RMac713

How was 11172? We have not stayed in a magic carpet suite yet, I know I'd love the big window, but just got a move up offer to a sunset sky suite and now I'm wondering if I should give it a shot (we love Aft cabins, but boy would that be a lot of steps to the Retreat)

I already booked (last night) a trip for next March. I have always booked my own on Disney and more lately Celebrity. I am still in the window to transfer to a TA, should I do that? Someone recommended vacations to go.

I don't remember this on my April Beyond cruise, and certainly not on the "tryout" Ascent cruises last month. I did have some in the room as we were in a sky suite. As for the tote bag, in April it was in the room at the start of the cruise. Last month on Ascent the room steward left it for us with the yellow excursion towels the day before we were in Cozumel. So we got it on day #3.

We got questions via email a few weeks before we left and one of the questions was about pillow preference, firmness, etc. I asked for memory foam pillows and when the stateroom host talked to us she pointed out that we had those pillows.

The pool itself would start getting crowded around noon but taper off a couple of hours later. I usually would go up early and get a spot for us (I don't leave my stuff, but I did take a couple of little naps) then my husband would hit the lounge and bring me up a couple of chocolate croissants. We would stay until about 2 on sea days. Luminae only seemed crowded one night when they put us in a completely different section and all of our servers, sommelier, bread person, etc were different. We didn't spend too much time in the lounge.

When we were on Ascent for the two short cruises last month we booked another cruise on Apex (Sky Suite) for 2/25. We are already doing the ABC(magic carpet suite) on Beyond this July with tips, OBC because we booked it in April of last year. By far my favorite thing on the Edge class is the retreat pool (we started our Celebrity journey on Equinox--nice ship but just a retreat deck, no pool). We spent every morning into early afternoon at that area last month. We live in Ohio and do NOT have a pool at home so we really enjoy it. I'm spoiled now. I know some people don't care but that is a priority for us. Our stateroom host/butler/whatever on Ascent was a gem and so friendly. We do not ask for a lot (never finished the afternoon snacks we had on Beyond last April), just ice 2x a day. We got our pillow request and she stopped in on day one and explained the remote and asked us when we would like our champagne iced. If I had to downgrade, I would check retreat on the S class ships first (we'd just have to get to the pool earlier) or a room with a real balcony on the edge class. We'll see what happens after our Apex cruise.

I'm pretty sure she introduced herself to us as "stateroom host". But she was very excited as we were the first guests she talked to because she saw us drop off our carry on bags. She did give me a separate card. There was a card for the head butler in our portfolio but we never needed it. She asked when I wanted the champagne ready for both cruises and made sure I had ice, which I used to fill up my stanley with the water provided.

We asked for ice to be filled twice a day, and coffee/iced tea in the mornings. Not much but she did a great job, checked on us at least twice a day, and was super friendly.

My husband and I just did the 4 and 3 night first two cruises on Ascent B2B. We were in the same sky suite (10141) for both. Our "stateroom host" Kate was great and did everything we asked and quickly. Service on the retreat deck was quick and correct. Luminae was well done and great service from our server Eduardo. Ate at Eden and Final Cut, and enjoyed the Martini Bar. We already had an 8 night in July on the Beyond and booked a 7 night on Apex in 2/25. And I was the first ever winner of the new trivia show "Duel" on the 4 night. 🙂

Should have booked the 5 night when I first saw it because hours later it was a lot more money. As for the 7 nights I've been to all the ports but Bimini.

Just a side note....when you win trivia on Beyond you don't get anything for it. On DCL there was a little medal, and on Equinox last summer I got little coupons that added up and at the end of the cruise I got a T shirt. But on Beyond in April there was nothing.

I am cruising on the first two "preview" cruises on Ascent in Retreat. Honestly, the best part of our retreat sailing on Beyond in April was the pool area and that is what I'm focusing on. I wonder what Zach would think if he had access to that kind of retreat deck.

We are doing both of the Ascent "try-out" cruises in November BTB. I know they are not considered the maiden voyage, but will there be any merchandise involved about being the real first cruise? I'm excited but I'm hoping there is at least some hoopla.

Before Celebrity we did 6 Disney cruises--2 with 3 kids, one with our youngest who was a senior, and 3 as adults. Only one post-pandemic--a holiday cruise to see the decorations. When I started looking at prices for another cruise last summer I decided to try Celebrity but I was nervous. However, for the price of a Disney cruise (without tips or drinks or excursions) we booked a 6 night celebrity suite on the equinox. Wow! We were sold. So in April we took a 7 night on Beyond in a sky suite--WOW again! We now have a Beyond scheduled in November and an Apex next November. Disney is great, but unti the grands can go, no point in spending the money. In fact, we have been spending our vacation money on cruises and saving up our Disney Vacation Club points to see our daughter in Hawaii this summer--we may sell them after that because need to do Disney every year is gone. I'd rather cruise and see new places. My grand plan is to cruise the Greek Isles in 2026 for our 40th anniversary.

