spearmint

For those of us with no cell phone, it was disconcerting to say the least to read the instruction that you mention. Nowhere on the Celebrity page is there another option to using the app. Finally, I called Celebrity and found out the following for completing check-in online. Scroll down and find your name. Click on your name (who knew?) and then you can "continue" from there. Skip the part requiring your photo. (From these boards I found out that you can do that at the pier. The same is true of the health form.) You can print your boarding pass and you are set to go. Even with the two calls to Celebrity for two different pieces of information, it was still easier to get even more information from the guys and gals on these boards, including the fact that we no longer get our Seapass at the pier! Yay, CC'ers! Bill

cynti8ting I think I misinterpreted your comment. I definitely appreciate your intent, and please accept my apology for overreacting. P.S. Love your kids' reaction to the Celebrity Constipation. I would have laughed my ass off, too! For some reason, Constellation was my wife's and my favourite ship. Bill

cynil8ting... of course I am price conscious... I have stayed there twice before and had no problem with the place... nice large warm pool... restaurant had good beer, chicken strips... and good price and clean. Overnight, all we want is clean and close to the pier. Have you noticed the pricing in Canadian dollars of hotels these days? 😯 Triple what they used to be, at least. The hotel took care of my sister and her husband on their first cruise some years ago; they received notice that their ship boarding was delayed by a few hours due to norovirus and the hotel offered their shuttle to take them into town and then pick them up to help with the time delay. I had no problem staying there with such an attitude. Rocketman275... thanks for the great tip. Several years ago, I was charged $10 from the port a mile or so to Marina Hilton, even though the gauge said $5. Just did not want to sell my first born to go from the airport to the further out hotel!😉

From Canada, we have booked the Rodeway Inn (west state road) in Fort Lauderdale prior to our cruise. Should we just take a taxi or should we try to get the hotel shuttle to pick us up at the airport? I have no idea how much a taxi would cost (need to bring American cash) or whether taxis take credit cards (I think that they do...)

MarKay525 and RichYak... I appreciate the information and advice.... I am going to take it. Yes, my TA contacted Celebrity in August and was told that first seating was full. So our only alternative will be select dining, which is fine by us. My wife and I were fine with second seating, but the two lady friends that I am traveling with are not.... it's too late for them. Bill

jelayne and chanbre .... thanks. Makes things so much more clear on the muster stuff. I have checked all three of us in online, and have printed off our boarding passes. Nowhere did I come across anything regarding a health questionnaire, but that should be no problem. I waited until it was available, and had the latest Covid shot two days ago plus a flu shot,and one of my friends will have hers on Nov. 2. Just in case, I printed a copy of the injection, bu do I need to take any proof of medical stuff like that? So now, another question: if we decided to board early, can we still go directly to our rooms for luggage drop off and (another question answered) pick up our sea pass cards? This seems to answer one of my original queries... will go to the room first. Bill

There are three of us, two lady friends, all phoneless and spouseless, traveling on Equinox, November 11, Southern Caribbean. To respond to some of your posts: The reason for going to the muster station before leaving port: that is what the notes we received from Celebrity said to do if one does not have a cell phone. One of our party is a total newbie to cruising, so we definitely need muster information. Even if we watch it on the stateroom TV, we will all be going to the muster location at some point early on, so we know exactly where it is. May I assume that there is no more checking to see that every passenger attends the muster drills? We really want to get out of second seating dining. My recollection is that there can be large numbers of people wanting to make changes to all sorts of dining accommodations, and one can be sitting around waiting for a long time. The staff did not show up until after 1p.m.and everyone wanted to get there (and get out) first. As I write this, I am thinking, maybe we should try for later when most people might have left, or can it be done at guest services? One post brings up some things that I wonder about: Upon arrival at the terminal, don't we have to go to the check-in desk for a photo and to pick up our seapass? It seems here, that the seapass will be at our door in an envelope. And personally, I like the idea of checking in earlier... like my wife and I always did. But, then, there was no going to the stateroom until an announcement told us that we could which often occurred around 1:00 p.m. I did wonder what was going on with the scheduled arrival time and whether to "break the rules" and go earlier rather than twiddle thumbs at the hotel. I am finding so many changes in the last 6 years that it is almost like a totally new experience. As I have often said here, thank God for the people like you on Cruise Critic who take the time to respond. You have helped me immeasurably for years. Bill

