DCPIV

I tell you what. I always insist on being sent out otherwise provided a guest copy invoice, and I don't get off the phone or up from the desk until I've reviewed it and made sure it's the deal I agreed to. 

@Stockjock I'm very glad to hear that! Believe it or not, we've been in a similar situation where there have been some changes that were far less than palatable at the time but then everything shook out well in a few days. 

Thanks, also, for the heads-up about the good deal. I'm chuckling to myself that it would've been even better to book the 4-day version and buy the drink package then. 😉 🤣

2 minutes ago, davekathy said:

I didn't see this published on Celebrity's website as an onboard activity.  

That's for suite guests, only, so they kinda keep it on the down low.

49 minutes ago, jtappend said:

They don't give out separate booster cards, I asked. The booster is noted on your original card.

I'll confirm that. I got my booster Friday afternoon, and DW got hers Saturday morning. In both cases, we needed to have our card, and both were noted on our existing cards.

I have seen and heard that some folks to get new cards, but I also have seen and heard that some facilities are using large stickers to note doses, so those folks need a new card. 

Personally, I'm quite happy to just have the one card, and I appreciate the places we went to for not taking up the whole thing.

Yep. No masks on sailings from the USA. The other protocols are a big help that way. 

It was very nice, recently, to be on a ship where everyone was fully vaccinated and everyone had tested negative only days prior. 

On 10/23/2021 at 3:10 PM, 14Terry said:

We were in a OS once and received an invitation to dine at the captain's table one evening. 

I don't think they're doing that at the moment. 

20 hours ago, Heymarco said:

Booster is not even technically available to those under 65 unless they have underlying health considerations per CDC guidelines. WHO actually made a recommendation against the boosters. Don’t think Royal could require otherwise.

 

 

Anyone who received J&J can receive a booster two months after receiving their first (only) shot. 

3 hours ago, smwg said:

Not necessarily, if you get it new card for the 3rd one.

You must present your card to get a booster. Otherwise, it's treated and logged as a first dose. 

I believe the á la carte limit is $35 per package, and that actually goes a long way (drinks aren't included).

As said, though, you can roan around the ship, eating as much or as often as you like, as long as there is availability. We've had different courses in different venues. 

33 minutes ago, davekathy said:

At least we didn't have to drag the life vest with us. 

Those days were not fun, especially with a couple of preschool aged kids. Even though they were well behaved, that still was a heck of a lot to handle with all that crowd. 

18 hours ago, wrk2cruise said:

Has anyone noticed social distancing or capacity restrictions onboard.

I've seen little or nothing in the way of restrictions.  Frankly, with the vaccination and testing requirements, that does not make me uncomfortable in the least.  With the reduced capacity, there is plenty of room to distance one's self if one so desires, the sole exception I've seen being Luminae (and you can actually do a pretty decent job most of the time in Luminae, at least on Summit).

On 8/27/2021 at 1:01 AM, jameslee said:

couldn't you just go directly to website for moveup and not go thru TA or are their cruises not authorized for moveup

If you book through a TA, then you need to go through the TA.

18 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

I think that has more to do with the current climate in terms of the pandemic.  I have seen some very attractive offers on other lines as well but I have no intention of booking until 48 hour testing and masks are eliminated plus it seems it's a crap shoot in terms of itinerary since they can change at a moments notice.  I'm not paying for that experience at any price even if it means that I never cruise again.

There is no mask requirement on board for US sailings with Celebrity.  Testing is mighty easy with the at home testing, but it does take a little extra expense.

I do hear you when it comes to the ports.  However, that concerns me very little when it comes to those in the Caribbean.  We've pretty much seen them all, and the ones we haven't seen won't make or break a cruise for us.  When it comes to the Caribbean, we're mostly cruising for the sake of cruising

9 hours ago, OnTheJourney said:

UNbelievable and unconscionable. I was lucky to even survive an actual emergency. Take the drill seriously folks!!

Don't get too wound up.  You still need to report to your muster station, and that is by far the most important part of the drill.  It's just not all done as a crowd. 

In many ways, it's actually a good deal more effective than piling everyone out on the deck.  Unless you were up at the front of one of those lines, you couldn't see the life vest demonstration.  Now, it's right in front of you as a video or a personal demonstration (or both, if you like).  The information remains with you on the app, if you so desire to review it.

The crew still do their drill.

Allow me to add a few more notes. 

