leaveitallbehind

I should clarify that along with complimentary snacks, Cafe Latte-tudes also has specialty coffees and Ben & Jerry's ice cream for a fee.

On Vision the complimentary dining is the Main Dining Room, Windjammer Buffet, Park Cafe, and Cafe Latte-tudes. Chops, Giovanni's, Izumi, and Chef's Table are for a charge.

It is not like it once was. While still suggested as formal nights, they are optional and not enforced, and it seems in our experience as though most people no longer dress as formally as they used to. Typically those who want photographs or just enjoy dressing formally are the ones most commonly doing so, but most people don't follow that tradition anymore.

Don't know why it wouldn't be. There are staterooms above and below, which mean no public venues come into play. Staterooms sandwiched between staterooms on decks above and below are always preferred for potential noise issues. The only concerns would be if you are sensitive to motion, as the forward most staterooms will feel the up and down motion of the ship the most. There also may be times at docking when the bow thrusters, and the possibility of anchors being lowered at tender ports, where noise from those operations can be heard during the process.

Our experience is similar to that mentioned by @Biker19 that with a typical 4 PM departure, but the early afternoon of the next day the weather is very comfortable off the Carolina's. As to sea conditions, there is no way to predict as we have done two winter sailings out of Cape Liberty and one was very calm and the other had heavy seas on the return. Based on sailing on three NYE cruises there will most definitely be a party celebrating the night on board, and likely activities in more than one location.

When you prebook your shows you are only reserving that particular show time, not specific seats. The venues are open general seating and arriving early would assure you getting a seat where you want. The theaters are very large and seating is plentiful. The only way to have reserved seating is if you purchase the Key or are a higher tier Crown & Anchor member, and a section typically in theater in the back of the balcony is set aside as an option for you. That section also opens to the general public 10 minutes prior to the show time. This would be the case with reserved sections in the main theater, aqua theater, and ice show. With your dining package, when you first book it a placeholder reservation is made automatically for the 1st or 2nd night at a given restaurant. When you board, just go to any of the specialty restaurants and the maître d can arrange reservations for the week at any of the restaurants for you, including changing the placeholder if desired. This is a simple process and takes about 10 minutes. Just keep checking the planner for when the shows open for reservations for the main theater, aqua theater, ice show, and comedy show. Again, dates and times are all you are reserving. As to "best seats" that is a personal choice, but with all of the venues mentioned we like the reserved seating areas as we have that option. In the main theater, as mentioned, that is the back section of the balcony. In the aqua theater that would be the top rear section, and in the ice show it is the first few rows center ice. But that is only our preference.

The drink prices aren't listed as the packages, as indicated, are based on the brand levels of alcohol used in the drinks. The price threshold for each package is a guideline based on the most common and typical drinks that would be made within each category based on the alcohol brands provided. Should a given drink due to the complexity of the mix or brands that may be required to be used to make it exceed that threshold, you would be advised and, if ok, then charged the difference for that drink. If "well liquor" alcohol brands and the lower to mid level wines and more limited beer selections are suitable for you, then the classic package will be fine and you will likely never exceed the price threshold for your day to day selections. The Premium package just expands both the variety of the types of alcohol and their level of quality by including most of the "top shelf" brands in the groups. Virtually any drink using any specified brand of alcohol can be made with a higher price threshold. We have never had a drink made with this package the exceeded this level. Wine brands and selection as well as beer choices are significantly expanded and improved with this package. A simple example would be that with the Classic package, a vodka and tonic would be made with Smirnoff vodka as an option, whereas with the Premium package it would be made with Gray Goose as an option. And with the Classic package if you ordered it with Gray Goose you would be charged the difference. That is when drink prices would come into play. The key is don't try to focus on drink prices as that really is irrelevant, but instead study the brands and selection of alcohol offered in the Classic package to determine if there is enough variety with the cocktails you normally would consume to be acceptable to you with those brand selections. If so, then that is the correct package for you. And as mentioned, mixers are not broken out separately and are part of drink mixes as required. Soda's, etc.., are shown as full cans are part of the choices you have to consume.

JMO, but while it would be a nice option, other dining scheduling (such as MTD) can be a pain to do on the planner. We have never had an issue scheduling the dining packages as soon as we get on board. Any specialty restaurant maître d can schedule all restaurants for the week in about 10 minutes in person and can set the best times based on availability and your preferences. This always works very easily for us. Again, JMO.

