cruzinlisa

I like the steak(filet) and eggs at the sea day brunch. I loved the sauce and usually took hubby's too. Not sure if it was bernaise or hollandaise because I don't really remember the difference, but it was good. I also like crispy bacon, if you can get it.

Remember that only drinks up to $8 and beer up to $5 are coved under the package.If you order a drink that cost more you pay the full price.

Thanks. My TA upgraded us to the premium package so it should cover most everything. I am a frozen drink person and DH drinks bud light or other domestic beers so I think those should be covered. I hope. :)

IMO, they are trying to attract more of a customer base and some of them may be younger cruises. My main reason for believing this is the pick your perk/1-2-3 things that they have been offering. We are part of that younger demographic and it did attract us, but I certainly don't speak for all 30 somethings. This will be my 5th cruise, DH's 4th. All of the prior ones have been on Carnival. This time I was not even looking at Carnival, I wanted to try something different. We were looking mainly at Royal or NCL. But I got an email from an online TA advertising the pick your perk promo which offered us a drink package with Celebrity. Only one half of our pair really likes to drink (DH), but its nice to know I can order whatever I want without thinking of cost. So we went for it. If it had not been for this package we would not even looked at Celebrity. That said, I don't think they are trying to distance people that are not 30-40ish crowd or loyals, I think they are trying to widen their net. That is just my opinion, for what its worth.

Last cruise we had our 2 year old DD. In Cozumel, we had left her in camp for a while in order to do an excursion, so we did not want to take her back to camp that evening at dinner time. She did not nap well so she was as grumpy as they get. We had ATD, but she was so crabby, there was no way she was going to sit though dinner. So, DH and I went to the buffet to get her something to eat. We had decided we would see what they had, and either eat there or hope that some of the attitude wore off after eating. We were so disappointed with the food selections that there was no way we were eating there. There were just a couple of entree choices and neither appealed to either of us. Luckily DD's attitude perked up after eating dinner and we were able to go to the MDR to eat. I can't remember if they had chateaubriand or prime rib, but I know it was something that they did not have at the buffet. If we did not go to the MDR, DH probably would have had pizza and I would have had something from room service.

But I am not that found of buffets anyway. Last cruise we had breakfast at the buffet once. We had lunch there a couple of times but DH and I always had either guy's burger, fish and chips or pizza, never anything from the main line (except tacos one day).

Personally, I would try to get ATD. Then you can check out the buffet and if nothing suits you, you still have the option of going to the MDR. Or you can look at the MDR menu and if nothing sounds go, head to the buffet.

Jocelysue, the OP, would most likely enjoy Celebrity overall and merely find the snobbiness of some passengers entertaining rather than offensive.

 

I am recalling one passenger wearing an approximately 4" x 6" plastic pouch with a strap around her neck for the purpose of prominently displaying her "GOLD" sea pass for other lesser life-forms to admire or envy. Objective posters here might admit they have witnessed similar flashing of "higher" color sea passes themselves.

 

It could also be that people wear their card around their neck because they don't have anywhere else to put it. I wore mine around my neck on my last cruise and used the same lanyard in vegas, mainly because I was wearing things with no pockets, or pockets that we not very deep and did not want to lose my card. And I will do it on my next cruise too. I will be lowest level because it is my first celebrity cruise. And I don't care. And if you or anyone else has their card on display, I won't be paying attention either. :D

Negative reviews seem to pop up right after booking and shortly before leaving on your cruise. At least for me. Its just my luck. But I have yet to have a really bad (nightmare-ish) cruise. Some are better than others and there are things to complain if you look (some are staring you in the face), but mostly they don't ruin my vacation.

I wasn't impressed with the chocolate buffet either. I didn't get anything bc to me it didn't even look good. But it looked lovely if that makes sense. Unlike the others I really liked the cheesecake from the steakhouse but I love all different kinds of cheesecake. I wasn't thrilled about wcmc I am sure at one time in my life I would've been. Just not too much of a sweet eater any longer for some reason. Give me sour or savory.

I thought the steakhouse cheesecake was good also. But I don't like CHEESECAKE in the traditional sense (like new York cheese cake). I like light, fluffy cheesecakes and actually like jello no bake cheesecake.

I agree the desserts on the buffet were nothing to write home about. Most days I skipped it. But my cruise rule is only one dessert a day (usually) and I save that for dinner.

Might have to try the cookies. I had the ones from room service and I thought they tasted like chips ahoy to me. :D Decent, but not worth the calories. hopefully the ones on the buffet are better.

