Happy Cruiser 6143

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I'm glad to hear you are back on your feet (sic).   Embrace every chance you have to maintain your mobility.    I love my walking and can't imagine losing my mobility.

 

Yes, I now take a lovely neighborhood walk with some of my neighbors every morning.  Could never do that prior to getting my bionic knees.  And no more having to rent a scooter on board.  The ultrasound pronounced me blood clot free, so all is well.  Except with my old brain.  I neglected to put a lunch in my electronic calendar & thus did not get a reminder.  Apparently my brain decided one event for the day was enough and I didn't even notice it on my written calendar until 2:00 p.m.  As I said before, this getting old is not for sissies.  😁

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Have a nice cruise, Linda.     I hope you have healed after your recent surgeries.

 

Thanks.  I get the stitches out tomorrow from my recent vein surgery.  Decided to wait and do the other leg until I get back from my cruise.  This getting old is not for sissies!

9 hours ago, Oceangoer2 said:

I haven't sailed Summit before....can you share where would be a prime location?  We have mid ship near the elevator.  Are the balcony's small on Summit?  TIA and Happy Easter  🐰

Midship near the elevator is a great location.  That's where I always try to book.  I ended up with a cabin between the midship and the forward elevators, which is not ideal from my perspective, but I'll take it for the price!  The regular balconies on the Summit are adequate.

There are 4 CC cabins on deck 6 which are a tad larger and have larger balconies:  6143, 6144, 6135, and 6136, although the last two are connecting staterooms.

Looking forward to following along on another adventure with you and Iain.  I'll be on the Reflection part of the time, but hope to be able to keep up.  Bon Voyage!

53 minutes ago, Captain-John said:

Thank you for posting, have secured 8054 at the lower rate. I had a hold on 8084 (both just randomly selected).

 

Nothing to grouse about for the price paid but I see a few references to 8054 possibly having an obstructed view - my invoice states 0% obstruction but think the window washign equipment is parked near there. Obviously no chance of switching now!

Welcome aboard!  I didn't get a cabin in a prime location either, but I'm not complaining because of the rate and the unusual itinerary.  It should be a wonderful cruise.

5 hours ago, Oceangoer2 said:

Hi....I was told the number of CVP's have been greatly reduced.  Mine said she was one of the lucky ones to keep her job but those that were left have taken on a great number of new clients in addition to those they already had.  I have no problem sharing, but not sure she can take on any new ones.  Another poster here did share a name (I did have the info already)....It's Ryan Wilkinson, #44148.  I'll give you the # for mine....#44144.  Let me know how it goes if you don't mind.

Thanks for the information.  Should I need to interact with Celebrity again, I'll give it a try.  Basically what I've been doing since my CVP vanished is to call the Zenith desk.  They then connect me to someone who can help me.

6 hours ago, Oceangoer2 said:

I heard from my CVP and the hold is good.  Haven't been on the Summit....where are the cabins with big balconies?  BTW...checked my 'other' source for cabins and all C1s are sold out.  Thanks to the OP for the heads up!

How are you so lucky as to have a CVP?  I used to have one and he was great, but he has vanished and I've not been assigned a replacement.  If you like yours, would you be willing to share that person's name and contact info?

5 hours ago, TommyD3 said:

I put a hold on last night. Tried to finalize thru Future Cruise Sales to get the $200 deposit. They refused, saying we had to cancel the hold and re-book. I know I would not get that price if I re-book !!! Not really willing to put down a $900 deposit on a $1800 cruise 20 months out !!! Did something similar when we booked cheap cruises a year or two ago and Celebrity came back and doubled and tripled the booked prices (had booked 4 in a row) !!! Their fine print says they have the right to change the price of your booked cruise up to the day of sailing. Suspect the same will happen on these bookings !!!

I put a courtesy hold on a cabin yesterday and finalized it today.  The deposit is refundable, so if Celebrity tries to pull any nonsense about raising the price, I'm outta there.

I put a hold on it and forwarded it to my TA.

I've never seen slippers in a concierge cabin.  

2 minutes ago, love to cruz said:

This will be our first time in a Magic Carpet Sky suite. Are tips included? Also does Celebrity offer one bag of laundry in a Sky Suite?

We usually book balcony cabins.

Gratuities are not included.  If Celebrity offers a deal on a bag of laundry, it will be offered to all classes of cabins.

I don't usually do short cruises, but I've booked a B2B and both of them are fewer than 7 nights.  Do they do evening chic on those cruises?  Don't want to pack it and then find out it was unnecessary.

11 minutes ago, goofysmom99 said:

They got plenty of feedback from me after a cruise earlier this month.  No beverage package on my room key (bartenders knew black card should have it, though) and I was charged for room service three days in a row.  Three trips to Guest Relations.  At the Zenith lunch, I fussed to CC concierge about the charges and she actually said she'd have to check on if it was free.  I chose not to complain about it to HD who was seated next to me.  Later I got a call that "Miami" said free room service was OK.  Ya think?  I can't possibly have been their first zenith not in a suite!  Oh, and also haven't received double points after my last six cruises; waited for the two most recent to post so I'd only have to make one call (yesterday).  Yup, I sure feel "special."   One X cruise remaining in November then 2025/6 are all booked elsewhere.

 

And they didn't give me Suite/Zenith luggage tags.

I would have mentioned it to the HD as long as he was there.  That concierge obviously needs more training.  Otherwise, others will have to deal with her dumb answers.

