Denny01

This reminded me of a post a few years ago. A woman said the reason she’d not use a ship laundry was because she didn’t want her clothes washed with other peoples’, saying “You have no idea what they’ve done in those clothes!”….. I couldn’t control myself. I pointed out that she should immediately cancel all cruises. Reminded her that the SR towels and robes are washed communally, and so are the SR sheets….and she didn’t Even want to think what people have done between those sheets! I didnt end and had to mention she should also stay out of all hotels, since…… For some reason she didnt appreciate my response. And here I was just trying to warn her!! Edit: Ive told this story before, but just cant keep from ‘sharing it’ one more time!!! den

I’m like @chemmo, get the daily the night prior, or now check the App and mark all I want to do the next day: Trivia; wine tasting; games; dance instructions; great lectures….then I dont go to half of them as I sit and relax or meet people. The Celebrity common areas are great and thats one (of the many) thing(s) i love about Celebrity over other Lines. They do have Great Beyond the Podium lectures in the theater which are Not the “here is where to shop/what ship tours to take in the next port” fake lectures we’d get on so many other Lines. They are nature discussions, or ones on Hollywood or Broadway or such. Once had the US ambassador to Russia. Excellent, knowledgeable talks during the day, on many sea days. den

Agree completely that we should go as we wish and what makes us Happy!. Personally I use a TA, but I pick a cruise, SR Type and most of the time, specific SR then call and make it. Why a TA when I do soooo much? 1. Services Beyond Booking. My TA (not some online booking agent which is all what some do is book you) provides support well beyond the cruise bookings. One example: Had a flight back from Ireland into JFK. Snowstorm hitting and didnt know it because airborne. TA saw my exact arrival time, booked me on a flight right after arrival and got out just before it closed. Most didn’t make it. 2. Better Pricing. Not only get the additional OBC, I just booked one onboard and transferred it to TA and they modified it to a Group booking. More than a $1K savings. 3. Quick Responses. My TA, local self-owned, has an office and team. They respond immediately. Not messages left. After Hrs, if need immediate help, they do it. Yes, if I want to change a SR when a ‘better’ one opens, I have to contact them and they do it. A few minutes more and yes, could lose it. But twice, My TA knowing what I like has highlighted types of SRs that I’d like and are booked, and gets notification before it shows up on website…and booked it immediately. 4. Saved Refund-twice. Got the Cruise Line to Not charge me my non-refundable when changed from one cruise to another…..”Do you really want to take his refund considering how many times they cruises with you? Seriously??” 5. Knowledge beyond mine (and most bookers who answer the phone…finallly). My TA is knowledable enough to answer most questions I’d ask the Line, or knows Better than me who to call. And they wait on line and do work instead of Me doing that. Checks Contract. I have a professional who looks at the specific booking/contract and makes sure I fully understand what it entails. What I get and as important, what I Dont get. Enough TA glory. Now when I book myself: 1. OBC of Line only. I miss any deals most all TAs have. Even independent TAs have are connected with some large Agency and have access to their Group bookings/OBCs/connections. 2. I get to start another ‘Waiting thread’ along with the other 1,316 threads on how long I’m on hold to ask a question or make a change. 3. On my own. If/When things get messed up, I’m on my own.When you book with some website, your contract in most cases are with them, not directly with the Line. Yes, Celebrity will make changes for you, but if there are issues, you’ll be working with some website that can be and is Tricky. Kind of like when we use some discount hotel booking site. Get to the hotel and there are either issues, such as ‘we moved you to another very nice hotel across town’ or the room isn’t what you expected. The hotel’s response to your issue(s): “Check with who you booked with.” Enough. Ive booked on my own directly with cruise lines, used discount websites, and 800 bookers. I found a professional Travel Advisor and it is working better than anything I did prior. And doesn’t cost me a dime; saves me money and especially time, and I have a professional who has my back. And NO, I am not a TA and never was one. Too much work and patience required listening to my issues. Den

Heavier robe. Most cruises offer a day of boarding lunch at the MDR so you don’t have to join the large crowd at the Oceanview. And our last cruise, a bottle of bubbly. The in room breakfast menu listed a neat smoothie type item. den

Why not? That’s what they do…..unless you have some on-line or other monster TA which is really a Booking Agent and after your booked, you are, as you are doing, on your own. My Travel Agent/Advisor provides All kinds of service and is quite happy to do it to keep their customers happy and give recommendations. And do it usually a better way than I would, And get the right answers by knowing who to actually ask. den

I agree, but thats what I remind those that tell me cruising is high risk so they go to DisneyWorld/Land and other such because few have reported getting COVID While there. Shorter stays mean fewer on-site cases, and they blame something else after getting home, such as Uncle Bill. Den

