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32 minutes ago, gcorgain said:

I will say this is one thing that Celebrity has done right for their suite class passengers in Florida. When you arrive you go to a land side lounge with a bar and refreshments. You go to a comfy chair and someone with an iPad comes over while you enjoy refreshments. If you have completed on-line check in you  show a bar code and they ask one or two questions and then you can go on the ship. Once you are on the ship you can go to your stateroom immediately and drop any carry on luggage. Your key cards are also waiting for you there. You can't stay as they may still be finishing the room setup, but you are then free to go about the ship until rooms are open. 

 

No lines. Essentially no wait at all. There are other things I am expecting to be far better on Regent, but this is one area that is pretty darn good on Celebrity (for suite passengers).

We are currently on Celebrity Edge, and you are mostly correct regarding suites.
 However, we did all their pre-Cruise check-in including downloading photos.  After a fairly long wait in the suite line (close to 45 minutes) they scanned our CDC cards, boarding pass app on our phone and passports, before we finally made it to the shore side suite lounge.  There they retook everyones picture, checked and verify information before we were allowed to board (whole process over 1 hour). 
The process for this particular cruise took longer than any Regent check-in we have encountered. Believe the process fell apart because passengers showed up way before their assigned check-in time.  Hope Regent is more prepared than Celebrity was for this particular cruise and for people trying to check-in way early, what a mess.  

3 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

Well, unimpressive to say the least.  We arrived at 12 for a 12:30 check-in for a suite.  We were directed to a suite line outside...a Disney-like line that winds and winds and moves incrementally.

 

We joined the line at 12 noon.  We are still in line at 12:28.  My husband estimates that there are still about 75 people ahead of us.  THE longest wait we have EVER experienced and certainly not what others have posted who have sailed before us.  Adding that there is no water available and no seating for those with canes and walkers.  
 

Not a great start to this long awaited cruise!  Things can only improve, right?

Agree, we found the same problem when we arrived for our check-in today.  We also waited in a long suite line, which moved extremely slow.  A lot of suite guests were having a tough time standing that long. 
What I did find interesting from talking with people around me in line, was not all of them were suite guests while others had later times but came early to sit and wait outside but we’re told to get in line.  
Everyone was nice and excited about getting onboard.  But did expect something a little better than what we encountered today.  

14 hours ago, Bellaggio Cruisers said:

Hope to meet you onboard…. 
sheila

That would be nice.

7 hours ago, Bellaggio Cruisers said:

Our cruise is there on December 9th. Only ship there. 
sheila

Sheila,

I was looking at the Dec.18th date, I'm on Splendor for both the Dec. 9th & 18th date.

You are correct regarding the 9th, we are the only ship so I might just wander ashore on that date and check things out, but definitely not on the 18th.

4 hours ago, Pudgesmom said:

Here is the current schedule for ships at that stop: http://crew-center.com/great-stirrup-cay-bahamas-cruise-ship-schedule

 

If I'm reading it correctly, one other ship with almost 5000 passengers, I'll be staying on the Splendor.  

2 hours ago, GreenValleyDogWalker said:

Hoping to sail on the Celebrity Equinox - departing Ft. Lauderdale on September 26th

Wanted to purchase a "spa pass" for the entire cruise - but can't seem to find if that is doable in advance, on-line (realize it might still be too early ?? 

Any hints ?

Thanks 

Just noticed your name GreenValleyDogWalker, we also live in Green Valley, AZ.  Nice to see someone from our area planning a cruise besides us.  We are on the July 17th Edge cruise, so ready to cruise again. 

7 hours ago, fizzy said:

I think that one would have to try very hard to find a CC member who is more courteous, polite and all around pleasant than Bellagio Cruisers.

Totally agree plus Bellagio Cruiser shares valuable information which I appreciate.

Regent Seven Seas which are truly All Inclusive ships.  By the time you add air, tours, gratuities, specialty dining, drinks, pre-cruise hotel, transportation, etc. to a suite on a non-Regent cruise you are almost at Regent fares.  I have 50+ cruises, tried Regent a few years ago and have pretty much stuck with them, love them.  Trying Celebrity in a suite this July for the first time, fingers crossed.