I've made some really good burgers at home but I never have made, just for burgers, cooked mushrooms, cooked bacon, grilled onions, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, donkey sauce, etc...you get the point. It's not just the meat, which is really good, it's all the toppings too. Heck we just grill the hamburger and put ketchup and mustard, maybe a slice of tom in the summer.

This pretty much sums it up. I am not even crazy about burgers. Its probably been 2 years since I have made one at home and DH won't put them on the grill since they fall apart. When we go out, I rarely order a burger (except the McDouble or Steak n shake or White castle). But I really liked guys burgers. I probably could have just skipped the meat and done bun and toppings. They were greasy. The bun was as well (maybe buttery). I know I had them maybe 3 times in the cruise, which is a lot for me since I probably eat 1-2 burgers a month. Come to think of it, I don't think I ate lunch at the buffet all last cruise. Between late brunch and things like fish and chips, guys burger, pizza and blue iguana, we did not bother. There was nothing really worthwhile anyway- I know because I got food for DD.

Oh- I take it back, we did eat at the buffet one day- taco day. I stood in line forever for those tacos. :D

Our family- DH, me and DD (almost 3) have passports. DH and I had them due to going to Mexico. We got one for DD before her first cruise since DH and I already had them. We would not have gotten her one if we did not already have one, nor would we have gotten them strictly for cruising. DH and I will have gotten 5 uses out of our passports in the past six years, so its worth it. DD will probably use hers 2 (maybe 3) times before it expires. But her passport photo (from when she was one) is super cute. :D

If I was CEO I would put back some of what was taken away....

 

Steel drum band back on lido

 

New ports--less dependency on Bahamas and Mexico

 

Purchase a private Island for Carnival ships to use and develop it so two ships can visit at the same time

 

Production shows--the new Playlist is OK, but the old shows weren't bad...have ONE production show, one variety show, a passenger talent show, and three nights of comedy in the big lounge.......

 

Turn the night club into the a Red Frog Pub on each and every ship and have a band playing in the pub.

 

Get rid of the art auctions

 

Lido food--every ship must have a Cuchina del Capitano, Guy Burger, and Blue Iguana Cantina.....

 

Bingo--limit the bingo's and have more fun games/activities in the big lounge. Bring back The Quest for the late night adult fun...

 

Pricing of the cruise will have to be raised slightly, but it would be worth it to have some of the old fun back...

 

Naturally, head office big wigs would need to have twice annual trips on various ships to see what is going right and what is wrong....Send in "secret shoppers" on each ship each quarter to evaluate the ship and crew...

 

There is probably more, but I can't remember it now...working all day hurts my brain..

Your hired. :p

ABOSOLUTELY!!!! I take the mushrooms and the grilled onions and make a "side dish" to go with my burger which is also loaded with shrooms and onions :D

This. :D

If he's 20 months, then potty train him now, no reason what so ever to wait. It's easier to train now than to wait till later. Teach him the sign for potty, if he doesn't speak, do some research on the 3 day bare butt method (it should click by day 3, not be accident free), say bye bye to diapers, and don't use pull ups or a timer.

 

We trained dd at 19 months, she was accident free early, and 100% diaper free at night a few months later.

 

QUOTE]

 

I envy you. DD will be 3 by next month and is still not 100% potty trained. She is headstrong.

Carnival starts their kids club at 2. That said, I agree with the pp who said that their little one would have cried their eyes out. My DD went to a baby sitter, but she did not like kids club. She would cry for us. We would leave her there for a bit for dinner and to see a comedy show and get a call to get her before she how was over. So, the moral of my story is, even if there is a kids club that takes 2 year olds, do not count on it. But anyone who has a two year old or spent much time with them knows not to count on a two year old to do anything! :D

Thanks for the info. Right now it looks like Southwest is the best price so I might be out of luck, but I still have a bit before I have to book airfare. Cruise leaves and arrives from Fort Lauderdale, so it sounds like we are good there.

Does Celebrity have a program where you can have your luggage transported to the airport? I believe some of the other lines have it. What airlines does it serve? I would look this up myself but I do not know if there is such a program and the name of it, so any info is appreciated. Thanks.

AM I the only person who cruises who likes the Red Lobster?

 

I like the salad. I like the Thousand Island Dressing. I like the cheese biscuits a lot. I like Walt's Favorite Shrimp. ( We live in Jax. We buy shrimp a lot, boil it with shrimp boil and enjoy. We are not Shrimp Virgins. My husband grew up in Florida. shrimping with nets and such.

Fried Shrimp. The Red Lobster does it fine IMHO.)

 

I like their coleslaw. Mayo based. a little sweet. I like their baked potatoes. they stay warm.

