leaveitallbehind

Never fear - Friday is here. And this is supposed to be the end of the test. But my guess is the new format will likely stay, because in the ultimate interpret-the-data-to-fit-our-expectations spin, the mods will likely look at the overwhelming negative responses on the two prevailing threads regarding this format and decide that since most people only review things they don't like, the actual sample size of the negative reviews was extremely small when compared to the total CC membership, and since only a few were against it, the rest by not responding must indeed like it, so because we want it anyway, and since we proved the majority must therefore like it, we are going to keep it, which is what we decided in the beginning anyway. Why let the facts get in the way of an agenda? Mods - Just trying to have a little fun, but please prove me wrong.........

"Best deal" can change frequently. Pricing options will change - often within a given ship and itinerary - between the time the itinerary is first offered and final sailing date. It depends on demand and response to specialty dining options offered on any given itinerary. This is also a difficult question to answer as dining quality is very subjective and what appeals to me may not appeal to you. That being said all three lines you mention have a variety of specialty restaurant options that vary depending on ship. We cruise RCCL and Celebrity frequently and usually only dine in the specialty restaurants and in our experience, the larger RCCL ships have the more specialty options available, but Celebrity IMO has the better overall quality options. But both lines, however, are very good with specialty dining and the differences are very close. We have no experience with NCL so can't help there.

Yes I have taken many Celebrity cruises in the Caribbean. And I corrected myself that their primary demographics is 50+ adults - not 45+. I know this from industry connections and it is correct. You can also Google it. Just as RCCL and NCL primary demographics is families with children. HAL is seniors, Virgin is adults only, no children, etc. That doesn't mean that any or all other ages and mixes wouldn't be on board any given itinerary. But their ships are designed for, cater to, and target adults at 50+ as their primary demographics.

Note that I also included that in my response - great minds think alike! Never too much input.

Suggest looking at Resorts for a Day to see if there is anything at your ports of call for all inclusive day passes. We have used them in the past with good success. Here is their link: https://www.resortforaday.com/destinations/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAzc2tBhA6EiwArv-i6VvYiEc1MkFH91IcjQcPybpJeS624g2sGAMAZYtQ446udLC1JT_RqhoC2WIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds Regarding St. Thomas, typically cabs would provided the needed transportation, but I suggest whatever you choice of beach that you arrange transportation with your driver for both to and from and allow plenty of extra time for the return as traffic in St. Thomas can get very heavy at times, in particular approaching Charlotte Amalie. There are also two cruise piers in St. Thomas - Havensight and the Cruise Port of Charlotte Amalie. You need to confirm which one you are docking at as that may influence which beach you choose. Sapphire would be closer to Havensight, but in either case Magen's would be the closer of the two, both to town and either pier. You should also post this on the NCL board for additional responses. Here is that link: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/64-norwegian-cruise-line/ You can also check out the different ports of call at this link: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/456-caribbean/ Lastly, if you are not already part of it, you can search for your Roll Call for your sailing at this link to talk with other cruisers on your itinerary: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/66-norwegian-cruise-line-roll-calls/ Welcome to Cruise Critic and enjoy your cruise!

The cruise lines would typically not make an issue with this as the rate you paid by booking for two is a double occupancy rate, probably very similar to the solo rate plus supplement.

Yes, demographic (age) mix can vary on any ship and itinerary. I'm only saying what Celebrity's primary target demographics is - adults (not families with children), and probably more accurately 50+ v 45+. But I should have clarified that it is not seniors. That primarily would be HAL, etc. But certainly that 50+ category can include the age group you reference. And the NCL age group is also probably accurate but their target demographics is families with children, as with RCCL.

....and I see this at best as simply change for change sake, which IMO typically is a recipe for disaster that accomplished nothing good. To be of any value, change should a purpose motivated by a defined need with a positive outcome goal. Not seeing any of that here....

No you weren't disagreeing with that at all - I just noted that most of the reasons you cited were weather related, which I believe to be the primary factor with sea conditions. But you are also correct there are regions on the globe where other sea bed, etc., conditions influence the seas. Hope you didn't misunderstand me - I wasn't trying to contradict you.

Not really - the primary causes you indicated in your (my edited) response are all weather related, which will always be the key factor. And I completely agree that at sea is the best place to be as the Captain can maneuver the ship to the safest waters available. That is why whenever possible ships put to sea when storms are approaching port. But, again, the bottom line is sea conditions are generally impossible to predict - especially too far out. Anecdotally the calmest seas we ever encountered were in the Atlantic en route from NJ to Bermuda (smooth as glass). And the worst we ever encountered was Christmas Eve en route from Colon, Panama to Jamaica. (reported 20 feet+, oddly no storm).

