spearmint

(1) I have seen wine lists published on these boards; can anyone direct me to a thread that shows them with prices?

(2) Not having used traveller's cheques for some years, I wonder if anyone has had any problem using them at hotels, stores etc. as well as paying the on-board bill? With the horrible CDN exchange rate, it is simply too expensive to put everything on our charge card as we usually do. So I am going to bring American money with me only using traveller's cheques instead of cash. I figure to save over $800.

Bill

The thalassotherapy pools on the M Class ships are heated.

Yes, I know. But I am referring to the outdoor pools. I was very surprised.

We have not bought a package, as I never know whether it is for us or not. We buy a bottle of wine for dinner most nights, with an occasional beer for me or drink for my wife at other times. Probably will have a glass of wine with lunch.

At $11 per glass, if we have 3 or 4 glasses between us at dinner, we are up to $33-$44 anyway which is close to the cost of the entire bottle. With a bucket of beer (5 for cost of 4) taken to our room, I can have more than I probably want in the room for a few days.

Am I correct in assuming that we are just as well off not having the Classic Package?

Thanks for your great review on the subject.

Bill

I don't expect it to be warm enough to use the pool on sea days so the type of water is not important. Guess it depends on where you are cruising.

Several years ago we were on Constellation's Baltic cruise in early September. The pools, surprisingly, were heated. It was great. Don't know if that continues on other ships though.

Bill

Last spring, on Eclipse, for the first time we experienced the three-coupons-for-three drinks pp in the Elite lounge. Is it being done fleetwide or only when there are many Elites and above on board? We sail Silhouette in November and am just wondering...

Bill

When I log in for "My Celebrity", up come our two b-2-b cruises in November, but that is as far as the site will go. I keep getting a red sentences saying something like our personal information is incomplete. I cannot access any of the list of options...manage reservations etc. It did work when I first bought the cruises a couple of weeks ago, and at that time, thank God, I did all that I needed, and printed off my Express Pass.:eek:

Also, I have been unable to register for the Connections Party (Meet and Mingle) for either cruise as the site just keeps bringing up a repeat page, after I have filled in all the required information.:(

A Captain's Club rep suggested I try Internet Explorer over Mozilla, and it worked while he was on the telephone with me. But when I tried the same thing again later, it did not.:mad:

Bill

Since you booked your cruise through a Travel Agent, they should have

put your request on the reservation and they can call Celebrity for you

as well.

There will be a card in your cabin with your table number and dining time

on it. I would suggest taking the card with you and then go see the

Maitr'd to confirm it is a deuce. You can find them outside of the main

dining room on embarkation day.

I agree, Lois, with one other thing. If you used a TA, then you MUST use the TA to make your request. Celebrity will just tell you to do it that way. Once the request has been made, Celebrity will tell you if it has been done but as has been said, you won't know until you check with the Maitre d' or until you show up at the dining room for dinner whether the table is for two. We always ask for one, and so far it has been done, although some are not in a great location...i.e. under the staircase.

Vitamin Sea:

P.S. On Constellation, still our favourite ship, you will find the Maitre d' inside the Rendez-vous Lounge.

P.P.S. Always take note of Lois' advice. She knows stuff!!:)

Bill

Our first experience with the laundry was to pay the regular price. Everything came back ironed and on hangers; shirts were just super. I was so impressed; we don't have such a thing as a laundry service in our town.

Our next experience was with Elite coupons and then, and every time since, unless I just pay the regular price, everything comes back folded in a bag. I as really disappointed. Now, if I really want shirts done, I send those at the regular price and everything else, with a coupon.

And, knock wood, we have never had anything lost. Also, laundry is back the following day after sending.

Bill

I don't get a message per se. After entering our booking number(s), clicking the boxes for guests, newsletters and emails followed by "submit", the next page is for no names but for emails and newsletters and every submission after that is the same.

I guess we will take Host Andy's advice from the start of this thread and see about signing up on board.

Bill

WOW, small world as we were on the Allure 11/16/14. Really don't understand why X does not use RCI software/IT. Allure had better food in the Lounges, too during 5-8:30PM.

Small world indeed. We were on deck 6 and so were both the Diamond Lounge and the Schooner Bar. Being on a back-to-back, we got to know the servers at Schooner and they treated us very well indeed. We liked both venues.

The seapass idea is really a good one. As well as the complimentary drinks, everything for onboard entertainment that you pre-book is loaded onto your seapass. With so many people on board, I can see why it is needed. Imagine the confusion, not to mention the indignant outrage, that would ensue if nearly everyone wanted to see the same show(s) on the same night at the same time! :eek: Not a problem on Celebrity, but the seapass voucher would be cool if it were pre-loaded.