 

why are they always the restaurant put down? I have eaten at restaurants that are five stars. and where the food is served on a saucer sized plate. Not much food. Not that much better than any average restaurant.

 

At Red Lobster you get what you paid for. Real. Honest Food. Cooked well.

and I confess. I like the Olive Garden too. Their salad is great. Their chicken Pharm...really good.

Nope, you are not the only one. I love RL. I don't want it on my cruise, but I love it any other day.

Hope the decision about the cold soups will be changed.

You never know, it could be a possibility if enough people express their opinions. Shrimp cocktail comes to mind. ;)

I liked the strawberry soup, but was not much of a fan of the others. I am not sure what kind of following the cold soups have, but if people really love it, they should express that opinion.

Sorry you did not get to leave as expected. Hopefully you are able to meet the ship. It is a good reminder as to why insurance and passports are a big asset.

Here is a description:

http://www.celebritycruises.com/global/mediaArticleOverlay.do?pagename=onboard_celebrity_persian_garden&parentpage=onboard_celebrity_spa_fitness

 

If you are interested then stop by the Spa on embarkation day afternoon when you can tour the area to see what is available. Many people love it. We've never had much of an interest.

Thank you for the information.

What exactly is this_ Persian Gardens. We are sailing on our first celebrity cruise and will be in Aqua. I saw this on the list of Aqua perks but I have no clue what it is?

You may get more suggestions on the family board. Baby sitting is for about two hours in the morning on sea days (or parents can come with baby to play for no charge) and after 10 pm. The rate is something like $6.50 or so an hour.

As far as advice- bring small stroller (not the travel system), disposable sippy cups and bibs, and child size fork/spoon (if the child is using them). Extra diapers, wipes and any kind of medication that the child might need. Have reasonable expectations and lots of patience.

DH and I took our daughter who is nearly 3, on two cruises. The first one she was 14 months old and the second one she was a little over 2. All of her routines were off and she did not nap during the day much. She was a little grumpy and there were meltdowns (more so on the second one). But it was great family time.

Both itineraries are good ones. It depends on what you want to do. I agree with the recommendation to do some research on the ports to see what suits your family better. I have done the exotic western (Roatan/Belize/Cozumel) itinerary, as well as an eastern one that went to Nassau and St. Thomas (and St. Maarten). The eastern carribean was just DH and I but the exotic western we had our DD (2 years old). The eastern was okay, my favorite port was St. Maarten. But I don't care if I go to St. Thomas or Nassau again. They were fine and relaxing, but not really exciting. It was beautiful and romantic, but my daughter would have been bored.

There were a lot more things to do in Roatan and Cozumel- imo. Roatan has monkeys and other animals if you do a tour with Bodden. Cozumel has dolphins, snorkling, ruins, beach- you name it. Belize has cave tubing, snokeling and ziplining, which older kids would enjoy.

People remember the exact store and city they first saw someone wearing pajamas in public???????????????????????????

 

 

I barely remember the name of the girl I had my first time with. But jammie pants is a real memorable event :)

LOL. Maybe its a regional thing, but sweats and PJ type pants are becoming mainstream daywear especially with teens. Like the sweat pants with the writing on the butt. Pretty much anywhere I go, I see someone wearing them. HELLO, haven't people heard about PAJAMA JEANS. LOL. :eek:

(AND NO, I don't own any Pajama jeans or pants with juicy written on the butt)

I have not once seen anyone in a robe at the buffet. I believe it happens- plenty of others have reported it does, I just never saw it myself. As far as people going to eat breakfast in PJs- does not bother me. I have done it myself when we stayed at hotels or something. Of course, I am talking about yoga/sweat pants (or possibly knit lounge pants if I had any) and t-shirt type of PJs. And I don't actually sleep in them ;). My reasoning is that I always manage to drop or spill something on my outfit. So I do not want to ruin an outfit before noon. So, it does not bother me seeing someone in sweats, lounge pants, etc and the buffet. If it were the dining room or something, then it would. I really do not notice how someone is dressed unless they are wearing something wildly inappropriate i.e. bath robe, speedo/string bikini, or ball gown (in the buffet- not elegant night).

So to recap so far we have 4 pound snails with extra butter, Heather meatless meatloaf, a not so cheesy Mac and cheese w/meat, along with trite, cow tongue and Rocky Mountain oysters. And for dessert the sugarless WCMC. Anything else? Just remember we are all speculating wildly

Fresh fish each night- catch of the day. And now every day there is a new on ship excursion available, fishing from the side/back of the ship.

All for an additional charge- of course.:rolleyes: