dj_crusin

We are booked on the Reflection for a Nov 3 Caribbean cruise.

I have been watching the Nov 17 B2B to possibly extend our cruise. Until yesterday the only cabins that were available were inside and suites. We wanted a veranda. Yesterday we received an E-Mail from Celebrity advertising a "The World is Open" sale. This promotion offered 2 perks per passenger on select sailings. Using the book now selection on the promotion I noticed that a verandah cabin opened late last night. I booked it on-line for approx $950 plus taxes and insurance. I could not see that the perks were added so I put a hold on it.

I called Celebrity this morning and was told that the price I booked at was an "exciting deal" and could not be used for the "World is Open". The price would be $500 pp for the promotion we thought we were receiving.

After 1 hr plus with reservation and resolution reps I gave up.

I believe that the promotion was either false advertising or the web site is messed-up. At no time in the booking process was exciting deal mentioned!

We are seasoned cruisers and the deal was very attractive but not unheard of.

Just passing this along so no one else is mislead.

Dan

Here is a video I took from the Eclipse leaving St Kitts on Nov 25 of this year. You get a good panarama of the Silhouette.

We had a great time and can't believe we were on the same ship as the various CRITICS! Maybe we're just easy to please when we're on a ship!

Dan

Another similar subject that has surfaced on our TA Roll Call is "zero clearing" the ship at the 1st US port. Passengers on this same TA cruise last year have said that the ship was "zero cleared" in Manhattan, the first US port. Miami was the terminus/disembarkation port. Needless to say this is more involved (and takes more time) than a normal port of call.

Does anyone know the reason for this? The only time we have been on a ship that was "zero cleared" was due to the terminus of the cruise. Another unique feature of this cruise is due to the itinerary. The ports are Boston, NYC, Bermuda, Port Canaveral and Miami in that order. I believe we will have to go through US immigration two times (three times if you count Miami)!

Dan

I have TWC cable and telephone. They have an app called PHONE 2 GO. It allows you to use your home phone from any wireless connection. This would require the unlimited internet plan on the ship but will allow you to make and receive phone calls.

I am sure this works in Europe but I have never tested it on a ship. There's always SKYPE?

Another subject that has surfaced on the Roll Call is "zero clearing" the ship at the 1st US port. Passengers on this same TA cruise last year have said that the ship was "zero cleared" in Manhattan, the first US port. Miami was the terminus/disembarkation port. Needless to say this is more involved (and takes more time) than a normal port of call. It will really affect passengers with independent shore excursion plans!

Does anyone know the reason for this? The only time we have been on a ship that was "zero cleared" was due to the terminus of the cruise.

Another unique feature of this cruise is due to the itinerary. The ports are Boston, NYC, Bermuda, Port Canaveral and Miami in that order. I believe we will have to go through US immigration two times (three times if you count Miami)!

Dan

This is about as good as it gets:

http://www.stormsurf.com/

Our experience has been that the Northern route is worse than the Southern route. Both are unpredictable.

In any case here's an ocean weather site I just discovered

http://www.stormsurf.com/

Dan

Anyone know if you can buy an internet package prior to your cruise and use your Captains Club discount when booking? We get a 25% discount on any package and I'd like to get that booked and paid for prior to our cruise in Dec. Thanks.

 

Teanne

I asked Celebrity customer service this exact question a week ago. I was told if I wanted the 25% discount it would be best to wait until I got on-board to book the package.

Dan

Here is what I used earlier this year:

Belkin BZ103050QTVL Mini Surge Protector with USB Charge Ports

http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/skuimages/large/B20-7496_chiclet01x_ibp_mn_3839636.jpg

Hah, I think I figured it out.

 

Half way through my third margarita (and it's only Friday afternoon), the answer is - the cruise lines are playing a mind game on us.

 

The upper staterooms aren't better at all, the cruise lines just want us to think they're better so they up the price to make us "think" they're better.

 

Simple psychology - A "I must have the best" mentality equates into "if it cost more it must be better", soooo, I must have it!!!

 

Aaaaagh, I've fallen into their trap - time for another margarita.

What kind of Tequila are you using???? Just kidding!!!!!!!!!

Dan

The answer to this OP will require a thesis in marketing! The cruise lines are experts in marketing and make you perceive that a cabin on the upper decks is worth more.

