autumn lass

We have also used them and they were excellent. Professional, comfortable transport and no waiting in long queues for access to sites. 

19 minutes ago, downsmead said:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/cruise-ship/what-cdc-is-doing.html

Thank you for posting this for Downsmead,  I’ve only just come on line again. I Googled and read this from cdc after I read the article on the Apple News app. 

Just read that the no sail order has been extended by the CDC until 24 July.

I cancelled our 1 August cruise from Southampton before final payment. Our £300 deposit is going to be converted to FCC. We were prepared to forfeit the loss of our deposit rather than pay over another £6k for a cruise we wouldn’t be able to take due to the UK government labelling us a extremely vulnerable and therefore not allowed to leave our house. We are still waiting for our refund for the April cruise Celebrity cancelled. 

I found the survey useful too with its focus on how the pandemic would affect our thinking. Because I am shielding I was able to answer in respect to not only the issues others have raised but that the decision was not solely ours to make but depended on when the U.K. government amended its shielding guidance. 

If you have a Captains Club number have you tried emailing them, I did last week about cancelling my cruise in August as I wasn’t sure my TA was auctioning my request and final payment was due next month. We can’t go as I’m on shielding list. Someone from the Captains Club rang me the next day. 
 

Hope you can get it resolved, we are still waiting our refund from our Celebrity cancelled April Apex cruise. 

My TA did I hope do the paperwork on our cancelled 13 April cruise but didn’t want to cancel my August cruise When I spoke to them earlier in the month and again this week. As I’m in the extremely vulnerable shielding category (I am well but in remission from a blood cancer) we won’t be able to take the cruise in August and I cannot see our UK government lifting the restrictions for extremely vulnerable people. Final payment for this cruise is due next month. In the end this week after the telephone conversation I emailed my TA and also sent them a letter cancelling the cruise, additionally I emailed a copy of the letter to Celebrity Captains Club who rang me yesterday to say although the TA has to cancel the cruise they have noted my file and there will be no issues when I don’t make the final payment. TAs are snowed under as its all cruise line cancellations they are dealing with and most staff are working from home. But lack of communication as to where the process is at is worrying.

7 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

I was referring to Manchester, not Liverpool - figuring that more people would want to visit London rather than the area near Manchester for a pre- or post-cruise visit.

Manchester is not the Midlands either it is a NW England city

My son and dil have just received an email from Princess saying Alaska cruise in September cancelled. As they had not paid final payment they will get their deposit back. Still waiting to hear from Celebrity about our 1 August cruise. 

In response to John 474 - I agree they will have to cancel. So disappointed that they are not being customer focused. It looks like I am going to have to wait, no response from TA or coach transfer firm when I rang. Yesterday I was informed by our NHS Coronavirus Service that I am classed as extremely vulnerable and have been told to stay within the home for a minimum of 12 weeks, so we have no choice but to cancel. Stay safe and well everyone. 

2 minutes ago, treehugr said:

I'm sure it's posted here somewhere, but I thought it originally stated May?

The original statement was 31 July as we are on the1st August Mediterranean cruise. We are cancelling that one and our April cruise. 

Just reported on BBC site with video of Mike Pence announcement. 

Just seen today’s RC Coronavirus release where they now say cruises suspended globally but will resume on 11th April. The cruise on 13th will then be Apex’s maiden voyage. But we still can’t board her because of invalidation of travel insurance due to our government advisory. 

We just received a second offer for our 13 April Apex cruise.  As we are over 70 and our government has issued an advisory for over 70’s not to cruise, so our travel insurance will therefore be invalid we will not be taking this up. We will also be cancelling our 1 August Silhouette cruise as final payment is due in May and we are not happy to have savings we worked hard for tied up in future cruise credits. This is a difficult time for the cruise industry and revenue will be dramatically affected but much as we love Celebrity we feel the Apex cruises should be cancelled. 

We have recently booked 2 cruises one on Apex in April and one on Silhouette to the Med in August, both from Southampton. We have sailed Eclipse from Southampton in the past. We are in our 70’s and are boarding Apex with an open mind, we love the library so are sad that’s not on Apex but will look forward to exploring the ship. We got a good deal on an S2 on Apex so have The Retreat to look forward to and Aqua on Silhouette(we like Blu). I have allergies so the smaller restaurants are ideal for me. Looking forward to both cruises.

2 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

Raul Lucas is now Head Maitre'd on QE now [confirmed yet again earlier this year whilst I was on Victoria] but, as Bellboy has said, that doesn't necessarily mean he will be onboard during your cruise.

Raul left the ship on leave when we disembarked on 6 September, I’m not sure how long his leave is, Tatiana one of the assistant Maitre’ds also went on leave. 

Hattie, we got off the  Norway cruise as you embarked and we received a certificate at the end of the voyage stating where and when we had crossed the Arctic Circle. 

Just disembarked QE and in QG guests on tables nearby were off menu ordering at most meals, lobster cooked in Pernod, crepe Suzette, raised pies, special cheeses. I have dietary issues and if menu choice was a problem, I have allergies to shellfish and spices, then the assistant maitre d would stress when I pre ordered that I could order off menu items. 

We always pay the auto tip and additionally give a small amount to cabin and wait staff as a thank you with a card and personal message. We stretch our budget to sail in Grills but to us it is worth it. The main reason for choosing the Grills is that I have dietary issues and the dining and galley staff always ensure there are plenty of options for my meals.

Thank you very much for this review, we are considering a cruise in November, we usually sail Cunard, Azamara or Celebrity so it’s good to have such a detailed review. To inform our decision. 

It might be useful too to ask for a shower stool as the shower can be slippy and it would help your knee. 

Enjoy your cruise

The Grills also have a private sun deck over deck 11 and 12, on QE it’s accessible from the Grills Lounge on deck 11 and from deck 12. The loungers have canopies over if required. 

In August just after the changes we noticed it was dinner suits in Queens Grill on Gala nights.

We were taken on a tour of the Grills galley in July, all food is prepared there. They have staff working in the galley 24/7. The night shift prep the sauces which are made from scratch and the vegetables. I have food allergies/intolerances which is why we book the Grills as I preorder and I have had off menu items suggested to me by the assistant maitre d who takes my preorder. We don’t use the Butler apart from in room breakfast on port days when we have a trip booked but know he is there if we need anything.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

That’s good news. Enjoy your cruise and hope your surgery is successful and you are cancer free.

Sent from my iPad using Forums