I "heard" during our spring break cruise (week before Easter) that there were 400 kids on board a full ship. Only a few were in the retreat. On the last night we did see kids in the teen club having an activity around the pool and ping pong table but nowhere near the numbers we saw when we cruised Disney.

Is this Florida discounts? We are looking at moving in a year or so to FL or SC and that would be a major pro for Florida (which is losing right now on our list)

Not quite! But it would have pretty much filled up the deeper part of the retreat pool. That's great though!

Yes! Made it to the martini bar twice. I had a snowflake martini and a coco-creme tini (might not be the exact name--has coconut in it and coconut on the rim). Never went during the light show though, hope to next time!

I usually wore a jacket or light shawl to dinner so I did not find Luminae chilly, but one night I was up against the windows and it got warm quickly! On our last night they had the curtains closed because the sun was coming right in that side. I really enjoyed the retreat pool deck. We spent a lot of time there. And we will be in a MC sky suite Beyond in November--excited to try it!

Returned Sunday from a week on the Beyond. Have cruised Celebrity once before, last July on the Equinox. As retreat guests we much preferred the Beyond for pool time! We spent a couple of hours at the retreat pool every day except our St. Maarten day when we had an excursion (they canceled our St. Thomas excursion due a a threat of storms that didn't really materialize near the ship). One day it seemed as if it would rain and we moved to the solarium. We did not use the main pool as it seemed really crowded. The ship was packed and supposedly there were 400 kids on board. We stayed at the Renaissance the night before, which was nice, and ate at the Boatyard. Everything about the retreat was great. We had sky suite 10151. Our butler was Reggie and she was wonderful. Karen was our stateroom attendant. We never had any issues with anything about the room, and they put up a nice congratulations banner and some balloons as we were celebrating my upcoming retirement from teaching at the end of May. We made more use of the lounge than last year because it is much more convenient on the edge class ships! Luminae was amazing. The first night our waiter Gilbert explained that we could offer "classic items" any night: a steak, a petit filet, salmon, french onion soup, shrimp cocktail, escargot. That was good because the first night menu did not really appeal to any of us (it was me, my husband, and then my brother and sister in law next door). During the week I had the escargot, shrimp, salmon, and petit filet among other items that were on the nightly menu. On lobster night he automatically gave me another lobster! The baked alaska was also a highlight. We got used to room service breakfast as it was quicker than eating in the restaurant, and only ate lunch there twice. On our last sea day we ordered on the pool deck--BLT wraps, burgers, caesar salad, and shrimp cocktail were among the options. We also ate at Eden one night and I can add to the general love for the place. I had the crab cake, lobster casserole, and meyer lemon tart. We did trivia one day, and I'm good at it, but there are no prizes so I only did it the one time. For shows we attended Arte and Stage Door in the main theatre and Jazz Joint at the club. I didn't get to any Eden shows but the ones I saw were wonderful. My in-laws saw Elements too and said it was great. The thermal spa is very nice but I only got a day pass and didn't use it enough. I don't know if I would get more than a day pass. The spa itself looks gorgeous. The art around the ship, especially the photos in the halls, is such a great addition to a ship. Cruise director was Luigi, activities director was Kyle, Captain Dmitri. Only two weird incidents. One was on a sea day and my sister in law and I were in the retreat pool. A mom came in with a giant unicorn float. Her relative said it was too big for the pool. She asked those of us in the pool if we minded. I spoke up and said it was too big, so she left it on the side. Honestly, it would have taken up the whole thing. There were 2 or 3 kids in the group but it is not a kiddie pool. Another was during the retreat silent disco. Toward the end I sat with my husband, exhausted (he had danced maybe one song as he thinks it is silly). A drunk guy came over and told him he should get up and "dance with your girl". I said it was OK and my husband smiled through gritted teeth as the guy poked him Then he moved on to my in-laws who were also sitting. He got in my brother in laws face with the same line and then, seeing his face get red, asked if my BIL wanted to punch him! We got out of there as the guy was a drunk and if the boys had done something to him WE would have been in trouble. Other than that.....I LOVED Beyond and changed our November cruise on Equinox to Beyond. We lost Bonaire and gained Jamaica, but that's OK. We also booked a 7 night Apex in November of 24.

It is open a couple of nights at 9:30. May have to switch to that. But I'm crossing my fingers I can just bump it back 30-60 minutes. If not, we will just go with salty hair I guess LOL.

I booked Eden for our cruise next week. I probably booked it in October! However, the snorkeling excursion we chose goes from 12:15-4:30 and then our reservation is at 6 (for 4 of us). I know new reservations are impossible, but how hard it is to bump one back? I don't think we'll have time to shower, etc. without being exhausted and stressed.

On our Equinox cruise last summer we tipped extra to our wait staff in Luminae, our stateroom attendant, and our butler. They all deserved it. On our last Disney cruise we did tip extra but I was turned off by the wait staff harping on wanting us to rate everything 5 stars--and this was every dinner, not just the last one. I'd tip more to stop that nonsense.

That's what I was thinking of. Thanks!