candr

We stayed at that hotel and used transfers two years in a row before fall transatlantic cruises pre Covid.  The hotel was fine.  Don’t know if it has changed.  The Celebrity transfers were handled well. Celebrity set up a desk in the lobby to check in for the transfer by bus.  There were 2 or 3 buses that left the hotel at different times. They collected our luggage from the room and delivered it to the ship.  One year it went with our bus and another year it went ahead separately by truck. 

We have been in this room on the Equinox.  On the veranda during the day you can sometimes hear the music from the pool deck.  You can occasionally hear things being moved above.  The only time we were bothered by noise was the night they had a live deck party.  There was a loud steady noise I think from the drums and base that sounded almost like someone was banging on the ceiling above our room.

21 hours ago, haynesra said:

I was looking for Delta but was told KLM (partner). Only once in KLM line did I notice the check-in screens at KLM counter would switch between KLM, Delta and someone else I can't remember. There was nothing really telling us to go there. My first time flying in/out of AMS in addition.

While the check in counter signs say Delta, I believe KLM handles arrangements for Delta out of Amsterdam.  We were on a flight to NY booked on and operated by Delta, but Use of the lounge and boarding priorities were governed by KLMs rules not Deltas.  You can find out more about this on Delta’s website.

Assuming it is the Celebrity Cruise Care policy which Celebrity can add to the booking in nearly all states, it is probably not “as good as you can get” elsewhere because there are policies available that offer “better” coverage but may be more expensive.  It doesn’t cover flights you book yourself. I don’t know about flights you book direct with Celebrity.  When we have purchased it the insurance is with an insurance company not Celebrity itself.  One advantage of the Celebrity Cruise Care is that it includes the ability to cancel the cruise for a non covered reason up until the day you sail and get a certificate equal to 90% of the non refundable cruise fare to use on another Celebrity cruise within one year.  That may or may not be of interest to you.  You can find more information about the insurance on Celebrity’s website and compare it with other policies you can find at websites that sell travel insurance.  There is a whole area here on Cruise Critic devoted to travel insurance. Suggest you look there as well.

When we dined in Blu on the Edge a few years ago they had 3 or 4 tables for 2 in a row next to the hanging curtain that forms one side of the dining room. The tables were back to back and you both sat next to the curtain rather than another table, and both of us got a view of the dining room rather than one of us having a view only of the curtain.    Are those tables still there in that arrangement?   Thanks.  

1 hour ago, mfs2k said:

Does Celebrity give you the option of buying travel insurance when you make your final payment? 
We’re booked on Beyond on 10/26/22 and didn’t add travel insurance when we booked direct.
 

Since the “Cruise with confidence” program is expiring, I feel financially vulnerable as Covid cases start ticking up again. 

It appears from your post that you live in NY.  Celebrity is no longer allowed to sell its cruise care insurance directly to NY residents.  You have to book the insurance yourself from Aon.  Celebrity’s web site will give you a link to the site where you can view the policy and the pricing.  The policy and the rates are said to be the same as if you bought it directly from Celebrity.  I believe you need to buy it before you make final payment to Celebrity if you want the cancel for any reason coverage.

Yes it has changed.  The unlimited print and digital package is now digital only.  Celebrity also no longer prints out all the photos the ship photographers take on board.  You now can view them only on a screen.  We purchased the unlimited digital package on a cruise in August.  We were able to download all of the photos while still on the ship.  You also get an email one to two weeks after your cruise with a link you can use to download them from home.   As in the past, you need to check while onboard to make sure all of your photos are in your digital folder and let the staff know if any are missing so they can add them.

We  have sailed many times in Aqua because of the ability to dine in Blu for breakfast and dinner.  We were on the  Equinox in Aqua last fall and on the Edge in Aqua in March.  The menus in Blu were the same.  We enjoyed the food in Blu on the Equinox but thought the food in Blu on the Edge was slightly better.  What we didn't like about Blu on the Edge was its design and ambiance.  Unlike the Solstice class ships where Blu has large windows looking out to the ocean and a light, airy feel, on the Edge the windows are small, look out on the deck/lifeboats and the curtains on all but one were kept closed so there is no view and the feeling is dark and closed in.  (Interestingly, Blu is the only restaurant on the Edge that doesn't offer expansive views of the ocean.)  Blu has several outside tables on the deck which was good in concept but we were told they couldn't be used because guests complained of too much wind.   Compared to Blu on the Solstice class ships we thought Blu on the Edge felt more crowded, the tables were closer together and  because the outside tables can't be used they need to turn the inside tables over more quickly to handle all the Aqua guests and the service was more rushed.  With the smaller main dining rooms on the Edge, all of which seemed to us more open and airy than Blu, we aren't sure we will sail Aqua class again on the Edge or newer Edge class ships unless they make changes to Blu's design and location.

