DCPIV

7 minutes ago, ipeeinthepool said:

 

Probably other Suite guests.

Yeah, probably, but I wonder. Edge has a lot of suites, but geez. Anyhow, what in the world possesses someone to show up at 10 when everything indicates that Fort Lauderdale does not currently open the doors until at our near noon? The ship is giving away lunch, not gold bars. 

The policy has not changed to allow non-suite passengers to dine in Luminae without suite passengers or an invitation from an officer.

In fact, I think I saw that, due to the current environment, can't even come into Luminae as guests of suite passengers for the time being (but I may be mistaken).

13 minutes ago, CarelessAndConfused said:

This sounds about like every Embassy Suites there is.

That made me actually laugh out loud. It's funny because it's true. 

I've stayed at some newer Embassy Suites that are phenomenal and feel nearly like a 4-star hotel. However, the older, atrium-style ones (like the subject hotel) are about as dated as a dinosaur bone. 🦕

I would be fine staying there one night pre-cruise, but that's about it. We're actually eyeing the nearby Crowne Plaza for a pre-cruise night. 

Walkie-talkies are one of those ideas that seems ingenious on paper but quickly goes south in reality due to crowded channels and terrible range. They are like the "Europe through the Back Door" books. It was hardly "Europe through the Back Door" when everywhere you went was packed with a bunch of Americans holding Rick Steves books. 

16 minutes ago, Mike981 said:

On one cruise I remember hearing someone get into an argument over their walkie-talkie with another person because they wouldn't stop talking and they couldn't talk to their kids. Both were very important people...in their mind.

I (and everyone within 50 feet) have heard some remarkable verbal battles). I recall security speaking to a particular passenger who was shouting violent threats and cursing in a manner that about made -me- blush (and that's saying something, let me tell you).

47 minutes ago, K12Guy said:

The same we often see with cell phones in restaurants. The very important person at the bar or table next to us has to share his/her conversation about how he/she is running the company.

That makes me crazy, but even worse are the folks that watch videos or listen to music. But I digress. 

And we board in two weeks (knock on wood). Thanks for the reviews, tips, and tricks to come! We look forward to hearing what's in store! 

9 minutes ago, KKB said:

Ask your waiter--they usually can make it happen!

Thanks! I shall! 

1 hour ago, dazey said:

We are sailing out of FLL in late November.  Should I wait to try to understand what tests, etc. are needed for flying and access to Apex?  I am so confused on what I need but hoping it gets clearer as time moves forward.  Where would you suggest I look for help in the future?  Remember when a passport was all one needed?Thank you.

I do believe that your best strategy at this time is to sit tight and relax for a few months. Things are changing all the time, and they tend to be relaxing more than tightening (with a few exceptions, like St. Maartin).  There's so good sense in getting worried about it at this point. 

Just FYI, there currently are no testing requirements (prior to sailing) for vaccinated US residents sailing out of Florida. A port might require something, but Celebrity should advise you on that. You can keep up with boarding requirements HERE, but there's little use in keeping up with it until a good month before sailing. 

Cheers! 

We're about to take our first Celebrity cruise and are excited about all the good things we've heard about the food. Like some others, I tend to enjoy something more savory than sweet to wrap up a meal. Is there a cheese plate available? 

I try to be a good boy in this life so that, in the next, I might be in a place where I can have an excellent cheese plate and a Fernet every night. 😀

Man, those lamb chops look delicious! 

7 minutes ago, twins_to_alaska said:

I'm also on the 4 day Nov 11 sailing just to Grand Cayman. I also don't really if they replace it with somewhere else or make it all days at sea.

See you on board! 

7 hours ago, gbphipps said:

I have a severe mint allergy (love the taste but I prefer breathing).  From the old menus I have seen online I have seen a lot of mint used in their dishes.  A sprig for garnish I can pick off without issue but often it’s an integral part of a soup or sauce.  If I explain my allergy would it be possible on a meat with added sauce to get them to substitute a different sauce they are also serving that night?

Let someone know as soon as you are able (via email or phone call prior to boarding, if you can).  I've never seen a line not accommodate food allergies or sensitivities if given the chance. 

There are a couple parallel threads on this.  Here's a report from someone who just went through it all. 

My November sailing is just to Grand Cayman and back, so I can't see that turning into a sea day (although it wouldn't bother me one bit if it did).  Nassau doesn't make a lot of sense (sailing from FLL), unless they just want to bounce off and then tool around the Caribbean for a couple days before coming home.  If I had to put money on it today, I'd bet we're heading to Cozumel.

15 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

So what is the difference between the two?  They both taste like fizzy water to me.

Mineral content, which affects (really creates) the flavor.  Some prefer one over the other (obviously 🙂).  Some like them both.  Some like neither. 

If you want a little geeky detail, Perrier is high in calcium carbonate (limestone), which gives it that crisp character others have mentioned.  It has smaller amounts of other minerals, but not all that much.  San Pellegrino has a fair amount of magnesium sulphate (epsom salts) and calcium sulphate (gypsum) that round it out some.  As someone else mentioned, that magnesium also can have a laxative effect if you drink enough of the stuff.

