mhoffrob

you might find this helpful - you can choose a date and see the predicted color indicator for the US, but I'd assume the Canadian provinces north of Maine are a week or so ahead?

https://smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map/

4 minutes ago, Rubyfisch said:

I just got back from a Boston to Quebec cruise on Zuiderdam and posted all the menus. They are very similar to these menus.

Yes, I followed your cruise with great interest!  

1 hour ago, 0106 said:

I think these menus are specific to Alaskan cruises.  They really have some nice “local” additions.  The menus I am seeing on the Navigator for my TA in October are slightly different.  

How are you eeing menus in Navigator?  I have a NE/Canadian cruise departing 9/30 and can only see a sample menu, not the menus for my cruise.  Am I missing something?

Bon Voyage!  Following along b/c we board the Zuiderdam in Quebec City on 9/30.  Would love to see menus and programs (or hear about in Canada / NE specific lectures, etc) while I wait and you enjoy!

thanks

Mary

I've seen several references to seeing menus from OTHER cruises on the app (today someone referenced "this years" Hawaii menus in Navigator) and I cannot figure out if that is possible, or how I would do that.  All I can get at are the options for my upcoming Zuiderdam cruise on 9/30.  In the Celebrity app you can peek at a ships current cruise to see the menus and the daily news, etc.  Is this truly possible?  FYI, I'm on an android phone . . . 

thanks!

I have ONE OF THESE which I use on a table.  Having not yet been on a HAL ship, I don't know if it would work on the theater chairs. 

If you search Amazon or your vendor of choice - there are options (like this) that might work if you don't think this will.

May I ask - where does Hendrick's fall in the Signature vs. Elite package?  And Sapphire?  

Earlier this year I saw a listing of the included spirits and both of those fell within the Signature.  The list linked above does not list them at all, so if they are available, I'd love to know if the fall under our Signature/Have it All package.

Thanks in advance

Mary

On 1/18/2023 at 9:45 AM, jonthomas said:

yes you are correct...but a few kids on O compared to a constant hoard of at least 200, no matter what time you sail on Celeb, to me feels like NO kids on O.

200 ??  I saw no more than FOUR kids on Celebrity Summit in December - granted it was the week after Thanksgiving so kids would have had school, but there were no issues with kids.

On 1/16/2023 at 10:05 PM, StellaTN said:

We did a small group tour with celebrity in Cozumel last year on the Apex. It was a cooking class, visit to a tequila place, & tour of a ruin. There were only about 16 people in the group, we took a small trolly type vehicle around the island.  Guide was great and it was wonderful

to not be on a bus. Highly recommend the cooking class. 

We just did this exact tour in Cozumel in December from the Summit.  It was a great day, probably 18 or 20 people.  Took the trolley/bus.  They did reorder the tour, first cooking, then Ruins, then tequila.  We were running late for the tequila tour which was fine - it wasn't much of a tour, really just a sales stop so we didn't feel we missed anything.  

Forgot pics!!

Key West is awesome  six toed cats. Conch fritters.  Found the nfl at smoke joes tap room.... GO BEARS!!! beat the cheesheads!!

Made it to day 2!  Getting ready to head into Key West . . . 

We enjoyed sailaway from the helipad, so neat to watch a bigger Carnival ship execute a three point turn before we could leave the dock ourselves.  Got a bit windy as we approached the open seas, but was worth it!  We were the last to leave, but my arthritic knees complained later after all that standing on the concrete deck!

Kept exploring after that - had a drink at the Pool Bar, returned to our cabin to relax a bit and get ready for dinner.  We're "open dining", so headed to Cellar Masters then in to eat.  Lovely table for two - no adjacent neighbors, great wait staff (Jessmon as lead waiter)  Then checked in on the entertainment around and about - Ended up in the Sunset bar for one last drink, before heading back to turn in.

I will say we have yet to find a truly quiet lounge - once the Strings at Sea (Cellarmasters), DJ (Martini Bar), and a duo (Sunset) started, we wished we were seated further from the action.  Will continue our search!

Heading out to the Hemingway House, and then to find somewhere to watch the Bears v Packers game, since it doesn't appear to be an on board option today.  Neither team can is really going anywhere this season, but the rivalry lives on!!

So, this is our first ever cruise, and we've already made a mistake.  Got out of the hotel to port shuttle, were asked our cabin number and directed to Concierge Check In, and the porters didn't ask to check our luggage (looiking at their phones!) so we wheeled our own luggage all the way to the cabin (note to travelers - Delsey spinner wheels DO NOT work well on ship carpet!).  BUt, found our cabin, dropped it all off, headed off to explore.  

