spearmint

Just a couple of the usual things:

 

 

• Feather pillows
  
• Wine Glasses
  
• Champagne Glasses
  
• Ice bucket for wine
  
• Fill mini bar with ONLY Coke and Coors beer
  
• Replace duvet with blanket
  
• Water pitcher filled half way with ice refreshed 3x daily
  
• Two extra towels folded in a square (not rectangular) with each towel change
  
• Bed's put together every morning but separated at turn down
  
• Loungers for the deck
  
• Three extra sitting chairs
  
• extra hangers
  
• store luggage for us
  
• Cardboard box covered with sheet for laundry bin
  
• Extra bottled water on counter
  
• Towel animals daily (No Monkeys!!)
  
• Cleaned and sanitized glasses daily (no cleaning with dusting cloth)
  
• 14 rolls of extra toilet paper
  
• 3 extra boxes of Kleenex
  
• two copies of daily program each evening
  
• Blanket to use as covering for fake leather sofa
  
• Roll of string
  
• Extra laundry bags and forms
  
• And a partridge in a pear tree!
  

What a coincidence! We do the same thing....except we need 18 TP's and we cancel the pears..hate them. :D

My roundtrip transfer from the airport to the ship and back again post cruise cost $33.50....I didn't think that was too bad. ;)

Return transfer at that price may not be too bad for one person; if it is per person for more than one, then it is way too much. I just cannot recall cab fare costs, as it has been a long time (we usually have a hotel with shuttle service from airport to hotel with either shuttle free or $10 per person from the hotel to the ship.) I don't recall that it cost even $20 for an actual cab one way from the ship to the airport. Perhaps others can tell you.

I can say that unless I have no other choice, I won't use Celebrity's transfer. In addition to a higher cost, the only time we used ship to airport transfer (in Miami), we were dropped off by bus outside the terminal, and all of us had to wait 15-20 minutes for a truck to also arrive which had our luggage. I was not impressed.

Bill

When we first started cruising, we booked Celebrity transfers. There was a rep with a "Celebrity Cruises" sign as we came into the departure/luggage area. That was nice. But, we discovered that a cab would cost us considerably less than $20, while the Celebrity transfer was $27 per person. That was not nice!

Bill

Have you called Celebrity to ask?

Sorry for this question - I looked quickly but could not find my answer. I know for formal nights men must have jackets but anyone have any experience with children? Does my 11 year old boy have to have a jacket? I am good with a nice pants and a shirt and tie but I don't really want to spend the $$ for a jacket if I don't have to. :)

Thanks!

No need for a jacket. At 11, he will be spiffy as all getout just the way you have said!!! :D

Our story is not funny either.

Packing on board, I packed everything with a mind to the weight of the suitcases. But. :o I forgot my own rule of packing all my wife's jewelry in our carry-on with our medication; instead I put the jewelry in one of the checked suitcases. It was costume jewelry, except for gold bangles, but still worth about $1500 (about $2500 replacement value). TSA Miami took off the TSA approved lock (and did not return it), and left us a note that that suitcase had been searched. But we were missing the gold bangles, and some of the jewelry and a bottle of perfume.

I learned two things.

I learned to keep my mind on what I am doing when packing. Anything that would have possible value (jewelry, camera, Swarowsky evening bag etc.) goes in the carry-on.

And, I learned that the insurance premiums for our house would rise for three years if I claimed the $1000 jewelry coverage and/or the specific jewelry coverage that we had paid extra for, for years, in riders to the policy. In the end, I would have been ahead by $129! :eek: I cancelled the riders immediately, and then went and bought my wife new bangles They had almost quadrupled in price since I had bought them originally, but Rosemarie was happy. :)

Bill

Our story is not funny either.

Packing on board, I packed everything with a mind to the weight of the suitcases. But. :o I forgot my own rule of packing all my wife's jewelry in our carry-on with our medication, instead putting the jewelry in one of the checked suitcases. It was costume jewelry, except for gold bangles, but still worth about $1500 (about $2500 replacement value). TSA Miami took off the TSA approved lock (and did not return it), and left us a note that that suitcase had been searched. But we were missing the gold bangles, and some of the jewelry and a bottle of perfume.

I learned two things.

I learned to keep my mind on what I am doing when packing. Anything that would have possible value (jewelry, camera, Swarowsky evening bag etc. goes in the carry-on).

And, I learned that the insurance premiums for our house would rise for three years if I claimed the $1000 jewelry coverage and/or the specific jewelry coverage that we had paid extra for, for years, in riders to the policy. In the end, I would have been ahead by $129! :eek: I cancelled the riders immediately, and then went and bought my wife new bangles They had almost quadrupled in price since I had bought them originally, but Rosemarie was happy. :)

Bill

Hi,

We are on the Millie this December and would like to know if Swaroski jewelry is available in the boutiques.