Being a homebrewer, I'm also a bit of a water geek.  I've even cloned a couple of mineral waters.  Fun stuff. 🤣

3 hours ago, amcb said:

You bet! I will do my best to take notes and report back. 

 

🙂 amcb

Please do. We'll also be dining in Luminae on the Summit come the 31st. 😃

1 hour ago, tallnthensome said:

Hoping that the cruise experience for all unvaccinated guests on all lines is a miserable one. 

Typically, I do not comment on comments, but that was over the top and uncalled for.  Bad form.  Bad vibes.

1 hour ago, lhsail said:

That is not what the website says. Not trying to argue, just wondering how you are certain the website is wrong?

I'm not trying to argue, either, but I think the best we can say is that the website is vague.  The mere fact that we're discussing it is good evidence of that.  X has a problem that they need to straighten out fairly quickly and clearly.  At least, I can read it either way.

@buckeyecruisers I know it's a pain in the neck and is a long shot to get a good answer, but you might want to get on the horn with Celebrity about this.  All we can do around here is give our free advice (worth every penny, of course).

This is bizarre and appears to be an IT screw-up. 

I took a look at one of our bookings, and the Premiere Package is priced at $33.99 per person per day, as noted above, and I agree it was clearly presented that way.  That cruise is fairly soon and is managed via the "old" cruise planner.

Then, I looked at our booking that is over a year away and managed via the "new" cruise planner.  That one clearly shows the package priced at $29.99 per person--flat--no per day.  I even added us to the cart, and the total for the two of us for a 10-night cruise was $59.98.  Were we not booked in a RS, I would have done like OP and paid for that bad boy on the spot.

Here's the primary source for the information you seek:  Celebrity US Travel Requirements

In addition to the areas that are off-limits in the first place, she will be limited to "designated seating areas" in the other public areas of the ship, and I cannot imagine that those areas are the more desirable ones.  It really does sound like a tremendous hassle. 

I would have no desire to cruise as an unvaccinated passenger.  That's no judgment.  Do as you like, and I understand that there are a number of reasons why one may not or cannot be vaccinated.  I just don't see the value in the experience if I had to deal with those restrictions.

Yes, there's no issue at all just walking through.  That's mighty nice of you to ask!  I hate to think of the oddball route you would need to take to get between your cabin and the main pool.

You've evoked some fond memories of us cruising with our kids when they were younger.  We would walk through the Solarium from time to time when we those stairs were closer.  We called it the "adult napping pool" or something like that because, well, that was largely true! 🤣

If you are in a suite and want to make an appointment or ask a question (or need some other assistance), you always can call 1-877-RETREAT and speak to a concierge.

3 hours ago, nelblu said:

Hey, I miss the Shipshape stuff that they gave out for walking around the ship's track.

We were bananas about those Ship Shape Bucks! 

We passed on the two we earned, but I don't mean to "yuk" anyone's "yum." It breaks my heart a little to see this go away, but I suppose it's another expression of how RC has been changing the substance of its brand over time. 

Now, losing the reduced upgrades. That might really hurt. 

1 hour ago, D C said:

"What happens when arriving outside of my assigned window?" seems to be a perfectly reasonable thing to discuss in order to allow everyone to make their own decision as to whether or not they wish to honor the recommendation.

 

And here's your answer, straight from my Express Pass (in addition to the actual experiences and other documents presented above).

Those non-suite passengers  who wish to show up early may do so, but they also should be prepared for the very real possibility that they will not be accomodated for some time and, perhaps (if not likely) until their appointed time. There also is the very real possibility that, should they need to wait, they must wait outside the terminal (as some have). 

That's about it. Pretty much anything more than that is speculation, fist-pounding, or wishful thinking. Ships haven't even been sailing for a month. Perhaps time and more reported experiences will confirm, refute, or add to what's been stated by Celebrity and actually reported by passengers. 

4 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

I think you can buy the perks extra which gives any stateroom priority boarding, there's also CC status and BCC (gambling) status which allow priority boarding.

That may have been in the Perks package at one time, but it no longer is (at least at the moment).  It also isn't listed in CC benefits.  I don't know about Blue Chip, but I expect it isn't there, either.

5 minutes ago, lhsail said:

 

Where did you see the Celebrity requirement was for 72 hours prior to departure (boarding)?  Their website currently says 72 hours prior to arrival in St. Maarten. 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/healthy-at-sea/st-maarten-travel-requirements

Look at the first sentence in the third bullet after St Maarten Travel Requirements: "All visitors must present a negative naso-pharyngeal RT-PCR test results taken within 72 hours prior to departure.  US and Canadian visitors have the option of presenting an antigen test taken 48 hours prior to departure however, Celebrity Cruises recommends that guests complete an RT-PCR 72 hours prior to arrival to St. Maarten in order to meet both government and Celebrity requirements."

So, I suppose you -might- be able to do an antigen test within 48 hours of departure while you are on the island, but I don't know how spending a week on the island first affects that (and I don't even care to speculate).