At this point we have explored most of the non-cabin floors and had our lunch in the dining room.  Found beers/cocktails in Rondevous and in the Pool Bar before and after dining, and are back in our room unpacking (mostly done).  Just met our cabin attendant Jan.  Excited to find that we've been invited to the helipad for sailaway, so digging out my tennies which are closed-toe!  

I'll try and post somewhat regularly - but from a newbie's point of view, so may have as many questions as I have answers.  Let me know if I'm doing this "Live from" all wrong, I'll try and course correct!!

Mary (and Hugh).

Have not sailed on an Eclass yet - but the size is what deters me.  I prefer ships under 2500 people, heading out on Summit next week, and on Oceania Marina in March.

4 hours ago, samiam0403 said:

Sorry for missing posting yesterday - I was in a bit of a mood. I'm not sure what it is that makes people think it's ok to randomly spew bigoted/racist nonsense to perfect strangers, but it happened FIVE TIMES yesterday. Clearly some people's mothers never taught them the old 'if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all' maxim. We've discovered that the smaller ship size of Sirena means you consistently see the same people everywhere you go - which is both a blessing and a curse!

 

As a cruising newbie - this is one of my worst fears.  ai hate confrontation and hope I can be civil to almost anyone - but I cannot abide bigotry.  I'm shocked when people assume I'll be okay with it in fact.  It sounds like you handled it well, and hopefully the offenders will not display that behaviour again - at least not to you!!

I went into the app and looked at what was showing on the current Summit sailing - I sail in 3 weeks, so may or may not have the same titles. . . . 

So as of now, there are one or two movies showing on the Summit that interest us.  IS it really possible to see the screen for an 11am or 2 pm showing in the Caribbean? Are the servers for drink refills or do I have to leave the top deck to go down to the Sunset Bar. . . (I know, first world problems, just trying to be prepared).  Am I correct that you can only order one drink at a time?

obviously I have too much time on my hands . . . . 

4 minutes ago, 2552phxcrzr said:

 Dressy sandals are quite OK.

Thank you for putting my mind at ease!!! (sorry for the typos in my above post!!)

okay, but I'm (timidly) dying to ask - can I really not wear sandals to any of the restaurants?  I'm not talking about flip flops, but women's dressy0ish sandles with good arch support?  I can wear them to the country cloub, so is that okay?  Technically the dress code says no sandals, but they are what I usually wear.  I've never sailed O before and I'm perplexed on if I have to bring closed shoes and nylons to eat my dinner.

we are fully booked on the Marina from Lima to Miami.  Does anyone know if the Panama Canal transit is through the "old" locks or the "new" locks?  I'm assuming  that as a smaller ship it could be the old locks - which is my hope!!

Have you been to Machu Picchu via Oceania?  I'm confused by the "embark" time of 1pm on 3/19 and a "depart" time of 6pm on 3/20.  Is it okay for us to get to the ship on 3/20?  Have a call in to an Oceania rep but awaiting confirmation .   . .

We have a tour in our sights that includes an overnight in Atuas Calientes, which seems like such a good option for the reasons you mentioned.  BUt we don't have a ton of time since the cruise itself is 17-18 days . . . my husband and I both still work, and neigher of us have taken a 3 week vacation EVER.  

thank you!  Now I just need to figure out if we can do Machu Picchu on our own b4 the cruise and check in on the second day in Lima . . . 

We are considering changing from a South America / Panama Canal cruise we have booked on Holland America to one offered by Oceania.  Our main goal is to visit Machu Picchu, and for a few reasons Oceania might work better for us.

I see that there is a $600-700 difference between the cheapest available Veranda and a Concierge Veranda - I'm attracted to the Veranda for the spa access, which raises a this question:  Can you access the thermal therapy pool if you are in a regular veranda? is there a cost per day or for the whole cruise?

thanks!
Mary

1 hour ago, ChinaShrek said:

The answers to all of these questions can be found once you are on the ship at the Shore Excursions desk. 

As I stated - I may not get ON the ship if this can't be worked out - or I may pre-book with another vendor.  Once on the ship it is too late to worry that in two days I MIGHT get onto the GOld excursion.  

If I book the silver, I can't get back on the gold waitlest, because it will show as a conflict in the schedule.  Waiting on my husband to see what he thinks . . . .