I've used it twice bought online with my credit card and it worked fine.  It is the same policy and cost as it would be if you lived in a different state and purchased from Celebrity.  I was told the reason for the change is the NY Insurance Department won't let Celebrity sell the coverage directly to NY residents who have to purchase it through Aon by phone or on the website.  

Used luggage valet twice in Miami to check two bags each. First time was great. second time not so. Be careful about 2 things. 1. Make sure the long luggage tag number printed on the receipt they deliver to your room matches the long luggage tag number printed on the luggage tag they deliver with it for you to attach to your bag. We didn't check since the luggage tag had our correct airline, flight and arrival city info. We learned the problem when three of our bags didn't arrive at our destination because the numbers didn't match. 2. We get two free checked bags each with Delta and noted this on the luggage valet form but discovered after the cruise that a second bag fee was added to our onboard account. When we questioned this we were told that the luggage valet personnel will only process one free bag per person regardless of what the airline gives you.

As of October small bottle .5 liter of water was 3.50 a large bottle liter of Evian and Pellegrino were 5.00 and a can of coke was 3.00. All before the 18% gratuity.

We have done two in the UK from Southampton and two in the US in Miami and Fort Lauderdale all before late flights. They were all great and we would do again. The guides were very good and the bus made several stops at the airport for each relevant terminal. Except for Miami where we used Celebrity’s luggage valet the luggage went on the bus with us. At the airports there were luggage carts and or porters to take the bags a short walk to checkin.

Can't go by the website. We were on Equinox 7 night cruise in June and there were three Evening Chic nights. Nights 2, 4 and 6. Caught many by surprise.

Yes, AQ guest have access to the concierge - just as anyone on board.

 

The name "Concierge Class" is clever but misleading. There is no concierge just for CC, the concierge is there for all categories.

Agree and we have used the concierge while in AQ. Some are very helpful. However, not everyone is aware of this including some ship personnel. On last year's spring TA on the Reflection I asked at the guest relations desk if they had any information about a museum at one of the ports and was told the concierge has that information but it is not available to you because you are in Aqua class and the concierge is only for those in Concierge Class. This same person also told me the ship had no information at all about Tenerife because the ship had never been to Tenerife. Unbelievable, but true.

Has anyone stayed in Equinox Cabin 1603 (Aqua Class/Penthouse Level? We are currently booked in Cabin 1583. I've been reading that the Hump cabins have a bigger balcony...so was considering requesting a cabin change.

 

From past experience, I know most of the balconies are covered and don't get any sun -- any chance this hump balcony gets sun at all during the day? Also, it appears the bed is near the bath, can anyone confirm that? Thanks!

We were in that cabin several years ago in the Caribbean. The bed is near the bath. There are times when the veranda has sun - usually either in the early morning or late afternoon. It depends upon the ship's heading. For most of the day the veranda is in shade. There are some noise issues at night in the cabin if there is a party on deck you can hear the music beat and what sounds like banging on the ceiling from people dancing, During the day you also can sometimes hear the band by the pool on the veranda, not in the cabin.

Has anyone tried this lately? We have one that would like to keep the classic alcohol package and the other would like to have the premium non-alcoholic package.

We tried this on the Equinox in late June. We went to Guest Relations immediately after boarding and before ordering any beverages. We were told No. Our booking was "Go Better" which included two perks. - the classic alcoholic and the $300 OBC. We were told if we wanted to change one drink package to the premium nonalcoholic we would have to pay the full price, not even the difference between classic and premium. We were also told we could both give up the drinks package and substitute free gratuities, but that was a non-starter on a 7 night cruise.

We took the train. It worked very well and was comfortable. You walk off the ship and the train is right there. A local guide on the train told us lots about life in East Germany before the wall fell. The tour in Berlin was excellent. We had time at the wall remnants (Eastside Gallery), Brandenberg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, the Cathedral and the Pergamon Museum, a bus tour of other sites and had lunch in a museum. At the end of the day back on the train to the ship. Very well organized. I recommend it highly.

Captain Leo was our Captain on the 1/22 Equinox sailing. Very funny guy.

