chefcaw

Menus are typically on a 14 day rotation.

Chris

I've spent a bit of time tonight searching for WiFi VPN use success and none of the info is current. Has anyone who has sailed since, say, March this year successfully used Nord VPN onboard (or PIA) with X's WiFi sevice? I usually do any financial stuff using phone data or wifi VPN in port, but on a TA, I'd like to have secure access onboard. Hoping someone has recent experience.

I have had no problem connecting to PIA on our last 3 cruises

Chris

We do the exact opposite. We introduce ourselves to the maitre'd and staff during the day. We ask them to book a spot at a specialty restaurant of our choice. The staff gets credit for the specialty reservation. They know we understand that the first night is the most hectic for them. We have never received less than 50% off the first night.

Each to their own

Enjoy the cruise

Chris

We sailed Jan 22 to Feb.19 2017 on Infinity. It was sick when we boarded in Santiago but very quickly the preventive measures were lifted and we sailed healthy the rest of the trip. The staff was outstanding.

Chris

We were on the 2017 Celebrity cruise to Antarctica and the round the horn cruise prior. My first suggestion is to wait and book the cruise after final payments. The prices dropped tremendously. Many people sailed with us for less than 1/2 of what we paid. Some of the sting was lessened because we had booked under the 1,2,3, options. But trust me it would still have been cheaper to buy all the options and still have been money ahead.

That said it was a great tour. Plenty of wildlife everywhere. It took us a minute to understand that what we thought were loons swimming in the water, were penguins. On all the tours we took, wildlife was near and not interested with us. In one case, if I had not stopped abruptly, a penguin would have walked over my toes.

Drive by or not, it was a great trip

Chis

If you have never been to Alaska, I would do Alaska. We have done both cruises

Your font looks the same to me

Last week, I had to handle my own reservations too, as the concierge was completely unresponsive. But there was a good reason. His father back home died two days into the trip. That's the only concierge who gets a pass for no service. But get this... he shows back up on disembarkation day back in Los Angeles... escorts us off the ship.

 

Apparently, NCL had assisted in arranging transportation for him from Cabo San Lucas to Peru (if I remember right) and back. Talk about the poor overworked crew. This guy's father dies, and he's back to work on the ship (crispy uniform and all) 5 days later. Must be a horrible gig.

 

We talked to the butler about it as we had heard he left early on for a family emergency. Actually, she brought it up and explained that his father passed. Thats why she had to pull double-duty and handle the concierge's business as well as her own. She explained that NCL does a wonderful job in helping crew with family matters like this -- she was very complimentary of NCL in this regard.

Bruno is the butler that you are speaking of. The death of his father was very unexpected. I am not surprised that he returned quickly to continue to assist his guests. We have found him very available and helpful on our cruises whether we sailed in the Haven or just in suites

Chris

Have a great time but please discuss and make an agreement with the M'D on booking...All of us are hoping that this would be an acceptable solution...It would be a very sour end to the meal if you were presented with a bill for your 'guests'.

Double check, We tried this and we were charged for the 2 guests. They would not let us transfer the dinners last spring on the Millie

Chris

Who is the current hotel director?

Thanks

Take a look Larry,

http://store.theprisonerwine.com/myaccount/c.cfm?i=FrZTsS%2B1fbpQygQabsLGHg%3D%3D

http://www.theprisonerwinecompany.com/the-prisoner/

It has a 92 point WA rating.

Prisoner runs $40.00 at Mariano's (Larry should recognize the store). I would expect to pay about $120 out for it. We often drink this at home. It is a great wine.

Chris

I use a different email to post on open forums to protect my privacy and identity. It is easy enough to set up a different email

Chris

Michelle,

 

Got back in the US last Sunday and have been slowly recovering. I'll try and get some stuff posted this evening. It was a great cruise and the suite was great. I've got to pull the rest of my pictures off the card and then I should be good to go. Sorry for the delay. Berlin kicked my butt after the cruise but I wouldn't change that either.

 

Carrie

Was Jonathan your butler? We loved him

Chris

Just clarifying -

You booked on board NOW when the BBB is in place and you received extra OBC for doing that?

How much more OBC?

Chris

Thought I would tap the knowledge base on cc before contacting Celebrity.

 

We are visiting Israel again on a cruise this October and plan to stay in a hotel in Jerusalem during the overnight while the ship is docked in Ashdod.