Friends and I cruise in less than a month. We have a 1:30-2:00 boarding time. After that, have I got the order of things to do correct? (1) We want to change our dining time from second seating. My TA told me, a month ago, that first seating was full, so we want to do select dining. From Iong-ago experience, I assume that after 1p.m. we can go to the main dining room (?) to queue up to see someone about this. I expect that this is the most important thing to do. Am I correct? And should I have a general time in mind? (2) Have lunch. (Six years since my wife and I traveled. No set boarding times then, and we always went at 11:00 or so, boarded and had lunch on the back deck So set boarding time is new for me.) (3) Go to rooms to drop off hand luggage. (4) No phones among the three of us; we must proceed to our muster station prior to leaving port, according to our information. Have I forgotten anything? Thanks, Bill

If I am reading the responses here correctly, people are choosing anytime-dining, at the same time each night and registering that time in advance, just as traditional dining does. Is that correct? On Princess, (at least two separate dining rooms for select dining) we tried anytime dining on the second night and liked the waiter and the table location; then, after reading the daily news each evening, the next morning, I phoned to reserve a time with the same waiter . We got what we wished every time. Has anyone tried this on Celebrity? (I think that we more or less chose the same time nightly, but it depended upon what might be scheduled around the ship for that night.) I posted something like this on another thread.... second seating,8:30, is just too late, and the aforementioned thread says that first seating is at 6. My friends and I would like 6:30 - 7:00. Should we just bite-the -bullet and opt for first seating, to save a lot of hassles? Bill

My wife and I had always chosen second seating dining on Celebrity..... still at 8:30; and, for an upcoming Nov. cruise on Equinox, I have done so again. I am traveling with friends, and we may want to change that as they probably will find it too late. For the life of me, I cannot find on the Celeb. website when first seating time is. (If I recall, it is quite early.) I know that someone here will tell me. Would we also be better off choosing anytime dining? I like to have the same waiters etc. each night, and on Princess, I just made a reservation each morning for that night's dining, asking for the particular table/waiter. After awhile when we showed up at the door, we were just told do go right in. No problems. Can that be done on Celebrity? We have lots of time to change our seating times prior to sailing. Or could we just do it onboard? I understand that part of the main dining room is set up for anytime dining, so does that make it more difficult to make changes? I am assuming that space might be limited. (On Regal Princess there were at least two separate dining rooms to accommodate anytime dining.) Thanks for any info that you can give me. Bill 😀🙄

cruisestitch Thanks a lot for the menu copy and the seapass information. Both are completely foreign to me, and I am really happy to be brought up to date.😁 Bill

davekathy Thanks! I had completely forgotten that the tier level was on the card.... as I have aged and gotten further away from my last cruise, my memory has obviously done the same. Your post brings it back. Good point to request the CC HH beverage menu, as that is totally new to me. Bill

Help, Folks. For all cruises on Celebrity, my wife and I chose second seating. I really don't know much about "anytime dining" on Celebrity, or even the MDR seating times for sure . With two lady friends and I all having opted to choose second seating, I am now thinking that they won't like it if it is too late, so I am thinking "anytime" might be the better option. One friend has cruise RCCL and Holland, and the other has never cruised. The experienced cruiser likes second seating, but does not know that it could be as late as 8:30. And I cannot find anything on the Celebrity site... Bill

I must agree with you, cruisestitch. Since I am now on my own, and sailing with two lady friends, I think I like the idea that I could have someone with me at Happy Hour in any bar rather than the dedicated space; otherwise, I expect that I just would not go at all. How does it work? I am thinking that with my seapass, the server will know that I am an Elite? Bill

mahdnc You're cracking me up here!😁 Bill

Thanks everyone for the great info. And, mahdnc, I won't be disappointed with the line today. The line as it was 10 years ago, was nothing like it was 20 years ago... and that was the big disappointment! The good thing that came from ten years ago, was that we tried Royal Caribbean and Princess, and they were just fine, too. More choices of lines for us. Bill

Thanks, all. My concerns have been met it would seem.... as I knew that they would be.🙂 Bill

Ah. All your comments have made things much clearer for me. On the Celebrity site, I could only find the one package and the premium version. I am way back in time...again.... there used to be liquor packages and wine packages, separate from each other. Now I know why I could not find a distinct wine package. I don't need the full package that they have now... don't have liquor drinks except liqueurs, might have one of the special pails of 5 beers (if such a thing still exists), don't have specialty coffees, bottled water etc. and at about a package at $120 Canadian per day, I should be OK, as it is now only I who I have to worry about. I won't even be surprised if bottles are $40 US not,kidding, (and more), as 10 days would be $500 to $600 CAN vs $1200. But, you bring up another point,that I forgot about. When you bring on board 2 bottles of wine, may you bring it to the dining room and is there a corkage fee? I ask this because even though I am on my own, I am traveling with two lady friends and they each could bring bottles and we will all be together for dinner, even though only two of us will imbibe,probably. So that is another point; if a bottle of brought-onboard wine is not finished, will they still keep it in stock for you to be retrieved later, as they do if you purchase on board? As for the OBC, it all comes back to me with your responses, as I have had OBC's before. As I said here one time, I have 18 cruises with Celebrity but at least 10 years ago and I feel like a total newbie trying to get back in the groove. I am also remembering how helpful unseen and unknown friends on this site, like you here and now, have always provided the best help and information. Thanks Bill

