GenXer85

Date of Cruise:         1. October 2023                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

 Ship:                         Beyond                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Cabin #:                  8334                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Deck #:                    9                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Cabin Category:                  Sunset Verandah                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Cabin Location:                 Aft, long walk to elevator                                                                                                                                                          

Bed Position:            Near bath                                                                                          

Balcony Type:            Traditional walk out balcony                                                                                                                                     

Balcony/Window Size:               Not as wide as other balconies around.  I had to ask for a lounger and they removed it last night probably because less spacious than others                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Balcony/Window View/Obstruction:           None                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Balcony Overhang?:                Yes, and good for privacy from above                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Magic Carpet Issues?:                                      None                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Noise Issues?:                                                    None, very quiet                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Wind Issues?:                                                     None                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Connecting Cabin? Where Does it Connect?:       No                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Suite Details:     NA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Advantages/Problems/Comments:               Only issue was that the wardrobe/closet was parallel  and close to the the bed so it was not convenient to get into it especially if other person in room was sitting on that side of the bed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Would You Book It Again?:                              yes

On 7/16/2023 at 4:48 PM, mitz18 said:

We did not see a ping-pong table on the Beyond and she is really not designed for kids (imho).  Celebrity tends to aim more towards adults and the beyond is no different.  There is a rooftop garden which is a great place to have a glass of wine and read a book, but no mini golf.  I don't remember seeing an arcade room but to be honest, did not look for one. I don't even remember a basketball court, but could have missed it.   We've been on many RCL and X voyages and can only say if I had young teenagers, I'd probably stick with RCL.   But that's just me.  Only you can decide what your kids will think.  Have you looked at the YouTube video overview of the beyond? Might help & you should be able to find it on X page via this link.. Good luck

https://www.celebritycruises.com/cruise-ships/celebrity-beyond

 

 

Very quiet introverted children will like celebrity. June should have lots of minors on the ship. So there’s a chance they meet peers. Have a great vacation 

1 hour ago, BlackLion 213 said:

 

For those that may not have followed along, I will preface that our argument is purely the lack of price protection for Celebrity’s other "options" after redeploying Beyond, and thus their expectation that we have to rebook the "options" at the higher prevailing rates that have increased significantly since we first booked.

 

I have no argument with the decision to redeploy Beyond to the Caribbean and CocoCay. Just the manner surrounding some of the factors involved in doing so.

 

We received a phone call inside of 24 hours from sending the executive office an email late Sunday evening. I have kicked around how I wanted to present this here for a few days…

 

Suffice to say, my email got me nowhere, I received the anticipated "No" that I was expecting, and got a "corporate mandated" (a term quoted verbatim by them) response. Our complaint has been recorded, but there will be (again, as quoted verbatim by them) "NO changes to this decision!"

 

We actually had two cruises booked. Both had been open bookings (made aboard previous X cruises) and converted to these sailings. Despite originally being open bookings, and both still less than a year old (so they should still be valid for other bookings), both bookings will cancel, with NO option whatsoever to extend them or use them after July 11th. I suspect a lot of this has to do with the new deposit requirements recently put in place. After all, why allow us to use $400 worth of future deposits when they can exploit so much more from us with their new deposit policies.

 

As I have stated, this is a callous disregard for their customers. If they are this insensitive in this situation, I shudder to think what other things are coming down the road. I don’t really want to be affected by their next blunder.

 

Oh wait, I already have, they’re allowing vaping as a test experiment aboard Eclipse & Equinox. Gee, I’m so thrilled to have Eclipse scheduled in less than two weeks. Ugh!

 

Sadly (or maybe not so sadly), I don’t believe X can be trusted with our vacations any longer. Admittedly, I don’t doubt this can happen on other lines. I will be reading other sections of cc with new enthusiasm as we look for options to our canceled Beyond sailings, and all other future cruise vacations.

 

First world problems, I suppose.

 

They’re going to test out allowing vaping? There is all kind of everything not known about inhaling 2nd hand vape and there’s no regulation.🤦🏼‍♀️ I’m sure it’s about appealing to a younger crowd. Sadly they may all have no lungs by 40, but back on point, you are right, we do need to keep our eyes open for what else might happen as they sweep out the old for the young. Beyond floating around Caribbean going to coco cay is sad to me although PERHAPS they have seen error of their ways with the IV. Caribbean cruisers might not be as opposed to them as those that prefer other itineraries. 

