Bo1953

8 minutes ago, 2chiefs said:

We are booked on Celebrity Beyond for December. We have always had traditional dining so we booked late seating (8:30 pm). This was before we found out there were four different dining rooms on Edge class. I assume that we will not be dining at one table for the cruise so I'm wondering if we have to make reservations daily? Does this mean everyone has My Time Dining? ... Confused.

2c - I Am sure if you want an 8.30p seating for dinner, there should be no issues with just walking up and request seating...

Do not be confused, with Anytime Dining you can eat in any of the four (4) each night... then you can decide which you like the most, in terms of mood, decor or even staff.

I trust you will find that having four (4) dining venues to choose from, to be more relaxed, intimate and enjoyable.

bon appetit and bon voyage

15 hours ago, gotcha3 said:

To be honest, it was the somm on our Reflection cruise....first time in Aqua. We've never looked back and always book Aqua now. Seems to me, if you treat the somm well then good things happen. I've had somms that would tell me straight to my face that this or that wine was not available which of course necessitated a trip to cellar masters to bring back a bottle ('cause I had been drinking it there earlier). That original somm in Aqua on Reflection sold the whole Aqua thing for us. She actually came by the table 3-4 times during each dinner asking after us, this NEVER happened in the MDR. Invariably she'd open the bottle, pour our glasses, then make an excuse to leave the bottle at the table. Wow, treated like adults! After the cruise, we always treat the good ones well. This last Connie Aqua somm, brought the grand daughters the alkie-free wine of his own accord (with parents permission) as they had exhausted the menu of Shirley Temples.

Our experience from the MDR and our Sommelier did come by our table several times with different 'off menu' wines to try... and we found two (2) which were great and she had them there at each dining...

I think it did help that we brought  a few bottles of great wine, which we included her and a few of the other Somm's in tasting, which helped.

Not to say that all of the Somm's we have encountered are this way, but quite a few have been. Then again when there is a full sailing and there are a few passengers who just want wine regardless of the quality or style, passengers like us (you and I) are a breath of fresh air and they want to go above and beyond to provide a great experience...

I Am happy that your experience was a great one and I find quite similar to mine... in fact, when I go to the MDR to figure out seating, I always ask the Maître d' which Somm do they consider to be very good, that is my test of location, location, location... LOL

Thank you for pointing this out, as for many of us, this type of treatment just adds to a nicer sailing regardless of cabin level.

Cheers and bon voyage

13 hours ago, kittyraptors said:

Hi!! I have loved following along with your live report, thank you so much for sharing! 

 

In a month I am going on my first celebrity cruise after cruising with Disney for years. I love your Disney shirt! I have a few Disney things that I typically take on my cruises, the biggest one being my Loungefly bag. I would absolutely love to bring my bag with me. If I can ask - do you feel out of place with your Disney stuff at all? I have really bad anxiety so sometimes I worry about not fitting in with the crowd around me. I know it's a different crowd on Celebrity. 

 

Hope you are having great time!

kr not to worry about fitting in aboard any X sailing, especially if you make it back home and had a great time!!! LOL

I think after a few days of wearing Disney, you may get some X paraphernalia and make that you new "go to" cruise wear!!! LOL

Enjoy your sailings regardless...

bon voyage

2 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

I normally go for wines that are $40 - $60 with an upper end of $100.  

 

However, I have found a number of wines in the $20 - $30 range that I thoroughly enjoy.  These are from a local vineyard, 868 Estate Vineyards or from Coopers-Hawk. 

 

I will have to try and track down your recommendations...

Cheers and bon voyage

3 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

After reading this thread, I am very happy that my unrefined taste buds allow me to enjoy wines that are sold at a much more reasonable price point. 

 

dk - what is that 'price point'???  LOL

Cheers and bon voyage

@kwokpot is Robert feeling better???