I've just re-read my recent posts and it could be interpreted that I am advocating adding a "downvote" feature in order to make this garbage acceptable. I want to clarify in the strongest terms that none of this is acceptable to me regardless of features added or subtracted. I am in no way endorsing this mess. As was said before on a rather popular comedy show, "Delete, Delete, Delete....."!

Rough seas are unpredictable and can occur anywhere based primarily on prevailing weather conditions at the time. Time of year can also influence weather patterns. Albeit in the Pacific v the Atlantic, we completed a 6 night crossing from Hawaii to Vancouver in April a few years back. Some days were a little rough, others were smooth as glass. That was clearly in the open sea. I have to ask how far away from land do you have to be to be unsheltered and what effect does that have on sea conditions? The point being is what you are asking is impossible to predict and can change week to week.

But in fairness and to be truly democratic and objective in determining the most "popular" answers, there should be a "downvoting" option as well. You then complete the full measure with all points of view included by allowing for an "upvote", abstaining with "no vote", as well as being able to express an alternative view with a "downvote". Or just throw the whole thing in the trash where it belongs in the first place....

Not an issue - the more widespread the question is the more options you have for responses. BTW based on our experience my answer is accurate.

It would seem to me, as others have mentioned, that the true value of "upvoting" would be realised if there was a "downvoting" feature as well. Would this not allow the truly popular responses (note that I did not say correct answers) as the cream to rise to the top, and the more unpopular responses to drop to the bottom?. Would that not be the most accurate way of gauging popularity? Not "upvoting" only allows for the most liked responses to be noted but does not result in any balance of popularity that would result from allowing unliked responses to drop. Either way the whole thing IMO is a mess and a waste of time and not worth any further time invested analyzing as clearly the lack of support and no "upvoting" for this feature says it all.

So since there already is a "like" feature - which allows one to express their support of a given post, thus indicating its' popularity - what then is the purpose or value in "upvoting", especially when that results in the reorientation of the response stream thus taking that "upvoted" response out of context? Isn't that just another "like" feature? Seems kind of redundant - at best. But as mentioned before, this also just makes responses far more subjective v objective as they are "upvoted" not based necessarily on correctness but by other's "liking" of the answer. Sorry, I just don't get it. To me there is absolutely no value in it and I clearly hope the mods listen to the overwhelmingly negative responses and go back to what didn't need "fixed" in the first place.

Celebrity's primary demographic is adults (45+, but not 60's - 70's as you suggest). But not families. There will likely be children on any given itinerary as well and there is a children's program for them with Celebrity. But certainly in far less numbers than RCCL. And although during a Holiday season, IMO 10 days is not necessarily short, and may attract less children than shorter itineraries. However their ships have none of the whistles and bells and activity venues oriented towards families with children as with RCCL (or NCL), as that is their target demographics. Celebrity is much more of a basic cruise experience versus what has often been described with RCCL as "floating amusement parks". Food is always a very subjective issue and I would not classify RCCL as not being good. But we have cruised both RCCL (when our family was young) and Celebrity (now that they are adults) extensively and IMO and experience, the food quality, both in the MDR and several of their specialty restaurants, is better on Celebrity than with RCCL. But again, that is just my opinion.

Not saying MDR is bad - just different and IMO the Blu menu items are better. Again, just my opinion. Blu is intended to be different (and "healthier") and considered a little more upscale. But as answered originally, you can order from the MDR menu in Blu if desired.

It is also safer and less likely to have damage if you have it in your carry on versus if the bottle is in your luggage. As indicated, it is also so that the bottles you are bringing on can be confirmed by security at boarding as being wine versus spirits, etc. And the amount you are allowed to bring on board is two bottles @ 750 ml per stateroom at original embarkation.

The answer is yes. But the Blu menu is different by intention and IMO better.

Always agree with that and as you likely know, I too typically suggest that. But in this case I happened to know the answer. But more information is likely available on the Celebrity board.

They will vary by stateroom category but will include a shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, and soap. That being said we typically bring our own shampoo and conditioner - my wife's preference.

Good point - thanks for clarifying. Wasn't thinking of it in terms of limited accessibility to the main stairways.

Agree completely and I am not trying to contradict you - just clarifying how the fare is obtained. And you are completely correct, which highlights the value of TA's, which is why 75% of all cruises are booked through one. All good information!

It is not the TA discounting the rate - it is a corporate sponsored rate that is issued on select itineraries to the TA. The rates are also only published internally to the TA's, so in that respect it would not be published to the general public. And any TA can see these select rates when they are offered. He may have implied that he was able to get a special discount on the rate, but it is not he who is discounting it. (Good marketing technique). Not with the fares to which I am referring. And these fares, when offered, are always lower than the published or direct fare.