On 7/1/2023 at 1:50 PM, bikerunner said:

Had a phone call today from the letter I had sent to the Executive office conveying my feelings on the Redeployment of the Beyond and screwing me over and offering no compensation in any sense.  

 

Just some background, I was on the TA on the Beyond on Apr 24.  The window for air had opened and had purchased my return flight from Rome.  We were meeting friends in Rome who had also purchased roundtrip air to meet us on the 6th of may when we disembark. Was also planning on celebrating my Birthday in Eden and had precooked the date on the beyond.  Vrbos booked Some tours pre booked etc.  Also my travel mate and I work together and we had to put in and get permission for both of us to be off for a month April 22 to May 20th.  Not easy, as our friends had to request the time in Rome off also etc.  We have no flexibility in moving because of various projects going on wiith our jobs.  

 

In general Celebrity will be doing nothing for loyal customers, Person mention ohhh you can go to ascent, different dates, shorter cruise, would have cost more and also I had an SV on Beyond not even comparable.  They gave the stock answers "will share this with management etc", In general they are doing nothing.  I love the shipboard experience and crew, but how corporate has dealt with this redeployment I am no longer going to consider Celebrity moving forward. See no reason to give RCG my money anymore.  I do have 2 future cruises with them booked but trying to find substitutions that work but will probably do my nov one as not blaming the shipboard staff but the other will be replaced as there are other options.  

 

My goal is to get banned from cruising with them as I have 2 friends who work for Condé Nast group as writers and also contacting other travel guides etc.  Dont really care at this point.  Moving the Beyond when itineraries were released 8 or so months ago and doing nothing at all for affected customers is about as bad customer service that can be done.  Sorry Rant over.  Just p/o with the call I had this morning with them

They at least should have done a lift and shift to a comparable cruise like they did during covid cancellations so you are protected from price increases and maybe thrown in a nice OBC. Keep fighting for that.  I completely understand about the SV. I’m sure they’re all gone on Ascent in April 2024 and it’s definitely late to be booking an April 2024 TA if you are picky like I am (want no part of IV)I would be upset too, but I’d probably still stick with Celebrity because there’s nothing else like it, imo. So please don’t get yourself banned (however that works) it won’t hurt them and you might change your mind when this is more in rear view. I’m on Beyond going westbound TA in October. Looks like she won’t be returning to Europe for quite some time. 😥 She seems nicer than a ship that only cruises around the Caribbean 

QQ . .if you do this in addition to you not seeing them, do they not see your posts. ?

22 hours ago, ohiojohn said:

Goodbye Summit

 

 

Oh how I love the Summit.  I read from some other bloggers on the ship that it is understaffed. Are you noticing this?  Apologies if I missed it, but are you are 100% capacity?  Thank you for all the glorious photos  

On 8/20/2022 at 1:37 PM, Jim_Iain said:

First night we ordered Prime Rib. I ordered Medium (at the recommendation of some). I would say it was closer to a medium rare. 

 

 

Iain ordered his Medium rare and it was as rare as mine last cruise.  

I love it like that.  They had prime rib that rare when in Eden when I was on Edge April/May TA.  Enjoying reading about Summit that I will be on in December for 4th time.

I would have been so upset.  I'm afraid that this kind of attitude is very common lately.  Some people think rules for the common good don't apply to them.  I always feel my complaints as a woman are never taken as seriously.  Often complaining makes things worse, but if you don't complain then you are giving into a "threat".  It's extremely disheartening.  I'd have a serious follow up with Celebrity after that.  That they knew who complained is absolutely unacceptable.  The smokers behavior after was aggressive and threatening, imo. I'm so sorry.

Yes, also tried some mock bookings and could ONLY pre-book a premium type package with premium beverages and streaming wi-fi with Retreat/suites.  Actually it comes included in the suite price.  There was no way to pre-book premium with Aqua class and below.  Quite a stunning change.  I hope they advise on what it will cost to upgrade or add premium beverages once on board.  Luckily I'm booked on three cruises through 2023 with Indulge or elevate.  I'd really like a return of packages for non suites that include premium even if more costly than in the past.

This is a huge victory 

On 5/28/2022 at 5:25 PM, Expo67 said:

lol Gee can you imagine how the wifi onboard would react to 1000+ paxs getting online for a proctored video conference. 😵‍💫 And the cruiselines wonder why folks are reluctant to cruise overseas it out of country where a negative test results is required to fly in. 😂 Time for the CDC to get their heads out of their you know what and rescind the mandatory neg test. If people can fly domestically as well as drive, take a train or bus into the country without a neg test then the requirement for international flights for fully vaxed people of US citizenship should also be amended. My 2 cents worth. 🤭

Could not agree more that the 16 month old requirement should be removed

There are options for nearly every outcome.  Consider what works for you and proceed.