It sounds like you booked and were priced for a 4 night cruise. That's what you're getting and why you're getting a prorated refund.

I agree that the ports are not what you hoped for, but such is life. It's pretty rare that anyone gets compensation for a change in ports prior to sailing (and ain't much coming off it happens after you sail). You can cancel, or you can go. 

Summit is a magnificent ship with a lovely crew. If you go on the cruise and can let go of these issues, you'll have a wonderful time. If you can't wash that bitter taste from your tongue with a Martini or Champagne and a few minutes on your balcony while underway at night, then go ahead and cancel. Honestly, though, I feel that would be a shame. 

4 minutes ago, Stockjock said:

I never said that the cruise was scheduled to go to Grand Cayman.  That was a Carnival cruise sailing around the same time.  The Celebrity cruise was scheduled to go to Cozumel and Key West.  I get ditching Key West.  I don't get ditching Cozumel and making the cruise a day shorter.  Especially considering it's just a bit over 60 days from sailing.

Honestly, I don't get ditching Cozumel, either. No telling what's going on with that. I was just there a few weeks ago, and it's open for business. I do know that we all have to be ready for last minute changes. As much as we want 2019 back, the truth is that all hell still is breaking loose out there. Thinking or acting otherwise is setting one's self up for disappointment or disaster. That's just a fact. 

I apologize for my confusion about Grand Cayman. 

OP, I was kind of on your side until the last few posts. I really am sorry to hear what has happened. I wish it hadn't. Everyone here also does. However, you weren't quite upfront about the whole situation. 

You've been around this board for long enough to know that Key West and Grand Cayman would not happen. Most certainly, a modicum of research would tell you that. We're all busy, but many of us world look to see what was up with cruise ports. At the very least, we'd understand the risk. 

Making non-refundable travel plans without insurance and also spending beaucoups on clothes since COVID came along is more naive than most would care to admit to. I won't go into more detail about your rants on dealing with changes in travel plans. Again, understand your risk. Shift it when you can. 

Time to roll with the punches, just like the rest of the world has for the last year and a half or so. There are many you are ranting to that have endured more and still are. 

To paraphrase and adapt Drew Carey--

Oh, you don't like what's happened to your travel plans? There's a support group for that. It's called everybody, and we meet at the bar. 

Happy cruising. 

As far as I've heard, they still want to see the card. 

Yes, it does vary, but it looks like the earliest is 45 days prior to boarding. 

14 minutes ago, EatonDoolittle said:

 

Glad you mentioned this - I was about to post that I read on the RC board that many were able to do this at home,  or in the hotel room the evening before or that morning. 

 

Nice that Celebrity will work the same, for us early risers on sail away day. 

It's only a couple or few minutes long, so it really isn't a big deal to do on board if that's what you had to do. Still, it is nice to kill those few minutes on shore! 

What was Michael's on Summit now is the Retreat Lounge. There are three TVs in there, but they were all on either the nav map or a Celebrity ad. If you have access, you might see if they can put something else on. I never asked. 

Other than that, you're pretty much down to what's in your room (although it may not be ready at noon) or a personal streaming option (with earbuds, of course 😉).

2 hours ago, Speasda said:

What do you do on the ship that morning?  I always think about staying on longer, but it does not seem much better on the boat since most (maybe all) services are shut down except buffet.  Do you just sit there and drink free coffee?  It always feels so busy that I don't enjoy the morning and I prefer to just get on with the next step. Of course that means sitting in the airport drinking expensive coffee or eating another breakfast....

Any minute spent on board is a damn site better than any minute spent in MIA, even on debarkation day (even swabbing the deck)!

33 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

While true, something around 99% bottled beer use a glass coating to prevent UV light from entering; also many use all sorts of stabilizing chemicals to hinder degradation

Which is what I said. 

6 minutes ago, upwarduk said:

When we went to the muster station, a sticker was put on our key card, to confirm that indeed we had watched the video. We were initially sent an email the previous weekend, indicating that we could pre watch the video.

I didn't even get a sticker last time (a few weeks ago). They just scanned the card and sent me on my way. I barely broke stride. 

I did have to watch the video on embarkation day though (and did so that morning before boarding).

OP, if you would like someone to demonstrate the life vest for you (or you don't watch the video), there is someone at the station to do that. 

I've often found pricing fairly comparable when comparing apples to apples.  They are two different products aimed at different markets (family v. not), rather than different price points or standards of luxury.