Librarymomb

I'm a bit confused about all this talk about bringing water onboard.  Is the water from the sink undrinkable?

1 hour ago, happy cruzer said:

As far as has been reported recently, any cabin can order lunch or dinner from the MDR menu when it is open.  I have done it in the past but it is reported to be available now as well.

Great to know...thanks!

12 hours ago, happy cruzer said:

Room service is included.  They even deliver MDR food during dinner service hours.

 

As far as delivery of MDR food during dinner service hours, can this be done in regular veranda cabins as well or must you be in concierge?

Didn't realize having dinner in room was an option...(other than regular room service menu items)

3 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

To answer a couple of your other questions.    The area is available 24 hours and anyone can use the area for either watching the movie or just lounging.   Seating is on a first come basis and their is no reservation capabilities.   There are generally many spaces available but only very limited space in the shade.

Thank you! 😊

Very helpful input and how funny you should post as I had just started reading your thread about your recent B2B on Summit. Wonderful thread, by the way. Full of great info...enjoying it very much. 👍🏻

36 minutes ago, jlnprt said:

Just off the Zuiderdam yesterday. We had lunch upon boarding the ship. Times were listed in the "When and Where" we were handed as we boarded the ship. The MDR was not crowded and it was a wonderful way to start our cruise.

Happy it worked well for you and hoping the same for me upon boarding Nieuw Statendam in September. 

2 hours ago, BDevilCruiser said:

I was checking out the movie schedule for my cruise that starts in a few hours.  Looks like relatively recent movies (such as Creed II, the Favourite, The Mule) at 11am and 4pm, and a classic at 7 or 8, including the Wizard of Oz, Casablanca and ET.

 

I can’t tell you about the venue yet, others who’ve sailed recently can fill you in, or i’ll Report later today once I see it.

Thanks and hope you have a wonderful cruise!! 😊

33 minutes ago, jelayne said:

Just off the Summit this morning.  The Movies were at 2 & 4 pm and then a evening movie at 7 or 8pm.  The afternoon movies were fairly current (a green Book, A Star is Born,  Vice) among them and the movies  in the afternoon were all R rated.  I complained about R rated movies in the afternoon as there were a lot of children onboard  up at the movie or the sports court and got the “Miami is in control of the selection and scheduling”.  The evening movies were older classic movies and generally rated PG.  

 

Our cabin was  on deck 11 at aft and could clearly hear the movie  when on the balcony and occasionally in the cabin.  

Thanks for this...exactly what I needed to know! 👍

Totally agree about R rated movies being inappropriate for children and hope the noise from the movies wasn't too distracting.

Btw, were the same movies available for free on demand in the cabins as well?  I'd read they'd been updated, too.

Hope you had a great cruise and will write a review for us! 😊

15 minutes ago, FlaMariner said:

No issues getting a table for 2.  Just ask. 

 

Agree it's the best way to kick off the cruise.  

14 minutes ago, taxmantoo said:

Your choice.  The MDR is not usually that busy on embarkation.

Excellent news.  Thanks so much to you both! 😊

On 7/5/2019 at 6:55 PM, oceanmom said:

Just got the following in an email from HAL which indicates you can buy the Premium plan before boarding and save $20%. That would be the $199.99 price you received, crystalspin, which is also the price offered on our 14-day cruise if purchased on the HAL website.

 

STAY CONNECTED AT SEA Stay connected while on board and save up to 20% when you book the Premium Internet Plan prior to embarkation.*

Thanks so much for posting this!

...was able to purchase for my upcoming Sept cruise.  Btw, HAL didn't show it as a "special discounted price" but according to the chart of daily plan costs, it was 20% off.  I would not have known this had you not posted so thanks again.  Currently, only the Premium plan is available to buy pre-cruise.  I only really need the middle package and was hoping that it too would be offered at a discount but for $10 more, decided to go with Premium.

1 hour ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

After we drop off our carry ons in the cabin we head for the dining room for lunch.  It is a nice way to start a cruise.

 

Lunch is from Noon until 1:30.

Do they automatically seat you with others or can you get a table for two?

New to Celebrity and when reading about how the ship has been updated, noticed this spot on Summit deck plan while considering a last minute cruise to Bermuda. I've heard of movie screens over pool areas but not on back of the ship.  What movies are currently being shown and when?  Also wondering if it's only on sea days/nights and if seats are by reservation only.  As I like to find a good place to sit and read with a view, are passengers allowed to use this area when movies are not being shown?  Guessing it might get pretty hot up there during the day, especially while docked in Bermuda but sea days might be lovely.

10 minutes ago, Ready2go11 said:

I received the Princess offer in May and it expired on July 1. Today I received a Carnival offer ($75 when charging $350 on the card) that expires Aug 16.  Still no HAL offer. I will keep checking. Apparently, they know i have only used the previous Carnival Corp offers for HAL and I am not getting one specific to that brand. 

