coordinator23

I believe I read somewhere that Israel Sanchez was recently named as the concierge for the CL. We had him on Voyager, a few years ago, and he is amazing. I would enjoy sailing with him again. Too bad he wasn't on your sailing

My parents are Diamond RCI also, so they will qualify for the three free drinks, if that's how it's handled. Much better way to do it. My brothers and their wives will not qualify, but this way we can all meet before dinner for a glass of wine.

I wish I could get a scooter for my father. He currently uses a cane, and he should have been using a rolling scooter for the past few years. He's not happy when we get him a wheel chair in the airport, but walking a block is difficult for him (but he will not admit it.). We are booking mid-ship to try to make it easier for him. This may very well be my parents last cruise and they want to share it with all of us. We went to Alaska for their 60th and had a ball. They liked the way the balconies opened onto each other and we could scoot up and down visiting. I think they will find things on the Millennium that they like also. (they also liked the way the MDR was open on embarkation day, so they didn't have to mess around with a buffet. Trying go move around with a cane at a buffet, along with the rest of your shipmates, is difficult.

I would think it would be more difficult for someone unsteady on their feet to be in a swaying shower.

It's difficult to get into and out of the tub. In either a shower or tub you would be standing on a wet floor with swaying if the seas were rough. My parents shower when the seas are smooth or when in port (usually in port).

We've done the Sugar Train twice. Either take the coach or catamaran back - both ways are great. I also liked the tour to Brimstone Fortress. If we go back again, we'll probably go back on the sugar train. Love the ride through the country side, the view of the beaches, etc. Great excursion!!

Thanks for getting back to me. This will be the first X cruise for us. We are looking forward to it. I have heard that there is an equivalent to the Diamond lounge on this ship, but if we are concierge class will that make a difference. Or is concierge service different on X?

Did both a paper survey and later an on-line survey. Took more than a few minutes. I guess they took my complaint to heart that it's difficult to fill out a paper survey when the line no longer supplies pens:):p

On the Millennium do the concierge class bathrooms have a tub or a shower? Need to know because my 88 year old parents would have difficulty with a tub. Will book a balcony for them if this is the case (although the concierge class does look much nicer for their 65th Ann.) I guess another question. Do the balconies open on to one another if we get an adjoining cabin? Loved this feature on Diamond Princess.

Last time we went to Alaska, we were able to by-pass Canadian customs because we were getting right on the cruise line bus to board the ship. It was a great time saver. Is this offered by Celebrity? (we were on Princess last time) We are seriously looking at Millennium (4 cabins; 4 couples/oldest couple 88 years old) and it would be great if we could go from plane to ship seamlessly.

A few years ago, we sailed Diamond Princess out of Vancouver to Alaska. If you were taking the cruise bus transportation straight to the ship, you could by-pass the customs line (and save time). Is this still offered? Does it work on any other cruise line this way?? It doesn't make sense to stand in line to pass customs just to board a bus to leave the countryl

When we took Diamond Princess to Alaska a few years ago, you could by-pass customs if you were getting on the bus to board the ship (from the airport). It doesn't make sense to have to go through customs to leave the country (and waste all that time). Can we still do this?

A few years ago, on a Princess Alaskan cruise, we were allowed to bypass Canadian customs and get on the bus and go straight to the ship when departing from Canada. We would like to do this on Royal, if possible. It doesn't make sense to have to wait in line at customs just to get on a ship leaving Canada. Can we still do this?? Anyone know??

I had my first facial (I'm in my 60's) a few weeks ago and my skin felt great. I didn't know how great until I was back in the dry Chicago air. I should have bought the facial product they used on me. It really did make a difference. Is it sold anywhere besides on the ship? Sorry, I don't know the name of the facial/ moisturizer, but I thought one of you might know. It really did hydrate my face and made it feel great.

Every night for the sailing of 12-8

No, to the full breakfast menu, but last week it was yes to priority boarding on Adventure.

Thanks for the info. I knew someone here would have the answer.:)

Since Adventure leaves Puerto Rico late (evening), when is the muster drill? We were on Brilliance last year, but I can't remember when the drill was. Our plane gets in at 3:20

We would feel that the trip was incomplete if we did not go to Barrachina's to store our luggage, shop and have lunch. There food is great. You can catch a cab less that a block away to go to the airport afterwards. We are planning to go there after our upcoming cruise on the Adventure. Check out their web site.

We just use the sea pass and charge as we go. I don't drink, so I purchase diet cokes. My husband varies what he drinks. We do go to the Diamond Lounge to socialize with others. I usually have a diet coke and he has a glass of wine (before dinner). We have met many lovely people there. We enjoy the fact that Royal gives us a place to congregate and treats us to a drink (whether it be diet coke, wine or a mixed cocktail) and before dinner hor 'd orves. I would hope that the Diamond Lounge remains intact.

