dcbiker97

Basically the special meals like Chefs Table, the Indian Feast, or the Daniel Boulud aren’t included.  As for the extras like the steak, it really depends on the waiter/ship.  We’ve had them comped on some cruises and not so on some. I could have raised it when it wasn’t, but we had tons of OBC so I didn’t. 

Agree with the above poster.  Just offer $25 to the taxi and they will have no issues. It’s a win for both parties. They get to get back in line quicker to make another fare. 

Yes, you get unlimited dining in a Signature Suite. We just did a b2b on Reflection last month in a Signature Suite.

Doing similar research for Australia business class airfare.  Their website is pretty horrible in usage and in showing what flights are available. You might have better luck with calling, but I’ve also done that and your mileage will definitely vary. You’ll either get a somewhat knowledgeable person or someone completely incompetent.   If you get the latter, just call and hopefully you’ll get a different person next time. 

The biggest reason to book through Celebrity is that generally you don't need to pay for the flights until final payment. With cruising not yet resumed in that part of the world, I wouldn't want to pay for flights that might never happen.

Love Luminae but agree that their menu can be somewhat limiting. Their food is prepared as you order and we’ve usually had great experience with the quality and taste.  Luminae on Edge class is the most limiting because you can’t order off the MDR menus like you can in the S and M class versions.  Best dish: Halibut with ginger sauce, bok choy and sticky rice! 

1 minute ago, wrk2cruise said:

I don't believe this particular protocol has changed for any US departure since the restart.  Families with unvaccinated children must take Celebrity Shore Excursion to disembark the ship at all port stops.  I don't expect this to be loosened anytime soon.

 

I wouldn't trust anything from a Celebrity agent that differs from their published protocols on the Website unless they are willing to put it in writing.

I agree.  As hard as it is to say given the sorry state of their website, I would trust what is written on it as policy versus what the call center individuals tell you. If you call back 2 more times, you will probably get 2 more conflicting answers.  

Reflection is usually docking at Pier 29.  If that’s still the case, you would have to take a shuttle from the port parking anyway. So might as well park off port  and save a few $$

Just off Reflection.  They still had stock from when cruising stopped. Most was at the same price, not marked down, so pay attention.  For example, they had Apple Watch 5, which is 2 versions prior. However, they marked them down to $249, so I used non refundable OBC for one.  But iPads and MacBooks weren’t marked down. 

We will hopefully be visiting New Zealand inNovember 2022.  The ports include Picton, Napier, Christchurch, and Auckland. I’d 

like to visit one wine region and would like opinions on which of these stops you would recommend as a launching point to a day visit to several wineries.  Recommendations for off the beaten track wineries are also welcomed!  Thanks. 

In St Thomas today on Reflection and we are on local time.   Celebrity, almost always, switches to local time when visiting a port. I can recall only one instance in 16 years of cruising where the Celebrity Captain maintained ship time.  

48 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

You will be invited to a B2B meeting and they will also schedule you for a free covid test the day before arrival.   Current reports are you get your results back about 20 minutes after test via e-mail and later by a paper confirmation.

 

Remember that if you are contact raced to a person that tests positive even if you test negativ or fail the test you will not be allowed to continue onto the next cruise.   Good reason to practice social distancing on the first cruise.

Jim is correct. We just went through the process this morning and got back our results in about 20-30 mins. 

I second Maya Chan. We were just there two days ago.  Our go to place each time we are in Costa Maya. 

Yes, you can use OBC to purchase Apple products. There’s no way of knowing what their stock will be before boarding.  Keep in mind that they may not offer the latest version. But if you’re like me, sometimes I have tons of OBC to burn through at that’s ok.  

On 10/15/2021 at 11:57 AM, Jim_Iain said:

 

You basically have to set up a mini-network.   I use a mini router.    There are many videos on You Tube on how to setup up what they call hotel mode.    You connect you laptop to router and select Celebrity Guest as the Router's connection.    While still connected to your hotspot you type guest.onboardiafe.com    This will bring up the sign on screen.   You put your credentials into the screen and the mini-router becomes one of your internet connected devices.   

 

Once router setup you just go to Roku Networks and choose your hotspot name and sign on.

 

We mostly just use it for Netflix and and YouTubeTV     Both have very efficient buffering.   When you first fire it up the picture quality is marginal but as it buffers it cleans up.    Have rarely gotten dropped and only occasionally do I get a revolving arrow as it buffers. 

@Jim_IainThanks so much for letting us virtually cruise with you. We're on a b2b Reflection next month and because of my partner's health, expect to spend a lot of time in the suite this time. I'm going to try out the TP Link. One question I'm a bit confused on is how to log on to celebrity's network with the router. Do you need to keep a laptop connected to the TP link to provide the connection?  I successfully hooked it up at home, but used our home's wifi, which doesn't require the same sign on as Celebrity's process. 

Thanks.  I saw those and wasn’t sure if there’s a price difference for already having a device on the “All included” and just adding a second. 

Does anyone who has been on a recent sailing have a copy of the internet package options, like adding a second device?  I know you can log off one and onto  a second device, but I'm interested in seeing what the additional cost and options might be.

28 minutes ago, DCPIV said:

I failed to notice on recent sailings if they did.  If someone doesn't come on and confirm or refute whether they do offer take out, I'll try to remember to ask or notice when I'm on board in a little while.

Thanks. We are on board Reflection in December so we can find out then 🙂 

My recollection about what’s done have faded since I haven’t cruised in two years.  I know the pricing is a la carte and I love eating there, but I don’t recall whether Sushi in Five offers takeaway sushi or is it only sit down? 

Unfortunately on Apex and Edge, as you point out, the kitchens are on opposite ends of the ship so you can't order off of the MDR menu on those ships. And in our experience, not something they would do, even if asked.  Whereas they share the same kitchen on S class and M Class so it's no problem to.

We get the same from our big box and it’s just counted as any other OBC (and it’s refundable)

We always sail in the Signature suite when we are in Reflection. We really enjoy it and have never experienced any noise.  The higher ceilings make a huge difference and the rainfall shower/bath is amazing. 

I usually try to stay out of tipping discussions because everyone seems to know exactly Celebrity's tipping service works for their staff, even if they have no clue. But I will say that RichardRahl's response above is one of the best I've seen. It's none of my business how employees get paid or have tips distributed, if pooled.

We’ve also had several Indian meals prepared for us over the years.  However it’s not a guarantee because I think at least one maitre’d has said that they won’t because it would smell up the restaurant. So it all comes down to the individual staff in the ship as to how much out of their way they will go.  

Are all of the couples sailing in a suite? If so, it doesn't matter what's listed in the reservation about dining time. Luminae does not have set dining times like the MDR. So there's really no need to have the reservations linked.

If you all aren't sailing in a suite, it may not be possible anyway as your dining room would be Luminae and theirs would be the MDR. In that case, you'd need to chat with the maitre'd of the MDR (or Retreat Concierge) to arrange for you to eat with them in the MDR.

Has anyone lifted and shifted their cruise where they had booked a Signature Suite on Reflection and shifted to another S Class or to an M class ship? According to Celebrity's L&S site, my two options are Silhouette or Constellation. Since Reflection is the only ship that has Signature  suites, I was wondering whether you were offered a Royal Suite (higher category but with the same amenities) or a Celebrity suite (lower category and fewer included amenities). I'm aware I could call but I'd like to have as much information from the cruising community before I do so. Thanks.