katenmax2

Same to you my fellow Vet! I'm not versed on how specific country restrictions are about carrying on coffee beans. I think grounds might be a better way to go but again, not sure. I've only sailed on Mediterranean and Caribbean cruises and Celebrity allows us to bring onboard. Never had an issue with customs in any airport (only brought them into Mexico though). As long as you keep the grounds onboard the ship upon embarkment and not take into port, I do not see any issue. PS: I retired here to sunny Florida after living for 15 years working in DC and living in Northern Virginia (Arlington)🙂. I miss the seasons but after visiting at Christmas this last year, glad I made the move!

Yup, helps the swill go down while at the same time, is a short haircut on the dog that bit us the night before.

Yeah, that's the ticket. I bring along my own espresso machine, grinder and coffee accroutrements. Oh, and I also bring along a wine decanter and venturi for those delicious Kendall Jackson wines aboard 😉

Well, there are apples and oranges here. Drip coffee makers often are so basic, they fail to bloom the coffee grounds - essential to producing a quality coffee without bitterness. Even IF the drip coffeemakers - Read, I have one of the better ones - A Behmor Brazen 3 (for large pots, and it blooms coffee at my desired timing settings), they do not allow for the disposal of the initial first bloomed bean coffee disposal. These intital drippings are bitter. A pour over method allows for the blooming as well as disposal of the intitial bitter coffee dripping. More work, yes. The result is a full flavored coffee without the bitterness. Of course, ground size is an additional element in play. Pour over or espresso pour over, require a smaller grind than drip coffee makers. It's a play to your taste like for both methods. That all said, Al Bacio, onboard Celebrity has the best offerings for THEIR coffee vs bringing along one's own equipment and beans. If I booked a long cruise (say 28 days or better), you'd bet your life and hands down, I would bring along my own grinds and drip equipment. Yes, I AM a coffee snob but actually find Celebrity Al Bacio coffee tolerable - especially with an added shot or 2 of espresso. I haven't heard about the full moon vs crescent moon but, think you are pulling my leg on that one. And yes, I enjoy Ethiopian coffees as well. Kona, Jamaican Blue Mountain and select small grower Columbian are my favorites.

Wowza.....Vets onboard here. Salute! Air Force veteran here. Best coffees ever were offbase when I was stationed in Turkey and Italy. Nothing compares. On Summit back in 2022 (right after the covid lockdown), Zafer Colak, a Turkish native and hotel director on Summit, had the staff in the Tuscan restaurant make me his specialty Turkish Coffee. Was sooooo yummy! The extraction method is important and the Summit barrista made it to perfection. It IS possible to garner specialty coffees on Celebrity, regardless of beans IF you make friends with those in the know. Zafer and I connected based upon our Turkish experience. Note: Do not be aftraid to talk with and engage in conversations with your cruise staff, directors, etc.... they will provide a much better overall experience overall once you do. Has never failed me and I have some personal home phone numbers.

Hi again from your fellow cruiser on Beyond (EV guys!) Agree, OVC is battery acid. I never thought about bringing a french press or other coffeemaking apparatus. I'm a pour over person. My sister doesn't even drink coffee and couldn't care less when we cruise. Didn't know Celebrity allows us to bring onboard. Good to know if the Butler brings an electric kettle, I can make pour over with a simple setup and bring aboard my own fresh grounds. Thank you for this suggestion! C U all soon on a future cruise.

Pour-over RULES!!!!!!! We have sailed on all Edge class ships with the exception of Ascent (next year). Have additionally sailed on Summit, Equinox and Connie. I am personally a coffee geek. I grind my own blends (Opus grinder) from top quality beans sourced from numerous countries. I am VERY picky and detest commercial coffees from Starb**** and the like. I am also 56 points from CC Celebrity Elite Plus with numerous sailings under my belt. In general, Celebrity Coffee offerings are weak and flavorless, as are most cruise ships (heads up Seabourn, NOT gourmet as you claim). The room service, Oceanview and overall standard coffee offerings on Celebrity STINK! Weak, lacking flavor, watered down and otherwise; disgusting for us geeks. My favorite is the Al Bacio coffees (+Al Bacio 2 (next to oceanview cafe) made to order and to our preferred espresso additions. Apex has much better barristas than any of the other Edge class ships I've sailed. Smoother taste (read: lack of bitterness) and stronger. I cannot say where Celebrity sources their coffees. They advertise "local" sources in ports, which gave me hope. I DID notice on my last Celebrity Apex sailing, in March of this year, that the Al Bacio coffees were smoother overall after visiting Roatan and Belize. I do know all Al Bacio beans are ground daily (from the barrista's mouth to my ear) but not necessarily, roasted onboard. If you are in any Retreat Class cabin, your butler will have Al Bacio make your specialty coffee and bring to you any time of the day desired at no charge; even if you add a shot of alcohol to it. In Royal and above suites, there will be a Levazza expresso maker with an in-suite stocked selection of premium coffees so that you are able to make your own at any time of day. They are delicious and you can select a double. The butler will stock cabin with the creamers, milks and sugars. Once again, the Retreat Lounge has that nasty standard coffee. In Luminae, they will make you any type of coffee you desire with the same offerings as Al Bacio. If not in a Retreat Suite, room service will deliver an Al Bacio coffee made to your liking. With a premium beverage option, there is no charge for the addition of Al Bacio coffee added to any continental room service breakfast. The balance of the day, they will charge the $9.50+ 20% service charge. With the classic beverage package, there will be the usual upcharge +20% gratuity to order plus room service charge. In the main dining rooms and Blu, the service staff will serve Al Bacio quality specialty coffees according to your beverage package restrictions. Overall, Al Bacio coffees are THE best offering on all Celebrity ships. Luminae, Blu, Main Dining room and the ACTUAL Al Bacio cafe (including room service request for such) are THE best bet on Celebrity. The specialty dining rooms also incorporate the Al Bacio coffees; again, depending on your beverage package level, may or may not be included.

