Denny01

This was my response: “Yeah, just got back from the fast food joint down the street….enjoyed the escargot with fresh salad and lamb entree followed by an order of tiramisu …..you know, all the normal dishes I get at any of the fast food ‘restaurants’.” I then suggested using the words ‘restaurant’ and ‘fast-food’ together didnt seem to work too well. Would Love to visit their hometown. But dont know if I want to pay $50 each at a drive through…. den

I just finished slogging through threads on ‘how do I sneak booze onboard?’, ‘I insist on wearing shorts, t-shirt and ballcap into dinner’, ‘Can I order a premium drink for my wife and use my premium card and not get one for her? , so I just got to this post about the ‘Honor System’….I agree, but find it interesting this is a phrase that All of us CruiseCritic posters will of course follow….yeah. Den

In our experience, they allowed a family group (ours was 4 cabins, not 10+!), to enter at the same time, but we all went to our appropriate check-in Line and then met after going through that. All done very quickly, so no reason for 10+ cabin full of non-Suites to go through the Suite line. But again, you can all go into the terminal at the same time, just not the special lines set for Suites and so on. Den

To emphasize the point, the food on Celebrity ships are pretty much the same, so Solstice will have the same quality and choices as Eclipse, and postings about the quality of food is Very subjective. I got a kick out of one post reminding all of us that Celebrity MDRs are the same as our local fast-food places…right. So along with being very subjective, you have those posting just to get reactions, or to show their superiority to us commoners. We cruised Solstice this last July and loved her. Good shape, excellent dining (for us), outstanding service and Alaska is fantastic. Den

When AI is available, we take it and as @LB_NJ posted, we just pay if we upgrade a drink. Heck, a few times, I ordered a more premium and the bartender waved off my card. Den

Might work better checking with a TA, but to answer a few: 1. Concierge provides a few benefits such as better robe, snacks and a few other things. Ive done it if its a bit more, but that is too subjective. 2. Not familiar with NCL, but yes, Cruise Only is that….no additions of covered gratuities, WiFi, drinks. Personally if you wife likes premium drinks, going AI and adding Premium is probably a good idea. 3.BLU is the same as the MDRs, not extra cost. Only the specialty restaurants on Celebrity are extra. The 4 MDRs on Beyond, BLU and Lumanae are all included. Enjoy. Den

Just saying What??? So much for none of this is sexist. Den

Its always interesting reading the reason someone just cant wear pants for a few Hrs once or twice during a cruise, but the one saying their ‘thighs’ are too big and pants are uncomfortable is a bit new. The Big Thigh Guy can wear a nice pair of shorts that go to their knees - doesnt that cover Big Thighs?? My pants and shorts all pretty much have the same ‘space’ for my thighs, so if that guy with Big Thighs who cant wear pants but can wear shorts to their knees, I dont think I understand…. except its just another excuse. At least that gets points for being a bit ‘unique’….. And So It Goes. den

I can’t believe no one has suggested the Obvious way of saving on drinks with no package: Just bring a long straw. Saunter up to the bar next to someone who has a drink you’d like and stick it in and sip away. Don’t be too noisy about it and be quick….it works great! If you get caught, just look very innocent and go…Oh Sorry I thought this was my mates’s drink!! or some such stupid excuse. You’ve got to go to differnt bars because the bartenders seem to catch onto this…or they just recognize me! den

I know some of the small ships go to less crowded ports, but many of the port calls, no matter the size of ship, have many larger ships and crowds ashore. Life with so many finding and loving cruising. And of course the crowds of non-cruising tourists. Den

@chisoxfan, you expect us to seriously take the opinion of someone who is a White Sox Fan!?!?! What kind of ‘taste’ does that demonstrate?? I root for two teams, the BelovedDodgers and for Any team playing the HatedYankees…..which at times includes the ChiSox. den

Reminds me: My grandfather had no hair on his legs…he said he was in the Army during WWI and wore those tight wrapped leggings and it killed his leg hair. We all were proud of his service…..the Huns never took Kansas, which he never left during the War!! I now wonder if I shouldn’t have worn those tight ball caps!! den

The proper response to the shorts-wearer is: “No sir, I’m not going to “make you” wear pants that you dont want to wear, I’m just explaining you Can’t Enter Here During Dinner In Shorts”. There are many areas and situations we arent allowed into even as Paying Customers who think we now own the place: - Crew Only Areas - Outside deck areas during storms closed by the Capt - Theater during rehearsals - Specialty Dining Rooms without a reservation or just ‘coming in’ for a coffee - Private Events - Retreat facilities if not a Suite guest - BLU or Lumenare if not Aqua/Suite - Spa areas if not paying - Elite events if not that status - My SR unless invited…..you can wear shorts there….I do! You can see I dont have Anything to do this morning and dont want to wake the wife after a late night!! den