I was able to book a family verandah on Summit in December for only two people two weeks ago. It’s a pre-holiday sailing so I’m assuming they’re not expecting many children or families. They had previously been sold out of aft facing cabins on these sailings so I was ecstatic to not only have my ideal cabin placement, but larger room and balcony. Love love love Summit. Will be our 4th time 

6 hours ago, Mark_T said:

With respect, that is an unreasonable expectation if you choose to cruise at this time.

 

We all need to accept that covid is endemic, and will be present onboard, when we go ashore and when we travel to/from the ports, and thus set our expectations and behaviour accordingly.

100% correct. The cruiselines can’t possibly test everyone nor quarantine all those that become positive. The current variant is super contagious, but for most if vaccinated and boostered you’ll recover in short order. We also have therapies to treat it. If you can’t take on the risk, probably shouldn’t cruise at this time. We have to change our thinking from pandemic to endemic as quoted poster notes. 

Most important. Self test yourself before going to airport to find out if possibly positive. Helps prevent meltdowns when already stressed at airport and gives you time to collect your thoughts and plan 

2 hours ago, canderson said:

If there were any positives, you can bet close contacts were being tested whether you were aware of it or not.

I don’t think they are looking to open cans of worms anymore. 

10 minutes ago, bananavan said:

I am asymptomatic. 
BUT I test positive every day. 
We had an alternate plan . 
We were booked for three weeks on Regal Princess. 
As I have mentioned before, had we disembarked all expenses would be our own. 
My Italian is non existent. 
I am now on Day 11 of testing positive. 
We should have been off this ship on May 6. 
Our return flights on May 29 were attached to my booking with Princess. Those disappeared on the day we could not join the ship. 
We had Business class tickets. 
Tell me how we would get tickets reasonably priced if we were to book. them ourselves now? 
We did the right thing for boarding. 
We had our vaccinations. 
We had our boosters. 
We did not spend much time around others but my husband got Covid. 

At this point why would I disembark with my Positive test history? 
Might I suggest that everyone who comes to Italy PREPARE themselves for a 21 day isolation in the event that they are like me and have nasal passages which seem to love Covid.
I cannot for the life of my understand why this is happening to me but it is.
And if it can happen to me, dont just smugly walk away thinking, well that will not be me.
Guess what? I thought that too. 

I am so sorry, Banana.  I hope Celebrity can help you get a certificate of recovery soon so you can go home already.  Just a terrible experience.

18 minutes ago, canderson said:

All grand except for those who are required to test due to contact tracing.  Might not even be symptomatic, but discover they're positive.  Ouch.

I know of zero contact tracing that happened on Edge TA.  An official positive test seemed to only impact the individual(s) in the room with +

2 hours ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

You cannot fly to Canada if you test positive for Covid ! 

I just meant there is no covid testing requirement at the moment.  

On 5/16/2022 at 9:41 PM, carolinagal said:

Update on sister and friends stuck in Amsterdam after

April 30th, TA cruise on Apex.  All eight are in the same downtown hotel and not confined to their rooms. They can eat in restaurants, tour the museums, etc.  It seems weird that they can do all this and yet they can't be isolated on a 7 hour flight back to the state. I'm thinking plastic barrier on plane to separate them from other passengers.  

This is so hard on everyone. We all just want to be normal and enjoy life.

I'm sure all the cruise companies are trying their best to stay in business, but the current situation is really, really bad. 

Good luck and safe travels to all who are about to embark on their journeys.

 

The US airlines might get rich if they started special COVID flights for all the people trying to get back to the States.  In the meantime, Air Canada and Mexico will get the sales boost

On 5/16/2022 at 7:11 AM, bananavan said:

They keep you on until the final port. 
 I just had a visit from the Nurse to remove an IV line. 
She reiterated that the situation had changed so rapidly that nobody had any idea what was going to happen. 
The previous Edge passengers who tested positive for Covid did so after they disembarked. 
And the Edge was lucky,  the Odyssey had 300 persons in Covid lockdown at the end of that Transatlantic 