Arghhhh....Rough Seas? Myself, I enjoy the rocking experiences and rough seas. Takes me back to the days of waterbeds and sleeping in sailboats overnight!

This review of the Edge goes far "Beyond" my experiences on these E class ships. I enjoyed the humor intersparsed with a thorough review of the overall ship experience. Yes, Edge certainly went above in cutting "edge" technology and design. For art lovers, Edge, along with it's 3 sisters (as of this comment), will take you to another dimension of feasibility. The Celebrity Edge Class ships are truly wonders upon the seas. The artwork and overall design/esthetics are visual candy, the service impecable and the experience meets and exceeds expectation. Beyond and Ascent take the best of Edge and Apex and accend into a new level of awesomeness (if there is such a word). I have yet to experience Ascent but will this coming November. The other 3 E class ships have not failed please beyond expectation. The Retreat on Beyond and Ascent ships "Xcel" to yet another level (pardon the pun....uh hemmm, but 2 levels) above Edge and Apex (my favorite of all the E class as it appeals to my artistic side). Service on all Celebrity ships require some reverting back to the basics as the levels have descended in the post covid era we live in; after the OP related her experience. Overall, I recommend any Edge ship experience.......especially for art lovers and 1st time cruisers. Sail Retreat Class and you'll be spoiled for life!

WoW, I didn't know this. Thank you for the advice. In the Retreat category, this may just well be a significant price reduction!

I do this as well to check price fluctuations and better cabin selections! Happy Cruising.

I second your sentiment Oxo. PinkSandGirl, am looking forward to reading about your daily adventures on the beautiful Beyond! Sailed on her last year 2x and enjoyed the Retreat experience once we straightened out some service issues on our 1st sailing. Hopefully y'all will have the Captain Kate/Bug experience and share with us about it. 👱‍♀️ We sadly missed her on both sailings.

I discovered cruising in early 2019 after fully retiring. I can only imagine how those of you who've gradually watched the decline in service and offerings over the years. Must be shocking. My first cruise was with my bff and grandchild on RC. We stayed in a huge family suite on Freedom of the Seas. I thought service was outstanding but, had nothing to compare it with. I wanted a more adult experience so changed to Celebrity. Sailing on Edge was my first experience and was love upon 1st cruise. Service, food, hospitality and ambiance I related to staying at a 4 star resort. There were 6 of us gal pals sharing an Edge Villa (now limited to 4). I never wanted to leave the cabin and was thoroughly spoiled. I've never had a butler serving me anything I desired. Luminae was a special experience and a dedicated deck for suite guests (right outside the master bedroom door) was unbelievable. I spent many days inside the cabin in the private plunge pool on our balcony. Hooked! Cannot go back as I was forever spoiled by the Retreat Experience. Flash forward to today.....I have 56 points until CC Elite Plus with 9 Celebrity cruises under my belt......Summit, Edge, Beyond, Apex, Equinox and Connie. All had their unique features. All had outstanding service, food and overall quality until around the start of 2023. Beyond and Apex are the only 2 ships I've sailed since then. I've witnesses the rapid decline with double and at times triple the cost. So what's up with Celebrity? They are NOT Seabourn (sailed on 1x - loved) nor Seven Seas (have not sailed on yet). The prices are almost identical now (sometimes Seabourn even less) without all of the included perks of the luxury lines. All comments welcome. I still enjoy Celebrity but thinking the line is my comfort point that few of us stray from.

For those who've not sailed on E class ships in the Retreat, only the Iconic Suites have forward facing decks. The Oceanview fully fore cabins also do and as a bonus, include extra living space. Even in the Retreat Lounge, there are only side facing windows as the Spa and fitness centers capitalize on those valuable fore view real estate. The Retreat decks do wrap around the entire fore section of the top deck and 1/2 and offer spectacular views but......when it's windy up there, forget keeping towels in place, hats will blow off and it's blazing HOT during the warmer summer months. The M and Solstice ships are my favorites with their floor to ceiling windows in the sky lounges. The good news with E class ships is that there is a roof garden (with cabanas (no charge) that provide awesome aft views, as do the Oceanview Cafes. I like all Celebrity ships but service has definitely declined since reopening after the pandemic. The loss of Lisa at the helm also brought changes that steer towards profit over service. Hopefully, Summit will get their act back together as it was my favorite ship in the Celebrity lineup. For those who are onboard Summit, the hotel director's name is Zafer Colak (but he may be off contract right now) @ ext 6400 (any acting director). He takes the hotel side of the ship very seriously and will promptly correct any defects on the service side .

This is indeed GOOD news to learn the SS butlers are definitely back!