Birdnutty

We’ve been on over 25 NCL cruises, and when the crew is unhappy, the whole ship feels it.  The demeanor of the staff can affect my experience.  On one trip, the crew, especially in the buffet, was sullen and almost seemed frightened.  Made me wonder if they were being berated or otherwise badly treated. It raised the tensions everywhere.  On others, the buffet staff were so happy, smiling at everyone and joking with each other, giving me warm fuzzies.  I use buffet staff as my guide,  as that is where I see the greatest number of crew together at one time.  
 

I’ve always enjoyed seeing crew of all levels mingling in public guest areas.  They are people, for heavens sake, and not slaves.  They work hard and long, and seeing them out and about always made me smile.  And if I got a chance , I’d talk to them. 
I love to see dancers on the dance floor, entertainers, other crew out and about. 

We did a ships's tour with Celebrity, and honestly, I would do it again.  Yes, the boat was full - probably about 50 people.  But I did not feel like we were in a stampede, and when snorkelling there was plenty of room to move around without being beaten up by someone's fins.  Shark ray alley was busy - more because there were so many tour operators there.  If the private tour operators can get you there between crowds, that would be the best reason to go private.  (I almost always go private).  I didn't check out the private excursion this time because we had so much OBC to use up.  But I  will definitely look up Coral Breeze next time.

Any word on how things are now?  Such a beautiful place, and so very poor in areas.  I hate to see damage to it.

There's nothing listed on Celebrity's website either, as of yet, although that doesn't entirely surprise me.

Our cruise on the Constellation is scheduled to stop in Belize on Tuesday the 8th. We’ve heard nothing about them changing the itinerary yet.  

Thank you for writing this detailed review.  We're contemplating a cruise on the Rhapsody and can find very little info on the ship.  Everyone is too gaga about all the fancy newer huge ships.  But the littler ships go to more interesting places.  
Do you feel there is enough to do for a couple who are active 70+?  We love seeing the shows, but these sound like they are sub-par.  Love the activities on ships - the dance classes, scavenger hunts, enrichment classes, etc.  (Not much for sports deck stuff or gym activities)  Do you feel there were ample opportunities for that?

Once again, I know how much time a review like that takes.  Thank you.

20 hours ago, Another_Critic said:

 

We like the WJ.  The MDR food is delicious, but I find the options to be somewhat limited.  I LOVE trying lots of different things just because they look good, smell good or I haven't had it before.  I can take a tiny portion and decide if I want more.  I actually eat a lot more in the MDR, because just sitting and waiting for the first course, of course those wonderful rolls must be consumed. (and no, asking the waiter not to bring them is. not an option).  I like to do something while I'm waiting.  No waiting at WJ - just get what I want, no more, no less.  They also usually have a much better selection of vegetables, which is the mainstay of my diet.  For many people, veggies are simply a garnish, and asking for a plate of them in the MDR usually results in the same assortment every time, even if I ask for more variety.  And the desserts.... I love taking a tiny piece of many things.  I don't bake much at home, so that, especially is a real treat.

That all being said, one of my main reasons for liking the WJ is time.  I don't like spending 2 hours at dinner, nor do I like making the waiter jump through hoops to get things quickly.   I'd rather eat, then get up and go do something.  JMHO 

Agree with most of the posters here, on all points.  Much depends not he ship you're on, also.  We've been on 25+ RCCL and about 10 Celebrity.  Last one was the Apex.  One major difference, the one that affects us the most, is activity. We are early 70's, but find that the demographic for the Celebrity ships is markedly older, at least in activity level.  Using Apex as my example - the ship is absolutely knock down gorgeous.  Luxury oozes from every pore.  We were on a two week B2B, and by the middle of the second week, we got bored.  There were only so many aerialists we could watch, and trivia games we could play.  They're big on sit-down activities.  We participated in every activity that involved movement, like Zumba, exercise classes, scavenger hunt (which we loved) but there were very few of them - at least not enough for us.  Going to the gym is something I can do at home, so that's not much a draw.  They did have an assortment of activities at times - all scheduled for exactly the same time of day, so unless you could instantly clone yourself, you could only do one.  

