Straughn

I have used Premium Access once, sailing on Constellation, from Tampa. The embarkation experience was wonderful. When I arrived, the lady who was checking boarding passes immediately called another woman over. I was escorted, past a long line of passengers, to a separate checkin desk. From there I was escorted to the escalator that led to the ship’s boarding ramp. At the escalator, the line was stopped and I was allowed to board, bypassing another long line. As a solo, I loved the lunch in the MDR. I didn’t have to search for a seat in the over crowded buffet and then hope a server came by to take my drink order. The premium seats were on the second level of the theatre and were a decent location. I don’t use room service, so that wasn’t a motivator for the purchase. The two Wi-Fi logins were great as I didn’t have to keep logging off my phone to use my iPad and vice versa. The thing I enjoyed most, and was something I hadn’t thought about, was the priority departure, with my luggage in group 1. I was off the ship, in my car, and headed home at 8:10. Before someone says that I could do self carry off and get the same timing, I chose not to do that. I am retired/older and have no desire to schlep my two suitcases off the ship. The price difference between premium Wi-Fi and the Premium Access was around $30. For me, it was worth the additional $ for the other perks. Would I do it again? That depends on the port and the ship. I certainly will when I sail out of Tampa next year. Out of Port Everglades on an E class ship, probably not. On an S or M class, I would seriously consider it.

I have a B2B on Celebrity, from Port Canaveral, in January. I am somewhat confused on whether or not I can pay for port parking for both cruises at once. I really don’t want to get off on turn around day to pay for the second cruise. Any experience or input on this situation?

I haven’t ridden it yet, but have RT booked from Orlando/Fort Lauderdale in two weeks. I booked my return trip at 9:25. I did this based on a discussion on a local FB group about the train. One woman said that her relative had used it to cruise out of South Florida on several occasions. She said that the relative was able to make the return train that leaves around 8:30 AM. I thought that might be cutting it close, so I booked the one an hour later. It is about three miles from the port to the train station. I am returning on a Sunday and should have no traffic to deal with.

The Port Canaveral cruise line schedule only goes thru Sept. 30. It will be updated eventually. Cruise terminal 1 is the primary one used by RCCL. If there is no other Royal ship in port that day, Equinox could use that one. All of this is pure speculation as this is Celebrity’s first year sailing from PC.

If you are a fan of Carneros Chardonnay, check out any of the ones from Cuvaison. They make a number of different ones. The basic one is generally available in grocery stores and wine shops. Some of the best ones are only available thru the winery and/or their wine club.

I would agree. Before I relate my story with a group of Pinnacles, let me say that I don’t judge them all by this experience. However, I have seen similar behavior on other RCCL ships; we just weren’t subjected to it. My partner and I were on a Royal cruise, in a suite, and made friends with another couple, also in a suite. We decided to meet in the suite lounge for a pre-dinner drink. We got there first and sat at a nice window table for four. Shortly after our friends arrived, a group of 6-8 people arrived. They looked around and then had brief “pow-wow.” A very officious woman came over and informed us that we were sitting at their table. The male half of our new friends said that he didn’t know there were assigned tables in the suite lounge. She then said. “You don’t understand. We are all Pinnacles and we have sat in this area every night this cruise. You have taken one of OUR tables.” To which our friend replied, nicely, that as far he knew, it was first come, first served for lounge seating and he saw no reason to move.” She then replied, “I guess I will have to get the concierge to make you move.” By now the four of us wouldn’t have left our seats for anything. The woman huffed and puffed her way to the concierge desk, where she had to wait while the concierge helped another guest. When it was her turn, she loudly explained to the poor concierge that he must make us move as she and her friends were Pinnacles. The concierge, as far as we could tell told her politely to “pound sand.” By now, the lounge is full and there are no seats together, let alone an area that would accommodate 6 or 8 people. The group left the lounge with the woman telling the concierge that she would have him fired for not respecting her Pinnacle status. Let me repeat, that I am sure most Pinnacles aren’t like that. But we did notice that Pinnacles seemed to announce their status to staff and other passengers a lot. I have yet to witness that behavior from a Zenith on X.

When the changes to the Captain’s Club/Crown & Anchor society were announced, my first thought was that there was going to be an issue allowing Pinnacle access to The Retreat lounge. I am probably going to get beaten up for what I am about to say. There should be no crossover between Pinnacles and Zenith. Have the benefits transfer up to Elite+ and Diamond+. The top cruisers (Zenith and Pinnacle) on each line should only have those privileges on the line they earned them on. In other words, a Zenith on X is not automatically a Pinnacle on Royal and vice verse.

I just looked at November and December 2024 Caribbean sailings on the E class ships. Apex does have several cruises where a solo’s only choices were either a solo cabin or The Retreat. I did not find any on Edge. I didn’t look at every single E class ship itinerary in the Caribbean, November and December, but enough to see that the restrictions were only on certain cruises.

I have experienced the “no availability” when trying to book as a solo. I use a TA, but like to do my research before contacting her. When I get the “no availability” on a cruise, with a lot of rooms available for two passengers, I call her. She has always been able to get me the cabin level I want and in a good deck/location. I know there are folks who prefer to book directly and/or think that a TA is an unnecessary level between themselves and the cruise line. This is an example of when a TA is worth their weight in gold.