Bill

When coupons were used on Eclipse in Nov 2014, they only allowed the same drinks as those that were on the Sky Lounge menu. Celebrity should come of age and automate their system. They are part of RCI and RCI does use the Seapass card instead of paper coupons. In addition, RCI gives 3 drinks plus the use of the Lounges from 5-8:30pm. RCI is not limiting you to just 3 drinks per evening. Celebrity is marketing themselves as a Modern Luxury Cruise Line. So, get modern and up-to-date.

Yep; I totally agree. We were on Allure of the Seas in November and this is what they did. Great idea. We frequented one of the bars near our floor or the Diamond Lounge before dinner every night.

A good time to do a back-to-back is when there are incentives or perks involved, because they will apply to both cruises. On our first one, there was a $100 OBC for each cruise plus $100 for a back-to-back from the Travel Agency. If it is the cruise company, the same will occur as the company considers each as a separate cruise.

If we cannot find a longer cruise to suit us, then we always look for at least a 7-day back-to back possibility.

It is nice to stay in your cabin, but if that is not possible, it is not much trouble to change staterooms. Your room attendant will assist you, by taking clothes on their hangers from the closets to the new room. All you have to do, is literally chuck all your other stuff in suitcases haphazardly and roll it to the new room and place it back where you had it in the previous room....takes about 5 minutes. (Then the biggest thing you must do is to choose where you want to go to relax while everyone else is waiting or boarding.) Last year, we literally moved next door. Another time, we moved down the corridor about 10 cabins. Your TA (or yourself if you look at deck plans) should be able to find a cabin(s) possibility for you.

Bill

Nicely done, Tom, both photos and commentary.

We will be aboard for the Mar. 29th sailing. Did you frequent any lounges with entertainers, such as the Ensemble Lounge (near specialty restaurants)? How was the volume of sound? On other S-class ships, we like the various bars, but have found that the musicians are awfully loud; you cannot talk to your mate even, let alone anyone at another table. So we often leave/avoid them now.

We have been to Aruba before, but on M-class and "parked" right down near the dutch-looking facades of buildings, near a marina and within an easy walk. Your photos make me think that Eclipse was berthed elsewhere. Am I correct?

Bill

Oh Dear! The first few posts were very encouraging but the last 2 posts from Steamboats and 2More Cruises have very different answers! I guess we will actually find out when we arrive... They do have us "on the list" for the wheel chair assist so hopefully that works out. Really wish the Eclipse still sailed out of Port Everglades! Again, thanks for all the help!

I had checked the departure for our Mar. 29 cruise some time ago. Most people told me it was Terminal G. If you re-read the two posts, you will see the location is the same whether it is called G or 8 ....look at a map, and of the line of ships, it is the first one on the left, closest to the city.

Bill

We also used DenRus for Saint Petersburg (used ship's tours for the other cities). Cannot say enough positive things about our 2-day tour, their basic one. Dealing with Ali was just fine, in emails and eventually in person, and our guide, Ludmilla was super; she knew, for example, in the Hermitage how to leave the area where we were and come back later just as a noisy, large group from another cruiseline (apparently notorious for their undisciplined passengers) roled in.

There were 10 of us in a van which was great as it was much easier to get around the city in a smaller vehicle.

Bill

The best shows I have seen on board were on Millennium several years ago, and I don't know whether they are still there; Q sine? productions or something like that. Beat all the other shows hands down that we had seen.

The shows' content doesn't change that much, although the production does somewhat. As a result I have grown to despise that song from Phantom of the Opera ..something of the Night, as well as the flag-raising one from Les Mis. Gag me with a spoon! :eek:

I asked questions as did you. I got all sorts of responses pro and con for using off site parking. In the end, I decided to park at the port for ease of access and peace of mind. Not only do I pay $20 U.S./per day to park for 14 days, but will add about 30% when charge card and exchange rates are factored in.

Perhaps someone will correct me if I am wrong:

From what I could gather, the parking garage is across the street from the ship. I can drop off my wife with the luggage, easily park the car and easily and quickly go back to the drop off point to access the terminal. My knees are not the greatest, either.

Bill

We have had birthday cakes from Celebrity. If they know when the birthday is, one will automatically be delivered to your table after dinner. (Chocolate with chocolate icing.) You can add the information to your reservation information (or have your TA do it), or I think you can just tell the assistant Maitre d' or perhaps guest relations after you board.

On one birthday, we happened to be in the Specialty restaurant on the birthday, and I, as I usually do, told our waiter we would not be there the next night. He said they'd just keep the cake until the next time we were in the MDR. In the Specialty Restaurant, lo and behold one was delivered there. So, we ended up with two cakes.

You might also call Celebrity, either Captain's Club, or guest relations to ask what you should do since the birthday is the first day of the cruise.

Bill

We have stayed there twice in the last year. It is true, the place needs a make-over especially in the lobby area. The rooms are OK....but it's obviously an older hotel. I booked through Expedia and we were upgraded to a tower room as we were there for four days last April (could not get a flight home from a cruise sooner) on the waterway side. Was initially disappointed that we were not on the port side, but there are no cruise ships to view except weekends, really. The waterway side overlooks the pool, marina and constant boating activitiy; when we went back this past November, I asked for the tower overlooking the waterway again. I checked the price on Expedia and then phoned the hotel directly; I paid prices that matched Expedia for a basic room. The pool area is really good; large pool, and a waterside bar area with food service. Definitely a water taxi stop.