In health and bon voyage

42 minutes ago, drakes2 said:

Bo,  I was gifted a bottle of Veuve Cliquot onboard my recent TA in May. Last night of cruise packed it in a wine bag put between clothes in my case. Picked up next morning at Rotterdam terminal while walking to taxi to take to Amsterdam I tripped and case fell over. Panic attack. Hauled into taxi enroute Amsterdam with others peoples luggage. Up and down several flights of stairs in hotel plus 2 flight connections back to Toronto Canada.  Survived thousands of miles of traveling.  

d2 - that is great to hear!!!

For some reason I do not mind flying to Florida with bottles in my suitcase, but flying overseas and with baggage handlers and luggage carousels in places that I Am not familiar with, just scares me a bit for a prized bottle...

A <$50 bottle, not a problem, much more than that, I would sweat!!! LOL

Cheers and bon voyage

16 minutes ago, rubens said:

Instead of putting that amount of money in their inventory X better should use it to improve their food quality! 🍷 for  🍽️

I will go for good wine every time!!! LOL

Cheers and bon voyage

12 minutes ago, mlmbar said:

LOL NO, you are not bad! Yes, four hours wasted but it was solved. Training is the key but it isn't being done completely. I am familiar with this because my daughter faces these challenges all day with her job. She deals with the outsourcing people not being fully trained and she is the troubleshooter. 

 

BTW my travel partner lives in LSD, Milton. Heading there tomorrow

Milton!!! Is just, pending on traffic (LOL), 35 minutes away... 

We are in RB (not proper but zip)....

How long will you be in town?

Chat later.. bon voyage

21 minutes ago, mlmbar said:

I do not care to use a travel agent. Been there , done that. My daughter works in the travel industry and is constantly unraveling TA mistakes. I like 24/7 availability  As far as my issue, there was NOTHING on the website regarding rewards points. If they are going to make these available, then  their people should all be trained in where they can send a caller with a question about points rather than incorrect info, hold, or send back to Bank of America which sends you back to Celebrity   

My Bad, I did not intend to insinuate that ALL issues can be resolved via X's website, which is patently clear, knowing the issue you were referring to, it would take human intervention to correct....

IMO, training in any company is always evolving, improving (hopefully) and becomes overly helpful no matter the point of contact.

I could not even venture to guess how often a situation similar to yours comes up to many of the CSR's, yet I trust if there are many, then it is noted by trainers so they can get the info to the front line on how to handle.

Happy to know that it is corrected at this juncture and I trust you have a great sailing despite the time it took to correct.

bon voyage

2 minutes ago, markeb said:

Have them look at Portuguese wines while you’re at it…

me - thank you for that, I shall for sure...

Cheers and bon voyage

2 minutes ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

When you put 1 person and 2 bags (backpacks don’t count if they stay with you) when you reserved and paid for the car service - but somehow it got changed to 3 and 3, you end up with a huge Navigator SUV!

 

Heading to the port now!

The Navigator is for The Celebrity that you are!!!

bon voyage

1 minute ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

Haha! It’s a carry-on sized roller bag and a gym bag sized duffel for shoes and toiletries. Backpack has the computer and paperwork and such.

 

Thank you!!

So you are planning on being on-board for a month with all of that, especially the laptop and paperwork!!!

LOL

bon voyage

I said earlier that I would bring, what I considered, a very good bottle of wine on my next sailing in a month, not thinking there is no way I would pack and pray that the bottle would withstand a 14 hour travel day by vehicle, plane and taxi... 

Fortunately, I have a few buddies who are wine connoisseurs, IMO, who will spend a day or so with me to purchase a few good bottles of Spanish wines to bring with us... at a price point I can live with.. and drink!!! LOL

Cheers and bon voyage 

36 minutes ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

It’s Embarkation Day!! It’s Embarkation Day!!! 
 

 

Bags are by the door…

 

I’m dressed and all set!!

 

My car service is to be here at 9:30 and I’ll be on my way!!

 

It’s rainy, but who cares?? It’s Embarkation Day!!

woyh - looks like you are doing a B2B2B2B sailing!!! LOL

No worries, have fun and I look forward to your musings and postings while aboard and in port... We have been to Bermuda three (3) times on The Summit.