mahdnc: Am thinking that you are correct and this is the way to go and I don't need a package at this point. Am chuckling away over the cellphone bit.... yep, I'm sure I am saving a bunch. The damned things are too small (writing) for me to even consider using as a computer or texting, and I don't call people all that much anyway. Like I said... dinosaur....🙂

RTShaker and mahdnc and mahdnc: From the website, under Elite perks, I did not even know that I still had those free minutes! Thanks! Then I probably don't even need the laptop if the iLounge is still available to me. I did not ever use it much in the past, but it did come in handy to drop a quick note to family at home, and to print off pre-boarding stuff for the airport. DaKahuna: Thanks for the reminder; I had forgotten about that little nugget of good info and I was always aware of it. It has been seven years since my last cruise and more than 10 years since I was last on Celebrity (18 cruises) and I feel like such a newbie this time. Bill (and yes, mahdnc, I rreeeaaaalllly don't have a cellphone.😁)

I don't drink much more than a few beers on a trip, but do get an average-priced bottle of wine nightly at dinner (paying a fortune for premium wines is waste with me, as I am in no way a connosseur (sp) Is it worth my while to get a wine package? I have always assumed that it would not be. As for my onboard credit, (a) if I don't use it for something specific, will it simply be applied to the bill at the end of the cruise and if not, (b) and it must be used for something specific, do I have to request that it be for that specificity at the time I order/use it, for example, the above-mentioned dinner wines? Thanks, Bill

I don't have a cellphone. I know,I am a dinosaur and a rarity. How inconvenienced am I going to be on my Equinox cruise in November? As an Elite member of Captain's Club, I used to have free time in the ship's internet computer room If I recall properly, I could print off my plane ticket before leaving the ship and heading to the airport. Now I see on the Celebrity site, that I will get a percentage off a package. Should I take the package? Is not WiFi available everywhere on board? Is there a charge? I was going to bring my laptop, (yep, dinosaur) but am wondering if it will work on board, and what I have to do to access it? Do I need to download something prior to sailing? I ask, as I assume that all you modern people (like some family members) will be married to your phones, and you must have to connect some way while aboard and will be able, as usual, to give me the best advice. Thanks, Bill

I am curious about posters commenting as to testing when they are on board... How do you do that? Do you take testing kits with you? If not, does the ship charge you for it? This is why I am asking: A decade ago on Celebrity, a few days before the end of the cruise, I went down to the med center to simply get some cough medicine as I had picked up a bit of a cold and wanted some relief prior to getting on a plane with slightly plugged ears. The doctor insisted that I get tested, with what turned out to be that uncomfortable nasal swab. I also got a $70 US charge on the bill at the end of the cruise that I did not expect. Simply because I tried not to have ear problems on a flight. Sheesh.😠 (It turns out that I was then more knowledgeable and prepared for Covid testing! 😁)

Anytime-dining was not huge when last I cruised Celebrity about ten years ago, so I am really out of touch. If I recall, Celebrity was making a relatively small section of the main dining area into anytime dining... I'm on Equinox in November and feel really unaware.. First, what times are the set dinings? I was thinking 5:30 and 8:00.... but think that I read on one of the topics and perhaps then recalled that second seating is at 8:30. This had second seating people to see the theatre productions prior to dinner if I am remembering correctly. Next, seven years ago I did do Regal/Royal Princess a couple of times and they had separate anytime-dining restaurants; I phoned each morning (after the first night we went there,) and made a reservation for that night. As requested, we were seated in the same place with the same wait staff; loved it. Can I make a call on Celebrity or do I have to just stand in line? (When we had a reservation, more often that not at 7:30, the host/hostess moved us right past those standing in line, if indeed they did not have two lines for each type of reserved/not reserved guests.)

dodger and Mark... I agree absolutely. I was making a joke because I feared that my post, just looking for information, would become another of the interminable clothing rants that I read years ago.🙂 Bill