Galaxy2004

@Moonarino On our last Ascent cruise the hostess in Normandie learned by the 2nd night that we like some space and she suggested that we come at certain times to avoid the crowd, which resulted in us getting the separation we wanted. Certainly happy that Celebrity has that personal touch and doesn't make you reserve a specific table through the app.

@MoonarinoNot had problems with app use on Celebrity, but many of their 2 toppers are the same as you describe on Carnival - maybe 1 foot from the next table and 6+ of them in a row. Met some really nice couples that way, and have also witnessed some rude and odd ones too. We cruise to relax and reconnect with each other and it's hard to do that when seated the way most 2 toppers are situated now.

@JackE Not only not copyrightable, but also have to worry about whether content you use from it infringes on someone else's copyright as it's just grabbing and aggregating information. Lots of interesting issues to be worked out in AI.

@mahdnc ChatGPT is great for first drafts of marketing language, emails, procedures, briefs, etc. Use it regularly as a starting point. Does collect some bad data from time to time, so not perfect.

Thanks so much for all the great information and letting us tag along virtually through your trip. Congrats on the grandbaby!

@Salt LiferWe did this same excursion last year and really enjoyed it.

I get excited about Terminal 25 even when it's through others! That is A LOT of luggage😁. Can't wait to hear more about your boarding day.

I had not heard this before but am adopting it as my new cruising slogan😁.

Really love the Grand Marnier Soufflé!

Thank you for taking us along. We sailed Ascent in December and loved it so much we went back in February. Love those chocolate tarts!!

You don't lose status under current rules, so don't give them any ideas!

I love the extra bits of details you provide, particularly regarding the bridge. Very interesting!

Thanks for this info. I love those aft verandas! Enjoy your cruise.

Thanks for the review. A friend and I were eyeing this same cruise and you might have convinced us!

If you are outside final payment, which you appear to be, they will normally let you transfer to another cruise for a $100 change fee.

Gosh this looks so good and not like the normal Celebrity dessert!!!

I love their mushrooms!

Celebrity may be capitalizing on the Holland America cruisers like you who catch the wording but they are using it here to say you can have more than one beach, one city, one restaurant, and one pool. Seems to me they are targeting people who may be looking at land vacations. They still use "all included" for their package that's really not the all included it used to be as it's not wi-fi and basic drink package.

Your Cartegena pictures are outstanding!

Good luck!

@TheHawk1 Nonsense. Gate attendants enforce their boarding times by zone and we always wait for our zone to be called. After it is called, we proceed to the boarding area. We actually wait to last call since we never use the overhead bins and can avoid the chaos by waiting🙂. As I've already stated, any time they have signs posted at the terminal entrance with designated times we get in those lines and proceed when directed. We don't get in a 11:00 line if we are assigned a 1:30 arrival time but we have been in later lines and the terminal personnel open those lines up and direct us in. No jumping lines when there are no other lines.

Ascent capacity is over 3200 and when we got there at 10:30 in February we were immediately directed into the terminal. Set with a couple 100 other early arrivals in a terminal that was never full and were on board at 11. We were very happy to be on board when at 1:30 a deluge hit and we able to watch from the comforts of a warm, dry ship with a drink in hand having already partaken of our Concierge lunch. Again, when Celebrity and the port authorities determine that arrival times matter, we will too.

@kaysha2004 6 cruises from FLL in the last 2 years all from Terminal 25 so not for sure on others but I've never seen "chaos in the boarding process" at any time I've shown up.

@TheHawk1 The reality is that at Port Everglades the port authorities and check-in staff do not follow the assigned boarding times. Their goal is to get people through and onboard as quickly as possible. Put that with people like me who have flown in the night before who are not going to sit at a hotel for 3 or 4 hours when we can go wait at that beautiful almost new terminal and maybe get on early. When lines are set up with time slots displayed I always go to my assigned line but even then I've been sent through as soon as the other lines are empty. Maybe some of those people who are grabbing the 11:30 slots are grabbing lunch somewhere in FLL and deciding to arrive whenever they want and that's why I've been able to get in early. Who knows. Anyway, if 1000 people show up at 10:30 one cruise, maybe they will reconsider their process.

Main showtimes normally 7:30 and 9:30. I think our app populated the activities about a week before our 2/4 cruise date on Ascent. We ate at all 4 of the main dining rooms. Our preference was Tuscan but more because of the black and white decor than anything. I've read that pre-cruise reservations are often ignored because all main dining is anytime dining on E-Class. You can always talk with the hostess of the one you like the best and get a reservation set up once onboard.