And to Bo, 

No, I did  not spend my days on Cruise Critic prior to this last cruise. 
We had other  things to deal with, which are nobody's business other than our own. 
When we departed there were very few other Transatlantic that had gone ahead of us. 
Until I started reading JETBLUE's account I had no idea as to the severity of the situation. 
That some of you think that you would have prevented this happening to you because you know better, I wish you the best of luck.
There were constant posts about how they were able to prevent getting covid. 
And I brought my own hand made anti viral spray and cloths to disinfect every square inch of the suite. And I had a special spray to disinfect my masks when returned to the Suite. 
And I used the Hand sanitizer along with a cloth in the Luminae to clean the salt and pepper shakers as soon as I noticed that of all items on the table, these were never changed between guests. 
So despite these precautions, we still got Covid. 
If you read various cruising posts all over there are those whose luggage got lost: 
When they post that they get the response: "We always pack a set of formal wear, casual wear, and swim wear for each of us in each of our carryon bags." In other words, these people should have anticipated losing their suitcases. 
.Where they get room for the Miss February  28 days of underwear, fruit and nut snacks in case of quarantine, back up medications in case they are stranded with covid 19, is anyone's guess. Oh and books, downloaded to the Kindle that might have also gotten lost, because who worries about losing a Kindle these days? 
I did remember to put the George Forman grill back in the garage before we departed because I decided that I probably was not going to do my normal amount of fishing off the aft balcony while we were on a Transatlantic.
I also left the blender in the kitchen because we had the Premier Drinks package. I regret that now because  I did not realize how badly I would need non stop Margaritas what with this Covid Quarantine .
If you think that you can outrun this, I am happy for you. 
We live in Florida. We were quite comfortable mixing with others over the past two years and did not develop even a runny nose. We are vaxxed and boosted. We did what we were supposed to do, according to the Public Health authorities. 
But not enough. 
The one thing I can state is that eating ones own words is rather distasteful. 
For all those who suggest we should have known better, I will be watching this space with great intensity . What else do I have to do? It is not like I have photos to catalog. 
v

You have my full support and sympathy, Banana.  I did not meet you on the cruise, but how you have been treated over your ordeal is too much. 

On 5/16/2022 at 2:37 AM, Ommadawn said:

As to the original poster's question, I would still fly to Canada (Vancouver or Victoria) or to Mexico (Juarez), take a taxi or an Uber to the border, walk across for which you need no negative test result, and then take a cab or an Uber to the airport in Seattle or El Paso and fly home to your city in the USA. I believe that I have stated above that this is my emergency back up plan if I absolutely must return for an emergency or some such.

Yup, when you fly to Canada or Mexico, you would be in good company with lots of others in the KN95 with omicron.  It's the new real. You assume that risk when you get on a plane.  Blows me away on US domestic flights that people go unmasked trusting all the other passengers onboard who may or may not be tested/vaxxed or masked.  They either are not thinking or don't care.  When they stopped mask requirement in US, you'd think the way people acted that COVID was eradicated.    

On 5/12/2022 at 9:15 AM, cangelmd said:

If you fly international from the US it is quite likely that other passengers will have Covid- at this point does it really make much sense for th e opposite to be forbidden, especially since that only reduces, does not eliminate the possibility of a carrier.

I  agree, requirement should be eliminated.  All need to take their own pre-cautions and do own risk assessment, for many it will seem too great.  Everyone wearing masks is bests, but if that can't happen, I will wear my own KN-95, probably forever and continue getting boostered.

Check if there is testing at the airport.  You may also want to consider the proctored testing kit, but reliable internet connection can be an issue when at sea.  Do not assume that test will be negative as you hope.  I'd privately test prior to official test to know what you may be up against. Good luck.  Hopefully soon the US follows other countries and removes this requirement. 

On 5/14/2022 at 4:35 PM, Tony UK said:

I agree with you! Now Covid is an endemic illness with is mild for many the cruiselines should start to treat it like Flu or Norovirus. Sick bay if needed, quaratine in own room (as Norovirus)as needed. 

In the UK after 5 days you are released from any guidance to isolate, although advised to be cautious.

It is wrong IMHO for cruiselines to portray safe, all vaccinated, all tested cruises, when they could never be 100% safe. People getting on can test negative but be positive within 3 days. People getting off at ports could contract covid and bring it back on board etc. etc. 

I do understand that for some the risk is much higher and covid if contracted much more serious. Thats why the cruiselines should be more transparent to allow passengers to assess risks and make contingency plans, or decide its not for them right now.

Perfect comment.  Personal responsibility and risk assessment.  I hope all our friends caught up in the current web of varying rules are home heathy, safe and sound