That’s OK if you went into the MDR wearing shorts, just so it wasnt during dining time!! Just going in between open times to see what it looks like or as we did to meet groups and play games after getting an OK. Shorts would be Great……Just so you dont wear shorts during…..hehehe. den

Shipboard marriages are only good for the cruise…….but that may work anyway!! Used that many times in the Navy….a few woman asked why the ‘Chaplain’ performing the ceremony was in mess hall dungarees!!! Den

Understand about either have rules and enforce them or dont have them, but not sure what the confusion is. The ‘rules’ are extremely simple and straightforward…..except when you are looking for a group of strangers on line to tell you its OK to do what you want to hear (or in this case, read!) Pants and collared shirt, thats it…..heck with those rules, you can go Commando!! Personally, I bet the Great Great majority of even us men follow the dress code rule and those that don’t, so be it. Just wear the shorts, keep looking around the table trying to spot one person glaring at you so you can feel superior. I laugh at that laundry ad that shows the guy with a wrinkled t-shirt sitting across from his date who is dressed to the Nines……yeah, an unwrinkled T would be sooooo much more appropriate. Good way to go on many dates with a different woman each time. And notice it is All about us men…woman ask if their very stylish decorative, jeweled $200 jeans are OK - I always thought ‘jeans’ are worn-out blue denim with a big leather patch on the back telling others the brand, ‘Levi’ if you are a classic - the decorative ‘jeans’ are real beauties and except for the name, have nothing to do with ‘jeans’….except Maybe the material. And I dont think women want some Matre de rubbing their thighs and saying, ‘Sorry no denim jeans’! And So It Is. Den

That’s why I used the word ‘Baloney’….hehe. Den

Appreciate your feeling bad for me. Hope you enjoy your future cruises going through buffets looking for baloney slices. den

Isnt it nice to be on a High Quality Cruise Line that has those options you want!! den

I dont spend much time comparing what I think I remember what happen prior much. I enjoy the current experience. So most of what I read on these threads are minor/little things (to me) that I see as negative issues by others arent what I care about. I agree with @dlh015 about why we cruise. I find current cruising to be an increase in overall quality, especially over what Ive been doing for the past 2 years!. And I enjoy trying new experiences, such as the Edge Class and new itineraries so on. As to the discussion on the buffet a reflection of low quality….I have to say I’d assume people understand buffets which is mainly for lunch (and breakfast) isn’t exactly a place you’d focus on gourmet dining and accuse some cruise line of saving money by cutting quality by serving pizza and pastas, hot dogs and hamburgers, and luncheon meats to make sandwiches…..for lunch. There are many, many choices beyond a slice of baloney which is probably there for some kids. Personally, I enjoyed the many choices at the buffet, and Ive seen good quality cheeses, good tasting meals. But if the buffet is serving fried fish, does anyone expect it to be a High Quality fish?? I just finished responding to a poster on another thread that said the MDR was the same as a fast-food restaurant….right. lets blow everything out of proportion to make some point. But getting into a back and forth over opinions on dining is useless. We’ve all raved about some local eatery and had friends describe it as worse than McDonalds…….How dare they badmouth Capt D’s!!! Den

Be aware that your initial cruise OBC/charges are closed out and you have a new account. So make sure you use your nonrefund OBC because it does not carry over. You can treat your turnaround day as another port day. You can go off and come back that early afternoon. You’ll go through terminal security but not check in and all that, you’ll just walk onboard with your pass. Den

The Celebrity FAQ’s section which addresses this issues is titled: Onboard Dress Code Just thought you’d like to know what is actually is, which is a Dress Code, but so what: https://www.celebritycruises.com/faqs/onboard-dress-code Den den

Yeah, just got back from the fast food joint down the street….enjoyed the escargot with fresh salad and lamb entree followed by an order of tiramisu …..you know, all the normal dishes I get at any of the fast food ‘restaurants’. I need to visit ‘Fort McMurray’ to try them out there! By the way, how do those two words go together: fast food and restaurant. I agree with @GORDONCHICK, I do notice what others wear because I’m a people-watcher….love it!….if they just have to go everywhere in shorts and a t-shirt, it doesnt impact me, just gives me a bit of an internal Haha. Den

One thing I havent seen mentioned, and that is when I took a photo of my Stock Statement, I blocked out my personal Account Number. Just a way of protecting my account Den

For those who are on TA’s or some itineary that requires a monitored test and plan on having one done at a port pharmacy, I’d also suggest you bring a monitored self-test as a back up. Takes away any ‘issues’ of getting the test done there….late flights, and just any unexpected issues. Would lower the stress for me. Backups are a good idea. den