charge new???

Yes. The Canyon Ranch people are running it now and the Zumba instructors are employed by them instead of Celebrity. I talked to one and he was not a happy camper. Classes are $11 + 18% tip, making them almost $13. They did do the first one poolside and it was free but subsequent classes were held in the Fitness area. Several classes were at 5 PM a stupid time esp for people eating early.

Cruise Junky and Fisherwoman have covered your queries well. I'll just hold the sunshine as it is today till you get here.:D Have a great cruise.

This was very refreshing to read. I thought Hawaii was gone for 2015. Have I just been reading too many posts? :eek:

This was a repositioning cruise. It will be repeated in 2015. I think what is gone are the cruises to Hawaii return that Century used to do.

Here's another one who enjoyed that cruise. I'm glad your first experience with Celebrity was such a positive one. We have never had a bad cruise with them.

The aft cabins on the M class are much bigger than on the S class. Cabin #1140 (AQ) is amazing.

Gimletgal has covered the differences well.

We have done this 4 times. The longest cruise was B2B2B,37 days.

Depending on where the cruise is, we look at the second segment as including free airfare because we are already there. Our first B2B was to Australia so the savings in airfare was quite a bit.

B2B usually implies the same ship. If you change ships/companies it is not regarded as a true back to back. If you can get the same cabin for both sailings it really simplifies the changeover day. if you can't, the steward will help you move but it is a pain waiting for the previous occupants to vacate the cabin, cleaning etc.

You will get instructions re the changeover day delivered to your cabin 2 days or so before the end of the first segment. You have to clear off your shipboard account at the end of the first segment and you get a new seapass card for the second. You may have to meet with others doing the same to be escorted off the ship and then let back on again before the new people board. We have had different experiences with this but it has never been difficult.

Time of year depends on where you are going.

Yes, we would do it again in a heartbeat.

Love seeing those bags out in the hall and knowing we don't have to do that at the end of the first segment!:D

I would suggest a reservation if you have a party of 8. If there are only 3 you could get in without a wait if you go early.

No beeper.

Nowhere to sit.

I would make a reservation for formal night if there are 8.

We mostly got the same waiter on Equinox (Wilmar, he was fabulous and funny) and we gave him a large tip at the end of the cruise. Never have tipped nightly but I guess you might want to if you get different waiters every night.

I hope this helps with your planning.

Yes, you have to enter them. You need your booking number.

There's talk that the Bistro on 5 is now $7.50 pp instead of $5. Can you confirm that?

Prices went up May 8 for Solstice. I think Bistro is $7pp not $7.50.

I believe the drink pkg offer ended Apr 30 for bookings made on land. We were told it is always available for bookings made on board, so you might lose that. I doubt you would get the OBC you got on board as well as the $300 vacation savings discount but you can always ask.

I agree with you and that goes for all the other lines as well. I've only used the a la carte venues, which I thought those were very fairly priced.

 

I can't believe Silk Harvest gets away with charging that much for basically PF Changs. They should at least make it authentic.

Frankly, I don't think it's anywhere near as good as PF Changs. We ate there once and that was enough.

This may have been addressed earlier but as a former activities staff Zumba I can say that the reason for the change is 100% the new gym Canyon Ranch. They wanted to offer the Zumba, which is why it has a charge (like spin and Pilates), and with the elimination of multiple activity staff positions it fit with te timing. All act staff/Zumba were let go as soon as CR took over the gym regardless of contract. The ships with an activity host that can instruct line dance or Latin dance should still be doing those classes just no Zumba. This is the new direction Celebrity wants to go and honestly I think it's a good idea for them (even if it put me out of a job temporarily). So long story short- font expect free Zumba on any more Celebrity sailings. I am just glad that guest are able to try a class first before they pay for it because even a diehard Zumba fan knows that not all instructors are created equal :)

Thank you for your explanation. I'm sorry you are out of a job. I was looking forward to having Ron again when sailing on Eclipse next year. I guess it's not to be. He was great.

Like Cruise Junky, I have just gotten off Solstice. It was a wonderful cruise and I'm now in Cruise withdrawl wondering what I was doing this time last Sunday and wishing I could turn the clock back.

You will love Aqua class and Blu. We were in AQ the last 3 cruises and I do have to say we were a bit worried about eating in the MDR on this cruise based on all the complaints. I would have to say it was wonderful. Steaks were very tender. Fish was not overcooked as some have reported. The famous sea day brunch that some think has disappeared, has just been relocated to the Oceanview buffet. The only thing that was missing was the ice sculptures and while they are beautiful, you can't eat them!

Enjoy your cruise and I hope it leads to another booking on board.

Zumba, Yoga.

OP, I hope you get your problem with Customer Service solved. Please do yourself a favor and don't get on the cruise thinking it is your first and last cruise. If any little thing displeases you on the cruise (and there may be little things....no cruise is 100% perfect) it will be magnified by an attitude like that. Equinox is a lovely ship. Please enjoy your cruise.:)

We just left #7290 (1A) on Solstice. Yes it was covered and there was very little sun. The life boats obscure your view of the water when looking straight down, but we still enjoyed it very much. It is quite large. If it is raining while you cruise Alaska you might appreciate the covering.

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

Look at the Sticky on Solstice class cabins at the top of the threads and you should be able to choose a cabin to your liking based on the descriptions given there.

Chose Select Dining and eat at 6PM. Ask for a window table and you should get one.

Dine in Tuscan Grille (upcharge) and ask for a window table. Watching the wake as you eat is amazing.

Always a balcony now but we have sailed in insides and O/V. After 3 in Aqua we are hooked.

We give more about 2 or 3 days before the end of the trip. We always give both room stewards the same amount because we think the poor guy who does the bathrooms has one of the worst jobs on the ship. The smiles and handshakes and yes, even kisses on both cheeks are worth much more than we give. These people are so grateful for anything they get. I can't imagine stiffing them.

Just returned from Solstice TP. Breakfast was in Tuscan Grill for all Elites. I couldn't see any cutbacks to what we were offered. We got blueberries and blackberries along with all the other fruit every morning. The papaya disappeared when we had about 3 days to go, the mango before that. I would really miss this perk if it were to be cut. Love those little bagels (yes, I know they're not real bagels) with the cream cheese and lox washed down with Cappuccino. Wonderful way to start the cruise day.:)

Wish I could have stayed on her. Great cruise and the easiest debarkation we have ever had in 22 cruises.

Currently on Solstice. We are now sailing in the Juan de Fuca strait (8:05 PM). It has been a great cruise. Food has been somewhere between excellent and outstanding. The new Captain is a great guy, willing to photographed and very personable. Cruise director Alejandro is a lot of fun. We are jealous of all you guys embarking. We are due to dock at 6AM but we will be up there taking pictures as we go under the bridge if there is enough light.

Try cruising from Sydney to Honolulu, you get to have the same day twice! :)

Sorry, I didn't have the brains to sail the right way. I lost a day (Honolulu to Sydney on the Mercury) Still looking for compensation on that one too, but since they sold the ship....not sure I'll be getting that one? I do check the mail every day though. It's been 6.5 years now. Have to content myself with it being one of the best cruises to date.