JintyGirl

Thanks for your review @Les43 Hope you’re enjoying the cooler weather back home now! We’re sailing on Reflection soon and disembarking in Barcelona too. We’re heading to a hotel, so can choose our own departure time. Do you know what the last time for departing was?? Many thanks 😊 

Looking forward to this - we have a Japan cruise with Celebrity booked for 2024. 😊

4 hours ago, VitaminSea53 said:

As I understand it.  The time for check-in is 12:01 AM East Coast time so those on the West coast can check-in at 9:01 PM on the day before.  Am I correct?

My experience has been that check in opens midnight of the departure port time. I’ve sailed from Rome and LA and this has been the case. 

Attached is the list for our laundry bag for a recent cruise (we had a 1 week land tour before and after the cruise so tried to fill the bag as full as possible!). We pre-purchased a “wash and fold” bag before the cruise. No complaints about shrinkage, colour fading etc. 

For info, welcome glasses of fizz are still available from cafe Al bacio on embarkation day, served on trays from staff or sitting on the counter. 

The Wash & Press and the Wash & Fold packages are for 1 bag. It doesn’t matter which passenger you choose when purchasing. I think the back home package is for 3 bags. 
If you purchase in advance, you should see a voucher in your cabin on embarkation day. Simply put this on the laundry bag when you leave out, and you won’t be charged again. 

Loving your review so far 😍 We did a very similar trip 25 years ago and your report is being back lovely memories ☺️

26 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

No X ships are scheduled to visit Bali at all regardless of departure port.  Princess, Cunard, Oceania etc do, however

Millennium is sailing from Bali in January 2025 last time I checked. 

Thank you for your review and wishing you both a safe journey home 😊

As has been said above, you really need to be checking on www.gov.uk Entry requirements can change frequently and you can set up an alert to be emailed when there are any changes for the country you are visiting. You don’t want to be denied boarding if you don’t have the correct documentation. 

Best to check on the port’s website nearer the time. If your taxi arrives at the port and you don’t know, they will ask at the security barrier and be directed to the correct pier (you’ll also probably see the ship unless it is berthed directly behind another larger ship) 

19 minutes ago, BamaTraveler said:

For the "fill a bag" promotion, how long until the laundered clothing is returned?

 

It will depend on how busy the ship laundry is. For our recent sailing, it was 24 hours. 

4 hours ago, bons said:

I was looking on the app & online to see if the laundry bag was on sale this weekend but I can’t find it. I purchased one already but now can’t locate where I did it? Also, is there a way to see what else I have purchased? I can see the excursions but is there a central spot to see it all? The app is not very user friendly!

You’ll find it on the website - Manage Reservation / Plan my cruise / Gifts and Gear. Showing as 25% off just now for me. 

You can see your order history on the same page  by selecting the circle with your initials on the top right hand side. 

20 hours ago, drowelf said:

I'd love to know about that too. I might call customer service and ask, as I'd prefer to do 3 bags at different times, so I can reduce the amount of clothes we bring. Doing 3 bags at the end does not help out as much. 

 

On a totally different point. Does anyone have a picture or know how big the bag is? How much can you stuff into it. I know on Holland America, we could stuff quite a lot of shirts, underwear and socks into the bags they provide. 

 

Ok, I found a picture of the bag from back in April on another thread, but without anything by it, I can't tell how big it is. 

 
I kept a note of what we put in our bag on a recent cruise. I watched the YouTube video posted above and used that technique! 

Should have said - for disembarking, we have received a letter in our cabin the day before advising us where to go at our allotted time to pick up our wheelchair and staff member to leave the ship. They have taken us off, through immigration, into the luggage hall to pick up luggage, and outside to taxi/bus pick up. 

Hi - my husband has used the wheelchair service at ports to board celebrity. Please complete a special assistance form and send to celebrity in advance. This lets them know if there are passengers who require assistance emabarking/disembarking and tendering too.

Here’s how it has worked for us - arrive at port with luggage and drop off with porter. Alert a member of staff that a wheelchair is required and sit in seats to wait for one to arrive (usually only a few minutes). Wheelchair and staff member arrive and we are taken through check-in and security by them and (if boarding has started) on to the ship.
Earlier this year at San Pedro, LA, there was a delay in boarding, so all wheelchairs were parked in a separate area of the waiting area. Then we had to wait for staff to take each wheelchair onboard once boarding commenced. 
No need for you to push the wheelchair at any time.

Hope that helps and you have a great cruise! 

Thanks again for your report! Will you post a link here to your Japan live please?? I find it hard enough to keep up with the Celebrity boards without lurking on Princess too 😄 We’re headed to Japan in Oct 24 so would love to hear how you get on 😊

Yay! Another @Norwaylady trip 😊Looking forward to following along.

PS we flew with Swiss last year (Edinburgh-Zurich-Rome and home from Venice). Fab chocolates handed out onboard 😍

13 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

It was indeed a Poppy -   The size of the opened bloom were incredible and about 6-8" in Diameter.     Looks like this googled picture

 

There was only one in full bloom and it was a bit battered for a picture.     Poppies are very popular in California -  Especially  our  State Flower -  The California Poppy  only about 3" but a beautiful Orange Yellow -  Usually bloom in January but full blooming fields by April. 

 

 

It’s way too early for them to bloom in Scotland - I’m surprised they’re out in Ireland (not known for its Mediterranean climate either). I have California poppies too which are blooming just now! 

34 minutes ago, hcat said:

More amazing  and  interesting photos...love the doors..you have enough over the years for a book!

Hard to pick favs but this one is very unique..a weed?

It’s an oriental poppy just before it flowers. We have them in our garden. Beautiful when in bloom! 

1 hour ago, 4-2-N-8 said:

What time did you arrive at the terminal in Civitavecchia and what was ship percentage of capacity for that sailing?

11am embarkation. Only 50% full from memory. 

My personal recommendations for Sorrento  (which you may have discovered already). 1. A’Marenna sandwich shop - very busy and you’ll probably have to queue, but worth the wait. 
2. Foreigners Club terrace - the view over the Bay of Naples is amazing. The front of the building resembles a 1970s municipal building, and upon entry you’ll think you’re in the wrong place, but if you walk through the back there is a huge restaurant and outdoor terrace. 😊

9 minutes ago, Lastdance said:

Presently, we are just relaxing, taking in the ambiance of people watching while enjoying our cappuccino’s and croissants.  
“Gentile” is a perfect place for this because it is away from the crowds, but has plenty of outside space with cushioned chairs.  The lady who owns the place told me to never put butter, or anything on a plain croissant because hers are so excellent; she was right!

 

There is a great market not far from the main square, Piazza Tasso, that is two blocks away called “Market.”  It is easy to miss because the store front is so small.  You can buy anything you need and prices are quite good.  Of course, there are small family markets with great produce etc.

 

Chocolate brown poodles are very popular, as are Bichon Frise’s to see all over these small cities.  They are very friendly and do not seem to mind the crowds.

 

This photo is looking the opposite way down our little street…the second photo shows two Bichons meeting!

 

Your accommodation sounds perfect 😍 Would you mind posting a link (when you’ve left of course). We’ve been to Sorrento before and wish to return next year. 

Re Rome - we embarked there last year - arrived at our allotted time and were in our cabin 10 minutes later. Not a single line anywhere.
San Pedro on the other hand….. chaos at both embarkation and disembarkation this year. Give me Rome any time! 

Loved reading your posts.

Can you stay on and do a live review of Tokyo please 😃 Going there next October pre-cruise and looking for tips 😆