We ate at places other than the hotel, (there are a number close to the hotel). There is a quick breakfast spot in the lobby area which is OK. The next hotel up 17th Street has a decent restaurant for full breakfast; there are other places like Edelstein's bakery and a Starbucks a couple of blocks further. For about $20 there is a van outside the door which will take you to the airport. There is no shuttle and a taxi from the port (which is really close) is about $10.

We will absolutely stay there again if the price is OK.

Nope that this helps.

Bill

We are set for Reflection soon. Can't wait! Have done RCCL for the past 9 years, we are so looking forward to something different. For what it's worth we will be "Elite" on Celebrity (Diamond on RCCL). I guess we will get a couple free drinks, whatever:) We pre-booked the four night speciality dining package to check them all out. Can't wait to see the ship!!!!!!!

We have not sailed Reflection, but other than that, I would agree with all prior information on this thread....pay attention to dkjretired re: Captain's Club number. A phone call should do it.

We are Celebrity Elites who have done RCCL twice with reciprocal Diamaond status. You will find perks (coupons in your cabin) for, among other things, internet and laundry which I believe are better than offered by RCCL. Elites can meet nightly from 5--7p.m. I think, up in the forward, top deck disco/lounge. As with RCCL, there is a limited drinks menu, gratis. Unlike Allure of the Seas, in Nov. past, there are not also three free drinks at most bars pre-loaded onto your seapass card. That is a nice feature.

You should like the ship; Celebrity isn't too garrish...the M-class ships are fairly elegant looking even.

Have a great cruise.

I have never heard of this nor seen it in the dailies. Is it for suites and above?

Do you think we need to prebook? I'd rather wait to book onboard as we have on board credit that I'd like to use for the Olympic, and also want to keep it a surprise (ie not have it show up on the credit card in advance). I'm not sure how busy they get, so do you think I'll be safe waiting till the day we board to book for the 5th night of the cruise? I'd like to get an 8pm slot, not 6 or 9pm if possible. When we ate at Qsine last year we booked on board and it was half empty, but that was a 14 night cruise and this is a 7 night.

We have never pre-booked, and never had a problem.

What everybody else has said...

In my opinion, the Olympic is the loveliest of all the Celebrity specialty restaurants. It is also the first one that they had. The forward part of the room is done with paneling taken from the Olympic, which was a sister ship of Titanic, and is truly beautiful. The rest of the room is really nice as well.

I assume that menu is still more or less the same from ship to ship. Usually they bring an "amuse bouche" mini appetizer from the chef. And then you peruse the menu. I love the goat cheese souffle, and then the lobster bisque (but my wife who adores lobster doesn't like it). I have tried the Dover Sole Veronique and it is wonderful. If you have room for dessert, you might like the souffle, but it has to be ordered in advance of your meal, and is a large serving.......but good! Then they bring a plate of "petit fours" to top everything off.

If you like an elegant atmosphere, with wait staff to match, then I suggest you will love the Olympic. Bon appetite.

Bill

It's like any other balcony cabin. If you don't need it connect, you won't know it is 'different.' Cabins on the first four Solstice class ships do not connect with an inner door, but through the outer 'vestibule'. I realize that it is hard to visualize if you haven't seen it, but in these pictures, the cream door is the cabin door, and it opens inward to the cabin. the 'wood' door is the one that opens toward the corridor, and creates a little vestibule.

 

 

It is quite neat, really. In the top photo, notice the cream door. It accesses the cabin, and is inset by a couple of feet from the actual hallway (see also the second photo). This is true for all cabins.

But for adjoining cabins, there is a difference. Notice in the top photo, instead of a wall inset, there appears to be another wooden door at right angles to the cabin door; it has a handle, a viewing peephole and hinges out by the hallway. This door closes forward and meets its mate (see the second photo). The result is that the wooden doors now are out at hall level and they become the room(s) doors; there is a small area behind the wooden doorsand the cream cabin doors (the "little vestibule" mentioned by Essiesmom)which makes the two cabin doors inside, so to speak. By keeping open the cream cabin doors, you have adjoining rooms.

Also, out on the balcony, each balcony is separated by a glass divider which is hinged part way out from the wall. The divider can then be folded back against itself making the two balconies adjoined as well.

Hope this helps you to make sense. The trick is to realize what you are seeing in the two photos; otherwise an explanation can be difficult to visualize.

Bill

Do you happen to know the distance per round? Or how many rounds make a mile/km?

Somewhere on the track area will be a small sign with the mile/km equivalents. As said, probably 8 times around; the Millenniium class actually is longer, about 6 times around.