goofysmom99

I no longer sail in suites (previously either SS or CS; RS and above too $$), Now I choose veranda cabins. Nevertheless, I'm unhappy about the Team Butler plan. It goes along with the angst I've felt this year from Oceanview dinner cut backs, MDR cutbacks, prime rib/talapia brouhaha, room service fee, and vaping. I doubt I've ever written as many "concerned" emails in my entre life as I have to Celebrity management since January. In the words of the immortal Roseanne Roseannadanna: "It's always something."

Used Nord on the Constellation with Starlink in November, Slowed it down some but still usable.

Terry, back in the day, I always thought I'd hit the jackpot if I saw the same flight surgeon two times in a row.

Wow, that really stinks!

The ice cream is made from scratch. The gelato is from a base they buy that is not gluten free (more than trace). If you have celiac, that matters. Maybe they've bought a new brand but because I have celiac, no way I'd chance gelato until I'd verified with Food & Beverage Mgr.

The sorbettos are gluten free but not the gelato, at least on all the Celebrity ships I've sailed. The ice cream is safe, though. If you have a drink package, a dessert option is to grab a shot of a liqueur (cream de menthe, Kahlua, etc) on your way to dinner and then pour it over ice cream for a high-test, gluten-free sundae. One of my favorites.

I could have written this. I still choose to cruise Celebrity because I receive a lot of comped goodies, but their MDR gluten-free options are boring and lately, they haven't tasted very good with some qualifying as downright awful. It repeatedly sounds as if the food on E-class ships is better overall but unfortunately, I'm not a fan of infinite verandas. My future cruises, except for a November TA on M-class, will be on S-class, specifically Silhouette; the specialties and its extra of the Lawn Club Grill are the draw for me. For a 13-night cruise next year, I've already purchased 10 nights in specialties (super Memorial Day sale price). The other three nights will be OVC with gluten-free pasta or stir fry. My cruise fare for V2 veranda was quite reasonable and for just an additional ~$350, I'm pretty sure I'll have decent dinners for a change. BTW, when I've had gluten issues with a specialty restaurant, it's always been Tuscan.

Royal Caribbean Group has committed to Ravenna and is building a new terminal. I don't see the road between VCE and Ravenna improving in my lifetime, so if I ever decide to cruise out of Ravenna again, I'll fly into Bologna. I suppose Rome and the train could be another option. For sure it won't be Venice and that dreadful bus ride.

It has been 9 yrs since this happened to me and at that time, they would not give me double points. Edit: Then again, it could be that it wasn't until the month after that X began double points (I don't remember the exact date X began double points for solos).

I'm hungry.

Yes, Constellation has Starlink and premium speed is fine for streaming.

I don't remember the sentence about the Casino, though. And I had read it, the whole thing, before. I think they may not have updated the "Last Updated" part.

I don't remember this sentence: In casinos on itineraries where smoking is allowed, there will be visible signage designating the areas for both smoking and non-smoking guests.

https://www.celebritycruises.com/company/customer-support/conduct-policy Scroll down to Smoking part. They've already made up their minds. Test....ha, ha, ha, ha.

"Test," my foot - they've already made their decision!

Signage might be irrelevant (resistance is futile). I don't remember this being the verbiage in previous X Code of Conduct; I'll have to look and see if I have something older. Smoking and Restrictions on Purchase of Tobacco Products Onboard For the comfort and enjoyment of our guests, our Celebrity ships are non-smoking. Hookahs and other types of water pipes are prohibited from use under this non-smoking designation. Smoking is not permitted inside any stateroom or on any stateroom balcony. This applies to all stateroom categories onboard. Smoking is also not permitted in any dining venue, theater, bar, lounge, hallway, or elevator; on the jogging track; or in most other indoor areas. Furthermore, smoking is not allowed in certain outdoor spaces, including restricted areas, food venues, and kids play areas and pools. If a guest is in violation of this “No Smoking” policy, a cleaning fee will be applied to their onboard account. Because we recognize that some guests do smoke, we have designated smoking areas on the ship. These smoking areas are identified by signage, and ashtrays are provided in these locations for smoking use. Guests may inquire about the location of the ship’s designated smoking areas at the Guest Relations Desk. In casinos on itineraries where smoking is allowed, there will be visible signage designating the areas for both smoking and non-smoking guests. Cigar and pipe tobacco is limited to designated outdoor areas and cigar bars (if the ship has one). Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes are only permitted within the designated smoking areas. Cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco must be properly disposed of and never thrown overboard. A guest must be at least 21 years of age to purchase, possess or use tobacco. During voyages that depart from international ports of call, local smoking laws will apply for the duration of said voyage."

This chip, chip, chipping away at the Celebrity brand since January has really gotten my dander up so I'll keep harp, harp, harping away at corporate. Clean air should trump an addiction. And I'll be complaining loudly, then and there, on the spot (cell phone is always in my pocket) if I encounter vaping in indoor spaces, casino excepted for now. I don't intend to passively abide being enveloped in vapor. I'm seriously pi$$ed that I need to make final payment for a 16 night cruise before this little experiment concludes. I wonder how many "new and improved" experiments they have waiting in the wings to add to room service charge, room service menu reductions, deep cuts to evening OVC , MDR menu cuts, hamburger addition, lobster charge, vaping.... They quietly pulled back a few zenith amenities, too, but I don't really care about any of those.

I always wait to pay gratuities on board so it can deducted from OBC. Prepaying would be via my credit card - better to deduct daily with their funds. 🤓

Ditto.

I say this tongue-in-cheek, but I actually am wondering if there might someone high up in X who vapes/smokes? What the heck, this is absolutely stupid!

I bet a many of the angry people here are former smokers, myself included. Stopping is tough. Vaping is simply rationalizing you can't quit - my lungs are going to be affected by the effects of your vapor. Time to compose still another irritated, grumpy email to the executive office....big sigh. This is getting old.

I cannot recall a single cruise I've taken where OBC directly provided from X hasn't taken care of gratuities, and that's not counting shareholder benefit OBC. I'm sure I can absorb a whopping +50¢/day. The $8 increase for my Nov cruise is less than 1% of the X-provided OBC. No clue why so much OBC this time (and will continue to donate anything left over to the crew fund).

Guess it depends on the Retreat host. The first time I tried to tip, for way above and beyond the call (I had a serious fall getting out of an M-class CS tub), she seemed genuinely offended and asked me to donate it to the crew fund, which I did. Second time, different host, same response. Haven't done it since. I now think it's not expected due to their rank.

It's still a sorry, sorry menu for everyone, but especially for gluten. Someone earlier said it looked like assisted living menu. I stayed at my dad's place frequently; his menus were way more appealing. Please keep up the emails to corporate. Removing a hamburger doesn't really improve it much.