We were also on that cruise and agree. He told us he is going on vacation starting in mid-February. Not sure who will be the new captain. We were told Captain Panos is no longer with the company.

We are Elite Plus (over 2200 points) and are very disappointed to learn the daily bottled water in Aqua Class has been discontinued.

One of the perks we liked with Aqua Class was the bottled water every day. Particularly since the pitchers of ship's water were no longer provided, the pitcher holds much less than two bottles and the tap water is rarely cool.

Yes, the beverage package Celebrity now routinely offers as one of the perks it bakes into the go big price includes bottled water, but that perk isn't offered on transatlantic cruises and with the beverage package you can only get one bottle at a time and have to go to a bar to pick it up and carry it back to your room, instead of having it delivered to your room. Yes one can buy and bring a case of water on board (until that policy changes) but it isn't always convenient to have to stop at a store to buy a case if you are flying in for the cruise. And there isn't any option from Celebrity to have a case of bottled water delivered to your room.

What we also find troubling is that Celebrity changes the perks that are advertised as being provided at the time we book and in the case of our upcoming January cruise after final payment, without informing its passengers of the change in advance.

We have booked hotels through Celebrity twice in London and once in Rome. The prices include a transfer to the ship and were very close to what it would cost to book the same hotel directly and add the cost of a transfer to the ship. There was a welcome package and a hostess at the hotel and the transfers were very smooth and comfortable and got us to the ship in time for lunch. They pick up your luggage at your room and you don't need to deal with it again.

We were in Blu on Eclipse September 2014 and March 2015. We thought the service was the best we have had over several years (total of 12 cruises in Aqua with Blu on both S Class (all ships but the Reflection) and M Class on the Summit. The waiters were uniformly excellent - in the past only a couple were excellent and the others just okay. We did have a meal each time we thought was not up to the usual standards, but the staff was great about replacing, we follow their recommendations and we found the food to be excellent overall. We also found the chef makes a difference. On one cruise last year the chef in Blu had a heavy hand with the spices and two of the appetizers including the crab martini and two soups we enjoyed before and since were too heavily spiced for us to eat. We like Blu more on the S Class ships than on M Class, but then we also like the S Class ships better overall.

We just returned from the Eclipse 14 night cruise to the Med from Southampton...any questions?

 

It was a great itinerary! :):)

What nights were the formal nights? Thanks.

We have been looking at Celebrity Shore Excursions on the Celebrity web site for an upcoming cruise. Celebrity recently updated those pages and some of the excursions and it appears the former Rome on Your Own we had taken in the past (which was a bus that dropped you off near St. Peters and picked you up there at the end of the day) has been changed to "Rome on Your Own with a Smart Device" and the price has increased by $30 per person over what the charge was before the change. The only Celebrity independent transfer into Rome now showing is a private train to St. Peters station.

Deck - 11

Cabin # - 1606 - Solstice

Class – AQ

Starboard or Port Side - Starboard

Bed near?(balcony or bath) – Bath

Quiet Cabin (With comments on problems. Note if connecting. ) – No problems with noise. Unlike 1606 on Eclipse it doesn't have a big air handler above the veranda so you also don't have the "white" noise.

Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. – Great view.

Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - Oversized

Was wind a problem? Not on our cruise.

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? N/A

Any specific problems with this cabin? None

Any other comments?

Deck -

Cabin # - 1606

Class – Aqua

Starboard or Port Side - Starboard

Bed near?(balcony or bath) – Bath

Quiet Cabin (With comments on problems. Note if connecting. ) – Very quiet; did not hear anything from adjoining cabins or hall way. Only issue with noise was the night of the deck party when you could hear the beat of the music and what sounded like banging on the ceiling that lasted until around midnight. Also some early morning sounds from moving chairs on the pool deck. You could hear music from the band on the pool deck during the day if you were sitting on the balcony. The balcony also has lots of white noise from the machinery located just above the balcony's ceiling.

Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. –

Great view out, down and forward. Support poles were not a problem.

Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - Oversize - very large.

Was wind a problem? I don't understand prior comments that there was no wind. It was windy on the balcony while at sea with a constant breeze coming under the dividers between the balconies. Not as much wind as on an open deck, but some days it was too windy to sit out comfortably and despite the large balcony there was no place to sit where there was no wind.

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem?

Any specific problems with this cabin? Overall a great cabin.

Any other comments? It is almost always possible to find shade on the balcony becuase of the overhang except during times of the day when the sun is rising/setting on the starboard side of the ship. At those times the balcony has complete sun.