phoenix_dream

Exactly. People need to read the fine print. Most policies exclude the things you mention, especially if the area is already declared unsafe by the US government, in the case of US insurance plans. I worked 30+ years in that industry, albeit not in the travel insurance side. But I know enough to read the fine print on all my policies.

That's the real point. Is it likely to affect Labadee? Probably not. But probably is just that, not a certainty. If nothing else it gives a bad perception that Royal is putting profit over safety, especially when the US government is warning all citizens to leave immediately. It doesn't say, unless its a cruise ship stop! Many posts here are always talking about the main point of these groups is taking down current leadership. Yes there is an intent to do that. But we are talking about thousands of prisoners. Does anyone with any smarts actually believe they are all worried about that only and they have no intent to commit any other crime?!? If you do I have a bridge to sell you, as the saying goes.

Be advised also that wifi of any kind in Alaska can be very spotty, even in port. I've sailed Celebrity there many times and even with Starlink it's been some of our worst wifi. Remote areas so sometimes difficulty connecting.

Me too because of the crowds. That said still prefer it vastly over E class.

And of course criminals never travel and only are violent in certain areas. Like we never thought the gangs would move out of Chicago for their smash and grabs in suburbs 30 miles away. And yet they are! The US says it's citizens should leave Haiti immediately. They didn't say except for Labadee. Enough said

Excellent recap of the situation. I live outside of Chicago so I understand violence especially these days. But we are talking about literally thousands of prisoners set free as well as those criminals who hadn't been caught yet. The US is stating US citizens should leave Haiti immediately. They didn't say, except for Labadee because it would inconvenience the cruise line. Yes it is not right next door to the current uprising. Nor is it that far away- drivable in a day or less! I am not personally affected but I just can't believe the logic that says let's take a chance with thousands of passengers and multimillion dollar cruise ships. It's just not worth the risk. Period.

Interesting article. The "it could never happen to Labadee" people may want to read it. Frankly I am shocked Royal isn't temporarily suspending stops. https://www.aol.com/key-port-terminal-broken-violence-171419553.html

An interesting article about them attacking a port. Granted, a different type of port, but....https://www.aol.com/key-port-terminal-broken-violence-171419553.html

For those wondering why everyone onboard didn't get emails, this seems to be a common occurrence for all emails. Some get advertising emails but never get a post cruise survey or a Move up activity email. I wouldn't assume it didn't apply to you if you were on that sailing.

We have. Great location and no issues

100% agree! I've seen people doing video calls in Luminae during dining times. So rude and inconsiderate! And I don't want to hear people justifying it by saying it's no different than talking to each other at the table. That's just not true. People tend to talk much louder on video calls than when talking to their partner across the table.

This has morphed into a discussion of manners when using a scooter and when around those who do. Here's my take after 80 cruises on Celebrity, including a couple where a relative of ours needed a scooter to get around so I am not unsympathetic to the challenges. It is a fact that it is difficult to get an elevator when using a scooter (and even a walker). These days ships are 100% full and it is often hard even for walking folks to find an elevator they fit in. There are inconsiderate people who refuse to move back and allow the elevator to be full (including some who are afraid to step onto the glass portion at the rear). There are also other inconsiderate people who try to jam into the elevator when there is clearly not room. I sympathize with those on scooters who need to find space. Don't assume though that we're ignoring you - there just may literally not be room. As to manners around the ship - apologies to those who use appliances and are respectful of others around them (and I know there are many of you!) but I can honestly say I have been nearly run over, or run into many, many times by people riding scooters or using walkers. I find this most often on longer cruises with lots of older people (and less you think I am ageist - I am an older - 70+ person myself). Too many times it seems like there is an attitude of "get out of my way, I have a disability so my needs should come first". Again, no offence meant to the many who don't operate that way, but I've seen it time and again. One of the few things I dislike about longer cruises with more of us seniors onboard.

As people have said, check-in is totally different now. Only priority is Suites and Zenith. That said, it also goes very quickly now. Do your check-in online before you get there and you should breeze right in. By 12:00 the ship should be clear and it is likely there will be little in the way of lines or waiting. Your wife can definitely board with you.

Definitely get premium Wi-Fi. It should work with some exceptions depending on what part of the world you are in. We have had issues with reception on Alaska cruises. No issues on Caribbean and Pacific coast cruises. Have only done one other region so can't really advise beyond that.

