TMLAalum

Can you provide the link to this company? I cannot find it. Re: RIB boat. I wish we'd done that excursion in Geiranger. From shore it seemed that those in rib boats were able to really experience the 7 sisters waterfalls.

Looking for information on the feasibility of visiting Damme from Zeebrugge on our own. Potential plan is to take a taxi from the port to there. After some time exploring Damme we would like to take the canal boat to Bruges: Laat u meevoerenop de Damse Vaart | De Lamme Goedzak (lammegoedzakdamme.com) I'm thinking the 11am trip might be too soon a return; the next return to Bruges is 1pm. Would it be easy to find a taxi to Damme and another back to Zeebrugge from Bruges? Conversely, we could head to Bruges 1st and take the noon cruise to Damme from there and head back to port @2 IF we can easily get a taxi from Damme, but that gives under 90 minutes there. We've spent time in Bruges so are looking toward other options and Damme is definitely appealing!

Google private canal or saloon boat cruises. For example, here is one company's offerings: The Ultimate Amsterdam Canal Cruise - Relaxing 2 Hour Cruise (pureboats.com) We used this company in Amsterdam- there were just 2 of us but we were able to gather 10 more from our roll call for the Welmoed. It was wonderful! Luxe Salonboot Huren in Amsterdam - (rederijdejordaan.amsterdam)

@LUV THE SEA I hope that there is a lunch offered in Murano on one of the sea days on our Eclipse cruise! The price is less than dinner but the experience is similar- at least it was when we enjoyed it on the Eclipse pre-covid. Granted the menu is not as extensive, but in some ways it's more intimate than at dinner time. We were even serenaded by a string duo! If you can book lunch that may take the MDR lobster out of the worry as to when it will be served. Also if you change Murano to one of your Bermuda port days, it is unlikely to be lobster night in the MDR.

Agree with Princeton. I was going to suggest a sunset cruise or ghost tour by foot or trolley but with your arrival time and the chance your flight is delayed it would not be smart to pre-book anything. Our flight the afternoon prior has been rescheduled, so we now arrive at 3 vs. 1. Since we are staying at Hampton Inn Chelsea Airport, we plan on visiting the USS Constitution aka Old Ironsides (6pm close) and having dinner at the historic Warren Tavern. Both those are on the north side of the Charles River. Had to scratch a Charles River cruise which was in our original plan for arrival afternoon.

I shudder to think about customs in Portland based on our experience disembarking the CAT ferry. There are @750 passengers on the CAT and it took us nearly 2 hours to be on our way! We don't have Nexus but do have GE which only helps when flying from Canada. Why is re-entry into the US from Canada, whether by sea or land, such an ordeal!

The only time that an unknown man in shorts irritates me is on a plane next to me. As far as conforming to the dress code on Celebrity, I wonder what jobs the men who "cannot", "never", etc. wear long pants have.....

Fingers X'd that X keeps the reservations I made for us and 2 other couples several months ago for our Eclipse cruise. Ironically, ever since I did that, whenever I log on all 3 of our reservations show for that cruised now that they are linked!

Thanks to all of you for your detailed replies. They've helped me realize that if we choose Flanders Field for our excursion, I will need to spend the next year delving into its history to better appreciate the battle site.

During our 7-3 port stop in Zeebrugge we are considering one of these 2 Celebrity excursions: Scenic Flanders (4 hours): Relax on a motorcoach journey through the countryside on a narrated tour with free time in an old-fashioned Flemish village. You’ll see the huge walls that protected Bruges for centuries and stop at one of Flanders’ largest chocolate shops. Visit Damme, a small town that retains its historic charm. Browse a village bookstore, or relax in a cafe. You’ll also see Loppem Castle, a Neo-Gothic masterpiece surrounded by ponds and a shrubbery maze or... Ypres-In Flanders Field (7 hours): Discover the war-torn history of Ypres, where 500,000 were killed and more than a million wounded during World War I. Visit Tyne Cot cemetery, the largest British and Commonwealth war cemetery in the world. Placed here are 11,953 headstones of soldiers who were killed, or who died of wounds, between 1914 and 1918. At the back of the cemetery stands a wall with the 33,783 names of the soldiers reported missing from August 16, 1917 until the end of the war. Hear the story of John McCrae, who penned the famous war poem “In Flanders Fields” and visit the museum now set on this hallowed ground. Learn about epic battles, heroic solders, and ordinary citizens trying to survive, as the saga of WWI comes alive before you. Neither includes lunch and the second tour description gives no indication of free time, which we would like. Any Thoughts? BTW, we've enjoyed Bruges on past cruises so are seeking to experience options beyond.