7 minutes ago, goofysmom99 said:

They got plenty of feedback from me after a cruise earlier this month.  No beverage package on my room key (bartenders knew black card should have it, though) and I was charged for room service three days in a row.  Three trips to Guest Relations.  At the Zenith lunch, I fussed to CC concierge about the charges and she actually said she'd have to check on if it was free.  I chose not to complain about it to HD who was seated next to me.  Later I got a call that "Miami" said free room service was OK.  Ya think?  I can't possibly have been their first zenith not in a suite!  Oh, and also haven't received double points after my last six cruises; waited for the two most recent to post so I'd only have to make one call (yesterday).  Yup, I sure feel "special."   One X cruise remaining in November then 2025/6 are all booked elsewhere.

 

And they didn't give me Suite/Zenith luggage tags.

I just booked a B2B last minute.  Both were booked with the same person that the Zenith concierge referred me to since my great cruise planner person has vaporized.  The first confirmation lists me as Zenith.  The second one lists me as Classic.  Pretty funny.

15 minutes ago, keesar said:

Also, many zeniths are hooked on Celebrity and no need to get feedback from them. Many are guaranteed bookings.   But I think it is more related to numbers.

There may be some, but the ones I know are all talking about looking at other cruiselines.

53 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Even after contacting CC that I was not receiving Invites to PUP and them saying they had changed settings on my account.    Didn't receive the PUP.    

 

Funny enough I setup my BIL CC account using an email I control  - he now has 10 points.  He receives Invites.

 

After hearing Laura say -   To our MOST LOYAL members....   Why don't I feel like even a marginally loyal customer?    Also noticed all the questions asked were from Elite and Elite+ there wasn't a single question from a Zenith.... I can assure you many have been sent in.   I guess us Zenith's aren't of importance to them.

I gave up a long time ago about getting the e-mails.  I just wait for the link to appear here.

1 minute ago, CruisematicVA said:

I'm pro-YC, but you do get a drink package with a SS...but I'm guessing you meant in the mini-fridge in the room?

 

You actually get a bottle of proseco and a bottle of booze in addition to what's in the mini bar.  You definitely don't get that in a SS.  

6 hours ago, At Sea At Peace said:

We've sailed Celebrity recently, Silhouette and Ascent (Aqua), neither Retreat.  We've sailed MSC YC many, many times all B2B with another upcoming the 1st two weeks of April.  I keep looking at the $ comparison.  I'm not if using the Aqua Class Sky suite (Retreat privileges) is even a fair comparison to average Retreat suite.

 

 

 

Comparing an AQ sky suite to YC is not apples to apples.  To take a shower in a SS, one needs to climb a tub wall.  YC has a spacious shower with no barrier to entry.  SS has no booze included, YC does.  The YC cabin is larger than a SS.  And whether or not you'll get a butler is open to question in a SS.  You definitely will in YC.

11 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Linda -   There are many reason we decided against YC.    We are also not pool people.   Just the shear size of the ship is a turn off.   I think we area also done with Celebrity E-Class.  While Charla seemed to enjoy I was thinking of her tales being escorted across the ship  by her butler.    On Celebrity we enjoy much of our day outside of the Retreat and have never used the Retreat Sundeck for sunbathing or pool/spa.    I don't mean it as a thumbs down but we each enjoy a cruise in a different way. 

 

I can only say we will see how it goes on our first Oceania Cruise.    We may find they don't fit our future cruise either.   

I'm not a pool person either since I have one in my back yard.  But the pool deck on YC is huge and never crowded and even has some shaded areas where one can sit and read the newspaper (you get a daily newspaper of your choice) in peace and quiet.  There's also a food area and clever bartenders who came up with some interesting nonalcoholic drinks for me.  I agree--the size of the ship is offputting.  Luckily they have a separate gangway for YC, so it's possible to get back on the ship without standing in long lines.  My biggest problem with them is they sail out of Miami--the drive there is the pits.  And their itineraries are same old, same old 7-nights.  And your status expires if you don't sail with them every three years.  Given all that, I'm probably done with YC.

I will be interested to hear how Oceania goes for you.  Cheers!

On 2/17/2024 at 5:18 PM, Jim_Iain said:

That is the one reason we struck them off the list of potential replacement for Celebrity.  

That's an interesting observation from someone who, I believe, never goes to the shows.  On my two YC cruises, I was perfectly happy to remain in the civilized atmosphere of the YC.  Only ventured out into the Gen Pop when they were all off the ship.  YC has wonderful live entertainment in their lounge.  And their pool deck is far superior to Celebrity's retreat offering.  Only problem is the food & service in YC is not up to Celebrity standards.

Yes.

Infinite "verandas" are just ocean view cabins at balcony prices.

18 hours ago, hcat said:

Seems some confusion by OP.with valet and porters,  and now I am confused!

 

We self parked for Terminal 25 (Ascent) after we dropped off our luggage..so just had carry- ons to board with.

 

We were concerned how we would get our luggsge and carry-ons to our car after the cruise....and had no info about the port's valet service. 

 

We lucked out. Had a great porter who took all our stuff up to our  car in  the garage and helped load the car.  Well worth the big tip!

 

note to self.. travel lighter next time!

Terminal 25 is in Fort Lauderdale.  We were discussing the Tampa Terminal.  Completely different situation.

1 hour ago, jam19872016 said:

 

Just to make sure I understand, this is not the porter we are talking about right? The valet will be handling my car not my luggage. Or do they take care of that also?

Yes, the valet will be parking your car.  You may or may not need a porter for the luggage, depending on what you have.  At some point, you need to hand your checked luggage over to the shoreside luggage collectors.

Thanks for the tip on dining times in Blu.  I'm on Reflection in Blu next month.