On Serenade we had an excellent experience. Steak was wonderful as was the service. It was like eating in a top steakhouse (tasted like prime). On Brilliance of the Seas, the steak was possibly "choice" quality - tough and not very flavorful. The service was OK, nothing fantastic. My guess is that the experience varies from ship to ship and depends on the staff (and possibly who buys the food). Serenade was March '12 for my husband's birthday and Brilliance was Dec. '12 for our Anniversary. After our Dec. experience, we decided in the spring on FOS - retirement celebration, to forgo Chops and "eat out" once we got home. Chicago has some excellent steak houses that are consistent.

Best question would be to someone who had been on "your" ship recently and had gone to Chops while on the cruise.

Celebrity's cancellation policy is included in their cruise contract, their brochure and probably some place on their web site. Here is a copy of a section of the policy taken from the 2014/2015 Alaska Cruise Brochure on the USA website (might not be applicable to countries other than the USA):

 

 

For details see the brochure. All brochures can be downloaded from Celebrity's web site - there is a link at the bottom of most pages under the column captioned "Customer Support" . The cancellation fee normally applies only to the base cruise fare. Any port taxes, excursions, prepaid gratuities or similar charges are fully refundable no matter how far in advance you cancel.

 

I've attached a PDF copy of the brochure page mentioned above but do read all the fine print in the back of the brochure for more details.

 

If you have a Travel Agent the agency might impose their own cancellation restrictions and charges which might be more expensive than Celebrity's. Some, but not all, agencies do this.

 

The bottom line is that cancellation charges are time related. There is no cancellation policy that allows late cancellations for any specific reason or excuse. The only option to cover contingencies is to buy a travel insurance policy that covers trip cancellation. Be sure to read the policy to understand exactly what is insured as the policy will only cover the events specifically named in it. Also, unless the policy states otherwise, most do not cover existing conditions of either you or family members. So, for example, if a family member had an existing medical condition which then worsens to the point where you feel you cannot take the trip the event might not be covered under the pre-existing conditions exclusions of the policy. Travel insurance can be purchased from Celebrity or a third party.

Thanks neighbor. I am also from the Chicago area - NW suburbs!

We are planning a family trip to celebrate my parents Anniversary. We will be booking five cabins for an Alaskan cruise tour. Since my parents will be 90, I need to know the cancellation policy, just in case one or both of them is unable to make the trip. If something does happen, I don't think any of us will feel like going. Is it similar to Royal's? I tried to check it out on their web site, but couldn't find what I was looking for.

I find that cruising is cheaper between Thanksgiving and Christmas vacations(school) and in January-mid-Feb. We will fly into Puerto Rico next month before the holidays for about half the rate of flying in a few weeks later. May is also a cheaper month to cruise because May tends to be a social month for many ( Mother's Day, First Communions, Confirmations, College graduations, upcoming High School Graduations, etc.) so not as many people are able to cruise.

We stayed at Country Inn and Suites. Free shuttle to port, free breakfast with a little more than continental and great staff.

 

We flew red eye and arrived to Port Canaveral at 7:00 am and they let us check in!!

 

I highly recommend!!

We drove down from Illinois and stayed here. We were able to leave the car parked there all week, and we took advantage of the free shuttle bus. Other family members flew in and used a shuttle to get to port. If you stay on the top floor facing the port, you can see the ship in the morning when you get up. Breakfast was good too.

Every line is only in business in order to make a profit for their shareholders. If allowing smoking on balconies helps to keep the ships full and cabin prices up because smokers enjoy the balcony smoking amenity, then that line's management team will be happy indeed and doing their job. They are not anti-smoking or pro-smoking; they are pro-profit.

We will be 7 days away from diamond plus following our Dec. cruise on RCL. We are currently looking at cruises for next year. Not even considering RCL. Our dollars are moving to HA. My husband likes to smoke a cigarette on the balcony before bed and after he gets up in the morning. The rest of the day when we are out and about, he sticks to the smoking areas. We will be enriching HA's bottom line. We are currently planning a family trip to Alaska in July -- four balcony cabins, eight passengers, only one smoker. RCL's policy cost their bottom line eight passengers and enriched HA's by eight. We are also looking at a fall cruise to Canada.

This one really gave me an early morning laugh. You are not a part of the "it's all about me generation"? Could have fooled me. Your rant is all about you and how superior you are to everyone else. What a joke.

please reread what I posted. It is not a rant, but based on your reply, I would dare to venture you're either part of that generation or did not comprehend what I wrote - possibly addicted to coffee also