So I booked the class at $114. Will that give me $200 credit toward a piece I make?

Can the birthday savings from Celebrity be applied to existing bookings? If for new bookings only is the code good until next year's birthday? Has anyone actually used their birthday savings code?

Totally understand how the AC is on automatic shut off if the IV window is down. But... What about the heat? Thinking ahead to our fjords cruise, we'd love to be able to have the window down so we can quickly take advantage of scenery and the thin glass doors separating the IV from the cabin closed so the cabin stays warm. Possible?

Read up on P&O and MSC. You've not cruised either of those lines nor have I so not sure what their advantages/disadvantages are. Personally (see my signature), I think the Apex would be a good choice given that it includes both Flam and Geiranger fjords plus Bergen. I think the port in Belgium would be Zeebrugge for Bruges as Brussels is too far inland.

Just did! Surprised that the BBTA was able to make the change herself! 5 minutes total phone time.

Thanks. I was on hold while the BBTA was waiting to be connected to Celebrity and periodically that TA would quickly interrupt the hold to tell me she was still holding for Celebrity. I tried unsuccessfully to get her attention to tell her I had a different cabin in mind. When the hold was over, lo and behold, she'd worked out the switch and repricing already. Gearing up for a call marathon tomorrow or Monday. I have 2 cabins currently open in mind.

Celebrity somehow got ahold of my non-business email so I have double promotional emails to delete! Two today on each account. Just unsubscribed on personal email. Fingers X'd for no more from X on that one!

Confession Time! Gave up our Deluxe Porthole Veranda for an IV cabin. For a $660 savings I can live with the aspects of that type of "veranda". Being that it's a Norwegian Fjords cruise, I think we'll do ok. I just need to move to an IV with bed by bath, our preferred cabin configuration. In my haste to take advantage of the cost differential, I chose a cabin that not only has bed by "veranda" but also a partially obstructed view due to the jut out adjacent to it forward.

We visited Stonehenge on our own, driving from Chipping Campden very early in the morning so as to be on the first bus to the ruins (prepurchased tickets). Both DH and I were able to get amazing people-free photos! We entered our best shots in our camera club's competition- DH, the camera buff, took a 1st and I received a 2nd using my Lumix point and shoot. It is well worth the pre-dawn departure to experience Stonehenge ahead of the crowds!

Amsterdam port is not far from Centraal Train Station. If you are not traveling heavy and are reasonably fit you could save a bundle by walking to there and taking the train to Haarlem or other destinations including Schiphol! Or just take the taxi to the train station. Train Amsterdam - Haarlem from €4.90 | NS

We are booked with them for our August cruise. Simon worked with me to design a "bespoke" tour for our group of 6 that includes a short easy hike and generally follows the St. Ann's loop itinerary. I'll report back here, @AnsJMc If you do book with them and cruise before we do, please give a review too, thanks! BTW, DD and family live in Mt. Pleasant.

Your poll is interesting. However, the ports you've listed in () besides the country's name in several instances ignore some of the most popular ones. For example, next to Ireland Belfast and Dublin are missing, by Scotland no Edinburgh and Le Havre in France should be named as well. I agree with Chemmo that sea AND land give the best way to experience Europe. A one-way cruise such as Barcelona to Rome with a few days in each city pre & post cruise would be a wonderful introduction to Europe. Or even a r/t Southampton combined with London and either Eurostar or plane to Paris would be equally worth your first trip to Europe.

@mduffy1834 You are correct in your advice to your latecomer friends! Have you tried reserving times for your anytime dining since you have everyone's #s? If reservations are linked it just might be a workaround if you do it since you are booked in select.

@bigbenboys Found the way, thanks! Purchased my class. How do I reserve the date/time? Our very 1st Celebrity cruise was on the Eclipse in 2010. We've sailed her 4 more times since and never experienced the Hot Glass show or class. Looking forward to bringing home an amazing souvenir.

Help, please! I cannot see the option to purchase a hot glass class on my cruise planner for the 8/28 Eclipse cruise. It isn't under excursions or "special experiences", e.g. pizza making.