 

Has anyone done this before, and do I need to inform Celebrity beforehand in the event they alert the army or police that I am missing from the evening role call?

 

Has anyone done this in St. Petersburg, as well?

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks.

We spent a night off the ship on Cairo and in Beijing. Neither time did we inform the ship. In hindsight, it would not be a poor decision to let them know that you are leaving.

Chris

It will never happen using the Jade as it's a US flagged ship and the only ship doing that itinerary and making a ton of money.

Jade was a US flagged when it was the Pride of Hawaii. We sailed her Transatlantic when she was retrofitted for a non-US flagged ship.

Chris

Romel is one of the VERY best.

He has been on the Star for many years.

We would love to see him again.

 

I assume that Hugo (HD) is on vacation.

He is also amazing.

 

Judy

Anyone know when Hugo and Vikram are do back from vacation?

I agree that this isn't what we thought Celebrity was offering, but I haven't seen anyone quote language promising all those meals [or even three of them] EVERY DAY. In the course of a cruise you will indeed have the opportunity to have breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner in Luminae -- which is what the above language promises. So there is room for moral outrage, but not the lawsuit that has been threatened.

We were on the transpacific on the Millenium April 26, sailing in a suite. Upon arrival in our suite, we found a single piece of paper that outlined the perks of suire class. On that piece of paper it stated that there would be breaksfast, lunch and dinner served every day. In addition, it stated that the menu would be expanded with the addition of food items from our port stops to the menu and tableside presentation none of these things happened.

I asked in Luminae about the flyer and was told that it did not make any difference, things had changed.

Interesting tho, we did not find many food items that were elevated or better than dining in the MDR or Blu. In fact, several time we sent back food to the kitchen for a choice from the MDR.

If you want a nicer room book the suite, if you want better food, book the specialty dining.

Chris

We are doing a land tour before we join friends that are on the Hong Kong to Shanghai. Post your email in the form of yourname at provider dot com. I will respond when we return in late May.

Chris

So I'll be sailing on the Jade in October with my family of 5 in a suite. My father will join us in an inside cabin. Are there any suite amenities/benefits that he can take advantage of with us?

 

I'm thinking of...

• Priority boarding and disembarkation, and tendering?
  
• Breakfast or lunch at Cagney's?
  
• Can he be included in reservations made by our concierge?
  

 

Anyone have this experience?

Bruno is the current concierge on the Jade. Priority boarding etc. probably, Cagneys probably not. Reservations yes.

Chris

A question, please. I understand that you are Elite plus, are you sailing in a Aqua cabin?

In the Caribbean, you might want to have the drink package for all the bottled water you want. We find it preferable to have the package when it is offered because we are then not restricted to certain times and venues for drinks. We take the OBC when it is worth more than the tips.

Chris

We were looking at this cruise too. Most of the complaints come from the smoking policy, food, and beds. If you have a balcony, you will smell smoke. If you're a foodie, I would go for the free specialty restaurant perk. Don't be afraid to ask for egg crates if the beds are hard, and you should have a great cruise.

NCL is no smoke-free on the balconies. No smoke smell, if there is a problem phone the front desk. They send security immediately.

I think all the main dining rooms have fallen in food and service. No better or worse than NCL. NCL has more and less expensive specialty dining available. We like NCL and like Celebrity. We did the Panama Canal on NCL, that was part of a 38 day trip on NCL.

Next several cruises are planned on Celebrity

Chris

We booked an A2 on the Soltice in Sept 2016 at 1979 pp and it's down to 1749 we booked under the 123 promotion before Xmas and they said it's still 1979 pp but on the screen it says 1749?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Call Celebrity if you booked directly or your travel agent for the price drops

Chris

We had the UDP on our 38 day cruise this past spring. I think knowing that we could return to any of the restaurant again, controlled the urge to sample everything in one visit. All the extra cost items are included in the UDP. Several night we only used the salad bar in Moderno, much nicer than struggling with the buffet for a salad and appetizers

How does the free dinner work if you already have the UDP? Will they credit your account for the $40 or do you just miss out? I will be Platinum on our cruise in November but have the new wave promo so the Le Bistro dinner won't be needed. Does anyone have any experience with this?

WE had purchased the UDP and are platinum, no discount on the package. We did receive the vouchers in our cabin and treated traveling companions to the dinners

Chris