I am sincerely sorry your DH got sick and hope for a speedy recovery. As to my opinion or suggestions - Given his history of catching illnesses onboard I have to wonder if the cause is a lowered immunity system as opposed to anything wrong with the cabin or the ship itself. I have sailed over 90 cruises, 80 of which on Celebrity. I would say that on virtually 100% of them I noticed a slight musty odor. Perhaps he has some kind of allergic reaction that leads to illness? Perhaps he is catching viruses from other cruisers? Every cruise I have been on in the past year is 100% full - and sometimes even more than 100% (due to multiple people in cabins). Anytime you are going to be around 3,000+ people (staff and crew) there will be a certain percentage that are sick, coming down with something, or getting over something and still potentially contagious.

I just sailed last month and Zenith definitely boarded with suites.

Every Alaska cruise I have been on (probably around 10) on Celebrity has had a naturalist onboard who gives talks, and as Jelayne says will likely also narrate in certain situations like when visiting the glaciers.

You're saying you've received all these things staying in Sky Suites in Celebrity?? In recent years?? Other than cheap wine and a couple of flowers (never a bouquet) I have not received any of these and I've stayed in Sky Suites or above (Including Royal Suites a couple times, as well as a Celebrity Suite) many, many times since restart after Covid, including 9 such cruises last year alone, when I was sailing as Zenith.

I am a fairly recent Zenith and so far out of around 15 cruises since reaching that level it has only happened to us once, in an Aqua Sky Suite, with a note from the Hotel Director and an $8 (retail) bottle of wine which we couldn't bring ourselves to drink. So it really all depends. They could be much higher rated Zeniths than me. They might have gotten it from their travel agent. They might be in a high level suite. They might have sailed on the same ship many, many times and developed a relationship with the HD or some other high level officer. It is definitely not a stated perk.

I already gave one response but some of the responses are really getting to me as I sailed for years with my now adult kid on Celebrity so I feel like adding more. THIS IS NOT NEW. Celebrity has been doing this for years and years on cold weather cruises. People are acting like the world is coming to an end if kids are able to spend two small hours per day in an indoor pool as they would not be able to swim at all without that privilege, an activity kids love and on Celebrity in particular really would benefit by it (without a lot of other kids activities like some lines). This does not mean it is the beginning of allowing kids in that pool all the time and on every cruise. Again, this is not new - it has been going on for years. It is now just being made official and consistent (consistency being something Celebrity needs to do more of!). Am I as concerned as the next person over the continued "Royalization" of Celebrity? YES and I have stated so many times on these boards. But skeptic as I am I really, truly do not believe this is just step one of allowing it as a regular benefit on all cruises, or increasing hours etc..

We took our son on Celebrity from the time he was around 6 years old. Would he have preferred a Royal Caribbean ship? Possibly. But did he have a great time anyway? He says he did. He loved being treated like royalty (the staff is very nice to children in particular). He enjoyed dressing up for dinner believe it or not. He liked joining us in the pool and playing board games with us. He enjoyed reading his books and comic books, and playing games and watching movies on our laptop. Sometimes kids need downtime too! He loved going to the shows, and enjoyed the music in the bars before dinner. He is more introverted, so didn't really make a lot of use of the children's club. He enjoyed going to the beach with us in ports (and we tried to book cruises that had more ports than sea days). DH and I much preferred Celebrity to other lines we sailed, and all 3 of us had a great time on Celebrity.

I have zero issue with this as long as it is confined to cold or bad weather cruises, is limited in hours, and the parents monitor the children. IMHO it is incredibly unkind (I am actually thinking of other words, but they'd probably get me kicked off this thread) to not allow children to do this. Swimming is one of the activities children most enjoy and to completely deny it to them due to bad weather is just unkind. For heavens sake, it's only a couple of hours. I just can't believe some of the opinions on this.

It isn't funny for many of us. I spend hours on our balcony reading and relaxing and I want to be comfortable!

100% agree. I've had 2 cruises with delayed disembarkation at around 9:30. Also agree about getting on another flight. Has anyone flown lately where the plane wasn't 100% full or darn close to it? I know I haven't. Early flights these days are just not worth the risk.

And I have had two cruises sailing from US ports where disembarkation didn't even start until 9:30. Relatively rare? Yes, but I've encountered it twice so that is realistic to me.