My guess, and only a guess, is this. Is it possible that your cruise is very popular and therefore, the drink packages, excursions, etc are selling. April is a very popular time to sail as many schools have holidays due to Easter. If various things are selling well, Celebrity may not feel they need to offer them on sale. I also agree with the previous comment about waiting to see what happens a little closer to final payment and sale date.

This is the regular KJ pinot, not the Celebrity Elegance one. The Elegance one appears on the bar/restaurant wine lists with a small upcharge - $2.00 or $3.00.

I find it interesting that the Elegance chard, pinot, and cab are not on this list. For those who don’t know, these are the wines, made by Kendall Jackson, for Celebrity. The chard has, in the past, been included in the PP, the reds have not. That is another thing I don’t understand as you would think they would feature/push these wines.

You already look relaxed and like you are having fun. Looking forward to you reports.

I am this cruise for the Sept. 7th sailing. It will be my first cruise with Captain Kate. I am looking forward to following your posts.

I used it once, in Tampa, last March. As soon as I got to the shoreside person checking boarding passes and showed her my Premium confirmation, she called another lady over. I was immediately taken past all the folks waiting in line to a separate check in counter. Once checkin was completed, I was escorted to the escalator, where the person there stopped the line waiting to go up and let me go on ahead. On the ship I enjoyed the lunch in the MDR (I was in Aqua) and when I went to my cabin around 1-ish, my luggage was already outside. As for disembarkation, that was a perk for me. I drive and passengers who don’t have flights to make are often given later disembarkation times. I was off the ship and in my car by 8:10. Before someone reminds me about self disembarkation, I know I can do that, but I prefer not to.

My experience with lunch on overnight port days has been varied. Basically, if the second day had a departure before 2 PM, meaning on board was 1:30, Luminae was open. Just the same when arrrival was 1 PM or later. Not sure about the MDR, but I would think it was similar.

@samplecd02, good info from you. There would not have been an upcharge on the $17 wine, as that is the limit on the Premium package. My experience, with beverages outside the premium package, is that sometimes I was charged and sometimes I wasn’t. Generally, I paid the upcharge on bourbon, but in Luminae, a glass of wine over the $17 limit was not charged. As for the Retreat Lounge, my interest is who are the concierges, is the lounge busy during the morning continental breakfast, what is the crowd like at Happy Hour. I have been in The Retreat and/or Michael’s Club when it was standing room only for HH, and when I was one of two or three people. As a solo, the suite lounge is a great way for me to meet others. I do realize that it can vary from one cruise to the next. Just curious as to your experiences.

Am on the Sept. 7 sailing, same itinerary as yours. I am also in The Retreat-Sky suite. Information on menus, noise level, and wines on the premium package in Luminae is always welcome. If you have a chance, please post a photo of the limited lunch menu on The Retreat Sundeck. I want to see how “limited” it is. Any info on Retreat concierges and staff would be nice.

See you on board. I am also in The Retreat. The ABC islands are my favorite, partially because of the two sea days down and two back. I agree with canceling the cabana. The Retreat Sundeck is very nice and far less noisy than the main pool. If I am not off the ship on a port day, I like that there is a limited lunch menu available at the Sundeck bar.

In the last few days, I have seen several references to the “elevated” package. I don’t see it listed on my upcoming Beyond cruise in September. How do I find more info on this? Thanks.

Is Hurricane Beryl going to affect the ship’s ability to get to the ABC’s? Based on the current projections, it appears that Beryl might interfere with the ship’s path.

Am I correct that you are doing a B2B? The current cruise is 6- nights and then the 8-night ABC cruise? I hope that you do a “live” for that one too. My September cruise is the ABC itinerary. I am loving your comments about the President’s cruise and your take on LHB. You and I are on exactly the same page regarding these two topics!

I have booked a number of Sky Suites (and one Celebrity suite) on Celebrity, as a solo. I have never been bumped or heard that anyone has. Of course, the pricing can be absurd…

I have no idea how the Florida senior resident rate is calculated. As stated above, you need to enter your Captain’s Club number and your state of residence. No one has ever asked for proof of that, however, my TA assures me that all I need is my Florida driver’s license. What I have learned, by periodically repricing a couple of the cruises I currently have booked under the Florida rate, is that it comes and goes. I imagine that there is some sort of pricing structure that when so many cabins are sold in a category, with that rate, it is then removed. Even if the Florida rate is offered the amount may vary. The last time I checked, two of my cruises no longer offered it, and one that did, was higher than what I paid. That could be because the basic rate for the cabin has increased. I have never seen it offered on a suite.

Florida resident here. I have had tremendous pricing luck booking the senior Florida resident rate. I also cruise solo. My Eclipse cruise in December dropped by $800 when I switched to the senior resident rate. That rate included the AI classic beverage package and the basic Wi-Fi. The non resident rate I initially had booked did not include AI. We then repriced my January Equinox cruise from Port Canaveral. Again, significant savings, with AI. The savings was so significant, that I booked the following cruise at the senior Florida rate, with AI. The two cruises added together totaled about $200 less than the cost of the first cruise with my TA’s group rate. She is a long time TA and former RCI employee. Her astonishment at the pricing was measurable. Then I had my March cruise on Constellation repriced. Saved about $300 and added the AI. Let me reiterate that these rates were Florida senior resident rates and were solo pricing.