hayward

yes me too 

Hello everyone, My DH and I are going to cruise out of Tampa on the Brilliance on March 25,2017. We have been on many cruises but never one out of Tampa and was just wondering if anyone know's if this ship is always full of spring breaker's since it is only a 5 day cruise.

This is the only time we can go this year so choosing another month is not an option. We really don't mind spring breaker's but we just don't want to be the only 50 something's on the ship.

Can anyone tell me some info on the Ship that has been on it in March or April?

We are also wondering about best hotel to stay for just the night before the cruise?

You will not be the only 50 something. There will be quite a few women from the Red Hat Society. We are just women who have fun and dress in red and purple and are over 50. See you onboard.

Let's not overlook the fact that many passengers are already Elite on their very first Celebrity cruise due to the reciprocity with RCI.

 

It is easier to get to Diamond on RCI than to Elite on Celebrity,

thereby also automatically eligible to be Elite on Celebrity.

 

 

We heard that on some Celebrity cruises the majority of Elite passengers are crossovers from RCI and that is why they decided not to extend the reciprocity any further.

 

It is certainly understandable, since RCI (with more ships and much larger ships) has so many more passengers than Celebrity.

That is why the impact of Diamond passengers from RCI cruising as Elite on Celebrity is so much greater than the other way around.

 

 

 

We have met many couples who cruised on RCI for the bells and whistles when they had young children, but have switched to Celebrity now that their children are grown and they automatically get the Elite perks on Celebrity.

 

Some still pick RCI when traveling with grandchildren who want features like water slides, climbing walls, flowriders, ice skating rinks, etc.

 

I think that is probably just what the RCCL executives were anticipating when they implemented the reciprocity.

 

Thank you, this is a great explanation of the reasoning behind my rationale for limiting the number of cruisers into the elite lounges....Yes the vouchers do help.

This was posted on cruise critic, the problem with Celebrity is that all levels can use the happy hour and thus creates havoc.

Carnival Cruise Line Changes Loyalty Program Perks

May 6, 2015

fun ship freddy carnival cruise line loyalty program

(4:30 p.m. EDT) -- Following weekslong speculation on the Cruise Critic message boards, Carnival Cruise Line has made changes to its passenger loyalty program, limiting VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) party invitations to cruisers with Platinum and Diamond status only, effective May 15. (Previously, Gold-, Platinum- and Diamond-level loyalty club members had been able to attend.)

In a statement, Carnival said it made the decision because the number of loyalty program members has gotten so large that it became difficult to accommodate everyone -- sometimes as many as 1,000 passengers -- who was invited. Loyalty members complained that it left the events feeling more crowded and less intimate.

Rather than invitations to the VIFP party, Gold members will instead receive drink vouchers, valued at up to $9, for use at any onboard bar on the last evening of each sailing that's five days or longer. The vouchers are in addition to free bottles of water that Gold members already receive as a perk, and they can be redeemed for coffee, soda or alcoholic beverages.

Cruise Critic members have mixed feelings on the changes.

Member gremlinbangles says there's "plenty of 'free' food on the ship so I can get all the snacks anytime I want. And you get a drink two if you're lucky. I think I will live."

"I understand that some people don't care, but to others it is much more than just 'free food and drinks,'" says lovingCCL. "To me this is clearly indicative of how little I am valued. ... it is just an overall feeling of being unappreciated."

In 2012, Carnival made sweeping changes to its past-passenger program, changing the system from two tiers to the current five, which are Blue, Red, Gold, Platinum and Diamond.

--By Ashley Kosciolek, Editor

Keep in mind there are plans to "upscale" the BLU menu in the near future due to the opening of Lumenair. We were told it was so Aqua passengers wouldn't feel their restaurant was inferior.

I will believe it when I see it, but celebrity has to do something with Blu menus after being in blu over 300 days with the same menu. IT IS ABOUT TIME....JUST DO NOT DEPRECIATE THE VALUE

If you upgrade pre-cruise before April 20th, you’ll only be paying the current difference to upgrade to Premium ($10 per day + 18% gratuity).

 

If you upgrade pre-cruise as of April 20th or onboard as of April 6th, then you’ll be paying the new upgrade rate to Premium ($16 per day + 18% gratuity).