Thanks

Every ship we have been on has had Swarowski.

Yes we have the same experience really miss the opportunity to dance on most of our recent Celebrity cruises, we are not ballroom dancers but really the Foyer dance floor is too small for more than half a dozen couples, plus the photographers step ladders plus the people who just wander across the floor.

We are Elite (20) cruises, and could not agree more with the above. What in hell were Celebrity thinking? The bottom of a stairwell, almost below the elevator shafts, and a crossing place between guest relations and a bar with limited seating? Not my idea of a "dance floor"!

Granted, the dance floors of the Rendez-vous Lounges were not huge, but at least each was in a dedicated room with lots of seating, its own bar and bandstand.You could have your own table, with drinks and someplace to sit between dances. On S-class ships, you are very fortunate to get either barstools or a table. The C-and M-class ships designers got it right!

Bill

Thanks, for the responses. Here is what is happening.

A few years ago, we opened a U.S. currency account at our bank here when the exchange was basically at par. We did not use it much, as the exchange rate was great for the most part. I kept using our Credit Cards, as I got Air Miles with every purchase, and I use those to keep purchasing our air fare to Florida. I have never once bought tickets for air since our first cruise in 1999.

Even last spring, on Eclipse, I bought Celebrity Gift Certificates for about 9% when the actual exchange was about 21%. It was not too bad.

However, if I had bought the same number of days as Eclipse on our

back-to-back upcoming in November, with the same cabin category, it would have cost about $1500 more. So we downgraded our cabin and, still having a balcony, only spent a few hundred more. I had decided to take American money from our account to pay for hotels pre-and-post cruise as well as our on board account. Now since we are talking possibly $1500-$2500 I figured that rather than all cash, traveler's cheques would be safer. And yes, I have checked with Royal Bank here, and they have the cheques available, and with our account, there will be no service charge. And yes I have contacted both Florida hotels and they will take them.

So. Now you see why I need to know about Celebrity. As mentioned in the original post, I had put a traveler's cheque question to the boards and if was from the responses that I think I was told that Celebrity would cash them, and to check out the bank and the hotels. Done that. Today, I just called Celebrity and the CC rep told me it was a no go to pay the final bill. :eek:

I am not certain that she really knew what I was talking about. Hence, I come back to the fountain of all cruise knowledge....the folks at Cruise Critic! :D

Bill

Thanks, for the responses. Here is what is happening.

A few years ago, we opened a U.S. currency account at our bank here when the exchange was basically at par. We did not use it much, as the exchange rate was great for the most part. I kept using our Credit Cards, as I got Air Miles with every purchase, and I use those to keep purchasing our air fare to Florida. I have never once bought tickets for air since our first cruise in 1999.

Even last spring, on Eclipse, I bought Celebrity Gift Certificates for about 9% when the actual exchange was about 21%. It was not too bad.

However, if I had bought the same no. of days as Eclipse on our back to back upcoming in November, with the same cabin category it would have cost about $1500 more. So we downgraded our cabin and, still having a balcony, only spent a few hundred more. I had decided to take American money from our account to pay for hotels pre-and-post cruise as well as our on board account. Now since we are talking possibly $2-$3000 I figured that rather than all cash, traveler's cheques would be safer. And yes, I have checked with Royal Bank here, and they have the cheques available, and with our account, there will be no service charge. And yes I have contacted both Florida hotels and they will take them.

So. Now you see why I need to know about Celebrity. As mentioned in the original post, I had put a traveler's cheque question to the boards and if was from the responses that I think I was told that Celebrity would cash them, and to check out the bank and the hotels. Done that. Today, I just called Celebrity and the CC rep told me it was a no go. :eek: I am not certain that she really knew what I was talking about. Hence, I come back to the fountain of all cruise knowledge....the folks at Cruise Critic! :D

Bill

From these boards, I was able to find out that one can cash American Express traveler's cheques (in U.S.funds) on board.

Has anyone ever paid their on board account with them?

Captain's Club rep says "not possible".

This did not seem sensible to me, if people have cashed them at customer relations during a cruise. But I sure do not want to be caught on board having to put the bill on a Canadian credit card for several hundred dollars more in exchange.:eek:

Bill

Good idea. Here is another, somewhat related tip that we got from a cruise critic member for our last trip. Take magnetic squeeze-type clips as the doors and walls are metal. They are great for holding coupons, daily notices etc. and make it so easy to find items.