Safe travels to the ship and bon voyage

btw: Happy Natal Anniversary!!!

31 minutes ago, mlmbar said:

So do I. I have never found a TA that was helpful  Also, that is not an answer to the problem. That just allows the problem to continue

Since there are over 1,800 agents involved in booking cruises here in the U.S., I Am sure you can find  one that will be helpful to your specification(s) as a few of us here on CC have.

Then when they become overwhelmingly less helpful, or we do not or choose not to understand the dialect (U.S. regional or international) of English they speak, we move on to another agent/agency... where they will speak just like we want them to.

Many of us use agents to handle issues so we do not personally need to be on the phone for 'hours' at a time to get resolutions/answers/responses, often times. Those of us who choose not to use agents are doomed to be on the phone, potentially, for hours trying to get something resolved or changed or explained or corrected. This is by choice, not necessarily by chance or is it???

Been there, done that and not going back unless I cannot avoid it... all in the name of 'control'.

As in the OP's issue, a quick search of X's website would have presented the answers, easily and without waiting on hold!!!

At any rate, enjoy the sailing and I trust all is to satisfaction from this point, during the sailing and after the return...

bon voyage

Every time I have called over the last few weeks for various things, the longest wait was ten (10) minutes and the Reps spoke 'perfect' english and understood what I needed.

PLUS, the information you are seeking happens to be on X's website, here.

While you are not the only person who experiences 'long wait times', not sure about the time frames you are calling (I Am sure it is every time you call at all times of the day, correct?).

At any rate, I trust that the number need not be used... 

bon voyage

On average, which bottled wines currently aboard X's vessels would anyone recommend for purchase to drink now and/or request decanting starting a few hours before arriving to drink and dine?

Cheers and bon voyage

2 hours ago, waddle said:

Imagine opening the bottle only to find it has corked 😳

That would be so depressing, as the buyer, and mortifying for The Sommelier and require that they not only auto refund the bottle price, but the cabin price!!! LOL

Cheers and bon voyage

7 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Whenever I see an outrageous price point such as this I automatically wonder if money laundering might be in play. Then I’m reminded that it’s Celebrity we’re talking about so it must be just a damn good bottle of wine. Ami right?

Yes, then again for wine purchases above $150 each, I have no reference point in terms of price and quality.

But who knows after tonight's lottery drawing, I may be at a whole new level of connoisseur drinking... LOL

Cheers and bon voyage 

1 minute ago, miched said:

Makes these a bargain at Costco in FL

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

m bring one of these aboard for your special dinner.. 

That would command great attention and special treatment for sure...

Cheers and bon voyage

5 hours ago, micruiser2002 said:

I would love to know what finance guy approved this purchase.  Sorry but I find it hard to believe that they would even sell 1 in a year.  What a waste of sitting inventory.

mc2  actually, it is a great marketing idea, as there may not be anyone to purchase that particular bottle at $100k readily, yet there will be a few who will go to $200 for a special occasion or even a $1k bottle and say there was a more expensive bottle but this was My limit...

Over priced, possibly, enjoyed, definitely (admitted or not).. 😎

Especially someone who enjoys fine wine....

Cheers and bon voyage

5 hours ago, micruiser2002 said:

I would love to know what finance guy approved this purchase.  Sorry but I find it hard to believe that they would even sell 1 in a year.  What a waste of sitting inventory.

Multiple posting... sorry.

5 hours ago, micruiser2002 said:

I would love to know what finance guy approved this purchase.  Sorry but I find it hard to believe that they would even sell 1 in a year.  What a waste of sitting inventory.

Duplicate posting... apologies...

bon voyage

5 hours ago, micruiser2002 said:

I would love to know what finance guy approved this purchase.  Sorry but I find it hard to believe that they would even sell 1 in a year.  What a waste of sitting inventory.

Duplicate posting, sorry...

Cheers and bon voyage

Cheers and bon voyage