Other questions:

How do cruise lines make money selling a cabin for $499 for a 7 night cruise?

Is cruise line X better than cruise line Y?

Do you prefer an inside, outside, veranda or suite?

Is premium liquor worth more than standard?

Is dining in Blu or Luminae better than the regular dining room?

And on and on...............................

See http://www.cruisecritic.com/v-2/articles.cfm?ID=77 for good guidelines.

I do know that the least movement on the ship is midship on the lowest deck.

Dan

I love Cruise Critic, and it's been a few years since DH and I have been on a cruise, and no offense meant, but the threads seem SO negative. I would like this one to please focus on your positive Celebrity experiences, to help us get that cruise excitement back for our 2017 cruise. I know that it's not all negative, so let's see what y'all have:)

I agree with you 110 percent. Then I look at the name of the board and it's CRUISECRITIC!!! I guess a lot of people take that literally.

As one of our Ship Captain's said in the middle of the Atlantic (in 30 ft seas), "If you WANT to have a good time, you WILL".

After reading this thread it seems to me that the only problems are on the Eurodam.

IMHO the only problems are with the critics! I ate there several times on our recent Eurodam B2B and it is 10X better than the old Terrace Grill.

You can't please some people, but I guess this is why this site is called CruiseCRITIC.

Thanks for the information! I really appreciate it. My husband is following the stock market and doesn't feel he can be away from it for too long!!

Jane

MSNBC and another financial channel (FOX?) are on the TV for current info! I guess you would have to use wireless for trades though!

I just sent the new Eurodam Pinnacle Grill menus to halfacts.com . I'm sure they will be posted in the next few days.

No Lobster or Steak Dianne.

We were on a 15 day cruise and it was held once. We booked prior on-line and it was around $80.00 dollars for both of us.

 

Not sure whether this will be offered on shorter 7 day cruises. On our Eurodam cruise we were told that to date it was only being offered on the Rotterdam and Eurodam.

 

Couldn't help wonder if this is a test and whether it would be a specialty restaurant on the new Pinnacle Class ship.

LeCirque is offered on 7 day cruises on other ships.

Are you getting LeCirque and DeLibrije confused as far as the cost?

Glad everyone liked the pictures

Dan

Thanks for the great pics. Now we can really salivate for 23 days. We made all the specialty restaurant diner reservation and cant wait. Could you please tell me if at the Taste of De Librije the 2 oz pours of wine were enough or is it better to buy the extra pour. Thanks again

I suppose it would depend on whether you want to just taste the wine, but we opted for the full pours and thought it was a good choice. You can change your option on the ship.

Librije is a new specialty dinner that was first offered on the MS Rotterdam and is now on the Eurodam. Recipes/plating. from famous Nomo Restaurant in Netherlands. Not sure if it's Fleet Wide but really enjoyed it.

 

OP great pics especially of our favorite Pinnacle Waiter. Thanks for sharing. If you were on the Oct 12 cruise we attended all specialty dinners except LeCirque.

We were on the Eurodam's Oct 12 sailing and it seemed like all we did was eat and go to movies.

It is our understanding that the Sommelier's Dinner is only offered on longer cruises, so glad we got to experience it!

Thank you...very, very nice. I had the same thing in Tamarind! What is De Librije?

It's a specialty restaurant re-creation in the Pinnacle Grill. It is named after a restaurant in Holland owned by Jonnie Boer, one of Holland's Culinary Council members.

I took a lot of food pictures on our recent 15 day Atalntic Coast Cruise on the Eurodam. Here are the specialty dinners at the Pinnacle Grill along with Tamarind.

Dan

Most of the replies have been based on WiFi usage but IPads and IPhones use 3G/4G which is very expensive on a ship. Talk to your service provider about rates before you go.

Deck - 9 - Panorama

Cabin # - 9338

Class – C2

Starboard or Port Side - Starbord Aft

Bed near?(balcony or bath) – Verandah

Quiet Cabin –Yes

Balcony View - Excellent View - No Obstructions

Balcony Size? Normal for this class of ship

Was wind a problem? No

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? No

Any specific problems with this cabin? No

Any other comments? The partition between Cabins 9338 & 9342 was opened to allow access to both verandahs. Cabin 9342 has the bed near the bath/closet.