Bill

MDR: (appetizer) puff pastry with some spinach inside, on a puddle of

ementhal cheese sauce. Somewhat mild, but just delicious.:D

Murano (soup) lobster bisque (not everyone likes this, but the more you eat the better it tastes), (appetizer) goat cheese souffle, (main) sole Veronique.

Bill

Just before leaving the pre-cruise hotel.

As others have said, I think the majority will embrace your daughter, but just like on land there will probably be a few jerks and just like on land, ignore them. Please go and enjoy yourselves, I doubt you would ever come close to spoiling anyone else's cruise.

I agree. Lots of folks here have given you some really good advice which should help and I am glad that you are going to do it. Enjoy your cruise! :D

Bill

I'm torn on this: on the one hand, I really like the idea that on a cruise everyone is equal and all food is included -- but on the other hand, I don't like to pay for something that I would never use and we never order from room service at any time of day. So it feels like "I don't have a dog in this fight." But adding a charge to anything that used to be free -- that feels like the dreaded "nickel and diming" even if I never used that particular thing. Overall, it's the kind of thing that is leading me to wonder whether Celebrity wants to get back to its place as a cut above the mass market lines, or whether I should be concentrating on the near-luxury lines instead.

I must say that I agree with this. Celebrity has cut out so many "little things" that made it somewhat special, that I suppose there is nothing left except to start charging for some of those things that are left.

Bill

Why can't they put these menus on the TV?

 

We're a little picky and often do not eat in the MDR because the selections are unappealing.

But we always have to go down and check them.

Seems like it would be easy for them to post them on the TV.

And while I have your attention, is there storage under the sofa?

I asked on another thread but was never answered.

 

Thank you :)

What a great idea!

And, for the same reason for us ... well, me ... too.

Bill

OP: if you were enamoured of the food on a much earlier X cruise, you will be disappointed in what is available now. The food now is not terrible, mind you, but not nearly of the style and quality of the Michel Roux menus. Just don't expect that and you will probably not be disappointed. I would listen to those who have done both lines, in regard to today's food.

I,too, had the JR problem. I was able to enter my reservations but could go no further e.g. manage reservations etc. Last week I contacted Captain's Club and told the rep that I kept getting the message that my personal information was incorrect; plus the fact that the only thing I could see was JR after my name. She confirmed that the JR was the problem, managed to take it off and I could access the rest of the account. As of a few minutes ago, nothing had changed; "JR" is still off my name and the account works.

I never was too upset since within a day of confirmed booking, I checked in online and printed my Express Pass.

Also, we are booked on a back to back, and I am unable to register for either of the Celebrity "connections" gatherings. How can such a company have such a screwed up website! It's beyond me.

I too would like to know if it's a sister ship to the Equinox

Solstice was first of the group of 5 (hence the term S-class). Equinox, Eclipse, Silhouette, Reflection

I agree with rnrcruzin....... we have a bottle of wine every night with dinner... in the $30-$45 range. Not being an oeniphile, really expensive wines are wasted on us, although we certainly don't like lighter fluid..:eek:.

Even on a ten-day cruise, our wines would be about $300-$450, and that is for two of us. With occasional beers or mixed drinks or even water, the total cost is less than the cost of the (required?) two basic drinks/wine packages, I believe.

Another thing to note: the cost of the cruise changes depending on the perks chosen or not chosen. For our upcoming cruises in November, it was cheaper to keep our 55+ perk than to have the fares increased to add the 1or, more costly again, 2 perks like drinks and OBC for example.

Bill

We are Elite. On the last 3 cruises we have received 3 vouchers each which could be used from 5 to 7 pm in most of the bars but not all. There was also a menu on the selections which were available.

Yes, this is what we experienced on Eclipse and "most bars" included the one in the Elite Lounge area deck 12.

We had this a year ago on RCCL Allure of the Seas, but when in the Diamond Lounge, no coupons were required as there was no limit on drinks. The 3 coupons only applied to other bars around the ship. A much nicer idea...

Bill

You may be put of luck at stores, I would call your hotel to see what they say, but you will be able to use your travelers checks on board the ship to settle that account.

I am going to call our pre-and post-cruise hotels for sure. I can take cash, but it would be so much safer to take the t. cheques. We have one night pre-cruise and three nights post-cruise, plus the onboard expenses from the cruise itself. That's a hefty chunk of change to have in cash; hence the t. cheques.

Are your traveller's checks denominated in American dollars? If they are then Guest Relations will cash them for you with no transaction charge. A US$100 traveller's check will be cashed for US$100 currency.

'Yes, they will be in American; otherwise, I would just put everything on my charge card in Canadian. The cost for $100 would be $136 with another 2.5% for exchange by the charge card.