So if you like a lot of (active) things to do, this might affect you.  I haven't sailed many of the older Celebrity ships lately, but am specifically referring to the Edge class at this point, if you're sedentary, it's perfect. If more active, you may be disappointed.  Of course, this is MHO only, and confined to the few ships we were on.  YMMV

This has probably been asked so many times, but my searches revealed nothing.  Are there CURRENTLY any shuttles that will take you to Tampa airpot to pick up a car?  Rental companies used to do that, but may be different post-covid.  

Not familiar with Tampa as a port, so it's time for stupid questions!

We were on a western Caribbean itinerary once , and while onboard, after sailaway, they announced we were changing to Eastern Carib.  Didn't matter - adjusted attitudes and had a ball.  With hurricanes out there (and lots of other surprises), you need to be prepared for anything.

Talk about flaky!!  One minute I'm researching a cruise I'm interested in, then leave that window open for a very short while to go to another site to check out something, come back and all the info is gone.  Try another search for the same thing, and the search says there aren't any cruises at all on that ship available.  Try going in through C&A, and it doesn't recognise me as a real person - my number is invalid ?  I'm Diamond Plus.  But I open another window and this time it goes through.  

Anybody else having issues?  This is so frustrating.

And while I'm asking questions - does anyone know if there is such a thing as a 24 hour hold on a reservation anymore?

One of my bucket list items is to cruise on a ship fully decorated for Christmas.  My guess is that the ships all do this around Thanksgiving.  Does anyone know for sure?

In my experience, the major shows stay the same for years.  They are very expensive (like millions) to create, costume and stage, so they tend to stay on the same ship for quite awhile.  The "casual" entertainment, as I call it, like musicians, comedians, and the like are easily transportable from ship to ship and change very frequently. So your major show(s) are likely to be the same as last year, (although the cast may be different) but all the other stuff is likely to be different.  I hope this answers your question

The question was not meant to be snarky.  I had heard some major horror stories about the waits, the disorganisation, general lack of preparedness, etc. Wasn't taking the point of view as a privileged, lazy "know it all" American who needs to be catered to.  As 70 somethings, with some minor mobility issues and bad shoulders, (until I get "fixed"), it matters a great deal if I will have to stand for a long time in very long lines or move all my luggage myself, or get shuffled from one place to the next trying to go through the process.  I've never boarded from a small island, and have no idea what to expect, so I was asking a simple question to see if perhaps this is or is not a cruise I can consider.

Please remember that not everyone is young, spry and strong, and also try to keep in mind that questions can be from honest folk who are asking advice from those who might have had more experience.

We're considering a cruise on the Rhapsody out of Barbados this winter.  Has anyone done this?  How is the boarding process?  I remember hearing all kinds of horror stories about embarking in other countries, especially during Covid.  Have they refined the process to a tolerable level in Barbados?  We will not be in a suite or get any special treatment, so Id like to hear wha the average passenger might experience.

And while we're on the subject, how was this cruise?

We like to eat at least a few times per cruise in the OV.  We like the grazing concept, and I love to try numerous small amounts of all kinds of foods.  I could do that in the MDR, but old ingrained habits die very hard, and I feel compelled to finish everything on/in my plate.  I don't need that many calories when I all I want is a taste of each.

Another is veggies.  I am not a vegetarian by any means, but my heart lit up one night when I found a huge mound of all kinds of roasted veggies at one station.  The MDR treats veggies (as do many people) as garnish.  I usually ask for a separate plate just of veggies in the MDR, but then I don't get to choose what they are.  The OV usually has a very large selection, prepared in many ways, and I am in heaven.