If you prepay the upgrade to premium from 123 program if you cancel the cruise is the upgrade fully refundable

I want to book an Aqua Class Cabin. I'm concerned about noise as they look to be located below public space. What should I expect? I'm also wondering if I should consider paying extra for the Aqua Class Cabins on the AFT of the ship.

We book agua cabins generally but with the Milly class, we usually book on the 1 floor, I realize it is somewhat aft but we get in the closest to the entrances, never a problem.

Quiet yes, no one goes down the hall for the door, which is on the 1101 and 1100 unless they belong there.

The cabins are newer because the older ships really are looking like it now...most of them need major work. We just off off the Connie in this cabin and the railings were naked of varnish....ship was immaculate though.

There is nothing on top of you even a cover, so if it rains be prepared also pay attention which side you want sun, we had the starboard side it was great we were also heading south.

Celebrity is a wonderful cruise line and we have all our perks there, being elite plus helps, you can also book a aqua class a2 and get an a1 thus this is why we not up.

There is only one elevator that gets you on the milly ships there, and it is close to the ocean view bar and buffet if that is important.

Thank you, appreciate it. Mary

I have never been on a 5 day cruise before are there tc (top cruisers) on a 5 day cruise. thanl you

Maybe they should open up another category between Elite Plus and Zenith -- somewhere around 1500-1700 points and add the Classic Beverage Package as a perk.

I also agree that there should be a third tier inbtween elite plus and zenith.

we have told corporate so they know are frequent suggestions as to adding another tier for incentive to stay loyal to celebrity.

I also know that I will not make zenith level but would have achieved the inbetween figures. The 750 to 3000 is really a reach for most new cruisers.

Also, you get to a point there is no where else to go, many are just repeating same journeys over and over again.

I think that Celebrity would be well served to offer a loyalty level between Zenith and Elite plus. There are some but not many people that are close enough to Zenith that they might cruise more to get there. Because it's so far for me to get there at 1150 points, there is no such incentive. I just exited a month on the Silhouette in a suite, and earned 240 points. I would need approximately eight more months in a suite to get to Zenith. Though this might be possible, it's not probable given that suite prices are approx $1000 per night on most cruises going forward. Celebrity isn't a $1000 a night product IMO ...

The Zenith perks just aren't worth it.....for what? To get into Michaels club?

We visited twice, and declined the third offer because I like the Ensemble lounge better !!!!

Hi Kev: This has been a topic of many of my friends on the issue of another tier. The figures really do not equate for elite plus to zenith.

I agree also after being in the Michael's lounge also, where it is usually dark and dreary, that the sky lounge or any other place on the ship is so much more of an enjoyable experience.

My only complaint with Celebrity is the use of the Blu restaurant for their suite people, this has evolved into a terrible situation for those of us who prefer aqua class. So many times there is no room because of the influx of the suite people. Hopefully this problem will resolve with the new suite dining rooms. But being it is not really in the near future we have moved our business out of celebrity also.

Yes

 

this is an extract from the X FAQ re the new suite class perks

 

Will “Suite Class” guests still have the option of dining in Blu on a space-available basis?

Beginning April 2015 all Suite Class guests will have access to a new restaurant - reserved exclusively for Suite Class guests morning, noon and night. Access to Blu will continue to be available on a space available basis to all Suite Class guests.

Will “Suite Class” guests still have to pay the $5 suggested gratuity when admitted to dine in Blu?

Access to Blu will continue to be available on a space available basis to all Suite Class guests. When admitted, “Suite Class” guests may dine in Blu at no charge.

We did the Adriatic cruise in september with Blu many evenings, loud, noisy and really quite an unpleasant experience. Many evenings we would be in blu and watch the suite people escorted by the concierge from Michael's Club walk them into blu and again escorted by the matre de blu.

Thinking it was just that cruise, hopefully the transatlantic would be better. No, it was the same in fact even worse. The staff did an amazing job of trying to sit everyone. But chaos did exist, not what Blu was intended, for aqua class guest,

Blu used to be quite a nice experience, never overcrowded and relaxed. Celebrity needs to rethink their attitude about its loyal members who enjoy Blu and not put their Suite people in the drivers seat,

hayward, go to celebritycruises.com,

then go to "Already Booked?"