 

Interesting...

the Carnival offer popped up on my benefits list today as well, even after receiving a Princess gift card offer last spring as well as the current HAL offer, which, by the way, I successfully used by buying OBC for my upcoming cruise.  Got the notification email from AMEX within minutes of submitting payment via HAL website. Reinforces what someone mentioned earlier... with this offer, AMEX is giving $150 back for a $500 HAL purchase, no matter whether it's a new booking or OBC.

Very thankful...Every little bit helps!! 

16 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

Ticket costs can vary significantly on Flight Ease.  I booked round trip first class tickets from Alabama to Vancouver.  The cost for two was $3300.  I knew I could change the flights if I wanted so I booked these flights in case the flights went up.  A few weeks later, the same exact flights went down to $2300.  I changed my flights.  I really wanted an earlier arrival in Vancouver but those flights added about six hundred for two.  A couple of weeks later, I was able to change my flights again to get their earlier arrival for only $100 PP.  I would up with the flights I wanted for $2500.

 

Bottom line: it's like a cruise, check back often and look for price drops.   At least till final payment.

Well, my final payment was due yesterday so I booked the cruise itself...hooray! 

The included free gratuities helped take a bit of the sting off and now to book flights.  Amazing the difference between today and yesterday...the connecting flight I wanted rose in price while a direct flight, much better IMHO, appeared out of nowhere for a lower price. Fancy that.  Unfortunately, have to wait til after the holiday to confirm my pre/post cruise plans and as it's after final payment, will not be able to book anything til I'm sure.  Will be interesting to see how prices change by then...fingers crossed it's for the better.

Thanks again!

3 hours ago, drowelf said:

But remember that the closer you get to departure date, the more likely it is that the prices will be higher. Basic fact of airline travel, as the inventory of seats goes down, fares go up. 

 Good advice!  Thanks!

2 hours ago, BEAV said:

 

Agree that’s the general rule of thumb, not to mention the way we were all brought up. 

 

On the flip side, I was thrilled to book my friend round trip business class SF-Venice and return from Barcelona for $2500 via FlightEase with only 2 week’s notice. 

Congrats on getting such a awesome price...hoping to get flights taken care of a bit sooner than that but good to know!

3 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

Item One:  you don't have to put the flights on hold.  Payment is usually not due until final cruise payment is due.  Up until that time, you can cancel or change your flights.  BTW, I changed my flights twice for my next cruise.  Once for a price drop and once for a better flight.  No issues.

 

Item Three.  Why not get your travel agent involved?  She's earning a commission after all.  Mine offered to do it for me.  She also offered to get on the line and walk me through it.  I chose to do it myself.  No big deal.

I would suggest you ask  your travel agent about upgrades/upsells/price drops.  A good agent will be eager to help with those things.  If yours isn't willing, look for a new agent.

 

Thank you!

Just now, wahwah1 said:

Oh for #2, you can book after final payment. 

Good to know. Thanks!

Just now, wahwah1 said:

Sorry, i couldn't comment on #1 and #2, but for #3, you could purchase your flight on HAL website when you select your booking # and make flight arrangement.  HAL cannot book the flight for you on the phone but you can purchase yourself online without going through the agent. However, if you need to cancel or modify your tickets, you will need your middle man to contact HAL. 

 

If you want flexibility, I would book with HAL. If you agent gives substantial extea freebies than HAL, i may consider an agent depending on the price you got 

 

By the way.. i am heading to Med cruise on HAL in Sept too. I just paid in full!

Thanks for your input and have a wonderful cruise.  I'm excited for you.  😊

Hopefully, I'll soon have all my ducks in a row and will be traveling in Sept as well. 

I'm a newby to all of this.  I was able to put a cruise on HOLD and with the reservation number, look up flights on Flight Ease.  However, I was not able to put those flights on hold as well.  A few more questions...

1. I'm looking at a Mediterranean cruise for this September.  The price for Delta business is somewhat reasonable and prefer the nicer seats for our overnight departure flight but would like to book economy or economy plus on our return flight.  I was not able to change the return flight class of service on website using the round trip feature.  Guessing I'll have to book them separately...outbound in business, then return in economy.  Is this possible or is it an either/or situation, as in you can only make one flight booking?  I think I read that somewhere...

2.  As this cruise is in September and final payment is soon approaching, do flights have to be booked by final payment or can I pay for the cruise and book flights later?  Still deciding how many days before/after cruise I can travel.

3. Pretty much same question as above but if I book through a travel agent, can I still book flights myself after final payment or do I have to rely on her.  Trying to cut out the middle man as much as possible.  Still trying to decide if I even want or need to use a travel agent.  If prices fall after final payment, I want to be able to upgrade and not sure if travel agents will do it for me.

Thanks!