Good point. Mine is from BAC. So, although trying to help, my previous post may not be relevant. I still wonder if it isn't lost, however, as the original cruise was in the spring and already canceled with no apparent attempt then to preserve the OBC?

It would be a shame to judge a cruise line and that cruise experience based on your perception of comments of a few people on an internet board. Unfortunately I think you may find the same results on just about any cruise line thread on CC. Celebrity is one of our favorite cruise lines on which we have cruised 20+ times and find the experience, ship staff, and fellow cruisers to be very positive. If you think there is a ship and itinerary that would be appealing, I would suggest to judge for yourself and not by random comments. Enjoy your cruises.

Perhaps you should look at the Princess Sanctuary Collection which provides access to an exclusive top deck area, private elevated menu dining room, and suite lounge for those participating guests.

There are other cruise lines that provide similar regional itineraries. Many just don't yet have them available for bookings. I would suggest contacting a travel agent to explore your options and address your questions.

@seb530, as to a "class type system" regarding Celebrity, they offer a selection of standard staterooms to include inside, ocean view, and balcony, with differing amenities available with some. They also offer suites which carry a higher luxury of stateroom sizes, finishes, and amenities. Along with that is a dedicated restaurant and private lounge along with a top deck outside area that is exclusive to suite guests. All other venues are open to all guests. This is far from any class structure and is common amongst most cruise lines, including the others you mention.

I should have added that there are exceptions within each that are not applicable within the reciprocity. Example, the D+ specialty restaurant BOGO with RCCL is not available to Celebrity E+ cruisers when sailing RCCL. There are others, but that kind of gets into the fine print which is available to examine on each other's website loyalty program benefits offerings.

To clarify further, and to anyone else who reads this thread and has a similar question, the reciprocity between the two loyalty programs only means that when on each of the cruise lines you share the equivalent tier level benefits on that cruise line as your tier level on the other. But the benefits with each are separate and specific to each cruise line's loyalty program. In other words, benefits of one do not translate or cross over to the other, you simply share in each cruise line's benefits as provided by their own tiers. And cruise points earned remain and are accumulated with the cruise line on which you sail.

This is the T & C I could find regarding this: All selections are final and non-transferable to another ship or sailing date after you complete your transaction.

Just to add, 8166 is not listed as an obstructed view as 8666 is, and the large suite adjacent to 8666 is a two bedroom owners suite. As both of these are connecting staterooms that means there is a hotel style double door in the stateroom on the common wall between 8668/8664 and 8166/8164. To accommodate this the couch in these staterooms will be a smaller love seat. Also as mentioned, the window washing cage is stationed outside of 8666, but is in the back corner and should not pose a big issue IMO as it also will travel along the side of the ship when in use. Both of these staterooms have larger balconies as well.

This can vary by cruise line and each may differ from the next in how from the deck plans, if at all, this can be determined. In particular with balcony staterooms, there also often is a alternating pattern for whether the bed is next to the bathroom or the balcony. You may need to ask this specifically regarding the cruise line(s) you are interested in for more relevant responses. You also might want to call the cruise line themselves or a travel agent and ask them as well.

Even if the call button was common to both, with RRCL ships there are usually three or so of each elevator type on each side of the ship at each elevator bank and if the one that arrives first is an inside elevator you can just push the button again and wait for the next glass elevator to arrive. And in our experience there are the glass elevator types on every RCCL and Celebrity ship.

Internet, dining, and other cruise planner / app purchases frequently go on sale. Perhaps that is what occurred here. If the pricing changes favorably after you purchase something you can cancel, get an immediate refund of your OBC, and repurchase it at the lower price without penalty, and usually as a single transaction.

My understanding is your will lose it. But that would have already occurred if your original cruise was to take place last spring as the OBC is assigned to a specific sailing date. As that date is past it would be too late to try to move it now.

I guess we have had good fortune with that as we have sailed out of Cape Liberty on Celebrity a number of times over recent years and have always done the circle in front of the Statue of Liberty. In fact it is listed on the itineraries with expected times.

Typically, reduced deposits are offered with on board bookings.

You are correct and I am aware of the retractable stacks, also necessary for clearing a bridge in Denmark. But when retracted, it is a clean clearance. But it is close and interesting to experience.

....it would appear as though the characters in your signature are still enjoying the music! LOL