Denny01

@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

2 hours ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

 

If I have a choice, I prefer looking at the women in very short skirts and not your hairy legs.

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

2 hours ago, Nemanoxer said:

I remember my second cruise in 2012. MDR Maitre speaking to a US guy in his 60s:

 

MDR: "Sir, we would appreciate long legged pants during evening hours in the Main Dining Room"

Guy: "Son, I really want to see you make me wear pants that I don´t want to wear..."
MDR: "Sorry, Sir..."

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

15 minutes ago, C4HCG said:

Confession time, I went into the MDR three times wearing shorts on our equinox cruise early September. Go easy on me!! 😁

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

7 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Why don’t you just the family into have a wedding on the Reflection 

 The Captain to Do the ceremony or I could do an online course to get ordain. 

We will also block off a section in MDR for dinner, take over the Sky Lounge for reception, and Sunset Bar for drinks 

https://unministry.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhY-aBhCUARIsALNIC06aH-m0kN5037BUlLcrxolDRnp7gU2ddnfcQ3-5-xCmQBmhxvFw_Y4aAvMWEALw_wcB

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

2 hours ago, wrk2cruise said:

If they are going to have the rules then enforce them.   If not then remove the rules and the confusion it causes.

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

26 minutes ago, weregoingcruising said:

This might sound like a bunch of Balogna.

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

Den 

28 minutes ago, broker1217 said:

Well--I though Celebrity touted itself as a somewhat luxury mass market line.

So I did not think it unreasonable to have edible fish or chicken in the buffet since Princess (a more budget line) seemed to be able to do that.

But whatever---I honestly feel bad for those loyal to Celebrity who are dealing with the lower food quality and staff shortages.

Hope you all enjoy your future cruises and feel the sparkle!

 

Appreciate your feeling bad for me.

Hope you enjoy your future cruises going through buffets looking for baloney slices. 

den

20 minutes ago, broker1217 said:

We don't like MDR on mass market lines.

Especially during COVID, we do not like eating in MDR as tables for 2 tend to be less than 1' apart.

 

We did enjoy Blu on Celebrity-excellent food and service and generally very healthy options.

But we love eating outdoors, as well as controlling our food and portions, so we like a buffet that has healthy options. I like being able to have a large salad and a small piece of chicken or fish and I can do that at a buffet with the benefit of eating in fresh air.

 

We have enjoyed good quality buffet food on Viking, Crystal, and even Princess was decent. 

And clientele on Viking and Crystal also enjoyed good buffet options--things like good fish, sushi, good charcuterie and cheeses, etc. for lunch. Not everyone wants a sit down experience for lunch.

So not a question of clientele at all! All food on the ship should be of respectable, edible quality.

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

4 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

 

There is no dress code only dress request. Things have changed in 60 years. but the dress you observed on Royal has been like that about for ten years maybe more. Dress has changed on Celebrity too as formal night has morphed into a more casual Evening Chic night. 

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

1 hour ago, saltymac said:

Let’s not forget that eating in the main dinning room is just the same as going to a fast food chain restaurant 

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

10 minutes ago, harz99 said:

thanks, i knew they used to but it's been 8 years since we last did an ex UK cruise with Celebrity, lots of things could've changed in that time😏.

And nice the OP came back to thank those that responded. 

Den

Why is anyone ‘stressed’ over tipping? Especially when auto-gratuities have been set up. If it’s part of the All Included (or whatever its called) or if it’s automatically added to the customer’s OBC, or if we can find the pre-paid gratuities and pay it at final payment, then all is well.

If….IF..you want to add to the gratuities by giving cash on your own, do it. If you don’t want to….Dont. If you come from a culture that doesnt tip beyond the actual bill where its added into or part of the cost, and you dont want to, Dont. 

None of the staff is standing there waiting for extra tips or expecting it. Enjoy your cruise and quit adding unneeded stress. Celebrity, as many other Lines, have added gratuities in ways that dont require any action from us. 

Den

4 minutes ago, C4HCG said:

Very rare I agree with you den (sorry) but I do this one. 

Thank you……I think!!

den

8 minutes ago, Cruise Junky said:

I got back 2 days ago from a month in Hawaii. I’m very well informed as to land trip vs cruise. 

Good…and you think a $2/day increase in a cruise gratuity impacts deciding between land and cruise vacations??? OK.

Personally, I think what I want to do/see on vacation is the decider. Price? Sure. But this subject???

I mix cruises with ‘land’ vacationing as do many….I’m retired so I can do that. 

Den

3 minutes ago, Cruise Junky said:

$47 a day Canadian in tips definitely puts a check mark in the land trip column vs cruise in areas without a tipping culture.  

You realize the Land trip column has all of the fuel/food/hotel/guide price increases???  Tips or lack of them kind of get lost in all of it doesnt it? 

Den

3 hours ago, PKB said:

It is a VERY expensive at-home covid test if not used in conjunction with travel. 

 

My second question is....wonder how many people had to cancel their cruise because of a positive pre-cruise proctored test?

Since it’s already paid for, it isnt ‘expensive’ its just another test. And if you book an itinerary such as a TransAtlatnic-Pacific or some other Line that still requires monitored testing, you have it. 

Heck, after signing up for the free self tests, I now have 12+ of the things. And have 4 monitored tests. I‘m on a TA and will take the extra monitored tests with me as back up, and keep the rest so in 2052 I can show everybody what it was like back in 2020’s!!

Response to 2nd Question: Nobody Knows and how would we. I tested positive pretty close to my Alaska cruise and kept testing positive up to the day prior and finally was able to take the monitored test the day prior and cruised. Thought Id be on the pier waving goodby to everybody!!

den

Best Mocktails…Zero-proof Drinks?? NONE!!!

Remember:

In Wine there is Wisdom

In Beer there is Freedom

In Whiskey there is Wonder

In Water…….there is Bacteria!!

den

Ooops, another duplicate. This is what happens when you get too cute!

9 minutes ago, cw2go said:

Couldn't have said it better! This post took a tacky turn! 

 

Thank you, Patty

And my name is Den, Not Patty!! (I just Loved ‘Airplane’!)

den

I think Ive completely messed up!

Den