Another issue that I have with the MDR is strictly a willpower thing for me.  I have miraculous will power.  I can resist anything - except temptation.   By the time I get to dinner, I'm hungry.  (OK, I'm always hungry, but that's another story). When I eat at the MDR, I order my dinner.  Then wait.  And what's in front of me, begging to be consumed?  Rolls!  Bread! With butter! Carbs and fats of the least useful type.  At OV, I can go directly to my salad or main courses without having to confront the carbs course first.   I actually eat a little healthier, because I take only what I know I want with none of the extras.  And I can have a smidge of each one so I can taste it without wasting a whole serving.  

And yes, the desserts.  The ice cream, the huge frypan filled with apple crisp, the bread pudding.  Aahhh... can't wait.

Thanks for the reply.  You've apparently done this before... how was the snorkelling itself?

When you've gone out on the boats, how was the snorkelling?  I know it can be very variable, but was the water clear?  Good coral?  Different wildlife other than the friendly fish that swamp you when food is thrown for them?  How deep was the water?

  Sorry for all the questions, but we've been snorkelling for many years and are so disappointed to see the quality of the reefs degrading for so many reasons.  We've been on many snorkel tours that  drift you past dead coral or miles of sea grass, or in 30' of murky water with an occasional fish swimming by.  Other times, there's so much to see that I need more time than what is allotted.  

Having only been beach snorkelling so far in Costa Maya, I was wondering if the boat gives you a vastly better experience.  

Our Apex sailing just cancelled Grand Cayman and substituted Costa Maya.  Celebrity has a "beach snorkelling" excursion that I'm looking at.   We're already done Maya Chan, Jaime's place, etc, and they've had some decent snorkelling if you can get out far enough.  But snorkelling in two feet of water over turtle grass leaves a lot to be desired.

 Has anyone any idea where this might take place?  Has anyone done this before?  No mention of a boat, or food, or beverages, but it's $50 + pp, which sounds really steep if you're just going off a beach.

I went the online form route, and no received no information from Celebrity.  But when checking my reservation online, I see that it was credited to my account.  It took about two weeks.

Looks like the responses are all over the map.  If I hadn't received the confirmation and/or record of it in my account, I would've started inquiring by now.  

On 2/5/2022 at 11:18 AM, SbbquilterUT said:

Yes, we were disembarked after the first 11 day leg - out the bottom with help from the men in ghostbusters suits fogging the elevator after we're got off.  Currently we are in a hotel until DH reaches 5 days post positive test so we can fly home.  

Yikes....  Is someone checking on you to make sure the 5 days is fulfilled, or is it the honor system?

Also, would you happen to know if you're about to go on a B2B and you test positive before boarding leg 1, they obviously don't let you board.  If you're asymptomatic and test negative before the next leg would start, would they let you board the next leg?

Thanks for taking us all along for the ride!  Enjoyed every minute of it.

1 hour ago, judla said:

We too, have a B2B on Apex.  My cruise booking papers had us in 2 different cabins, but they were next door to each other.  Well today I looked at the cruise planner on the Celebrity web site and they had a different cabin for our first leg.  It is on the same floor but on the other side of the ship.  I spent an hour trying to get it changed back to what I had at first, but they said they couldn't change it.  I am trying to look at it in a positive way, I am cruising!  It was bad enough to pack up everything and move it next door but now we have to move it from the opposite side and the view isn't as good as the first one.

From what I understand, Celebrity will move it for you.  Don't know if they pack and unpack for you too, but at least you don't have to move it all by yourself. 

Also, a trip down to guest services might help once you're onboard.  A nice smile and calm manner explaining the situation might be very helpful.  Since they're cruising at reduced capacity, more rooms are available.   Did you use a TA?

But kathynorth has a point - are they guarantee cabins?  

11 minutes ago, SbbquilterUT said:

Yes, a very nice upgrade.  Unfortunately I tested positive after 5 days and ended up back on deck 7.  Was not the b2b we had planned.

OH NO!!!  That's part of my nightmare...  What happened after that?  Did they offload you after that first week?  Then what?

2 hours ago, TN Vol Fan said:

Birdnutty- How about Sunset Bar at Sailaway? Just look for the only single woman there with a big grin on her face!😀

 

Something tells me there will be many of us there with big grins.  😁