 "Only fully-vaccinated travelers (having received their shots at least two weeks from their travel) will be allowed to clear customs.  Aside from uploading a vaccination card, visitors will need to show proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel to the twin-island nation, as well as complete a Travel Authorization Form.  Rapid COVID tests will not be accepted.

All tourists who clear those hurdles will then have to 'vacation in place' at an approved hotel for nine days"

Fully vaccinated passengers is not the problem, believe the problem that might stop Regent from visiting the island is the PCR test 72 hours before visiting the islands and the "vacation in place"  (quarantine).  But hopefully things will improve by December.

Thank you for the information, that is helpful.

"We are on the December 7 now 8th Splendor cruise. It will be 9 days instead of 10. The port eliminated is Dominica."
 

Sheila,

Looks like Regent will have to eliminate another port on our December cruise.  St. Kitts and Nevis are cracking down on travelers to the island:  https://thepointsguy.com/news/st-kitts-nevis-cracks-down-travelers-only-allow-fully-vaccinated-visitors/.   This is one of my favorite islands in the Caribbean, hope things change there by the time our cruise sails.

How does Celebrity handle FCC from a past deposit?  Do they apply it to the new cruise fare or give it back to you in OnBoard Credit?  Just received my Guest Copy on our booking, it states I have $500 in FCC but the invoice does not show it has been applied anywhere.  Curious where the money went.  This our first time on Celebrity so I'm not familiar with how they handle these type of situations.  Thanks for any feedback, TA is unavailable for several days.

We will be on the Edge this summer in a Sky Suite, this will be our first time on a Celebrity Cruise.  We are a little confused regarding the All Inclusive Suites and Specialty Restaurants on the Edge.  Other cruise lines we have sailed on that are "All Inclusive" allowed us to eat at any of the Specialty Restaurant without an additional cost, is this the same on the Edge?  Is the Edge a true "All Inclusive" for suite passengers or just in the Retreat?  Would appreciate some clarification regarding the Specialty Restaurants.

Yep, our B2B on Caribbean Princess in July is now listed as not available.  Interesting though, I checked my account and it is still showing the cruise is sailing.  Maybe they are sailing at 50% (wishful think)?

Thanks Wendy & Sheila.

 I'm less worried about the Regent B2B cruise we booked on Splendor in December than the cruise on another line in July.  I know Regent will do the right thing, I have faith in DelRio.  

Sheila,

I have been searching for the CDC guidelines about wearing masks during meals on the ship and can't find it.  Could you direct me in the right direction on where I can find this guideline.  It will make a difference on whether we make our final payment on the next cruise.  We will cancel if we have to wear a mask while chewing and between bites, that's a cruise killer for us.  Thanks.

3 hours ago, Bellaggio Cruisers said:

It’s time for to reconsider flying to a Caribbean island to a Regent cruise instead of out of a US port. The latest CDC requirements are insane... wearing masks during diner except to put food in your mouth. Chew with mask on!
Sitting outside poolside with social distancing of 6 feet... must wear mask. 

And, we will all be vaccinated... guests and crew.

This is the definition of insanity!

Hoping you hear me..Frank DelRio. 

sheila

My travel agent called Regent to find out why my flights were changed and got some rather confusing answers.  Regent did say the new flights they gave us wouldn't work so Regent rescheduled those flights for the November cruise.  This only adds to the mystery of whether cruise is still on or not.  

So the process starts again.  Just checked my flights to BCN for the Barcelona to Miami cruise in November 2020.  My selected, paid for and approved flights were changed on my American Airlines app.  They even changed airlines for one of our flight segments and to a time that we will miss our connection by 3 hours in LHR.  So, I went to the American Airlines website and checked the confirmation number, it came up "We couldn't display trip details".  This is pretty much what happened last May just before our cruise got cancelled.  Suggest people check their flight for the November cruises and see they have changed.  

"I was very encouraged by the data and information and thought it would be encouraging to others.  If you do not find it encouraging, fine but do not question my source of data.  If I state it is from the CDC then it is from CDC.gov and not my opinion".

I appreciate the information you provided.  Thank you.