"Before You Go"

"Customizing Your Vacation"

"Dining Arrangements"

"Book Dining Arrangements"

 

Celebrity's verbage:

 

"If you choose Select Main Dining, you will eat in the main restaurant and order from its extensive menu, but you can decide what time you would like to eat-and the times can be different every day. In order to make a reservation, your cruise must be on "Confirmed" status."

thank you, but you have to call captains club now..... not a problem.

So many of my times were already reserved. I tried to do a table for 2 for 7:00 p.m., some yes some no for all three cruises.

again. you have got to love cruise critic.

Yellowfurbaby, with Select Dining you can log onto the Celebrity Website and make reservations for each night and choose a "Not Shared" table (Celebrity phrasing as copied from a file on our last cruise). :)

I looked for this site on celebrity no such luck, how do you do it...do you have to call celebrity or your ta

Good for you. Please report back on staff changes onboard. There have been very few posts for the update.

I hope that others post any new information, I might find out more if the feb 2, 2014 does any live postings.

Thank you for every ones help.

Does anyone know who the captain's club hostess and hotel manager currently on infinity now. I am going on three cruises starting in february. Thank you

I have been checking my history and today you saw a flash of the new tier system on your history. But you have to be quick, I took a pic off my iPad before the screen went blank.

So they must want to publish at the same time.

When I try to do the same thing with benefits all that pops up, again quick pic, is your new points.

I confess, I will never have the 3000 points it would take another lifetime, based on points

I know the information has been removed from the website. Thank you to those that posted it before it was removed. Based on what was posted I think it is a home run and should be an excellent improvement. Initial read would indicate to me that nothing is being taken away from the current levels and Celebrity is offering higher levels with some nice benefits. I always felt that the 90 minutes free internet was not much for Celebrity's highest level. The 200 minutes would be really significant and closer to Princess's benefit.

 

Perhaps a few transistion issues as the point system is converted, but it will be great in the long run. I may be naive, but I think Celebrity will work really hard to minimize any negative impact of the change if any because they new program is a very positive improvement.

 

So my initial thought is "Way to go Celebrity". I am even more loyal than previously. Maybe even someday I will be able to get to the Zenith level, I know that I will try.

I totally agree with you. I feel that Celebrity is highly aware of its loyalty members and will do everything in their new tier system to keep its members happy with additional benefits.

I know whatever Celebrity does to improve its new system will benefit me, as they are very consumer orientated. They say so on their Captain's Club web site.

"Exclusive perks…because you're the center of our attention".

GO CELEBRITY

We stopped off here a couple of years ago with no plans made. There are several huts at the port exit that offer boat trips. We booked one on a boat that took around 15-20 people. I think we had to pay cash - but it was pretty cheap - maybe $25 each?? The tour lasted a couple of hours or so. We saw penguins swimming on the way out of port, then stopped by a couple of islands and got really close up to the seals on one island, and cormorants on another - this was due to the size and shape of the boat. We then stopped at another island for a walk and saw some interesting birds and enjoyed an amazing 360 degree view and the mountains that are the backdrop to Ushuaia. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and interesting and she let us sample the herbal tea that you see the Argentinians walking around with in flasks, and gave us a load of history of the area and Argentina. After the trip we walked up the hill to the main street with shops and cafes, and stopped in a bar. It was a lovely relaxing day. After spending several days at sea prior to arriving in Ushuaia we had thought a boat trip would have been the last thing we wanted to do, but it was great to see the wildlife up closer.

Do you happen to know what boat you booked was it on the cruise ship? Thank you. Can you please email me at rbicknell at cfl dot rr dot com:)

This was a great idea, I have marked the page. Thanks

For a March 2005 cruise, my family will be staying at the Best Western Westshore. They have a special cruise package of $99 for 2 people, which includes breakfast, shuttle to and from the port and free parking during the cruise. It looks like a nice hotel from their website, but who knows? Add another $10 for each person over 2.

Does anyone know is this service available. Are there any hotels that offer a shuttle to the port. thanks