Seen posts about laundromats ashore….. So you load up your dirty clothes, carry them off. Go to a laundromat that Says it all will be done mid-afternoon. OK. Issues: - Spend time going there, getting it turned in and picking it up in a port you paid to go to. - If you think waiting 2 days onboard is an issue, what kind of ‘issue’ do you have when you get back to their ‘reputable’ laundromat and they don't have your stuff ready. You can always wait and catch the ship in the next port. - And the ‘savings’ is worth that??? To each our own. den

So much for me getting excited RCL is removing testing……for short cruises <6 days. Been on one and Never again. Get to port-unpack-enjoy a day or so-pack-leave. And the ports Nassau-Ensenada-yeah right. Doing it with a short cruise means most wont show COVID symptoms On the cruise but after, and all looks good. den

I’ve also used the laundry, before and after, and when turned in early in the AM got it back the next day and at a min the 2nd day. Clean, folded and have used it extensively and never lost a piece. Had one not in the bag and the steward left and came back with in shortly. That was Before the pandemic. No issues on the 2 I’ve had since. And the price is pretty much what I pay here, and I dont send it socks and underwear…..wash those in the sink. And they do have pressing service. Den

I use a professional Travel Advisor, not a Booking Agent, and let them do the waiting. den

In Oct, we checked in for our late Nov cruise and initially it only had 4pm. I went back a few times, and then it opened up with 11:30 and jumped on it. That was early in the process with the App. A 12:30 is bad at all and you’ll be onboard in 15min max, unless you have some hang up. den

And are you crazy?? Yes….crazy smart! den

The 4 MDRs are the best at sea. I realize special restaurants have ‘special’ menus but the E-Class 4 smaller, quieter, better designed MDRs are the hallmark of E-Class, along with the Eden area on the stern. Agree, miss the Sky Lounge……so I book S-Class. I miss the fantastic inside warm-water live action with the steel lounges in the water on the side with Bubbles coming up……So I book M-Class. den

We went carry-on and it worked. Had things laundered on the ship, and hand washed a few. All went OK. Funny on how ugh you can cut back, and especially shoes. I carry slip ones and a pair is for walking And pass for dining just fine. Even better with 5 of you…..roller suitcase and a backpack/bag for each! Wife carries a larger bag and puts the purse in it….a smaller travel purse. You mentioned a steamer…..clothes steamers not allowed on board. Den

Didn’t get a chance to add, but the AI maybe seen by Celebrity as something to get customers to book the SR, not just a way to get money as a standalone. Dont know and didnt do the math to see. den

Don’t disagree I’m surprised such a simple change isnt allowed. Den

Did a spot check, and the cruises I checked had AI for Retreat and Aqua, and the other SRs were Cruise Only. Need to look at specific cruises and see. Only shows up when you select Book, then see the list of SR classes and should show if AI is included and which. den

You can still do that, but that isn’t what the OP wants to do. Most do that if the ‘upgrade’ covers the loss or is a great deal. Den

Would Really miss Skagway…..the Whitepass rail is just great. And yes, Sitka has more options, but enjoyed walking Skagway and thought a few of the more local art shops were very interesting. Must wait and see. Den

Celebrity Check In procedures seem to be working great. We were on the Solstice out of Seattle on 1 July and we walked straight into the Terminal, through a bit of security line then right up to an agent, and we were not Retreat or high priority members. The RCL huge ship next to us, forget which, had a line out the terminal all the length of the ship. All outside. Not a happy crowd. No idea what RCL uses, either ‘show up’ or they dont follow the procedures. So @LMHSRN had a funny post, but its correct and it works. den

The low/non-probability of a clothes steamer setting off the sprinkler or fire alarm can be debated and such posts sound legit, and a steamer cant directly start a fire, but the Line lists it as prohibited for a reason and its their call. Thats good enough for apparently most of us here, whether we see it as a direct ‘threat’ or not. As I’ve posted prior, lost more shipmates due to fires than combat or any other reason. We are in a ‘building’ with the doors locked and a fire must be put out….not escape, except over the side. So I’ll stick with my beautiful ‘mane’ not being properly coiffed. Den

With no walkoff, the ‘normal’ start of off-loaded luggage on other ports Ive been on is 8-8:30. And there may be ‘plenty of later flights’ but are you ready to accept not flying 1st Class. Den

Just to keep this very intesting thread going, here is a Wonderful post about dress codes, I guy suggesting a dress code for their neighborhood: “Neighborhood dress code? Has anyone ever thought about the positive impact on property value that enforcing a neighborhood dress code might have? I'd feel more comfortable if I knew what to expect to see when I went out everyday - I imagine that could make our values skyrocket over the next 12-19 months. Happy to get a zoom call together for anyone interested in perusing this with me. Let me hear from you.” Just Love it and would Love for this guy to come join in here!! den

Depends…..but my three cruises since restart I was able to select11:30 as earliest. Someone posted 1100. Den

Just checked. There are a number of websites that state steam can set off fire alarms and extinguishers. No idea if that story about damage to a SR is true, but…. “Steam from cooking, showering, or even very humid weather can set off a smoke detector or a sprinkler” And we all know to Never question a website you just happened on….. den