DCPIV

4 hours ago, LGW59 said:

Have you had issues with your CDC issued card?  

I haven't had any problem having it accepted. My issue with it is that it's just a kettle piece of paper that is easily lost or damaged. Fortunately, many now are willing to accept a photograph. 

It would be nice to have ready access to an official record should something go awry.

If that's what you got, that's what you got. It's a good deal more than the rinky-dink CDC cards we Yanks have. 

On 9/23/2021 at 1:24 PM, mom says said:

What exactly is a NA hard liquor like Gin?  Besides flavored water?

You can kinda say that about any booze in the first place. 

If there actually is a minimum, I don't know what it is. We sailed at 25% on Summit a couple months ago, and I hear that may be even lower when I'm back on board next week. 

As has been said, they are more concerned with showing that cruising can be done safely than they are about making money. It's a long view situation. 

There may be a sale, but you can't just count on one happening. If they feel they need to fill seats, they'll make all kinds of deals, but only if those seats aren't already filled.

19 hours ago, spork1958 said:

Thanks everyone for thoughts!  It’s very compelling to save the upgrade money for another cruise!  (Although the EV looks enticing! I’m expecting a great experience from the SS with accompanying E-class amenities, I think.  Thanks again!

That's not a bad choice at all. However, let me tell you that RS is very nice. Besides the room and extra perks, the crew really do find ways to give extra special treatment to the "higher suites" (how X folks often refer to RS and above).

It's all about what sounds better to you. You really can't make a bad choice between a higher suite or another cruise! 

On 9/24/2021 at 9:58 PM, jalves said:

Are they still pushing tanzanite on board?  

 

Or is it all sold out now?

Remember alexandrite? 

We had two or three helipad sail aways on Summit a couple months ago, all by invitation. 

22 hours ago, LGW59 said:

wow...

Check yourself. 

On 9/24/2021 at 12:12 PM, fstuff1 said:

fyi: i'm used to chilean sea bass. the Mediterranean sea bass was NOTHING like the chilean variety

They are very different fish. The Mediterranean branzino is a true sea bass. The Patagonian toothfish is a "sea bass" in (marketing) name only. 

You're going to love it. Connie and Sylvia are excellent Concierges. The ship and crew are wonderful. As mentioned above, all will be explained to you once you are at the terminal or on board. You haven't heard from anyone because they only contact RS passengers and above beforehand, but do not be concerned. You will have a great time. 

I get back on board Summit the day you get off and am greatly looking forward to it! 

I'm glad to hear that things are resolved, even if it took a great deal of effort and strife. 

We'll be watching policies, though. While neither I nor DW use curlers or straighteners, we will be traveling with a friend who does and was already concerned that she couldn't bring her straightener. If she actually can't, she may very well cancel. 

We were aboard Summit a couple of months ago. At that time, they were intentionally keeping her at 25% (roughly 450 passengers aboard a ship designed for about 2200). The Captain said that they weren't concerned about making money as much as they were about demonstrating that cruising could be done safely. 

The plan was to increase passenger loads gradually over the next several weeks. However, that plan was scrapped while we were on board due to a handful of factors (not the least of which were demand and quarantine regulations when she returned to Florida).

It seems that Celebrity are taking things as they come for the time being, and that's all that any of us can do. 

Anyone who has a crystal ball that good also has their own yacht.

As mentioned, waiting more often results in disappointment rather than benefit, especially with suites. If you are happy with today's price, book it (and a if you can improve your price later).

2 hours ago, retiredgram said:

Remember, you can always cancel and repurchase if price goes down.  

Yes, indeed. 

That said, I haven't seen $47/ day in a while. OP can jump on that one and relax. 

12 minutes ago, dswallow said:

Much of it can come down to you not actually spending the full cost of a drink package if you were buying a la carte, but when you have the drink package, you may be more willing to get things that would've had a cost instead of settling for things that don't; like having a soda with a meal instead of iced tea or lemonade or water. Or enjoying a glass of wine with your meal when you might not normally do that. So it may be good to consider if you can come close to justifying the costs, that simply the small extra amount is something you can safely ignore for the ease of choice it provides you, too.

That's what it always could down to for us. We're on vacation and, by golly, we're acting like it.

Another advantage is that you may be willing to try something you might not try if you had to pay to do it. There's no monetary risk (or perhaps a small one if there's an upcharge). You don't like it? Get something else and resume vacation. 

I've been seen once or twice indulging in a very expensive whisky because it was worth the upcharge. I might not ever care to pay the full price, but the upcharge is fine. 

4 hours ago, SRF said:

The question is, will you buy $60 per day of coffees and waters?

 

It would take 5 alcoholic drinks a day, on top of your 4 Diamond ones, to break even.

 

Did you think of getting the Refreshment package to cover your non-alcoholic drinks and use your Diamond vouchers for alcoholic drinks?

 

On our next cruise, the Deluxe Beverage Package is only $53 per day.  But the Refreshment Package is only $23.   I can probably easily do $23 in coffee, water, and fresh squeezed OJ.

If the Refreshment Package is the alternative, then the break-even is based on the difference between that and the Deluxe Package, or only about 3 alcoholic drinks per day, give or take.

Don't ask me how I know it, but there are folks who will do that on top of any CA drink allowance currently available. 😉

I agree with those that advise against (assuming MCO). You're in a pickle if anything at all goes wrong. 

We use this thing. It has a 2- prong plug and suits our needs well. It's more than enough if we have additional plugs already in the room (like there are in any stateroom).

It came from somewhere in the Amazon. Anything similar should do what you need done. 

I did not see any NA spirits on our recent sailing, nor do I recall any mention of them. 

I do hope the same musicians that were on board a couple months ago still are on board.  We very much enjoyed them!

I don't recall any bingo on Summit a couple months ago.  We only had 450 passengers on the cruise, and that might have had something to do with it (although social distancing wouldn't be much of a problem, would it?)

To be honest, though, I did not pay attention as to whether it was there.  We're in that group that may have played at one time but haven't in a good 20 years or so.  I would think that I still would recall announcements, and I recall none.

On 9/19/2021 at 4:20 PM, thesailor said:

Thanking you.

As far as I know, there is no numerical limit to the drinks you can have per day. However, the bartenders will slow you down if you are good and drunk or otherwise getting out of hand. 

It's got to be some bizarre glitch. I just looked at our three bookings, and everything is there. 

Insurance is something you kind of hope you "waste" your money on. It's a hedge, and you hope to lose your hedge, because that means you made out very well on your primary.

We do not travel out of the USA without, at least, medical evacuation insurance. One cause to use it could very well pay for a lifetime of premiums (not to mention having someone handle logistics for you). It's just part of our budget. 

Considering how much we intend to travel, we're looking at a Kaiser travel medical plan

As for cancellation/delay, that's a much more straightforward decision and purely a matter of how much of your trip cost you would and are willing to lose should you need to cancel. We get it for some things and pass on it for others.